Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Battle with Su Bai 1

“You want to fight Su Bai?”

Lin Mang stared at his daughter, disapproval clear. “Do you know what level that child has reached? Aren’t you afraid he’ll cripple you?”

“Pressure brings progress,” Lin Zhao said, calm as ever.

Lin Mang looked like he wanted to argue, then remembered he didn’t win arguments in this household. His status was only slightly higher than his two sons’.

With his youngest daughter, he could only nag like an old nanny.

“Watch your body,” he muttered. “Don’t end up like your two brothers…”

The mention of Lin Zhao’s brothers cut the rest of his words short. Pain flashed through Lin Mang’s eyes.

Lin Zhao had been sent away from them early. Before her engagement to Yao Chi Sacred Land, her two older brothers had already been dispatched to the border of the Heavenly Phoenix Continent. In her memories, only two blurry figures remained—teenage boys competing to hold their little sister in front of Yao Yun.

Lin Zhao’s voice softened. “Have my brothers been sending messages lately? Anything for me?”

Lin Mang sighed. “If there’s a chance in the future, you’ll see them.”

Lin Zhao was too sharp not to hear what wasn’t being said. She didn’t press.

“Your mother and I only want you safe,” Lin Mang said, reaching out and patting her hair. “But whatever you want to do—go do it. Your parents will support you.”

In her Sea of Consciousness, Granny sounded genuinely surprised. “You have brothers?”

Lin Zhao nodded once. “Two older brothers. No talent for cultivation.”

“Impossible,” Granny blurted. “Both your parents are high-level cultivators. Having children with no talent is one in ten thousand.”

Lin Zhao’s fingers tightened.

So her brothers hadn’t been sent away because they lacked talent at all?

Then what could make a noble house unable to protect even its direct-line young masters—forcing them to be sent away?

“Thinking about this now won’t raise your strength,” Granny said briskly, cutting off the spiral. “Focus. The sparring partner you chose is good. Su Bai’s spiritual root is an extremely rare mutated single root—the Thunder Spirit Root. A root like that is something you can meet but never seek.”

Lin Zhao clicked her tongue. Single-root talent was already one in a million. A mutated single root was rarer still.

She hadn’t expected the little boy she picked up back then to have such terrifying potential.

…

News that Lin Zhao would spar with Su Bai spread quickly. Before she even arrived at the martial arena, Lin Family City was already buzzing.

Public opinion was almost one-sided.

“Third Miss Lin had decent talent before, but after ten years she’s still only mid-stage Foundation Establishment. Where does she get the nerve to spar with Young Master Su?”

Someone sneered nastily, “Maybe she got used to being abused on Yun Ding Peak. After a few peaceful days at home, she couldn’t stand it anymore.”

“This Third Miss Lin really doesn’t know how high the sky is.”

Before Lin Zhao stepped onto the stage, Lin Yi—along with several other Lin Family girls—blocked her path with mocking smiles.

“Third Miss,” Lin Yi said, voice sweet, eyes sharp, “have you stayed on Yun Ding Peak so long that you can’t even tell who’s strong and who’s weak?”

Lin Zhao looked at Lin Yi once.

Lin Yi’s tenth level of Foundation Establishment had once been a threat when Lin Zhao was only at the sixth. Now, with Lin Zhao at the eighth, Lin Yi posed no threat at all.

Lin Zhao didn’t waste words. She walked past and stepped onto the stage.

That indifference made Lin Yi’s smile crack. She clenched her teeth. “I’d like to see how you disgrace yourself today!”

A mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator challenging Su Bai? Was she insane?

Under eager gazes full of adoration, Su Bai walked over in a neat blue dao robe.

People soon noticed something else and murmured in surprise: Su Bai and Lin Zhao not only wore the same color, the styles were similar too. Standing together, they looked oddly well matched.

Lin Yi caught the looks and lowered her lashes with a soft smile. “The family head is thoughtful, preparing outfits like this for the Young Lord and Young Master Su.”

Understanding rippled through the crowd. So that was it.

No wonder.

Some had briefly wondered if something was going on between Su Bai and Lin Zhao. But Lin Zhao’s former fiancé had been a top heavenly prodigy too—if she had another prodigy at her side, it would be enough to make anyone jealous.

Lin Zhao, however, simply looked Su Bai up and down and gave him a thumbs-up. “Once my Little Bai grows a bit more, ‘pretty boy who ruins kingdoms’ won’t even be enough to describe you.”

A long spear appeared in Su Bai’s hand, lightning faintly licking its tip. He smiled, hidden anticipation in his eyes. “Can I charm Sister?”

Lin Zhao summoned the Heavenly Phoenix Bone Sword. “First, let Sister see what realm you’ve reached these years.”

When the referee gave the command, their auras shifted.

The earlier harmony vanished, leaving only sharpened intent.

Lin Zhao held the Bone Sword sideways, silently recited an incantation, and flicked her wrist.

Green flame burst forward—basic Fire Attack Art, yet different, denser, alive. Just before reaching Su Bai, the flame reshaped into a jade-green fire sparrow.

“Spirit Power Shaping,” the Second Elder said on the judges’ platform, voice impressed despite himself. He turned toward the Great Elder. “This girl’s control over spiritual energy is terrifying.”

Then, as if remembering his role, he looked at Lin Mang and deliberately belittled Lin Zhao. “Too bad she wasn’t valued on Yun Ding Peak these years. Judging by that spiritual energy, it’s only from a Fifth-grade cultivation art. Forget Su Bai—compared to those three in the clan, it’s nothing.”

Those three were the contenders the elders believed most likely to win the Clan Grand Tournament and enter the South Sea Academy.

What Lin Zhao showed was impressive, but still supposedly short.

Lin Mang stared at Lin Zhao’s sword and green flame without changing expression. “She hasn’t shown her full strength yet. Why are you all so impatient?”

The Second Elder laughed, cold and certain.

He wanted to see how Lin Mang would talk once Lin Zhao embarrassed herself.

On the stage, Lin Zhao knew nothing of the undercurrents. Facing the jade-green fire sparrow, Su Bai lifted a slender hand. Pale purple lightning shot out like a blooming lotus and poured into the fire sparrow.

Lightning and fire tangled in the air.

Lin Zhao advanced, sword in hand. Splendor flowed around her—milky-white light and pale green spiritual energy woven into her movement as she struck.

Su Bai swung his spear.

The spearhead met the Bone Sword.

Metal rang, sharp as thunder.

Lin Zhao’s grip went numb instantly. Her gaze sharpened, serious now.

Golden Core strength was not something she could shake head-on.

Fortunately, she had never intended to win with brute force.

Lin Zhao lifted the Bone Sword. Green Flame Wings unfurled behind her. With a beat, she shot into the air.

The Bone Sword pointed forward.

Her body blurred into afterimages as she stabbed straight toward Su Bai’s face, sword light swirling with wind-sharp edges.

Hong Hu Sword Art.