The shrill scream was like thunder exploding on level ground, abruptly tearing through the dead silence of the Lin Family estate in the middle of the night!
"Ah!!!!!! Brother Leopard! Brother Leopard, what's wrong?! Someone! Hurry, someone! Something's happened!!!"
The voice brimmed with utter terror and despair, like the wail of a ghost, instantly spreading for miles and startling countless sleeping members of the Lin Family awake!
The first to be alarmed were naturally the guards and servants closest to Leopard Garden.
Already unsettled by the events of the day, they were now frightened out of their wits by the piercing scream. Carrying lanterns and weapons, they swarmed toward the source of the sound—the main bedroom pavilion where Lin Bao lived!
Then, the entire Lin Family estate erupted like a calm lake struck by a massive boulder!
Countless lights were lit!
Chaotic footsteps, cries of alarm, and questioning voices rose one after another!
"What happened? What's going on?" "It sounded like it came from Leopard Garden!" "Could something have happened again?!" "Hurry and take a look!"
Countless Lin Family disciples and guards were stirred by the sudden disturbance and gathered toward Leopard Garden, eager to find out what had happened.
The Lin Family's higher-ups reacted even faster!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several powerful auras streaked across the night sky like meteors, rushing toward Leopard Garden from different directions at astonishing speed!
Leading the charge was naturally the Great Elder, Lin Zhenhong, who had just suffered the pain of losing his grandson—though Lin Bao had merely been crippled, to him, that was worse than death—and was burning with rage!
The instant he heard the first scream, he jolted out of cultivation like a powder keg ignited by a spark! A berserk killing intent and a dreadful premonition instantly engulfed his heart!
"Bao'er!!!"
He let out a shriek like a wounded lone wolf. His body became a blurred afterimage as he smashed directly through the stone door of his secret chamber and charged madly toward Leopard Garden with speed bordering on teleportation!
Close behind came the household head, Lin Xiaotian! He, too, had been alarmed by the sudden disturbance. His brows were tightly furrowed, and his eyes were filled with gravity! His instincts told him something major had happened—and that it was very likely connected to that mysterious young man who had only just risen to prominence!
Third Elder Lin Zhenyue, Second Elder Lin Zhenshan, and several other core elders and stewards were also alerted. They each employed their movement techniques and hurried toward the scene at top speed!
For a time, the entire Lin Family estate was filled with rustling winds and startled cranes, while undercurrents surged beneath the surface!
Everyone sensed that an unprecedented storm was about to erupt violently in the silent depths of the night!
Yet Lin Chen, the instigator standing at the center of the storm, had already silently returned to his dilapidated little courtyard.
Standing by the window, he listened to the growing clamor and chaos in the distance and sensed the powerful auras cutting through the night sky. His face remained expressionless, his gaze as calm as an abyss.
Everything had gone exactly as he expected.
In fact, this chaos was part of his plan!
Lin Bao's crippling would inevitably shake the Lin Family's upper ranks. The Great Elder, Lin Zhenhong, in particular, would surely descend into madness!
And such chaos and turmoil were precisely the best cover for him to leave the Lin Family!
Everyone's attention would be drawn toward Leopard Garden! Everyone would investigate the culprit! Everyone would be busy soothing the enraged Great Elder!
Who would notice that a "low-potential," "lucky newcomer to the top ten," "piece of trash" would quietly leave at a time like this?
"It's time." Lin Chen murmured to himself.
He did not hesitate in the slightest, nor did he feel any attachment.
This so-called "home" had brought him nothing but humiliation, indifference, and endless suffering. Aside from the faint memories his mother had left behind, there was nothing here worth his concern.
He swiftly gathered every valuable thing in the room—mainly the mountain-like pile of spirit stones, pills, magical artifacts, talismans, as well as the mysterious Beast Hide Book and the even more mysterious Nine-Orifice Black Stone—of course, the black stone had already fused into the furnace—and stored them all inside the Storage Ring he had "inherited" from Lin Bao!
The Storage Ring was spacious enough to hold all his belongings. It was also inconspicuous when worn on his hand, perfectly resolving the problem of carrying everything.
As for the clothes and daily necessities bestowed by the household head, he did not touch a single item. Perhaps these things could serve as a bit of misdirection after he left? Make people think he was still here?
After finishing everything, he gave this little courtyard, where he had lived for more than ten years and which held so many complicated memories, one final look.
There was no sorrow, no reluctance—only relief!
From this day onward, the vast sea would let fish leap, and the lofty sky would let birds fly!
Lin Chen's fate would be controlled by himself!
He walked to the courtyard wall and confirmed the situation outside once more. At this moment, most people and most of the attention were indeed focused on Leopard Garden, making his side unusually quiet.
He took a deep breath, perfectly restrained his aura once more, disguising himself as being at the Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer Early Stage—perhaps even lower. Then, like a shadow melting into darkness, he silently climbed over the courtyard wall again.
This time, his destination was no longer Leopard Garden, but the world beyond the Lin Family estate—a world broader and far more dangerous!
He chose a route completely opposite from Leopard Garden's direction, one more secluded and winding. He had already simulated this route countless times in his mind, ensuring that he could avoid patrolling guards and possible detection to the greatest extent possible.
Relying on the formidable strength of the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer and his profound, unfathomable movement technique, he moved at extreme speed while landing without a sound. Like a light breeze in the night, he darted swiftly through the complex buildings and shadows.
Occasionally, he encountered scattered patrol guards, but he always sensed them in advance and easily avoided them.
The entire process went far more smoothly than he had imagined!
Clearly, all of the Lin Family's defensive forces and attention had been drawn away by the sudden incident at Leopard Garden, giving this "fugitive" a perfect opportunity!
After roughly the time it took for an incense stick to burn.
Lin Chen finally reached the outermost wall of the Lin Family estate without incident!
This wall was taller and thicker than Leopard Garden's! It was not only lined with sharp iron spikes, but also faintly inscribed with simple defensive runes that emitted weak energy fluctuations! Elite guards at the Body Tempering Realm Fifth Layer and even Sixth Layer patrolled back and forth atop the wall!
Trying to climb over it silently as he had before was almost impossible!
Forcing his way through would be a dead end! Once discovered, he would immediately draw the encirclement and suppression of Lin Family experts!
What should he do?
Lin Chen frowned slightly, his gaze calmly examining the surrounding environment.
He noticed a row of inconspicuous drainage culverts near the ground, about one meter below the outer wall. These culverts were normally used to drain rainwater and household wastewater. Their openings were small, barely large enough for one person to squeeze through, and the insides were surely filthy and foul-smelling.
Under normal circumstances, no one would ever think of entering or leaving through them.
But for Lin Chen, who was desperate to leave, this might be the only passage!
He activated the Myriad Dao Furnace again, extremely carefully allowing a thread of refined smelting power to seep into the iron grating of one culvert!
Sizzle...
Without a sound, the seemingly solid iron grating melted and snapped apart like tofu!
Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Chen endured the stench wafting from within and slipped inside as nimbly as a loach!
Inside the culvert, it was pitch-black, impossible to see one's hand before one's face! It was also filled with all manner of indescribable filth and pungent odors! The ground was wet, slippery, and muddy, while the space was narrow and oppressive!
If it had been the Lin Chen of the past, this vile environment would probably have driven him mad long ago!
But now, his heart was exceptionally calm! There was even a trace of excitement!
Freedom lay ahead!
To escape this cage! To control his own fate! What did this little hardship amount to?!
Holding his breath, he relied on his powerful senses to crawl quickly through the dark and filthy culvert.
He did not know how long he crawled before a faint glimmer of light finally appeared ahead! The air also became somewhat fresher!
The exit! It was right ahead!
Lin Chen's heart leaped with joy, and he quickened his pace!
At last!
He suddenly crawled out from the other end of the culvert!
With a thud, he fell onto a patch of soft grass.
He greedily breathed in the free, fresh air outside, savoring the feeling of incomparable lightness 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 estate behind him. In the night, it resembled a crouching giant beast, gloomy and oppressive. There was not the slightest trace of attachment in his eyes, only icy determination!
"Lin Family... Lin Zhenhong... Lin Bao... and Lin Xiaotian..."
"Just you wait! The humiliation of today, I, Lin Chen, will repay a hundredfold someday!"
"When I return, it will be the day all of you tremble!"
After leaving behind this vow that only he could hear, Lin Chen did not look back again!
He identified the direction, then shot northward like an arrow released from the bow, racing toward the rolling Green Peak Mountain Range, which wound through the night like a giant dragon!
That place would be the starting point of his brand-new journey!
That place hid endless possibilities that would allow him to grow stronger!
That place was the truly vast sea and open sky that belonged to him!
While Lin Chen quietly departed.
Leopard Garden had already descended into utter chaos!
Like a madman, Great Elder Lin Zhenhong stared at his beloved grandson lying on the bed, his dantian destroyed and reduced completely to a cripple. He let out a shriek like a wounded beast!
"Who?! Who the hell did this?! Investigate! Dig three feet into the ground if you must, but find the culprit for me!!!"
His eyes were bloodshot, and his killing intent soared into the heavens! The terrifying pressure of the Foundation Establishment Realm burst forth without restraint, making all of Leopard Garden seem to have fallen into an ice cellar! Everyone trembled, silent as cicadas in winter!
Household Head Lin Xiaotian and several elders also arrived at the scene. Seeing Lin Bao's miserable state and the dantian that had clearly been utterly destroyed by some domineering force, their expressions changed drastically as well!
What a vicious method!
This was absolutely a blood feud that would not end until one side died!
"Investigate! Seal off the entire Lin Family estate immediately! Thoroughly inspect every entrance and exit! Kill any suspicious person on sight!" Lin Xiaotian decisively ordered in a deep voice!
Though he had little fondness for Lin Bao, Lin Bao was still the Great Elder's direct grandson! Having his dantian destroyed within the Lin Family was simply an open provocation against the dignity of the entire Lin Family! It had to be investigated to the end!
However, they were destined to be disappointed.
Lin Chen's actions had been too covert! Too swift! His timing had also been impeccable! Combined with the Myriad Dao Furnace's uncanny smelting ability, he had left behind almost no valuable clues!
The search lasted the entire night. They nearly turned the whole Lin Family estate upside down, yet still found nothing!
The only natural suspect was Lin Chen!
After all, Lin Chen had the deepest grudge against Lin Bao, and he had crippled Lin Bao's right hand just that day! He had sufficient motive and a prior record!
But when Lin Zhenhong led people to Lin Chen's dilapidated little courtyard in a murderous rage, they found that it had long since been emptied!
Only an empty courtyard remained, along with some untouched new clothes and daily necessities bestowed by the household head.
What was going on?!
Lin Chen had actually vanished?!
Had he fled in fear of punishment after crippling Lin Bao?!
This discovery nearly made Lin Zhenhong explode with rage. It also gave Lin Xiaotian and the others a pounding headache and left them in a difficult position!
The culprit could almost certainly be identified as Lin Chen! But he had run away?!
Now, things had become even more complicated!
Because Lin Bao had been crippled and Lin Chen had "disappeared," the Lin Family was completely thrown into chaos and unrest!
The conflict between the Great Elder's faction and the household head's faction intensified completely!
All kinds of speculations and rumors sprang up!
Yet the instigator behind it all had already vanished into the vast Green Peak Mountain Range like a flood dragon entering the sea, beginning a brand-new journey that belonged to him!
A storm that would sweep across the Lin Family, and perhaps even all of Qingyang Town, was already gathering beneath wind and rain!
Before you continue