As Lin San watched the enraged Feng Wuqiang, he instead became calm.
[Phantom Dance]!
He channeled his source power into the Demon Slaying Sword.
Immediately, the powerful skill was unleashed!
Holding the sword, Lin San's figure blurred, creating afterimages as he attacked Feng Wuqiang with incredible speed.
Clang, clang, clang—
Feng Wuqiang's pupils contracted as he quickly moved his sword to block Lin San's relentless assault.
The Demon Slaying Sword struck with such ferocity that cracks began to appear on Feng Wuqiang's sword.
Clang—
In the next instant, a crisp sound echoed as Feng Wuqiang's sword shattered completely!
The broken pieces of the sword scattered across the ground.
The Demon Slaying Sword's tip now hovered just above Feng Wuqiang's forehead.
Although the sharp tip didn't pierce his skin, the terrifying sword energy radiating from it caused the skin on his forehead to split open.
"You've lost."
Lin San said calmly.
Feng Wuqiang stood frozen in place, as if he had been paralyzed.
He could feel the stinging pain on his forehead.
If Lin San wished, he could have driven the sword through Feng Wuqiang's skull in that very moment.
"This…"
Feng Wutian was stunned, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
He could not believe it—Feng Wuqiang had been defeated!
Impossible! This couldn't be happening!
Wasn't Lin San just a failure who had been stuck at the second-tier peak for years? How did he suddenly display such overwhelming strength, to the point where even Feng Wuqiang couldn't defeat him?
Could it be that he had been hiding his strength all along? Was he deliberately biding his time!?
The thought sent chills down Feng Wutian's spine.
If that were true, it was terrifying.
"Put everything back where it was."
"Repair everything you've damaged."
Lin San's gaze swept over the crowd as he spoke calmly.
None of them dared meet Lin San's eyes, their bodies trembling.
"O-Okay…"
They had no choice but to obediently follow Lin San's orders.
They began moving the items they had thrown out back into the room.
"And you? Why aren't you moving?"
Lin San's eyes turned to Feng Wuqiang as he spoke.
"Lin San… your strength has returned!?"
Feng Wuqiang asked, unable to contain his disbelief.
"What do you think?"
Lin San didn't answer directly, instead replying with a question.
Seeing the faint smile on Lin San's face, Feng Wuqiang felt a chill of fear.
He had seen this confident expression on Lin San's face before.
It had been four years ago, when Lin San first joined the Sky Peak Sect.
"My patience is running thin. If you don't get everything back in order quickly, don't blame my sword for being unforgiving."
Lin San added with a slight smile.
"Let's go."
Feng Wuqiang gritted his teeth, pulling Feng Wutian along as they helped move the items back into the room and repair what had been damaged.
…
Soon, the room was tidied up.
Everything that had been thrown out was put back in place.
Anything that couldn't be repaired was compensated at ten times its original value to Lin San.
"Did they really think I'm just an easy target?"
Lin San muttered, watching them leave, a cold snort escaping his lips.
"What a pity. I thought you were going to kill them."
Ye Fan commented, somewhat disappointed.
Feng Wuqiang had clearly intended to do serious harm, yet Lin San had spared him after defeating him.
"Feng Wuqiang is a disciple of Mentor Zhang Fengyang. If I killed him now, it would cause more trouble."
Lin San replied quietly.
It was clear that Feng Wuqiang had murderous intent earlier.
"Damn it."
Lin San cursed softly in frustration.
After four years, he had no one left to rely on in the Sky Peak Sect.
"I need to increase my strength quickly."
Lin San resolved.
He took out the dozen or so black-furred wolf crystals from his storage ring.
These crystals contained powerful energy.
Absorbing this energy was far more efficient than drawing energy from the air.
The downside was the cost.
Selling these crystals would fetch a considerable price.
Without hesitation, Lin San sat cross-legged and began absorbing the energy from the crystals.
With the Demon Slaying Sword in hand, Lin San benefitted from the [All Attribute Amplification], which also increased the speed at which he absorbed the energy.
Large amounts of energy flowed from the crystals and were absorbed into Lin San's body.
His strength had been growing rapidly, and he was close to reaching the peak of the third tier!
…
"Brother, was Lin San really hiding his strength?"
On the other side of the sect, Feng Wutian asked Feng Wuqiang.
Thinking back on the day's events, Feng Wutian's face was still pale.
"Yes."
Feng Wuqiang's expression was equally grim.
Just thinking about Lin San made him grit his teeth in anger.
In the end, they had no choice but to obediently repair the damage and return the items.
Anything that couldn't be repaired was compensated at ten times the price to Lin San.
Just thinking about it made him seethe with anger.
It was a great humiliation! If word got out, he would lose all face.
"For now, let's not provoke him."
"After tomorrow's grand competition, we'll see."
Feng Wuqiang said through gritted teeth after a moment of thought.
The grand competition tomorrow would reveal more about Lin San's current strength.
Then, they could figure out how to deal with him.
"And you need to get a new weapon. That sword of yours was shattered."
Feng Wuqiang added.
Just thinking about how Lin San had shattered his sword made his blood boil.
If the weapon hadn't broken, he could have continued fighting.
Maybe he wouldn't have lost!
"Brother, that was a B-grade weapon! I spent years saving up to buy it!"
Feng Wutian's heart ached just thinking about it, as if a piece of him had been cut away.
…
As evening approached, Lin San opened his eyes.
"Now that I'm at the third-tier, I can learn a new sword technique."
After resting for a while, Lin San decided to head to the Martial Skill Pavilion.
The Sky Peak Sect's Martial Skill Pavilion was located near the peak of the mountain.
The pavilion was a grand structure with six floors.
The first floor housed first-tier martial skills.
The second floor contained second-tier martial skills.
The third floor…
And so on.
The sixth floor was reserved for the sect master and elders.
The other floors were accessible to anyone who had reached the corresponding tier.
"I can finally enter the third floor now."