C76 I Lin Miaoran's Husband

Harnessing the terrifying burst of power from his Blood Marrow, Chu Yan repeatedly honed his skills with the Dark Eight Desolations Fist. He also discovered an astonishing synergy when combining it with the Seven Stars Wind Walk. Within the confines of the time-space cage, Chu Yan's afterimages were omnipresent.

Three days within the cage flew by in a flash. Standing on the ground were ten life-sized Stone Golems, each seemingly facing its own Chu Yan. With a resonant roar, the ten Chu Yans struck in unison. The air was filled with the synchronized sound of their punches tearing through the void. Crack upon crack echoed as each golem's chest was simultaneously penetrated, leaving behind bowl-sized holes.

In the next instant, the ten Chu Yan figures merged toward the center, coalescing into a single form in the blink of an eye. "The Dark Eight Desolations Fist may not match the Raging Dragon's power and might, but its speed is unparalleled, allowing for multiple strikes at once. With each advancement in my realm, both the speed and number of punches will increase, making it nearly impossible to defend against," Chu Yan mused as he observed the perforated golems.

His eyes sparked with a sudden intensity, and with a swift step forward, his hand transformed into a claw. "Furious Dragon Bind!" he exclaimed. Bang! The golem's head shattered like brittle tofu, while a force akin to a piercing bolt of lightning fractured the remainder of its body, leaving a web of cracks throughout.

Chu Yan let out a breath, and in a cascade of noise, the golem crumbled into innumerable pebbles, each smaller than a tenth of a fingernail, littering the ground. Previously, Chu Yan needed his silver scale spear, etched with Heavy Equipment Inscription Patterns, to shatter a golem so thoroughly.

"Eleven bottles of Blood Marrow have once again enhanced my physique. At this rate, I might be ready to tackle the fifth star of the Seven Stars Wind Walk by tonight," Chu Yan's eyes gleamed with eager anticipation.

At night, within the Langya Pavilion, Chu Yan was informed that he had been assigned a new room.

This new room was more than quintuple the size of the previous one, sprawling across the topmost floors of two buildings.

Tonight's audience included not only the Sixth Madame but also Fu Rui.

Lin Miaoran had been eagerly awaiting in the room.

Upon seeing Chu Yan, she was tempted to inquire if he had achieved another breakthrough. However, the thought of revealing her secret identity as a woman the moment she spoke forced her to hold back.

Their sparring session soon commenced, providing her with a clear answer.

Chu Yan had grown stronger yet again!

And the increase in his strength was unmistakable!

Lin Miaoran was astounded to see Chu Yan executing the Dark Eight Desolations Fist, a technique Fu Rui had only taught him the previous night. Its formidable power belied the fact that it was mastered in such a short time.

Unbeknownst to her, Chu Yan's innate talent in martial arts was extraordinary. Coupled with the effects of the Time Space Cage, he had not one, but three days to practice, which made his current display all the more astounding.

Determined to best Chu Yan, Lin Miaoran had to exert half of her power.

After Chu Yan departed with the Spirit Money and blood essence, Lin Miaoran found herself gingerly touching her left rib where she had taken a solid punch she couldn't evade.

The following day, Chu Yan returned.

Despite still using only half her strength, Lin Miaoran was struck eight times during their sparring.

The punches landed across her chest, lower abdomen, and lower back, each one leaving her stunned by the power and speed behind them.

Over the subsequent days, each of Chu Yan's visits brought with them an incredible advancement in his abilities. To keep up, Lin Miaoran had to escalate her output from 50% to 60%, and eventually 70%.

Meanwhile, the daily debates between Lin Miaoran and Fu Rui grew increasingly heated.

"Today, that guy managed to throw the young miss to the ground!"

"But I quickly fought back and sent him soaring through the air!"

"Miss was completely overpowered for a good three breaths today, unable to mount any counterattack."

"I was dodging the brunt of the attack, looking for an opening," Lin Miaoran said, her voice firm but her heart conceding that her opponent indeed had the strength to make her avoid a direct confrontation.

"Miss, I saw him touch your... chest today!"

"That was an intentional vulnerability I exposed, and he didn't touch me!" Lin Miaoran retorted, a mix of embarrassment and anger in her voice as she snapped at Fu Rui.

"Miss, how much of your strength did you use today?"

"Seventy percent," the young lady admitted, her voice betraying a hint of guilt.

"And what about tomorrow?" Fu Rui inquired.

"Let's wait and see. The day after is the family selection tournament, and we'll need to go back to observe," Lin Miaoran responded.

"Miss, you're not actually scared of losing to that guy and running away, are you?" Fu Rui pressed, moving closer to Lin Miaoran.

"Of course not!" Lin Miaoran laughed heartily. "Little Fu Rui, let me tell you, even though that guy is constantly getting better, he's still no match for me."

In that moment, Fu Rui saw a spark in Lin Miaoran's eyes that startled him, then filled him with joy. "Miss, does that mean—"

Lin Miaoran smiled slyly. "Actually, I owe that guy thanks. Our daily sparring has significantly improved my control over my power, enhancing my strength even more. If I'm not mistaken, after the family qualification competition, I should be ready to advance to the Pulse Condensation Period."

"Congratulations, Miss!" Fu Rui's eyes shone with genuine delight and excitement.

"Keep this to yourself for now," Lin Miaoran said with a sly grin. "When we return, I intend to take a good look around and see who else in the Lin family has potential, aside from Lin Ao."

"Miss, aren't you curious about your betrothed, Chu Yan?" Fu Rui asked, her curiosity piqued. "There's been no word from him lately. I've even had people inquire about him. It seems he hasn't been at the manor for about ten days. Some say he's been training hard, aiming to make a big impression at the clan selection, while others speculate he's fled out of fear."

"Him," Lin Miaoran mused, shaking her head after a moment's thought. "Once the Family Selection Tournament is over, Grandfather should be ready to emerge from his seclusion. I intend for him to join the tournament as well—it's a test from Dad and Grandfather.

If he can secure results that satisfy everyone, then of course he'll remain a part of the Lin Family. But if he fails to impress, well, I'm afraid—"

"Miss, would you still consider marrying him?" Fu Rui interjected cautiously, her voice betraying that this was her primary concern.

Lin Miaoran gave her a frosty look. "The man I marry cannot be just any commoner. He must show undeniable potential. If he's not even on par with the sparring partner I face daily, then clearly, there's no future for us."

"Wow, Miss, you're being incredibly strict!" Fu Rui exclaimed, her voice laced with astonishment.