The battle between the two top masters had pushed the limits of their respective strengths. Although Lin Taoli appeared effortlessly graceful, this was merely due to the peculiar nature of the cultivation technique he practiced.

This set of techniques emphasized an ethereal, almost immortal bearing, regardless of how desperate the situation became. However, under Xu Xiangqian’s relentless pressure at this moment, Lin Taoli could barely sustain it and found no opportunity to counterattack.

Fortunately, the Lin family’s techniques were indeed extraordinary. If the sole focus was on pure defense, even with the ferocity of Xu Xiangqian's assault, he would remain unscathed.

Watching the two remain locked in this deadlock, it seemed it could last forever.

This situation was precisely what Cheng Ningsheng and the others currently wished for. Once neither side could decisively win, they would have an excuse to step onto the stage and separate them.

Let’s not forget, seated among them was an Elder Xu, a peak expert at the tenth level of Inner Strength. In a critical moment, he certainly would not stand idly by.

Although the Water and Fire techniques were inherently antagonistic, once Inner Strength cultivation reached their level, forcing a swift outcome remained unlikely. Even if Lin Taoli managed to accumulate an advantage leading to victory, it would take far more than a fleeting moment to achieve.

Yet, precisely at this juncture, Xu Xiangqian, who had been attacking furiously, abruptly withdrew his palms and retreated.

Pulled by the flow of vital energy, Lin Taoli’s hands rose, intending to seize this chance to transition from defense to offense. But in an instant, his expression shifted. His raised hands danced rapidly in the empty air, forming an inscrutable and profound hand seal.

This seal rested flatly before his chest, but to the observers, it transformed into an unyielding, towering mountain, as if no attack could possibly breach it.

Others might not know, but Lin Taoli was acutely aware that this was a wondrous, secret technique from his clan, known as the Fudi Yin (Earth-Subduing Seal).

By employing this technique, once the palms were formed into the seal, one could instantly condense all one's power into a single point—arguably the most formidable among defensive methods. The only regret was that his cultivation was not Earth-aligned; otherwise, mastering this seal to its peak might even allow him to harness the strength of the very ground beneath his feet, achieving a state of eternal indestructibility.

The reason he instantly changed his mind, suppressing the urge to counterattack and instead summoning his most potent defense, was that he felt a chill—a bone-deep coldness.

Before him, Xu Xiangqian had retreated to the opposite side of the platform.

But the current Xu Xiangqian lacked his usual composure. His eyes were flushed a demonic red, his body slightly crouched, and an unsettling, strange redness seemed to creep across the skin of his entire body. Particularly striking were the palms he held forward, brilliantly crimson as if dipped in fresh blood.

A powerful aura, laced with a hint of madness, surged forth from him. His outer garments seemed unable to withstand the heat, faintly turning scorched yellow.

Having failed to break through the defense, Xu Xiangqian had finally lost patience, pushing his Liehuo Gong (Blazing Fire Technique) to its absolute limit, coupling it with the family’s Fire-element combat techniques, aiming for one final, desperate struggle.

If his opponent had been (He Quanxin) or others, Xu Xiangqian would certainly never resort to such a near-deranged action.

But he faced a young man. Though this youth hailed from the illustrious Lin family, he was too young, and in the prolonged combat, he had inadvertently stoked the fires of jealousy deep within Xu Xiangqian’s heart. Normally, he could suppress this improper emotion with reason, just like the others in the hall.

But amidst the brutal fight, his mind was in turmoil. The surrounding silence felt like countless silent taunts, leading to a sudden, violent explosion within him.

In the main hall, Xu Yinjie finally opened his eyes. A thread of gravity and tension leaked from his nearly sightless gaze. His body seemed to tremble slightly, but he ultimately held it in check. However, he did not close his eyes again; he watched quietly.

With a deafening roar, Xu Xiangqian crossed his palms, rushing forward as if carrying a raging inferno.

Lin Taoli raised the Fudi Yin high. A strange power shot toward him, forcefully blocking Xu Xiangqian’s full-strength strike.

The frenzied flames seemed to be obstructed; they burned desperately, trying to incinerate everything, reducing anything that stood in their way to ash.

But what stood before them seemed to be ash itself. No matter how vigorous the fire, once it lacked fuel and was reduced only to embers, it would be helpless and gradually extinguish.

Lin Taoli’s palms rotated like a windmill. With every change in the hand seal, with every rotation, the power of the Fudi Yin increased another level, pushing back the external flames with greater force.

First, it rises; second, it declines; third, it exhausts itself.

Xu Xiangqian’s mad assault finally reached the point of exhaustion. A momentary gap and pause appeared in his attack.

This was merely the time it took to draw a breath, the moment needed to recover momentum.

But at this precise instant, Lin Taoli’s palms suddenly shifted, and the Fudi Yin dissolved. The defense, which had been like an impregnable wall of bronze, vanished in a flash.

Xu Xiangqian paused slightly, not yet grasping why his opponent would choose such a suicidal move, when he felt an equally powerful aura descend upon him like a monstrous tidal wave.

His heart plummeted, realizing the danger too late. He could not afford to draw that breath now; in desperation, he unleashed all his remaining strength while simultaneously retreating rapidly.

However, Lin Taoli’s figure clung to him like a shadow, his palms striking continuously, perpetually maintaining an overwhelming and irresistible pressure.

Although Xu Xiangqian understood that just a moment to catch his breath would allow him to turn the tables, Lin Taoli had clearly seized the opportunity and refused to give him any chance to recover. In a blur, the silhouettes of the two figures danced across the platform like a pair of butterflies in rapid motion.

Though the earth-shattering auras and the breathtaking clashes were gone, the sheer speed of their perfectly discernible offensive and defensive maneuvers was enough to strike terror into the hearts of the spectators.

Xu Yinjie finally let out a long sigh and said, "Young Master Lin, Xiangqian has lost. I beg you to stop now."

Although his voice was low, it subtly caused a painful throbbing in the eardrums of those nearby.

Lin Taoli let out a hearty laugh, his footing firm on the platform. He cupped his hands in salute: "I yield gracefully."

Xu Xiangqian’s face was flushed crimson, unsure if it was from shame or the exertion of the Liehuo Gong. He managed a stiff bow in return and jumped off the platform without another word.

The old man’s judgment was exceptionally sharp; he truly had no chance left to win. To continue fighting would only invite further humiliation.

Watching from below, He Yiming felt a profound stirring in his heart. He was greatly intrigued by the purely defensive Fudi Yin that Lin Taoli had displayed.

In his perception, this seal seemed to belong to an Earth-element technique, yet inexplicably, this technique appeared capable of utilizing any alignment of Inner Strength, manifesting extremely powerful defensive capabilities.

Such a technique was unheard of; had he not witnessed it today, he would never have conceived of its existence.

It turned out that in this world, besides himself, there were indeed other peculiar techniques that allowed practitioners to utilize different elemental alignments of Inner Strength.

After descending from the platform, Xu Xiangqian followed the servants of the Cheng family into the inner hall.

Following the strenuous battle, his clothes and shoes were somewhat tattered, making him look quite disheveled, yet no one present dared to mock him.

As for Lin Taoli, still standing on the platform, he maintained his smiling demeanor, looking as if not a speck of dust had sullied him; the recent bout seemed to have caused him no trouble whatsoever.

Cheng Ningsheng cleared his throat lightly and said, "Young Master Lin truly possesses profound family heritage; we are deeply impressed. I invite Young Master Lin to come down so we may share a few drinks."

Lin Taoli smiled as he glanced toward Xu Yinjie, who sat like a clay statue, remembering the heavy, hammer-like sound of his voice from earlier. He knew that this man's Inner Strength cultivation far surpassed his own. No matter how bold he was, he was no fool; he knew that this elder of the Xu family was not someone to be provoked under any circumstances.

Waving his hands, just as he was about to descend, he saw Cheng Yanjuan on the dais stand up, her voice tinkling like silver bells as she addressed him sweetly: "Husband, this is a rare opportunity today. Why don't you test the skills of my younger brother-in-law?"

Lin Taoli, who was just about to step down from the platform, was momentarily taken aback, then a knowing smile spread across his face. He nodded indulgently toward Cheng Yanjuan. "He Yitian… Brother, if you wish to take away Yanjuan’s sister, you must first pass my test."

He had initially addressed him by name but abruptly remembered that He Yitian was soon to marry Cheng Yanli, so he quickly added the term 'brother.' Nevertheless, deep down, he held little regard for the younger generation from these minor families.

The complexions of He Quanming and the others subtly shifted. Before Lin Taoli had fought, they still held some confidence in He Yitian. But having witnessed the strength of his opponent’s ninth-level Inner Strength, and seeing even Xu Xiangqian forced to concede defeat, how could He Yitian possibly compare?

Cheng Ningsheng’s face flushed deep red. "Yanjuan, what are you doing? Do you not wish for your sister to find a good match?"

Cheng Yanjuan smiled lightly. "Grandfather, my younger sister is my only sibling. I cannot allow her to marry somewhere she might be wronged. It shouldn't be a big deal today if big brother-in-law offers some guidance to my little brother-in-law, should it?"

Cheng Ningsheng and the others were left speechless. The two He brothers could only offer wry smiles. Cheng Yanjuan wasn't trying to cause trouble; rather, she wanted the He family to understand that her sister had backing and was not someone to be bullied.

However, having Lin Taoli personally intervene seemed like overkill.

He Yitian slowly stood up under the gaze of everyone. Although he knew he was no match for Lin Taoli, as the eldest grandson of the He family, he certainly would not back down.

But as he took a single step forward, someone blocked his path.

"Big Brother, today is your joyous day. Allow your little brother to fight in your stead."

P.S.: Thank you, brothers, for the votes. I hope you continue to vote so that White Crane can maintain the number one spot on both lists. This might be White Crane's only chance ^_^ Fulfill this small vanity of White Crane's. Namo Amitabha, Immeasurable Life Buddha, Hallelujah...

[bookid=1429437,bookname=《The Strategist Lü Buwei in the Warring States Period》]