"Given your excessively rapid growth, we have decided to temporarily increase the difficulty of the subsequent trials."
Lin Yu looked speechless. "…"
"Alright, alright, so that's how you want to play it?"
But thinking it over, having a challenge, difficulty, and pressure was exactly what would allow him to grow even stronger, faster.
He refocused and looked toward Feng Xiaotian not far away. "Hey, it's about to die. Weren't you planning to get its spirit ring? Hurry up and absorb it."
"Xiaotian, let's go, quickly!"
Feng Tianxiao immediately pulled his son along and ran over with a wide smile. "Thank you! Little brother."
"Xiaotian, aren't you going to thank him properly?"
Feng Xiaotian said a little reluctantly, "T-thank you."
"No need. It was just a casual effort."
Lin Yu waved his hand dismissively and turned to walk away.
As Feng Xiaotian watched Lin Yu's small but powerful figure walking off into the distance, he clenched his fists silently. Then, from some unknown well of courage, he suddenly shouted:
"Hey! Tell me your name!"
Lin Yu didn't stop walking but still answered his question:
"Lin Yu. Lin as in 'Lin Yu', Yu as in 'Lin Yu'."
"Huh? So which Lin? Which Yu?"
Feng Xiaotian was stunned for a second, then immediately reignited with courage and fighting spirit. "I—I'm Feng Xiaotian! If one day we meet again, I hope you'll fight me fair and square!"
"Oh?"
Lin Yu paused, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. "Heh, alright! But by that time, I'm afraid you'll be even less of a match for me."
With that, Lin Yu's figure quickly disappeared from their sight.
What Lin Yu didn't realize was that this encounter would have a lasting impact on Feng Xiaotian's entire life.
Nor did he expect that the battle he had just fought had deeply shocked an eight-and-a-half-year-old girl nearby—and left such a profound impression on her that it would be etched into her heart forever.
That girl was none other than Shui Bing'er from Tianshui Academy.
She was hidden on a hillside not far away and had witnessed Lin Yu defeat the Gale Demon Wolf with her own eyes. Beside her stood a mature, alluring woman.
"Lin Yu… he's just too amazing," Shui Bing'er said with admiration all over her face.
"To defeat a 1,500-year-old Gale Demon Wolf without breaking a sweat—this child truly defies the heavens."
"Bing'er, I had always thought you would be the top genius among the younger generation, but it turns out there's a true monster out there like him," said the teacher from Tianshui Academy as she withdrew her gaze.
She gently patted Shui Bing'er's head with a warm smile. "But it's alright—those who can surpass you can be counted on one hand."
Shui Bing'er was indeed a peerless genius. In the original story, she had reached level 43 spirit power at just 15 years old during the Spirit Master Tournament—only one year older than Tang San.
If she had taken celestial herbs like the Shrek Seven Devils, she might have become a Spirit King at just 15.
Even more talented than Hu Liena and the other top students!
But Shui Bing'er didn't really hear her teacher's words. She pouted slightly and said, "What a pity… If only I had come out and introduced myself to him earlier."
"Hehe, you silly child."
The Tianshui teacher smiled and shook her head before saying, "Geniuses always meet again at the peak. In the future, you'll have the chance to get to know him."
Unaware of any of this, Lin Yu soon returned to Qian Renxue and the others.
Qian Renxue smiled and said, "Not bad, Lin Yu. You easily dealt with that Gale Demon Wolf."
"That's all thanks to the guidance of Sister Xue back in the day~"
Qian Renxue responded with a touch of proud sass, "Hmph~ Of course! I was basically your first mentor on the path of cultivation."
"All I said was a few things and you took it to heart! You only taught me for five days—how does that make you a mentor?!"
"You! Are you looking for a beating?!"
Qian Renxue stood with hands on her hips, fuming.
"Wrong! I was wrong! Totally wrong!"
Lin Yu quickly admitted fault.
"Alright, you two, stop fooling around. Let's head back."
Qian Daoliu said, half exasperated, half amused.
On the way back, Qian Renxue made a silent decision in her heart:
"No, I have to beat this kid while I still can. In a few more years, I might not be able to anymore. Once we're back, I've got to give him a good thrashing while I still have the chance!"
Looking at Qian Renxue beside him, Lin Yu couldn't help but feel a bit emotional.
He could clearly sense that over the past few days, Qian Renxue's mood and personality had begun to change.
Her face now often wore a genuine smile—she laughed more, became more lively, and no longer acted so aloof. Sometimes, she even showed a bit of childishness in front of him.
This was what a 14-year-old girl should be like—full of youthful energy.
It made him feel as though he was seeing the nine-year-old Qian Renxue from the past once again.
"Big Sister Xue, in this life, I'll let you be your truest self. That's why I will also make sure you stay in the Spirit Hall,"
"Bibi Dong, you won't be able to stop us. One day, I'll personally kick you off the Pope's throne!"
In his heart, Lin Yu had already begun to formulate a long-term plan.
Two days later—
Lin Yu and Qian Renxue returned to the Hall of the Pope.
The moment they arrived, Qian Renxue eagerly challenged him under the pretext of "testing Lin Yu's strength."
Of course, Lin Yu knew perfectly well that she just wanted to beat him up a bit—but he didn't refuse. He also wanted to see how big the gap between them was now.
"Come on then, Sister Xue!"
"Heh, bring it on, Lin Yu!"
"Martial Soul Possession!"
"Elemental Angel!"
"Six-Winged Angel!"
Two angel martial souls emerged at the same time.
The angelic auras clashed fiercely against one another.
They simultaneously charged at each other—
And thus began another fierce battle.
Bang!
Lin Yu was once again knocked to the ground by a blow from Qian Renxue.
"Damn it! I didn't even manage to force her to use her Angel Domain…" Lin Yu lay on the ground, looking helpless. Being defeated left him a bit frustrated. "It's really hard to surpass Qian Renxue…"
After this sparring match, Lin Yu realized that the gap between him and Qian Renxue was still significant.
Lin Yu was at peak level 35, while Qian Renxue was now at level 48.
It wasn't just the 13-level gap in spirit power—there was also a considerable difference in combat experience and awareness. If she had used her Angel Domain just now, he wouldn't have stood a chance.
Most importantly, Qian Renxue's Martial Soul currently only had two wings!
The Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul starts with two wings, gains four wings after reaching level 60 (Spirit Emperor), and reaches six wings at level 90 (Titled Douluo).
Only with six wings does the Six-Winged Angel—this god-tier Martial Soul—reach its full power.
In other words, Qian Renxue's current two-winged form wasn't even close to her true strength.
"Heh, not bad, Lin Yu. You're really getting stronger and stronger," Qian Renxue teased him, pretending to mock, "But you're still far from being able to beat me~"
Yet in her heart, she was deeply shocked.
Even though she hadn't used her Angel Domain, she still had to exert around 80% of her strength to defeat Lin Yu!
Just over a year ago, she could've easily crushed him without breaking a sweat!
"Tch." Lin Yu rolled his eyes and got up from the ground, patting the dust off his clothes. "I'm not sparring with you over the next few days. I plan to break through to level 36 as quickly as possible, then challenge Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan."
He'd already learned enough about the gap between them—he didn't want to keep getting beat up by Qian Renxue.
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