Chapter 84 Tang Yan Taught It

Although Lin Xiao had agreed readily enough to let the two of them travel alone, over these ten days, there had not been a single moment when he had not worried for their safety.

"Greetings, City Lord." Tang Yan immediately stepped forward and saluted. "We have made you worry."

"It is enough that you returned safely." Lin Xiao smiled and beckoned the two of them into the small courtyard.

There was a table in the courtyard. Lin Xiao poured each of them a cup of tea, then asked, "How was this trip to Cangyun Mountain? Did you gain anything? Has your strength improved? Did you encounter any Third-Rank Spirit Beasts?"

At his question, Lin Dongxue, who had gained plenty from the journey, immediately brightened. Like a child eager to claim credit, she said, "Of course we did. We even ran into quite a few Third-Rank Spirit Beasts!"

Lin Xiao's fingers tightened slightly around his teacup, but his voice remained calm. "Which Third-Rank Spirit Beasts did you encounter? Were either of you injured?"

"We met a Flying Rhino, a Long-Tailed Lion, a Leopard Marten, a Clear-Patterned Python... and killed them all. Most of the others were Second-Rank Spirit Beasts." Lin Dongxue listed the Spirit Beasts they had encountered along the way one by one, and a deep astonishment flashed through Lin Xiao's eyes.

Among Third-Rank Spirit Beasts, the stronger ones could even contend with a Black Rank fourth-grade cultivator. Even ordinary Third-Rank Spirit Beasts could hold their own against Black Rank first-grade or second-grade cultivators.

Yet these two had actually slain every Third-Rank Spirit Beast they came across?

"Then has your strength improved?" Lin Xiao looked at Lin Dongxue with fatherly warmth.

"Wouldn't we know if we tested it?" Lin Dongxue did not mind that Tang Yan was present. Eager to try, she sprang into the middle of the courtyard.

"Good. Then let us test it." Lin Xiao did not stand on ceremony either, leaping to a spot opposite Lin Dongxue.

"You can only use second-grade strength at most, all right? Take this!" Lin Dongxue cried out lightly. Her aura unfolded, and she rushed swiftly toward Lin Xiao.

"Second grade!" Sensing the aura around Lin Dongxue, Lin Xiao felt a surge of delight. By his estimate, his daughter should have needed at least another month and a half to break through to second grade. He had not expected her to advance so much sooner than he predicted.

Though Lin Dongxue had advanced, Lin Xiao was not overly shocked. His daughter possessed excellent aptitude, so a breakthrough was not unreasonable.

Seeing Lin Dongxue charge at him, he did not take it too seriously.

"Eh?" When Lin Dongxue's first punch came in, Lin Xiao suddenly let out a sound of surprise.

From what he knew of his daughter, after this punch, she should have followed the usual pattern and sent out a kick. Yet she twisted her body instead, closing in at once. Her right elbow drove forward fiercely, ramming toward his left shoulder.

This move was swift and forceful, truly beyond Lin Xiao's expectations. Fortunately, Lin Xiao's battle experience was exceedingly rich. Otherwise, he might well have embarrassed himself in front of Tang Yan, an outsider.

He avoided it with a strange shift of his body. Just as he was about to praise Lin Dongxue for her improvement, her third move was already rushing in.

This time, Lin Dongxue's leg snapped up, aimed straight at Lin Xiao's lower abdomen.

In only a few breaths, father and daughter had exchanged more than ten moves in the courtyard.

Every attack Lin Dongxue made left Lin Xiao deeply shaken.

Her moves flowed together without the slightest pause. They were not only sharp, but swift as well. Each strike went straight for a vital point. If an opponent of the same grade underestimated her, they would likely fall into disadvantage in the very first exchange.

The more Lin Xiao fought, the more startled he became. His curiosity grew heavier as well. Just what had his daughter experienced over these ten days?

Ten days ago, when his daughter exchanged moves with him, he had been completely at ease. Almost every three moves, he could point out a flaw in Lin Dongxue's technique.

But now, he actually had to focus fully before he could suppress Lin Dongxue completely.

If he wanted to offer guidance again, he found himself feeling helpless, like a dog trying to bite a hedgehog and not knowing where to sink his teeth in.

Father and daughter fought in the courtyard for nearly half an hour before Lin Xiao finally found one flaw in Lin Dongxue's movements. Seizing that chance, he swiftly subdued her.

Though he had won, Lin Xiao's old face reddened slightly. In the past, when sparring with his daughter, he generally would not take advantage of such tiny openings.

But this time, if he had not seized that small gap, defeating her with second-grade strength would have taken quite a bit more effort.

"Not bad! Good!" Lin Xiao did not hold back his praise. He clapped his hands and laughed aloud.

"Ai, and I thought I could win!" Lin Dongxue shook her head and sighed. Hearing this, Lin Xiao nearly stumbled to the ground. This little girl-ten days ago, he had still beaten her so thoroughly she could barely fight back, and now she was already thinking of defeating her own father?

Lin Xiao was no fool. Although he did not know what his daughter had gone through during these ten days, he knew that Tang Yan must have played an enormous part in it.

If even his daughter's strength had become like this, then how strong was Tang Yan now?

Forcing down the curiosity in his heart, Lin Xiao chatted with Tang Yan for a while, then told him they would go together to the Absolute Kill Tower tomorrow. After that, he saw Tang Yan out.

Once the courtyard gate was closed, Lin Xiao immediately pulled Lin Dongxue over and asked with a face full of curiosity, "Girl, tell me everything that happened during these ten days in detail."

"Tch. You want to find out how strong Tang Yan is, don't you?" Lin Dongxue asked slyly.

Since Lin Dongxue had guessed his purpose, Lin Xiao did not deny it. He smiled and said, "I'm curious about all of it. How did you improve so quickly? We were apart for only ten days, yet your strength has multiplied."

"Tang Yan taught me." Lin Dongxue did not hide anything from her father. Starting from the first time the two of them encountered the Red-Patterned Tiger, she told him everything about how Tang Yan had reprimanded and instructed her. The more Lin Xiao listened, the more shaken he became.

"You mean Tang Yan's skill in close combat is still somewhat stronger than yours?" Lin Xiao hurriedly asked.

Lin Dongxue shook her head.

"He is not stronger than you? Then how did he guide you?" Seeing his daughter shake her head, Lin Xiao asked curiously.

"In close combat, it isn't that he's somewhat stronger than me. He's stronger than me by far." Lin Dongxue corrected him seriously.

"You little girl, can't you say it all at once?" Lin Xiao scolded with a laugh, then asked again, "Has his strength already stepped into the Black Rank?"

At Lin Xiao's question, a strange look appeared on Lin Dongxue's face. She nodded and said, "Black Rank third grade."

"How much?" Lin Dongxue's answer truly startled Lin Xiao.

"That's right. Black Rank third grade," Lin Dongxue confirmed again.

"The first time that boy displayed his strength was when he fought Liu Quan of the Liu Family. Back then, he was only Origin Rank seventh grade.

"At the Mid-Autumn Conference, the strength he displayed was only Yellow Rank sixth grade.

"At the selection contest, the strength he displayed was only Yellow Rank ninth grade. How long has it been? And he is already Black Rank third grade?" Lin Xiao calculated carefully, and shock immediately filled his face.

Tang Yan had actually completed the leap from Origin Rank to Black Rank in less than half a year!

"Before entering Cangyun Mountain, his strength was only Black Rank first grade. On the fourth day, he advanced two grades in succession and reached third grade," Lin Dongxue added, fanning the flames once more.

"Advanced two grades in a row?" Lin Xiao's brows lifted, and he hurriedly pressed her, "How did he do it? Quickly, tell me."

"We were attacked in Cangyun Mountain by Liu Jing, the Second Master of the Liu Family..."

Lin Xiao's heart clenched fiercely. Liu Jing? He was a genuine Black Rank fifth-grade expert! He anxiously cut his daughter off. "What? Liu Jing tried to assassinate you? How did you escape?"