Lin Qingtan's Admiration, Stone Talisman

"All right, it was getting late. If you didn't head home soon, Little Qing Tan, Uncle Lin Xiao and the others would start worrying."

Lin Tianci looked at Lin Qingtan with a gentle gaze.

He had helped Lin Qingtan for more than just the fact that she was Lin Dong's younger sister. Another reason was that her appearance truly stirred something in him. With such a good opportunity to close the distance between them, how could Lin Tianci let it slip by?

Then, Lin Tianci turned his gaze toward Lin Hu and the others.

The smile on his face when he had faced Lin Qingtan vanished, replaced by cold indifference.

"You lot, why aren't you getting lost already? Do you want to keep getting beaten?" Lin Tianci asked with a frown.

Lin Hu and the others' expressions changed. They shook their heads repeatedly. The strength Lin Tianci had displayed so effortlessly filled them with fear from the bottom of their hearts.

The Lin Tianci before them was like an insurmountable mountain.

As if afraid that Lin Tianci would strike again, the boys fled in panic as fast as they could.

Even Lin Hu ignored his injuries and pushed his Yuan Qi to its limit. Though he limped, he moved quickly enough to lose one of his shoes while running.

The sight made Lin Tianci shake his head with an amused smile.

"Cousin Tianci, I saw that Lin Hu vomited blood after you hit him. Will Uncle cause trouble for you?" Lin Qingtan asked worriedly after everyone had left.

"It's fine." Lin Tianci shook his head casually.

"They were the ones in the wrong this time. As their cousin, I was merely setting some rules for them. Even Grandpa couldn't find fault with that."

"But you, Little Qing Tan—if anyone bullies you again, don't keep it bottled up inside."

Little Qing Tan's head felt rather nice to pat, and Lin Tianci could not resist reaching out to stroke it again.

That unintentional gesture made Lin Qingtan blush, a rosy flush spreading even across her jade-like earlobes.

She nodded vigorously, then fled as though she were running away.

Lin Tianci was the only one left in the clearing.

"You've watched the show for so long. Now that everyone's gone, are you still unwilling to come out?"

After resolving the matter, Lin Tianci was in high spirits. He suddenly turned toward the depths of the forest and spoke with a pleasant expression.

From behind a tree so thick that two people would have had to wrap their arms around it, a graceful figure pounced out, bringing with her a fragrant breeze as she landed directly in front of Lin Tianci.

"Ge, I never expected that aside from your fist techniques, your strength had become this powerful too."

The girl was naturally Lin Xia. Her eyes seemed to sparkle with little stars, her face filled with admiration.

"There are plenty more ways your ge is impressive." Lin Tianci laughed heartily and patted Lin Xia on the shoulder.

"Of course! You're my ge. No matter how impressive you are, it's only natural!" Lin Xia nodded earnestly.

She had seen Lin Tianci's performance just now with her own eyes.

He had sent the tall, burly Lin Hu flying with a single effortless palm strike.

That strength was truly astonishing.

"All right, all right, stop flattering your ge. It was getting late, so let's hurry home." Lin Tianci shook his head helplessly, then patted Lin Xia's shoulder. The two headed home side by side.

On the way, Lin Tianci suddenly remembered something.

He took out a brocade box and handed it to Lin Xia.

"Ge?" Lin Xia looked puzzled, because she recognized what was inside the box: the reward from today's Minor test, two Third-Grade Spirit Medicines.

"These things aren't all that useful to me anymore. The Clan Competition is approaching, so you should take them and use them."

Lin Tianci explained casually as he walked forward.

After obtaining the system's random returns, he truly did not think much of these two small Third-Grade Spirit Medicines.

He could always get them back from Lin Dong, his tool, whenever he wanted.

And perhaps even more.

"No, ge. These are your rewards. Besides, I received Third-Grade Spirit Medicine today too. I won't be able to use it all up anytime soon." Lin Xia hurriedly shook her head and tried to return the brocade box to Lin Tianci.

However, what met her eyes was Lin Tianci's exceptionally firm gaze.

In the end, she could not outargue Lin Tianci and accepted the brocade box.

"Don't worry, ge. I'll definitely perform well in this Clan Competition. Otherwise, I'd be letting down the Spirit Medicines you gave me!"

Lin Xia spoke with great solemnity, deeply moved inside.

Within that small brocade box, she felt Lin Tianci's concern for her as his younger sister.

Meanwhile, as Lin Hu and the others returned home in a sorry state, news of Lin Tianci's actions gradually spread throughout the Lin Family.

"Tianci did strike a little too heavily this time. Dad, when I return tonight, I'll definitely teach him a good lesson." Lin Ken looked at Lin Zhentian, who sat at the head of the room, and spoke.

Yet when he said those words, there was not the slightest anger on his face. Instead, he wore a broad smile.

He had already lost count of how many surprises Lin Tianci had given him today.

It even made Lin Ken feel as though he were living in a dream.

"No need." After taking a sip of tea, Lin Zhentian leaned lightly against the back of his chair.

"Let the children handle their own affairs. Tianci is steady in his conduct and knows the limits of his actions."

"Besides, Lin Hu and Lin Shan truly went too far this time. As their elder cousin, Tianci naturally had the right to discipline them."

Lin Zhentian was becoming increasingly satisfied with his eldest grandson.

"This boy is a Hidden Dragon!"

At Lin Mang's home, however, the atmosphere was entirely different.

"Hong'er, this Lin Tianci does have some ability. Even your Grandpa holds him in high regard. During this Clan Competition, you must not let your guard down or underestimate your opponent."

Lin Mang looked at Lin Hong, who was cultivating cross-legged, and could not help reminding him.

"Don't worry, Dad." Lin Hong opened his eyes, a trace of disdain flashing across his face.

"I forgot to tell you, Dad. Today, I broke through to the Body Tempering Seventh Layer. I'm only a step away from condensing a Yuan Power Seed."

"At the Clan Competition fifteen days from now, I'll definitely show Lin Tianci and Lin Dong who truly deserves to be First Place among the younger generation!"

Lin Mang was delighted and finally relaxed. His son was no worse than Lin Tianci or Lin Dong. In this Clan Competition, he would surely change his Dad's opinion!

Lin Xiao handed a freshly dug Crimson Ginseng to Lin Dong.

"Dong'er, how was your preparation for this Clan Competition coming along?"

"Don't worry, Dad. I'll give it my all in this Clan Competition. First Place will definitely be mine!" Lin Dong's gaze was filled with determination.

"Good. It's enough that you have that determination. Dad believes you aren't inferior to anyone, but you have indeed cultivated for much less time than Lin Hong and the others."

Lin Dong clenched his fists and said nothing more.

Yet faintly visible in the center of his palm was what seemed to be a black Stone Talisman, appearing and disappearing intermittently.