Chapter 182: An Unsurpassable Routine

"Are you really not afraid of death?" Xin Feng asked at this moment.

Xin Feng's heart began to waver. At first glance, this person gave him a sense of kinship, even a desire to befriend him.

Although their first meeting had infuriated him, the current situation made him hesitate.

Lin Fan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Brother Feng, come on, the third strike."

"You..." Xin Feng saw him like this, and his heart began to shake.

Looking at the other's expression of facing death calmly, Xin Feng felt he should not strike again, or he would regret it for life.

On the high platform at this moment.

Wu Ya and Sect Master Yan were communicating telepathically.

"Sect Master, I feel there's something wrong here." Wu Ya, watching the situation on the field, also sensed something off. They had been observing Lin Fan secretly ever since they took him in.

The final conclusion was:

Pit, pit, pit...

All pits. Not only was he mysterious, but also quite sly.

How could someone who valued his life so much put on a look of facing death calmly?

"Tactics determine everything. Wait for the result." Sect Master Yan said, his expression unchanged, transmitting his voice.

Wu Ya, the Supreme Elder, nodded and said nothing.

Lü Mingyang did not know Lin Fan's situation, but seeing the Sect Master and Senior Brother Wu Ya calm and unhurried, he was filled with doubt.

At this moment, Lin Fan stepped forward. "The third strike, come on. Don't let me feel guilty for life. The Saint Sect and the Nine Heavens Sect have helped and supported each other for three thousand years. Don't let it be that in our generation, we two bear grudges and break off relations. Then I would be a sinner of the sect."

Lin Fan roared, and heaven and earth mourned. The originally clear sky gradually gathered dark clouds.

The disciples of the Nine Heavens Sect and the Saint Sect were greatly shaken, all moved by Lin Fan's words.

Indeed, for three thousand years, the Nine Heavens Sect and the Saint Sect had been like family.

At this moment, the prodigies of the Nine Heavens Sect looked toward the Saint Sect. During the competition, they had felt disdain for the Saint Sect.

Now these words, like thunder, resounded through heaven and earth, shaking them with guilt.

Zong Hentian and Feng Xiaoling looked at each other from afar, then silently lowered their heads, finally raising them with smiles on their faces.

It seemed all previous grudges had vanished in an instant.

"Saint Sect, Lin Fan—I have engraved him in my heart."

"Me too. The Saint Sect is our ally, our friendly sect. This man—I must spread his name throughout the Nine Heavens Sect, so that fellow disciples know there is such a person in the Saint Sect."

"I hope Senior Brother Xin Feng does not strike."

"No, you don't understand. This strike must be made. Senior Brother Xin Feng cares about this man more than we do."

...

"Brother Wu Ya, how about we let it go this time?" Liang Yichu said at this moment.

"Brother Yichu, don't you care about first place?" Wu Ya said with a faint smile.

Liang Yichu shook his head. "Brother Wu Ya, you know it well. Why ask me? The Strongest Prodigy Battle was established by the ancestors to maintain ties between the two sects and prevent estrangement. Who gets first place is not important now. Since the Saint Sect has produced this disciple, I don't want him to die here. That would be a loss for both the Saint Sect and the Nine Heavens Sect."

"Even for my disciple, it would be an insurmountable hurdle."

Wu Ya looked at the arena and sighed softly. "Brother Yichu, things have come to this. Don't stop it. Without this strike, your disciple will never cross that hurdle. Just like back then—if I hadn't made you cry, would we be like this?"

Liang Yichu was initially moved, but suddenly realized the meaning of those words was off. He snorted and ignored Wu Ya. "Do as you please. Don't cry if he dies."

...

"Come on!" Lin Fan roared at this moment.

Xin Feng looked at Lin Fan, his body trembling slightly. "Alright, no matter what, I recognize you as a friend."

"The third strike, from now on, shall be called the Bosom Friend Sword."

At this moment, the sword light illuminated the void. Xin Feng moved, holding the Bosom Friend Sword formed by sword intent, charging at Lin Fan.

Lin Fan stood there, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

The radiance of this strike surpassed the previous two. Even the five swords formed by sword intent behind Xin Feng began to tremble. At the moment the third strike emitted its light,

the other five swords turned into streams of light and merged into the third strike.

At this moment, Liang Yichu suddenly stood up, his expression showing disbelief.

"This is a breakthrough."

The disciples of the Nine Heavens Sect and the Saint Sect stood up one after another, their eyes carrying a hint of worry.

He must not be hurt.

Lin Fan, preparing to receive the third strike, changed expression slightly. He realized that Xin Feng had broken through.

The third strike seemed to have changed, its momentum even greater than before.

But strangely, Lin Fan felt no panic at all.

The moment the third strike touched Lin Fan's chest, there was no strong impact. Instead, the strike shattered inch by inch and finally disintegrated.

"The Bosom Friend Sword does not harm bosom friends." Xin Feng's arm rested on Lin Fan's shoulder, revealing the most sincere smile of his life.

Lin Fan also smiled, patting Xin Feng's shoulder in return.

"Brother Feng."

"Brother Lin..."

They looked at each other, their sparkling eyes locked for a long time.

"Brother Lin."

"Brother Feng."

Suddenly they both laughed heartily, arms around each other's shoulders.

"Brother Feng, meeting a friend like you today is my fortune. Although the Strongest Prodigy Battle is just a formality, for the sake of future generations, there must be a first place. Therefore, I withdraw and concede, letting you be the champion of this session," Lin Fan said sincerely.

"No, Brother Lin, you don't need to withdraw. I, Xin Feng, have no friends. Meeting a bosom friend like you today, who is first no longer matters. I withdraw," Xin Feng stopped Lin Fan and said.

"No... I withdraw," Lin Fan said.

"Brother Lin, I withdraw. Don't argue with me, or you won't recognize me as a friend," Xin Feng said.

"Brother Feng..." Just as Lin Fan was about to speak, Xin Feng decisively jumped out of the arena.

In the end, only Lin Fan remained on the stage.

"The 1000th Strongest Prodigy Battle, the final winner: Lin Fan of the Saint Sect."

At this moment, an ordinary elder grabbed Lin Fan's arm and raised it high.

Lin Fan stood there, letting the elder hold his arm aloft.

This...

"Long live the Saint Sect!"

"Long live the Nine Heavens Sect!"

...

The disciples in the audience cheered loudly. At this moment, the atmosphere of the Strongest Prodigy Battle truly reached its peak.

Lin Fan looked at Xin Feng, at the prodigies of the Nine Heavens Sect.

"Clap, clap..."

Xin Feng and the prodigies of the Nine Heavens Sect applauded, cheering for Lin Fan.

At this moment, Lin Fan wiped the corner of his eye with one hand, raised his head, and looked at the sky.

Was it easy for him? Not at all.

Today, Lin Fan was truly happy.

Today's act was the most satisfying act he had ever performed.

Not only did he get first place, but he also made the other party applaud willingly and gained a precious friendship.

Perhaps in the future, he might never surpass this act, but for now, Lin Fan was content.

At this moment, Lin Fan truly experienced what it meant to kill three birds with one stone.

On the high platform.

"Brother Wu Ya, I feel like something's off," Liang Yichu said, clapping and turning his head with some confusion.

Wu Ya clapped and smiled. "No, everything is perfect. The Saint Sect is first."

Liang Yichu: "..."