On the Combat Platform.
When Lin Minghuan stepped onto the platform and cupped his fist at Lin Yan, the Lin Clan Members below showed not a hint of surprise.
With Lin Yan’s strength, there was no need for him to start his challenges from the very beginning.
Even the members of the Fourth Branch, who were unhappy with Lin Yan, could only remain silent.
For Lin Yan, at the Blood Exchange Second Transformation with Perfect Level Sword Intent, to start challenging from last place would have been a complete waste of time.
"Please!"
After completing his salute, Lin Minghuan drew a longspear from his back. Its shaft was entirely jet-black, and the tip glinted with a cold, silver light. As he infused it with his Blood Gang, the weapon began to hum.
He was twenty-three years old and had stepped into the Blood Exchange Realm a year and a half prior. Now at the Blood Exchange Second Transformation, he was ranked third among the rising stars, a position he had earned through sheer, undeniable strength.
"Please."
Lin Yan returned the salute but didn’t draw his sword. He didn’t even assume a starting stance, simply standing there casually with his right hand hanging naturally at his side, several inches from his sword’s hilt.
Seeing this, someone in the crowd below frowned.
"Why isn’t Lin Yan drawing his sword?"
"To face Lin Minghuan without drawing his sword... that’s a bit too arrogant of him."
Lin Minghuan also frowned slightly but said nothing. He was from the Fifth Branch and had no personal grievances with Lin Yan, so this fight wasn’t born of any enmity. Besides, Lin Yan was now Uncle Jiu’s disciple. He wouldn’t...
’Since Lin Yan won’t make the first move, I’ll strike first.’
With a push from his foot, Lin Minghuan shot forward like an arrow. Riding his momentum, he flicked his longspear, its tip striking like a viper’s tongue, aimed straight for Lin Yan’s throat.
The technique he cultivated was the Po Jun Spear. His strikes were fierce and sharp. As he thrust, his Spear Gang cut through the air, producing a piercing whistle.
The spear was aimed at Lin Yan’s throat, but it wasn’t because he had any killing intent. The Po Jun Spear technique was all about felling the enemy in a single blow, and he was confident Lin Yan could block his strike.
When the incoming Spear Gang was still a foot away from him, Lin Yan moved.
He didn’t draw his sword, however. He simply turned to the side, allowing the spear tip to graze past him.
Lin Minghuan’s thrust met empty air, but he changed his move with extreme speed, sweeping the spear’s shaft horizontally toward Lin Yan’s torso.
Lin Yan took another step back. As elusive as a phantom, he let the spear shaft sweep over his stomach, the force of the wind whipping his clothes about.
With two of his moves missing their mark, Lin Minghuan’s heart tightened. He changed his technique again, the spear tip carving an arc through the air as it chopped down from above.
This strike was both fast and vicious. The Blood Gang condensed at the spear’s tip, forming a Dark Red streamer of energy that shot straight for Lin Yan’s head.
Clearly, he was starting to get serious.
’That’s about enough.’
Seeing Lin Minghuan get serious, Lin Yan knew what to expect.
He hadn’t attacked first, not out of arrogance or to show off, but simply to gauge Lin Minghuan’s strength. He needed to decide how much of his own power to reveal.
If he came on too strong, he was afraid Lin Minghuan wouldn’t be able to take it.
Now, he was certain: ten percent of his strength would be enough.
The Abyssal Sword left its sheath as he unleashed a wave of Sword Gang.
Though he struck second, his attack landed first, like a flash of Jinghong striking the longspear in an instant.
Lin Minghuan felt a massive force travel up the spear’s shaft. The web of his hand went numb, a pins-and-needles sensation spreading through his entire arm in an instant, nearly making him drop the longspear. He clenched his jaw, gripping the shaft with both hands, but the force sent him staggering backward several steps before he could regain his balance.
He raised his head and looked at Lin Yan.
Lin Yan stood in his original spot, the Abyssal Sword already sheathed, as if that last strike had been nothing more than a casual flick of his wrist.
"I’ve lost."
After a moment of silence, Lin Minghuan spoke slowly. His spear was a Spiritual Weapon, yet Lin Yan’s single strike had left a sword mark right on its shaft.
If Lin Yan had aimed that strike at him instead, he would have been knocked flat long ago.
"Thank you for holding back."
"I accept," Lin Yan said, returning the salute.
Down below, Lin Yan’s one-strike victory over Lin Minghuan didn’t cause much of a stir.
Most people seemed to have anticipated this outcome. Only the members of the Third Branch cheered with excitement, while those from the Fourth Branch curled their lips and muttered under their breath that Lin Minghuan was a good-for-nothing.
"Mingqi, I think you should just go up."
As Lin Minghuan walked off the platform, he saw the second-ranked Lin Minglan stand up to take his turn. Shaking his head slightly, Lin Minghuan looked past him, directly at Lin Mingqi, who was seated on the far left.
In his opinion, Lin Minglan was no match for Lin Yan.
Lin Minglan’s expression turned awkward when he heard this. He was already on his feet, and if he just sat back down now...
"Since Minghuan put it that way, I’ll go."
Lin Mingqi stood up and gently pushed Lin Minglan back down. He too had sensed that Lin Yan’s strength was extraordinary. Against Minghuan, he had only used a single strand of Perfect Level Sword Intent. If he had used both, Minglan would have been no match for him.
The moment Lin Mingqi stood up, the atmosphere crackled with excitement, and the faces in the crowd filled with anticipation.
The reason Lin Yan’s earlier victory over Lin Minghuan hadn’t caused much of a stir was that everyone already knew he had comprehended two Perfect Level Sword Intents, whereas Lin Minghuan only had a single Perfect Level Spear Intent.
Both were at the Blood Exchange Second Transformation; the difference in their Mental Realms had already decided the outcome.
But Lin Mingqi was different. He had also comprehended two Perfect Level Spear Intents, making him arguably one of the most outstanding rising stars the Lin Clan had seen in the last decade.
"From the Second Branch, Lin Mingqi!"
"From the Third Branch, Lin Yan."
As they announced their names and branches, Lin Yan sized up his opponent. Long before he had left the Lin Family, both Brother Hai and Lin Mingye had told him that if he wanted to take the crown, Lin Mingqi would be his greatest rival.
It was somewhat amusing: Lin Yan was Uncle Jiu’s disciple, and Uncle Jiu belonged to the Fifth Branch. Lin Mingqi, on the other hand, was from the First Branch, but had taken Uncle Qi as his master to learn Spear Technique.
"Lin Yan," Lin Mingqi said, "in this match, it’s actually I who have the advantage over you."

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