Decaying World

Chapter 29 029 Unexpected Five

Quiet.

There was silence!
puff.

Ouyang Zhong fell backward to the ground, a small, bloody gash slowly appearing on the tip of his nose.

He sat on the ground, frozen in place, not daring to move or even breathe. He could only stare blankly at Lin Hui in front of him, watching as the other slowly withdrew his sword.

Only when he could no longer hold on did Ouyang Zhong begin to gasp for breath.

"You flatter me, senior brother," Lin Hui said weakly, taking a deep breath as well.

The weakness was obviously an act; after all, he had used his ultimate move, and if he didn't act normally, it would attract too much attention.

"Thank you for your kind words." Ouyang Zhong was helped off the stage, and even at the very end, he didn't forget to ask Lin Hui, "What was that move called?"

"A stealthy attack. That's a deadly move that I can only use once, by exhausting all my strength." Lin Hui sighed.

Although he could still use Stealth Strike a dozen or so times despite his current fatigue, that's what he had to say to the outside world.

"A stealth attack. What a brilliant move! A stealth attack!" Ouyang Zhong's face turned ashen. He gave him a thumbs up, then was forcibly dragged away.

On the stands, Daoist Baohe squinted at Lin Hui.

"The burst of speed in an instant is somewhat like the Bloodthirst Technique. It instantly increases sword speed. Junior Brother Mingde, did you teach it to me?"

Mingde shook his head.

“I have never passed on any secret techniques. My body tempering level is too low. Using a secret technique prematurely would only deplete my potential, which would be a loss. However, that sword strike was indeed powerful. Even if it can only be used once, it will still pose a threat to the other top ten players.”

“This Lin Hui has only been promoted for half a year, right? This progress to the fourth rank of Body Tempering is already second only to Huang Shan and the others among the little geniuses. In addition, considering that sword strike, if it didn't damage his potential foundation, then he is indeed worth nurturing.” Bao He nodded.

"Understood." Mingde responded quickly. He turned to look at Lin Hui, who was voluntarily admitting defeat and stepping off the stage to rest, and a smile of appreciation appeared on his face.

"Judging from his condition afterward, that attack shouldn't have caused him much damage; it just depleted his energy. I didn't expect this kid to have such a hidden move. Very good, very good."

At this moment, it wasn't just them; many of the top ten disciples in the front courtyard recognized the true value of that attack. Their expressions turned serious as they began to ponder whether they could withstand it if they stood opposite Lin Hui.

Chen Chong hadn't participated before, citing physical weakness as the reason for refusing the competition. He didn't care about the rewards, but Lin Hui's sudden burst of power had given him a clear view.

If it were just a simple burst technique, he had heard of some martial artists who possessed similar secret skills, so it wasn't uncommon. But the key point was that Lin Hui had used this technique when he was injured before, and even lied to him, saying that he couldn't see the sword speed because he was weak.

Chen Chong suddenly realized what was happening. He hadn't been seeing things; Lin Hui had simply used his skills to deceive him!

Click.

Chen Chong clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. After figuring this out, he was so angry that he was almost trembling.

"Lin Hui!! How dare you bully me like this!!"

He wanted to lash out, but when he thought about how Lin Hui had even made it into the top ten, he realized that with such skill, even if he were fully focused and on guard, it would be extremely difficult for him to avoid a surprise attack.

"Senior Brother Chen, why do you look so pale?" Lin Hui's voice suddenly came from behind.

Chen Chong's body trembled, and he turned slightly to see Lin Hui, who had just been extremely weak, now standing behind him with a normal expression.

His gaze seemed to be fixed on the newly started fight in the stands, but his dark, deep pupils seemed to be subtly fixed on himself.

"Lin Hui, were you lying to me last time?!" Chen Chong couldn't help but question him.

"What do you mean by that, Senior Brother?" Lin Hui frowned. "What benefit would I get from lying to you? We have no deep-seated hatred for each other, why would I want to fight you for no reason? You were really weak back then, didn't you get checked out afterwards?"

"..." Chen Chong suddenly began to doubt his earlier guess.

Because he had seen a pharmacist and indeed concluded that his body was very weak.

"Senior brother, didn't you see how weak and powerless I was after using Stealth Strike? I couldn't even catch up. Besides, I was only at the second level of Body Tempering then. How could I possibly be able to make you, a fourth-level cultivator, unable to see me? If I really had that much strength, why would I only make it to the top ten today?" Lin Hui continued.

These words immediately lessened Chen Chong's suspicions, and he realized that he might have indeed misunderstood Lin Hui.

Regardless, it is an indisputable fact that he was injured in the back by Lin Hui.

"But I won't let the score you set for hurting me before go!" Chen Chong's voice turned cold.

"Senior brother, you probably can't beat me now, right?" Lin Hui suddenly laughed.

Chen Chong's expression froze, and he was speechless.

Indeed, is he now a match for Lin Hui, given how little time has passed?
Thinking of this, a chill inexplicably rose in Chen Chong's heart.

He remembered that Lin Hui had only been promoted for less than half a year, and he was already at the fourth rank? He even made it into the top ten??
This speed is already comparable to Huang Shanqiu and Yiren.

Could it be that we need to ask my sister to step in?

Chen Chong knew that his younger sister was a Summoner and was usually too busy to pay attention to him. He knew that if he went to her for such a small matter, he would definitely get beaten up first.

"Senior brother, we're all from the same sect, we'll see each other all the time, why make it so ugly?"

Lin Hui stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, and said nothing more. He simply brushed past him and walked towards Huang Shan and the others who were waving to him.

As for Chen Chong, the background of the person who inspired him is something to be wary of, but as long as he doesn't do anything excessive that might reveal his background, there shouldn't be much of a problem.

"Wow! You had this trick up your sleeve!" Huang Shan patted Lin Hui's arm in surprise.

"That's really impressive. If I hadn't been careful, I wouldn't have been able to dodge that move either," Qiu Yiren said seriously from the side. She was straightforward; if she could do it, she could, and if she couldn't, she couldn't.

"It's alright, it's alright. That was a move I could only use when I was forced to the point where I couldn't take it anymore. It would severely deplete my energy afterward, and I would need to recuperate for a long time," Lin Hui sighed.

"That's still very strong." Senior Brother Chen Sui said in a deep voice from the side. "You've only been promoted for half a year and you've already entered the fourth rank. In another half a year, you'll probably be able to stay in the top ten. Although your swordsmanship is weak, your body tempering progress is really fast."

"Senior Brother, you flatter me. It was just luck," Lin Hui said with a subtle smile.

After demonstrating their strength, the attitudes of those around them changed. At this moment, they listened to Huang Shan and Qiu Yiren's discussion and exchange.

He saw his second senior brother, Zhao Jiang'an, nodding and giving him a thumbs up in a friendly manner from not far away.

Lin Hui suddenly realized what kind of life Huang Shanqiu had been living all along.

While dealing with the conversations and discussions around him, his thoughts drifted to the corresponding treatment he would receive after ranking in the top ten.

In the distance, Senior Sister Mu Qiaozhi and Xie Li silently watched Lin Hui at this moment.

Mu Qiaozhi remained silent. To her, Lin Hui's progress had indeed led her to make a misjudgment, but she was unwilling to admit that she was wrong.

Therefore, silence is the only option at this moment.

Xie Li, looking at Lin Hui who had joined Huang Shan and her group through his own abilities, felt inexplicably uneasy.

She goes to great lengths to please those who run errands, all in order to squeeze into the top ten elite circles of the front yard.

However, such a forced entry naturally did not earn her equal respect. Whether it was the senior sister or Huang Shanqiu Yiren, they all regarded her as a follower and little sister, and she received far less respect.

Now, Lin Hui doesn't need to rely on anyone; in just over six months, he has successfully squeezed into the top ten in the front yard.

This left Xie Li, who had previously given up on Chen Zhishen and Lin Hui's circle, feeling somewhat uneasy.

'However, it's alright. No matter what, following my senior sister is definitely better than my previous small circle of three. If it were still the same as before, I wouldn't be able to get the generous treatment I have in the Mu family now.' After comparing the two situations in her mind, Xie Li felt her depressed mood ease a lot.

At this moment, another match ended on stage, and the battle among the top ten was far more intense than before.

Huang Shan was about to take the stage, and Lin Hui and Qiu Yiren were cheering her on from below when they heard Hui Shen's voice coming from behind them.

"Junior Brother Lin, Master Mingde wants to see you."

Hui Shen's tone returned to its previous enthusiasm, as if the change in attitude had never occurred.

"Okay, I understand." Lin Hui nodded and followed Hui Shen through the crowd, heading towards the Ming generation's viewing platform.

Before they had even reached the halfway point, Huang Shan on the platform knocked his opponent down with a single sword strike, winning easily.

The cheers of female fans could be heard all around, and many wealthy men were already whispering among themselves, clearly intending to propose marriage.

Female disciples like Huang Shanqiu and Yi Ren, who possess both talent and beauty, are highly sought after in any martial arts school.

At the same time, they were also the first choice for wives and concubines in wealthy families.

While male disciples who rank in the top ten need time to gradually change their lives and improve their social standing through hard work, female disciples can leap over the dragon gate, marry into wealthy families, and instantly ascend to a new social class.

This is one of the reasons why female disciples are emerging in large numbers at various martial arts schools.

At this moment, amidst cheers, Lin Hui walked up to Daoist Mingde, first bowing to Daoist Baohe, and then bowing to the three members of the Ming generation.

"Lin Hui, now that you've moved into the front courtyard, are you still in charge of some of the accounting work?" Baohe Daoist asked kindly.

"Yes." Lin Hui nodded.

“Good child, with your current level of skill, you are qualified to formally study under me. Are you willing?” Mingde, who was standing to the side, had a solemn expression.

According to the rules of Qingfeng Temple, those who make it into the top ten are eligible to choose a teacher to consult and seek guidance on their practice at any time of day.

This is a major rule established within the temple, with the aim of helping disciples with greater potential to grow as quickly as possible.

According to the previous division, Huang Shan, Qiu Yiren, and Lin Hui will each lead one.

“I am willing! It was Master Mingde who led me into the temple and protected me on many occasions. I have always remembered that,” Lin Hui said earnestly.

Upon hearing this, Mingde immediately burst into laughter.

"Alright, alright. I already have two people under my name, so with you, that makes three. Let's get together and get to know each other better later."

He was in a good mood, after all, the other two disciples did not have as much potential as Lin Hui.

Huang Shan and Qiu Yiren were previously taken by Ming Xiu and Ming Chen, and now it's finally his turn.

The other two were also slightly envious. After all, although Huang Shan and Qiu Yiren were also geniuses, they were women. Women could not be trained for long, and before long they would probably marry into wealthy families, or even, if they were lucky, into families within the inner city. They simply could not support the sect for as long as male disciples.

"Yes!" Lin Hui bowed respectfully.

"From now on, you can call me teacher," Mingde reminded him with a smile.

"Yes, teacher!" Lin Hui replied confidently.

This change in title is not just a change in name; it also reflects Mingde's expectations for him.

The word "teacher" isn't something you can just call anyone. This suggests that Mingde is somewhat inclined to hand over his resources and connections to Lin Hui.

(End of this chapter)