Below the Combat Platform.
All the young Lin Clan Members, including the older members of the Shou Generation, now gazed at the young figure on the platform with complicated expressions.
The one from the Third Branch was a true dark horse, through and through.
First in the branch competition, first in the newcomer competition, and now... he had fought his way into the top two of the younger generation’s ten strongest.
If he went one step further...
GASP!
Many Lin Clan Members couldn’t help but gasp, their eyes all turning to Lin Mingya below the platform.
However, Lin Mingya did not step onto the platform.
"Lin Yan, your talent in Martial Arts is immense. But I am already in the True Gang Realm. To fight you now would be an unfair victory. Perhaps when you’ve entered the True Gang Realm, we can have a proper match."
Lin Mingya looked at Lin Yan and spoke slowly. His words held no disdain for Lin Yan; he was merely stating a fact.
In his view, Lin Yan, with his Blood Exchange Fourth Transformation and three Perfect Level Sword Intents, could fight across minor realms within the Blood Exchange Realm without issue. But the Blood Exchange Realm and the True Gang Realm were worlds apart. Lin Yan was no match for him.
"Alright."
Lin Yan agreed without hesitation.
He had already found out that the rewards for the top three were identical. He had revealed enough already. Within the clan, he was now considered a top genius, and revealing more wouldn’t bring him many more benefits.
’Stopping here is a happy outcome for everyone. It’s for the best.’
"Since you two have decided, the top two spots are now settled."
Lin Shouzheng glanced at the somewhat disappointed clan members below, who had been hoping for a spectacle, and announced the result directly.
"Next up is the loser’s bracket to determine third place."
Lin Yan stepped off the platform and stood beside Lin Mingya, watching as Brother Song and the others went up to draw lots.
"I thought I was the only one in this generation of the Lin Family who could carry the mantle. You’ve been a pleasant surprise."
Lin Mingya said with a smile, looking at Lin Yan standing beside him.
Being the number one of the Lin Family’s younger generation was not just an honor, but also a responsibility.
He couldn’t be weaker than the younger generations of the other three great families; he couldn’t tarnish the Lin Family’s reputation.
For the past two years... he had been cultivating almost day and night, afraid that if he were to one day lose to one of the other three families, there would be no one else in the Lin Clan to take his place.
Now, seeing Lin Yan appear, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Once Lin Yan entered the True Gang Realm, he would no longer be fighting a lone battle against the other three families.
Soon, the lot drawing on the platform was over, and a new round of battles began.
This time, no one held back. Every fight was grueling, drawing frequent gasps of surprise from the spectating clan members below.
After two rounds, to Lin Yan’s surprise, the final match for third place was between Brother Song and Sister Mingxi.
"Who do you think will win?"
Lin Mingya suddenly looked at Lin Yan, a smile on his face.
"It’s hard to say."
Lin Yan frowned. ’If it were a life-and-death battle, Brother Song would likely win. I can sense killing intent within his Saber Intent; he must have seen his share of bloodshed. Sister Mingxi, by contrast, has more of an academic style and might be lacking in practical combat experience.’
’But this is just a match, so Brother Song won’t be fighting to the death.’
On the platform, Lin Mingsong and Lin Mingxi stood facing each other.
Lin Mingsong held his saber horizontally before him, its tip pointing slightly down, his posture casual as if he were practicing in his own backyard. Lin Mingxi’s longsword was pointed diagonally at the ground, Blood Gang flowing over the blade, the aura of her Blood Exchange Fourth Transformation steady and restrained.
The two exchanged a glance, cupped their fists in salute, and then the gleam of saber and sword flashed at the same time.
Lin Mingsong was the first to strike, putting his full power into his very first slash. The Saber Gang was like a bolt of white silk, carrying with it a potent Blood Gang and Perfect Saber Intent as it shot straight for Lin Mingxi.
Lin Mingxi didn’t meet it head-on. With a slide of her feet, her figure drifted away like a willow catkin as her sword-light stabbed out from the side, aiming for Lin Mingsong’s ribs.
The strike was both fast and cunning, its angle exceedingly tricky. It was a variation of her signature Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques.
But Lin Mingsong seemed to have anticipated the path of her sword. With a swift retraction and extension of his saber, the blade’s edge appeared just in time to block her sword’s tip.
The clash of metal rang out, sending sparks flying.
Lin Mingxi’s sword was knocked aside, her attack faltering for a moment.
Lin Mingsong gave her no chance to breathe. His second slash followed immediately, faster and fiercer than the first. The Saber Gang carved an arc through the air, chopping toward Lin Mingxi’s shoulder from the left. She twisted her body to evade and her sword-light flared again in a counter-attack attempt, but Lin Mingsong’s third slash had already arrived. His attacks were linked, one after the other, relentless as a rising tide, each wave crashing down upon the last, giving his opponent no room to recover.
From below the stage, Lin Yan saw everything clearly.
’Brother Song’s Saber Technique isn’t that much more profound than Sister Mingxi’s Swordsmanship, but his combat experience is far superior.’
’Every slash lands in the most awkward spot for Sister Mingxi, either forcing her to change her move or sealing off her path to counter-attack.’
’Sister Mingxi’s Swordsmanship is exquisite, yet she’s constantly suppressed, unable to find an opportunity to unleash her full strength.’
’This is the difference combat experience makes. Her ability to adapt in the middle of a fight is just a bit lacking.’
’Unless Sister Mingxi is willing to take an injury to forcefully break Brother Song’s rhythm, she is sure to lose.’
Lin Yan concluded in his mind.
Ten moves.
Twenty moves.
Thirty moves.
Lin Mingxi’s Sword Momentum began to show minute signs of faltering.
It wasn’t that her Qi Blood was failing, but that her rhythm had been completely disrupted.
Lin Mingsong’s slashes grew faster and heavier, one after another. She could only struggle to defend, completely unable to find an opening to counter-attack.
After fifty moves, Lin Mingsong suddenly retracted his saber and took a step back.
Lin Mingxi froze for a moment. She subconsciously wanted to counter-attack, but as she raised her sword, she realized her feet had already been pushed to the very edge of the Combat Platform.

Comments

Loading...