The moment Jian Sheng spoke, the handful of Lin Clan Members below the stage erupted in an uproar.
’Is this guy finally dropping the act?’
"Lin Yan might actually win."
A sharp glint appeared in Lin Mingye’s eyes. ’Just a moment ago, that guy was yawning on the stage, arrogant as can be, even boasting about using his Blood Exchange First Transformation to perform a Reverse Attack on a Second Transformation. But now, Lin Yan has only just gripped his sword—he hasn’t even done anything—and his opponent is already changing his tune?’
’What could that mean? It meant Jian Sheng was intimidated.’
"Should we go get the others?"
It wasn’t just Lin Mingye who noticed; the others present did as well. If Lin Yan truly had a chance to win, shouldn’t they inform the rest of the clan members?
"Are you willing to leave?"
"I’m not."
The one who made the suggestion shook his head. If Lin Yan lost, there would be no point in getting the others. But if Lin Yan won, he would miss a spectacular duel.
Jian Sheng was not oblivious to the uproar from the Lin Clan Members below, but he paid it no mind. His gaze remained fixed on Lin Yan, awaiting his response.
Lin Yan’s expression remained unchanged as he gave a slight nod.
"Alright."
A single word, delivered with a level tone. His expression was the same as before, showing no change whatsoever.
The Combat Platform fell silent for a moment. Jian Sheng took a deep breath, and when he spoke again, his voice was steady. But the disdain in his eyes had vanished completely, replaced by the solemn respect one shows a true opponent.
"Please."
Jian Sheng cupped his fist in a salute, then drew the sword from his back.
His sword was not at his waist, but on his back.
As the longsword left its sheath, a silvery Sword Aura flowed across the blade.
Lin Yan returned the salute and drew the Abyssal Sword. He angled its tip toward the ground, its dark blade as tranquil and profound as the Abyss itself.
Below the Combat Platform, the chatter of the Lin Clan Members died down. All eyes were fixed on the two figures on the stage, everyone holding their breath in anticipation.
One breath!
Five breaths!
Ten breaths!
Neither of the two on the stage moved. Many of the clan members were confused, not understanding what they were doing.
Lin Shouwang, serving as the referee, now looked at Lin Yan with a trace of surprise. The younger generation couldn’t see it, but he knew exactly what the two were doing.
A clash of sword-presence!
It was not a contest of Blood Gang or Realm, but something more fundamental: a pull and clash between the swords themselves.
One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers, and one stage cannot accommodate two swords!
And by ’swords’... he meant Perfect Level Sword Intent.
Lin Shouwang had already witnessed Jian Sheng’s Perfect Level Sword Intent over the past few days. What he hadn’t expected was that Lin Yan, from a branch family, had also cultivated it.
The Third Branch had truly found a fine talent this time.
Regardless of whether Lin Yan won this duel, with his talent for the Sword Dao and his speed of Cultivation, the Third Branch was certain to gain another True Gang Realm Powerhouse within the next five years.
After thirty breaths, Jian Sheng moved first.
It wasn’t because he had found an opening in Lin Yan’s stance, but because he could no longer withstand the pressure. This was the first time he had ever been at a disadvantage in such a confrontation of sword-presence.
He thrust his sword, its light flowing like water.
Wherever the blade passed, the air rippled like the surface of water. The sword’s light emerged from these ripples—silent, traceless, yet overwhelmingly vast.
Flowing Water Sword Intent.
Many Lin Clan Members below the stage recognized this technique, and their expressions shifted.
That was the very technique that had defeated Brother Mingchen. They hadn’t expected Jian Sheng to forgo any probing attacks and go all-out from the very start.
Facing Jian Sheng’s attack, Lin Yan stood his ground. He swept the Abyssal Sword upward, its ink-black blade carving an arc through the air. There were no waves, no ripples—only the perfect smoothness of flowing clouds and water.
Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques.
This was also the Flowing Cloud Sword Intent at the Perfection Level. The moment it was unleashed, the watery waves from Jian Sheng’s longsword were instantly suppressed.
The two beams of sword light collided not with the crisp clang of metal, but with a muffled THUMP, like two giant boulders sinking into a deep pool.
Lin Yan stood his ground, unmoving, while Jian Sheng was forced to take a small half-step back.
Lin Yan had the upper hand!
The crowd below erupted.
"Did he break Jian Sheng’s Flowing Water Sword Intent?"
"He didn’t break it, he overpowered it! Lin Yan also has Perfect Level Sword Intent—the Perfection Level of the Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques."
Before the crowd could even marvel at this, Lin Yan’s second, third, and fourth strikes were already unleashed.
In his hands, the Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques moved like true clouds, one strike linking seamlessly into the next, giving Jian Sheng no room to breathe.
Jian Sheng was put on the defensive, forced to retreat again and again. Though the light from his blade remained dense and constant, he was utterly unable to turn the tables.
Below the stage, the eyes of the Lin Clan Members grew brighter and brighter.
"He’s completely dominating him!"
"This is the first time I’ve ever seen this guy get pushed around!"
"Lin Yan! Lin Yan!"
It was unclear who shouted first, but soon, more people joined the chant.
The chanting wasn’t loud—after all, there were only about twenty people in the crowd—but the frustration that had been pent up for the last ten days was finally being released, bit by bit.
Lin Mingxing’s face was grim, his lips pressed into a thin line. He had almost joined the cheering himself, but he caught himself at the last moment and clamped his mouth shut.
On the stage, Jian Sheng was driven back step by step until he voluntarily took one last retreat, planting his feet on the very edge of the Combat Platform. One more step and he would fall off.
"You are strong. Strong enough to force me to get serious."
Jian Sheng’s expression was grave. He raised his longsword once more, but this time, its Sword Momentum had changed. It was no longer a dense wave of water, but a sky-filling torrent of Sword Qi, brimming with killing intent.
Another Perfect Level Sword Intent emerged.
But Jian Sheng didn’t stop there. The two Sword Intents began to fuse along the blade of his sword.
"Lin Yan, what I am about to perform is the Stacked Sword Technique, where two Perfect Level Sword Intents are superimposed. Watch closely!"

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