"Your ability to summon the World-Ending Thunder Dragon is enough to prove that your talent is terrifying, and is beyond the tolerance of the Heavenly Dao. Therefore, if you want to go further, you must possess even greater perseverance!" the Elder of the Halfway said. "However, as long as you keep moving forward, there will likely be no one at your level who can be your opponent!"
"Thank you for your praise, Elder!"
Lu Fan apologized slightly and smiled. Being praised by the Elder made him feel somewhat uneasy.
"But no matter what, kid, don't get arrogant!" Elder Wuming chuckled. "You must also face the peak battle a few days from now with all your might. Although Lin Wuya's strength is considerable, you have now broken through to Saint King. Perhaps you can fight him. It's not impossible!"
Lu Fan nodded slightly, his gaze appearing indifferent. In fact, he was quite aware of what the Elder had said, and still didn't think highly of him. However, Lu Fan knew that if it truly came to a fight, Lin Wuya might not be able to stop him.
Returning to the blessed land, Xu Kuo specifically caught several wild chickens and a good amount of other game. Everyone gathered around the campfire, happily feasting.
Lu Fan's successful tribulation was a joyous occasion for them. After all, they were quite happy that Lu Fan was still alive.
"You're just like my sister. My sister thought something would really happen to you and almost collapsed!"
Hu Yu looked at Lu Fan, his words carrying genuine sincerity.
Lu Fan was slightly taken aback, and then glanced at Hu Xian'er. His face showed some embarrassment, as Hu Yu's words were loaded with implications, leaving him unsure how to respond.
"Little Yu, don't be rude!" Hu Xian'er shot him a glare. "And don't talk nonsense!"
"I'm not talking nonsense, it's the truth!"
With a serious expression, Hu Yu spoke again.
"Cough, cough, it was somewhat fortunate that I was able to overcome this tribulation today. It might not be as easy next time!"
Lu Fan cleared his throat a few times, his expression solemn. He did not respond to Hu Yu's words.
Hu Yu stood there stunned, feeling a little displeased, but he didn't dare to say more.
"The peak battle is in a few days, are you ready?" The young master of the Tao family asked. "Now that you've broken through to Saint King, you might have a chance to fight!"
"Yes, I indeed have a chance to fight!"
Lu Fan nodded slightly. "Moreover, it's even possible that I could defeat Lin Wuya and become the number one person in the Central Continent Academy!"
"Defeat Lin Wuya?"
Everyone present was stunned, finding it rather unbelievable. If Lu Fan had only spoken of sparring, it might have been understandable, but to defeat Lin Wuya was not an easy feat. At least, in their opinion, it wouldn't be so simple.
"What, you all seem to have no confidence in me!" Lu Fan shrugged. "Actually, you don't need to be like this. Although Lin Wuya is very strong, with my current strength, I am confident that I can match him!"
The young master of the Tao family was stunned. But in that instant, he leaped up and stepped towards Lu Fan, his movements incredibly fast, with a trace of sharpness in his eyes.
As fast as lightning, Lu Fan had already moved a hundred meters away, a smile on his face. "Brother Tao, are you looking to spar with me?"
"If I remember correctly, we were of similar strength before. I wonder what the gap is between us after this breakthrough!"
The young master of the Tao family didn't hold back at all, testing Lu Fan. His movements were sharp, as he knew very well that he wouldn't be able to defeat him if he didn't use his full strength.
Hu Xian'er and the others watched from the side, their hearts filled with surprise. They were unsure who was stronger between the young master of the Tao family and Lu Fan, which made them very doubtful.
Not long after, the young master of the Tao family realized that in front of Lu Fan, he was like a mere clown, unable to even touch Lu Fan's movements. If Lu Fan wished, he could even kill him in an instant.
"How is this possible!"
Xu Kuo was stunned. "Brother Tao's strength is extraordinary. He could even last fifty moves against Elder Wuming, but now, why is he so struggling against Brother Lu?"
"You're not going to tell me his strength has surpassed Great Sage, are you?" Hu Yu scoffed, still somewhat disbelieving.
"I didn't say that!" Xu Kuo shook his head, his face showing some embarrassment.
A Saint King whose strength surpassed that of a Great Sage was no small matter. It was likely an event that had never happened before, from ancient times to the present.
"Forget it, forget it, I am no match for you. I can't even grasp your intentions, so how can I even fight!"
The young master of the Tao family was filled with helplessness and immediately stopped. He had wanted to test Lu Fan, but now it seemed unnecessary, as Lu Fan was simply beyond his capabilities.
"What's wrong?"
Lu Fan shrugged. "It seems you're not happy!"
"I'm not unhappy. Your strength is beneficial to me. At least in the future, if someone bullies me, you can help me fight them, right?" The young master of the Tao family shrugged, his words carrying a serious tone.
Lu Fan also smiled, and said no more. He was full of confidence for the peak battle in a few days. At least, with his current mindset, he had never considered losing.
Meanwhile, within the Central Continent Academy, many people had gathered, their hearts filled with trepidation. They had never expected things to turn out this way, catching them off guard.
"Start placing your bets. Those who bet on Senior Brother Lin Wuya to win, place your bets on the left. Those who bet on Lu Fan to win, place your bets on the right!"
A voice rang out, and everyone became more solemn, paying close attention to this matter.
"Is there even a need to bet? It's definitely Senior Brother Lin Wuya who will win!"
"That's right, that's right! How powerful is Senior Brother Lin Wuya? He is a Half-Step Great Sage expert. If even he can't win, then who else can become number one!"
"You can't say that. Haven't you seen that terrifying World-Ending Thunder Dragon? To cause such a massive upheaval, he must be an unparalleled prodigy who will have a boundless future. Moreover, Lu Fan has already broken through to Saint King. It's still unknown who will win and who is stronger!"
Conversations continued, and people debated endlessly.
With these words, everyone also came to realize that it was indeed true. Lu Fan's ability to summon the World-Ending Thunder Dragon meant his strength could not be underestimated. Such immense power was truly extraordinary.
For a time, more and more chips were placed on both sides. However, Lin Wuya had the highest popularity, firmly surpassing Lu Fan. There were very few who bet on Lu Fan, and these people only bet on him out of curiosity, not truly believing Lu Fan could defeat Lin Wuya.