The arena slowly became quiet after Fang Lin's victory.
The dust on the ground had not fully settled yet, and many disciples were still staring at Fang Lin with shock.
Some were excited.
Some were afraid.
Some could not even understand what they had just seen.
At that moment, the referee elder stepped forward again.
The elder looked at everyone and spoke in a clear and calm voice.
The elder said, "From now on, the Outer Sect Competition will follow strict rules."
The crowd slowly became silent.
The elder continued, "Each participant will fight only once per day."
The disciples looked at each other.
The elder explained further, "These battles are intense. Every disciple needs time to recover their strength."
"If anyone fights more than once in a day, their body will not be able to handle it."
"So from today onward, one fight per day."
"No exceptions."
Many disciples nodded.
Murong Yue folded her arms and said, "That makes sense. Otherwise, half of them will collapse before the final matches."
Han Zhi calmly said, "Strength alone is not enough now. Recovery matters too."
Zhao Feng quietly added, "And control."
Fang Lin stood silently and listened.
Inside his heart, he felt calm.
"This is good," Fang Lin thought.
"I will have time… to grow stronger."
Soon, the matches for the day ended.
The disciples slowly began leaving the arena.
Many of them were still talking about Fang Lin.
"Did you see how he broke Lin Tao's defense?"
"That was terrifying…"
"He might enter the top ranks…"
"He is not normal…"
Fang Lin heard all of it.
But he did not respond.
He simply walked away quietly.
On the path back to the residence area, Xuo Mu ran toward him excitedly.
Xuo Mu shouted, "Fang Lin! That was amazing!"
"You completely crushed him!"
Fang Lin smiled lightly.
Fang Lin said, "It was just one fight."
Xue Ji walked beside them calmly.
Xue Ji said, "No. That was not just a fight."
She looked directly at Fang Lin.
"That was a warning to everyone."
Fang Lin did not reply.
But he understood her words.
From today onward—
People would no longer ignore him.
Soon, they reached the outer disciple residence.
Xuo Mu stretched his body and yawned.
Xuo Mu said, "I am tired just watching. I am going to sleep."
Then he quickly left.
Xue Ji also nodded.
Xue Ji said, "Rest well. Tomorrow will be harder."
Fang Lin said, "You too."
Then she also left.
Fang Lin stood alone.
He slowly walked into his room.
Room 53579.
He closed the door quietly.
The room was silent.
Simple.
Calm.
Fang Lin sat cross-legged on his bed.
His expression slowly became serious.
Fang Lin said softly, "Time to cultivate."
Fang Lin closed his eyes.
He began to circulate his energy.
Then—
He activated the Nine Nether Phantom Body.
A faint dark aura slowly appeared around him.
His muscles tightened.
His bones made soft cracking sounds.
A heavy pressure filled the room.
Then—
The pain began.
Sharp pain spread across his entire body.
It felt like his flesh was being torn and rebuilt again.
Fang Lin's face became slightly pale.
But he did not stop.
Instead—
He continued.
His breathing became deep and steady.
He focused completely.
Time slowly passed.
Minutes.
Then hours.
The night became deeper.
Suddenly—
Something changed.
Inside Fang Lin's spiritual sea—
The mysterious grey stone began to react.
At first, it was very small.
Almost nothing.
Then—
A soft ripple appeared on the surface of the stone.
Fang Lin immediately noticed it.
His mind became alert.
"What is happening…" Fang Lin thought.
Then—
The grey stone began to absorb something.
It was not normal Qi.
It was not spiritual energy.
It was something else.
It was the energy created from his body cultivation.
The energy from the Nine Nether Phantom Body.
Fang Lin's body trembled slightly.
He could feel it clearly.
Something inside him was being pulled away.
But—
It did not feel dangerous.
It felt natural.
Calm.
Like the stone was simply taking what it needed.
Fang Lin did not stop the process.
He carefully observed.
Inside his spiritual sea—
The grey stone slowly began to change.
Its surface was no longer completely solid.
A faint grey mist began to appear around it.
Thin at first.
Like smoke.
Slowly moving.
Slowly growing.
The mist gently floated around the stone.
It looked mysterious.
Ancient.
Silent.
Fang Lin's heart trembled slightly.
"This stone… is changing…" Fang Lin thought.
Outside—
Fang Lin's body remained still.
But inside—
Everything was slowly transforming.
The grey mist continued to grow.
It did not disturb his Qi.
It did not clash with his energy.
It simply existed.
Calm and quiet.
Fang Lin controlled his breathing.
He stayed focused.
He allowed the process to continue.
Because deep inside—
He felt it.
This was not danger.
This was something important.
Time passed quietly.
The moonlight entered the room softly.
The night became completely silent.
Inside Fang Lin's spiritual sea—
The grey stone continued its slow change.
Like something that had been sleeping…
Was finally starting to wake up.
Fang Lin slowly opened his eyes.
For a brief moment—
A faint grey light flashed inside his pupils.
Then it disappeared.
Fang Lin took a deep breath.
Fang Lin said softly, "Something… has begun."
His voice was calm.
But his eyes—
Had become deeper.
More mysterious.
Outside his room—
The sect was peaceful.
Quiet.
But unseen by everyone—
Things were already changing.
Fang Lin was growing stronger.
The factions were watching.
Hidden enemies were waiting.
And now—
The grey stone had started to awaken.
Everything was slowly moving forward.
Toward something far greater.
Something unknown.
Something dangerous.