"Martial Intent?!"
The words spread through the arena like a storm.
The spectators who had only just recovered from Lin Shou's victory erupted into chaos once more.
Many stood from their seats.
Others stared at Lin Shou as though seeing him for the first time.
Even several Foundation Establishment cultivators wore expressions of disbelief.
Martial Intent.
Countless Xuan Gang cultivators spent their entire lives chasing that realm.
Yet a young Xuan Gang martial artist had already touched it.
The shock was simply too great.
Among the Zheng Family delegation, the black-robed woman narrowed her eyes.
For the first time since arriving at Jade Haven City, genuine concern appeared within her gaze.
Her eyes remained fixed on Lin Shou.
The unstable fluctuations surrounding him.
The lingering traces of Intent.
The exhaustion hidden beneath his calm appearance.
Everything was carefully observed.
Several moments later—
Her expression gradually relaxed.
A smile appeared beneath the mask.
It was true.
Lin Shou had comprehended Martial Intent.
But it was equally true that he had not stabilized it.
Furthermore—
The previous battle had consumed enormous amounts of Gang Qi.
Recovering completely within a short period of time would be impossible.
Even two hours wouldn't be enough.
The smile beneath the mask widened slightly.
Victory was still hers.
Meanwhile—
The Zheng Family Patriarch's expression had become rather complicated.
Originally, the appearance of Martial Intent had genuinely shocked him.
The Qian Family had hidden far more than expected.
His gaze shifted toward the black-robed woman.
Almost immediately, she looked back.
A divine sense transmission entered his mind.
The contents were brief.
Yet sufficient.
The Zheng Family Patriarch visibly relaxed.
His expression returned to normal.
Seeing this, several nearby elders quietly calmed themselves as well.
The competition wasn't over yet.
Far from it.
At the center of the arena, the referee finally recovered.
His voice echoed throughout the battlefield.
"The current scores are as follows."
"Qian Family — Three Victories."
"Zheng Family — Three Victories."
"Wu Family — One Victory."
The arena gradually became quiet.
Everyone understood what that meant.
The Wu Family had been eliminated.
The final victor would be decided between the Zheng Family and the Qian Family.
The referee continued.
"According to the decision of the three ancestors..."
"The final battle shall determine the overall victor."
"The Zheng Family and Qian Family will each send one final representative."
"The winner shall receive the opportunity."
Excitement immediately surged throughout the crowd.
A final battle.
A true deciding battle.
The atmosphere reached its peak.
"Both sides will be granted two hours of preparation."
The referee stepped back.
The crowd immediately erupted into discussion.
...
Within the Qian Family delegation.
The atmosphere was considerably more relaxed than before.
After all—
Lin Shou had just secured an incredible victory.
Even the Qian Family Patriarch personally approached him.
The middle-aged man's expression carried genuine admiration.
"Excellent."
"You have my respect."
Lin Shou scratched his head awkwardly.
The Patriarch continued.
"Comprehending Martial Intent at your age..."
"Your future is limitless."
Then he paused.
His gaze became serious.
"I hope you'll help the Qian Family one final time."
Many nearby cultivators nodded.
It was obvious what he meant.
The final battle.
The representative most likely to defeat the black-robed woman was undoubtedly Lin Shou.
After all—
Martial Intent alone was enough to alter the balance.
Yet surprisingly—
Lin Shou merely smiled.
"We'll see."
The answer confused many people.
Including the Patriarch.
However, before anyone could ask further, Lin Sheng quietly spoke several words to Zhao Feng.
After hearing them—
Zhao Feng's expression became strange.
Then increasingly strange.
Eventually, he nodded.
Apparently understanding something.
The two hours passed quickly.
...
The arena once again became crowded.
This time, however, the atmosphere felt different.
More serious.
More intense.
Everyone knew what was about to happen.
The final battle.
The battle that would determine ownership of the Purple Jade Pearl.
At the center of the arena, the referee stepped forward.
"The final match."
"Representatives, enter the stage."
From the Zheng Family side—
The black-robed woman rose.
Several changes had occurred.
The cloak had been removed.
Only the mask remained.
Her figure was finally visible.
Tall.
Elegant.
An hourglass silhouette hidden beneath flowing blue-black robes.
The robe itself appeared unfamiliar.
Many spectators attempted to identify its origin.
None succeeded.
Even several Purple Palace experts quietly frowned.
No one recognized it.
The woman ignored the attention.
She calmly adjusted her mask before stepping onto the battlefield.
The wind caused her robes to flutter gently.
Countless gazes followed her.
Yet none dared speak.
The pressure she had displayed previously remained fresh in everyone's minds.
Then—
The Qian Family representative appeared.
And the entire arena froze.
Because it wasn't Lin Shou.
It wasn't Lou Han.
It wasn't Lin Xiaolu.
It was—
Lin Sheng.
The crowd immediately exploded.
"What?!"
"Lin Sheng?"
"They didn't send Lin Shou?"
"Have they gone mad?"
"Martial Intent is right there!"
"Why send someone else?"
Even many Qian Family members looked stunned.
The Qian Family Patriarch himself frowned.
Truthfully—
Even he still wasn't completely certain regarding this decision.
Across the arena, the black-robed woman stopped walking.
Her eyes narrowed.
Lin Sheng.
The quiet one.
The one who had barely attracted attention throughout the competition.
For a brief moment, confusion appeared.
Then suspicion.
Then amusement.
Surely this was a trick.
Some hidden strategy.
Some desperate attempt to deceive her.
Otherwise, why would they send him instead of the Martial Intent user?
The referee looked toward both sides.
Then raised his hand.
"The battle begins."
Silence.
Neither side moved.
The black-robed woman carefully examined Lin Sheng.
Trying to find something.
Anything.
A hidden fluctuation.
A concealed aura.
A special physique.
Yet—
Nothing.
The young man merely stood there.
A faint smile rested on his face.
Nothing else.
No arrogance.
No fear.
No excitement.
The absence of emotion somehow irritated her.
Eventually she laughed.
The sound echoed throughout the arena.
"So."
"The Qian Family abandoned their strongest fighter."
Her voice carried obvious mockery.
"And sent you instead."
Lin Sheng remained silent.
The smile never changed.
The woman narrowed her eyes.
"Interesting."
"If that's the case..."
"I'll make sure you regret stepping onto this stage."
Still—
No response.
No anger.
No reaction.
Only the same smile.
The woman suddenly felt annoyed.
Very annoyed.
Within her eyes, Lin Sheng had instantly transformed into an arrogant fool.
Someone who believed himself untouchable.
Someone who required a lesson.
A painful one.
The next moment—
The battle began.
The black-robed woman didn't move immediately.
Neither did Lin Sheng.
Several seconds passed.
Ten.
Fifteen.
Twenty.
Then—
Lin Sheng started walking.
One step.
Then another.
Steady.
Calm.
Directly toward her.
The woman stared.
Then laughed loudly.
So that was it.
The fool truly intended to bluff her.
"You're dead."
The smile vanished from her voice.
This time—
She intended to kill.
Spiritual energy erupted around her body.
A violent whirlwind formed.
Countless points of light appeared.
Compressed.
Condensed.
Solidified.
The audience immediately became alarmed.
Many experts stood.
The number continued increasing.
Ten.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Fifty.
Over fifty compressed stellar projectiles hovered around her.
Even the Qian Family Patriarch's expression changed.
She wasn't holding back.
She intended to erase Lin Sheng entirely.
The Zheng Family Patriarch merely smiled.
Then—
The projectiles fired.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The battlefield exploded.
The attacks crossed the distance instantly.
The entire section of arena where Lin Sheng stood disappeared beneath a storm of explosions.
Stone shattered.
Dust erupted.
Cracks spread throughout the battlefield.
The audience stared in horror.
Even Zhao Feng clenched his fists.
The bombardment lasted several breaths.
Then silence returned.
Smoke covered everything.
The black-robed woman breathed slightly heavier.
Even for her, such an attack wasn't cheap.
Yet it should have been enough.
More than enough.
Then—
The smoke began clearing.
The woman frowned.
A figure gradually appeared.
Lin Sheng.
Standing exactly where he had been.
A barrier surrounded him.
Several cracks covered its surface.
Yet before everyone's eyes—
Those cracks slowly healed.
The audience fell silent.
The black-robed woman's eyes widened.
Meanwhile, within Lin Sheng's vision—
The Chip displayed a notification.
[Spell Structure Analyzed.]
[Trajectory Recorded.]
[Energy Composition Recorded.]
[Stellar Spell Database Updated.]
[Information Transferred To Memory Space.]
Lin Sheng's smile widened slightly.
Perfect.
That was what he wanted.
The analysis was complete.
Now—
The battle could end.
He took a single step forward.
Then disappeared.
The audience only saw a blur.
Even most Foundation Establishment cultivators lost track of him completely.
Only Peak Foundation Establishment experts managed to follow the movement.
The next instant—
Lin Sheng appeared beside the black-robed woman.
The audience erupted.
The woman herself froze.
Too fast.
Far too fast.
Before she could react—
Lin Sheng extended his hand.
Crack.
Her defensive barrier shattered instantly.
The sound echoed throughout the arena.
Then—
His hand grabbed her robe.
The audience collectively inhaled.
The black-robed woman stared blankly.
For the first time since arriving at Jade Haven City—
Panic appeared.
She erupted immediately.
Stellar energy exploded.
She struggled.
Twisted.
Attempted escape.
Nothing worked.
The hand holding her felt immovable.
Like an iron mountain.
Realizing brute force was useless—
She chose another option.
A larger stellar spell instantly formed.
Then detonated directly in Lin Sheng's face.
BOOM!
The explosion engulfed both figures.
Several spectators cried out.
Even the woman's mask partially peeled away from the force.
The smoke dispersed.
Then—
Lin Sheng walked out.
Completely unharmed.
Only a few new cracks had appeared across his barrier.
Nothing more.
The black-robed woman's expression finally changed.
Truly changed.
Her strongest attacks were ineffective.
Her speed was inferior.
Her defenses were useless.
For the first time—
She genuinely didn't know what to do.
Meanwhile—
Lin Sheng continued walking toward her.
Calm.
Steady.
His hand slowly rose.
The crowd held its breath.
Everyone knew what came next.
One strike.
That was all it would take.
Then—
A voice suddenly echoed throughout the arena.
"We surrender."
Silence.
The speaker was the Zheng Family Patriarch.
Everyone froze.
Even the black-robed woman turned in disbelief.
The Zheng Family cultivators immediately erupted.
Many wanted to object.
Several even stood.
Unfortunately—
The Patriarch's expression became cold.
"Sit down."
The simple command instantly silenced everyone.
No one dared continue.
The referee stared blankly for several moments.
Then finally recovered.
His voice trembled slightly.
"The Zheng Family concedes."
"The winner..."
He paused.
Looking toward Lin Sheng.
Then toward the Qian Family delegation.
"The winner of the competition..."
"The Qian Family!"
The arena exploded with noise.
Cheers.
Shock.
Disbelief.
The final battle had ended far faster than anyone imagined.
And standing quietly at the center of it all—
Lin Sheng simply smiled.