Defeating Lin Jiao Again

"Take Young Master Lin Jiao to the Clean Room. Young Master Lin Jiao is unfamiliar with Fang Mansion, so make sure to stay by his side."

Although he felt that something was off about Lin Jiao, there was naturally no way he could stop him over such a matter.

Fang Yuan summoned a servant standing nearby and instructed him.

"Yes."

The servant respectfully acknowledged the order and led Lin Jiao toward the hall's exit.

However, shortly after leaving the Reception Hall and turning past a Corridor, Lin Jiao abruptly halted and said to the servant.

"I know the way myself. No need to trouble yourself. Just wait here for me."

Without waiting for the servant to react, he flashed forward like an arrow released from the bow, racing toward the Martial Arts Arena of the Fang Clan's Inner Hall.

"Young Master Lin Jiao, Elder Fang Yuan ordered me to lead the way. Please do not make things difficult for me!"

The servant inwardly cried out in alarm and hurriedly gave chase. However, being an ordinary man, he fell farther and farther behind Lin Jiao.

At the Inner Hall Martial Arts Arena, Fang Han had just finished a round of Breeze Sword Art practice and was concentrating on comprehending the exquisite insights brought by the Fourfold Sword Art Talent Amplification.

"Fang Han!"

A cold shout suddenly rang out, shattering the Martial Arts Arena's tranquility.

Lin Jiao appeared in the Martial Arts Arena, his gaze like lightning as it shot straight toward Fang Han.

"Our last sparring match was far from satisfying. I have come today for another battle!"

Lin Jiao's voice boomed, carrying undisguised fighting intent and a hint of provocation, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"How did Lin Jiao... end up here?"

Fang Han frowned slightly.

Calm by nature, he had no interest whatsoever in a challenge born of youthful rivalry. Just as he was about to politely decline, his gaze swept over the surroundings.

He saw that nearly every disciple training in the Martial Arts Arena had stopped. After their initial shock, they quickly became eager with anticipation, all turning their eyes this way.

Several top-ten disciples who had their own dedicated training rooms were resting in the outer training grounds. Upon hearing Lin Jiao's challenge, they too looked over with great interest.

"This is troublesome!"

Feeling so many gazes fixed upon him, Fang Han's heart tightened at once.

If he refused and was considered afraid to fight, he himself would not care much, but how would the outside world view the Fang Clan?

How would they view the Fang Clan's Inner Hall?

If they did not even dare to accept a challenge, the Fang Clan's Inner Hall would become a laughingstock, and the Lineage's prestige would suffer greatly.

He personally could disregard empty fame, but he could not ignore the Lineage's reputation. After all, he needed to rely on the Lineage to survive!

"Since Brother Lin Jiao wishes to fight, Fang Han will naturally accompany you."

With that thought, Fang Han's gaze sharpened.

He slowly raised his head to meet Lin Jiao's blazing eyes, his voice calm yet carrying unquestionable weight.

"Good!"

A gleam of delight at having his scheme succeed flashed through Lin Jiao's eyes. He had counted on Fang Han being unable to refuse a face-to-face challenge and having no choice but to fight.

Whoosh!

With a flicker of his body, he had arrived beside the Combat Platform. He drew a Refined Iron Broadsword from a weapon rack and leaped onto the platform.

Fang Han also came to the Combat Platform, took down a Refined Iron Longsword, and steadily stepped onto the platform.

An instructor on guard witnessed the entire scene, and his expression changed drastically.

Seeing the two men on the platform erupt with momentum, their battle ready to ignite at a touch, he did not dare delay. Turning around, he sprinted madly toward the Reception Hall.

Upon reaching the Reception Hall, he hurriedly reported.

"Elder Fang Yuan, this is bad! Young Master Lin Jiao of the Lin Family... forcibly entered the Inner Hall and sought out Fang Han for a challenge!"

"What?!"

Fang Yuan shot to his feet, anger surging in his eyes. His sharp gaze, like blades, shot toward Lin Shan, who had likewise risen with a look of "surprise" on his face.

"Brother Lin Shan, is this how the Qilin Child of your Lin Family behaves as a guest?!"

A fitting look of "anger" also appeared on Lin Shan's face.

"That wretch, how dare he be so rude? Brother Fang Yuan, calm your anger. Allow this old man to..."

Before he could finish, Fang Yuan snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, and strode out in great strides.

A sinister smile flashed in Lin Shan's eyes, and he hurriedly followed.

On the Combat Platform, the battle had already erupted!

"Fang Han! Today, I will definitely wash away my former shame!"

Lin Jiao roared, unleashing the power of the Tendon Refining Mid-Stage without reservation. His broadsword transformed into a sheet of snow-bright, violent blade light, accompanied by a shrill howl that tore through the air as it swept savagely and irresistibly toward Fang Han.

Even more surprising was that his Blade Intent was no longer purely fierce and overbearing. It contained many more tricky variations and defensive techniques, clearly showing that he had specifically studied how to deal with Sword Art experts.

Wind-Breaking Blade—Wind Splitting!

Lin Jiao was brimming with confidence.

Not only had he broken through to the Tendon Refining Mid-Stage, but he had also spent time specifically training against Sword Art experts. He intended to crush Fang Han like dry weeds and rotten wood, washing away his former shame in one stroke!

Facing this ferocious assault, Fang Han's eyes remained calm as still water.

Sword Art at the Proficiency Realm could not have its gap erased merely because someone had learned a few countermeasures.

Breeze Brushing Willow!

Fang Han moved as nimbly as the wind. His sword light did not clash head-on; instead, like drooping willow branches brushing along a riverbank, it gently yet precisely touched the strongest and weakest point of Lin Jiao's Blade Intent, then guided it aside.

Clang!

Metal rang against metal!

Lin Jiao felt a clever force surge toward him. His savage Blade Intent was actually drawn off course, cutting into empty air.

His heart chilled. The other party's control over the sword and grasp of timing had become even more exquisite than last time.

"Again!"

Lin Jiao roared in fury, changing moves with extreme speed. His blade light poured down like a waterfall, endless and unbroken.

Every strike was powerful and heavy, attempting to break skill with brute force and answer speed with speed.

Yet Fang Han's sword seemed to possess a life of its own.

Under the Fourfold Sword Art Talent Amplification, the Breeze Sword Art had been improving rapidly every day, already surpassing the bounds of ordinary Proficiency Realm mastery.

Every sword strike was exquisite down to the finest hair, landing just as Lin Jiao's old strength was spent and his new strength had yet to arise, or upon the barely perceptible gaps in his transitions.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The dense sounds of collision were like a sudden rainstorm beating against plantain leaves.

The longer Lin Jiao fought, the more alarmed he became. He felt as though he had fallen into an invisible yet resilient net of swords. No matter how wildly he charged and attacked, that seemingly weightless sword light dissolved and restrained every move of his.

Most importantly, the other party's strength... far exceeded what the Tendon Refining Early-Stage should possess!

Just as Lin Jiao's heart shook and a nearly imperceptible sluggishness appeared in his offense, a brilliant light burst from Fang Han's eyes.

"It is time to end this. Breeze Piercing Sun!"

The Tendon Refining Mid-Stage power lying dormant within him erupted with a thunderous roar!

His blood and qi surged like the Nu River, instantly flooding into the blade.

At the sword tip, a point of cold light suddenly blazed forth. Its speed was beyond extreme, its trajectory mysterious and unpredictable, carrying the sharpness to pierce through all things as it thrust directly toward the opening in Lin Jiao's chest and abdomen exposed during the transition of his Blade Intent.

This sword was the perfect union of Tendon Refining Mid-Stage physical prowess and Sword Art at the Proficiency Realm!

"Not good!"

Lin Jiao's pupils shrank abruptly to pinpoints as he sensed a deadly threat.

He hastily pulled back his blade to block, only to feel an overwhelming and irresistible force, accompanied by incomparably exquisite penetrating power, slam viciously against the spine of his broadsword.

Clang—Pfft!

The refined steel broadsword was actually shaken from his grasp by that force and sent flying.

Lin Jiao's tiger's mouth split open, blood flowing freely.

His entire body felt as though it had been struck by a heavy hammer. His chest convulsed with agony, his blood and qi boiled and churned, and he could no longer keep his footing.

He staggered back seven or eight steps before finally collapsing onto the ground with a thud, utterly disheveled.