WBICDPH Chapter 96

Chapter 96: Striking Back After the Enemy Moves

At the back of the mountain of Piaomiao Pavilion—

Jiang Zhenfeng stood on a thick branch of a massive peach tree, gazing toward the training grounds in the distance.

After a while, the branch beneath her swayed. She glanced down to see Xiao Lanqi drop beside her with a yawn, casually asking,

“What are you watching?”

Jiang Zhenfeng’s lips curved slightly.

“A good show.”

She had been standing here for quite some time, watching the entire farce unfold without missing a single moment.

Just as she expected, the kid was clever. Faced with a carefully prepared trap, he had thrown a fit and easily disrupted the elders’ entire plan.

After a pause, she asked,

“I’m curious—what’s the name of the soul that took over Lin Jin’s body?”

“…?”

Xiao Lanqi blinked, caught off guard.

He raised a brow. “Lin Jin.”

“Oh?” Jiang Zhenfeng looked a little surprised. “Lin Jin, as in ‘layers of forests dyed to their fullest’?”

“Mm.”

“Is that truly his name, or do you just not know his original name and assumed that’s what it is?”

“….”

Xiao Lanqi was momentarily speechless.

Grinding his teeth, he snapped, “You think I wouldn’t know his name?! Lin Jin—just Lin Jin! ‘Lin’ as in two woods, and ‘Jin’ as in ‘nothing left’!”

“Oh. I was just asking. Why are you so worked up?”

Jiang Zhenfeng casually shifted her gaze back to the training grounds.

Two figures had already taken their places. As she narrowed her eyes to get a better look, a trace of coldness flashed in them.

“Dual-axe Cheng? Interesting.”

“What, is he strong?”

Xiao Lanqi glanced over as well, his expression turning slightly disdainful.

“That brat’s way too skinny! Standing next to his opponent, he looks like a bean sprout—not even as heavy as one of those axes! Eats so much, but it all goes to his scheming mind—nothing for his height or build. What a sight.”

Seeing his “disappointed parent” attitude, Jiang Zhenfeng couldn’t help but smile faintly.

She cast him a sidelong glance.

“I’m not sure how strong Lin Jin really is. Against Dual-Axe Cheng, what do you think his chances are?”

Xiao Lanqi let out a short laugh.

“If we’re judging by size? Not even a sliver.”

“You really do care.”

Jiang Zhenfeng said coolly, “Obviously, the Sword Trial Assembly isn’t about size—or there’d be no need for a stage.”

“Then ten out of ten.”

Xiao Lanqi lifted a brow.

“As much as I hate to admit it, that guy isn’t qualified to beat a bean sprout.”

“Oh? And where does that confidence come from?”

Li Jingcheng was clearly a carefully selected opponent by Mushan—physically powerful, with dual axes that weighed a thousand jin each, capable of splitting mountains and cracking stone.

As for Lin Jin, Jiang Zhenfeng didn’t know his exact cultivation level, but she knew the Huaiyu physique couldn’t temper the body. His constitution should be extremely weak—even worse than that of an ordinary person.

So how could someone like that earn a “ten out of ten” from the proud young lord of Mingzhu Heaven?

“Before coming here, that bean sprout went into seclusion for five years. Five years ago, he could already solo a puppet master from the Twelve Guards of Mingzhu Heaven. So tell me—who’s harder to deal with, a puppet master or those axes?”

Xiao Lanqi curled his lip.

“If he wins, fine. But if he disappoints me and loses to someone like this, I’ll bite him to death tonight.”

Jiang Zhenfeng chuckled softly.

“Then let’s wish him luck.”

—

Meanwhile, Lin Jin had no idea that losing this match might result in him being brutally bitten to death.

Standing at the edge of the arena, he raised his hand and summoned his artifact—the Mountain and Sea Brush.

Judging from Li Jingcheng’s build and weapon, he was clearly a strength-type fighter. That meant his agility would likely be lacking.

Perfect for trying that move.

Narrowing his eyes slightly, Lin Jin activated a Wind-Treading Talisman the moment the starting bell rang.

Spiritual energy surged around Li Jingcheng as he charged forward without hesitation, axes raised.

Each step he took seemed to shake the ground.

Lin Jin didn’t move. Facing the incoming force, he calmly lifted his brush and drew a talisman in the air.

He was incredibly fast. The moment the golden light of the talisman flared, the crowd erupted in shock.

“Half-step Profound rank?!”

Mushan’s eyes widened as he shot up from his seat.

His lips trembled as he stared at the talisman.

“No—how is that possible? That’s practically a Profound-rank talisman! How could he—?”

Nearby, Liuxun lounged comfortably, fanning herself with a satisfied smile.

Half-step Profound? Please—he’s holding back…

Her thought hadn’t even finished when her smile froze.

Because Lin Jin casually flung that impressive talisman—

—and completely missed.

It flew past Li Jingcheng without even grazing him, vanishing into thin air.

A wave of confused murmurs—and even quiet laughter—spread through the crowd.

Even Mushan sat back down in relief.

Liuxun forced her awkward smile down, nearly dropping her fan.

What on earth was this kid doing?!

—

On the arena, Lin Jin used his Wind-Treading Talisman to dodge Li Jingcheng’s attacks, slipping away to the other side.

Without pause, he drew another talisman—Gale—right after Thunderstrike.

Again, it shot forward in a flash of golden light—

—and again, Li Jingcheng easily dodged.

“Your talisman technique is decent, but your aim is terrible,” Li Jingcheng said flatly. “If this is all you’ve got, I suggest you concede early.”

Hearing this, Lin Jin’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“My aim might be a little off…”

“But sooner or later, one will hit, right?”

Li Jingcheng scoffed, his expression full of disdain.

He was among the top of his generation. He had come to this assembly to challenge true elites—not to waste time on someone like Lin Jin, whose name he had never even heard before.

To him, this match was nothing but bad luck.

He wanted it over quickly.

But Lin Jin was like a slippery eel—always slipping away just before the axes could reach him, throwing out high-level talismans that were easy to dodge.

What was he doing?

The same question crossed Liuxun’s mind as she watched from the stands.

She replayed Lin Jin’s movements in her head—

Then her lips curved again.

Clever brat.

—

Back in the arena, Li Jingcheng finally frowned.

Something was wrong.

This kid was stalling.

Why hadn’t a single talisman hit yet? Even with poor aim, someone capable of half-step Profound talismans shouldn’t miss this badly.

Not good.

He had fallen into a trap.

He needed to end this quickly.

Though he couldn’t see through Lin Jin’s plan, his instincts told him not to drag this out.

After a brief hesitation, he gritted his teeth and used his trump card.

—

Lin Jin had just dodged another strike when he suddenly sensed a disturbance behind him.

Turning—

Li Jingcheng had crossed a hundred paces in an instant, appearing right behind him.

Teleportation?!

Rules forbade external tools, so this had to be Li Jingcheng’s innate ability.

Ridiculous—overwhelming strength and teleportation?

But—

Too late.

Lin Jin reacted instantly, rolling aside just as the axe slammed into the ground where he’d stood. The shockwave sent him tumbling across the arena.

He didn’t waste a second.

Raising his brush, he drew his final talisman.

“Skyreach!”

This time, it was a true Profound-rank talisman.

Instead of launching it outward, he struck it directly into the ground.

In an instant—

The earth trembled. Light erupted.

At the same time, the eight talismans that had “missed” earlier all lit up in sequence, forming a perfect formation that sealed off every escape route.

“Thunderstrike. Gale. Ember. Flood. Stone. Vine. Frost. Rift…”

“Skyreach!”

Nine talismans blazed together.

Lin Jin hadn’t just been fighting—he had been building a formation.

He wasn’t just a talisman user.

He was a formation master.

And everyone had overlooked that.

This was his Ninefold Killing Formation—powerful, but slow to set up, requiring time and careful positioning.

And Li Jingcheng had underestimated him.

A fatal mistake.

“My aim might be a little off…”

Lin Jin, still dusty and disheveled, smiled like a cunning rabbit.

“But sooner or later… one hits.”

With that, he formed a seal.

The formation is activated.

Vines erupted, binding Li Jingcheng in place. Gravity twisted. The sky pressed down as the ground lost its weight.

Even as Li Jingcheng broke free, it was too late.

The combined power of eight half-step Profound talismans surged—

This was a killing formation.

He couldn’t withstand it.

“I concede!”

Before the elders could intervene, Lin Jin shattered the formation himself.

The energy dissipated instantly.

Looking at the lightning that had nearly struck his head, Li Jingcheng felt a chill run down his spine.

Only now did he truly look at Lin Jin.

The contempt was gone.

In its place—respect.

He bowed properly.

Lin Jin returned the gesture.

“Thank you for the match.”

—

Silence filled the arena—

Then thunderous applause erupted.

The so-called “useless waste” raised by Piaomiao Pavilion had, with a single brilliant fight, shattered every rumor.

From this moment on, no explanation was needed.

The truth would speak for itself.

—

“Flashy—but a beautiful win.”

Jiang Zhenfeng withdrew her gaze.

“I hope he lasts a few more rounds. I’d like to face him myself.”

“Eh, it was alright.”

Xiao Lanqi said casually—but only now did his tense shoulders relax.

He stood, about to return and sleep, but paused.

Glancing sideways at Jiang Zhenfeng, he hesitated, then asked:

“Who was that cheap master of his at Piaomiao Pavilion? And who suggested offering him as a sacrifice to Mingzhu Heaven?”

Jiang Zhenfeng’s lips curved coldly.

“I told you—the pavilion is rotten to the core. Everyone sitting there is involved.”

Then, with a teasing glint in her eyes, she added:

“What? Are you planning to—”

“Of course not!”

Xiao Lanqi snapped before she could finish.

“I just want to see which fools chose to side with Xiao Lancheng. If they picked a side, they should pay the price. Got a problem with that?”

He bared his fangs, then turned and left.

“Talk too much. I’m leaving!”