Two Sword Intents erupted explosively and quickly intertwined, transforming into a colossal beam of sword light that bore down on Lin Yan.
At the edge of the Combat Platform, a sharp glint flashed in Lin Shouwang’s eyes. The power from combining two Sword Intents was far greater than the sum of its parts. He was ready to intervene; if Lin Yan couldn’t take this blow, he would step in to save him. He absolutely could not allow Lin Yan to be seriously injured.
Lin Yan’s expression didn’t falter. He held the Abyssal Sword horizontally before him, its blade suddenly flaring with a silvery-white light.
The silvery-white light on the blade grew increasingly brilliant. Faint, intricate patterns could be seen swirling within the steel, reminiscent of a torrential downpour that blotted out the sky.
Rain-Covering Sword Intent.
He unleashed his Four-Phase Condensing Gang Sword, a fusion of the Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques and the Rain-Covering Sword Intent!
With a single slash, a beam of sword light cascaded down like an inverted waterfall.
BOOM!
Shockwaves roiled across the Combat Platform. Several cracks spiderwebbed across the bluestone floor, shooting toward Jian Sheng’s feet, before the final blast knocked him clear off the platform.
Jian Sheng, now off the platform, stared at the longsword in his hand in utter disbelief. ’My two Perfect Level Sword Intents, my greatest pride... and I still lost.’
’He has also mastered two Perfect Level Sword Intents, and his fusion of them is even more perfect than mine.’
’I do have a third Sword Intent, though it hasn’t reached the Perfection Level. If I had added that one to the mix...’
However, the thought barely crossed his mind before he dismissed it. His pride would not allow him to incorporate an imperfect Sword Intent.
"I have lost!"
Jian Sheng looked up at Lin Yan, expecting to see excitement in his opponent’s eyes—the thrill of victory, or perhaps a sigh of relief at his surrender. But to his surprise, Lin Yan’s expression was as placid as ever. In fact, for the briefest instant when their eyes met, Jian Sheng thought he saw a flicker of disappointment.
’Did I see that wrong?’
’What a pity. I thought he might force me to use seventy or eighty percent of my skill in the Sword Dao, but it seems I only needed thirty percent.’
Lin Yan was genuinely disappointed. He felt the frustrating powerlessness of a punch landing on cotton.
’Too weak!’
’I was able to suppress him even though we both used two Perfect Level Sword Intents. It wasn’t because my individual intents were stronger, but because the fusion of Flowing Cloud Sword Intent and Rain-Covering Sword Intent is simply more powerful.’
Now, Lin Yan also understood why the Sword Skill Leaves on his Martial Arts Tree had begun to branch.
Sword Intents from connected branches were easier to fuse, and their combined power was far greater.
Seeing Jian Sheng willingly concede, Lin Shouwang looked at Lin Yan with a gratified expression and slowly announced, "Lin Yan wins."
Those three simple words, spoken over the Combat Platform, were like a stone dropped into a boiling pot.
The crowd below, already in an uproar over Jian Sheng’s concession, now erupted into a deafening roar.
All eyes turned to Lin Yan, filled with curiosity, admiration, and awe.
Blood Exchange Second Transformation and two Perfect Level Sword Intents. The Third Branch had truly produced a top-tier genius.
Lin Mingye was grinning from ear to ear as he watched Lin Yan slowly sheathe his sword. A sudden thought struck him.
’Was that guy, Lin Yan, telling the truth before?’
’I thought that even if Lin Yan could win, it would be a hard-fought battle.’
’After all, Lin Yan himself said he wasn’t confident he could defeat Jian Sheng. But looking back at the fight, there were no ups and downs. Jian Sheng was completely suppressed by Lin Yan from the very beginning.’
’Is that what "not being confident" looks like?’
But when he saw Lin Yan step off the platform, Lin Mingye pushed the thought aside and hurried over to meet him.
Whatever the case, Lin Yan’s victory was a good thing.
"Lin Yan, you’re really something else, hiding your strength so well."
Lin Mingye stepped forward and gave Lin Yan a friendly punch on the arm. At the same time, other Lin Clan Members began to speak up.
"Well done, Lin Yan. You’ve saved face for our Lin Clan."
Most of the Lin Clan Members were friendly toward Lin Yan. As for Lin Mingxing and the others from the Fourth Branch, they had slunk away in disgrace the moment Jian Sheng was defeated.
Lin Yan nodded in response but didn’t linger by the Combat Platform, instead heading toward the Third Branch’s area.
’Plenty of clan members have already run off to spread the news. If I don’t leave now, I’ll be mobbed.’
「Fifth Branch Area, Mountainside Pavilion」
Lin Shouyuan held a black Go piece, his hand hovering over the board, hesitating to make a move.
He Yuanqiao sat opposite him, his white stone already on the board. With a grin, he picked up his teacup, blew the foam from its surface, and looked utterly carefree.
"Today’s the last day."
"The day is still young." Lin Shouyuan placed his black stone in a corner of the board, his voice betraying no emotion.
He Yuanqiao leisurely played his next stone and glanced up at him, the smile on his face widening.
"You know, Shouyuan, you didn’t have to put up such a reward. If you felt Jian Sheng was tarnishing the Lin Clan’s reputation, I could have just told him to hold back and intentionally lose the last match. We’ve known each other for so many years; of course I’d do you that small favor."
"That won’t be necessary."
The fingers of Lin Shouyuan’s hand, which held the Go stone, paused for a fraction of a second. A muscle in his old cheek twitched before he casually placed his stone as if nothing had happened.
’Here it comes!’
’This bastard has been bottling this up for ten days, and he’s finally about to let it all out.’
He Yuanqiao chuckled and placed another stone, his tone becoming even more leisurely. "Then again, you’ve always been a stubborn one. We fought three times back in the day and never settled who was better, so we agreed our disciples’ mastery of swordsmanship would decide our wager. And now, it seems that when it comes to teaching... sigh. My boy Jian Sheng might be a bit ugly—other powerhouses in the Sword Dao even passed on him for it—but in my opinion... only those with imperfections can truly reach the pinnacle..."
’The dagger is out. He’s closing in for the kill.’
Lin Shouyuan could tell. The old bastard He Yuanqiao was just starting to gloat.
But before He Yuanqiao could finish, the sound of hurried footsteps came from the stairs outside the pavilion.
Lin Mingshan’s face was flushed with an excitement Lin Shouyuan had never seen before. Before he even entered the pavilion, he shouted, "Uncle Jiu, Lin Yan won! Lin Yan defeated that bas— I mean, Jian Sheng!"
"What?"
The smile on He Yuanqiao’s face froze instantly. He whipped his head around to face Lin Mingshan, his voice rising sharply.
"Who did you say won?"
"Lin Yan! Our Lin Clan’s Lin Yan, from the Third Branch! He knocked Jian Sheng right off the Combat Platform in two blows! Jian Sheng admitted defeat himself!"
Lin Mingshan was ecstatic. The Fifth Branch had been swallowing their anger for the last ten days, and now they finally had their moment of vindication. If Lin Yan were here right now, he’d be tempted to pull him into a hug and take a big bite out of him in celebration.
He Yuanqiao’s mouth gaped open, then snapped shut. For a moment, he was utterly speechless. His gaze shifted from Lin Mingshan and instinctively fell upon Lin Shouyuan, only to see his old friend raising a teacup and taking a slow, deliberate sip.
The motion was identical to He Yuanqiao’s own from moments before, right down to the cadence with which he blew the foam from the surface.
Lin Shouyuan set down his teacup, plucked a black stone, and placed it on the board.
"Old He, shall we continue our game?"
"Continue, my ass!"
He Yuanqiao dropped the act. With a sweep of his sleeve, he sent the pieces on the board flying everywhere.
"What’s the matter, you old bastard? Can’t take a loss?"
Lin Shouyuan also shot to his feet. He Yuanqiao spat on the ground, glaring at him. "You think I don’t know what you’re like? You stubborn, face-saving bastard! If you’d actually known about that Lin Yan kid’s mastery of the Sword Dao, you would’ve sent him out on the very first day! You never would’ve let me act so smug for this long! This Lin Yan’s talent with the sword is incredible, but what the hell does that have to do with you?"
Outside the pavilion, Lin Mingshan watched the two men, their hostility palpable, and quietly backed away.
’When titans clash, a mortal like him was better off not getting caught in the crossfire.’

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