Azure light erupted from Lin Jingyu's body like a rising tide, his robe flapping violently as his spiritual energy surged to its peak.
The heavens above seemed to dim for a moment as a glowing Tai Chi diagram manifested in his palm—an ancient symbol of balance, brimming with the refined essence of Qingyun Dao's most sacred technique.
"Take this!" Lin Jingyu roared, his voice booming like thunder as he kicked off the ground, ascending skyward like a divine arrow.
As he descended from above, the swirling Tai Chi light spun with terrifying momentum, aimed directly at Zhang Xiaofan.
Below, Zhang Xiaofan remained still. His eyes, calm yet intense, glimmered with a profound light.
He raised his right hand, and a stream of golden-red energy swirled around him, mingling with strands of azure and violet.
His spiritual aura was subtly different—not entirely Daoist, not entirely Buddhist, but something more… balanced, unified.
As Lin Jingyu's palm strike approached, Zhang Xiaofan stepped forward with a graceful yet powerful stance and raised his own palm.
"Heaven and Earth in Harmony—Shifting Balance!"
A ripple of spiritual energy burst out from his body as he met the attack head-on. The two forces collided.
"BOOM!"
The ground shook.
The surrounding disciples, who had gathered at the edge of the training square, instinctively shielded their eyes from the blinding flash.
Dust flew into the air, stones cracked beneath their feet, and a shockwave rippled through the square.
Lin Jingyu was hurled back like a kite with a severed string, flipping mid-air before slamming into the ground more than ten meters away.
He rolled once, twice, then lay still, coughing lightly as the dust settled.
Zhang Xiaofan, in stark contrast, remained standing—his feet firmly planted in the ground, not a single wrinkle on his robe disturbed.
Silence filled the square.
Zhang Xiaofan gazed at his hand in quiet contemplation, then clenched it.
That strike… he hadn't even used his full strength.
The fusion of Buddhist spiritual essence, learned from the Tianyin Temple, and his Qingyun Dao techniques had elevated his cultivation beyond the ordinary.
Although he was technically at the fifth level, his actual combat strength had clearly surpassed the norm.
He calmly walked over to the fallen Lin Jingyu and extended his hand.
"So?" he said, a teasing smirk playing on his lips. "Looks like I finally beat you."
Lin Jingyu stared up at him with stunned eyes, then took his hand. Zhang Xiaofan pulled him up with ease.
There was a pause.
Then, Lin Jingyu chuckled. "In the Jade Purity Palace, everyone used to call you slow and untalented.
I even started believing it. But now… now I see I was wrong." He stepped forward and pulled Zhang Xiaofan into a brotherly hug. "You've surpassed me, Xiaofan. Truly. And I'm proud of you."
Zhang Xiaofan smiled, feeling a warmth in his chest.
Though Lin Jingyu was competitive, he had always been loyal, always looked out for him during their training days.
This was not the bitterness of defeat—but the joy of watching a brother rise.
But not everyone was pleased.
Standing among the watching disciples, Qi Hao's expression darkened.
Lin Jingyu had been a prodigy—reaching the fifth level within just three years of cultivation. That alone had earned him widespread recognition.
But Zhang Xiaofan? He had been mocked, pitied, and barely acknowledged during their early years.
And yet now…
No ordinary fifth-level cultivator could send Lin Jingyu flying like that. Not even close.
Sixth level, at least, Qi Hao thought grimly. Could it be… the seventh? No. Impossible. That level is reached only by true monsters. But even the sixth is terrifying.
He clenched his fists under his robes.
Sixty years ago, he himself had claimed second place at the prestigious Seven Branches Martial Competition, bested only by Xiao Yicai.
Now, he stood proudly at the eighth level, one of the most promising elites on the mountain.
Yet this development… unsettled him.
At that moment, a cheerful voice cut through the tension.
"Xiaofan! That was amazing!" exclaimed Tian Ling'er, bounding toward him with a radiant smile.
Her lively eyes sparkled as she waved her silk sleeve, brushing the dust off his shoulder.
She turned and cast a mischievous glance at Lin Jingyu. "Well? My junior brother clearly won. Admit it—you lost!"
Lin Jingyu gave her a crooked smile and shrugged. "Fine. I lost to Xiaofan.
But that doesn't mean I'd lose to you."
Her eyes lit up with amusement. "Oh? Are you saying you want a taste of my power?"
"Why not?" Lin Jingyu replied with a grin. "Or are you scared?"
"Scared?" Tian Ling'er narrowed her eyes. "You'll regret that!"
Without warning, she flicked her wrist and summoned a glowing amber silk ribbon.
It shimmered like firelight as it shot toward Lin Jingyu's chest.
He ducked, narrowly avoiding the strike, then lunged forward with a counter punch.
Tian Ling'er blocked it easily, spinning on her heel to launch a strike of her own.
Bang!
Their palms met with a clap of thunder, pushing each other back by a meter. But neither paused.
They dashed in again, exchanging a flurry of strikes—elegant and swift, raw and powerful.
Their auras clashed—hers like flowing wind and radiant fire, his like surging waves and solid earth.
It wasn't a fight of hatred but a contest of pride and friendship.
The square buzzed with energy as the onlookers watched in awe.
Then, with a sudden leap, Lin Jingyu soared into the air and drew his sword—a slender, jade-green blade etched with ancient characters.
He spun once, channeling his spiritual power into it.
A faint green dragon appeared behind him, coiling and roaring.
With a hand seal formed, he shouted:
"Immortal Dragon—Heaven-Splitter Slash!"
The sword glowed, and the green dragon surged forward with a mighty roar, soaring toward Tian Ling'er with incredible speed.
She raised her silk ribbon defensively, summoning a defensive shield of golden light—
But even she knew, this next move would determine the victor.
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