Chapter 33: A Startling Battle (1)
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"How do you intend to handle this?" the Second Elder asked, his voice trembling slightly as he stared warily at Lin Hai.
The crowd had just been shocked by Lin Feng's strength, and only now realized that Lin Hai had unknowingly already stepped onto the battle platform, his target being none other than the Second Elder.
"How do I intend to handle this? You haven't forgotten nodding your head just now, have you?" Lin Hai sneered coldly.
"Second Brother, Lin Ye is, after all, the Second Elder of our Lin Clan, with great merits and hard work. Let's forgive him this time, how about it?" Lin Ba Dao said loudly.
"Forgive? Lin Ba Dao, don't you find your own words ridiculous? Just now, you all united against me and my son Lin Feng, but did you ever consider how much I, Lin Hai, have done for the clan? Or do you intend to go back on your word in front of all the Lin Clan disciples?"
Lin Hai shouted sternly, and Lin Ba Dao's face turned ugly. Everyone had witnessed what happened just now; he had no reason to renege, and doing so would only damage his own reputation.
"From this moment on, I announce the removal of Lin Ye from his position as Second Elder. Additionally, receive one palm strike from me." Lin Hai no longer looked at Lin Ba Dao.
"Don't even think about it." Lin Ye's body trembled, and he actually tried to escape.
"Hmph." Lin Hai's hands shook, and the entire space seemed to freeze. A cracking sound echoed, and Lin Ye's fleeing body stiffened slightly. Cold, bone-piercing cold, it froze his body and hindered his movements.
"Boom, crack!" The icy palm imprint directly struck Lin Ye's body. Lin Ye's movements halted, his entire body covered in a layer of frost. Even the blood spilling from the corner of his mouth froze. He fell to the ground, his body curling up and shivering uncontrollably, his venomous gaze fixed on Lin Hai.
Lin Ye's cultivation was not weak; he shouldn't have been defeated so thoroughly. But he didn't dare to fight Lin Hai at all. Turning his back to Lin Hai was simply asking for death.
Many people's gazes froze. They hadn't expected Lin Hai to strike so heavily. It seemed their clan leader was truly enraged today, making an example of one to intimidate the others, cutting off the wings of Lin Ba Dao and his faction.
"Someone, carry him away. The annual meeting continues, presided over by the Sixth Elder. Anyone who objects, speak up." Lin Hai flicked his sleeve, his authority as clan leader fully displayed.
Lin Feng saw his father's domineering attitude and revealed a faint smile. This was a world where the strong reigned. Lin Hai hadn't fought before, not because he lacked the strength, but because he didn't want to.
No one dared to question it. Although Lin Ba Dao and the Great Elder were furious, they could only endure.
The battles continued. Lin Feng's group was the weakest; it seemed only Lin Yu had a cultivation of the Eighth Layer of Qi Martial Realm, while the rest were at most at the Seventh Layer. After six battles, Lin Feng, whom everyone regarded as a waste, remained undefeated. In the fourth group, only he and Lin Yu had achieved this, so the qualifiers for the group were almost certain: Lin Feng and Lin Yu.
As for the first three groups, Lin Qian in the first group hadn't even made a single move; all her opponents conceded, conserving their strength to fight for the other spot. In the second group, Lin Hong, and in the third group, Lin Wu, as seeded participants, were also undefeated as expected. However, one person surprised everyone: the Sixth Elder's son, Lin Hen. He was steady in every battle and won them all, though he hadn't yet faced Lin Wu.
Finally, although the battles weren't over, the qualifying spots were locked in. The first two groups had even completed all their matches, while the third and fourth groups were missing one final match each.
"Third group: Lin Wu versus Lin Hen. Fourth group: Lin Feng versus Lin Yu." As the Sixth Elder announced, the crowd regained some interest. These four were all undefeated. They wanted to see just how strong Lin Hen really was, and whether Lin Feng could defeat Lin Yu, who was at the Eighth Layer of Qi Martial Realm.
However, most people didn't have high hopes for Lin Hen or Lin Feng. Lin Wu had always been strong, one of the outstanding younger generation. As for Lin Feng, although he had surprised everyone, he had only just broken through to the Sixth Layer of Qi Martial Realm three months ago. Even if he had undergone a transformation, he was at most at the Seventh Layer or had just broken through to the Eighth Layer. How could he possibly defeat Lin Yu, who had long been at the Eighth Layer?
The four stepped onto the battle platform. Lin Hen, however, very straightforwardly cupped his hands toward Lin Wu and said, "We've both already qualified. There's no need for this battle."
"Although the spots are confirmed, I, Lin Wu, am not afraid of a fight. Let everyone see who is the strongest in the third group." Lin Wu shook his head, his tone arrogant.
"I concede." Lin Hen smiled, unconcerned, and then walked off the battle platform without hesitation.
"Lin Wu wins." The Sixth Elder smiled bitterly, announcing his own son's defeat.
"Coward." Lin Wu cursed, then turned and left. Only Lin Feng and Lin Yu remained on the battle platform.
"Heh heh, finally, it's Lin Yu and this waste. I hope Lin Yu gives him a good lesson." Lin Ba Dao's voice was cold. He had thought Lin Feng would be crushed in the second round, but he hadn't expected this waste to have decent cultivation and be placed in the fourth group, nearly finishing with a perfect record.
"Don't worry. Yu'er knows what to do. He'll definitely make that waste look bad." The Third Elder smiled confidently. He was very assured of his son's strength. Making the top three might be difficult, but competing for the top five was promising.
"We'll wait and see." Lin Ba Dao nodded.
The palm print on Lin Yu's face had long disappeared, but the scar in his heart remained. He couldn't forget the slap Lin Feng had given him. He hated Lin Feng deeply, but along with that hatred came fear. This once-waste young master now exuded an air of mystery. Gu Song, whose strength was not inferior to his, had been thrown off the tavern by Lin Feng. Lin Yan prided himself on his sword, but his sword was like a toy in front of Lin Feng. This left Lin Yu with no confidence at all—no confidence that he could defeat Lin Feng.
Feeling the eyes of the entire crowd, the lines on Lin Yu's face twitched and contorted. He knew that countless people were waiting for him to teach Lin Feng a lesson, including his father. But could he really teach Lin Feng a lesson?
"Since we've both already qualified, how about we not fight?" Lin Yu said in a very low voice.
Lin Feng looked at Lin Yu with a half-smile, remaining silent.
"Bastard." Lin Yu cursed inwardly, let out a long breath, and said helplessly, "I concede."
"Huh?" Hearing Lin Yu's words, the Third Elder and the others were stunned. The crowd was also stunned. Lin Yu, he conceded?
Just as everyone was expecting to see Lin Feng's true strength, Lin Yu, like Lin Hen, chose to retreat without a fight.
"What's going on?" Lin Ba Dao's face darkened.
"Maybe Xiao Yu wants to humiliate him in the finals," the Third Elder explained, though even he didn't believe it himself.
The second round ended. The qualifiers were Lin Qian, Lin Hong, Lin Feng, Lin Yu, Lin Wu, Lin Hen, Lin Ying, and Lin Li.
The third round was the finals. First, they would face off in pairs, eliminating four of them.
Lin Ying and Lin Li both fixed their gazes on Lin Feng, praying in their hearts that they would be matched against him. That way, they might luckily advance another step and enter the top four.
"First match: Lin Qian versus Lin Ying." As the Second Elder's voice fell, Lin Ying's face instantly turned pale. She had encountered the worst possible scenario.
"Lin Qian, although I'm no match for you, since we've come this far, I still want to fight. I hope you'll let me see your true strength." Since there was no other choice, Lin Ying had to fight. The crowd nodded inwardly; knowing she would lose, she still dared to fight.
"I will." Lin Qian said coldly, her arrogant eyes not even glancing at Lin Ying.
"I'm attacking." Lin Ying shouted, charging at Lin Qian without even using her martial soul. Since defeat was certain, she just wanted to see how strong the Spirit Martial Realm was.
"Ice." Lin Qian shouted. Before Lin Ying's hand could even touch Lin Qian, her movements instantly became sluggish, as if weighed down by a thousand pounds.
The moment Lin Qian's slender hand landed on Lin Ying's body, Lin Ying's body was instantly covered in a layer of ice, white frost spreading over her entire form.
"Defeat." Lin Qian's palm trembled against Lin Ying's body, and Lin Ying collapsed to the ground, shivering uncontrollably, somewhat similar to the Second Elder from before.
"So strong. This is the power of the Spirit Martial Realm. Good thing I don't have to face Lin Qian." The others secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling some sympathy for Lin Ying.
"First match: Lin Qian wins. Second match: Lin Hong versus Lin Yu." The Second Elder announced.
"I concede." Lin Yu smiled bitterly. He naturally wouldn't fight Lin Hong. He hadn't expected to concede twice in a row and be eliminated.
"Second match: Lin Hong wins. Third match: Lin Feng versus Lin Li."
"Phew... good." A smile bloomed on Lin Li's face. Lin Li was also at the Eighth Layer of Qi Martial Realm. Against the other seven, he couldn't guarantee victory, but against Lin Feng—at least, in his own opinion—he could.
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