Family Shocked, Storm Approaches

A piercing scream, like thunder from a clear sky, suddenly tore through the dead silence of the Lin family mansion in the latter half of the night!

"Ah!!!! Leopard Brother! Leopard Brother, what's wrong?! Someone! Quickly, someone! Something's happened!!!"

The voice, filled with extreme fear and despair, like the wail of a ghost, instantly spread for several miles! It woke countless sleeping members of the Lin family!

The first to be alerted were naturally the guards and servants of the Leopard Garden, who were closest.

They were already uneasy due to the day's events, and upon hearing the piercing scream, they were utterly terrified! Grabbing lanterns and weapons, they rushed towards the source of the sound – the main bedroom pavilion where Lin Bao resided!

Following closely, the entire Lin family mansion was like a calm lake into which a boulder had been thrown, completely erupting!

Countless lights were lit!

Disorderly footsteps, exclamations, and questions arose one after another!

"What's going on? What happened?" "It sounds like it came from the Leopard Garden!" "Did something happen again?!" "Go check it out quickly!"

Countless Lin family disciples and guards were disturbed by the sudden incident and converged towards the Leopard Garden, eager to find out what was happening.

The reaction from the Lin family's higher-ups was even faster!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several powerful auras, like shooting stars, streaked across the night sky, rapidly approaching the Leopard Garden from different directions!

Leading the charge was naturally the Great Elder Lin Zhenhong, who had just suffered the pain of losing his grandson (though he was only crippled, which felt worse than death to him) and was burning with rage!

The moment he heard the first scream, he was like an ignited powder keg, instantly jolted awake from his cultivation! An extremely violent killing intent and an ominous premonition instantly enveloped his heart!

"Bao'er!!!"

He let out a piercing roar like a wounded lone wolf, his figure turning into a blurry afterimage, smashing through the stone door of his secret chamber and charging towards the Leopard Garden with near instantaneous speed!

Following closely behind was the Patriarch Lin Xiaotian! He too was alerted by the sudden incident, his brows furrowed, his eyes filled with gravity! His intuition told him that something big had happened! And it was likely related to that mysterious young man who had recently risen!

The Third Elder Lin Zhenyue, the Second Elder Lin Zhenshan, and several other core elders and stewards were also alerted, each displaying their movement techniques and rushing to the scene of the incident at their fastest speeds!

For a time, the entire Lin family mansion was filled with an atmosphere of panic and hidden undercurrents!

Everyone sensed that an unprecedented great storm was about to violently erupt in the quiet of the night!

Meanwhile, the instigator at the center of the storm – Lin Chen – had already returned to his dilapidated small courtyard without a sound.

He stood by the window, listening to the growing noise and chaos from afar, feeling the powerful auras that had cut through the night sky, his face expressionless, his eyes as calm as an abyss.

Everything was within his expectations.

Even this chaos was part of his plan!

Lin Bao being crippled would surely shake the Lin family's higher-ups, especially the Great Elder Lin Zhenhong, who would definitely go insane!

And this kind of chaos and shock was precisely the best cover for him to leave the Lin family!

Everyone's attention would be drawn to the Leopard Garden! They would all be chasing the culprit! They would all be trying to appease the enraged Great Elder!

Who would notice a "low potential," "waste" who had "just barely made it into the top ten," quietly leaving at this time?

"It's time," Lin Chen muttered to himself.

He didn't hesitate or show any lingering attachment.

This so-called "home" had brought him nothing but humiliation, indifference, and endless pain. Apart from the vague memories left by his mother, there was nothing here worth him caring about.

He quickly gathered all the valuable items in the room: mainly the mountain of spirit stones, elixirs, magic tools, talismans, and that mysterious beast hide book and the even more mysterious Nine-Orifice Black Stone (of course, the black stone had already merged with the furnace)! He stuffed them all into the storage ring he had "inherited" from Lin Bao!

This storage ring had ample space to hold all his "belongings," and it was inconspicuous on his hand, perfectly solving the problem of carrying them.

As for the clothes and daily necessities bestowed by the Patriarch, he didn't touch a single one. These items might serve to confuse people after he left? Making them think he was still here?

After finishing everything, he cast one last glance at the small courtyard where he had lived for over a decade, filled with complex memories.

No sadness, no reluctance, only a sense of liberation!

From this day forward, the vast sea would allow fish to leap, and the high heavens would allow birds to fly!

His fate, Lin Chen's fate, would be controlled by himself!

He walked to the courtyard wall and once again confirmed the commotion outside. At this moment, most of the people and attention were indeed focused on the Leopard Garden, while his side appeared exceptionally quiet.

He took a deep breath, perfectly concealed and disguised his aura to appear as if he were at the early stage of the Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer (or even lower), and then, like a shadow blending into the darkness, he silently climbed over the courtyard wall again.

This time, his target was no longer the Leopard Garden, but outside the Lin family mansion! That vaster, and more dangerous world!

He chose a route that was the opposite direction of the Leopard Garden, more secluded and more winding. He had simulated this route countless times in his mind, ensuring that he could avoid patrolling guards and potential investigations to the greatest extent possible.

Relying on his powerful strength at the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer and his profound movement techniques, his speed was at its extreme, yet his landings were silent. He moved like a light breeze in the night, rapidly shuttling through the complex buildings and shadows.

Occasionally encountering scattered patrolling guards, he could always sense them in advance and easily avoid them.

The entire process went smoother than he could have imagined!

Clearly, all of the Lin family's defensive forces and attention had been drawn away by the sudden incident at the Leopard Garden, giving him, the "fugitive," an excellent opportunity!

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Lin Chen finally reached the outer wall of the Lin family mansion without any danger!

This courtyard wall was even taller and thicker than the one at the Leopard Garden! Not only were there sharp iron spikes, but some simple defensive runes were faintly inscribed on it, emitting weak energy fluctuations! On top of the wall, elite guards with strength reaching the Body Tempering Realm Fifth Layer or even Sixth Layer patrolled back and forth!

Sneaking over as before was almost impossible!

Forcing his way through? That would be a death sentence! If discovered, he'd immediately be surrounded and attacked by the Lin family's experts!

What to do?

Lin Chen frowned slightly, calmly observing his surroundings.

He noticed that about a meter from the ground, below the outer wall, there seemed to be a row of inconspicuous drainage culverts. These culverts were normally used to discharge rainwater and sewage. The openings were small, barely large enough for a person to squeeze through, and they were undoubtedly filled with filth and foul odors.

Under normal circumstances, no one would ever think of entering or exiting through here.

But for Lin Chen, who was desperate to leave, this might be his only way out!

He activated the Myriad Dao Furnace again, meticulously channeling a trace of its refined power into the iron bars of one of the culverts.

Hiss...

Silently, the seemingly sturdy iron bars melted and broke like tofu!

Without hesitation, Lin Chen endured the stench emanating from within and agilely squeezed himself in like an eel!

Inside the culvert, it was pitch black, making it impossible to see anything! It was also filled with indescribable filth and a pungent smell! The ground was slippery and muddy, and the space was cramped and oppressive!

If it were the old Lin Chen, he would have probably gone mad from such a harsh environment!

But now, his heart was exceptionally calm! He even felt a hint of excitement!

Freedom! It was just ahead!

To escape this prison! To control his own destiny! What was this minor hardship compared to that?!

He held his breath, relying on his powerful senses to crawl rapidly through the dark and filthy culvert.

After crawling for an unknown amount of time, a faint glimmer of light finally appeared ahead! And the air seemed to have become a bit fresher!

The exit! It was just ahead!

Lin Chen rejoiced and quickened his pace!

Finally!

He burst out from the other end of the culvert!

With a plop, he landed on a patch of soft grass.

He greedily inhaled the free and fresh air outside, feeling an immense sense of relief despite being covered in filth!

He had finally... escaped!

He had completely broken free from the Lin family's cage!

He stood up and looked back at the Lin family mansion, which loomed like a crouching beast, appearing sinister and oppressive in the night. There was no lingering attachment in his eyes, only a cold determination!

"Lin family... Lin Zhenhong... Lin Bao... and Lin Xiaotian..."

"You just wait! I, Lin Chen, will repay today's humiliation a hundredfold in the future!"

"When I return, it will be the day you tremble!"

After making this silent vow, Lin Chen didn't look back!

He oriented himself and then, like an arrow released from a bowstring, he sped towards the north, towards the undulating Green Peak Mountain Range that snaked like a dragon in the night!

There, his new journey would begin!

There, lay endless possibilities for him to become stronger!

There, was the vast expanse that truly belonged to him!

Meanwhile, as Lin Chen quietly departed.

Within the Leopard Garden, chaos had already erupted!

The Great Elder Lin Zhenhong, looking like a madman, stared at his grandson on the bed, whose dantian had been crippled, rendering him a complete cripple. He let out a howl as piercing as a wounded beast!

"Who?! Who did this?! Investigate! Dig three feet deep if you have to, but find the culprit!!!"

His eyes were bloodshot, and his killing intent soared! The terrifying aura of the Foundation Establishment Realm was unleashed without reservation, making the entire Leopard Garden feel like an ice cellar! Everyone trembled and dared not make a sound!

Patriarch Lin Xiaotian and several elders also rushed to the scene. Upon seeing Lin Bao's tragic state and his dantian, which had clearly been destroyed by some overbearing force, their expressions changed drastically!

What ruthless methods!

This was undoubtedly an irreconcilable feud!

"Investigate! Seal off the entire Lin family immediately! Thoroughly search all entrances and exits! Any suspicious individuals are to be killed on sight!" Lin Xiaotian ordered decisively, his voice deep!

Although he didn't have much affection for Lin Bao, Lin Bao was the Great Elder's direct grandson after all! Having his dantian crippled within the Lin family was a blatant provocation to the entire family's authority! This matter had to be investigated thoroughly!

However, they were destined to be disappointed.

Lin Chen's actions were too covert! Too swift! And the timing of his departure was perfect! Coupled with the unfathomable melting abilities of the Myriad Dao Furnace, he had left almost no valuable clues!

The search lasted the entire night, turning the entire Lin family upside down, yet yielding nothing!

The only suspect, naturally, was Lin Chen!

After all, Lin Chen had the deepest enmity with Lin Bao, and he had crippled Lin Bao's right hand earlier that day! He had sufficient motive and a "prior record"!

However, when Lin Zhenhong arrived at Lin Chen's dilapidated small courtyard with his men, radiating murderous intent, they discovered it was already empty!

Only a vacant yard remained, along with brand-new clothes and daily necessities, gifts from the Family Head, that had yet to be used?

What was going on?!

Lin Chen had disappeared?!

Had he fled in fear after crippling Lin Bao?!

This discovery nearly blew Lin Zhenhong's lungs out with rage! It also gave Lin Xiaotian and the others a splitting headache, finding the situation troublesome!

The culprit could almost certainly be identified as Lin Chen! But he had run off?!

Now, things had become even more complicated!

Within the Lin Family, due to Lin Bao being crippled and Lin Chen's "disappearance," a state of utter chaos and turmoil had erupted!

The conflict between the Great Elder's faction and the Family Head's faction had completely intensified!

All sorts of speculations and rumors began to spread!

Meanwhile, the instigator of all this had already vanished like a dragon entering the sea, disappearing into the vast Green Peak Mountain Range, embarking on his new journey!

A storm that would sweep through the Lin Family, and even the entire Qingyang Town, was brewing!