For three straight days, Lin Yan had been in his courtyard cultivating the Eight Desolates Dragon Elephant Force and the Four-Phase Condensing Gang Sword.
SWISH!
Lin Yan raised his hand, using his finger as a sword. A jet of Sword Gang shot out from his fingertip.
A finger-sized hole pierced straight through a wooden stake fifty feet away.
However, the destruction didn’t end there.
Cracks radiated outward from the hole. A breath later, the entire stake exploded, sending splinters flying everywhere.
’I’ve finally managed to completely integrate the Silk Binding Sword Intent into my Sword Gang.’
Lin Yan retracted his finger in satisfaction. The hole in the stake was the power of the Sword Gang, while the subsequent explosion was the power of the Silk Binding Sword Intent.
Sword Gang fused with Sword Intent wasn’t a simple point-based attack.
Splinters flew toward an old pomegranate tree nearby. Its leaves rustled, as if trembling in fear.
Lin Yan smiled and murmured to the old pomegranate tree, "Don’t worry. Seeing as you’re a tree, I’ll spare you."
Three days ago, he had tested the power of his Sword Gang on the old pomegranate tree, but then he remembered the tree that existed within his mind.
On second thought, he had decided against using the old pomegranate tree for his experiments. He had a servant bring ten wooden stakes instead, and as of today, he had already destroyed eight of them.
’I need someone to bring another batch of stakes. Next, I have to integrate the Flowing Cloud Sword Intent.’
Lin Yan glanced at the two remaining stakes, then at the weapon rack to the side where most of the weapons lay ruined. A helpless look crossed his face.
He now understood what Brother Hai had meant.
Earlier, when he had tried to channel his Sword Gang through a sword, the blade had shattered the moment it was infused.
For a Blood Exchange Realm powerhouse, ordinary weapons were completely useless.
The only thing suitable for a Blood Exchange Realm Martial Artist was a Spiritual Weapon forged from special materials. Only a Spiritual Weapon could withstand one’s own Blood Gang and defend against an opponent’s.
’It seems I’ll really have to fight for a top spot in the upcoming branch competition.’
Lin Yan wasn’t one to show off, but if the rewards were good enough, he didn’t mind stepping into the spotlight.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
A knock came from the courtyard gate.
"Young Master Yan, Miss Bai is here to visit."
The servant responsible for cleaning Lin Yan’s courtyard and handling his chores called out from the gate.
’Miss Bai?’
Lin Yan furrowed his brow. He didn’t know any Miss Bai. ’Normally,’ he thought, ’a servant wouldn’t bring a guest all the way to my gate before asking for permission. They should have escorted her to a reception area first, then come to ask if I wished to see her.’
’That’s how the servants handled visitors back when I was in the Disciple’s Quarters. Now that I’m living with the Third Branch, the protocol for visitors should be even stricter.’
’Could it be that the Bai Family has a special relationship with the Third Branch, which is why an exception was made?’
At this thought, Lin Yan called out toward the gate, "Just a moment."
He had just finished cultivating and wasn’t wearing an outer robe. It would be rude to receive any visitor dressed like that.
After getting dressed, Lin Yan opened the gate. His eyes fell upon a beautiful young woman in a form-fitting black dress that showcased her exquisite figure. She was smiling at him. "You must be Young Master Lin Yan," she said. "I am Bai Ruo."
"Miss Bai, please come in."
Lin Yan nodded and stepped aside, inviting her in.
This Miss Bai certainly knew how to play to her strengths. Her every expression was filled with an alluring charm.
If Miss Tang of the Tang Family, Tang Tang, had intentionally displayed her feminine charms, then this Miss Bai Ruo’s allure was completely natural, captivating the soul.
"I heard that Young Master Lin has broken through to the Blood Exchange Realm," Bai Ruo said. "My family sent me to deliver a congratulatory gift on their behalf."
Bai Ruo held out a brocade box. Lin Yan hesitated for a moment before accepting it. "Thank you."
’Regardless of the Bai Family’s background, since they’ve come bearing gifts, I should just accept,’ he thought. ’Besides, their relationship with the Third Branch is probably quite good. Otherwise, the servant wouldn’t have brought Miss Bai straight to my door without prior announcement.’
After accepting the gift, Lin Yan didn’t open it immediately. Instead, he invited Bai Ruo to take a seat at the stone table.
Bai Ruo’s gaze swept across the courtyard, taking everything in. The wood splinters in the corner showed that Lin Yan was still training diligently, not just basking in the joy of his breakthrough to the Blood Exchange Realm. In this regard alone, he was already superior to Lin Yu of the Second Branch.
Just as she expected, many people thought highly of Lin Yu. When she entered his courtyard, she ran into members of several other families chatting and laughing with him.
In Lin Yu’s courtyard, meanwhile, the weapons on the rack at the side were covered in a layer of dust, clearly untouched.
As the first among the branch families to reach the Blood Exchange Realm, Lin Yu had garnered the most attention. Bai Ruo suspected he had been busy attending various banquets lately, his mind no longer focused on his training.
In contrast, Lin Yan’s courtyard seemed much quieter.
Bai Ruo understood. It wasn’t that the other families didn’t think highly of Lin Yan; they likely shared her concerns. They were wary of the grudge between the Third and Fourth Branches and feared causing a misunderstanding with the latter.
"Miss Bai, please have some tea."
When a servant brought tea, Lin Yan smiled and gestured for Bai Ruo to drink.
Bai Ruo accepted the cup with her delicate, jade-white hands. She took a gentle sip, her red lips barely touching the rim. Her large, charming eyes blinked. "This is excellent tea. The Lin Family’s exclusive White Mist Tea. Thanks to Young Master Yan, I am fortunate enough to have a taste today."
’He couldn’t speak for the tea. But this Miss Bai... she was certainly a fine brew.’
Lin Yan smiled faintly. "If you like it, Miss Bai, feel free to take a canister home with you."
’This tea wasn’t considered anything special in the Lin Family. It was simply provided to clan members who reached the Blood Exchange Realm. He had drunk plenty of it himself, and while it tasted good, it offered little real benefit to his cultivation.’

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