In Martial Universe, Signed in at the Start with Yao Lao's Ring

The news that Lin Yan and Lin Zhentian were going to spar spread rapidly throughout Steel Wood Manor.

Upon hearing this, almost all members of the Lin Family at Steel Wood Manor who were not occupied with urgent matters rushed toward the martial arena.

After all, this was a match between Lin Yan and Lin Zhentian!

As the most gifted disciple of the Lin Family, many had been curious about Lin Yan's strength, but unfortunately, they had never had the chance to witness it firsthand.

Now, this sparring match was the perfect opportunity for them to see it with their own eyes.

Many Lin Family disciples eagerly anticipated seeing just how strong Lin Yan had truly become. Would he be able to defeat Lin Zhentian? Would he surpass his elder and become the strongest in the Lin Family?

With such excitement, the Lin Family members hurried to the martial arena as soon as they heard the news.

Among them, Lin Hong, Lin Xia, and Lin Dong were, of course, present as well.

"I really didn't expect Lin Yan to have become this strong... Not long ago, he was still on the same level as us," Lin Hong sighed, watching Lin Yan on the platform.

He had long since acknowledged Lin Yan's strength, but every time he thought back to the past when they had been rivals at the same level, it felt surreal.

"Why is Lin Yan's cultivation so fast? Tsk, this guy is a complete monster!" Lin Xia pouted in frustration.

Not long ago, she hadn't been too far behind Lin Yan, but now, she had been left completely in the dust.

No matter how much she tried to catch up, the gap only widened. This realization filled her with a deep sense of helplessness.

"Brother Lin Yan is indeed unbelievable," Lin Dong nodded in agreement. Even he felt that Lin Yan was the true genius of the Lin Family.

However, after his statement, both Lin Hong and Lin Xia turned to him with strange expressions.

"You talk like you're normal yourself."

On the arena, Lin Zhentian saw that the audience had gathered and decided not to delay any further.

He looked at Lin Yan and smiled.

"Come, Xiao Yan. Let your grandfather see how strong you've become!"

Lin Yan said with respect. "Grandfather, be careful."

The moment he finished speaking, he took a powerful step forward. His tall figure flickered like a phantom, appearing right in front of Lin Zhentian with blinding speed.

Lin Yan launched a ferocious punch at Lin Zhentian.

Although he did not use Eight Extremes Collapse, after being tempered by a Heavenly Flame, Lin Yan's body alone was enough to unleash an incredibly terrifying force even with a casual punch.

"Chun Yuan Finger!"

Lin Zhentian quickly executed a Fourth-Level Martial Art, Chun Yuan Finger.

With it, he managed to barely neutralize Lin Yan's attack, but was still forced to take several steps back.

Lin Yan raised an eyebrow.

Without hesitation, he spread his fingers, and an intense azure flame ignited at his fingertips.

With a swift motion, Lin Yan pressed his palm toward Lin Zhentian, the terrifying heat scorching the very air around them.

However, Lin Zhentian's reaction speed was equally swift.

Forming a hand seal, he quickly condensed a sphere of light in his palm—this was none other than Qimen Seal, a martial technique that had been enhanced by Lin Dong.

The light sphere shot forward, but Lin Yan remained unfazed.

He grabbed the sphere with one hand and crushed it effortlessly, as if he were crushing a piece of tofu.

Before Lin Zhentian could react, Lin Yan's flaming fingers were already hovering right in front of his face.

"...I lost."

Lin Zhentian was momentarily stunned.

After a brief moment of silence, he could only let out a bitter smile and admit defeat.

As a battle-hardened warrior, Lin Zhentian knew better than anyone what would have happened if that attack had landed.

What terrified him even more was the unbelievable heat radiating from Lin Yan's fingertips.

He had a feeling that if his flesh came into contact with that azure flame, his body would be instantly reduced to ashes.

With that realization, Lin Zhentian fully accepted his defeat.

"Grandfather, you let me win," Lin Yan said with a smile.

Despite losing, Lin Zhentian did not appear upset. Instead, he joyfully patted Lin Yan on the shoulder, laughing heartily.

"Good! Good! You really are incredible, kid!"

"If this had been a real life-or-death battle, I wouldn't have lasted more than three moves against you!"

"As expected of the greatest genius of the Lin Family!"

Lin Yan shook his head. "Grandfather, you're exaggerating. This was just a spar. If it were a real fight, the outcome wouldn't be so certain."

Lin Zhentian laughed heartily. "Hah! Now you're trying to comfort me? After exchanging blows personally, do you really think I don't understand the gap between us?"

"To be honest, you don't feel like someone at the late stage of the Heavenly Yuan Realm at all."

"Not to boast, but I am one of the strongest in the late Heavenly Yuan Realm. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to establish myself in Qingyang Town."

"But you... you're on an entirely different level."

"Fighting against late Heavenly Yuan practitioners for you... is like crushing ants. And yet, your cultivation is still at the late Heavenly Yuan Realm!"

Lin Zhentian let out a frustrated sigh, unable to understand how there could be such a massive gap in power despite having the same cultivation realm.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Lin Family members were completely dumbfounded.

They had expected a spectacular showdown. But in the end, it was a one-sided crushing victory for Lin Yan.

At this moment, many members of the Lin Family stared at Lin Yan, their eyes filled with utter disbelief.

"Lin Yan… is way too strong. He defeated Grandfather so easily..."

Lin Hong couldn't help but sigh in amazement.

Meanwhile, Lin Xia muttered, "Monster!"

Lin Dong, on the other hand, remained completely unfazed, as if this result was expected.

He knew very well that Lin Yan's strength was overwhelming.

In fact, Lin Yan had not even used his full arsenal—his Eight Extremes Collapse, his spiritual arrays, or even his Mental Energy.

Yet, with just that strange azure flame, he had utterly crushed Lin Zhentian.

This battle only further reinforced Lin Dong's understanding of Lin Yan's true power.

"He's practically invincible… Lin Yan is terrifying. It looks like I really need to train hard. Otherwise, I might end up so far behind that no matter how hard I try, I'll never be able to catch up."

Lin Dong let out a bitter laugh, speaking to himself.

With that, the sparring match between Lin Yan and Lin Zhentian had come to a close, and everyone prepared to go their separate ways.

However, just at that moment, a carrier pigeon flew toward Lin Zhentian.

Lin Zhentian had been in a good mood, but the moment he retrieved the letter and glanced at it, his expression instantly darkened.

"What's wrong, Grandfather?"

Lin Yan immediately noticed Lin Zhentian's anger and asked.

Lin Dong and the others also quickly gathered around.

"For some time now, we have been secretly transferring our family members from Qingyang Town to Steel Wood Manor."

"After all, due to the situation here, the Lei and Xie Families have nearly turned hostile toward us. With the mineral veins here, and our family's main forces unable to leave, we decided to move our loved ones to safety."

"But because we feared that the Lei and Xie Families would notice, we have been relocating them discreetly, which has slowed the process."

"Today was supposed to be the final batch of transfers, but I just received intelligence that this last group has been discovered by the Lei and Xie Families."

Lin Zhentian's expression grew even more grim as he continued.

"According to the report, the Lei and Xie Families are currently hunting down our fleeing family members."

"Master Luo from the Raging Blade Dojo has stepped in to block the Lei Family, but the Xie Family is still in pursuit."

"Right now, the head of the Xie Family, Xie Qian, has personally taken action and is leading the hunt for our people."

"Among them… Lin Dong's mother and Lin Xia's mother are both in that group."