21: They came to provoke us!

The Prodigy Garden was located deep within the Myriad Manifestations Academy in a valley wreathed in spiritual mist. The environment was indeed tranquil and elegant, and the Spiritual Qi concentration was several times higher than the outside world.

Each guest house was an independent small courtyard, equipped with a Quiet Room, a Practice Field, and even a small Spirit Gathering Array.

After leading the four people, including Lin Dao, to a courtyard named "Listening Bamboo Pavilion," the gentle female Disciple respectfully took her leave.

The courtyard gate was pushed open, and a clear, elegant scent of bamboo wafted out.

Lin Dao walked straight into the main Quiet Room, and his calm voice drifted out: "Do not go out before the Grand Gathering begins. Adjust your state of mind."

"Yes, Old Ancestor." Lin Hao and the two others bowed in response, then each chose a wing room to settle into.

However, the tree desires calm, but the wind will not cease.

The news that the three members of the Lin Family had all ascended the prodigy ranking spread like wildfire through the Heavenly Vault Grand Gathering preparation area.

For an obscure, small Family to suddenly produce three highly-rated Geniuses was inherently newsworthy.

Moreover, the huge discrepancy between their cultivation base and their ranking attracted countless people filled with curiosity, doubt, and even jealousy.

Early the next morning, noise erupted outside the courtyard gate.

"Where are the people from the Lin Family of Qingfeng County?"

"Get the hell out here!" A rough, booming voice, like a clap of thunder, rang out, carrying undisguised provocation.

"Mere Middle Stage Spirit Sea Realm Cultivators, are they worthy of being listed on the prodigy ranking?"

"They must have used some kind of back door!"

"Today, I, 'Mountain Splitting Hand' Lei Meng, will test your mettle!"

The three Lin Family members were startled and walked out of their wing rooms, only to see many Cultivators gathered outside the gate, watching the commotion.

A burly man with bulging muscles and hands as large as cattail fans stood blocking the entrance, arms crossed and face full of disdain. His Aura was clearly that of the Spirit Sea Realm Eighth Level.

"Where did this wild dog come from, disturbing the peace." Ye Chen frowned and was about to step forward.

Lin Hao reached out to stop him, looking calmly at Lei Meng: "The prodigy ranking was not something my Lin Family sought. If Your Excellency has doubts, you may appeal to the Academy."

"Trespassing in a guest house and intentionally causing trouble is hardly the behavior of a guest."

"Appeal my ass!" Lei Meng spat, "I just can't stand trash like you who use the back door!"

"If you know what's good for you, come out and fight me now, and let everyone see if your reputation is undeserved!"

"Otherwise, I'll come to your door every day and curse you out!"

A burst of laughter and agreement sounded from the surroundings.

Clearly, most of the onlookers harbored similar intentions.

Lin Hao's gaze turned slightly cold.

The opponent was clearly looking for trouble. Avoiding the fight would only confirm the accusation of cowardice.

Just as he was preparing to accept the challenge, another sinister voice rang out from outside the crowd: "Brother Lei, why bother wasting your time on these bumpkins?"

"The prodigy ranking?"

"Heh heh, I fear they used some shady means to temporarily raise their cultivation and deceive the Academy's detection methods."

"Individuals with such unstable Foundation probably can't even withstand three of Brother Lei's punches."

The crowd parted, and the Young City Lord of Liuyun City strolled over leisurely, fanning himself, accompanied by the Youth surnamed Chen and a few companions, his face filled with schadenfreude.

"So it's the trash from Liuyun City." Ye Chen retorted impolitely. "What? Since you couldn't make the ranking yourself, you just hide behind others and fan the flames?"

"You!" The Young City Lord of Liuyun City's face darkened.

Lei Meng, however, was provoked into greater fury by the Young City Lord's words and roared, "Enough nonsense!"

"Take this punch!"

He suddenly stepped forward, causing the ground to tremble slightly. Earth-yellow Spiritual Qi condensed on his right fist, transforming into a Massive Rock Fist the size of a millstone. It carried a terrifying Aura capable of splitting mountains and cracking stones as it violently smashed toward Lin Hao, who stood at the front!

He held nothing back!

A full-power strike from a Spirit Sea Realm Eighth Level Cultivator was terrifying in momentum!

Exclamations rose all around. Many felt Lin Hao was being overly confident and would likely suffer for it.

However, facing this violent punch, Lin Hao's eyes suddenly became as sharp as a sword!

Instead of retreating, he advanced, joining his fingers like a sword. His Spirit Sea Realm Sixth Level cultivation base erupted, but instead of meeting the blow head-on, it transformed into a streak of Azure Sword Light, condensed to the extreme and fast as lightning!

Swift Wind Sword Intent, activated!

Chi la!

The Sword Light struck later but arrived first. It did not directly stab the mighty Massive Rock Fist, but instead, following a mysterious trajectory, it precisely tapped the single point where the fist's power circulation was weakest, where the old force had waned and the new force had not yet arrived!

Using a point to break the surface!

Four ounces deflecting a thousand catties!

A soft sound rang out!

The intimidating Massive Rock Fist was instantly shattered by that seemingly slender Sword Light, bursting into countless earth-yellow points of light!

The malicious grin on Lei Meng's face instantly froze, turning into astonishment. He felt a sharp, fierce Sword Intent pierce straight through his punch momentum. His entire arm went numb and painfully tingly. With a muffled groan, he staggered back several steps, each step leaving a deep imprint on the ground!

The entire scene instantly fell silent!

Everyone widened their eyes, watching the scene in disbelief!

Spirit Sea Realm Sixth Level, using a single finger of Sword Light, shattered the full-power strike of a Spirit Sea Realm Eighth Level Cultivator?!

And even forced the opponent back?!

What exquisite Swordsmanship!

What terrifying Sword Intent!

The smile on the Young City Lord of Liuyun City's face froze, as if someone had grabbed his throat.

The Youth surnamed Chen's pupils contracted sharply, showing a look of extreme solemnity for the first time.

"Good... such fast sword work!"

"Such powerful Sword Intent!" Someone in the crowd cried out involuntarily.

Lei Meng stabilized himself, startled and enraged, his face flushed bright red: "You... you cheated!"

"Defeat is defeat." Lin Hao stood with his fingers retracted, his breathing steady and his gaze indifferent. "If you are unconvinced, I will gladly accompany you on the Grand Gathering Arena."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a confidence and sharpness that commanded respect.

Ye Chen laughed heartily, stepped forward, and his entire body's Vitality and Blood erupted like a furnace. The scorching heat forced the surrounding crowd to retreat: "Who else is unconvinced?"

"Anyone who wants a beating, come right up!"

"This Young Master is just itching for a fight!"

His majestic Vitality and Blood Power was in no way inferior to Cultivators at the Spirit Sea Realm Eighth or Ninth Level, perhaps even surpassing them!

Coupled with his aggressive Aura, he immediately intimidated those who had been itching to move.

Lin Yun did not speak. He simply took a silent step forward. In his eyes, faint starlight slowly circulated, and an eerie, heart-pounding fluctuation of Illusion Technique quietly spread, causing those who met his gaze to involuntarily feel dizzy and fearful.

Although the cultivation base of the three Lin Family members was not high, the strength, Profound Meaning, and tacit understanding they displayed at this moment caused many Cultivators present, whose cultivation was higher than theirs, to temporarily dare not look them directly in the eye!

Lei Meng's expression shifted several times. Finally, he stomped his foot hard, left the parting shot, "Wait for me in the Arena Competition!", and then shamefully pushed through the crowd and left.

The Young City Lord of Liuyun City and his companions also looked displeased, gave a cold snort, and turned to leave.

Outside the courtyard gate, the crowd of onlookers gradually dispersed, but the way they looked at the Listening Bamboo Pavilion was now completely different.

Disdain and doubt were completely gone, replaced by shock, curiosity, and deep fear.

The Lin Family of Qingfeng County has a True Dragon!

After this incident, no one dared to easily come forward and provoke them again.

Tranquility returned inside the Listening Bamboo Pavilion.

The three people, Lin Hao, exchanged glances, seeing a hint of excitement and solemnity in each other's eyes.

Their initial display of sharpness yielded good results, but it also meant that the true challenges were about to arrive on the Arena stage.

The door to the main Quiet Room silently opened, and Lin Dao's voice drifted out calmly: "Well done."

"However, when you made your move just now, the circulation of your Sword Intent still had sluggish points. Your power burst could be three-tenths more condensed, and the timing of your Pupil Technique was half a breath too early."

He had actually taken in everything about their performance just now and precisely pointed out their subtle shortcomings.

Hearing this, all three felt a chill in their hearts and quickly bowed: "Thank you for your guidance, Old Ancestor!"

"Reflect on yourselves and adjust your state." After Lin Dao finished speaking, the Quiet Room door closed again.

The three did not dare to delay. They immediately returned to their rooms, reviewed the recent battle, compared it with Lin Dao's guidance, and devoted themselves to Cultivating.