This Martial Saint is Too Cautious

Outwardly, however, Lin Xiao just smiled and said, "Since you’re so eager, Lin Yu, I have no choice but to oblige."

Lin Yan and Lin Wang retreated to the edge of the Combat Platform, clearing the space.

On the Combat Platform, Lin Yu and Lin Xiao stood facing each other, about thirty feet apart.

Lin Yu was the first to cup his fist, his posture composed. "Lin Xiao, please."

A slight smile touched Lin Xiao’s lips as he returned the salute.

"Begin."

Lin Shouhe’s voice fell.

Lin Yu moved first. As the first person among the branch family members to step into the Blood Exchange Realm, Lin Yu had absolute confidence in his own strength.

After entering the Blood Exchange Realm, the Cultivation Technique he chose was the Primordial Skill, which he had already cultivated to proficiency, allowing him to freely channel his Blood Gang.

With a single step, he shot forward like an arrow loosed from its bow, closing the thirty-foot distance in an instant.

His right fist, wreathed in dense Blood Gang, shot straight for Lin Xiao’s chest.

The force of the blow arrived before the fist itself.

There was nothing fancy about this punch—it was simply fast, precise, and ruthless.

It wasn’t that he only knew Fist Techniques, but without a Spiritual Weapon, ordinary arms couldn’t handle his Blood Gang. His fists and feet, infused with Blood Gang, were far more powerful.

Below the platform, many of the branch family members gasped in alarm.

The oppressive pressure from a Blood Exchange Realm powerhouse’s punch forced many of them to take a few steps back.

Faced with this punch, Lin Xiao did not retreat.

He didn’t even block. His body simply shifted with a minuscule movement, yet it was just enough to evade the brunt of the attack.

At the same time, his right hand shot out from his waist, fingers forming a claw, silently grabbing for Lin Yu’s wrist.

The grab was fast and precise, its power contained, making not even a whisper of sound as it cut through the air.

’His Dragon-Grasping Hand is well-practiced, but the density of his Blood Gang and this technique alone shouldn’t be enough to warrant Mingxi showing up in person.’

Lin Minghai murmured this, his thoughts continuing, ’Unless this Lin Xiao isn’t going all out and is still holding back his strength.’

Lin Yu’s expression flickered. He hadn’t expected Lin Xiao’s reaction to be so fast.

With a flick of his wrist, his fist turned into a palm, slapping back toward the back of Lin Xiao’s hand.

PAK!

Their palms met with a crisp crack.

Lin Yu felt a strange power travel from the other’s palm. His entire arm went numb, and he was knocked back half a foot.

’My Blood Gang is actually weaker than his! When he broke through to the Blood Exchange Realm, his Qi Blood must have been a level higher than mine.’

A chill ran through Lin Yu. He hastily took half a step back to steady himself.

Lin Xiao didn’t press his advantage. He stood his ground, a faint smile still on his lips, as if he had everything under control.

’In terms of Blood Gang, Lin Yu’s isn’t as dense as mine. And while the Dragon-Grasping Hand is in the Lin Family’s Library Pavilion, I started my Cultivation of it long before I came to the main family’s estate.’

’Now that we’re in the Blood Exchange Realm, Lin Yu can’t use a weapon without a proper Spiritual Weapon. Against his bare hands, my Dragon-Grasping Hand already puts me in an invincible position.’

Stung by the hidden disadvantage and hearing the uproar from the crowd as he took that step back, Lin Yu found it hard to keep his composure.

He prided himself on being the top fighter among the branch families, and now he was being humiliated the moment the fight started. He couldn’t stomach it.

"Again!"

Lin Yu roared, pushing off his feet and shooting forward like a cannonball.

This time, he attacked with both fists, a storm of punches falling like a torrential downpour, enveloping all of Lin Xiao’s vital points.

Each punch carried the hum of Blood Gang, tearing through the air with a sharp whistle.

The crowd below watched, transfixed, not daring to even breathe.

This was the true power of a Blood Exchange Realm powerhouse!

Facing Lin Yu’s ferocious assault, Lin Xiao’s expression remained unchanged. With continuous footwork, each of his moves precisely neutralized Lin Yu’s attacks.

Unable to land a decisive blow and hearing the murmurs from the crowd, Lin Yu was finding it increasingly difficult to stay calm.

"This Lin Yu is going to lose."

Over with the Fifth Branch, a young man from the main family, also in the Blood Exchange Realm, spoke with a smile, "Mingxi, it looks like the top spot for the branch families will go to our Fifth Branch this time."

"The dust hasn’t settled yet. It’s too early to say."

Lin Mingxi shook her head slightly. The young man beside her looked puzzled; with Mingxi’s keen eye, she couldn’t possibly fail to see that Lin Yu had grown impatient and reckless. His defeat was only a matter of time.

’As for the other two, Lin Wang and Lin Yan,’ he thought, ’given the feud between their families, they’ll probably fight to the death. No matter who wins, it’s doubtful the victor will even be left standing on the platform.’

On the platform, the fight was reaching its conclusion.

After fifty exchanges, Lin Yu’s Fist Momentum had clearly slowed, and his breathing grew ragged.

It was then that Lin Xiao made his move.

With a quick shift of his feet, he closed the distance like a phantom, his right hand forming a knife-edge that stabbed straight for Lin Yu’s ribs.

The move was fast, vicious, and aimed from an awkward angle.

Lin Yu’s pupils shrank. He twisted his body, trying to block.

But this move from Lin Xiao was just a feint; the real killing blow was his left fist.

BAM!

The left fist, which had traveled without a sound, slammed into Lin Yu’s abdomen. A shockwave of Blood Gang erupted with a sickening thud.

Lin Yu was sent flying backward, crashing heavily onto the Combat Platform and sliding several yards before coming to a stop.

The entire arena fell silent.

Lin Xiao withdrew his fist and offered a salute. "Thank you for the match."

Lin Yu struggled to his feet, his face ashen. "I lost."

"Lin Xiao is the victor. He will wait for the next round. Lin Yu... takes fourth place."

Lin Shouhe directly awarded Lin Yu fourth place. Lin Yu didn’t object; if he couldn’t get first place, finishing anywhere in the top five made no difference to him.

The branch family members in the crowd, however, erupted into discussion. The favorite, Lin Yu, had actually lost! This Lin Xiao had really hidden his strength well.

In the left stands, an old man shook his head and sighed. "I thought Lin Yu was the strongest among the Lin Family’s branches this time. I never expected it to be Lin Xiao. I really miscalculated."

"Old Chen, it seems you gave Lin Yu quite a generous gift. But if you turn around and give one to Lin Xiao now, you might still make it in time."

"Even if I wanted to, this old man can’t afford it anymore."