The clash between Lin Chen and Lin Hu ended in just two punches.
The result was decided instantly, the gap between them laid bare.
However, the battle was far from over.
This was a life-and-death duel.
Which meant only one of them would leave the Training Ground alive.
At that moment, Lin Chen stood like the absolute king of the arena. His gaze was cold and domineering as he looked down at Lin Hu, then began walking toward him step by step, like an asura crawling out of hell.
Lin Hu’s face turned deathly pale. The arrogance from earlier had completely vanished. He struggled to crawl backward, his voice trembling, “Lin Chen, don’t come any closer! You can’t kill me! Don’t kill me!”
Blood kept spilling from his mouth. The same man who had just sworn to crush Lin Chen beneath his feet was now utterly terrified, his courage shattered.
Yet his body was too badly injured. No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn’t escape Lin Chen’s reach.
Lin Chen only needed one more punch.
Just one.
And Lin Hu would die.
At that exact moment, a furious roar exploded in Lin Chen’s ears, “Lin Chen, how dare you!”
Lin Chen abruptly turned his head.
He saw the Grand Elder, Lin Xu, rising from his seat and stepping into the air, hovering above the ground.
A Master Realm expert.
A cultivator in the Spirit Realm draws in spiritual energy, fills the dantian, and forms a Qi Sea, thus advancing to the Spirit Master Realm. In the Spirit Master Realm, one opens all meridians and acupoints, allowing greater storage and circulation of spiritual energy throughout the body.
When spiritual energy flows endlessly through every meridian and acupoint, forming a complete and unobstructed cycle, that is the Master Realm.
The most obvious sign of the Master Realm is the ability to hover in the air for a short time.
In battle, this is an overwhelming advantage.
To those in the Spirit Realm or Spirit Master Realm, a Master Realm expert is completely unstoppable.
Lin Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly. Then, like two streaks of icy lightning, his gaze shot straight toward Lin Xu, “Grand Elder Lin Xu, openly interfering in a life-and-death duel and breaking the Lin Family rules, do you really think the Lin Family answers to you alone?!”
His voice carried spiritual energy, rumbling like thunder as it spread across the entire Training Ground, clearly reaching every member of the Lin Family.
Lin Xu’s face turned ashen. His eyes burned with venom as he stared at Lin Chen and roared, “Rules? Today, I’ll show you who makes the rules in the Lin Family. I do!”
The moment those words fell, the entire Training Ground erupted into chaos.
This was no longer just interference. He was openly tearing apart the clan rules.
“Is the Grand Elder really going to interfere in a life-and-death duel?”
“This is outright defiance of the clan laws!”
“Does Lin Xu intend to kill Lin Chen himself?”
Whispers and shouts filled the air, surging like a storm.
At that moment, a powerful voice cut through everything.
“Grand Elder Lin Xu, the Patriarch is still here. It’s not your place to act so recklessly!”
Lin Zhan rose into the air as well, positioning himself directly in front of Lin Xu.
Lin Xu glanced at him with disdain, “You’re heavily injured, yet you still have the nerve to sit in the Patriarch’s seat?”
This was exactly the line he had been waiting for.
A cold smile curved his lips as his voice rose again, sharp and decisive like a judgment, “Lin Xu, you’ve already defied the rules of a life-and-death duel and now challenge the Patriarch’s authority. Are you trying to seize the position of Patriarch?”
Lin Xu swept his gaze across the crowd before it landed on Lin Hu, who lay on the verge of death.
Lin Hu’s eyes were filled with desperate pleading as he weakly cried, “Father… save me…”
Rage surged within Lin Xu, mixed with madness and determination. At that point, he no longer bothered to hide anything, “The position of Patriarch belongs to the capable. If Lin Zhan can hold it, why can’t I?!”
Boom!
The terrifying aura of an 8th stage Master Realm expert erupted from Lin Xu, surging like a tidal wave and instantly sweeping across the entire Training Ground.
The Grand Elder had made his move openly, aiming straight for the Patriarch’s seat.
His followers immediately responded.
“We support the Grand Elder!”
“Grand Elder Lin Xu, please take control of the Lin Family!”
“Lin Zhan is incompetent, he should step down!”
Voices rose one after another. The sheer number of supporters was enough to shake the very foundation of the Lin Family.
It was clear.
This had been planned for a long time.
“Lin Xu, you are bringing chaos upon the Lin Family. Your crime deserves death!” Lin Zhan roared.
Lin Xu sneered, “Lin Zhan, you’re already gravely injured. Do you really think you can stop me? If you surrender now, I might leave you and your son with intact corpses.”
Lin Zhan’s expression changed.
He had once been at the 9th stage Master Realm, but after being struck by the Heart-Eroding Palm, he was severely wounded. Though his realm remained, his actual strength had fallen below even the 8th stage Spirit Realm.
Right now, Lin Xu was the strongest in the Lin Family.
No one could stop him.
“I’ll help!”
The Third Elder, also a Master Realm expert, shouted and landed beside Lin Zhan, forming a pincer against Lin Xu.
However, Lin Xu burst into laughter, “Just the two of you? You think that’s enough to stop me?”
“Who said there are only two?”
Just as everyone believed Lin Xu had victory in his grasp, Lin Chen’s voice rang out across the entire Training Ground.
Lin Xu suddenly turned his head, his eyes narrowing, “A mere 7th stage Spirit Realm cultivator. Do you think you can influence this battle?”
Lin Chen smiled faintly, his gaze calm, “I can’t. But don’t forget, the Lin Family still has a 7th stage Master Realm expert.”
As he spoke, his eyes slowly shifted toward the Second Elder, who had been watching silently from the sidelines.
In an instant, everyone’s gaze followed.
Lin Xu’s expression darkened as he shouted, “Second Elder, you don’t need to get involved in this battle. Once I take the Patriarch’s seat, I’ll grant you the highest status and the best benefits!”
The Second Elder’s face grew solemn.
Meanwhile, a faint smile remained on Lin Chen’s lips, “Second Elder, the storm has already arrived. The Lin Family is at the brink of life and death. Are you still planning to stay sheltered from the wind?”
The pressure instantly fell upon the Second Elder.
Countless eyes locked onto him.
This old fox, known for his neutrality, now had a shifting expression, his mind caught in a fierce internal struggle.
He had to choose. The source of this chapter is g.com.
Between Lin Xu and Lin Zhan.
Or more accurately…
Between Lin Xu and Lin Chen.
Lin Xu was the current strongest in the Lin Family.
Lin Chen, however, was destined to become the strongest in the future.
If Lin Hu had crushed Lin Chen, the Second Elder could have remained neutral.
But the reality was the opposite.
Lin Chen had utterly crushed Lin Hu, shattering all of Lin Xu’s plans.
Now, the Second Elder was forced to make a choice.
He looked at Lin Xu, who seemed on the verge of madness, then at Lin Hu, who was trembling in fear.
Finally, his gaze fell upon the young man in black standing on the arena.
Calm.
Steady.
Unfathomable.
As if everything was under his control.
One month ago, Lin Chen had lost his spiritual root, and his cultivation had been completely destroyed.
Yet now, he had returned, cultivating once more, like a king reborn.
His strength, his composure, his methods…
All of it shocked the Second Elder.
This boy would achieve greatness.
More importantly, within Lin Chen’s eyes, he saw something terrifying.
Calm.
Depth.
Absolute confidence.
Those eyes seemed to declare to the entire Lin Family…
I am the future.
The Second Elder’s heart trembled.
Which meant, even if he refused to side with Lin Chen, Lin Chen still had the means to stop Lin Xu.
After all…
Lin Hu was still lying beneath Lin Chen’s feet.
At last.
A flash of determination crossed the Second Elder’s eyes. He raised his head, no longer hesitating, and his voice rang out across the entire Training Ground.
“Lin Xu, as the Grand Elder, you have openly violated the clan rules, attacked the heir, and spoken wildly of seizing power. Such actions are no different from rebellion!”