Chapter 36: Whose Stage
Lin Hai's expression was not pleasant. Lin Feng's performance today had already exceeded his expectations, and he felt gratified in his heart. But Lin Badao dared to speak like that only if he was absolutely certain. Even if Lin Feng could contend against Lin Hong, what about the next round against Lin Qian? Lin Badao wanted to put Lin Feng to death.
"What's the matter? As the patriarch of our Lin Clan, do you lack even this bit of courage, preventing our younger generation from displaying their full potential?" Lin Badao continued to pressure Lin Hai when he saw him remaining silent.
"Father, agree to him."
Lin Feng's heart turned cold. He and Lin Badao's family had no grievances or enmity; they could even be considered close relatives. Yet Lin Badao's family repeatedly schemed for his father's position as clan leader and wanted his life. Since that was the case, if they showed no righteousness, he need not hesitate either. Let the battle begin.
Lin Hai looked at Lin Feng's gaze—clean, clear, and filled with confidence. His lips moved slightly, and he uttered a single word: "Fine."
"Good. The patriarch truly lives up to being the head of our Lin Clan, showing such boldness. Since the patriarch has agreed, let's begin. Sixth Elder, let Lin Qian and Lin Hen fight first." Lin Badao appeared spirited and decisive. Now that Lin Hai had nodded, he just had to wait for the grand finale.
"Mm." The Sixth Elder nodded in agreement.
"Concede. You are no match for me." Lin Qian stepped onto the battle platform, her long robe flowing like a phoenix tail, arrogant and overbearing.
"Even if I am no match, I will still fight." Lin Hen's battle intent burned, and his flame martial soul was released, making the air restless.
"Your martial soul has also undergone its innate awakening, which is not bad. But unfortunately, it's still just a flame martial soul without any mutation during the awakening. You won't have the slightest chance." Lin Qian's voice was cold. The first hurdle for a martial cultivator was advancing to the Spirit Martial Realm. Upon breakthrough, the martial soul underwent its innate awakening, and during this process, very few people's martial souls mutated to become stronger.
As for Lin Qian, after her martial soul's innate awakening, it mutated to become even more powerful, turning into an ice-fire dual-source martial soul.
The phantom of the ice-fire fused martial soul bloomed behind Lin Qian. Ice contained within flames, and white frost covered the blazing inferno, dazzling and magnificent. The space around her sometimes became restless, sometimes frozen stiff, extremely eerie.
"I've long heard that Lin Qian's martial soul underwent innate awakening and became an ice-fire dual-source martial soul. It's true indeed. She is truly the top genius of our Lin Clan, far beyond what a waste like Lin Feng can compare to."
"Exactly. No wonder so many elders openly support Lin Qian. With an ice-fire dual-source martial soul, she not only has an advantage in martial soul but can also cultivate both ice and fire techniques and martial skills in the future. She will inevitably become a powerful figure."
Hearing the whispers below, Lin Badao's smile grew extremely rich. The expressions of the few elders beside him also improved.
"Ice and Snow World."
Lin Qian spoke coldly. The world turned icy, and white mist rose all around, as if snow was about to fall.
Ice had a certain restraining effect on fire, so Lin Qian used an ice-type martial skill first.
"Lava Palm." Lin Hen shouted loudly. A domineering palm force struck forward, with a faint flame burning in the center of his palm.
"Weak Water Condenses into Ice." Lin Qian was undaunted. Her ice palm clashed head-on with Lin Hen's. A sizzling sound rang out, and a layer of ice instantly formed on Lin Hen's hand.
"Melt." She spat out the word coldly. The ice turned into a cloud of mist. Lin Hen felt an indescribable pain in his palm. He roared explosively and then retreated swiftly. On his palm, there was a patch of charred flesh.
"Lin Hen!" The Sixth Elder was anxious.
"I'm fine." Lin Hen gritted his teeth, the teeth grinding audibly, showing the intense pain he was enduring.
"I will challenge you again." Lin Hen glanced at Lin Qian and then turned to leave, causing the Sixth Elder to sigh inwardly. Although his son Lin Hen was not exceptionally talented, he had a firm will. If he encountered an opportunity, he would surely achieve great things in the future.
"You will never be able to defeat me." Lin Qian said arrogantly. Her future achievements would far surpass anyone in the Lin Clan. No one could surpass her.
"Ice-fire dual-source, using two opposing forces in an instant, multiplies the power several times over." Lin Hai frowned. The stronger Lin Qian was, the more dangerous it was for Lin Feng.
"It's your turn." Lin Qian sneered at Lin Feng and then stepped down from the battle platform.
Lin Feng looked up at the sky. The blazing sun was nearly at its zenith, and the sky was clear for thousands of miles.
He lifted his foot and slowly walked onto the battle platform, where Lin Hong was already waiting for him.
"Lin Qian and I have been waiting for this battle for a long time." Lin Hong was as calm as ever, looking at Lin Feng.
"I know." Lin Feng nodded.
"Don't harbor any illusions. You won't have the slightest chance. Whether you face me or Lin Qian, you will be defeated without a doubt."
Lin Feng smiled. At this moment, Lin Hong exuded a certain quality from head to toe—the quality of confidence. In his eyes, Lin Feng was insignificant.
"What are you laughing at?" Lin Hong said coldly. "Don't tell me you think that defeating Lin Wu qualifies you to fight me? I'll show you how naive your thoughts are."
"Why don't you just say that you've also reached the Spirit Martial Realm? Why waste so many words to show off?" Lin Feng mocked. He had forced Lin Wu to retreat without fighting, making him roll away. If Lin Hong hadn't reached the Spirit Martial Realm, how could he possess such confidence?
Sure enough, Lin Hong's expression stiffened at Lin Feng's words.
"So what if you know? You're still going to die." Lin Hong's expression turned cold. An ice martial soul appeared behind him, and a surging aura burst forth from his body.
"Spirit Martial Realm! Lin Hong is also a Spirit Martial Realm expert! He's been hiding it deep." The crowd exclaimed in surprise.
"No wonder the First Master has the ambition to dominate the Lin Clan. His children's talent is too strong. Both are at the Spirit Martial Realm. If they grow up, our Lin Clan will surely rise. It seems the position of patriarch really should change." Many wavering Lin Clan disciples were now shaken, believing that Lin Badao should become the patriarch to allow the Lin Clan to rise and become the strongest force in Yangzhou City.
"Today's annual gathering is destined to be the stage for Lin Qian and me. You are nothing but a pathetic foil, utterly fragile." Lin Hong's domineering aura burst forth, tearing apart his gentle disguise and revealing his fangs.
An icy aura spread in all directions. The Snow Shadow Mountain Villa only accepted those with ice martial souls, and their ice techniques and martial skills were extremely powerful. Having come from the Snow Shadow Mountain Villa, the chill emanating from Lin Hong was no weaker than Lin Qian's, perhaps even surpassing it.
Soon, a layer of white frost appeared faintly on Lin Feng's body. Before the battle had even begun, Lin Hong was already able to affect Lin Feng.
"Thunderclap Sword Technique." Lin Feng struck first. Thunder suddenly exploded, causing the crowd to focus. Seeing the sword light on the battle platform, they realized that today, Lin Feng could have also shone brightly. But there were stronger individuals present: Lin Qian, Lin Hong, and Lin Hen, all of whom were Spirit Martial Realm experts.
Lin Hong was completely unconcerned. He casually struck out with a palm, sending an icy aura toward Lin Feng while a layer of white frost covered the long sword.
"One Sword, Thunderclap." Lin Feng's movements were agile. He flicked his wrist, shaking the frost off the sword blade, and the sword pressed forward with unstoppable momentum.
"Hmph." Lin Hong sneered. His palm struck directly at the sword without dodging. A fierce icy gale surged out, causing the sword tip to tremble slightly and halt its advance.
"Spirit Martial Realm experts have powerful qi and can release it externally. They are indeed far stronger than Qi Martial Realm cultivators." Lin Feng felt the strong force transmitted through the sword and thought to himself, but his expression remained unchanged.
"Ninefold Wave." He withdrew the sword and struck out with his left hand. A fierce wave roared forward.
"Oh?" Lin Hong raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected Lin Feng to be able to use two martial skills simultaneously with his left hand. This was extremely difficult to control, yet Lin Feng managed it perfectly.
"Get lost!" Lin Hong roared. With his Spirit Martial Realm cultivation, he had not gained the upper hand. Ice and snow danced wildly, frost raged, and the wave could not continue its assault.
"Sword Roaring Thunder Sound." Lin Feng remained as steady as a mountain. Thunder rolled, and the sword moved like a venomous dragon.
"Good!" Lin Hai shouted softly. So this was Lin Feng's true combat strength. His movement techniques and martial skills were exquisite to the extreme—fast, precise, and ruthless.
Lin Hong was forced to take a step back, his expression ugly. Although it was just one step, as a Spirit Martial Realm expert who had just arrogantly claimed Lin Feng was fragile, being pushed back by Lin Feng was naturally a loss of face, a stark irony.
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