"What advice do you have?" Lin Che asked calmly.
"Isn't it suicide for a piece of trash like you to participate in the sect competition? After all, you're practically Mu Xue's 'brother.' How could I allow you to throw your life away?" Xu Long sneered, deliberately emphasizing the word "brother."
"Then what do you want?"
"Nothing much. I just want to witness your pathetic strength once more. I think you should stop embarrassing yourself in front of the entire sect."
Xu Long smiled faintly before releasing his spiritual pressure. With his cultivation at the middle stage of the Tendon Transformation Realm, his aura alone was enough to force ordinary Qi Refining cultivators to their knees.
However, when his pressure descended upon Lin Che, the latter merely snorted coldly. His legs remained perfectly straight.
"Is this enough?" Lin Che asked indifferently.
Xu Long's expression changed slightly. Lin Che had actually withstood his spiritual pressure.
"Of course not! You deceived Elder Lin and drove Mu Xue away from home. Today, I will teach you a lesson!"
Xu Long roared and threw a powerful punch, accompanied by fierce winds.
Lin Che sighed helplessly. It seemed impossible to avoid a fight today.
By now, more and more disciples had gathered. Almost everyone wanted to see Lin Che taught a lesson. After all, Lin Muxue was the dream girl of many disciples, and this "good-for-nothing" had taken away her opportunity.
Xu Long's punches were powerful and swift. Every strike generated waves of compressed air.
Yet in Lin Che's eyes, Xu Long's movements had become noticeably slower. The Crimson Moon Descent Technique not only strengthened his body and spiritual energy but also enhanced his perception in every aspect.
He slightly shifted aside and struck Xu Long's wrist with a palm.
The simple exchange left everyone speechless.
Lin Che had broken Xu Long's attack with a single move.
Xu Long himself found it unbelievable. How could someone at the middle stage of Qi Refining withstand his attack when he was at the middle stage of the Tendon Transformation Realm?
With a loud roar, Xu Long unleashed the full power of his cultivation. Golden light covered his fists as spiritual energy continuously gathered around him.
"It's the Xu Family's Heavenly Martial Overlord Fist!"
"It looks like Xu Long is finally getting serious," one disciple exclaimed.
"Lin Che is truly strange. Despite being only in the Qi Refining Realm, he's actually holding his own against someone at the middle stage of the Tendon Transformation Realm. This is becoming interesting."
Standing opposite Xu Long, Lin Che felt immense pressure, as though a mountain were hanging above his head, ready to crush him at any moment.
Xu Long's strength was undeniably formidable.
"Does it really have to come to this?" Lin Che asked coldly.
"I once swore that anyone who hurt Mu Xue would never get away with it!" Xu Long declared before attacking with both fists simultaneously.
Lin Che stepped forward and activated the Crimson Moon Descent Technique. Lunar spiritual energy condensed in his palms, making it seem as though he were holding a bright moon.
Facing Xu Long's powerful martial art, Lin Che had no choice but to respond with his own strength.
The two clashed head-on.
The resulting shockwave forced the spectators to retreat several steps, afraid of being caught in the aftermath.
Golden light surrounded Xu Long's fists, and two enormous fist phantoms descended upon Lin Che like mountains.
In response, brilliant moonlight erupted from Lin Che's palms.
Boom!
A deafening explosion echoed through the area as dust filled the air.
Moments later, Xu Long's body was sent flying backward.
Everyone gasped in disbelief.
Lin Che had actually defeated Xu Long.
Moving with astonishing speed, Lin Che appeared before him in an instant.
Looking at the disheveled Xu Long lying on the ground, Lin Che bowed slightly and said coldly,
"The troubles you've caused me over the years end today. But if you harbor ulterior motives toward Mu Xue, I will kill you."
Xu Long trembled slightly.
For the first time, he could no longer see through Lin Che.
Moreover, those words had struck directly at the secret hidden deep within his heart.
Suddenly, a crimson sword aura flashed through the air.
Lin Che immediately retreated three steps.
A figure dressed in yellow appeared beside Xu Long. After confirming that he was unharmed, she turned toward Lin Che with icy eyes.
"Mu Xue..." Lin Che murmured.
Although he had been searching for her, he found himself unable to speak after seeing the resentment in her gaze.
"Your strength has indeed improved. Grandfather's efforts weren't wasted on you. But today, you injured my friend. I will repay this debt on the stage of the sect competition."
Lin Muxue's eyes were as cold as frost.
Lin Che was puzzled. Hadn't he already taken her place in the competition?
Lin Muxue laughed bitterly.
"How ironic. I had to use the Xu Family's recommendation slot to enter the competition, while my own grandfather gave his place to an outsider."
After saying that, she helped Xu Long to his feet and left.
Lin Che had held back his strength, so Xu Long was not seriously injured. Nevertheless, before leaving, Xu Long looked at Lin Che with obvious fear.
The surrounding disciples sighed as they watched the conflict between the two who had grown up together, then gradually dispersed.
Only Lin Che remained standing there, motionless.
His eyes were fixed on the direction in which Lin Muxue had disappeared.
His lips moved slightly.
"An outsider..."
---
The bright moon hung high in the sky, and stars were scattered across the heavens.
It was the night before the sect competition.
Within a bamboo forest behind the Xiaohanshan Sect, Lin Che practiced his swordsmanship beneath the moonlight.
The technique he cultivated relied on absorbing moonlight and transforming it into spiritual energy, making nighttime his ideal period for cultivation.
As one of his sword strikes carved a deep trench into the earth, the sword in his hand suddenly trembled.
Lin Che was startled.
He had used this sword for many years and had never experienced such a phenomenon.
After carefully examining it, he found nothing unusual.
Had he imagined it?
His perception under the moonlight was extremely sharp. There had to be a reason behind the strange vibration.
Shaking his head, Lin Che put the matter aside.
It was time to gather spiritual herbs for Lin Tianran, something he did every month.
Normally, nobody would be here at this hour.
Yet two figures were leisurely strolling nearby.
A young girl dressed in white stood quietly, her eyes as clear as autumn water as she gazed down at the Xiaohanshan Sect.
Behind her stood a giant dark-skinned man with muscles as massive as mountains. Standing over two meters tall, he resembled a towering beast.
His aura was unfathomable.
Every movement he made gave the impression that the entire Xiaohanshan Sect lay beneath his feet.
Despite his terrifying strength, he showed great respect toward the girl in white.
"Lady Yu, the Xiaohanshan Sect is already the strongest force in Yulin City, yet the most powerful person here is only at the Spiritual Vein Realm. It seems the Painting Saint is not here."
The girl did not answer immediately.
She quietly looked at the dim lights below before speaking.
"Qianhun's information is accurate. If the Painting Saint is still alive, this is the only place where he might be hiding."
Her voice was cold, yet incomparably pleasant.
The giant man nodded and continued searching with his spiritual sense, but still found nothing.
"He is the greatest spirit array master in the world. Concealing his cultivation through special means is entirely possible, though such methods require resources."
A beautiful smile appeared on the girl's lips.
Seeing that smile, the giant man involuntarily shivered.
Beneath that pure and beautiful appearance hid someone feared by righteous experts throughout the entire continent.
A gentle breeze brushed past, causing her hair to sway softly.
Suddenly, the girl in white opened her eyes and smiled sweetly.
"The fish has taken the bait."
"I hope it won't disappoint me."
Arak 3liha 😋