C85 Chu Yan's Arrogant Provocation

Lin Miaoran couldn't shake the feeling of guilt as he spoke. Fu Rui eyed her young mistress with a hint of skepticism.

"What are you staring at? The finals are starting!" Lin Miaoran's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she raised her voice.

Fu Rui gazed at Lin Miaoran for a brief moment before suddenly bursting into laughter. Eager to avoid her young mistress's wrath, she quickly interjected, "Alright, alright, no more talking, Miss. Let's focus on the match."

Simultaneously, the Elder declared the end of the brief intermission, signaling the start of the finals.

Chu Yan and Lin Ao ascended the stage from opposite ends, prompting a buzz of speculation from the audience below.

"Who do you think will win?"

"Chu Yan has certainly turned heads with his performance today, but I still think Lin Ao has a slight edge."

"I agree, Lin Ao seems more likely to win."

"Lin Ao has mastered an Earth-Level Martial Technique, a skill typically reserved for Elders with the right bloodline, and even then, it depends on one's innate talent."

"Take a look at the Fire Ripple Sword in Lin Ao's grasp—it's a sixth-grade weapon, intricately etched with inscriptions, representing the pinnacle among mid-grade weapons."

"Moreover, Lin Ao's realm gives him an even greater advantage. At just sixteen, he's ascended to the fifth level of the Genuine Martial Realm. Chu Yan, at the fourth level, simply doesn't stack up."

Despite a portion of the crowd rooting for Chu Yan, they had to concede that Lin Ao held the upper hand in terms of cultivation level, martial skills, and weaponry.

Most onlookers believed that if Chu Yan could withstand three moves from Lin Ao, it would be commendable; surviving five would be extraordinary. Before this, no one had managed to endure even a single move from Lin Ao.

The Lin family members weren't the only ones engaged in hushed discussions; the clan's elders and high-ranking officials were also whispering among themselves. Some elders had developed a fondness for Chu Yan based on his earlier performance, but when it came to the final showdown, they still believed Lin Ao would prevail. They shared the general consensus that Lin Ao's capabilities were superior. Furthermore, Lin Ao was a direct descendant of the Lin bloodline, whereas Chu Yan, still only betrothed to Lin Miaoran and not yet wed, could not be considered a true member of the Lin family.

Stepping onto the platform, Lin Ao cast a dismissive glance at Chu Yan. "If you don't want to waste my time, just forfeit now."

Without giving Lin Ao as much as a glance, Chu Yan gripped his silver scale spear and, with a decisive "thud," drove it into the stage floor.

Lin Ao's brow furrowed instantly.

The surrounding spectators exchanged bewildered looks.

"No way, he's up against Lin Ao and he's still not using a weapon?"

"This is taking it too far."

"What's he up to?"

The once-silent crowd erupted into murmurs again.

Even Lin Miaoran, hidden behind the curtain, showed a trace of confusion in her eyes, whispering to herself, "What's he trying to do? Is he actually conceding?"

"Are you showing weakness, hoping I'll go easy on you?" Lin Ao asked icily. "You're mistaken. I never hold back against any opponent."

"Oh, you've got it all wrong," Chu Yan chuckled. "To deal with someone at your level, I don't even need a weapon."

The room fell silent for a moment before bursting into an uproar.

"What? Did I hear that right?"

"He's challenging Lin Ao!"

"Chu Yan is actually taunting Lin Ao!"

"Was there bad blood between them?"

The onlookers' eyes shimmered with surprise. Chu Yan's demeanor against Lin Ao was even more defiant and brash than it had been against Lin Yun.

The keen observers quickly formed their own theories.

"Wow! He's so straightforward with his likes and dislikes—I love his personality!" Behind the curtain, Fu Rui clapped her hands excitedly, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

Yet, Lin Miaoran's eyes betrayed her concern. "His strength isn't enough to beat Lin Ao yet. So why isn't he using his weapon and instead provoking his opponent?"

Elsewhere, Lin Chongzhi's sneers were relentless as he slapped the armrest of his chair and declared, "A tiny bit of success and he's already too proud, looking down on everyone. He's clueless about the real world. In my view, people like him will only ever achieve so much."

Despite his words, deep down, Lin Chongzhi was secretly hoping that Lin Ao would soon crush Chu Yan underfoot, giving him the satisfaction of seeing his rival humiliated.

"Fine, if that's how it is, then I have no qualms about eliminating a potential threat to the Lin family." Lin Ao nodded, drawing his Fire Ripple Sword with a deliberate slowness, "Inscription skills or not, an unripe talent is no talent at all. Behold the Rage Spirit Sword Technique!"

Swish!

Lin Ao advanced, his fiery red longsword swirling up a tumultuous wave of heat as it thrust toward Chu Yan, its furious arc of light arresting the breath of onlookers.

The surging heat radiated outward, causing the Lin family members nearest the stage to recoil from the scorching pain on their faces, instinctively stepping back.

Chu Yan watched his opponent, a cold smirk playing on his lips.

As the sword's tip neared, with the crowd's palms slick with sweat and their breaths held tight, Chu Yan made his move.

Without a step forward, he simply swung his arm.

With a crisp "pa," the incoming sword was deflected.

Chu Yan swung again.

A flash of emerald light streaked through the air, and Lin Ao felt a sharp pain slash across his cheek. He stumbled, nearly falling.

He quickly regained his footing and looked at Chu Yan incredulously.

The sting on his face persisted, and when he touched it, his fingertips came away with blood.

The onlookers, now fully attentive, saw a slender gash on Lin Ao's left cheek, from which blood was steadily oozing.

"Lin Ao's been wounded!"

"What happened?"

"I didn't catch it at all!"

"How did Chu Yan strike?" He doesn't have a weapon, does he?"

The crowd erupted into a cacophony of shouts, all eyes riveted on Chu Yan.

Lin Ao, seething with shock and anger, zeroed in on Chu Yan's right hand and saw it—a willow twig.

A simple willow twig, the kind that littered the grounds by the Lin estate's lake.

On one end of the twig, a remnant of blood was visible.

The sight of it made the cut on Lin Ao's face throb even more painfully.

"See, I told you, with your meager skills, I could make you cry for mercy with just this," Chu Yan taunted, a smirk on his face as he brandished the willow branch.

"How can this be possible—"

As the onlookers witnessed the scene, a wave of disbelief rippled through them, accompanied by incredulous groans.

"Did Lin Ao really get hit by a willow branch?" someone murmured from below the stage.

Lin Ao's cheeks burned with humiliation, and a rush of blood surged to his head.

"How could I, the Lin Family's top prodigy, be struck by a mere willow branch? The Furious Spirit Sword Technique! I'll have your head for this!" Lin Ao's rage was uncontrollable. Gone was his earlier composure; he bellowed, and the Fire Ripple Sword in his grip blazed to life. It glowed a scorching red, its brilliance overwhelming as it unleashed a torrent of blood-red sword energy, hurtling towards Chu Yan.