"Hm?"

Yang Jing suddenly stood up, catching everyone’s attention.

Sun Yong put down his teacup and asked, puzzled, "Yang Jing, what’s wrong?"

Liu Maolin and the others followed Yang Jing’s gaze out the window, but they didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

Yang Jing rubbed his eyes. ’Did I just see my cousin, Yang An?’

’But shouldn’t Yang An be in the courtyard at Tongyi Square right now?’

’Did he want to come over and watch me in the tournament?’

’Or was I just seeing things?’

Yang Jing had only caught a glimpse of a figure from behind that strongly resembled his cousin. By the time he looked again, the figure was gone.

"It’s nothing, Master. I think I was mistaken," Yang Jing said, shaking his head.

"I see," Sun Yong nodded slightly. "Sit down and eat. Rest after your meal and get yourself back in form."

"Perhaps Junior Brother Yang is feeling the pressure, since this is his first tournament," Sun Ningxiang said as she picked up the teapot in front of her and offered it to Yang Jing. "Have some tea first."

"Thank you, Senior Sister." Yang Jing took the teapot, poured himself a cup, and began to sip it slowly. His mind, however, was still preoccupied with whether the figure he had just seen was truly his cousin, Yang An.

’Just showing off!’ Lin Yue thought, grinding his teeth in silent fury as he watched Sun Ningxiang’s concern for Yang Jing. His gaze toward Yang Jing turned a few degrees colder.

Before long, the dishes were brought out one after another, like a flowing stream.

The braised beast meat had a rich, glossy sheen and an enticing aroma. It was from a mountain "Iron-Backed Bear," with firm flesh that contained a faint trace of Qi Blood Power.

There was steamed sea bass, tender and snow-white, garnished with vibrant green scallion threads.

There was also a large tureen of creamy white Spirit Fish Soup. A few medicinal herbs floated on the surface, releasing a rich, mellow fragrance. The Spirit Fish was a type of exotic beast, its flesh packed with immense nutrients highly beneficial for a Martial Artist’s Qi and blood.

In addition, there were several seasonal vegetable dishes and a jar of aged rice wine, filling two tables to the brim. The sight made the disciples’ eyes light up.

"Master is really generous today!" Liu Maolin leaned toward Yang Jing’s ear and whispered with a laugh.

Yang Jing was also a bit surprised. He looked at the tureen of Spirit Fish Soup and nodded to himself. ’This kind of Exotic Beast Meat isn’t cheap. I bet many of the Mingjin Disciples here have never even tasted it before. It seems Master really spared no expense.’

He picked up a piece of the Iron-Backed Bear meat and chewed it. The flesh was springy to the bite, and a warm energy slid down his throat, spreading through his limbs and body. The fatigue from the morning’s matches seemed to dissipate slightly.

Sun Yong raised his teacup and surveyed the room. "You all fought well this morning, but the real challenge is this afternoon. Eat your fill. Once you’re full, I want you to show your true abilities. Don’t bring shame to Sun’s Martial Arts Hall!"

"Yes, Master!" the disciples replied in unison. They picked up their chopsticks, and the atmosphere immediately grew lively.

As Yang Jing ate, he listened to the disciples beside him discussing the afternoon matches. In his heart, however, he was silently calculating the opponents he might face next, while the warmth from the Spirit Fish Soup quietly seeped into his Inner Strength.

After several rounds of tea and numerous courses, the atmosphere in the private room was bustling. The disciples were either chatting in low voices or focused on eating and drinking, with the occasional soft clink of bowls and chopsticks.

Sun Yong set down his teacup. His gaze traveled past the crowd and landed on Lin Yue, carrying both scrutiny and expectation.

"Ahem." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Sun Yong had cleared his throat softly.

The noise in the once-raucous private room instantly died down.

Everyone knew that Master was about to speak to Lin Yue.

The disciples all stopped their chopsticks, even softening the sounds of their chewing, afraid of disturbing Master Sun Yong.

Liu Maolin discreetly nudged Yang Jing’s arm, signaling with his eyes to watch. There was a hint of envy in his gaze.

"Lin Yue," Sun Yong began, his voice not loud but carrying clearly to every ear, "in Ring Three, your greatest opponent this afternoon will be Ye Canglan of the Ye Family."

Lin Yue put down his soup spoon and sat up straight. "Disciple has heard of him."

"Good," Sun Yong nodded, his tone growing more serious. "The Ye Family is one of the six great families of Yuhe County. They have a deep foundation and abundant resources. Ye Canglan has tempered his body with all sorts of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures since childhood. His ’Wave Palm’ is masterfully practiced, and he has already reached the Peak of Dark Energy. He is the only person in Ring Three who poses a real threat to you."

He paused, carefully recalling the characteristics of Ye Canglan’s style. "Ye Canglan’s palm technique is fierce and powerful, its momentum like a crashing wave. His first ten moves, in particular, are executed with his full strength, an overwhelming force that an ordinary Dark Energy practitioner couldn’t block. But he has a fatal weakness: he is impatient and lacks stamina. If he can’t defeat his opponent within those first ten moves, his momentum will wane, and his technique will reveal openings."

Lin Yue listened attentively, his brow slightly furrowed. "Disciple understands. Master is saying I should first avoid the brunt of his attack?"

"Correct," Sun Yong said, giving him an appreciative look. "You have high comprehension and a flexible mind—these are your strengths. However, you sometimes lack composure; your temperament still needs polishing. When you face Ye Canglan this afternoon, you must remember not to meet his first ten moves head-on."

"Use the ’Sinking’ principle of the Mountain-Shattering Fist to stabilize your stance. Defend as a form of attack and block his ten fierce strikes. Once his energy wanes and his strength is exhausted, seize the opportunity to counterattack with the raw power of the Mountain-Shattering Fist. Your odds of winning will then be over seventy percent."

This advice was clear and methodical. It not only pointed out the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses but also provided a concrete strategy, one that Sun Yong had clearly given much thought.

Lin Yue stood and clasped his fist in respect. "Thank you for your guidance, Master. Disciple will remember."

"Sit," Sun Yong said with a wave of his hand. "In the afternoon matches, remain calm. Don’t let your skills go to waste."

"Yes, Master." As Lin Yue sat down, his expression was now filled with a newfound certainty.

He had always been arrogant. Although he hadn’t reached the Peak of Dark Energy, his strength already surpassed that of his Eldest Senior Brother, Xu Hong. He had even made extensive preparations for today’s tournament.