Su Yan vs Lin Tian

As dawn broke, Skywind City's training grounds were already bustling with noise.

Today's battles would decide the top four, and possibly even crown the champion of this competition directly. Thus, the spectators were even more fervent than yesterday, with the area outside the arena packed with eager Martial Artists.

The eight who advanced yesterday now stood on either side of the arena—

Four from the Su Family: Su Yun, Su Mei, Su Yan, Su Yu;

Three from the Lin Family: Lin Tian, Lin Mo, Lin Yan;

One from the Chu Family: Chu Feng.

On the high platform, City Lord Shen Wuya stroked his beard and chuckled. His gaze swept over the Su Family's contingent, and he said to Su Tianheng beside him, "The Su Family certainly has a wealth of talent this time, occupying four spots among the top eight. It seems you're set to outperform the Lin Family."

Su Tianheng's expression was calm as he cupped his hands and replied, "The City Lord is too kind. It's merely the younger generation's diligent training; we were just fortunate."

Though his words were humble, a hint of pride flashed in his eyes.

Beside him, Lin Zhentian's face was grim, his hands clenched tightly.

The Lin Family had always been the foremost family in Skywind City. This time, having one fewer spot in the top eight than the Su Family was, to him, an unspoken humiliation.

Hmph, they were just a bit luckier.

Lin Zhentian sneered inwardly, his gaze involuntarily falling on Su Yu.

This Su Family disciple, once considered trash, had now become the biggest variable.

Meanwhile, below the platform, Lin Tian stood with his arms crossed, his cold eyes sweeping over the Su Family members before finally settling on Su Yu. A chilling smile curved his lips. "I hope you can hold on until you meet me..."

Dong—

As the war drums sounded, Shen Wuya rose and announced, "The top eight battles officially begin!"

"First match: Su Yan versus Lin Tian!"

On the training grounds, two figures stood facing each other.

Lin Tian's lips curled into a sinister smile, his gaze like a venomous snake's roaming over Su Yan.

Even though Su Yu wasn't the one standing opposite him now, he intended to make everyone from the Su Family pay.

"I'll torture you soundly."

Lin Tian lowered his voice, tapping the tip of his sword lightly on the ground.

"Blame Su Yu for this."

Su Yan snorted coldly, his Flowing Cloud Sword already drawn. "Enough with the nonsense! Do you think you've got me cornered?"

At the referee's signal, Lin Tian's figure blurred.

He unleashed the first stance of the Spirit Snake Sword Style, "Spirit Snake Emerges from Cave." Compared to Lin Xuan, it was like comparing the heavens to the earth.

Before the sword's edge even arrived, sharp Sword Qi tore through the air, emitting a piercing hiss.

"Cloud Rise!"

Su Yan hastily erected a wall of Qi, but it crumbled the instant it made contact.

The residual Sword Qi blasted him back several yards, and he spat a mouthful of blood onto his clothes.

Su Yan endured the intense pain, propping himself up with his sword.

He wiped the blood from his lips, his internal Spiritual Power surging madly. The Flowing Cloud Sword suddenly erupted with eight brilliant cloud patterns, forming a spiral vortex of Qi around the blade.

"Eight-Layered Cloud Vortex · Cloud Scatter!"

With a furious roar, the eight cloud patterns exploded, transforming into a sky full of Sword Qi that swept outwards.

This was the ultimate killing move of the Flowing Cloud Sword Style. Where the Sword Qi passed, the bluestone ground was gouged with deep furrows.

"A mere parlor trick."

Lin Tian scoffed. With a flick of his wrist, his long sword moved like a spirit snake wagging its tail, tracing a bizarre arc.

This seemingly effortless strike precisely cut into the weakest point of the cloud patterns.

The moment the two Spiritual Powers collided, Su Yan's Sword Qi dispersed like bubbles.

The residual shockwave sent him flying again, crashing heavily against the protective formation at the edge of the arena.

"Are all people from the Su Family this useless?"

Lin Tian slowly advanced, his sword tip dragging on the ground, sparking.

"You don't even have the right to make me use a second move."

Su Yan's vision swam. Reason told him to surrender.

But upon hearing the words "Su Family trash," a surge of heat rushed to his head.

As the young master of the Su Family, he could lose, but he would never be disgraced!

"Again!"

He roared and leaped up again, the Flowing Cloud Sword emitting its final brilliance.

However, what awaited him was Lin Tian's merciless horizontal slash.

Su Yan fell heavily to the ground once more, blood seeping from the gaps in his armor.

Yet, he still trembled, trying to get up, his fingers scratching five bloody marks on the bluestone floor.

Interesting.

Lin Tian narrowed his eyes, deliberately slowing his steps.

I'd like to see how long the Su Family's backbone can hold out.

"Seventh time..." the referee counted silently. According to the rules, as long as a contestant didn't surrender, the match had to continue.

But anyone could see this had already become a one-sided beating.

In the stands, Su Tianheng stood up abruptly, glaring at Lin Zhentian. "Lin Tian has gone too far!"

Lin Zhentian calmly sipped his tea. "What's wrong with it, as long as it's within the rules? Blame your own kid for not knowing his limits."

Shen Wuya suddenly gave a light cough. His status as the City Lord of Skywind City momentarily eased the tense atmosphere. "According to the Grand Competition's regulations, if no victor is decided within another quarter of an hour, the contestant with the advantage will be declared the winner."

In the Su Family's contestant area, the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost suffocating.

Su Yun's face was ashen, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, yet he remained silent.

Su Mei bit her lip, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, her gaze darting away, almost unable to look directly at the one-sided annihilation happening on the stage.

And Su Yu—his eyes were terrifyingly cold.

Since his transmigration, he had maintained a detached attitude. Even when faced with mockery and provocation, he had never truly gotten angry.

But at this moment, watching Su Yan be knocked down by Lin Tian again and again, only to struggle to his feet each time, the rage in his chest churned like magma.

After merging with the original host's memories, he was no longer just a transmigrator.

Now, he was Su Yu!

And Su Yan was one of the few people in this world who genuinely cared for him.

A quarter of an hour later.

"Winner, Lin Tian!"

As soon as the referee's voice fell, the Su Family members rushed onto the stage, carrying the heavily injured Su Yan off.

His body was a mess of bruises, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. While his foundation wasn't damaged, he clearly needed several days of rest to recover.

"Brother Yu... I..." Su Yan spoke with difficulty, his voice weak.

Su Yu placed a hand on his shoulder, his gaze firmer than ever. "Don't speak. Focus on recovering."

He slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the Lin Family's seating like a blade, and said word by word:

"What Lin Tian did to you, I will make his Lin Family—"

"Repay it tenfold!"