The seemingly powerful roots were crushed to dust by Evan Lin with a casual squeeze.
The roots that had wrapped around Evan Lin melted away like snow, quickly shattering into fragments all over the ground.
"Who on earth are you?!"
Elder Mark Mu's voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with utter disbelief.
The Thousand-Wood Massacre Art was his signature divine ability—so strong it could easily bind even a giant serpent that had survived for a hundred years!
Against martial artists, Elder Mark Mu was even confident he could restrain a third-grade Vajra expert!
As an elder of Medicine King Valley, Mark Mu had never encountered anything like today!
"He broke free!"
Old Madam Ding muttered to herself, staring at the young man before her. Her whole expression had changed, and her voice was strained: "That’s... that’s the power of a true immortal..."
"Unbelievable! Look at him—he broke free from that binding like it was nothing, and that was Elder Mark Mu’s famous move!"
"Oh my god, Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin! Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin!"
"How come we've never heard of this Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin before? It's like he just appeared out of thin air!"
Everyone looked at each other, completely baffled.
No doubt about it—after today, the name Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin will be known all across Seacrest Prefecture!
Not only did he kill River City's number one, Drake Huang, he also pierced fourth-grade Vajra Gavin Cheng with the Soul-Locking Chain, and even went head-to-head with Medicine King Valley's Mark Mu!
Acts like these are practically defying the heavens!
"I told you. I'm Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin."
Evan Lin walked slowly toward Elder Mark Mu, disappointment in his eyes. "I thought you might actually have some strength worth my attention, but now I see—you're nothing special."
"You really think such a cheap trick is worth showing off?"
At Evan Lin's words, Elder Mark Mu's face flushed red with rage, his whole body trembling. A flash of viciousness passed through his eyes; then he bit down hard on his tongue and spat a mouthful of blood straight at the giant root on the ground.
The giant root, once it touched the blood spat out by Elder Mark Mu, suddenly seemed to come alive. It violently tore up the entire floor, whipping through the air like a divine scourge, and shot straight toward Gavin Cheng’s corpse, which was still skewered on the Soul-Locking Chain.
Thin roots stabbed into Gavin Cheng’s body. Instantly, the whole root became like a giant parasite greedily sucking blood; Gavin’s corpse shriveled up at a speed visible to the naked eye.
As it fed, countless tiny tendrils sprouted from the main root, splitting off and weaving together in midair until they twisted into an even thicker, more monstrous root—which finally smashed down toward Evan Lin.
The force was overwhelming.
It was like the Milky Way crashing down, splitting the ground wide open.
Boom!
No fancy moves—the root just slammed straight down onto Evan Lin’s head.
"Sir!"
In everyone’s eyes, that massive, tangled root—woven from countless smaller tendrils—slammed hard into Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin.
It was so fast that Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin didn’t even have time to react—he was instantly buried beneath the root, vanishing from sight.
Dust filled the air.
When the smoke cleared, the ground was littered with jagged stones and the massive, tangled roots sprawled everywhere.
"Let’s see you survive this!"
After spitting out that mouthful of blood, Elder Mark Mu seemed to age years in an instant—his face was etched with even deeper wrinkles.
He gazed at the devastation, exhaled a heavy breath, and let a note of satisfaction creep into his eyes. "A life-for-life technique—utterly inescapable. And with the Thousand-Wood Massacre Art absorbing the blood of a fourth-grade Vajra, its power is even greater!"
"You were crushed head-on—there’s no way you survived!"
"This is what happens to anyone who dares provoke Medicine King Valley!"
Elder Mark Mu’s face was icy as he swept his gaze across the crowd. Anyone who met his eyes shivered uncontrollably.
"Zane Zhen, your master has avenged you."
Elder Mark Mu turned to leave.
Suddenly, a faint sigh echoed through the air.
Elder Mark Mu froze, whipping his head around in disbelief to stare at the spot buried under layer after layer of ugly roots.
"Too weak. Even if you risked your life, it’s still not enough."
A cold, clear voice rang out, and then transparent Soul-Locking Chains burst up from the ground, piercing through every last root.
A lone figure stepped out, slow and steady.
In just a few steps, Evan Lin was standing right in front of Elder Mark Mu, his face utterly calm. He reached out and grabbed Elder Mark Mu by the throat with one hand.
"You!"
Elder Mark Mu’s face flushed red as Evan Lin lifted him effortlessly with one hand—he couldn’t fight back at all.
"So this is all an elder of Medicine King Valley amounts to?"
Behind Evan Lin, the Soul-Locking Chains crushed every last root, then drifted over to Elder Mark Mu, looming upright before him, radiating a chilling, murderous intent.
"Wait!"
Seeing Elder Mark Mu captured alive, Old Madam Ding hurried over, standing respectfully at a distance. She looked at Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin and said, "For today’s Underground Boxing King Tournament, you are the undisputed champion. There’s no need for any more matches."
As soon as Old Madam Ding finished speaking, not a single contestant who’d survived the first round dared show any dissatisfaction.
Who’d be stupid enough to rush up now? That’d be suicide.
Forget winning a title—your life would be forfeit before you even got close.
"Mm."
Evan Lin glanced indifferently at Old Madam Ding and gave a slight nod.
He accepted the title without hesitation.
"Could you please let Elder Mark Mu go? He’s from Medicine King Valley, and you did kill his disciple first. Elder Mark Mu only acted out of loyalty—surely you can understand." Old Madam Ding finished speaking, watching Evan Lin with utmost caution.
Right now, not a single member of the Ding family could stand against him.
Old Madam Ding was already scheming. If she could recruit Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin into the Ding family...
Just the thought set her heart ablaze with excitement.
With a master like him, the Ding family would have a real shot at becoming number one in all of Seacrest Prefecture!
Seeing Evan Lin remain silent, Old Madam Ding discreetly beckoned to someone at the back.
Ding Wanhan, who had been standing quietly, understood at once. She stepped forward, holding a small crimson treasure box, her eyes subtly sizing up Evan Lin. With a sweet and elegant smile, she offered the box to him.
"This is our Ding family's ancestral magical artifact. According to the rules of this Underground Boxing King Tournament, this artifact—and Wanhan herself—now belong to you."
"Please, for the sake of both the artifact and Wanhan, show mercy."