His plan might have been good, but the instant he charged forth, a powerful shock wave slammed straight into his Divine Soul.
Yang Huaizhen immediately felt dizzy, his body staggering as he barely kept his feet, almost collapsing to the ground.
This was exactly the Grand Array unleashing a Divine Soul assault.
This array was called the Thunder Fire Divine Burning Array. Not only could Lin Changâsheng control the Divine Thunder and Fiery Flame Power within, he could also detonate a Divine Soul attack against those trapped inside.
Right now, Yang Huaizhenâs Divine Soul felt as if it were being burned alive, the agony unbearable.
Even though his physical body had already reached Integration Stage, his Divine Soul was still at Void Refining Stage, and under the burning of this array, he simply couldnât withstand it.
Too lateâ
Seeing Yang Huaizhen writhing in pain from the soul assault, Lin Changâsheng immediately summoned the Power of Celestial Thunder, blasting it down toward where Yang Huaizhen stood.
Countless silver snakes danced and coiled in the vault above, intertwining into a giant thunder dragon.
"Huaizhen, dodge now!"
The Immortal Martial Hall Elder let out a startled cry the moment he saw the thunder dragon descend from the skies.
At first, he had been sure Yang Huaizhen would win this battle.
But now he realized just how naive that thinking wasâtheyâd already used every killer move in their arsenal, while Lin Changâsheng still had one last trump card left untouched.
And now, unleashing it, Huaizhen was left utterly defenseless.
Let alone Yang Huaizhen, a cultivator at Void Refining Stage being left so battered by the arrayâeven Integration Stage cultivators would struggle to take this.
Yang Huaizhen sensed the thunder dragon coming for him, but the searing pain left him no chance to counterattack.
All he could do was raise his Celestial Vault Shield to withstand the blow.
BOOOOMâ
The ferocious thunder dragon smashed down on Yang Huaizhenâs Celestial Vault Shield, erupting into an earthshaking roar.
As the shockwave exploded, Yang Huaizhen was instantly sent flying, crashing against the edge of the Combat Platform in the distance.
"Brother Yang, do you yield?"
Seeing Yang Huaizhenâs body battered and bloodied by the Power of Celestial Thunder, streaks of crimson trickling down his form, Lin Changâsheng advised earnestly.
He and Yang Huaizhen had no deep enmityâLin Changâsheng had no reason to strike a killing blow here.
"I, Yang Huaizhen, have never yielded in my life!"
Clutching his Purgatory Divine Spear and Celestial Vault Shield again, Yang Huaizhen prepared to keep fighting Lin Changâsheng.
But the gathered crowd from Immortal Martial Hall cried out in alarm.
"Senior Brother Yang, yield! If you keep going, you risk crippling your cultivationâitâs not worth it!"
"Yeah, Senior Brother Yang, you should surrender!"
"Huaizhen, concede, quick!"
The Elder and disciples from Immortal Martial Hall called anxiously, but Yang Huaizhen acted as if he couldnât hear them at all.
Firmly gripping the two Middle Grade Celestial Spirit Treasures, he charged at Lin Changâsheng with spear in hand once more.
Such spiritâeven Lin Changâsheng had to respect it. But up against overwhelming force, wasnât this just throwing his life away?
The only words Lin Changâsheng could use to judge Yang Huaizhenâreckless brute.
ROARâ
Watching Yang Huaizhen launch himself forward, Lin Changâsheng again summoned the might of the Array, conjuring forth a fiery dragon to ram straight at Yang Huaizhen.
BOOOMâ
The spear and the fiery dragon smashed together; the raw Power of Fiery Flame immediately blasted Yang Huaizhen into the air once more.
By now, his robes were in tatters, and several spots on his physical body were badly scorched by the Power of Fiery Flame.
After all, this was Undying Dragon Flameâto endure it, youâd need at least Middle Stage of Integration or higher cultivation.
That devastating strike sent Yang Huaizhen flying off the Combat Platform, ending the fight in defeat.
Pffftâ
Hitting the ground, Yang Huaizhen spat a mouthful of blood, tried to speak, but finally collapsed, passing out cold.
The Immortal Martial Hall Elder hurried forward, smothering the flames licking at Yang Huaizhenâs body, then poured Primordial Power into him to heal his wounds.
Luckily, Yang Huaizhen wasnât too badly hurtâhis realm wouldnât fall. As long as he rested for half a month, heâd recover.
Lin Changâsheng, with the Grand Arrayâs backing, had unleashed power that was frankly terrifying.
Even Yang Huaizhen, boosted by Elixir, couldnât handle it at all.
"For this yearâs Celestial Pride List, first place goes to Lin Changâsheng!"
With Yang Huaizhenâs defeat, the Refining God Sect Grand Elder immediately proclaimed the first place winner of this yearâs Celestial Pride List.
The crowd was instantly stunned, rooted in disbelief for a long time.
After all, everyone had assumed from the start that Yang Huaizhen would triumph. Some had even placed hefty Immortal Crystal bets on his victory.
Now with Yang Huaizhenâs defeat, they couldnât accept it.
"Who could have guessed? In the end, the champion is actually this no-nameâLin Changâsheng!"
"Yeah! Not even the disciples of Immortal Martial Hall, Heaven-Suppressing Sect, or Immortal Palace could beat himâitâs insane!"
"Seems like the Immortal Realm is about to changeâsuch a once-in-a-lifetime prodigy has emerged!"
"Maybe, maybe not. Depends if he dies young. A kid this flashy might not even grow up before his enemies wipe him out!"
"True enoughâtall trees attract the wind. Being too gifted isnât always a blessing!"
...
All around, Elders and disciples alike whisperedâsome envied Lin Changâshengâs talent, others felt his extraordinary gifts would bring his ruin.
"Hmph. Could this kid really be the reincarnation of the Void Immortal King?"
Off in the distance, Luo Shang stared at Lin Changâsheng, champion of the Celestial Pride List, secretly pondering.
If Lin Changâsheng wasnât the Void Immortal King reincarnated, how could he be so monstrously talented?
If he really isâthen they absolutely canât let him live.
Otherwise, once he matures, the Celestial Nether Sword Sect would face utter destruction.
"Seventh Elder, alert every Celestial Nether Sword Sect member nearbyâwhen Lin Changâsheng tries to leave, ambush and kill him at all costs!"
Luo Shang barked his order.
Lin Changâsheng must not leave here alive.
If he did, and joined a Sect, killing him would be nearly impossible.
"Yes, sir!"
The Seventh Elder replied gravely, then hurried off.
"Now, the top ten on this yearâs Celestial Pride Listâthe champion: Lin Changâsheng, second place: Yang Huaizhen, third: Wang Huisheng, fourth: Zhou Qibai, fifth..."
As the Refining God Sect Grand Elder announced the top ten, the crowd erupted into chaos.
Few paid much attention to the detailsâthey only cared that Lin Changâsheng was number one.
Sure, Yang Huaizhen was second, but that hardly mattered anymore, never mind the others.
Finally, rewards were distributed to the top ten contenders.
Each of the ten received 10,000 Immortal Crystals and a Lower Grade Celestial Spirit Treasure.
The top three earned 30,000 Immortal Crystals and a Middle Grade Celestial Spirit Treasure apiece.
As for the champion, not only could he claim 50,000 Immortal Crystals and a Middle Grade Celestial Spirit Treasureâhe could also choose any High Level Immortal Technique from the Refining God Sect, and join any Sect he wished.
Lin Changâsheng didnât care much for these prizesâafter all, he already held three Upper Grade Celestial Spirit Treasures. Only a Heaven-Reaching Immortal Treasure would be worth his attention now.
As for the Immortal Technique, Lin Changâsheng chose one called Celestial Vault Refining God Art.
Once trained to Perfection, this art constantly uses the Celestial Vault Star Constellation to refine the soul, massively benefiting Divine Soul cultivation.
"Lin, our Immortal Martial Hall is willing to throw every resource behind you, pave the road for your cultivation, if only youâll join us and show us what you can do!"
Once more, the Immortal Martial Hall Elder tried to recruit Lin Changâsheng.
With prodigies like this, they werenât going to let him slip by.
Even though Lin Changâsheng had just crushed Yang Huaizhen, it didnât diminish their determination to bring him into their Sect.
"Our Heaven-Suppressing Sect will even grant you access to our Sectâs forbidden grounds. One day of cultivation inside equals a hundred outside! And our secret techniques will never be withheldâas long as Daoist Lin joins us!"
The next instant, the Heaven-Suppressing Sect Elder also made his bid.
"Our Immortal Palace keeps to itself, a pure land for cultivation. Join our Immortal Palace, Lin, and youâll be free of all worldly distractions, under our protection to cultivate in peace. Plus, we offer Alchemy Hall, Refining God Tower, Array Palaceâmany sanctums any time you wish! You are always welcome, Lin!"
The white-robed Immortal Palace Elder immediately invited him as well.
Other sects wanted to recruit Lin Changâsheng too, but with the Three Great Sects having spoken, anything they said would fall flat.
Only a fool would turn down the top three Giant Sects to join anyone else.
"I am willing to join the Immortal Palace!"
Lin Changâsheng stated firmly.
This took the Elders from Immortal Martial Hall and Heaven-Suppressing Sect entirely by surprise.
Even after theyâd offered such generous olive branches, heâd rejected the first and second Sects to pick Immortal Palace?
Especially considering that the Immortal Palace hadnât produced a peerless prodigy in many years!