After walking some distance away from Northgate Mansion, Lu Yin stopped. "Come out."
A thin figure walked out from behind him. It was nighttime, so the figure's appearance wasn't very clear. However, Lu Yin had comprehended a domain and his five senses were heightened, so he could see clearly. He didn't recognize this person. "Who are you?"
This person had followed him all the way out of Northgate Mansion without any hostility, which was strange.
The figure approached Lu Yin and stopped ten meters away. "My name is Ah Fan. You might not have heard of me, but I've fought with you before. You should have some impression of me."
Lu Yin was confused. "There was a battle?
When? "
Ah Fan answered seriously, "A ported battle. You were a red name at that time."
Lu Yin was shocked. "You're the one whose teleportation stone I stole?"
Ah Fan looked sullen and nodded.
Lu Yin was speechless, as he hadn't expected to meet someone like this here. The ported battles included all the youths in the universe who possessed a teleportation stone. This person was unlucky to have met Lu Yin while he was a red name and had stolen his teleportation stone. Furthermore, this person was from the Northline Flowzone, which made things awkward.
For a moment, the two were speechless.
Although Lu Yin felt awkward, he didn't mind. Teleportation stones could be fought for anyway. Back when the crazy headmaster had destroyed Astral-10, many of the teleportation stones had been stolen by others, which was normal.
"What, are you looking for me for revenge?" Lu Yin asked.
Ah Fan's expression was solemn as he stared at Lu Yin. "I want to fight you again."
Lu Yin frowned. "You should know that you can't beat me."
Ah Fan's eyes flashed with bitterness. "I know, but I'm still one of the top students of Shangwu Academy. I can't accept being defeated by a single palm. At the very least, I hope to receive a second palm strike from you."
Lu Yin raised a brow. "Receive a second palm strike?
How arrogant. "
Ah Fan was stunned. Was receiving a second palm strike that arrogant?
How could he know that Lu Yin had used Thirty Stacks as the strongest attack in the universe? There were only a few Limiteers who could receive a palm strike with Thirty Stacks, and even an Explorer would be instantly killed. This was why Lu Yin thought that Ah Fan was arrogant. Even the grey-eyed Corpse King from the Neohuman Alliance had been sent flying by a single palm strike.
Hang on, Shangwu Academy, Ah Fan?
Lu Yin felt like he had heard this name before.
"Lu Yin, I, Ah Fan, personally challenge you," Ah Fan said loudly, his tone solemn.
Ah Fan was one of the nominal students of San Dios, and the records stated that he was from Shangwu Academy.
"Did you participate in the Outerverse's trials?"
Ah Fan nodded. "Yes."
Lu Yin nodded, as there was no mistake about it. Since this person was able to gain fame in San Dios and had just walked out of Northgate Mansion, it seemed that he had some sort of background. This was exactly the kind of person that Lu Yin needed. "You want to challenge me?"
"That's right," Ah Fan said seriously.
Lu Yin muttered to himself, "Sure, but I have a condition."
Ah Fan clenched his fists. "A battle is a battle. What other conditions are there?"
Lu Yin's lips curled up. "I fight either out of my own free will or out of self-preservation. Otherwise, why would I fight you? Fighting is risky, and it's better to be safe."
"Alright, what are your conditions?" Ah Fan asked.
Lu Yin's eyes lit up. "I'll give you two choices. One is to join San Dios after you lose and become one of my subordinates. Two is …" Lu Yin suddenly didn't know how to set the price. When Craynor from the Blaze Realm had come looking for trouble with Lu Yin because of Xi Yue, Lu Yin had offered 20,000 star crystals for a spar.
Back then, 20,000 star essence had not been a small amount, but now that he thought about it, he realized that he owed Lulu 50 star essence, which was the equivalent of 5 million star crystals.
When he thought about how much money he owed, Lu Yin's gaze hardened. "Two is one star essence. You pick one."
Ah Fan was stunned, as if he had just heard something unbelievable. "Wha- what did you say?
A cube of star essence? "
Lu Yin nodded, but when he saw Ah Fan's stunned expression, he had a bad feeling. "You can't afford it?"
Ah Fan shook his head. "Star essence is too precious, and it's usually in the hands of large families. It's also very difficult for non-direct descendants to obtain it. I don't have any."
"Star crystals are fine as well. You can convert them," Lu Yin said.
Ah Fan hesitated for a moment. "I'll choose the first option."
Lu Yin raised a brow. "What, you don't even have 100,000 star crystals?"
Ah Fan shook his head and bitterly replied, "Money isn't that easy to obtain. Most of what my family gives me is resources. As for star crystals, they're given based on my absorption rate. Aside from the amount I use for cultivation and battle techniques, I don't have much left. I don't have that much money."
Lu Yin could hear the bitterness in Ah Fan's words, and his mouth twitched. These disciples of large families didn't have it easy. They weren't as extravagant as he had thought, and they didn't even have 100,000 star crystals. Wasn't it a bit too much for him to borrow star essence from someone else?
However, without that much money, he wouldn't have been as strong as he was now.
If those large families were given the choice of spending hundreds of star essence in exchange for a successor with the power of the champion of the Astral Combat Academy's Tournament of the Strongest, they would be ecstatic. Everyone had different uses for money, and Lu Yin was just too short of it. This Ah Fan in front of him didn't care if he had money or not, as long as he had enough for his cultivation.
That was Lu Yin's initial impression of Ah Fan as a pauper.
"Alright, if you don't have money, then agree to the first condition. If you lose, join San Dios."
Ah Fan didn't refuse. He wasn't doing well at Shangwu Academy, and he was worried about where to go next. San Dios wasn't a bad choice, as he could get closer to Lu Yin and challenge him at any time.
The two of them weren't in an obvious location, but it wasn't too remote either.
"Do you want to go somewhere else?" Ah Fan asked.
Lu Yin slowly raised his right palm. "It's just one attack. Hurry up."
Ah Fan's eyes went wide. Lu Yin was looking down on him. "Alright, then I'll make my move." The star energy in his palm transformed into a strangely shaped weapon that looked like a blade. He slashed out.
Lu Yin disappeared and reappeared right in front of Ah Fan. His palm landed on Ah Fan's head, but it didn't land.
Ah Fan's eyes flickered, and his face paled. His full-powered attack had been dissolved into nothingness, and it hadn't even damaged the ground. Even though Lu Yin's palm hadn't landed, Ah Fan could feel the power behind it.
If Ah Fan had been suppressed by Lu Yin's Overlaying Stacks during the ported battles, then this battle with Traceless Autumn Dew showed the difference between them.
Lu Yin retracted his palm. "You're too serious and focused on your own attacks. The difference between us is too great, and your attacks are useless against me. Why don't you think of a way to keep an eye on me? Maybe you'll be able to dodge my attack if you try."
Ah Fan smiled bitterly. "So what if I can dodge your attack? If it's a battle to the death, then I won't be able to dodge the second attack. The difference is too great."
Lu Yin didn't know what to say. His speed, strength, battle techniques, experience, and everything else far surpassed this person in front of him. He couldn't even think of words of comfort.
"Actually, you're not bad. There aren't many people in the same generation who can withstand my Seven Stacks without dying. You're one of them," Lu Yin said. He was referring to how Ah Fan had withstood the Seven Stacks during the ported battles and had been heavily injured by the Eight Stacks. He had only died after the Nine Stacks. Although Lu Yin hadn't used his battle force at that time, the power of his palm had been enough to instantly kill an Area Master of the Astral Combat Academy. In other words, Ah Fan was comparable to an Area Master of the Astral Combat Academy.
Ah Fan felt even more bitter. Was this supposed to be consolation?
He obviously knew that he wasn't too bad and was ranked at the top of Shangwu Academy, but he still couldn't accept it. They were about the same age, so why was there such a huge gap between them? He had always been a genius, and he had lost many ported battles. However, he had always comforted himself with the fact that his opponent was much older than him. Lu Yin had thoroughly awakened him, and his vision was no longer limited to the Northline Flowzone, but to the entire universe.
Ah Fan left with bitterness and unwillingness in his heart.
"Seventh Bro, that's too cruel. You could have gone easy on him," the monkey complained.
Lu Yin calmly replied, "What's the point of that?
It's not like he doesn't know the difference between us. "
"No matter what, he'll still be your subordinate in the future."
"It doesn't matter. I'm only interested in his background and strength. He's still far from being able to compare to Yue Xianzi, and he's probably still lacking compared to An Shaohua."
"How heartless. Even I feel sorry for that guy. Anyway, Seventh Bro, you challenged Northgate Lie tonight. Are you confident that you can win?" the monkey asked.
Lu Yin thought about it as he walked. "Maybe. The Divine Fist said that he had mastered Thirty Stacks and defeated someone at the bottom of the Top 100 Rankings. I should be able to do it as well."
"Do you really believe what he says? The universe is so big, and there are so many people in the younger generation that it's impossible to count them all. You can imagine how much of a freak they are if they're able to rank in the top 100. Their battle techniques, experience, and vision are all top-notch. Don't compare them to those two idiots you defeated in San Dios," the monkey said disdainfully.
Lu Yin naturally knew this, as he had exchanged blows with Wendy Yushan before. Although he had been instantly defeated, he had still fought with Wendy Yushan.
Lu Yin's battle with Northgate Lie would take place a few days after the Northgate Platform Competition.
Not long after, news of Lu Yin and Northgate Lie's upcoming battle spread. It was obvious who had spread the news, as Northgate Gang and the others wanted the entire Northline Flowzone — no, the entire universe — to know about it.
"Nonsense! Lu Yin is one of the Ten Arbiters. Do you think you can beat him as you please?
Astral-10 is also here! "Northgate Kong, the head of the Northgate family, roared.
Northgate Lie and Northgate Gang were standing in front of him.
"Father, that Lu Yin is too arrogant. He actually wants to sit at the head of the table. He's clearly looking down on Big Brother," Northgate Gang said unhappily.
Northgate Kong roared, "Then let him sit. Slapping Lu Yin's face is equivalent to slapping the Ten Arbiters' faces. This is different from a student challenging Astral-10. Lu Yin is now representing the Ten Arbiters, so it doesn't matter if he loses. This person has nothing to do with us.
Do you know what the outside world is saying?
They're all saying that our Northline Flowzone is trying to expel the Ten Arbiters Council. "
Northgate Lie frowned. "Father, it can't be that serious."