Chapter 210 - 31: Explanation
Sword Gang.
Lin Mingxi’s body involuntarily leaned forward an inch. ’There’s no mistaking it. That’s Flowing Cloud Sword Intent.’
In the Fourth Branch’s section,
The smiles on Lin Mingguan’s and Lin Mingtang’s faces froze. Lin Yan had condensed Sword Gang.
"The Four-Phase Condensing Gang Sword! Hahaha! Good kid, I knew you could do it!"
When Lin Minghai saw the Sword Gang in Lin Yan’s hand, he was stunned for a moment before bursting into joyous laughter.
Lin Yan had only just entered the Blood Exchange Realm, making his Blood Gang difficult to control. But Sword Gang was different. It was the most destructive of all Gang Qi, capable of piercing through anything.
Even if Lin Yan’s Sword Gang wasn’t strong enough to break through the Treasure Armor, it didn’t matter. Lin Wang’s limbs weren’t protected by it.
On the platform, Lin Shouhe gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. He hadn’t expected Lin Yan to have formed Sword Gang. ’It seems Mingchuan miscalculated this time.’
Being closest to Lin Yan, Lin Wang felt its power most keenly.
The sharp aura emanating from the Sword Gang on Lin Yan’s fingertip sent a chill from his tailbone to the back of his head, making all the hairs on his body stand on end.
"I refuse to believe you can still turn this around!"
He didn’t dare to delay any longer. If he dragged this out, the fear from his last defeat at Lin Yan’s hands would once again consume him.
With a furious roar, Lin Wang lunged at Lin Yan again, his fists swinging as blood-red energy filled the air.
However, as he moved, so did Lin Yan.
The silvery-white Sword Gang traced a graceful arc through the air, like an unfurling, flowing cloud, like an inverted waterfall.
There was no sound of it tearing through the air.
No biting wind.
PFFT!
A bloody hole appeared in Lin Wang’s left knee.
One finger, then two, then three.
PFFT! PFFT!
PFFT! PFFT! PFFT!
Three more beams of Sword Gang shot out. While still in mid-air, Lin Wang plummeted toward the ground. The moment his legs touched down, he couldn’t stay standing and fell directly to his knees. Two bloody holes gushed blood from his kneecaps.
"AARGH!"
Kneeling on the ground, Lin Wang let out a piercing and defiant scream!
Ten feet. He was only ten feet away from Lin Yan, yet that distance was now an impassable chasm. His legs were completely crippled.
Below the platform, a deathly silence fell.
Everyone stared blankly at the scene, as if they hadn’t yet processed what had just happened.
For the many who had yet to reach the Blood Exchange Realm, they didn’t understand what Sword Gang was. All they knew was that Lin Wang, who had been so outrageously arrogant a moment ago, was now kneeling there like a broken man.
Lin Mingchuan’s hands, hidden within his sleeves, clenched into tight fists. His face was livid, not because Lin Wang had lost, but because he was now certain that Lin Yan was his younger brother’s murderer.
Although he had never cultivated the Four-Phase Condensing Gang Sword, one of the clan’s top three offensive Cultivation Techniques, he knew a bit about it. To form Sword Gang, one had to possess Sword Intent at the Great Success Level.
’How long has it been since Lin Yan entered the Blood Exchange Realm? It’s impossible for him to achieve Great Success Level Sword Intent in such a short period. This means Lin Yan had already grasped Sword Intent before he entered the Yantian Mountain Range.’
’With Sword Intent, and if it was a sneak attack... If Mingyu was unprepared, the likelihood of Lin Yan succeeding was very high.’
’I’ve found the murderer!’
’Now, it’s time for Lin Wang to do as he was told.’
On the Combat Platform, Lin Yan retracted his finger and looked calmly at the pale-faced Lin Wang kneeling before him.
He hadn’t held back against Lin Wang this time. The Sword Gang had done more than simply leave bloody holes in his legs; the tendons and bones in both of Lin Wang’s legs were completely shattered. He would never be able to walk again.
Lin Wang looked at Lin Yan, his eyes filled with resentment and an incredibly complex expression. However, upon seeing Lin Yan raise his hand once more, he hastily said, "I surrender."
The crowd erupted into an uproar upon hearing Lin Wang surrender.
The battle had been full of twists and turns. Everyone had assumed Lin Wang was invincible with his Treasure Armor, but no one expected such a reversal.
"Ruoruo, I take back what I said before. You have a better eye for things."
A peculiar glint appeared in Wan Qing’s eyes. "Ruoruo, be honest with me. Are you interested in this Lin Yan? If you’re not, then I might just have to make a move."
Hearing her friend’s words, Bai Ruo’s red lips parted slightly, the corners of her mouth curving into a beautiful smile. "If you’re interested, feel free to make your move."
"Never mind. Even I’m captivated by that smile. I wouldn’t stand a chance competing with you."
Wan Qing understood. By not answering directly, Ruoruo had already given her answer.
...
"Mingxi, so you came to watch this fight specifically for Lin Yan? Did you already know he had formed Sword Gang?"
Lin Mingshan had a sudden realization. He’d been wondering why Mingxi would come to watch a duel between members of a branch family. If she was concerned about the members of the Fifth Branch, it was unlikely she would have gone this long without even meeting Lin Xiao once.
Now it all made sense. No wonder Mingxi had said "the outcome is not yet decided" even after Lin Wang’s Treasure Armor was revealed. She must have known from the start that Lin Yan had formed Sword Gang.
Lin Mingxi didn’t answer. She certainly wasn’t going to say that she only came to watch because she had learned in the Library Pavilion that Lin Yan had acquired the Four-Phase Condensing Gang Sword Technique. She had merely wanted to confirm if Lin Yan was a genius of the Sword Dao.
Now, she had her answer.
’Lin Yan really is a genius of the Sword Dao.’
On the platform, hearing Lin Wang surrender, Lin Yan turned his gaze to Lin Shouhe at the side, waiting for him to announce the result. However, in the instant he looked away, an intense sense of danger welled up in his heart without any warning.
Without hesitation, Lin Yan instantly executed the Smoke-Stepping Technique, his figure turning into a wisp of green smoke and drifting to the right side.
At almost the same instant Lin Yan’s figure shifted, a streak of dark light tore through the air. Carrying a heart-stopping sharpness, it passed through the spot where Lin Yan had just been standing, finally striking the trunk of a large tree below the platform.