Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Battle with Lin Ya

Lin Zhao returned to the tournament’s disciple waiting area with a small jug of Peach Blossom Wine. She’d barely sat down when Lin Yuan slid into the seat beside her like he belonged there.

He smiled, exchanged a few empty pleasantries, and finally revealed his point.

“Third Miss is very close with Young Master Su Bai, isn’t she?”

Lin Zhao glanced at him. “It’s fine.”

Lin Yuan clicked his tongue in disapproval. “Third Miss’s engagement to Yao Chi Sacred Land hasn’t been completely broken off yet. How can you walk so closely with another man?”

Lin Zhao propped her chin on her hand and stared at him. “Are you my son?”

Lin Yuan’s face stiffened. He’d already decided this tournament’s championship was his. In his mind, he was the true Lin Family Young Lord. Lin Zhao was just a woman—she should know her place, follow proper virtue, and obey.

Now she dared talk back?

“What does Third Miss mean by that?” Lin Yuan snapped.

Lin Zhao’s legs crossed, long and lazy. Her smile was sharp. “I only thought you were my son—because only a son tries to control who I spend time with.”

The referee’s voice cut across the waiting area, calling her name.

Lin Zhao stood, gripping Bone Sword. Green flashed briefly in her eyes as she gave Lin Yuan a long, cold look.

Settle the fight first.

Lin Yuan after.

The referee watched Lin Zhao step onto the platform and felt a strange wistfulness settle in his chest.

She had once been the Lin Family’s number-one genius—their hope of rising again. Then she’d gone to Yun Ding Peak, and not only accomplished nothing, she’d been abandoned by her fiancé on her wedding day.

When everyone thought she was ruined, Lin Zhao had returned to prove a simple truth:

A real genius wasn’t defined by whether the world treated them kindly.

“Lin Zhao versus Lin Ya,” the referee announced. “Begin!”

Lin Ya met Lin Zhao’s fighting intent head-on. She shook her head, cool and composed. “To reach this step at sixteen, Lin Zhao—you’re truly impressive. But unfortunately, I can’t lose this match.”

Lin Zhao smiled. “Neither can I.”

No more words were needed.

They moved at the same time, summoning Spirit Qi Manifestations.

Lin Ya was an earth cultivator, known for defense. Yet her Spirit Qi Manifestation took the form of a massive Earth Dragon.

“Fifth Grade spirit technique: Earth Dragon Bind!”

The Earth Dragon surged forward, heavy and crushing. Lin Zhao’s simple Spirit Qi Manifestation—the Hong Hu—shattered almost instantly under its pressure.

Lin Zhao’s eyes narrowed.

Since reaching peak Foundation Establishment, this was the first time her attack had been broken head-on.

It told her exactly how strong Lin Ya truly was.

Lin Ya’s voice stayed calm as she pressed the advantage. “Earth Dragon Bind—once my strength is high enough, the Earth Dragon can transform and rival a Fusion realm cultivator. If all you have is a basic Spirit Qi Manifestation, you should concede.”

Green flickered in Lin Zhao’s gaze.

Behind her, vast flames gathered, coiling like living wings along her back and sides. With a single pointed finger, she sent those flames surging toward the onrushing Earth Dragon.

At the same time, she gripped Bone Sword and charged Lin Ya.

Lin Ya drew her weapon without hesitation.

A pair of massive spiked hammers slammed into her hands—brutal weapons that looked absurd against her slender frame.

But Lin Ya swung them like she was born with them, force roaring with every movement.

“Lin Zhao,” Lin Ya called, eyes burning with battle intent, “fighting me up close—your body won’t hold!”

Very few in the Lin Family knew the truth: Lin Ya’s sharpest edge wasn’t her cultivation rank. It was her physical body. With earth spiritual energy as a foundation, she trained body techniques until her toughness surpassed most of her peers.

Even Lin Yuan and Lin Long admitted they couldn’t match her.

Below the stage, Lin Yuan—who had already won all ten of his group matches—sneered. “Lin Zhao is truly stupid.”

How could someone built like that stand against Lin Ya, that tigress?

Lin Long sat not far away. He watched Lin Zhao for a moment and said quietly, “No. I think Lin Zhao is stronger.”

Lin Yuan’s eyes flashed. “Brother Long believes in Third Miss that much? Or have you fallen for her? Makes sense—you two barely share any blood relation.”

Lin Long looked at him like he was a headache given human form. With Fourth Elder’s backing and his own strength, he didn’t fear Lin Yuan the way others did.

So he only said, flatly, “Just watch.”

On the platform, Lin Ya’s hammers crashed down toward Lin Zhao.

The arc of iron and spikes swung straight for Lin Zhao’s face. Some spectators winced, already imagining a beauty being shattered.

Lin Yuan’s lips curled into a smile he couldn’t quite hide.

Pay for your arrogance with blood.

Lin Zhao swung Bone Sword.

Thin, green, almost fragile-looking—yet it met that massive hammer with a thunderous boom.

For a heartbeat, the clash wasn’t spiritual energy.

It was body strength.

And the next instant stunned everyone.

The hammer flew.

Bone Sword knocked it aside so violently that Lin Ya’s arm jerked with the recoil.

It wasn’t the sword’s strength. It was Lin Zhao’s.

Eyes widened across the arena.

Lin Ya’s mind moved fast. She didn’t chase the weapon. She twisted, dodged, and kicked, trying to create distance with momentum.

Lin Zhao lifted Bone Sword, blocked the kick, and smiled like she was enjoying herself. She sprang up and snapped a lightning-fast kick back.

Lin Ya couldn’t evade in time.

The kick landed in her chest. Lin Ya flew backward, boots scraping hard across the stone.

She barely stabilized before her face flushed deep red. Blood spilled from the corner of her mouth as she sucked in air, breathing ragged.

Whether it was weapon clash or true body combat, she’d lost.

If Lin Ya’s physical strength was a tigress, then Lin Zhao’s was a Tyrant Dragon.

How could a Foundation Establishment cultivator have a body like this?

And Lin Zhao wasn’t even walking a body cultivator path.

Lin Ya didn’t dwell on it. She wasn’t the type to crumble from one setback.

Her cultivation rank was still higher. That advantage hadn’t vanished.

Light burst from Lin Ya’s palms. A point of dark radiance shot out—not toward Lin Zhao, but into the ground.

“Fifth Grade spirit technique: Earth Abyss Prison!”

Lin Zhao felt it immediately—something beneath the platform shifting, ready to erupt. She spread her green Flame Wings to take to the air.

But the moment her wings opened, she couldn’t move.

No matter how she pushed her spiritual energy, she was locked in place, as if the air itself had turned to stone.

Even at peak Foundation Establishment, maintaining two Fifth Grade techniques strained Lin Ya. But seeing Lin Zhao caught, she finally allowed herself a breath of relief.

“This Earth Abyss Prison was prepared for your flying method,” Lin Ya said, voice steady.

Lin Zhao let out a short, bitter laugh.

She had underestimated what a top-tier peak Foundation Establishment cultivator could do.

“Looks like it’ll be hard to hold back,” she murmured.

Then she lifted her sword.

If her body couldn’t move, then her blade would.

One hand formed seals so fast they blurred. The other swung Bone Sword into layered afterimages. Wind and fire swept outward, spiritual energy roaring as it was drawn into the sword traces. Cold sword light slashed in waves, tearing the air.

“Thousand Spirit Slash!”