10: Breaking Geniuses & The Sect Mistress’s Distraction

Chapter 10: Breaking Geniuses & The Sect Mistress's Distraction

The Arena Erupts in Shock

A stunned silence spread through the crowd.

Lin Tian stood casually in the middle of the arena, dusting off his robe as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, Wu Jian—one of the so-called "genius" disciples—lay buried in a crater, completely unconscious.

💬 "Did… Did he just win in one move?"

💬 "That wasn't just a win… that was pure humiliation!"

💬 "How the hell is he this strong?!"

The referee disciple gulped and quickly raised his hand.

"Winner—Lin Tian!"

The crowd erupted into a mixture of cheers and gasps, and up in the VIP seating area, two particular women were watching closely.

Sect Mistress Yue Qingyan: Losing Focus?

Sitting on her high throne, Yue Qingyan's violet eyes narrowed slightly as she observed Lin Tian.

She had expected him to win… but not like that.

💭 "That level of power… He barely used any effort."

Even amongst genius disciples, battles were usually a clash of skill and endurance. Yet Lin Tian had ended it in seconds, with precise Qi control and overwhelming dominance.

What disturbed Yue Qingyan the most…

Was how entertaining she found it.

For the first time in years, she felt curious about a disciple.

Her fingers gently tapped against the armrest of her chair, an uncharacteristic sign of restlessness.

💭 "I should not be thinking about this."

But just as she was about to shake away her thoughts, a sultry voice interrupted her.

Su Meiyu's Playful Observation

"Enjoying the view, Sect Mistress?"

Su Meiyu's soft, teasing tone sent a strange warmth through Yue Qingyan's chest.

She turned to find the fox woman smirking at her, her golden eyes twinkling with mischief.

Yue Qingyan's face remained calm, but inwardly, she knew Su Meiyu was up to something.

"I am merely assessing his strength," Yue Qingyan said smoothly.

Su Meiyu chuckled, taking a slow sip of her spirit wine.

"Hmm… is that so?" she purred. "Because from where I'm sitting… it looks like you're fascinated by him."

Yue Qingyan's grip tightened slightly on her chair.

💭 "This fox woman is far too perceptive."

Rather than engage, she closed her eyes briefly, refocusing on the tournament.

💭 "It does not matter. I am simply testing his true abilities. That is all."

But deep down… she wasn't entirely sure if that was the truth.

Next Match: Lin Tian vs. An Elite Disciple!

Back in the arena, the next match was about to begin.

A disciple stepped forward, his aura stronger than Wu Jian's by a mile.

He was Ren Haoyu, one of the top ten inner disciples, known for his mastery of Wind Qi techniques.

He cracked his knuckles, his expression filled with confidence.

"You got lucky in the last round," Ren Haoyu sneered. "But let's see how you handle a real opponent!"

Lin Tian simply smirked.

"Sure. Just try not to cry when I end this in two moves instead of one."

[Ding! Silver Tongue Effect Activated!]

Ren Haoyu's veins popped in anger. "YOU—!"

But before he could finish, the referee raised his hand.

"Begin!"

A Battle of Speed

WHOOSH!

Ren Haoyu vanished, moving like a gust of wind.

Lin Tian barely had time to react as a storm of wind blades whirled toward him, cutting through the air with deadly precision.

"Wind Qi: Tempest Slash!"

💬 "Ren Haoyu is fast!"

💬 "Lin Tian might actually have to fight this time!"

Lin Tian grinned.

💭 "Not bad. But not good enough."

Just as the blades reached him—

He vanished.

💬 "WHAT?!"

A blur of shadow and speed shot through the storm, cutting through Ren Haoyu's attack like a knife through butter.

Before Ren Haoyu could react, Lin Tian appeared behind him.

A single finger tap landed on the back of his opponent's neck.

BOOM!

Ren Haoyu's body went stiff, and then—

He collapsed forward, completely unconscious.

💬 "..."

💬 "..."

💬 "HE DID IT IN ONE MOVE AGAIN?!"

The entire sect lost its mind.

The referee, completely dazed, quickly raised his hand.

"Winner—Lin Tian!"

Watching from Above: Conflicted Hearts

Yue Qingyan felt an unfamiliar tightness in her chest.

She had planned to use this tournament to measure Lin Tian's limits.

Instead… he was shattering all expectations.

💭 "How is he progressing so quickly?"

Su Meiyu, meanwhile, was laughing softly, her golden eyes shimmering with amusement.

"Oh, this boy is far more dangerous than I thought," she whispered to herself.

As Lin Tian stood in the arena, smirking at the defeated disciple at his feet, he glanced up toward the VIP seating.

And then—

He locked eyes with the Sect Mistress.

For just a moment… she didn't look away.

💭 "…Interesting."

End of Chapter 10