The Twenty-Move Agreement (Please Follow)

"Xiao Ling of the Xiao Clan, on behalf of my good-for-nothing cousin, I accept the twenty-move challenge from Sister Ruo Lin."

"I wonder, what does Sister Ruo Lin think of this?"

Xiao Ling completely ignored the sudden eruption of heated discussion around the plaza, looking gently at the water-like woman as he waited for her reply.

"Holy... holy crap... is this kid out of his mind?"

"That is truly insane. The kid looks like he's only eleven or twelve years old, right? Don't tell me he's actually a Da Dou Shi? That's pure, unadulterated nonsense, isn't it?"

"..."

However, regarding the chatter around the plaza, Instructor Ruo Lin, much like Xiao Ling, had no intention of paying it any mind.

She blinked her autumn-water-like eyes, looked at the young boy in white before her, and suddenly revealed a soft smile.

"Since little brother Xiao Ling has said as much, how could I, as your sister, possibly refuse?"

"However, little brother, don't you dare think that just because you called me sister, I'll go easy on you."

"On the contrary, the fact that you called me sister makes it even more impossible for me to hold back."

"Otherwise, others might think that I'm going easy on you."

"If that were the case, it would be difficult for me to answer to certain old fogies at Jianan Academy."

When she spoke the final sentence, Instructor Ruo Lin's voice was very soft, quiet enough that only the two of them could hear it.

Xiao Ling: "???"

Was that what she meant?

He was just being polite to this woman, so why did she take it so seriously?

At a breakfast shop on the outskirts of the plaza, Xiao Wu sat among a group of younger members of the Xiao Clan, his injuries already mostly recovered.

After all, the effects of a Grade 4 healing pill were quite okay, not to mention it was a Wulou Cloud Pill that Xiao Ling had traded for with the system at the cost of a month of his lifespan.

"Little brother, are you ready? If you are, I'm going to make my move."

Instructor Ruo Lin looked at the little guy who had suddenly drifted off and asked gently.

Hearing this, Xiao Ling snapped back to reality, offered an apologetic smile to the water-like woman, and said.

"Please make your move, Sister Ruo Lin... I am ready at any time..."

"Hmph, what a little guy who knows how to talk big. I hope your strength matches your mouth; don't let me down."

Instructor Ruo Lin smiled slightly and gave a soft huff.

She then channeled the Dou Qi within her body, raised her fair wrists, and flicked them gently toward the young boy in white. The Dou Qi she had prepared instantly surged out, beginning to condense into blue vines as thick as a baby's finger, winding toward Xiao Ling.

"Is... is this Instructor Ruo Lin's signature skill, 'Water Mandala'?"

"I didn't expect Instructor Ruo Lin to use this move. It's clear she isn't holding back against that Xiao Ling at all."

"Yeah... I heard that this move of Instructor Ruo Lin's is incredibly powerful."

Regarding the exclamations of the juniors behind her, Bai Zhi did not pay much attention. Her large, lovely eyes looked at the two in the arena, a hint of anticipation in her heart.

Like Instructor Ruo Lin, she wanted to see exactly how strong this boy in white was, and whether he was worth her lowering her status to recruit him.

Meanwhile, the crowd around the plaza, upon seeing the momentum of Instructor Ruo Lin's attack, began to discuss it fervently.

"It looks like that Xiao Clan kid is going to suffer this time... he might even be accidentally taken out by Instructor Ruo Lin..."

On the other side of the plaza, three figures who had arrived in a hurry just happened to see the moment Instructor Ruo Lin attacked. One of the old men said with concern.

"Patriarch, can Young Master Xiao Ling withstand this strike?"

Hearing this, the middle-aged man walking in front pondered for a few seconds before giving a candid reply.

"Judging by the cultivation Ling'er has displayed previously, he has at least the combat power of a Da Dou Shi. It just depends on how much he intends to reveal right now."

"After all, this child likes to keep an ace up his sleeve in everything he does, so it's really hard to judge."

"However, one thing is certain: that Instructor Ruo Lin with her water-attribute Dou Qi is not yet capable of harming Ling'er."

Hearing the Patriarch's explanation, the Second Elder and Third Elder breathed a sigh of relief. Afterward, the three of them, led by Xiao Zhan, found a spot in the crowd to observe the situation and prevent any accidents.

In the direction of the Xiao Clan juniors, Xiao Yu's pretty face showed a hint of worry after seeing the momentum of Instructor Ruo Lin's attack. Her slender, jade-like hands were intertwined, revealing her inner restlessness.

Just then, a small, delicate hand reached out from the side and grasped Xiao Yu's slender hand. Xiao Yu was stunned for a moment, then turned her head to see Xun'er looking at her with a smile.

"Cousin Xiao Yu, we must believe in Brother Xiao Ling. Have you forgotten how Brother Xiao Ling defeated Wu Ming last time? I believe Brother Xiao Ling will definitely shock everyone today."

After coming to her senses, a soft smile appeared on Xiao Yu's pretty face, and she nodded her head slightly.

"Cousin Xun'er is right, Brother Xiao Ling will definitely shock everyone."

Compared to the worry and confidence of the two girls.

The group of Xiao Clan juniors behind them were much simpler; they were all looking at the boy in white in the center of the plaza with expressions of pure worship.

At this moment, Xiao Ling looked at the sky full of vines binding toward him, appearing very calm, as if it were all within his expectations.

And in fact, that was indeed the case; after all, in the original story, Instructor Ruo Lin had used this exact move against his Yan Di, or more accurately, this was the only move Instructor Ruo Lin knew.

Thinking of this, Xiao Ling looked at the blue vines that were about to wrap him up like a rice dumpling. He raised his palm, pointed his fingers into a sword shape, and slashed lightly toward the front.

"Yanhuang Finger: Slash"

As his finger swept out, a flame blade a zhang in size formed instantly, severing the vines before him in the blink of an eye.

In the eyes of the onlookers, the vines had just wrapped around Xiao Ling and hadn't even had time to tighten before a flash of fire burst out from within, slashing toward Instructor Ruo Lin opposite him.

The entire process was so fast that the crowd couldn't react in time. Even Instructor Ruo Lin was slightly surprised for a moment before she raised her fair wrist and waved it lightly, shouting softly.

"Water Mirror Wall: Refraction"

As Instructor Ruo Lin's words fell, a burst of Dou Qi erupted from her body, forming a rotating blue mirror wall in front of her, which instantly enveloped the flame slash heading toward her.

It was then spat back out in a bizarre fashion, having reversed its direction to attack Xiao Ling instead.

"Hehe, little brother, big sister uses water-attribute Dou Qi, you know. It just so happens to counter you."

Instructor Ruo Lin looked at the young boy in white, whose expression had changed slightly, with a hint of smugness.

Since she first met him, this was the first time she had seen him show such an expression...

Hearing this, Xiao Ling stepped forward, a layer of fiery red Dou Qi gauze immediately appearing on his body. He raised his palm and crushed the flame slash heading toward him entirely, then looked at the water-like woman opposite him and smiled slightly.

"Sister Ruo Lin, don't speak too soon. It's not yet certain who counters whom between us."