Only When Inner Force Takes Form Is It Fourth-Grade

"The older you get, the fiercer you are? Isn't that just being a turtle!"

Keaton Wang couldn't help but fire back, his voice a little too loud.

The moment the words left his mouth, Keaton felt a wave of killing intent flood over him. He shivered in fear and ducked behind Shawn Shi.

"Is that for real?" Below the stage, Gavin Cheng looked at Elder Mark Mu, a flash of wild joy in his eyes.

Now that he'd stepped into fourth-grade Vajra, Gavin felt more than ever how crucial pills and spiritual herbs were to cultivation.

If he became a Medicine King Valley guest elder, he'd get endless benefits in the future.

It'd be nothing but good for boosting his strength.

"If I say it, I mean it." Elder Mark Mu nodded, his gaze locked onto Evan Lin.

"Kid, didn't expect you'd be in such demand! Once I kill you, maybe I'll even burn some incense for you, ha!" Gavin Cheng burst out laughing.

He'd originally just come to get justice for Carter Cheng, but now he'd picked up a Medicine King Valley guest elder spot for free—how could he not be happy?

As for Elder Mu's talk of teaming up, Gavin just ignored it.

Now that Gavin was a fourth-grade Vajra, his confidence was sky-high. Even if there was a mountain in front of him, he believed he could punch straight through and carve out a path!

Let alone this scrawny kid with a backpack and cap—Evan Lin looked more like a high-schooler on a hiking trip than a threat.

Someone like that, probably wouldn't even take a single punch.

Up on stage.

Evan Lin's gaze was icy and amused. He glanced at Gavin Cheng below, then swept his eyes over Elder Mark Mu. The corners of his mouth curled into a faint smile: "Interesting. If you both want to come at me together, then bring it on."

Evan Lin walked slowly toward Gavin Cheng's spot below the stage.

On the other side, Elder Mark Mu murmured in a rapid, almost invisible whisper. His left hand cradled Zane Zhen's severed head, while his right fingers twisted through hand-seals.

Old Madam Ding watched this scene, her eyes lighting up with interest.

Meanwhile, Evan Lin continued to walk down the steps.

One step. Two steps. Three steps.

On his fifth step, Evan Lin stepped off the stage.

His left foot hit the ground first.

The moment Evan’s right foot left the specially-made marble stage, the platform roared and collapsed, shattering into countless pieces across the floor.

"The arena just collapsed!"

"Collapsed? More like it got pulverized!"

"How was that kid standing up there just now?"

"Holy crap, don’t tell me he was using his externalized inner force to hold the whole stage together the entire time!"

The crowd was completely stunned.

Not far away, Elder Mark Mu—still quietly murmuring and weaving hand seals—couldn’t help but twitch his eyelid at the sight.

Carter Cheng’s cocky grin froze for a moment. As he watched Evan stride straight toward him, his face darkened. "Looks like I underestimated you. No wonder you managed to piss off Elder Mu from Medicine King Valley. Anyone who can do that must have some real skill."

"But too bad—your opponent is me!"

"I, Carter Cheng, just broke through to fourth-grade Vajra. You’re the first one I’ll fight since coming out of seclusion. Tell me your name."

Carter stared at Evan, who was just five meters away, and spoke in a low voice.

"Lin. Jiuxuan."

Evan answered slowly, spitting out the three syllables.

Each word hit like a hammer—clear and commanding.

Lin Jiuxuan!

As soon as those three words were spoken, the already rowdy stands suddenly went quiet as someone blurted out in surprise.

"Lin Jiuxuan? Why does that name sound so familiar?"

“A few days ago, the guy who killed Luke Lu at the Beast Arena also called himself Lin Jiuxuan...”

“No way, it can't be the same person, right?!”

Someone in the crowd suddenly remembered something and blurted it out, sounding half in disbelief.

“Lin Jiuxuan!”

Elder Mark Mu’s eyes flashed with a sharp glint. Hearing that name, the resentment already simmering in his gaze deepened with another layer of fury.

The news from Medicine King Valley’s Spirit Elm: the youth who struck alongside Damon Wang and killed Sean Shao was Lin Jiuxuan!

“I never thought... it’s actually you!”

A wild, crashing wave of anger surged in Elder Mu’s heart.

“Lin Jiuxuan...” Old Madam Ding slowly mouthed the name, her eyes sharpening as she sensed the rising pressure radiating from Elder Mu, taking the situation up another notch.

“This kid really isn’t simple after all.” Old Madam Ding let out a faint sigh, her tone a mix of awe and concern.

Wendy Ding’s eyes grew complicated as she looked at the calm youth standing in front of Gavin Cheng, a fourth-grade Vajra.

Like a heavy sword with no edge.

Even standing face-to-face with a fourth-grade Vajra and under the tiger-like glare of Elder Mark Mu, the youth remained as calm as a windless lake—no joy, no fear, utterly unshaken.

A youth who stands tall like a dragon.

What a name—Lin Jiuxuan!

Just a few simple words, yet they set the blood boiling, wild and unrestrained!

Like thunder erupting on flat ground.

“Lin Jiuxuan!” Gavin Cheng laughed, stretching out his hand. Instantly, wild, surging inner force erupted from his body, condensing in the air.

That visible white qi looked like thick water mist, every swirl pulsing with a wild, heart-shaking power.

The air itself echoed with a tearing wind.

That surging force, in no time at all, condensed into an even larger mass of pure white mist in front of Gavin Cheng!

“Today, watch Gavin Cheng’s blade cut down Lin Jiuxuan!”

Gavin shouted, his right hand reaching into the swirling mist. In a flash, the force condensed into a massive, cleaver-shaped blade in his hand!

You couldn’t see a physical edge, but the whole blade radiated wild, destructive power.

Like the claws of a beast tearing through the air!

“Fourth-grade Vajra—when your inner force takes shape as a weapon!”

Someone’s eyes went wide, shouting out in excitement: “No way! He really turned his qi into a weapon!”

“A true fourth-grade Vajra can not only project inner force, but give it form! That’s a qi blade—it could chop through steel!”

Everyone stared at the wild, gigantic blade in Gavin’s hand—it was over two meters long, radiating pure dominance.

“Come on then, show me your weapon!”

Gavin gripped his giant blade, pointing the tip straight at Evan Lin’s face.

The wild wind from his qi swept across Evan’s face, making his hair flutter—but his eyes stayed as calm as an ancient well.

“Oh, right—I forgot, you probably haven’t even stepped into fourth-grade Vajra yet, huh?” Gavin sneered, just starting to smile—then his grin froze.

The youth in front of him slowly raised his hand.

It looked like the smallest of gestures, but in a split second, a chain of qi—eighty-one links long—condensed in his palm!

“Wait, isn’t that... doesn’t it look just like Master Mo Yang’s legendary Soul-Locking Chain?”

Someone hesitated, muttering to themselves, not quite sure—but their eyes burned with excitement.