C77 Your True Strength

Upon hearing that the young miss was comparing Chu Yan to her daily sparring partner, Fu Rui couldn't help but feel a surge of sympathy for the man.

"Miss, if you don't wish to marry Chu Yan, why not just say it outright? This reason is just...," Fu Rui struggled to find the right word, stomping her foot in frustration, "You've even praised your sparring partner as a prodigy, improving day by day. Chu Yan simply can't match that level of skill."

"Isn't that even better?" Lin Miaoran said with a slight smile.

Fu Rui was at a loss for words.

Indeed, the young miss had never intended to marry Chu Yan, so this reason was perfectly fitting.

"So, Miss, what have you decided?" Fu Rui inquired after a moment.

"I'll tell Chu Yan my decision during the family competition. He doesn't measure up to my training partner, so I won't choose him. I believe he'll find that reason acceptable."

"And if he doesn't?" Fu Rui asked, her curiosity piqued.

Lin Miaoran let out a cold snort, shooting a glance at Fu Rui that made her step back in alarm.

"He doesn't accept it?" Lin Miaoran slammed her palm down.

With a loud crash, the armrest beneath her hand turned to dust.

"I am at the fifth level of Genuine Force, half a step into Pulse Condensation. I'm not to be underestimated," Lin Miaoran declared with an air of authority.

The following evening, Chu Yan arrived punctually at Langya Pavilion.

He had decided against sparring with Lin Miaoran that night since the Lin Family's internal selection was the next day, and he needed time to prepare.

Though there would be no practice tonight, there was something he wanted to confirm.

Entering the familiar room, Chu Yan was greeted by the sight of the white-clad youth with full lips.

Sixth Madame and the young Fu Rui stood at their usual spots.

But something was off; Fu Rui's gaze seemed strangely different as she looked at him tonight.

Dismissing the odd feeling, he addressed Lin Miaoran directly, "No sparring tonight, and I won't be here tomorrow evening either. Let's touch base the day after tomorrow; I can't make any promises just yet."

Lin Miaoran and her companions were taken aback by these words.

She had intended to have the Sixth Madame relay a message to Chu Yan that they would forego their fight tonight and that he needn't come by for the next couple of days. She planned to honor the agreed payment in the contract regardless.

Unexpectedly, Chu Yan preempted them with the same request.

Yet, it was evident that Chu Yan hadn't said all he intended to.

He turned to Lin Miaoran and stated, "Though we won't spar tonight, there's something I want to know."

Lin Miaoran met his gaze, and after a brief pause, her eyes subtly shifted. Chu Yan today exuded an aura unlike his usual self. Tonight, he seemed even more formidable, like a predatory beast lying in wait deep within the forest, silently stalking its prey's throat, enveloping one in a constant state of overwhelming tension.

Suddenly, Lin Miaoran grasped a possibility. Surprised, a gleam of realization flickered in her eyes. If she were to exclaim at this moment, she would undoubtedly blurt out: "You've advanced!"

Chu Yan seemed to catch the fleeting thought in Lin Miaoran's eyes and let out a knowing chuckle, "You're right."

Lin Miaoran's heart skipped a beat.

This man had actually ascended to the fifth level of the Genuine Martial Realm!

And it was clear that his advancement was aided by their daily sparring sessions.

Lin Miaoran's original intent in these daily battles was to refine her control over her power, break free from the physical constraints, and attune herself to the spiritual energies of the world, hoping to ascend to the Pulse Condensation Realm sooner.

But unexpectedly, before she could make her breakthrough, Chu Yan had surged ahead, reaching the fifth level of the Genuine Martial Realm before her.

In an instant, Lin Miaoran felt a surge of eagerness to test her skills.

Previously, each time Chu Yan returned from their daily encounters, there was a noticeable improvement in his strength. Now, having advanced to the fifth level of the Genuine Martial Realm, the increase in his power was bound to be even more significant.

Thus, Lin Miaoran was desperate to discover just how much he had changed.

However, Chu Yan wasn't about to give her that opportunity.

"I absolutely will not engage with you tonight because I have a very important matter to attend to tomorrow," Chu Yan told Lin Miaoran. "But if you agree to one condition, once I've handled my business, I promise to spar with you to your heart's content. When that time comes, I'll bring my full strength to bear."

"You've been holding back this whole time?" The Sixth Madame, standing not too far away, expressed her astonishment.

"What do you think?" Chu Yan retorted with a snort.

In his previous sparring session with Lin Miaoran, he had only demonstrated a few martial skills: the Raging Dragon's Cutter Kill, the Seven Stars Windstorm Steps, and the Eight Desolate Dark Fist. Moreover, he had deliberately restrained the full power of the Raging Dragon's Cutter Kill, fearing to reveal its true potential.

But he had yet to unleash his Blood Yang Spear Art and the Lotus Leaf Double Wood Slash! The Blood Yang Spear Art allowed for the wielding of inscribed weapons, while the Lotus Leaf Double Wood Slash was a high-grade human-level martial skill—both were ace techniques Chu Yan had kept in reserve.

Lin Miaoran's eyes sparkled with intrigue upon hearing Chu Yan's declaration. She had never been disappointed by Chu Yan before, and the mere fact that he had advanced five levels in his Genuine Force Stage was reason enough for her to relish another bout with him.

Unable to speak directly, Lin Miaoran simply nodded, signaling her acceptance of his terms.

"My demand is straightforward," Chu Yan stated, locking eyes with Lin Miaoran, his expression earnest. "I want to witness the full extent of your power."

Lin Miaoran was taken aback, having assumed that Chu Yan would ask for more Spirit Money or blood essence. She hadn't anticipated this kind of request. Yet, she quickly grasped the meaning behind it—a thirst to measure the distance between himself and his aspirations.

After a brief reflection, Lin Miaoran nodded and gestured for the Sixth Madame and Fu Rui to keep their distance.

Chu Yan remained steadfast across from her, close enough to keenly sense the disparity between them.

Once the Sixth Madame and Fu Rui had retreated to a corner of the room, Lin Miaoran drew her arms to her waist. In an instant, a tempest seemed to emanate from her very core. The surrounding air churned, swirled, and compressed with a weight that felt as dense as mercury.

The wooden floor groaned and creaked under the strain, and moments later, with a series of sharp cracks, it began to splinter.

Meanwhile, Lin Miaoran's aura continued to soar.

Within the swirling tempest, it seemed as though a ball of fire was burning fiercely, ready to erupt like a volcano or explode like shattered steel.

Chu Yan stood before Lin Miaoran, silently observing the spectacle, his eyes profound, as deep as the sea.

In that instant, Lin Miaoran looked up and caught a glimpse of Chu Yan's eyes. His gaze struck her unexpectedly.

For reasons she couldn't articulate, her heart skipped a beat.

It wasn't his looks or his level of cultivation that stirred her; it was the intensity of his gaze that left her feeling a shock like never before.