"Are you looking for death?"

The simple words instantly froze the atmosphere in the arena.

Facing such a formidable Zhang Yan, Lin Mu actually dared to say such a thing. One couldn't tell if it was commendable courage or just blind confidence. The rest of the audience shook their heads slightly, thinking Lin Mu was far too arrogant.

A flicker of worry crossed Ye Tong's eyes, but she quickly covered it with a sneer. "Does this guy really think he's Ip Man? If he gets beaten off the stage, it'll be so embarrassing."

The smile on Zhang Yan's face slowly froze, replaced by a cold smirk. "You have a big mouth. I wonder if your strength is as hard as your words. Come on up. Watch me kill you with a single punch."

Watching Zhang Yan beckon from the stage, Lin Mu's expression remained unchanged as he slowly started walking toward the platform.

As the crowd watched Lin Mu's back, their expressions shifted. This guy, he really dares to go up? He must be a newborn calf unafraid of the tiger, coming here just to die.

Compared to the astonishing ways previous contestants had mounted the stage, Lin Mu's choice to simply walk made everyone lose all hope for him. They all thought he was courting death.

But Elder Guan was all smiles. What a joke. Even if this Zhang Yan is strong, could he possibly be stronger than a Grandmaster like Lin Mu? This time, the Guan Family is going to steal the show!

At this thought, Guan Chengye whispered a few words to Guan Feifei. She was startled at first, then nodded with understanding before getting up to leave.

「...」

Lin Mu stepped onto the stage, clasped his hands behind his back, and said to Zhang Yan, "I'm here. Let's begin."

Hearing Lin Mu's words, everyone was stunned again. Is he going to let Zhang Yan make the first move? Has this kid been kicked in the head by a donkey? After all, Zhang Yan had been the one to let his opponent strike first when he fought Liang Sheng. Now, Lin Mu was saying the same thing to him. This is getting interesting. Still, no one held out any hope for Lin Mu.

Ye Tong grew even more anxious. Has Lin Mu lost his mind? Not only is he not striking first, but he's also letting his opponent go first? He's going to lose the initiative!

Zhang Yan's expression darkened, and his eyes narrowed slightly. "Kid, you will pay for your arrogance today!"

As soon as his words fell, he lunged forward. The moment his foot hit the ground, he charged toward Lin Mu.

BOOM!

Before he even got close, Zhang Yan threw a punch. It tore through the air with a piercing shriek, carrying a powerful wave of Internal Energy.

Down below, Liang Sheng's eyes widened in fear. If I had faced that move from Zhang Yan, I would've had no chance of survival. Can Lin Mu take it? He couldn't help but worry.

Song Wenrou and Guan Jiaojiao, however, remained perfectly calm. To them, no one could be a match for Lin Mu.

But the others didn't think so. They saw that from beginning to end, Lin Mu hadn't reacted at all, not even moving an inch. It was as if he had been scared stiff.

The next moment, the fist struck Lin Mu's chest squarely.

THUD!

A dull sound echoed. The crowd silently shook their heads. He's dead!

But in the next second, Zhang Yan's expression changed drastically. He was thrown backward as if struck by a tremendous rebounding force.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

Stumbling back several steps on the stage, Zhang Yan barely managed to steady himself before looking at Lin Mu in utter shock. "You… you're not hurt?"

Lin Mu stood his ground, not moving a muscle, his expression completely unchanged.

Below the stage, many people gasped in disbelief. Not only is Lin Mu unharmed, but he sent Zhang Yan flying? What in the world is going on?

Among them, the most shocked was the recently returned Tan Feng. He had lost to Liang Sheng and was still unconvinced. He had been secretly gloating when Zhang Yan defeated Liang Sheng, and when he saw Lin Mu take the stage, he had sneered incessantly, certain the man wouldn't last a single move. But reality was the complete opposite of what he'd imagined. Not only was Lin Mu unharmed, but Zhang Yan, in contrast, looked rather disheveled.

This guy... he's actually this strong? Tan Feng was stunned. Even he wasn't confident he could take on Zhang Yan.

"You are too weak." Lin Mu shook his head. "If this is all the strength you have, then this competition is meaningless."

Lin Mu had agreed to participate in this martial gathering in River City for two reasons. The first was to fulfill his three conditions to Guan Chengye. The second was to gauge the strength of other Martial Artists. But clearly, Zhang Yan's performance was a great disappointment.

"You're courting death!" Zhang Yan roared in fury. His hands shot up, swiftly forming countless spells.

CHZZT!

Out of thin air, two blinding bolts of lightning appeared in his palms, which he clenched fiercely.

CRACK!

The two lightning bolts transformed into a pair of gauntlets, encasing Zhang Yan's fists.

"Thunder God Fist!" Zhang Yan let out a low roar, his body becoming a blur as he charged toward Lin Mu.

The entire audience was stunned. Zhang Yan summoned lightning to form gauntlets for an attack? Was that really necessary? This lightning, this thunderbolt, it's a force of heaven and earth, incredibly powerful. Even if Lin Mu has a few tricks up his sleeve, there's no need to be this cautious, right?

But only Zhang Yan himself knew the truth. My last punch didn't even touch his clothes. When my fist was an inch away, it was repelled by an even greater force that sent me flying. I was just repelled by my own power. Right now, he wanted to kill Lin Mu in a single blow.

BOOM! BOOM!

The fist appeared in a flash as Zhang Yan slammed it down toward Lin Mu.

CHZZT!

In that instant, sparks flew, and everyone in the audience instinctively shut their eyes.

"Hmph!"

It wasn't until a muffled grunt sounded out that people opened their eyes, which were burning from the bright light. But the sight before them made them completely ignore the stinging pain.

Lin Mu was still in his previous stance, having not moved at all. Zhang Yan, however, was leaning against the ring's ropes, his face pale, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. Both of his hands were scorched black.

That last strike had no effect on Lin Mu?

"Still too weak." Lin Mu shook his head, the disappointment in his eyes unconcealed. Zhang Yan's strength truly wasn't enough to even pique my interest.

"Who exactly are you?" Zhang Yan's eyes were fixed fiercely on Lin Mu. The Thunder God Fist was one of his trump cards, yet Lin Mu was completely unharmed. This made his expression turn exceedingly grim.

"You're not yet worthy to know who I am. But if this is the extent of your ability, then go back to where you came from," Lin Mu said, his hands clasped behind his back, his demeanor one of utter indifference.

To outsiders, it looked as if he was planning to let Zhang Yan off.

Zhang Yan couldn't stand it. His eyes turned bloodshot as he roared, "I haven't lost yet!"

Instantly, an even more powerful and ferocious energy erupted from his body as his hands danced through a series of complex seals.

BOOM! BOOM!

High in the sky, which had been clear moments before, a massive expanse of Wuyun suddenly gathered. Eventually, the Wuyun loomed overhead, creating a suffocating and oppressive atmosphere.

"This is..."

"The Controlling Thunder Technique?"

Many in the audience's expressions changed drastically. Although they had seen Zhang Yan turn lightning into gauntlets, it was clear he wasn't just summoning a thunderbolt now. He was controlling the thunder.

Wind, rain, thunder, and lightning were forces of heaven and earth, far surpassing the great Dao. Controlling them was by no means a simple matter. However, the technique Zhang Yan was using was none other than the Controlling Thunder Technique.

"Kid, so what if you're strong? In the end, you'll still die!"

Wild thunderbolts converged above Zhang Yan's head, making him look like a descending Thunder God filled with vast, apocalyptic power.

"Heavenly Law, Five Elements Controlling Thunder!"

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