“You!”
Lin Hu was instantly enraged by Lin Chen’s disregard, his anger ignited on the spot.
However, Lin Chen did not even look at him. With a light tap of his foot, he leaped onto the high arena and swept his gaze across the crowd.
In just two breaths, he had already grasped the general situation of the Lin Family.
The Second Elder’s position was subtle, yet there were clear signs of him shifting sides.
If Lin Xu truly gained the Second Elder’s support, then his faction would already surpass Lin Zhan’s.
At that point, if Lin Xu forcefully made his move…
Thinking of this, Lin Chen’s brows furrowed slightly as his sharp gaze swept across everyone present.
His eyes passed over Lin Xu and finally landed on the Second Elder.
Under the watchful eyes of all, he slowly spoke, “Second Elder, the last time the Young Patriarch was chosen, you were not sitting in that position.”
Last time, when Lin Chen was chosen as the Young Patriarch, the Second Elder had been seated beside Lin Zhan. Yet now, he sat beside Lin Xu.
The Second Elder was momentarily stunned. He had not expected Lin Chen to call him out directly.
These words were clearly probing his stance.
After a long pause, he finally replied, “Young Patriarch, the wind is strong in the Training Ground. I am old and cannot endure it, so I chose a seat that shields me from it.”
Lin Chen raised a brow and smiled, “So the Second Elder only seeks shelter from the wind. I thought you were the one stirring this storm.”
“How could I have such ability?” the Second Elder replied.
Lin Chen smiled faintly and said no more, yet his mind was crystal clear.
That brief exchange had been a test, to see whether the Second Elder had already defected.
But from the moment the Second Elder addressed him as Young Patriarch and used the excuse of age and wind to justify his seat, his stance was already clear.
Whoever was stronger, he would stand with them.
Right now, Lin Xu and Lin Hu were at the height of their power. The position of Young Patriarch was practically already in their grasp.
Even the position of Patriarch would soon fall into their hands.
There were surely many in the clan like the Second Elder, waiting and watching.
At this moment, Lin Chen understood everything clearly.
This battle was not just about victory, it was about establishing dominance!
Most people admired strength.
Only by displaying overwhelming power could he make those wavering clan members see the truth.
Thus, Lin Chen fixed his gaze on the Second Elder and said loudly, “Since the Second Elder still recognizes me as the Young Patriarch, then today, I will personally calm the storm within the Lin Family!”
In truth, like everyone else, he believed Lin Chen had no chance of winning this life-and-death battle.
How could a cripple who had lost his spiritual root defeat Lin Hu, who was already at the 8th stage Spirit Realm?
It was impossible.
However, the Second Elder had lived for many years and witnessed countless upheavals. When he saw Lin Chen enter earlier, he sensed a sharpness in his eyes.
That was not something that could be feigned, it came from the depths of his being.
Why would a cripple still possess such sharpness?
Could it be… Lin Chen still had a hidden trump card?
One was once the number one genius of Luoyun City, the other was Lin Hu at the 8th stage Spirit Realm.
After weighing everything, the Second Elder had chosen to reveal his stance in a subtle way.
He would not speak too absolutely, nor cut off all paths.
His words were not only for Lin Chen, but also for Lin Zhan and Lin Xu.
He would offend neither side.
“Heh…”
A sneer echoed across the entire Training Ground.
Everyone turned to look.
Lin Xu wore a cold smile, his eyes narrowed as he stared at Lin Chen. “Lin Chen, you still dare call yourself the Young Patriarch and speak of calming the storm? Have you ever considered that all the turmoil in the Lin Family was caused by you?”
“Caused by me?”
Lin Chen did not grow angry. Instead, he laughed, his gaze as sharp as a blade. “Zhao Wanling and Li Qingyun stole my spiritual root, and you immediately compromised with the Zhao Family. When outsiders humiliate members of the Lin Family, this is how you respond?”
“I was acting for the sake of the Lin Family!” Lin Xu immediately cloaked himself in righteousness.
Lin Chen let out a cold snort and shouted, “Ha! You compromised with the Zhao Family one moment, and the next you sought to strip me of my position as Young Patriarch and elevate your own son, nearly plunging the Lin Family into internal chaos. Tell me, who caused this turmoil?”
With just a few sentences, Lin Chen completely tore apart Lin Xu’s lies.
“Sharp-tongued brat!”
Lin Xu was furious. Pointing at Lin Chen from afar, he shouted, “Supporting Lin Hu is for the future development of the Lin Family! I sought to preserve the family, but you? Seven days ago, you openly clashed with Zhao Mang in the marketplace. Do you know that behind the Zhao Family stands the Li Family of Leizhou? Within a month, they will send a steward to Luoyun City. When that happens, the Lin Family will face destruction!”
As soon as these words fell, a shadow seemed to loom over everyone in the Lin Family.
If it were only the Zhao Family, they could still contend.
But the Li Family of Leizhou was a great power far beyond their reach.
Lin Zhan and Lin Xu were well-known experts in Luoyun City, both at the Master Realm.
“Does the Grand Elder truly think that if I had yielded to Zhao Mang in the marketplace, the Zhao Family would spare the Lin Family and allow us to continue developing in Luoyun City?”
Lin Chen sneered.
The two families were already bitter enemies because Zhao Wanling had stolen his spiritual root.
The Zhao Family constantly sought to destroy the Lin Family and seize all its industries, becoming the sole dominant family in Luoyun City.
“At least, it would not be as dire as it is now!” Lin Xu argued.
But anyone with clear judgment could see that Lin Chen’s words made sense.
Lin Chen snorted coldly, “Blind compromise will only make the enemy more unrestrained!”
These words were like the final straw, leaving Lin Xu speechless.
His face turned ashen, his chest heaving violently. The finger pointing at Lin Chen trembled, yet he could no longer produce a single argument that could stand.
The difference was instantly clear!
All eyes in the Lin Family focused on Lin Chen and Lin Xu.
Many hot-blooded members of the Lin Family began to look at Lin Xu with doubt.
And when they looked at Lin Chen, there was even a faint trace of recognition.
Only someone with such courage and foresight could lead the Lin Family forward!
But…
That trace of recognition soon turned into regret.
The Lin Chen before them was no longer the former number one genius of Luoyun City, but a cripple with no cultivation, about to be defeated, or even killed, by Lin Hu.
Sigh…
A sense of confusion and helplessness filled the hearts of those who still had spirit.
Lin Xu knew that in this exchange, he had already been utterly defeated. Continuing would only bring him further humiliation.
But he also knew that as long as he seized upon the fact that Lin Chen was now a cripple, he would still be the final victor!
“Lin Chen, no matter how eloquent you are, it cannot change the fact that you are a cripple. In this life-and-death battle, you are destined to die!”
As he spoke, Lin Xu gave his son, Lin Hu, a look.
Lin Hu immediately understood.
In an instant, the spiritual energy of the 8th stage Spirit Realm erupted from his body, shaking the entire Training Ground.
“Lin Chen! Words are meaningless. Only the one who walks off this arena alive has the right to speak of the Lin Family’s future!”