Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Lin Zhao vs. Lin Yuan!

Lin Yuan looked down at Lin Long with false regret. “Brother Long is strong. But this time, you were one step short.”

Lin Long’s eyes shifted slightly. He forced his raging spiritual energy down, teeth clenched. “You think you’re the only one who prepared something?”

He flipped his wrist.

A Clear Spirit Pill lay in his palm.

Lin Yuan’s pupils tightened. His expression turned grim.

Lin Long swallowed the pill.

His aura not only recovered—it surged higher, sharper, almost fierce. He laughed, eyes bright with battle. “Come on, Lin Yuan. Today I want to see what other tricks you’ve got!”

He gripped his saber and pressed hard, giving Lin Yuan no room to breathe.

Lin Yuan let out a cold laugh and snapped his hand out. Silver-gray light formed a shield.

Metal and earth—attack and defense.

Even if Lin Long’s cultivation seemed slightly higher, at the same twelfth layer, Lin Yuan could bridge the gap with methods.

The shield blocked Lin Long’s saber.

Lin Yuan watched Lin Long’s battle-bright face and stood with hands behind his back, lips curling smugly. “I don’t know where you got that Clear Spirit Pill, but do you think my methods end at poison mist?”

His gaze sharpened. “The Nether Spirit Python that entered your body wasn’t destroyed.”

Lin Long’s saber slipped from his hand.

Clang.

He spat blood and collapsed heavily, as if his bones had turned to sand.

Lin Zhao’s gaze turned to ice.

So that was it.

The Nether Spirit Python had entered Lin Long’s body. That itself was one of its innate abilities.

And the moment Lin Long circulated spiritual energy, it triggered the poison.

Lin Yuan looked down at Lin Long like he was stepping over filth.

“I threw poison mist to help you,” he murmured, lowering his voice so only Lin Long could hear. “I wanted you to lose with dignity. But some blind fool gave you Clear Spirit Pill. A Third Grade Clear Spirit Pill can’t cure Nether Spirit Python entering the body.”

He leaned closer, smile sharp. “And it’s your fault. Poison entered you, and you still dared circulate spiritual energy. You didn’t lose unfairly.”

Then he straightened, eyes cool and proud.

“Honestly fighting you, I might not have been your match. But lowborn is lowborn. The resources and methods I have are beyond your imagination. Lin Long… use your talent to become the first stepping stone for this young master’s ascent to the Young Lord position.”

When the referee announced Lin Yuan’s victory, many people still hadn’t reacted.

This match should have been even more shocking than Lin Zhao versus Lin Ya.

Instead, it ended like a trap snapping shut—fast, ugly, and hard to accept.

And because of the impact, when Lin Zhao fought her own third-stage opponent next, the crowd’s attention was strangely dull, as if everyone’s nerves were still caught on what they’d just witnessed.

It was only when the next draw result came out that the arena erupted again.

Both numbers were 3.

Lin Zhao versus Lin Yuan.

After Lin Zhao defeated Lin Ya, her status in the clan had risen to match the Lin Family’s Three Elites. Everyone understood what this duel really was.

It wasn’t for top four.

It was for first.

Lin Zhao held the drawn number and met Lin Yuan’s vicious gaze. A smile touched her lips, but her eyes were colder than winter steel.

Lin Yuan lifted his chin, dripping arrogance. “If I were you, I’d surrender now and keep some dignity. Women always sink into love. Wouldn’t it be better to obediently support your husband and raise children?”

Lin Zhao’s smile sharpened into something cruel. “After I smash your teeth in, I hope you still have the face to say that kind of bullshit.”

The Lin Family watched their exchange openly. Hearing Lin Zhao curse so bluntly—despite her looks and bearing like a Moon Palace divine maiden—Yao Yun covered her face and quietly stepped on Lin Mang’s foot under the table.

“Look what you’ve taught Zhao Zhao.”

Lin Mang endured it without a sound, suffering in silence.

In the crowd, a youth coughed awkwardly and said, “The Young Lord is really… unique.”

To his surprise, others nodded.

Lin Yuan’s vision darkened with rage.

Unique? They were blinded by beauty. This was vulgar.

He bared his teeth. “Once I grind that face of yours under my foot, Third Miss will understand what obedience looks like.”

Lin Zhao’s smile turned chilling. “I’m not interested in stepping on your ugly face. I’m going to cripple you.”

They leapt onto the platform.

The referee gave the signal.

Lin Zhao and Lin Yuan summoned Spirit Qi Manifestations at the same time.

Lin Yuan’s Nether Spirit Python tore free—pulled from Lin Long’s body like something dragged out of rot. Having plundered a great deal of spiritual energy from Lin Long, it was nearly three times Lin Zhao’s earlier manifestation. Its tongue flicked. Those snake eyes held the greedy covetousness of something alive.

Lin Zhao’s spirit bird shattered almost instantly.

Lin Yuan sneered. “That’s all you’ve got?”

Lin Zhao closed her eyes.

Flame-like spiritual energy coiled around her.

The instant the Nether Spirit Python lunged—aimed straight for her face—Lin Zhao opened her eyes.

Green fire bloomed within them.

A tiny jade-green Phoenix Bird, like a flame carved from emerald, flew out from her brow.

Palm-sized.

Compared to the massive python, it looked like an ant challenging a tree.

But the moment that small Phoenix Bird cried out, the Nether Spirit Python froze.

Its snake eyes dulled, focus shattering like glass.

Lin Yuan roared, rage and panic mixing. “What are you doing, Nether Python?! I didn’t tell you to use innate abilities! Don’t pretend to be scared of that little chick!”

Lin Zhao formed seals with both hands. Pale-green mist gathered around her feet as her wings unfurled, lifting her into the air.

“If you didn’t rely on that Nether Python lingering soul,” Lin Zhao said, looking down at him, “I might’ve had to work for this. But you used it…”

Her smile sharpened. “No matter how strong your Nether Spirit Python is, it’s still just a worm. How does it dare contend with the Phoenix Clan?”

Lin Yuan’s eyes locked onto the jade-green Phoenix Bird.

Then his gaze flicked back to Lin Zhao, and suspicion sparked. “Phoenix Fortune entering spirit? You can control Phoenix Fortune to this extent?”

Fate Luck was elusive. It didn’t swing swords. It didn’t smash mountains. It brought benefits—subtle, shifting—and those benefits depended on the owner.

In the Cultivation World, prodigies were everywhere. Many carried Phoenix Fortune, yet only rare few truly rose.

Lin Zhao had pushed her final portion of Phoenix Fortune to its limit.

Even a tiny Phoenix was a noble among living beings.

How could a mere python offend it?

If Lin Yuan had used a normal Spirit Qi Manifestation, Phoenix Fortune wouldn’t have suppressed him like this. But he was greedy, cruel, and he’d relied on a Nether Python lingering soul from the start.

He only had himself to blame.