Ironwood Manor

In the open woods, a figure moved like a fierce tiger, swinging his arms as deep-blue Yuan Power continuously spilled out, frosting the ground with a thin layer of white.

Bang!

A straight punch slammed fiercely into an innocent tree. The tremendous force shook it clean out of the earth, sending it flying backward and scattering a shower of dirt.

"Nicely done!" Seeing that Lin Dong had finally reached the middle Earthly Yuan Stage, Lin Changqiang sincerely praised him.

Compared to his talent for Spiritual Power, Lin Dong's talent for Yuan Power was not particularly outstanding. Reaching the middle Earthly Yuan Stage from just entering the Earthly Yuan Stage in two months was already quite remarkable.

Of course, the Ancestral Stone had helped a great deal. But since both of them had cheats, it was basically the same as neither of them having cheats, wasn't it? (ω`)

"Changqiang, are you almost at the Heavenly Origin Stage already?" Lin Dong looked at Lin Changqiang with wide, curious eyes.

"I only reached the late Earthly Yuan Stage a few days ago. How could I break through that quickly? What do you take me for, some once-in-a-century genius?" Lin Changqiang rolled his eyes at Lin Dong, then looked at his personal information:

Host: Lin Changqiang

Gender: Male

Cultivation Level: Late Earthly Yuan Stage (6%)

Martial Arts: Returning Wind Soft Hand (third-grade), Pure Yuan Finger (fourth-grade), Mysterious Gate Seal (fifth-grade), Fire Dance Whirlwind (sixth-grade)...

Cultivation Art: Azure Yuan Art

Spiritual Power Level: None

Secret Technique: None

Spiritual Power Art: None

Treasures: Little Loudspeaker (2), Intimacy Rose (2), Double Experience Card (1), Double Gold Coin Card (2), Dragon Gallbladder Bright Silver Spear (High-grade Spirit Treasure), Ghost Captain (Fashion)

Lottery Draw Count: 5

"It'll take at least another month or two to reach the Heavenly Origin Stage." Lin Changqiang curled his lips in displeasure. "The Azure Yuan Art gets weaker the further you cultivate it. Once we break through to the Heavenly Origin Stage, we have to check out the Trade Fair or Flame City and see if we can get a better cultivation art."

"You can reach the Heavenly Origin Stage in just one or two months, and that doesn't count as genius?" Lin Dong was starting to have trouble understanding Lin Changqiang's definition of a genius.

"Ha, so you saw through me after all these years. Fire can't be wrapped in paper." Thinking about it, Lin Changqiang realized that he was even faster than Lin Dong, who possessed the Ancestral Stone. What did he have to be dissatisfied about? He raised his brows and gave Lin Dong a lecherous grin. "Say it again~ (￣▽￣~)~"

Lin Dong rolled his eyes expertly and ignored Lin Changqiang. He wiped the sweat from his face, then whistled toward the forest. Immediately afterward, a tiger's roar sounded from deep within the woods.

Not long after, Xiao Yan came darting out and appeared before them. In just half a month, its body had grown considerably larger, and slightly savage fangs had emerged from its mouth. Only now was Xiao Yan beginning to reveal a hint of its ferocity.

The changes in Xiao Yan delighted Lin Dong, but they made Lin Changqiang rather miserable. Watching Xiao Yan grow fiercer by the day, then thinking of that three- to four-meter-tall, dark-skinned muscular man in the future, he only felt more exhausted.

"Changqiang, my father and the others will return tonight. Do you want to come with me and ask about Ironwood Manor?" Lin Dong suddenly looked at Lin Changqiang. He remembered that Lin Changqiang seemed to care quite a bit about Ironwood Manor.

"No need. You should go yourself. You father and son are talking—what business would I have butting in?" Lin Changqiang was secretly delighted. Ironwood Manor had arrived, which meant Yang Yuan Stones were coming. And with Yang Yuan Stones, the Heavenly Origin Stage was within reach.

Lin Dong nodded, whistled, and sped away with Xiao Yan.

That evening, just as Lin Changqiang finished dinner, he heard a somewhat hurried knock at the door. His eyes flashed, and he immediately went to open it. As expected, the visitor was Lin Dong.

"Changqiang, those bastards from the Lei Family agreed to hand Ironwood Manor over to our Lin Family, but it's already been a month and a half, and there's still no movement from them. We sent people to urge them, but they kept avoiding us!"

"How could that be?! That bet was made in front of countless people. The Lei Family wouldn't go back on their word, would they? That would be far too shameless!" Lin Changqiang widened his eyes in feigned shock.

"They haven't said they're going back on it. They're just dragging things out and refusing to hand it over. Aren't they just bullying honest people?" Lin Dong's face was full of contempt when he mentioned the Lei Family's actions. "Father and the others are planning to take people to Ironwood Manor tomorrow. If they still refuse, we'll force our way in. We're the ones in the right anyway!"

Lin Changqiang looked helplessly at Lin Dong, wondering why the kid just would not get to the point. With no other choice, he subtly prompted him, "So, are you going tomorrow?"

"Of course I am." Only then did Lin Dong realize why he had come. "Right, Father asked me to ask whether you wanted to come with us tomorrow."

"I'm going. Why wouldn't I? We martial artists do not fear a battle!" Before Lin Dong had even finished speaking, Lin Changqiang patted his chest with righteous resolve.

"Alright, I'll head back and make preparations. I'll come get you tomorrow morning, then we'll meet at the Lin Family's main gate." With that, Lin Dong immediately stood up and left.

Watching Lin Dong's departing back, Lin Changqiang quickly shut the door, put on his Fashion, lay down on the bed, and checked the system message that had just appeared.

Ding, congratulations, Host, for triggering a Side Quest: The Lei Family secretly sabotaged Ironwood Manor. They've gone too far—they must be thrown out!

Quest successful: Reward of three Lottery Draw Opportunities. Quest failed: Deduct one Lottery Draw Opportunity.

Early the next morning, dozens of fine horses stood neatly before the Lin Family's main gate. The riders were all skilled members of the Lin Family, with Lin Xiao and Lin Ken, the two Heavenly Origin Stage experts, leading them.

Among the horses, Xiao Yan's blazing body was especially conspicuous. Lin Dong was sitting on Xiao Yan's back. Fed with Ancestral Stone-brand fertilizer, Xiao Yan was now capable of serving as a mount, and its speed was even greater than that of ordinary fine horses.

Lin Changqiang rode a fine horse nearby, his face full of envy. It was not that Lin Dong would not let him ride Xiao Yan; he just felt that it would be strange for the two of them to ride Xiao Yan together.

"Move out!"

After counting their numbers, Lin Ken cracked his whip without hesitation and led the group galloping toward the outskirts of Qingyang Town.

Ironwood Manor produced a type of tree as hard as refined iron and unafraid of water or fire. Its wood was dense and heavy, making it highly suitable for crafting weapons or construction materials. As a result, Ironwood was quite valuable.

Furthermore, within a hundred-mile radius, only Ironwood Manor produced this kind of timber. Over the years, the Lei Family had made a fortune from Ironwood Manor's business.

After a morning of travel, the group finally reached a slope outside Ironwood Manor around noon.

From atop the slope, they could clearly see a vast manor at the end of the main road. It was so enormous that its borders could not be seen at a glance.

Only by straining their eyes into the distance could they vaguely make out the black giant trees deep within the manor. Those were Ironwood trees.

Lin Ken narrowed his eyes at the tightly shut manor gates and frowned. "The gates are closed and heavily guarded. This trip won't go smoothly..."

Lin Xiao nodded slightly as well. He waved a hand, and the Lin Family members behind him immediately went on alert. Clanging sounds rang out as they gripped their gleaming blades and swords. Every face was cold, and a faint killing intent rose through the air.

Lin Changqiang and Lin Dong watched this scene from the side, unable to help feeling tense. The fights they had experienced before were nothing compared to this kind of life-and-death battle.

"Yan Shuangying, take two men and protect Dong'er and Changqiang. The rest of you, come with me!"