Chapter 13: A Night Visit

Boom, boom, boom…

Shentu Yuan's attack was incredibly fierce!

The moment his fist struck, the immense pressure caused the entire battle stage to tremble slightly.

But facing such a terrifying attack, Murong Yan's expression was extraordinarily calm, even revealing a hint of disdain.

At that moment, her arm suddenly raised, and in the next instant, a palm print formed by condensed true energy surged forward like a mountain.

During the Wooden Man Trial, Murong Yan had never made a move.

So, this was the first time Murong Yan struck directly, and it made everyone present, including Shentu Yuan, feel their hearts tremble violently.

True energy leaving the body—Spirit Martial Realm!

"Wha… What?!"

"In just a single year, Miss Murong has not only broken through the Qi Gathering Stage but has also stepped into the Spirit Martial Realm!!"

Boom, boom, boom—

Then, under countless shocked gazes, the massive palm print of true energy from Murong Yan charged forward.

Wave after wave of fierce palm energy surged like a tide, finally engulfing Shentu Yuan's body completely.

Boom!

When the palm energy finally dissipated, everyone saw that Shentu Yuan had been thoroughly subdued, lying motionless on the ground.

His arms were now dripping with blood.

"Wow!"

This shocking scene caused the entire central square to erupt in waves of exclamations.

"Is it… over just like that?"

Everyone had expected a fierce battle between the two, evenly matched.

But who would have thought that from the moment they stepped onto the stage to Shentu Yuan being subdued, Murong Yan had only needed one palm strike.

"First level of the Spirit Martial Realm!"

Shentu Yuan's eyes were filled with a deep red hue, and he finally understood where Murong Yan's confidence came from.

It turns out she had already reached the Spirit Martial Realm!

Although it was just the first level, the gap between the Qi Gathering Stage and the Spirit Martial Realm was immeasurable.

"I… lost…"

Shentu Yuan's gaze suddenly dimmed. Born a martial arts fanatic, it was almost impossible to make someone like him admit defeat.

In the past, even if Shentu Yuan lost, he would only train harder, never admitting defeat.

But this time, when he sensed that Murong Yan had broken through to the Spirit Martial Realm, it was as if he suddenly lost the will to chase after her.

When you realize that there is a peak in front of you that you can never reach, anyone would lose the will to climb.

"Daughter of Heaven!"

With Shentu Yuan's defeat, in the eyes of everyone in Canglan City, Murong Yan's brilliance shone even brighter.

"If Lin Che's cultivation hadn't fallen a year ago, would he have reached the Spirit Martial Realm by now?"

Many people had this question in their hearts.

Of course, this question would never have an answer, but at this moment, in the hearts of everyone, Murong Yan, who had stepped into the Spirit Martial Realm at the age of seventeen, was already the undisputed number one genius of Canglan City.

She had even surpassed Lin Che of the past.

"Only one last battle remains… but it seems there's no suspense left."

After this battle, only the final battle for the championship remained.

But unlike previous years, after Murong Yan displayed such terrifying strength, the balance in everyone's hearts had undoubtedly shifted.

"Mr. Ji, should we continue?"

On the spectator stand, the city lord Xiao Feng looked at Ji Zong.

At this time, Ji Zong glanced at the sky. It was late evening, the sun was setting behind the mountains, and the light was already dim.

So, he stood up directly, stretched lazily, and then said, "There's only one match left, no rush. I'm a bit tired today, so let's continue tomorrow."

After saying this, he waved his sleeve and left.

Seeing this old man's somewhat lazy attitude, Xiao Feng was slightly stunned.

But he understood that the other party was an emissary from the Dao Cang Institute. Since he had already left, the match could only be postponed.

So, Xiao Feng directly announced this.

"Continue tomorrow?"

"Isn't this just a waste of excitement? I got all worked up for nothing…"

For the eager spectators, a round of boos was inevitable.

Of course, after the boos, everyone could only comply with the personal will of the Dao Cang Institute's emissary, and nothing could change that.

Moments later, more and more people shook their heads and left, making the once crowded central square gradually appear empty.

In an open space, Lin Che's expression was also somewhat unusual.

But after a while, he too turned and left.

Lin Che found Xiao Yao below the stage, and then casually wandered down a street, finding an inn where they rented two rooms.

Along the way, he didn't hide his tracks.

Because Lin Che understood that it was impossible to evade the sight of both the Murong family and the Lin family in Canglan City.

Of course, he wasn't afraid of the Lin family's revenge or the Murong family's preemptive strike against him as a competitor.

During the trial competition, neither of these two great families would do anything so foolish.

But after checking into the inn, a visitor arrived unexpectedly, surprising Lin Che.

With a gentle knock on the door, Lin Che opened it.

Outside, a figure in a blue silk dress, with a demeanor as elegant as an orchid, came into view.

Lin Che was momentarily stunned, but then he frowned and asked, "What is it?"

"Care for a walk?" Murong Yan smiled slightly, her eyes sparkling.

Hearing this, a trace of doubt flashed across Lin Che's face, but after a moment's hesitation, he nodded.

…

In the evening, Canglan City was just beginning to light up.

The teahouses, taverns, pawnshops, and workshops on either side of the street had lost their daytime bustle.

Centered around the tall city tower, rows of red-bricked and green-tiled houses extended all the way to the quiet outskirts.

The shimmering water in the moat appeared as if coated in a layer of silver by the moonlight.

"It's a beautiful street scene. It seems like it's been a long time since I've taken a stroll like this in Canglan City…"

In the night, Murong Yan's long black hair flowed like a waterfall, dancing in the wind. The jewelry on her hairpin swayed gently with her steps.

Her shoulders were delicate, her waist slender, and she was stunningly beautiful.

"It's just a pity that once I go to the Dao Cang Institute, I may not see this night view of Canglan City for years."

Hearing this sigh, Lin Che glanced at Murong Yan, but from her exquisite profile, he couldn't discern any emotions.

"You came to find me, not just for a stroll, right? Say what you need to…"

Murong Yan stopped walking, looked at Lin Che, and said, "Lin Che, if you have any self-awareness, you should know that tomorrow, you cannot win…"

"You seem very confident?" Lin Che said casually.

Murong Yan smiled faintly, "Actually, our engagement was never my idea, it was just my family appreciating your talent…"

"But in reality, even without you, I can still lead the Murong family to glory. My sights are no longer set on this small Canglan City, but on the Dao Cang Institute, Yangzhou, and even the entire Cangfeng Kingdom…"

"And you? You're just the young master of a second-rate family in Canglan City. Oh, I almost forgot, you've already been kicked out of the Lin family, so I should say you're just a lone cultivator without support…"

It was evident that as Murong Yan said this, she was incredibly calm, exuding a detached and otherworldly aura.

To Lin Che, it was as if she were a superior, casually evaluating an inferior.

Lin Che frowned slightly, "What exactly do you want to say?"

Hearing this, Murong Yan looked at him, "Lin Che, if you're willing, you can be my martial servant…"

Martial servant!

A follower who signs a blood contract with a strong person, swearing to follow them for life.

"Lin Che, the Dao Cang Institute only admits one student from Canglan City. If I enter the Dao Cang Institute, you're destined to be eliminated…"

"And without the Dao Cang Institute as a backing, it would be easy for Lin Xionghai to kill you. With your talent, it would be a pity if you died just like that…"

"If you become my martial servant, the Murong family can be your backing. Perhaps you could even enter the Dao Cang Institute as my servant. Though you wouldn't become a formal student, you might still become a servant disciple… There's no harm in it for you."

Murong Yan's tone was sincere, as if she were genuinely considering Lin Che's well-being.

At this moment, Lin Che's expression was rather gloomy.

He looked at Murong Yan, and only one thought flashed through his mind.

Where did this woman get her sense of superiority?

"Are you so sure that you'll win tomorrow?"

Murong Yan shook her head, "Lin Che, you're too naive. I told you, you're definitely going to lose tomorrow…"

"What if I win?"

Hearing this, Murong Yan frowned slightly, a hint of anger appearing on her face, and then she sneered, "Lin Che, do you know what I dislike most about you? It's this hypocritical, self-righteous attitude of yours."

This time, Lin Che laughed.

"Not bowing to you means I'm hypocritical and self-important, huh? Well, it just so happens that I'm not too fond of women like you, who are completely consumed by ambition."

"Goodbye!"

People with different values can't work together.

With these words, Lin Che turned around and left.

Watching Lin Che's figure disappear into the night, Murong Yan's cold gaze wavered slightly.

The reason she sought him out tonight was not only to make him retreat and voluntarily forfeit tomorrow's battle but also because she genuinely felt it was a pity to waste his talent.

However, the outcome of this conversation seemed less than satisfactory.

...

"This little girl is too arrogant..."

On the way back to the inn, before Lin Che could express his thoughts, a voice from the mysterious woman echoed in his mind.

"Reaching the Spirit Martial Realm at seventeen, she has a reason to be arrogant," Lin Che responded indifferently.

"Tch~~," the mysterious woman scoffed. "When I was her age, I had already reached the Dao Martial Realm, but I was very low-key..."

Lin Che: "..."

Seventeen and at the Dao Martial Realm?

In the entire Canglan City, anyone who reaches the Spirit Martial Realm is already considered strong.

As for the Profound Martial Realm, they're the kind of people who could shake Yangzhou with a mere footstep.

But the Dao Martial Realm? Even though Lin Che had never encountered such a level, he could imagine that across the entire Cangfeng Nation, there would be very few of such terrifying existences. If there were, they would surely be old monsters who had cultivated for countless years.

Yet, this mysterious woman claimed she had reached the Dao Martial Realm at seventeen!

"Senior, if you're so low-key, why did you bring it up? I'm feeling a deep sense of malice..." Lin Che thought with a hint of resentment, feeling rather discouraged.

The mysterious woman responded, "I did it on purpose."

Lin Che: "..."