Thunder Armor?
Many branch family members looked confused. They didn’t know what Thunder Armor was, but they understood it must be the reason why Lin Yan had been forced back several steps after landing a solid punch on Lin Wang.
"A piece of Treasure Armor that can reflect Blood Gang Power... To think the Fourth Branch would give that to a branch family member. They’re certainly generous."
"They wouldn’t just give it away. It’s probably just a loan. Still, you have to admit Lin Mingchuan is ruthless. He’s dead set on suppressing the Third Branch."
The Blood Exchange Realm members from the First and Second Branches showed surprise, but not anger. This was a feud between the Third and Fourth Branches; all they had to do was watch the show.
"Lin Mingchuan!"
Lin Minghai roared, then fixed his gaze on Lin Shouhe on the stage. He enunciated each word clearly: "Lin Wang is wearing Treasure Armor in the match. That’s against the rules!"
As soon as he said this, countless eyes instantly fell upon Lin Shouhe, who was presiding over the competition.
Everyone had witnessed the fight between Lin Yan and Lin Wang.
Lin Wang’s Qi Blood was weak and his foundation unstable; he was clearly no match for Lin Yan.
If not for this Thunder Armor, he would have been defeated just now.
According to the competition rules, wearing protective gear wasn’t a violation, but that referred to ordinary gear like leather armor or iron mail that could block fists, feet, or blades.
But the Treasure Armor Lin Wang was wearing could absorb Blood Gang and even reflect it. This was no longer self-defense; it was cheating.
If everyone came on stage wearing a piece of Treasure Armor like that, what would be the point of competing? They might as well just compare who had the thickest armor and the wealthiest family.
Lin Shouhe’s expression remained unchanged as he replied coolly, "For this competition, there are no rules prohibiting the use of Treasure Armor or Spiritual Weapons."
"The Fourth Branch... they planned this from the start. The Third Branch can only swallow this bitter pill and have Lin Yan forfeit."
From the First Branch’s side, Lin Mingshen shook his head slightly. The clan truly didn’t have such a rule, because no one ever thought someone would arrange for a Spiritual Weapon or Treasure Armor for a branch family member in a mere branch competition.
The Fourth Branch had simply exploited this loophole in the rules.
In the eastern stands, Bai Ruo’s brows were tightly knitted.
Wan Qing leaned over and whispered, "Ruoruo, from the looks of it, the Fourth Branch doesn’t just want to suppress the Third Branch. It seems more like they’re targeting Lin Yan personally. If you ask me, you should probably avoid contact with him from now on."
Defeating Lin Yan by relying on Treasure Armor would bring no glory, whether within the Lin Family’s main clan or to outsiders.
It was just a branch competition. Even a loss wouldn’t have had a major impact on the Fourth Branch. There was no need to go this far.
Bai Ruo didn’t answer. She just stared intently at Lin Yan’s figure on the stage, her nails digging into her palms without her realizing it.
’Did I really make the wrong choice?’
"The Fourth Branch really knows how to be fucking disgusting. If they want to fight the Third Branch, fine, but now even our Fifth Branch is getting dragged into it. Lin Xiao’s not getting first place now."
Lin Mingshan cursed irritably. The First and Second Branches didn’t care because Lin Yujing never had a chance at first place to begin with. As for Lin Yu, he had just lost. Thus, Lin Xiao had become an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.
"It’s not certain yet."
Lin Mingxi shook her head, her gaze never leaving Lin Yan.
From the moment the Thunder Armor on Lin Wang was revealed, to the crowd below discussing its power, Lin Yan’s expression hadn’t changed at all, aside from an initial frown.
There was no anger, no fear. It was as if he had calmly accepted the situation.
"Mingxi, you can’t possibly think the Third Branch anticipated this move from the Fourth Branch and prepared a trump card for Lin Yan, can you? If that were the case, Minghai wouldn’t be this furious."
Lin Mingxi didn’t reply. ’If Lin Yan is truly a Sword Dao genius, his Blood Gang might not be able to break through the Thunder Armor, but Sword Gang can.’
On the stage, Lin Wang’s once venomous gaze turned wild and smug. "So what if your Qi Blood is stronger than mine, Lin Yan? Your Blood Gang can’t touch me now. The stronger your Blood Gang, the stronger the backlash."
’Idiot!’
Lin Mingchuan cursed inwardly. If Lin Yan forfeited and his plan failed, he would have this idiot Lin Wang’s life.
"Lin Yan, there’s no need to continue this match. No one will think you’re weaker than your opponent."
Lin Minghai’s expression was grave. He was afraid Lin Yan would act on impulse and insist on continuing.
The Treasure Armor could absorb Blood Gang and reflect it. If Lin Yan attacked, not only would he fail to injure Lin Wang, he would be wounded by the backlash himself.
There was no point in fighting.
No one would laugh at him for choosing to give up.
"Brother Hai." Lin Yan shook his head. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried clearly across the entire arena. "I’d still like to try."
Hearing that Lin Yan wasn’t planning to forfeit, Lin Mingchuan felt a sense of relief. It was good that he wouldn’t give up. Only then could his plan succeed.
It had been so long since his younger brother’s death that everyone, including Mingguan, thought he had given up on finding the killer. But only he knew the truth: he had never given up.
Everyone who had been in the mountains back then and was under suspicion had already been killed by him.
He didn’t need to know who the specific killer was, but he was certain the culprit was among that group.
Since he couldn’t find the one, he would make them all die, all of them would be buried with his brother. And Lin Yan was the last one.
Besides, his intuition told him that Lin Yan was the most likely suspect.
He had given Lin Wang the Treasure Armor precisely to force Lin Yan to reveal his trump card.
"Lin Yan, don’t be rash..."
Lin Minghai tried to persuade him further, but Lin Yan was already moving.
His right hand slowly rose!
Lin Mingxi’s pupils contracted sharply. She stared intently at Lin Yan’s fingertips, where a sliver of silvery-white light had suddenly appeared.
The light seemed to swirl faintly. It was just a single sliver, yet it was so sharp it made one’s heart pound. It was as if Lin Yan’s right hand was pinching an invisible sword between his fingers.

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