Chapter11:You’re still so weak

"The heart, throat, eyes, and the center of the forehead... All vital points, and not a single strike missed. Not bad..."

As the wooden puppets halted their attack, Lin Che sheathed his sword, a satisfied expression crossing his face. Upon closer inspection, there were a total of nineteen sword marks on the three wooden puppets, each mark landing precisely on a vital area.

"Just what material are these puppets made of? They're incredibly tough!"

Lin Che had poured a substantial amount of true energy into each strike, confident that even a chunk of steel would have been shattered by his sword aura. However, these three wooden puppets bore only shallow marks.

"Those are defensive inscriptions. These wooden puppets are forged through the art of formations," a mysterious woman's voice echoed in his mind.

"The art of formations is truly profound. I couldn't even break through their defenses. If there were no time limit, I would most likely have lost..." Lin Che realized this with clear awareness.

"It's because you're too weak. With enough strength, there's no formation that can't be broken with a single sword strike..." the mysterious woman retorted.

Lin Che: "..."

"Foolish..."

"Wooden puppets are dead objects; they don't feel pain and are fearless... Attacking in such a brute manner, you're nothing more than a reckless warrior. I'm certain that without a time limit, under the intense consumption of true energy, you would have been dead for sure."

On the Lin family's side, Lin Yu watched the figure on the stage, feeling a strange sense of familiarity. Yet, he couldn't quite place it, leaving him with an inexplicable sense of unease.

Lin Xionghai, too, felt something similar. But moments later, his eyes widened in realization, and he sprang from his seat.

"You wretched son, so it's you!"

"Lin Che, you're Lin Che! You're not dead, and you dare to participate in the trial!"

Lin Che?

Hearing Lin Xionghai's sudden outburst was like a boulder being thrown into a still pond, instantly stirring up waves of shock.

"This person is Lin Che? How can that be? A month ago, wasn't he expelled from Canglan City by the Lin family?"

"That's right. Lin Che's dantian was shattered, his cultivation plummeted. If he's really Lin Che, how could he have passed the initial trial..."

As countless eyes turned towards him, the figure on the stage remained as calm as a tranquil lake. Moments later, he removed his hat, revealing a clean, handsome face.

Instantly, everyone below the stage held their breath.

It was really Lin Che!

The name Lin Che had once shone too brightly in Canglan City. None of the younger generation in Canglan City could forget this name. Like a mountain, he had once stood in the hearts of all the young elites.

A year ago, everyone believed that the one who had dominated Canglan City's younger generation had completely fallen. But who could have imagined he would return to the public eye in such a manner?

"You wretched son, how dare you return?" Lin Xionghai's heart was filled with endless doubts. After suspecting that Lin Che's dantian had recovered, he had sent the Fifth Elder to secretly eliminate him. How could Lin Che possibly appear here now?

Could it be that the Fifth Elder failed?

"No, that can't be. With the Fifth Elder's cultivation at the peak of the Gathering Qi stage, how could he fail? They must have missed each other..."

As this thought flashed through his mind, Lin Xionghai immediately clasped his hands in front of the observation platform and said, "Instructor Ji, City Lord Xiao, this Lin Che is a traitor to my Lin family. A month ago, I personally expelled him from the family, making him ineligible to participate in this trial..."

"I request that you strip him of his qualification to participate in this trial to prevent this traitor from disrupting the sect selection process."

"Old dog!"

Upon hearing Lin Xionghai's words, Lin Che's eyes turned icy cold, and he suddenly let out a furious roar.

"You keep calling me a traitor to the Lin family. I ask you, what have I ever done to betray the Lin family?"

"You..." Lin Xionghai was momentarily at a loss for words, but after a brief pause, he sneered, "You are not of the Lin family's bloodline, yet for over ten years, the Lin family has raised you to adulthood. Now you openly defy the Lin family. Does that not make you a traitor?"

"Hahaha..." Lin Che suddenly burst into wild laughter.

"A fine act of raising me... Lin Xionghai, all you valued was my talent and the hope I could bring to the Lin family. In reality, I was just a tool in your eyes..."

"Over the years, I fought for the Lin family, facing death countless times, winning endless resources for the Lin family. The things I risked my life for ultimately benefited you who sit behind the scenes, living in luxury like parasites..."

"Even so, out of gratitude for your raising me, I never complained!"

"But a year ago, when my dantian shattered, how did you treat me? You stripped me of my position as the young master and sent me to Xingshan, where even the lowliest servants could bully me at will. It was then that I saw the true face of the Lin family—nothing but a bunch of cold-blooded, heartless beasts."

"I, Lin Che, owe the Lin family nothing. And now, I have long since severed ties with the Lin family... As for you, Lin Xionghai, what right do you have to reprimand me as an elder?"

Lin Che's words struck deep, leaving everyone present deeply moved.

"This Lin Che indeed brought countless glory to the Lin family. If what he says is true, then the Lin family is truly heartless."

Hearing these murmurs of discussion, Lin Xionghai's expression grew increasingly grim.

No matter what, Lin Che's presence was an unexpected variable, one that neither he nor the Lin family wanted to see.

"You little beast, spewing lies! Just for slandering the Lin family, I have every right to cleanse our house of you. Today, I will personally kill this ungrateful traitor."

A ferocious expression crossed Lin Xionghai's face as true energy surged throughout his body, clearly intent on murder.

"Hold on!"

But just then, Xiao Feng suddenly spoke up, stopping him in his tracks. Lin Xionghai was taken aback. "City Lord Xiao, I am merely cleansing my own house. This is reasonable and doesn't concern others, does it?"

"This Lin Che has already severed ties with your Lin family. He is now a participant in the selection trial. Killing him now, would you disregard Dao Cang Academy?"

Sure enough, as Xiao Feng questioned him, Ji Zong's cold gaze fell on Lin Xionghai. Although there was no oppressive aura in that gaze, it still made Lin Xionghai shudder.

"This... indeed, I was too hasty."

Lin Xionghai had indeed intended to kill Lin Che, but realizing the situation, he knew that killing Lin Che now was impossible. At least not until the trial was over.

With this realization, even though he was reluctant, Lin Xionghai had no choice but to sit back down.

On the stage, Lin Che glanced at Xiao Feng, unsure why the Canglan City Lord had helped him, but he still cast a grateful look his way. Then, he prepared to step down from the stage.

However, just then, Ji Zong's aged voice suddenly rang out.

"Wait a moment..."

Lin Che stopped in his tracks, looking at the old man in confusion.

Ji Zong's face was expressionless as he said, "The first round of trials is over. Four people have advanced. I now announce the start of the second round of trials, which will be a ring battle."

"Two people will face off at a time. You will be the first to fight. As for your opponent..."

As he spoke, Ji Zong's gaze swept over Murong Yan and Shentu Yuan before finally settling on Lin Yu.

"Turning against each other, a family blood feud... That should be interesting... Then you two shall fight."

As soon as these words fell, the central square erupted into a stir.

A ring battle.

Lin Che versus Lin Yu!

In truth, when he heard the rules for the second round of the trial, Lin Yu's face had turned somewhat pale. If it was a ring battle, he didn't have the courage to fight the likes of Murong Yan or Shentu Yuan, the two rising stars of Canglan City.

He was well aware of his limitations.

But when he heard that his opponent was Lin Che, his expression showed a hint of unexpected delight.

Compared to the other two, Lin Che, who had been out of practice for a year, was undoubtedly the weakest of the four who passed the first round. Although Lin Yu didn't know how Lin Che had managed to recover his dantian, he was sure it wasn't fully restored to its former strength.

So in Lin Yu's eyes, among the four who passed the first round, Lin Che was undoubtedly the weakest.

"If I face Lin Che, then Murong Yan and Shentu Yuan will have to fight in the next round. These two already have the strength to fight each other. If they truly clash, there's a good chance they'll both end up injured..."

"So if I can defeat Lin Che, in the next round, I might actually have a shot at the title..."

As the saying goes, when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits. Right now, Lin Yu seemed to see a glimmer of hope in the darkness, feeling as though luck had suddenly come his way.

"Yu'er, do you have confidence?" the Lin family's great elder asked.

"Father, rest assured. Although Lin Che has recovered somewhat, you saw how he passed the wooden puppet trial... I suspect that after such intense exertion, his true energy is almost depleted. With the two of us fighting now, is there any doubt about the outcome?"

Hearing Lin Yu's confident response, both Lin Xionghai and the great elder nodded in agreement.

"Well said. If you have the chance, don't let him live..." Lin Xionghai's eyes grew cold as he spoke in a low voice.

"I understand."

With a cold smile, Lin Yu stepped onto the stage.

Moments later, the two figures on the stage faced off.

Lin Yu's mouth twisted into a cruel smile as he stared at Lin Che, saying, "Lin Che, who would have thought? Your opponent this round is me..."

"How many years has it been? I, Lin Yu, have always lived in your shadow, enduring humiliation and bearing burdens. The world only knows of you, Lin Che, but not of me, Lin Yu... Now, I finally have the chance to prove to everyone that I, Lin Yu, am not inferior to you!"

"You think quite highly of yourself," Lin Che replied coldly.

Hearing this, Lin Yu's eyes turned even more venomous. "Lin Che, you shouldn't have returned to Canglan City. But now that you're here, it's even better... Today, you'll be my stepping stone. This battle will mark my rise."

"You sure talk a lot..." Lin Che said, starting to lose patience.

"Courting death!"

Lin Yu had been harboring a bellyful of resentment that he wanted to unleash, but Lin Che's indifferent attitude left him feeling like he was punching cotton—a most frustrating experience.

In the next moment, he stopped talking.

"Stone Splitting Hand!"

"Whoosh—"

In his fury, Lin Yu shot toward Lin Che like an arrow released from a bowstring.

The powerful aura he unleashed sent chills down the spines of onlookers. His large hand, like an iron claw, reached for Lin Che's shoulder with the intent to crush it.

This was a mid-grade human-tier battle technique, its power undeniable. If it connected, it could sever muscles and break bones, causing excruciating pain.

At that very moment, Lin Che took a step forward.

Then, he clenched his fist and threw a punch!

This punch, precise and unerring, collided directly with the center of Lin Yu's palm.

Fast, accurate, and ruthless.

Boom!!

In the next instant, Lin Yu was sent flying back at an even faster speed than when he had charged forward.

"Thud, thud, thud..." A series of heavy footsteps echoed as Lin Yu nearly stumbled off the edge of the battle platform, barely managing to stabilize himself at the last moment.

He was in an utterly wretched state!

Lin Che looked at him, shaking his head with a mocking expression. "I've been out of practice for so long, giving you a full year to grow. How are you still this weak?"