Back then, she and Lin Bai, Lin Hao, came to the Lin Family headquarters at the same time, getting along well and having a good relationship. Even Lin Yan had developed a slight fondness for the handsome and cold young man who had just entered the Lin Family. However, as time passed, the gap between them grew wider. She met more powerful disciples and realized that there were always people stronger than her, and her heart yearned for the strong. Gradually, she and Lin Hao became like strangers, as if they belonged to different worlds...
Lin Yan thought that Lin Hao would forever live at the bottom...
She looked at Lin Tao, who slowly got up, his face full of unwillingness, and her heart felt like a bottle of mixed flavors had been overturned.
"Lin Hao couldn't control the Treasure Spirit Body back then, but after regaining the Common Spirit Body, his potential burst forth, and it's not unreasonable that he could defeat Lin Tao," Lin Zhen said indifferently at this moment.
Hearing this, Lin Yan pondered. What Lin Zhen said made sense, but Lin Hao's talent was ordinary, and with just a Common Spirit Body, he wouldn't have much development in the future. He couldn't be compared to disciples like Lin Wuxin and Lin Xiurui, or even her own talent!
Thinking of this, Lin Yan's expression eased slightly. Lin Hao's strength was largely due to his accumulated potential over the years. This kind of burst was definitely not sustainable. Perhaps this was already Lin Hao's limit.
"That's right. Even if he can defeat Lin Tao, this is already his limit. Lin Hao will never be able to compare with the inner disciples, or even with Lin Zhen and Lin Tian. With his strength, he might stay in the outer disciples for life, while I will soon become an inner disciple!" Lin Yan was certain, looking at Lin Hao with the same indifference and even disdain as before.
At this moment, Lin Tao was very unwilling. He never expected to be defeated by Lin Hao in one move, which was a great humiliation to him!
"Ha ha..." Lin Tian's lips curled slightly. "Perhaps, this makes it more interesting. The higher you are lifted, the harder you fall."
...
Lin Hao became the eighth in the outer disciples, and for a time, no one challenged him. Lin Tao's ranking dropped one place to become the ninth, his face full of resentment.
A short while later, Lin He rose unexpectedly, defeating the tenth-ranked person and taking his place. Then, the dominant figures on various battle platforms began to challenge the top ten, from Lin He to Lin Hao, each being challenged several times.
Lin He had been on an external training trip for a few days and had some opportunities, his strength reaching the middle of the sixth level of the Spirit Body. For a time, no one could shake his position.
As for Lin Tao, his strength was at the peak of the sixth level. Apart from Lin Hao's successful challenge, all other challengers were defeated. After the dominant figures on the battle platforms saw Lin Tao's strength, they were even more shocked that Lin Hao could defeat him in one move!
The major steward brought more than ten inner disciples, most of whom were just ordinary outer disciples. After the outer disciples' competition ended, they needed to accept challenges from the top five. If they lost, the winners would have the qualification to enter the inner disciples.
These inner disciples were all indifferent, except for Lin Tian and Lin Zhen, who were relatively difficult to deal with, the others were easily defeated.
Any genius who could enter the inner disciples was undoubtedly among the top five of the outer disciples in previous years, all elites of the elites, with at least the late seventh level of the Spirit Body as a starting point, and the eighth and ninth levels were also common, far surpassing the outer disciples.
At this moment, Lin Hao was deep in thought. He was temporarily ranked eighth, which was not enough to challenge the inner disciples. Unless he could enter the top five, he would have the chance to challenge again after defeating Lin Tao.
"The current fifth-ranked person is Lin Fei, but if I challenge him, it would be better to challenge the fourth-ranked Lin Caiyi," Lin Hao thought. If necessary, he would use this challenge opportunity to challenge Lin Caiyi, aiming to break into the top five.
Half an hour later, the top ten were finalized.
First: Lin Tian
Second: Lin Zhen
Third: Lin Xiaoran
Fourth: Lin Caiyi
Fifth: Lin Fei
Sixth: Lin Xuan
Seventh: Lin Yi
Eighth: Lin Hao
Ninth: Lin Tao
Tenth: Lin He
Next was the top ten competition!
After a rest of an hour, ten stewards stood by the first battle platform, estimating the strength of the top ten disciples and selecting their opponents.
"Lin He, Lin Tao!" one of the white-robed stewards called out.
Hearing this, Lin He's face turned bitter as he slowly got up from his seat. Fighting Lin Tao gave him no chance, but thinking about it, the disciples above Lin Tao were even more monstrous...
"Hmph!" Lin Tao coldly snorted and walked onto the battle platform.
...
With a loud boom, after just a few dozen moves, Lin He was sent flying off the battle platform by Lin Tao.
"Lin Tao wins, ranking unchanged!" the steward announced the result.
Next, the seventh-ranked Lin Yi challenged the sixth-ranked Lin Xuan.
"Ice Burst!" Lin Xuan roared, pushing his cold power to the limit, and swung his fists, the air filled with a chilling light.
"Heavenly Withering Force!"
Lin Yi was not to be outdone, his body bursting with a terrifying aura, colliding with Lin Xuan.
The two fought for nearly a hundred moves, and in the end, Lin Xuan won by a narrow margin.
"Lin Hao, Lin Caiyi!" Suddenly, the steward looked at the two.
Hearing this, Lin Hao nodded. It was just right; Lin Caiyi was originally his target.
Many disciples' eyes focused on Lin Hao and Lin Caiyi. Lin Caiyi was ranked fourth and was skilled in using hidden weapons, especially the 'Rain of Pear Blossom Needles,' which had top-tier attack power and was very difficult to defend against.
"Heh heh, Lin Hao facing Lin Caiyi, his chances of winning are slim. Though she is a woman, she is ranked fourth."
"The steward really looks up to Lin Hao, making him fight Lin Caiyi. I dare say Lin Hao will definitely lose!"
"That's not necessarily true. Lin Hao might be the biggest dark horse in this year's outer disciples ranking. He defeated Lin Tao, who was at the peak of the sixth level of the Spirit Body, in one move. Anything is possible."
Seeing Lin Hao and Lin Caiyi step onto the platform, many outer disciples spoke up.
"Boy, I won't hold back," Lin Caiyi said coldly, staring at Lin Hao on the first battle platform.
"Please," Lin Hao said calmly.
As he spoke, Lin Caiyi used a lightness skill, moving like a dancing butterfly.
"Green Water Blue Sky!"
Lin Caiyi struck with a palm, sending out a blue ripple, water-like in form, breaking through the void and heading towards Lin Hao.
The crowd below discussed, clearly Lin Caiyi did not take Lin Hao seriously, only using her fists and feet, not even her hidden weapons, essentially looking down on him.
"Heh heh, Caiyi's palm technique is also strong, even stronger than Lin Tao, especially in the realm of intent," Lin Zhen licked his lips.
Facing Lin Caiyi's palm strike, Lin Hao remained calm. He swung his right palm, instantly breaking through Lin Caiyi's intent, the blue ripple turning into a faint shadow and disappearing.
"Star and Moon Piercing Hand!" Lin Caiyi's technique changed, a powerful palm force pressing towards Lin Hao, the wind howling, the air filled with a forceful palm pressure, like an invisible wave.
Breaking Star Palm!
Lin Hao, unhurried, faced Lin Caiyi's palm technique and struck back with a palm.
The two palm forces tore at each other, like a dragon and phoenix in battle.
Lin Hao's Breaking Star Palm had reached the Great Perfection stage. Although this palm technique was relatively ordinary, with Lin Hao's execution, the realm of intent was different, subtly elevating the technique to a higher level.
Even more, Lin Hao deliberately held back and did not use the Heavenly Gang Divine Technique. Otherwise, this palm strike would have instantly sent Lin Caiyi flying, even causing serious injury!
With a loud boom, the two palms clashed, the entire battle platform shaking.
Lin Caiyi's face turned slightly pale, her blood surging as if the palm strike had collided with a mountain. Her figure retreated, unwilling to continue the clash.
At this point, Lin Caiyi realized that Lin Hao's one-move defeat of Lin Tao was not a fluke; he truly had the strength!
Since this was the case, Lin Caiyi put away her contempt and went all out.
"Rain of Pear Blossom Needles!" Seeing Lin Hao's growing strength, Lin Caiyi sneered, her arm swinging, her true qi reaching its limit, and a dense array of white silver needles appeared in the air.
Each needle was infused with true qi, possessing great destructive power, even the strongest Lin Zhen of the Lin Family dared not take them head-on.
Seeing Lin Caiyi's killing move, everyone knew the outcome was decided. Apart from Lin Tian and Lin Zhen, no one in the Lin Family could avoid the 'Rain of Pear Blossom Needles.'
Even the third-ranked Lin Xiaoran of the previous year had defeated her with extreme speed before she used this move; otherwise, the third place in the outer disciples would not have been Lin Xiaoran.
The speed of the Rain of Pear Blossom Needles was extremely fast, their frequency in the air terrifying, dense and all-encompassing, covering the entire battle platform. Even if Lin Hao's speed was faster, he could not escape, unless he jumped off the platform, which would be equivalent to admitting defeat.
At this moment, Lin Hao did not move, a faint smile on his lips.
Lin Hao and Lin Caiyi's battle had no suspense left; the former was bound to lose.
"Ha ha..." Lin Hao smiled faintly, and in the shock and gazes of the crowd, hundreds of Rain of Pear Blossom Needles stopped in mid-air!
"Return the favor." Lin Hao waved his hand, and the situation changed instantly. The Rain of Pear Blossom Needles, which Lin Caiyi had used, returned to her, shooting towards her.
"What!" Lin Caiyi was shocked, stunned, not understanding what had happened.
With a whoosh, cold light flickered, the Rain of Pear Blossom Needles like raindrops, powerful enough to instantly pierce Lin Caiyi, leaving no room for chance.
"Ah!" Lin Caiyi was pierced through the right arm by several silver needles, crying out in pain.
Seeing this, two stewards quickly flew onto the battle platform, taking Lin Caiyi out of the attack range of the Rain of Pear Blossom Needles.
The wounds on Lin Caiyi's right arm were thin but extremely painful. If the stewards had not intervened, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
"This boy... how did he do it?" The ten stewards were puzzled. He had controlled the Rain of Pear Blossom Needles at the last moment; otherwise, Lin Caiyi would not have lost.
"Could it be some power of the Spirit Body?" some elite disciples speculated.
But what kind of Spirit Body power could control the Rain of Pear Blossom Needles? At least, these disciples had never heard of it.
"Indeed, it is the power of the Spirit Body," Elder Lin Chen said slowly.