Lin Dongxue did not give Zhao Yuqian any chance to breathe. Her footwork unfolded, and she pressed her advantage in pursuit.

Zhao Yuqian was no weakling. She swiftly steadied her mind and met the attack head-on.

The two young women were both beauties who could startle an entire hall, and their fierce battle upon the stage drew every eye.

As the fight went on, the crowd was astonished to discover that Zhao Yuqian, whom they had all assumed would win, was actually being suppressed by the young woman from Yun City.

"Every move is sharp and decisive. Both girls have clearly been tempered through hardship. However, Lin Dongxue's eye for battle is a little better. Most of her moves strike at her opponent's weak points. That is truly rare." On the judges' stand, Mo Bin gave a word of praise.

"Elder Mo praises her too highly. Tingxiang has geniuses as numerous as clouds. My daughter still has a long road ahead of her," Lin Xiao said modestly.

On the stage, Lin Dongxue launched a beautiful yet tricky attack, and Zhao Yuqian finally failed to withstand it, revealing an opening.

Lin Dongxue seized the chance and struck out with a palm, blasting Zhao Yuqian away. Zhao Yuqian fell to the ground at once and could not rise again.

"Yun City's Lin Dongxue wins!"

A trace of surprise flashed through the red-robed elder's eyes. Yun City's performance this year was indeed extraordinary.

"Thank you for the match."

Lin Dongxue cupped her fists, then turned and walked down from the stage.

"Congratulations!" Tang Yan said with a smile when he saw Lin Dongxue return.

She had only just gone through a fierce battle, and her breathing was still a little hurried. A victorious flush lingered on her face as she smiled and asked, "Tang Yan, when you watched me fight just now, what shortcomings did you notice?"

Tang Yan paused inwardly.

Looking at the bright, graceful Lin Dongxue before him, his opinion of her rose by another measure. With her talent and such a heart for improvement, her future achievements would certainly not be ordinary.

"Overall, it was not bad. There were not many flaws. For instance, on the fifth move, when Zhao Yuqian used that spinning elbow, there was an opening in the middle. You could have kicked out and heavily injured her. Because you missed that opening, she managed to recover a little from her disadvantage.

"And on the ninth move, she had fallen into a bad position again. At that time, to turn the situation around, she took the initiative to attack, so her strength was naturally a little weaker. Although your strength was greater than hers then, if you had not met her head-on and had instead taken one step back, waited for her force to fade, then gathered your strength for one strike, you could have won directly..."

Tang Yan analyzed the exchange move by move, and Lin Dongxue kept nodding as she listened.

Although she had not known Tang Yan for long, she had already reached the point of trusting his understanding of combat without question.

In the next fifteen battles, Tang Yan discussed the strengths and flaws of each competitor's attacks with Lin Dongxue.

The experts among the contestants were smoothly picked out by the two of them.

For example, the Four Young Masters of the East Domain truly lived up to their reputation. Without using their full strength, they relied on rich battle experience and quickly won their matches.

Aside from the Four Young Masters of the East Domain, there were also several fairly strong contestants whom the two of them quietly committed to memory.

The matches continued until afternoon, and only then did the first round finally come to an end.

The next round was arranged for the following day.

Yun City, which had always placed at the bottom in past years, truly amazed everyone this time.

This year, Yun City's ranking was very likely to rise to fourth!

Of course, fourth was probably the limit. After all, before the Four Young Masters of the East Domain, the two from Yun City were still lacking.

After returning to the small courtyard, Tang Yan had intended to continue cultivating, but a knock at the gate interrupted him.

He opened the courtyard gate and found that the person outside was actually Lin Dongxue. Tang Yan smiled and asked, "Miss Lin, what brings you here?"

"What, am I not welcome?"

A faint smile appeared on Lin Dongxue's face, like a flower bud blooming after rain, enough to make one's heart stir.

Tang Yan stared blankly for a moment, then invited Lin Dongxue inside. "For Yun City's famous beauty to come to my place is Tang's honor."

"At least you know how to speak."

Lin Dongxue gave a pleased little snort, then grew serious. "Tang Yan, thank you."

"Thank me?" Tang Yan was taken aback.

"Before I met you, I always thought challenging someone above one's grade was extremely difficult. But after meeting you, I realized that when the difference in strength has not reached an uncrossable gap, technique and speed can make up for what one lacks in power."

"Since ancient times, there have been plenty of examples of the weak defeating the strong. It is nothing strange." Tang Yan waved his hand.

"I did not come today only to thank you."

Lin Dongxue's tone shifted, and a hint of slyness appeared in her eyes. "Right now, I want to fight you to my heart's content, until all my strength is spent!"

So she had come for sparring... Fortunately, she said this in broad daylight. If it were night, this old man might have started undoing his belt.

Lin Dongxue was not only beautiful, but also elegant in bearing. Tang Yan was a man with perfectly normal tastes and perfectly normal inclinations. It would be a lie to say he had no favorable impression of her.

When a beauty made a request, Tang Yan had no reason to refuse.

Moreover, if Lin Dongxue could obtain a place in Azure Dragon Academy, it would count as a great merit on his part. In the future, the relationship between the City Lord's Manor and the Tang Family would become even closer.

Even if he was no longer in Yun City, so long as the great tree of the City Lord's Manor remained, the Tang Family would have another layer of protection.

"If you truly want to improve, then I will not go easy on you. If it hurts later, do not blame me," Tang Yan said seriously.

"Just make your move," Lin Dongxue said, her small face resolute.

The two of them came to the center of the courtyard.

Lin Dongxue gave a clear shout, clenched her fair fists, and charged toward Tang Yan.

After exchanging a few simple moves and sounding out Lin Dongxue's foundation, Tang Yan was quite satisfied. This girl had indeed improved by no small amount.

He no longer held back. Finding the right moment, Tang Yan stepped forward and hooked out with his foot. Lin Dongxue immediately fell to the ground.

"Your lower stance must be steady. You cannot guard above while neglecting below. Your attacks must have a clear aim, and you must also guard against the ways your opponent may strike back," Tang Yan said calmly.

Lin Dongxue climbed up from the ground and rubbed her ankle, which seemed to have reddened and swollen. She snorted in dissatisfaction. "Why are you being so harsh?"

"If you cannot endure it, you may go back." Tang Yan's expression did not soften.

Only by making Lin Dongxue feel real danger, and by stopping her from treating sparring like a game, could he better draw out her potential.

"I am not going back!" Lin Dongxue pressed on.

Eight moves later, Tang Yan landed a heavy punch on Lin Dongxue's back. Lin Dongxue felt her Qi and blood churn, and she almost spat blood.

"Your turning speed was a little slow..." Tang Yan again pointed out Lin Dongxue's flaw.

"Again!"

Lin Dongxue charged at Tang Yan once more.

......

Lin Dongxue no longer knew how many times Tang Yan had knocked her down, but the number of times she had struck Tang Yan remained zero.

Night descended.

Lin Dongxue lay sprawled on the ground, utterly exhausted, gasping for breath in great mouthfuls.

Tang Yan, however, was astonished by Lin Dongxue's tenacity and talent.

This girl's speed of improvement was obvious. Some of the things he taught her were absorbed very quickly. Although she could not fully understand them yet, to find the doorway in such a short time showed frightening comprehension.

Moreover, though she was the precious daughter of the City Lord's Manor, she had no pampered air about her. With such perseverance, she was destined to go far upon the martial path.

Lin Dongxue was already at the peak of Black Rank Third Grade. Even if she encountered a Fourth Grade martial artist, she would have the strength to fight!

What exactly had Lin Xiao been doing all these years?

He had carved a piece of unpolished jade for more than ten years, yet it was still unpolished jade?

If she had been tempered a few years earlier, the Four Young Masters of the East Domain might long ago have been renamed the Five Heavenly Geniuses of the Eastern Region.

......

Purple Bamboo City.

In a small courtyard filled with purple bamboo, a woman in white stood by a pavilion tower. Her brows were like distant mountain shadows, her eyes like glazed crystal, and she quietly gazed toward the east.

She was gentle and beautiful, still as a painting.

"Miss, a message has come from our spies. There is news of Yun City's Tang Yan. These days, he is in Fang City participating in the Eastern Region Grand Competition, competing for a place in Azure Dragon Academy."

A maid hurried over and reported in a crisp voice.

The maid was deeply curious. Her young lady was so young, yet her strength had already reached an astonishing height, attaining Heaven Rank. Why would she be interested in someone from a small place like the Eastern Region?

"Send my order to our eyes in the Eastern Region. If Tang Yan has need of anything, support him with all your strength. If there is any news of him, report back at once!" Zi Yun instructed softly, but her tone brooked no delay.

"This subordinate will see to it immediately."

The maid gave a salute and quickly withdrew.

"That day, we agreed to go to Azure Dragon Academy together. Do not disappoint me," Zi Yun murmured.