Chapter 12: Born to be a Martial Maniac

"Ah! Lin Che, I'm going to kill you!"

Seeing Lin Che's contemptuous expression, Lin Yu's face twisted into a fierce snarl.

"I don't believe it. After wasting a year, you can still turn things around!"

Fueled by anger, Lin Yu charged forward again. This time, he held nothing back, gathering all his true energy as he struck out with both fists.

With a furious punch, a roar like that of a mighty lion erupted, and the surging true energy raged violently towards Lin Che.

He was using the Tian Gang Mighty Lion Fist!

This was a high-grade human level technique and also a Lin family ancestral martial art. Even Lin Che, despite his numerous achievements for the Lin family, had never been deemed worthy of this technique in the past. Yet today, Lin Yu was wielding it.

One could only admire the effort Lin Xionghai made to ensure Lin Yu could achieve dazzling results in this sect selection competition. However, no matter how powerful a high-grade human level technique was, it depended on the user and the opponent.

In the face of Lin Yu's even more powerful assault, Lin Che remained calm.

"Get lost!"

As Lin Yu's figure closed in, Lin Che suddenly pointed his sword forward.

Boom!

The sword struck before Lin Yu's attack could reach him. Although the sword did not leave its sheath, the power contained within it was as overwhelming as a mountain flood.

Boom!

In the next instant, Lin Yu's body was smashed as if hit by a giant mountain, flying out of the battle platform and crashing heavily onto the ground.

"Pfft—"

He spat out a mouthful of blood, his face showing disbelief. But soon, he realized something, and his expression changed drastically.

"You… you destroyed my dantian!"

Indeed, Lin Che's sword strike not only knocked him off the platform but also struck his dantian, shattering it.

"No! It can't be. How could I lose to you? Ah—"

Feeling his cultivation rapidly dissipating, Lin Yu's eyes turned crimson with madness. With a final unwilling roar, he spat out more blood and seemed unable to accept the reality, eventually fainting.

"Heavens! Lin Yu actually lost. How is this possible?"

Meanwhile, the onlookers erupted in shock.

"Not just lost, it was a one-sided crushing. A year ago, the doctors in the city declared that Lin Che's dantian was completely destroyed and he was hopeless in martial arts…"

"But now, a year later, his cultivation has miraculously recovered, and despite a year of waste, he still possesses such formidable strength. If we didn't see it with our own eyes, who would believe it?"

Watching the scene on the platform, countless people were astonished. Could it be that even after a year of waste, the towering peak that once awed all the young in Canglan City still stood tall?

In contrast to the surrounding astonishment,

Murumon Yan, with her hair like a flowing waterfall and eyes shining like stars, seemed calm. Her lips curled into a faint, elusive smile.

"Eighth level of Qi Gathering, no progress compared to last year…"

"Lin Che, you've disappointed me."

Murmuring softly, Murumon Yan closed her eyes again, seemingly unaffected by the surrounding noise.

"My son!"

Meanwhile, at the Lin family's position, the Lin family's grand elder, seeing the scene before him, was furious.

He rushed directly to Lin Yu's side and, upon sensing Lin Yu's condition, realized his son was utterly ruined.

"You vile creature, how dare you be so cruel? I will kill you!"

The grand elder's white hair stood on end, his face twisted with rage, resembling a furious lion ready to pounce.

However, before he could make a move, he suddenly felt a sharp, oppressive aura enveloping him.

City Lord Xiao Feng stood up from his seat.

"Presumptuous!"

"I have said that during the sect selection battle, no elder martial artists are allowed to intervene. Lin family's grand elder, did you hear what the city lord said?"

At this reprimand, the grand elder of the Lin family was taken aback.

He clenched his fists tightly but, facing the city lord's authority, had no choice but to calm down.

"City Lord, please forgive me. I dare not…"

In the end, he could only give Lin Che one last glare before carrying Lin Yu's injured body back to the Lin family's place.

"Ruined!"

Seeing Lin Yu's condition, Lin Xionghai's face turned ashen.

Meanwhile, Lin Yu slowly regained consciousness. He looked at Lin Xionghai, his face pale and weak, and said, "Head of the family… Yu'er has disappointed you… disappointed the Lin family…"

"Hmph!"

Hearing this, Lin Xionghai's eyes narrowed, and his hand clenched tightly within his wide sleeves.

After a cold snort, he glanced at the injured Lin Yu and then turned away, leaving.

With the head of the family gone, the Lin family members followed suit after standing in place for a moment.

Lin Yu's defeat rendered the presence of the Lin family here meaningless.

Only Lin Yu and his father remained at the scene.

In stark contrast to the crowded surroundings, the place now appeared extremely empty.

"This…" The Lin family grand elder was in utter shock.

His son was severely injured for the Lin family. Even without achievements, he had paid a heavy price, yet now he was met with such cold treatment.

Beside him, Lin Yu's expression was equally grim.

"You carry the blood of the Lin family, unlike Lin Che."

"All of the Lin family's hopes rest on you. Don't bear any burdens; do your best to fight…"

The kind words of Lin Xionghai echoed in his ears, but at this moment, Lin Yu felt as though he had fallen into an ice cellar.

In that instant, he could almost feel Lin Che's experience in the Lin family over the past year.

However, few cared about the feelings of this father and son at this point.

…

"All families in Canglan City, if anyone obstructs the trial, don't blame the city lord for being unkind."

"This is my final warning."

After the Lin family left, City Lord Xiao Feng spoke again from the observation platform.

The Lin family's previous actions had indeed angered him. Although Ji Zong had not expressed any opinion, this was Dao Cang Academy's first visit to Canglan City to select disciples. If disruptions continued, it would not only damage the city lord's prestige but also the face of Canglan City itself.

With Xiao Feng's warning, the various families in Canglan City became much more obedient.

As Lin Che left the platform, it signaled the next battle was about to begin.

The next match: Murumon Yan versus Shen Tu Yuan!

Apart from the monster Lin Che, these two were the most outstanding young figures in Canglan City's history.

Unlike Lin Che's past fall, these two had remained at the top throughout.

Now, Lin Che had returned, but no one knew how much of his strength had been restored.

Nevertheless, Lin Che's year of martial wastage was a fact.

Thus, many believed the duel between Murumon Yan and Shen Tu Yuan might be a prelude to the trial championship.

"Let's begin."

With Ji Zong's command, a burly figure from the Shen Tu family stood up.

This person had red hair, heavy brows, and a robust build, resembling a powerful bull with explosive strength.

With a heavy stomp, Shen Tu Yuan leaped onto the battle platform, his fierce gaze fixed below.

"Murumon Yan, after waiting a year, I finally have the chance to fight you again. Come up!"

Hearing this, Murumon Yan opened her eyes, a hint of a smile on her lips.

She then stood up gracefully and walked towards the battle platform, each step seeming to captivate everyone's hearts.

In the central square, countless men gazed with intense admiration. Such a woman was not only stunning in appearance but also possessed unparalleled talent. Beyond the word 'perfect,' there seemed to be no other way to describe her.

"If I could marry her, I'd die with no regrets…" some quietly sighed.

At the same time, many remembered the past engagement between Lin Che and Murumon Yan.

"Lin Che's talent back then might have been worthy of such a beauty, but unfortunately, he missed out."

"That engagement was personally annulled by the Murumon clan. In my view, Lin Che no longer deserves such an exceptional woman… If Murumon Yan really makes it into Dao Cang Academy, the gap between them, starting from this year, will likely never be bridged."

Numerous discussions echoed around.

However, Murumon Yan's expression remained unchanged throughout.

For this top beauty, flattery had long become routine.

"Is there even a need to compare? Last year you lost to me, and this year, the gap will only be larger."

Eventually, Murumon Yan stood before Shen Tu Yuan, her snowy face adorned with a confident smile.

"We'll know once we fight!"

Shen Tu Yuan, born with a passion for martial arts, had lost to Murumon Yan the previous year. Since then, he had been in seclusion, training intensely.

Now, facing Murumon Yan again, his eyes were filled with fiery excitement.

Boom!

Without further ado, after those simple words, Shen Tu Yuan suddenly threw a punch. The terrifying power surged forward like a massive wave.

"Giant Shark Divine Fist!"

Boom—

A thunderous roar echoed as Shen Tu Yuan's powerful punch rapidly spread across the arena, completely enveloping Murumon Yan's figure.

"Shen Tu Yuan's attack is so fierce, he really doesn't care about the fairer sex, does he?"

Seeing Murumon Yan's slender figure under Shen Tu Yuan's brutal assault, like a tiny boat in a vast sea, many felt a sense of pity and were also angered by Shen Tu Yuan's brutish behavior.

Pitying the fairer sex?

Among the young men of Canglan City, Murumon Yan might be the goddess of their dreams, but there were two exceptions.

One was Lin Che, who, judging by past encounters, was always fierce in his attacks and had never shown leniency towards his nominal fiancée.

The other was Shen Tu Yuan.

Born as a martial fanatic, how could he care about women?