"Insolence! Lin Dong, I didn't expect someone so young to be so ruthless!"
A long cry rang out. A lean figure shot from the stands like a hawk swooping on its prey, clawing toward Lin Dong at a vicious angle.
Lin Mang misjudged Lin Dong's seal-forming gesture. He thought Lin Dong still intended to pursue his son, who had fallen from the Combat Arena. Overcome by protectiveness and unable to accept his son's defeat, Lin Mang, a Heavenly Yuan Stage Expert, attacked Lin Dong, a junior of the clan.
Lin Dong's gaze turned cold, and he raised his hand to strike back. For some reason, though, he withdrew his half-raised fist.
"Lin Mang, you're courting death! How dare you touch my son!"
Lin Mang had barely leapt out when a figure faster than him flashed into view before Lin Dong. The newcomer raised a fist and struck the charging Lin Mang.
"Boom!"
The blow struck Lin Mang like a bolt of lightning and sent him flying backward. He landed with remarkable precision beside his son, Lin Hong—a family reunited in full!
"Pfft!"
His face deathly pale, Lin Mang immediately spat out a mouthful of dark blood, staring in utter shock at the figure blocking Lin Dong's front. "Peak Heavenly Yuan Realm—Lin Xiao, you... your cultivation has actually been fully restored?"
Lin Mang had meant to use the opportunity to cripple Lin Dong's cultivation, but instead he had forced Lin Xiao's true cultivation into the open. For a moment, he could not find the words to speak.
"Hmph, if I hadn't restored my cultivation, was I supposed to stand by and watch a piece of trash like you bully my son?"
Lin Xiao rushed over, a cold glint in his eyes as he glared murderously at his Second Brother.
Lin Mang and Lin Xiao exchanged blows in the blink of an eye. By the time everyone reacted, it was over.
"Lin Mang, how dare you... Third Brother's cultivation has returned..."
Lin Zhentian shot to his feet and muttered a few incoherent words. Then he bellowed, "What do you all think you're doing? Get back here at once!"
As Clan Patriarch, Lin Zhentian knew this was not the time to discipline his disgraceful Second Brother with outsiders present. For now, he could only smooth things over.
"Hmph!"
Lin Xiao had right on his side and feared nothing. He snorted and led Lin Dong off the Combat Arena.
Lin Mang, knowing his father's temperament all too well, understood that he was in for trouble later. He could only force himself to appear composed as he helped Lin Hong off the field.
"I hereby declare Lin Dong the Champion of this Clan Competition. I will have someone deliver the champion's reward to him later."
Lin Zhentian made the announcement and declared the Clan Competition over.
The Lin Family's annual Clan Competition ended in a bewildering fashion. Regardless, the name of its Champion, Lin Dong, resounded throughout the Lin Family.
.....
The back courtyard of the Lin Family.
The Lin Family's senior members had all gathered there, and tension filled the courtyard.
"Second Brother, you've grown bold. A Heavenly Yuan Stage Expert, and you dared to attack a junior of the clan. Good, very good indeed! You've brought great honor to me!"
Seated high in the main seat, Lin Zhentian's eyes carried a murderous glint as he stared fixedly at Lin Mang—nowhere was the beaming, pleasant expression he'd worn earlier at the Trial Hall.
"Father, I..."
Lin Mang's mouth opened slightly, trying to offer some explanation, but the moment he thought of Lin Zhentian's domineering temperament—where his word was absolute law within the clan—he wisely chose to shut his mouth instead.
"Since Third Brother's cultivation has been fully restored, it's time for him to take on some responsibilities. From today onward, Third Brother will handle the clan's finances."
Lin Zhentian paid no mind whatsoever to Lin Mang's feelings and continued speaking as he pleased.
"Father, but the clan's financial matters have clearly always been mine—"
Lin Mang raised his head, staring at his father in disbelief.
The clan's financial authority had always been Lin Mang's responsibility—it was the single most important matter under his management. Though he also oversaw a few estates besides that, such trifling profits held little appeal to him.
"Carry out my order. Withdraw."
Lin Zhentian said, expressionless.
Lin Mang had gone too far over the past few years. It was time to rein him in.
"Father..."
Lin Mang cried out, trying to argue for something more.
"I said withdraw!"
Lin Zhentian roared, "I said withdraw!" Lin Mang flinched at the shout and could only slink out of the courtyard in defeat.
"Dong'er, what stage of Body Tempering are you at now?"
After Lin Mang left, Lin Zhentian's expression changed. Smiling, he turned to Lin Dong, who had been waiting quietly to the side.
During the Clan Competition, every time Lin Dong made a move, he had relied purely on physical strength alone, never once drawing on Yuan Power—even in his match against Lin Hong, who was at the Seventh Stage of Body Tempering. Because of this, outsiders had found it very difficult to gauge Lin Dong's true cultivation.
"Ninth Layer of Body Tempering." Lin Dong thought for a moment, then answered earnestly.
"Good, good, very good! Dong'er truly is a fine child of our Lin Family. Even Lei Li of the Lei Family and Xie Yingying of the Xie Family are only at the Eighth Layer of Body Tempering, yet you've reached the Ninth Layer before them."
Lin Zhentian burst into laughter and repeated "good" three times, excitement in his voice.
Qingyang Town had four great powers. The Lei and Xie Families were century-old Local Powers, while the Lin Family and the Berserk Blade Martial Hall had settled there only two or three decades earlier. Qingyang Town was neither large nor small, and tension grew between its established and newer powers.
The united Lei and Xie Families had long covertly suppressed the Lin Family and the Berserk Blade Martial Hall. With no other choice, the Lin Family and the Berserk Blade Martial Hall formed a secret alliance.
Lei Li and Xie Yingying were the strongest members of the younger generation in the Lei and Xie Families, respectively. Xie Yingying was also Lei Li's Fiancée.
Lin Zhentian had led this branch of the family in putting down roots in Qingyang Town for most of his life. He had always hoped to surpass the Lei and Xie Families, and now he had finally glimpsed hope of doing so. How could he not be overjoyed?
"As for the reward for the Clan Competition Champion, I'll have someone deliver it to your residence later. Dong'er, cultivate diligently and strive to enter the Earthly Yuan Realm soon. The Qingyang Town Hunting Competition will begin shortly. When it does, our Lin Family will show the Lei and Xie Families a thing or two."
His emotions gradually settling, Lin Zhentian thought for a moment before gently giving Lin Dong these instructions.
The Hunting Competition was a collective event held in Qingyang Town once every three years. It gave the town's major powers a platform to display their strength and was arguably Qingyang Town's grandest event.
"Yes, Grandfather," Lin Dong replied obediently.
"Alright, Dong'er, go on down with your Eldest Uncle for now."
With that, Lin Zhentian shot a glance toward Lin Ken, who stood off to the side.
"Dong'er, let's go."
Lin Ken understood that his father had words he wanted to share with Lin Xiao alone. He led Lin Dong out of the courtyard.
"Third Brother, your Cultivation is more than the Heavenly Yuan Realm, isn't it?"
Once Lin Zhentian and Lin Xiao were alone in the courtyard, Lin Zhentian spoke in a leisurely tone.
Lin Zhentian had reached the Peak Heavenly Yuan Realm many years ago, and his seasoned judgment was sharp. When he saw Lin Xiao clash with Lin Mang at the Trial Hall, he immediately noticed something unusual.
Although Lin Mang had entered the Heavenly Yuan Realm only two years earlier, even Lin Zhentian would have needed to work to defeat him so cleanly. Lin Xiao, however, had gravely wounded him with a single effortless strike.
Therefore, Lin Xiao's true Cultivation was not the Heavenly Yuan Realm at all!