Lin Langtian furrowed his brow and looked down at his palm, confusion flickering in his eyes.
He had put all his strength into that last strike, even using a low-grade martial art. He'd meant to cripple Lin Dong with a single blow.
Though he'd looked disdainful, Lin Langtian was consumed by jealousy. He hadn't broken through to the Primal Core Realm until he was twenty, yet this young man had already reached Primal Core Realm Great Perfection at such a tender age.
On top of that, Lin Dong was a Dual Cultivator of Essence and Spirit, and his Spiritual Power had also reached the level of a Four Symbol Talisman Master.
If those old fogies in the Lin Clan learned that such a heaven-blessed genius existed, how could Lin Langtian continue to receive the family's support?
Still, Lin Langtian hadn't expected that even his full-strength attack wouldn't injure Lin Dong.
"Master Mu, what was that thing that flashed inside that useless brat just now? How could it devour even my power?"
Confused, Lin Langtian questioned the primordial spirit within him.
The spirit's voice held a hint of excitement as it replied gravely.
"It happened too quickly. I couldn't examine it properly. Keep fighting him!"
Lin Langtian's eyes narrowed. The next moment, he flashed forward and took the initiative, launching an attack on Lin Dong.
The greatest difference between humans and ordinary demonic beasts was intelligence. And the more intelligent a creature was, the better it was at learning combat techniques.
Lin Langtian might have been woefully untalented, but he had been instructed by a mysterious expert and had fought far more battles than Lin Dong. Even with his poor talent, his combat skills were far beyond those of the demonic beasts Lin Dong had fought before.
What was more, Lin Langtian was a Qi Creation Realm expert, and his strength was far greater.
For a time, Lin Dong was completely overwhelmed by Lin Langtian's attacks. Even with superior combat skills, all he could do was defend with everything he had. His occasional counterattacks posed no threat to Lin Langtian at all.
Watching Lin Langtian and Lin Dong battle in the sky, countless people below were stunned.
An unremarkable-looking young man was holding his own for so long against the foremost genius of the Lin Clan.
Wang Yan, Qin Shi, and the others were equally shocked. Their gazes toward Lin Dong even held a trace of wariness.
Faced with Lin Langtian's storm of attacks, even Wang Yan and Qin Shi reckoned they could do no more than protect themselves—and might not even manage that as well as Lin Dong.
Below, Wu Tao, Lin Ke'er, and the others stood with their mouths agape, their faces full of shock.
What were they seeing? A genius from a branch family had not only challenged the god of the Lin Clan's younger generation, but was also holding out against him for so long without losing. This...
"It seems our Lin Clan really has produced a peerless prodigy!"
A smile appeared on Wu Tao's face as he murmured softly.
On the Green Lotus, Ling Qingzhu's gaze toward Lin Dong had changed. Her expression grew serious and intent. She hadn't expected a small place like the Great Yan Dynasty to have such a prodigy!
Yes, a prodigy!
Based on the combat talent Lin Dong had displayed, he was fully qualified to join the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace. He could even become an inner sect disciple without difficulty.
With talent like that, all he needed was sufficient resources to raise his strength. He would undoubtedly become one of the finest of his generation!
"Well? This kid's strength is decent, isn't it?"
Just then, a soft laugh sounded beside Ling Qingzhu's ear. Her eyes narrowed, and she turned to look. Cang Wu had somehow appeared on the Green Lotus as well.
The lotus platform was less than a zhang wide, and Cang Wu wasn't standing at the very edge, so the two of them looked especially close.
"You..."
Ling Qingzhu's expression shifted slightly. She wanted to say something, but her heart was filled with shock, and she didn't know how to begin.
It was no wonder Ling Qingzhu had been caught off guard. The Ancient Azure Sky Lotus beneath her feet was an extraordinary ancient treasure. Not only was it difficult for ordinary people to control, its power surpassed even that of a Pure Yuan Treasure.
Since the founding Ancestor Master of the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace had obtained the Ancient Azure Sky Lotus, Ling Qingzhu was the only one in the entire palace whom it had acknowledged, allowing her to wield it. Even her mentor, the Palace Mistress of the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace, couldn't approach it at will.
Yet this mysterious man had somehow broken through the Ancient Azure Sky Lotus's barrier without a sound and appeared beside her without her noticing.
"Surprised? I'm more familiar with the Ancient Azure Sky Lotus beneath your feet than you are."
Cang Wu spoke softly. No one in the world knew the thing better than he did, because he had created it himself.
Back then, in the recklessness of his youth, Cang Wu had nearly been trapped beyond the dimensional rift by the Demon Race while trying to retrieve the Ancient Azure Sky Lotus. He'd almost failed to make it back.
Ling Qingzhu's brows drew together slightly as she regarded Cang Wu with suspicion.
She had no reason to doubt his words. The fact that he had entered without a sound was proof enough.
Still, she couldn't help wondering who this mysterious young man really was. Everything about him seemed like a riddle.
As a successor of the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace, Ling Qingzhu knew its ancestral rule well: only women could cultivate the Supreme Induction Art. And it had never leaked beyond the palace in the hundreds or thousands of years since its founding.
So how had this mysterious young man caused the Supreme Induction Art within her to stir?
Then there were his unfathomable methods, and now this special ability—something even her master couldn't do.
Each mystery unsettled Ling Qingzhu and made her want to uncover the truth.
Ling Qingzhu didn't know that when a woman began to grow curious about a man and wanted to uncover his secrets, it was often the beginning of her falling for him.
"What is it? Curious?"
Cang Wu chuckled at Ling Qingzhu's smile.
The next moment, he didn't make a single move, yet Ling Qingzhu's expression changed abruptly. She sensed that her connection to the Ancient Azure Sky Lotus had been severed.
"Who are you?"
"Perhaps I'll consider telling you the next time we meet."
Cang Wu smiled lightly, then gestured toward Lin Langtian and Lin Dong battling below.
"If you can guess how this fight will end, I'll teach you how to control the Ancient Azure Sky Lotus. How does that sound?"
Ling Qingzhu had been somewhat angry, but now she stared at Cang Wu in astonishment. Shock flickered in her eyes, as clear and bright as autumn waters.
When she came back to herself, her gaze grew more complicated. She suppressed her curiosity and replied softly,
"I think it'll be a draw!"
"Hmm? Why?"
Cang Wu was taken aback. At that, Ling Qingzhu's lips curled into a slight smile.
It seemed to please her to see the mysterious man look surprised.
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