Chapter 32: The Opportunity Arrives

“Kid, today I’ll show you the true might of the Crimson Lotus Sect. You’ll learn that our sect isn’t something a nobody like you can provoke. Still, if you know what’s good for you, end your own life before me now, and I’ll spare you from unnecessary suffering.”

“Enough talk. Let’s see what you’re made of in the arena,” Lin Hao replied, frowning, clearly uninterested in further conversation.

Hearing this, the man’s eyes flashed with rage. It was obvious Lin Hao looked down on him, and his disdain was written all over his face. The disciple pointed at Lin Hao, laughing bitterly in anger. “Fine, let’s see what you’ve got.”

With that, he stretched out his hand, revealing a magical weapon—a nine-pronged steel rake.

The nine-foot-long weapon was pitch-black, so dark it gleamed, radiating a chilling cold. Lin Hao could tell at a glance that this was an extraordinary artifact—likely a sacred weapon.

A hint of surprise flickered in Lin Hao’s eyes. His opponent’s cultivation was two levels higher than his own, probably at the peak of the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment, but still within his ability to handle. He had learned all this through the system’s scan.

What truly startled Lin Hao, though, was the pressure emanating from the man’s weapon.

He asked in his mind, “System, what is that artifact in his hand?”

“A third-grade mid-tier sacred weapon,” the system replied.

“How does it fare against my Lotus of Otherworldly Fire?” Lin Hao asked.

After a brief scan, the system answered, “In theory, it’s no match for the Lotus of Otherworldly Fire. However, given the host’s current limited cultivation, you can’t unleash its full power. At present, your Lotus will struggle against this weapon. I advise caution.”

With those words, the system promptly went silent, no matter how urgently Lin Hao called for it in his mind.

Lin Hao couldn’t help but curse inwardly. He’d thought his otherworldly fire was enough to defeat this opponent, but the system had just shattered that confidence.

Still, Lin Hao’s eyes gleamed with both surprise and puzzlement. If this man was truly so formidable, why hadn’t he fought him back on the airship?

He studied his adversary again. The man sensed Lin Hao’s gaze linger on his nine-pronged rake and flashed a look of smug satisfaction. He brandished the weapon, his eyes glinting with a vicious light.

He thought to himself, Lin Hao must be frightened now.

He, too, gazed affectionately at his steel rake—a gift bestowed just before the match by Elder Hong, who had called him aside to hand over the artifact. Such a weapon was rare even in Elder Hong’s hands. The elder had only lent it to him temporarily, and solely for the purpose of defeating Lin Hao.

But that was more than enough. To even touch such a sacred weapon was a privilege. Besides, he recalled Elder Hong’s instructions: he must kill Lin Hao. If he succeeded, perhaps the elder would reward him with the weapon permanently.

Raising the nine-pronged rake, he charged at Lin Hao, battle intent blazing in his eyes. “Prepare to die!”

Lin Hao, though aware that his Lotus of Otherworldly Fire was far from its full potential, still unleashed a wave of flames.

When the fire collided with the nine-pronged rake, a sizzling sound filled the air.

Yet, unlike before—when the Lotus devoured other weapons—this time its flame diminished, flickering lower and lower. The surface of the steel rake, meanwhile, grew even more lustrous, as if it had absorbed the fiery energy to bolster its own strength.

Witnessing this, Lin Hao’s heart grew heavy. He frowned, inwardly alarmed. It seemed the system hadn’t deceived him: this nine-pronged rake was indeed formidable.

What’s more, his opponent wielded ice-based power, which naturally countered Lin Hao’s otherworldly fire. The situation had become decidedly tricky.

Lin Hao was unwilling to reveal his Cloud-Swallowing Sword too soon—it was his trump card, meant for the finals.

For now, all he could do was dodge and evade, becoming increasingly disheveled in the process.

His adversary, meanwhile, grew ever more emboldened, a wide grin splitting his face. He believed Lin Hao truly feared his sacred weapon, seeing how Lin Hao could do nothing but scramble away under its assault.

Growing cocky, the man’s attacks became even faster, but also sloppier, riddled with openings.

Lin Hao noticed this shift and relaxed his frown, his mind quickly hatching a plan.

Feigning panic, he made his retreat appear even more desperate, his face set in a mask of terror, further inflating his opponent’s arrogance.

The elders below watched with inscrutable expressions. The elders of the Clearwind Sect were visibly anxious. Although Lin Hao had previously displayed great strength, they didn’t truly know the extent of his abilities. Seeing the sacred weapon in the other disciple’s hands now filled the elders with dread, even despair—they assumed Lin Hao was on the verge of defeat.

The Crimson Lotus Sect elders knew even less about Lin Hao. Seeing their own sacred weapon drive Lin Hao into a corner, both their eyes and lips curled in smug satisfaction.

“That Clearwind Sect isn’t so impressive after all,” one elder sneered. “Look at him running in circles already—he’ll lose any moment now.”

Hearing this, the Clearwind Sect elder’s face darkened with humiliation. He opened his mouth, but found nothing to say.

The Crimson Lotus elder, meanwhile, nursed his own satisfaction. Though he regretted lending out the nine-pronged rake, as long as Lin Hao was killed, it would settle an old score and warn the Clearwind Sect not to take them lightly.

Hmph, that little Clearwind Sect dares to provoke us? And this Lin Hao—he cost me so many mid-tier spirit stones. I’ll see you dead today.

On stage, Lin Hao kept dodging, his face growing increasingly anxious and defeated.

His opponent, drunk on his own advantage, grew more reckless, taunting, “What’s the matter, running already? Weren’t you supposed to be tough? If you’ve got guts, face me head-on!”

He swung the steel rake at Lin Hao once more.

In that instant, a spark flashed in Lin Hao’s eyes—an opportunity!

He suddenly stopped fleeing, standing his ground as the steel rake whistled toward him, his expression calm and composed.

At first, the Crimson Lotus disciple was confused, sensing an ominous feeling. But he quickly brushed it aside, assuming Lin Hao had resigned himself to fate, and brought the rake down on Lin Hao’s head.

“Die!”

Lin Hao stood motionless, even as the rake hovered over his brow. The Clearwind Sect cried out in alarm, “Lin Hao, dodge!”

But Lin Hao acted as if he hadn’t heard. Just as the weapon was about to strike, he unleashed the Lotus of Otherworldly Fire, shrouding the steel rake in flames and grabbing hold of it with his bare hand.

At the same time, Lin Hao swallowed a Spirit Gathering Pill. His strength soared, the surrounding spiritual energy surging into his arm.

Flames roared up his arm, the Lotus’s fire spreading over the steel rake, engulfing it completely.

Then, another surge of otherworldly fire appeared by Lin Hao’s side, flying straight at the Crimson Lotus disciple. As it neared, the Lotus transformed into a red child wearing a crimson bib, who instantly appeared behind the man and, with a quick twist of its small hands, snapped his neck with a chilling crack.

The disciple’s hand released the rake, his body collapsing in a grotesque tangle. Anyone could see at a glance that his neck was broken. His eyes, wide with disbelief and the remnants of arrogance, stared blankly as he crumpled.

The nine-pronged steel rake fell into Lin Hao’s grasp.

For a moment, the whole arena was deathly silent, all eyes fixed on Lin Hao.

Even the Crimson Lotus elder stared in disbelief.

Then, as though deranged, he screamed, “Impossible! How could this be?!”

Quickly regaining his composure, he stepped forward, his face contorted with fury. “How dare you! This was supposed to be a friendly competition, and yet you dared to kill a Crimson Lotus disciple! Do you take our sect for nothing, boy?!”

The Clearwind Sect elders recovered from their shock. Seeing Elder Hong once again seeking trouble for Lin Hao, one immediately stepped forward. “Everyone witnessed what happened. It was your Crimson Lotus disciple who tried to kill ours first. Why is it you alone may break the rules?”

“Hmph! But in the end, it was our disciple who died! The Clearwind Sect should be stripped of their qualification to enter Celestial Feather Mountain. Fellow elders, don’t you agree?”

Elder Hong’s face flushed with anger at being rebuked, his words faltering.

The other elders, who had hoped to watch the two sects exhaust themselves, now found themselves dragged into the dispute. They cursed Elder Hong as a sly old fox in their hearts.

Their faces grew stern, as though to deliver a formal judgment.