Undercurrents Stir

Ironwood Manor!

The newly built Lin Clan Main Hall was filled with the Lin Clan's upper ranks.

Lin Zhentian sat in the seat of honor, while Lin Yun sat in the first seat to his left.

This represented Lin Yun's current standing in the Lin Clan, second only to Lin Zhentian.

Because of the Six Beasts, the entire Lin Clan now held Lin Yun in deep awe. Even the elders did not dare put on airs before him.

However, they did not know how strong Lin Yun truly was. Their reverence for him mostly came from the Six Beasts.

The seat of honor at Lin Zhentian's right had also changed from Lin Ken to Lin Xiao. With the help of the Yang Yuan Stones, Lin Xiao had fully recovered and even improved further, reaching the late Heavenly Yuan Realm.

Lin Dong had also joined the family's core ranks.

Among those present, he and Lin Yun were the only two members of the third generation.

Lin Zhentian rose to his feet, swept his gaze across the crowd, and slowly said, "We have been at Ironwood Manor for over a month now. The clan's supplies have been continuously depleted and need replenishing. In addition, the ironwood we have felled is piled up like mountains, and we have mined more than a hundred Yang Yuan Stones. It is time to take these goods to Yancheng for trade and use the proceeds to strengthen our Lin Clan."

"This is our Lin Clan's first time trading Yang Yuan Stones, so the matter is of great importance. Moreover, Yancheng is far away, and there are many bandits along the road."

"The news that our Lin Clan possesses a Yang Yuan Stone Mine cannot be hidden. Those bandits have likely already learned of it. This shipment will probably face no small amount of trouble."

"I intend to personally oversee the transport!"

"Father, you cannot." Lin Ken immediately stood and objected. "Ironwood Manor is now the foundation upon which our Lin Clan stands. Nothing can go wrong here; you must remain to guard it."

Lin Mang immediately echoed him. "That's right. Everything our Lin Clan has is now invested in Ironwood Manor. Father cannot leave this place."

"Then let me lead the team," Lin Xiao volunteered. "Though my strength is inferior to Father's, I am still at the late Heavenly Yuan Realm. Ordinary bandits will not be able to do anything to me."

"Listen to me!"

Lin Zhentian waved his hand and looked toward Lin Yun. "The Fire Python Tiger and the Black Iron Demon Leopard are our Lin Clan's strongest assets. Even this old man feels his momentum falter when facing the Three Beasts. With the Three Beasts guarding Ironwood Manor, there will basically be no problems. After I leave, Yun'er will still be here in the manor."

Everyone's gazes fell upon Lin Yun, since both the Fire Python Tiger and the Black Iron Demon Leopard obeyed his commands.

As it concerned the clan's development, Lin Yun did not shrink back. He immediately rose, ready to take part in the discussion.

More importantly, he did not want to stay home and guard the place. He wanted to go out and have some fun too. Only by going out would he have more chances to trigger quests.

Lin Yun said, "Grandfather, the Fire Python Tiger and the Black Iron Demon Leopard are our Lin Clan's trump cards, and outsiders do not know about them yet. If you leave Ironwood Manor and enemies attack, we will have no choice but to deploy them. Exposing them too early would be unfavorable to our Lin Clan. Moreover, if they are exposed passively, we will be left in a passive position from then on."

"Grandfather, your deterrent effect on our enemies is greater. You should remain at Ironwood Manor. With you here, you can deter those petty villains. Anyone who wants to attack will have to think twice."

"Uncle Lin Xiao and I can lead the Trade Caravan."

"After I leave, Qing Tan will still be able to command the Fire Python Tiger and the Black Iron Demon Leopard. That way, whether openly or secretly, Ironwood Manor's defensive strength will be no weaker than before."

"As for the Trade Caravan, Uncle Lin Xiao has already recovered to the late Heavenly Yuan Realm, and no one knows it yet."

"And I have already broken through to the middle Heavenly Yuan Realm. Fighting opponents a level above me will not be a problem."

"This will also create the effect of showing weakness to the enemy, drawing out those who wish to target our Lin Clan."

"When they set their sights on the Trade Caravan, we will catch them off guard and make sure none of them return!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up, and they immediately found it reasonable.

Especially when they heard that Lin Yun had already broken through to the middle Heavenly Yuan Realm, they were even more shocked. His rate of advancement was far too fast. In such a short time, he had already begun surpassing their older generation.

At the middle Heavenly Yuan Realm, combined with Lin Yun's exceptionally high attainments in martial arts, matching a late Heavenly Yuan Realm opponent was indeed no problem.

Lin Yun's arrangement was extremely sound.

Everyone readily agreed.

With the leaders for the departing convoy decided, the other attendants were much easier to choose. Before long, a team of more than a hundred people had been assembled, with Lin Xia and Lin Dong joining as well to broaden their horizons.

Qing Tan had originally wanted to join in the excitement too, but she had to stay behind to look after the Six Beasts.

"This task is very important. Only our Qing Tan is capable of it. We'll only be gone for a few days and will be back very soon." In the small room, Lin Yun comforted the little girl.

"Brother Lin Yun, then you have to come back quickly. If you return too late and my cold energy acts up, freezing me into an ice sculpture, you'll never see your little darling again." Qing Tan pouted miserably as she lightly pounded Lin Yun's chest with her tiny fists.

She wanted to go into the city too, but Brother Lin Yun wanted her to stay and watch the Six Beasts.

"Little darling" was how Lin Yun occasionally teased Qing Tan in private. After helping her dispel her cold energy many times, the two had spent quite a bit of time alone together, and their relationship had grown increasingly close. Qing Tan had also begun acting spoiled around him.

Of course, that was also because Lin Yun doted on her too much, making her dependent on him.

What was not to love about a little girl like her!

Lin Yun coaxed her gently for a while and promised to bring back tasty food and fun things for her. Only then did Qing Tan finally let him go and climb down from him.

These strawberries were planted far too densely... Lin Yun touched his slightly itchy, somewhat sore neck, and the corner of his mouth involuntarily curved upward at a forty-five-degree angle.

Sweet! The next day, under Lin Xiao's leadership, the Lin Clan's Trade Caravan set out from Ironwood Manor.

The convoy of over a hundred people and more than twenty carts headed grandly toward Yancheng.

Such a massive convoy could not possibly be kept hidden.

Very quickly, the Xie Family, which had been monitoring the Lin Clan all along, received the news.

Xie Qian hurriedly went to discuss it with Lei Bao.

"Brother Bao, the Lin Clan has sent a Trade Caravan to Yancheng, hauling your family's ironwood—more than twenty carts of it. Should we make a move?"

Lei Bao narrowed his eyes and asked, "Who's leading them? How many Heavenly Yuan Realm cultivators are there?"

"Heh heh, this time the Lin Family only has Lin Xiao leading the team. There are no other Heavenly Yuan Realm experts."

"I think the Lin Family knows how important Ironwood Manor is, so they don't dare send out too much strength. Lin Xiao is probably a discarded pawn they let out to test the waters. Although his strength has recovered, he's still far inferior to his former self. He likely has no hope of advancing any further, so Lin Zhentian allowed him to take this risk."

"Brother Bao, since they've delivered themselves to us, there's no need to be polite. We can swallow them whole and leave the Lin Family with one fewer Heavenly Yuan Realm cultivator."

Xie Qian said with a sinister smile.

Lei Bao shook his head and pondered in silence. Ever since the Lei Family had lost four Heavenly Yuan Realm cultivators and suffered a devastating blow, he had become much more cautious in everything he did.

"It shouldn't be that simple. First, spread news of the Lin Family's Trade Caravan and make sure all the bandits along the route know about it."

"Some bandits will definitely be unable to resist making a move. We'll watch first; there's no need to act in haste. If there's no trick to it, we'll intercept them when they return. By then, they'll have traded away all the ironwood and Yang Yuan Stones, which will save us the trouble."

"When the time comes, leave the interception to your Xie Family. Handle it as you see fit. For now, I need to focus entirely on breaking through to the Core Formation Realm."

Xie Qian nodded. "Brother Bao, you really are more thorough. I'll go at once and won't disturb your attempt to break through to the Core Formation Realm."