“Carry out the punishment!”
Captain Wang practically roared the order.
Lin Chen had pressed him step by step, leaving him no room to breathe. To keep his position, he had no choice but to cut ties with Zhao Mang.
The two marketplace guards beside him immediately pinned down Zhao Mang, who had gone limp like mud, and took out the rods used for execution.
“Captain Wang, don’t!”
Zhao Mang looked at Captain Wang as if grasping for help.
“Young Master Zhao, forgive me!” Captain Wang felt utterly helpless. With Lin Chen and Sun Baocheng watching closely, how could he dare bend the law?
“Ah!!!”
The moment the first strike fell, Zhao Mang let out a shrill scream, like a pig being slaughtered.
These rods were specially crafted for cultivators. They could break through spiritual energy defenses and strike directly at the flesh.
The rods fell one after another.
Zhao Mang’s screams echoed throughout the marketplace, mixed with the dull, heavy sounds of blows landing on flesh.
Each strike made the onlookers’ hearts tremble, yet also brought them a sense of grim satisfaction.
From his initial screams and curses, Zhao Mang soon broke down into sobbing pleas, and in the end, only faint groans remained.
After 100 strikes, his body was torn open, his flesh mangled. He was barely conscious, dragged away like a dead dog by two Zhao Family guards.
Before leaving, Zhao Mang cast a venomous look at Lin Chen, silently cursing in his heart, When the Li Family steward from Leizhou arrives in Luoyun City, I will make the entire Lin Family disappear! Lin Chen, you’re dead!
Captain Wang did not dare stay any longer. He quickly left with his men, his retreating figure looking utterly disgraced.
“Thank you, Shopkeeper Sun, for standing as witness.”
As the crowd dispersed, Lin Chen expressed his sincere gratitude.
Sun Baocheng looked at Lin Chen with a trace of admiration in his eyes, “Young Master Lin remained calm under pressure and forcibly turned around what seemed like an unsolvable situation. Such composure and methods are truly impressive.”
“You flatter me, Shopkeeper Sun,” Lin Chen replied with a faint smile.
Soon, the crowd completely dispersed.
Lin Chen returned safely to the Lin Family’s courtyard.
Inside the Pill Pavilion, Sun Baocheng reported everything that had just happened to Lin Qianqian.
A hint of surprise appeared on her face, “As expected of the number one genius of Luoyun City. Sharp-minded, calm, and capable… but…”
“But what?” Sun Baocheng asked.
Lin Qianqian shook her head, “Having methods alone is far from enough. In this world, what matters most is absolute strength.”
…
Back at the Lin Family courtyard, the place was eerily quiet.
A bleak autumn wind blew through, carrying a few withered leaves drifting across the ground, making the place feel desolate.
What happened in the marketplace today had nearly cost Lin Chen his life.
“The Zhao Family…”
Lin Chen took a deep breath and slowly uttered those two words.
Zhao Mang’s appearance had served as a timely reminder.
His enemy was not just Zhao Wanling, but the entire Zhao Family.
Right now, his father Lin Zhan was severely injured, and the Eldest Elder was trying to seize power, throwing the Lin Family into internal chaos. The Zhao Family, already completely at odds with them, would never miss such an opportunity to devour the Lin Family and rise as the sole dominant force.
When would they make their move?
No one knew.
For now, he had to rapidly increase his strength, crush the internal strife within the Lin Family with overwhelming force, and find a way to heal his father’s injuries.
Only then could he face the Zhao Family.
Otherwise, forget going to Leizhou’s Dragon Spring Academy to seek revenge on Zhao Wanling, the Zhao Family alone could crush him in Luoyun City.
With that thought, Lin Chen immediately connected with the Chaos Pearl within his sea of consciousness. With a single thought, he entered the Chaos Space in the next instant.
He first took out 30 portions each of Dragon Scale Fruit, Dragon Scale Fruit, Spirit Gathering Grass, and Snow Lotus Seeds, along with the Purple Crystal Glazed Flower and Dragon Yang Blood Ganoderma obtained from Zhao Mang.
He pondered silently.
He was currently at the peak of the 4th stage Spirit Realm.
Meanwhile, Lin Hu, with a third-grade spiritual root, was already at the 7th stage Spirit Realm, possibly even having reached the 8th stage Spirit Realm.
Therefore, within these seven days, or 700 days inside the Chaos Space, he had to break through three realms consecutively, reaching at least the 7th stage Spirit Realm to ensure victory.
If he had a heaven-grade spiritual root, he wouldn’t have such concerns.
700 days sounded like a long time.
But the spiritual seed he had formed only possessed a tiny root, not even comparable to a first-grade spiritual root. His cultivation speed was extremely slow.
Especially as he advanced further, the time required would only increase.
Thus, Lin Chen decided to convert all these heavenly materials and earthly treasures into spiritual energy, using them to nourish his spiritual seed and transform it into a true spiritual root.
In this way, his cultivation speed would greatly increase.
Just as he was about to begin, a figure floated into view.
Dressed in a red gown, her figure graceful and alluring, her beauty unmatched, she stood like a sovereign of elegance, capable of toppling nations.
If not Xia Qingyue, who else could it be?
Lin Chen raised his brows slightly, his tone cold.
A mocking smile appeared on Xia Qingyue’s flawless face as she pointed with a finger, “I want that flower.”
The moment she spoke, the Purple Crystal Glazed Flower rose uncontrollably and flew straight into her hand.
“When did I say I would give it to you?” Lin Chen said coldly.
“Something I want, why would I need your permission?” Xia Qingyue stood in midair, speaking as if it were only natural.
“No need for my permission?” Lin Chen sneered, “Fine. If I fail to reach the Master Realm within three months, we’ll both die. Having the Empress of the Heavenly Realm buried with me… I’d say that’s worth it.”
He stood there barefoot on the edge of danger, completely grasping Xia Qingyue’s weakness.
One was a mortal youth, the other a peerless Empress of the Heavenly Realm.
No matter how it was calculated, he was the one gaining.
Xia Qingyue’s expression darkened as she held the flower between her slender fingers, “You dare threaten me?”
Lin Chen remained calm, “The Purple Crystal Glazed Flower is a resource for my cultivation. If you take it, how am I supposed to improve and reach the Master Realm you want?”
“Take? Everything under heaven belongs to me. The fact that I’ve taken a liking to this flower is your honor,” Xia Qingyue said, bringing the flower to her nose and lightly inhaling its fragrance.
Lin Chen stared at her stunning face, not with admiration, but carefully observing her subtle expressions. Then he let out a faint chuckle.
“What are you laughing at?” Xia Qingyue’s voice turned icy, carrying an overwhelming imperial authority.
Lin Chen ignored her tone and said with a smile, “You fell from the Heavenly Realm to the Heavenly Sovereign Continent and suffered damage to your soul, didn’t you?”
The Purple Crystal Glazed Flower nourished the soul. The fact that she seized it so directly made her condition obvious.
“So what if I did?” Xia Qingyue stared at him.
Lin Chen met her gaze. There was something he wanted from her.
As the Empress of the Heavenly Realm, she definitely had it.
“You want the Purple Crystal Glazed Flower. I can give it to you, but…”
“You are not qualified to bargain with me,” Xia Qingyue interrupted him directly.
“Not qualified?” Lin Chen sneered.
Then his gaze slowly swept over her.
From her flawless face, down past her full chest, along her slender waist, further to her curving hips, and finally to her long, graceful legs.
“Impudent!”
Xia Qingyue’s expression changed as she glared at him.
If he showed even the slightest further disrespect, she would make sure he remembered it for the rest of his life.
Yet Lin Chen calmly said, “You forced me into dual cultivation and took my vital essence. Why can’t I take a few looks?”