C83 You're Very Impressive Right?

Before long, the second round of the competition came to a close. From the original sixty-four contenders, a mere sixteen stood their ground. It was at this juncture that the air crackled with tension. Advancing one more step meant breaking into the top eight and securing a prize. And should one ascend further into the top four, the rewards would be significantly amplified.

The allegiances of the onlookers from the neighboring families subtly shifted. Initially, Lin Ao was the unanimous favorite to claim first place and the substantial prize that came with it. Yet, Chu Yan's performances in the previous two rounds had won the crowd over, and many now harbored the sentiment that seeing Chu Yan take the top spot wouldn't be such a bad outcome.

Lin Ao, despite his strength, was a solitary figure, seldom mingling with the Lin Family's younger generation. Chu Yan, in stark contrast, was a marvel in martial arts, a master of Inscription, and exuded a warmth and willingness to lend a hand to others. Suddenly, Chu Yan's presence seemed to radiate a glow in the minds of the Lin Family, particularly among the youth.

The third round, the battle for the top eight, was fast approaching. The opening match featured Lin Yun squaring off against Chu Yan. Lin Yun, unable to contain his eagerness, leaped onto the platform and pointed at Chu Yan, bellowing, "Chu Yan! Enough with your charade of playing the good guy! I'm telling you, today I'm going to knock your teeth out in front of everyone and put an end to your arrogance!"

His words caused many in the audience to furrow their brows in disapproval. The Lin Clan's higher-ups, observing from their elevated seats, wore expressions of clear displeasure. Chu Yan, with his command of Inscription, was a talent the Lin Family should be eagerly courting, not antagonizing. Yet here was Lin Yun, a younger member of the family, publicly threatening to disfigure another in such a disrespectful display.

Where was the regard for his elders? For the reputation of the entire family? His reckless words were nothing short of a calamity for the Lin Clan.

Oblivious to the gravity of his outburst, Lin Yun reveled in self-satisfaction, convinced that his tirade was a righteous release of pent-up fury. In his mind, defeating Chu Yan and grinding him underfoot would be the crowning glory of his triumph.

"Idiot," Chu Yan declared coolly as he stepped onto the stage.

"You've only got this last chance to talk tough," Lin Yun retorted with a sneer, his eyes locking onto Chu Yan's hand. He noticed that Chu Yan had brought his silver scale spear with him this time.

A flicker of delight passed through Lin Yun's eyes. In the previous rounds, Chu Yan had ascended the stage unarmed, but now, he wielded his iconic weapon. Wasn't this an acknowledgment of his own strength?

As Lin Yun's face lit up with glee, Chu Yan casually tossed the silver scale spear, spearhead down, embedding it into the ground with a resonant "thud."

"Let's begin," Chu Yan said, his hands empty once more as he faced Lin Yun.

"What's this supposed to mean?" Lin Yun's face darkened. "You're going to fight me with your bare hands?"

Chu Yan merely smirked, uninterested in responding.

Fury blazed in Lin Yun's eyes. "You'll regret your arrogance! Cloud Sword! Heaven Swamp Sword Art!" he bellowed.

In an instant, Lin Yun was shrouded in a dazzling sword aura, hurtling towards Chu Yan like a thunderbolt.

The air crackled with explosive sounds, chilling to the bone and blanching the faces of those who heard.

The crowd below was abuzz with shock and awe.

"Heaven Swamp Sword Art!"

"Lin Yun has mastered that mid-tier human-level martial skill!"

"His Cascade Cloud Sword is a triplex weapon!"

"Chu Yan's in for a tough fight!"

"Who knew Lin Yun had such strength in reserve!"

"Things are looking grim for Chu Yan!"

On the high platform, the Lin family elders watched with solemn faces.

Behind the curtain, Fu Rui's eyes were wide with anticipation, not blinking as she watched the arena. Lin Miaoran's expression remained complex, her gaze flickering as she watched Chu Yan.

Nearly everyone believed that Chu Yan was about to pay dearly for his overconfidence.

But then, amidst the sound of the sword cutting through the air, came Chu Yan's scoff.

Without hesitation, he sprang into action. Without resorting to any martial skills, he seized Lin Yun's sword-wielding wrist with the speed of lightning and an unyielding grip.

In an instant, the sweeping sword light came to a sudden halt.

"Hmm?" The change occurred so swiftly that Lin Yun was caught off guard.

He attempted to pull back his wrist, only to discover that Chu Yan's grip was unyielding, like it was forged from iron, leaving him immobilized.

A subtle shift crossed Lin Yun's face.

Just then, he sensed a powerful gust of wind bearing down on him.

Looking up, Lin Yun saw a palm, seemingly carrying the force of wind and thunder, hurtling toward him, growing larger in his vision until it filled his entire sight.

The slap was so forceful that Lin Yun felt as if the air around him had been vacuumed away.

Crack!

The sound echoed crisply, making everyone present wince from the sting.

Lin Yun's cheek felt as though it had been struck by a whip of splitting iron, caving in instantly. Half of his teeth were knocked from his gums, spewing out with blood and saliva in a grotesque spray that traced an eerie arc through the air.

His eyes bulged from their sockets, and the once-clear scene before him blurred as if obscured by a snowy veil.

His head reeled as if hammered by a mallet, buzzing with a sound that left him knowing nothing else. His body soared, like a kite severed from its string, and he was flung from the ring.

Thud! The next moment, Lin Yun lay unconscious on the ground, his head enveloped in thick blood, presenting a ghastly and twitching sight. It would be some time before he could regain consciousness.

The entire ordeal was over in less time than it takes to blink. Aside from a few, nearly everyone was too slow to react.

"Knocked my teeth out, did you?" Chu Yan scoffed, looking down at the insensate Lin Yun below.

He held the Cong Yun Sword, freshly wrested from his opponent's grasp.

"Think a triplex is something special?"

As he spoke, Chu Yan, before all eyes, twisted the triplex's Cong Yun Sword into a disc of metal as if it were merely a thick strand of dough. His palm remained unscathed, his face betraying no effort.

With the now useless Cong Yun Sword discarded onto Lin Yun's mangled face, the Lin family members in attendance finally snapped back to reality.

A collective hiss filled the air as everyone present sharply inhaled in unison, the sound of cold breaths being drawn echoing throughout the venue.

Spectators' eyes were glued to Chu Yan on the stage, whose demeanor had changed as swiftly as flipping through the pages of a book. In that instant, hearts raced with a mix of reverence and fear towards him. Yet, above all, it was the admiration for the powerful that resonated most deeply within them.