Lin Mingsong knew Lin Yan well. Given his personality, if Lin Yan wasn’t confident, he wouldn’t have said "I should be able to." He would have said, "I’m not sure."
However, as Lin Mingsong said this, the crowd below erupted into an uproar once again.
"Another forfeit? Is the Third Branch trying to guarantee Lin Yan a spot in the top three?"
"Guarantee what? He still has to get past Lin Mingchen to make the top three. Maybe Lin Yan is actually that strong."
"I still think Lin Mingsong made a poor choice. The safer bet would have been for Lin Yan to forfeit. Mingsong had a much better chance of defeating him."
On the Third Branch’s side, Lin Minghai and the others were also baffled, not understanding why Brother Song would choose to forfeit.
But Lin Yan was also a member of the Third Branch, and since Brother Song had made such a choice, they couldn’t really say much.
In the crowd, only one person wore a thoughtful expression: Lin Mingye.
When he heard Lin Yan say "I should be able to," Lin Mingye’s eyes lit up, and he thought, ’In the past, Lin Yan would always say he’d give it his all. This time he just said, "I should be able to." That means he can definitely defeat Lin Mingchen.’
「Mid-mountain Pavilion」
Several people’s gazes fell on Lin Shouchen. "Your Third Branch had Mingsong forfeit?"
"Don’t look at me. It was Mingsong’s own decision."
Lin Shouchen’s expression didn’t change. He was telling the truth; the elders hadn’t offered any suggestions regarding the match between Mingsong and Lin Yan today.
"Have some tea."
Lin Shouyuan picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for Lin Shouchen.
The moment Lin Mingsong forfeited, a hint of confusion and worry had flashed in Brother Qi’s eyes. Others hadn’t noticed, but he had.
He poured the tea to reassure Brother Qi.
"Third round. Mingya gets another bye. Mingchen and Lin Yan, on the platform."
Lin Shouzheng continued to officiate the matches. Lin Mingchen walked onto the platform, looked at Lin Yan, and said with a smile, "I won’t be forfeiting this time."
Lin Yan’s earlier "I should be able to" was clearly a slight against him. It was impossible for him not to be annoyed, which was why he retorted with such a jest. His words implied that Lin Yan had only made it this far through pure luck in the first two rounds—and that his luck had just run out.
"Yes. Please give me your guidance."
Lin Yan nodded and cupped his fist in a salute.
’In terms of Sword Dao talent, Lin Mingchen is a bit inferior to Jian Sheng. Back when he fought Jian Sheng, he hadn’t even comprehended two Perfect Level Sword Intents. Even if he’s improved since then, at most he has two Perfect Level Sword Intents on top of his Blood Exchange Fourth Transformation strength.’
’Then this time, I won’t hide my Blood Exchange Fourth Transformation strength. That way, I’ll have a better chance to win the Cold Dew and break through to the True Gang Realm.’
Lin Mingchen drew his sword, its tip pointing diagonally at the ground. The aura of a Blood Exchange Fourth Transformation martial artist surged out like a tide.
"Lin Yan, your talent for the Sword Dao is greater than mine." Lin Mingchen slowly raised the tip of his sword. "If this were a contest of talent, I would be no match for you. But this is the clan competition. We’re competing on overall strength, and that includes one’s Realm. Don’t blame me for using my higher Realm to suppress you."
Lin Mingchen said it very frankly, and no one in the audience thought there was anything wrong with his words.
This was the clan competition. Since Lin Yan had chosen to step onto the platform, he had to accept that his opponents might have a higher Realm.
Lin Yan nodded without another word.
His right hand rested on the hilt, and the Abyssal Sword was slowly drawn.
Three Sword Intents were released from the Sword Pill. At the same time, his Qi Blood surged, no longer at the Blood Exchange Third Transformation, but the Blood Exchange Fourth Transformation. A dense Blood Gang instantly coated the blade.
Lin Shouzheng’s eyelid twitched slightly, a faint trace of surprise flashing in his eyes. ’Blood Exchange Fourth Transformation?’
Below the platform, Lin Mingya’s perpetually placid eyes flickered with emotion for the first time. ’Am I sensing this correctly? Is that... the Blood Exchange Fourth Transformation?’
Lin Mingchen’s pupils contracted slightly. He could feel it—the aura radiating from Lin Yan was in no way inferior to his own. It was even... more profound.
’Is it an illusion?’
Just as Lin Mingchen was still uncertain, Lin Yan swung the Abyssal Sword in his hand.
The moment the terrifying Blood Gang merged with the three Sword Intents, a beam of Sword Gang shot forth. It formed a nearly transparent, almost invisible Sword Wave. It was utterly silent, yet it carried a pressure that made the hearts of every Blood Exchange Realm Martial Artist present pound with fear.
’I can’t block this strike!’
As a fellow swordsman, the moment Lin Yan’s Sword Gang shot out, Lin Mingchen finally confirmed it: Lin Yan was truly at the Blood Exchange Fourth Transformation. And this strike, a fusion of three Sword Intents—he absolutely could not block it.
"I forfeit!"
Lin Mingchen shot backward, shouting his forfeit at the same time.
If he took this strike, he would definitely be injured, and it would be impossible to beat Lin Yan anyway. Since that was the case, it was better to forfeit and save his strength to fight for the last of the top-three spots in the losers’ bracket.
The moment Lin Mingchen opened his mouth to forfeit, Lin Shouzheng’s figure flashed and appeared in front of him. He struck out with his right palm, and Lin Yan’s Sword Gang instantly dissipated into nothingness.
"This match, Lin Yan wins!"
The many clan members watching from below hadn’t yet processed what had happened. All they saw was Lin Yan unsheathing his sword, Lin Mingchen forfeiting, and then Lin Shouzheng making a move.
"And Brother Mingchen said he wouldn’t forfeit..."
A clan member commented drily, their voice carrying across the silent field and into everyone’s ears.
Lin Mingchen’s expression was a bit awkward. He hadn’t known Lin Yan was already at the Blood Exchange Fourth Transformation. If he had known, he wouldn’t have postured like that just now; he would have forfeited immediately too.
Lin Mingchen shot a somewhat reproachful gaze at Lin Mingxi and Lin Mingsong. In his view, those two must have known the truth about Lin Yan.
But when he saw the equally shocked expressions on their faces, he realized he had wronged them. They hadn’t known about Lin Yan’s Blood Exchange Fourth Transformation either.
He could only turn his resentful gaze to Lin Yan. ’You reached the Blood Exchange Fourth Transformation... Did you really have to hide it so well?’
On the Third Branch’s side, most people’s mouths were slightly agape, with Lin Minghai’s being the widest.
’Lin Yan won?’
’He forced Lin Mingchen to forfeit with a single strike?’
It wasn’t just the Third Branch who was shocked, but the other branches as well.
Only Lin Mingye was there, muttering repeatedly, "I knew it, I knew it."
In the mid-mountain pavilion, Lin Shouzhen’s eyes glinted as he looked toward the Combat Platform, then he turned his head to look at Lin Shouyuan.
’Did Old Jiu offer Old Qi tea earlier because he knew Lin Yan had reached the Blood Exchange Fourth Transformation?’
Lin Shouchen’s brow twitched slightly, then smoothed out. The corner of his mouth curved into an imperceptible arc as he also looked toward Lin Shouyuan.
’No wonder Old Jiu offered me tea. He knew Lin Yan had broken through to the Blood Exchange Fourth Transformation.’
Lin Shouyuan’s expression was as calm as ever. Under the gazes of the others, he slowly lifted his teacup, but his fingers holding the cup tightened ever so slightly.
’This disciple of mine... he’s exceptionally good at hiding his strength.’
’Even at a time like this, he still hasn’t revealed his Sword Pill.’
’Most importantly, even I, his master, had no idea he was already at the Blood Exchange Fourth Transformation.’
’If I told them, I’m afraid none of them would believe me. Best not to say anything at all.’
"Old Jiu, that matter with the Fourth Branch you mentioned earlier... it really needs to be put on the agenda."
Lin Shouzhen’s gaze landed on Lin Yan on the distant Combat Platform. In the past, he could tolerate the squabbles between the juniors of the Third and Fourth Branches, but now...
The Third Branch has produced a true dragon. The matter with the Fourth Branch must be handled properly.
We absolutely cannot let the Fourth Branch affect Lin Yan, and thus affect the Lin Family’s future.
PS: It’s the final day. Our new book is sixth on the monthly ticket rankings, but seventh place is only a thousand tickets behind and catching up fast. Does anyone have any monthly tickets to spare? I’ve delivered two Chapters and fourteen thousand characters without even ending on a cliffhanger. Jiu Deng is begging for your monthly tickets!

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