Lin Chen’s brows tightened instantly as he pushed the door open and stepped out.
Three people stood outside the courtyard gate.
Two of them were none other than Lin Da and Lin Er, the most loyal lackeys under Great Elder Lin Xu. At this moment, both had their arms crossed, heads tilted, their faces completely devoid of the respect they once showed. Only naked contempt and mockery remained.
The third person… Lin Xinlan.
Lin Chen narrowed his eyes.
She was his cousin. Back when he held power, Lin Xinlan had followed him around all day, calling him “Brother Chen,” even swearing she would serve as his bedwarmer for life.
Those past scenes surfaced in his mind. A trace of ridicule flashed through Lin Chen’s eyes.
Lin Xinlan crossed her arms, her face full of disgust as she sneered, “Trash, are you deaf? This is how you act when you see me? Still think you’re that glorious heir? The Great Elder has ordered you to go to the clan hall and, together with your useless father, beg forgiveness from the ancestors with your lives. You still think you’re the heir? I’ve been shouting for so long, and only now you…”
Before she could finish saying “get out,” a sharp sound cut through the air.
Without a word, Lin Chen’s arm turned into a blur.
Slap!!!
Lin Xinlan had no time to react. Half of her face collided directly with Lin Chen’s hand, instantly deforming. Several bloodied teeth mixed with saliva sprayed out wildly.
Her entire body was sent crashing to the ground. Half her face swelled grotesquely like rotten flesh, and she fainted on the spot.
Silence fell.
Lin Da and Lin Er froze for a split second, then their rage exploded.
“You little bastard, you dare attack?!”
They exchanged a glance and lunged from both sides like vicious wolves, charging straight at Lin Chen.
“Courting death.”
Lin Chen didn’t even lift his eyelids as he spoke coldly.
He didn’t dodge. Instead, he stepped forward and swept his right leg.
Before their fists could even touch his clothes, a terrifying force like a collapsing mountain slammed into their chests.
Crack!!!
Their chests visibly caved in.
Pfft!
Both men spat blood violently as their bodies flew backward like broken sacks, smashing into a wall more than ten meters away. They were embedded into it, unable to even fall off.
One kick. Two taken down.
Fools courting death.
Lin Chen flicked his sleeve and stood with his hands behind his back, a chilling coldness radiating from his eyes. “Who gave you dogs the courage to bark in front of me?”
It was true his spiritual root had been taken.
But he had just begun cultivating the Chaos Devouring Heaven Art. His physical body alone was terrifyingly strong. How could mere servants like them withstand it?
At that moment, Lin Xinlan finally regained consciousness from the pain.
“Ugh… ah…”
She clutched her face and looked at Lin Chen.
Her entire body trembled violently. She tried to stand, but her legs were as limp as noodles, completely refusing to support her.
The person before her no longer looked like the crippled heir whose spiritual root had been taken. He looked like a killing god crawling out of hell.
If she angered him even slightly, he might kill her on the spot.
He was still that peerless genius!
A warm, foul-smelling yellow liquid seeped down her skirt and spread across the ground.
She had wet herself.
Lin Chen frowned in disgust. He stepped forward, looking down at her like she was a filthy insect. “Who was it that said my father and I should die to atone?”
Lin Xinlan no longer dared show any arrogance.
That single cold shout shattered the last of her mental defenses. Ignoring the stench beneath her, she crawled to Lin Chen’s feet, banging her head frantically against the ground, snot, tears, and blood mixing across her face. “Chen… Brother Chen! I was wrong! Don’t kill me! I’m your dog! I said before I’d warm your bed, I can do it now… please don’t kill me! I’m blind, I deserve it!”
The once proud young lady now revealed her ugliest side just to survive, groveling into the dirt.
Lin Chen looked down at her with nothing but endless coldness.
“You’re not worthy.”
The words fell, and his leg rose.
Bang!
Lin Chen kicked her in the abdomen.
She screamed as her body slid across the ground for more than ten meters, slamming into the wall just like Lin Da and Lin Er, embedding into it like a grotesque relief.
Lin Chen withdrew his gaze, not sparing these ants another glance. Then he strode straight toward the clan hall.
…
Lin Family Clan Hall.
Under gray tiles and brick walls, all the elders had already taken their seats.
The younger members of the Lin Family had also gathered, lined up in two rows. The atmosphere felt like a courtroom, heavy with invisible tension.
Seated at the head was Patriarch Lin Zhan, his face pale.
He was Lin Chen’s father.
One month ago, Lin Chen had been lured out of the city by Zhao Wanling. Lin Zhan searched frantically and finally found him. At the time, he was at the 9th stage Master Realm. He should have been able to kill Zhao Wanling and drive off Li Qingyun.
But there had been a mysterious expert present, someone far stronger than him. Lin Zhan had no choice but to risk his life to bring Lin Chen, whose spiritual root had already been taken, back to the family.
Because of this, he suffered severe injuries, and his strength plummeted.
The Lin Family’s prestige also fell drastically, nearly losing its place among the three great families of Luoyun City.
Inside the hall, Great Elder Lin Xu seized the opportunity to attack. “Lin Zhan, do you know how much of the Lin Family’s industry has been devoured by the Zhao Family? Thirty percent! A full thirty percent! These are the lifelines of the Lin Family! All of this is the fault of you and your son!”
All eyes turned toward Lin Zhan.
“Lin Zhan, will you resign from the position of patriarch yourself, or shall we report to the ancestors and let them witness what you and your son have done?” Lin Xu pressed forward step by step, leaving Lin Zhan no room to breathe.
“And Lin Chen!” he continued coldly. “He is now nothing but a cripple. His position as heir should also be stripped!”
At that moment, a burly young man beside Lin Xu spoke up. He was Lin Hu, Lin Xu’s son.
Immediately, Lin Xu’s followers echoed in agreement.
“Lin Zhan is no longer fit to be patriarch!”
“Lin Chen is unworthy of being the heir!”
“They are sinners of the Lin Family and should die to atone!”
Voices overlapped, filling the hall with chaotic noise.
Sigh…
Lin Zhan let out a heavy sigh. In that instant, he seemed to age years, his back bending under the weight.
Seeing this, Lin Xu’s lips curled into a cold smile.
He had long wanted to take the position of patriarch. Now that Lin Zhan was severely injured and Lin Chen had become a cripple, his opportunity had finally come.
His voice rang throughout the hall, “Bring out the ancestral decree!”
An uproar broke out.
According to the Lin Family’s ancestral rules, if the patriarch lacked virtue or ability, the elders could invoke the ancestral decree and remove him in front of the ancestors.
Soon, an elder stepped forward, holding an ancient scroll with both hands.
Lin Xu took it, his gaze filled with arrogance. He glanced at Lin Zhan and said coldly, “The ancestral decree is here. Lin Zhan, kneel.”
Lin Hu spat on the ground beside Lin Zhan, sneering, “Lin Zhan, be sensible. Kneel now and beg forgiveness with your life before the ancestors. Maybe then, you and your son can still remain in the family records.”
Everyone stared at Lin Zhan.
At that very moment, a cold voice echoed into the hall, “You want my father and me to die to atone? I’m afraid even the ancestors wouldn’t agree.”