The Glory Festival had only reached its halfway point when Lin Yu left the venue—as the "predetermined champion."

Jiang Rong seemed worried that such a proposal was too insulting to this ancient Rakshasa who had just returned to the Black Marsh world from divine imprisonment, so he specifically added a clarification.

"If you feel this deprives you of the joy of battle, as a former champion myself, I can have a satisfying fight with you."

According to his established persona, Lin Yu should have agreed.

But he didn't.

The reason was quite understandable.

He simply couldn't fight anymore.

Although his life-and-death struggle with Twenty ultimately ended with that guy barely clinging to life, he had still achieved a legitimate, head-on victory.

Twenty had been beaten so badly he was deleted from the player group and forced to transform into a Nightmare; how could Lin Yu have paid no price at all?

Just the corrosive damage from the Goat Demon remains had significantly reduced Lin Yu's combat power.

Although it didn't harm Lin Yu's true body, the reduction in combat effectiveness was real and substantial.

Lin Yu's true body certainly possessed a formidable constitution now, but compared to the power brought by this 'realized' Rakshasa body, it was relatively insignificant.

Moreover, although Lin Yu's true body wasn't injured, his consumption was still considerable.

Manipulating the Prayer Water Necklace for high-intensity water control had taken an immense toll on Lin Yu's mental energy.

And Hannah, the greatest contributor in the battle against Twenty, was inevitably exhausted now, already feeling dazed and confused.

So, fighting another NPC who looked very capable and might very well be a top-tier combatant in the Black Marsh world, Lin Yu had zero confidence.

Even if he could narrowly defeat Jiang Rong, it wouldn't be as advantageous as not fighting at all.

As long as he didn't fight, Lin Yu wouldn't expose his flaws.

Not only would he not expose flaws, but his perceived strength, in the minds of these Black Marsh inhabitants, would remain without a clear upper limit.

The more mysterious, the more powerful it implied.

Lin Yu understood this principle deeply.

However, the reason Lin Yu chose for refusal wasn't forced and wouldn't ruin his persona.

Although claiming to be "injured" or "not in peak condition" seemed like a reasonable excuse, Lin Yu knew deeply that in the Black Marsh world, this excuse wouldn't fly.

After all, for these brutes of the Black Marsh world, especially the battle maniacs of the Blood Kingdom, as long as you could still move, refusing a fight offered to you was simply impossible.

As the saying goes, minor injuries don't warrant leaving the front lines!

Lin Yu had also been shaping the Rakshasa persona in this direction all along.

Therefore, using this seemingly "reasonable" reason would instead arouse suspicion.

"I've fought quite satisfyingly enough today. Such fights are rare, and you probably haven't reached your peak yet..."

"I temporarily see no room for further progress myself, but you are different... I'll wait until you take another step forward, then it won't be too late for us to have a great battle."

"If we fight now, I fear even if you progress, you'll inevitably be unconsciously influenced by me, tainted with my colors."

Lin Yu calmly refused Jiang Rong.

The reason sounded almost arrogant, but to Jiang Rong's ears, it was indeed reasonable and carried no hostility.

In the Black Marsh world, this was instead a form of sincerity, frankness, and friendliness.

Moreover, Lin Yu was actually right!

"You truly have keen eyesight. I have indeed had some vague insights recently, still digesting and accumulating... I truly have a premonition that I seem to be on the verge of a breakthrough."

"That's also why I sought to fight you—I did have the idea of using the opportunity to spar with a 'mysterious powerhouse from ten thousand years ago' to achieve a breakthrough in one go."

After this simple exchange between the two, naturally, there was no longer a need to fight.

Jiang Rong led Lin Yu to the edge of the venue, used what looked like an iron thorn flower item to open the surrounding Barrier, and sent him out.

"Alright, Rakshasa, or rather... Contestant Moro," Jiang Rong said, "unless some unexpected change occurs within the venue, you will be the champion of this Glory Festival."

"No matter. If you truly find someone stronger than me even under the newly added rules, I am willing to relinquish the championship," Lin Yu said indifferently. "I will abide by the rules—after all, the clauses you temporarily added and supplemented are already rules quite favorable to me."

Jiang Rong nodded. "I don't think so either. Unless someone single-handedly collects all the remaining trophies from now on... they might barely compare to your performance earlier."

The two looked at each other through the Thorns.

"Anyway, although the championship is confirmed to be yours, as you said, for the fairness of the rules and the rankings of the other contestants from second to last place, I need to double my patrols from now on," Jiang Rong said with a headache. "It seems I might even have to call Feng Qiao in."

"After all, Shuo over there shows no movement..."

He glanced at Lin Yu.

Lin Yu smiled. "It seems you've heard the rumors."

"Yes, there are rumors that you killed the arbitrator responsible for guarding the Healing Station this session, 'Shuo'," Jiang Rong thought for a moment, deciding to lay his cards on the table. "But... according to divination, Shuo is actually still alive."

"The Ten Great Tribes' stance is, since you are a genuine Rakshasa, then Shuo, although a very rare Monster, isn't that important and can be temporarily set aside..."

"But since you brought it up, I'll ask in passing, just to satisfy my personal curiosity..."

"How is Shuo?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Lin Yu didn't hide it either. "I let it go. It should be hiding somewhere in the venue."

As for the motive, Lin Yu certainly couldn't say he intended to use Shuo to set up a deception.

But he had already prepared an excuse.

"Monsters are existences almost as ancient as us. In the Rakshasa era, we coexisted harmoniously with Monsters," Lin Yu sighed softly. "Although I know times have changed and I shouldn't interfere, since it pleaded with me for help, I found it hard to just stand by."

"Anyway, my initial goal was also to make a name for myself in this Glory Festival and reclaim the glory belonging to the Rakshasa," Lin Yu paused. "So I simply helped it."

"Of course, if you plan to capture it again, I won't help it anymore from now on."

"It's hiding somewhere in this venue—after all, the Glory Festival isn't over yet, so it probably hasn't left."

As Lin Yu spoke, Jiang Rong nodded again.

"So that's how it is. Thank you very much!"

"I will try to look for Shuo," Jiang Rong paused. "Although it doesn't belong to our tribe either."

"Anyway, before the Glory Festival officially ends, you can go to that gentle slope highland over there—there are tents of the Ten Great Tribes."

"The representatives of the Ten Great Tribes who came to watch the matches are there, and they also have means to monitor the Glory Festival's progress in real time."

"They warmly welcome... no, they even proactively invite you to come to the tents and watch the remainder of the Glory Festival with them."