Facing It with a Smile

Time flew by, and three months passed quietly. During those three months, the atmosphere in Qingyang Town grew especially tense.

The Lei Family and Xie Family interacted with increasing frequency, Ironwood Manor's defenses became even tighter, and the Lin Family secretly continued transferring their dependents to Ironwood Manor.

Host: Lin Changqiang

Gender: Male

Cultivation Level: Late Heavenly Origin Stage (24%)

Martial Arts: Pure Yuan Finger (Fourth Grade), Mysterious Gate Seal (Fifth Grade), Fire Dance Whirlwind (Sixth Grade)...

Cultivation Art: Azure Yuan Art

Spiritual Power Level: Talisman Master Apprentice (72%)

Secret Techniques: None

Spiritual Power Art: Divine Movement Chapter (Beginner)

Treasures: ...

Lottery Draw Count: 3

Lin Changqiang glanced at his status panel and nodded in satisfaction. "Once I reach the Yuan Dan Stage, I'll do another round of draws and see if I can get some new martial arts. Although Turtle Style Ki Blast lets me defeat opponents at the Lesser Yuan Dan Stage, it can't completely crush them."

Bang!

The deafening blast jolted Lin Changqiang from his thoughts. He looked to the side irritably, only to see Lin Dong standing there with his fist withdrawn. Beside his feet lay a large tree that had been blasted apart.

"Brother Lin Dong, Brother Changqiang! Uncle asked me to call you two to the discussion hall!"

Before Lin Changqiang could complain, a lovely figure suddenly ran over from afar, making him frown at once.

"So it's finally here, the Lei Family."

Ding, congratulations to the host for triggering a Side Quest:

As Lei Bao and Lin Zhentian are about to break through to the Lesser Yuan Dan Stage, the Lei and Xie Families have completely fallen out with the Lin Family and brazenly attacked their dependents! The host must repel the invading enemies and kill the chief culprit, Xie Qian!

Successfully kill Xie Qian. Reward: three Lottery Draw Opportunities. No penalty for failure.

Successfully repel the invading enemies. Reward:

Zhuang Zhousan Skill—Unity of Man and Heaven: Consumes Spiritual Power and Yuan Power to remove all negative statuses from all allied characters nearby (favorability above fifty), rendering them immune to control and granting them a shield. The shield's strength is equivalent to the host's current realm. Energy consumption is proportional to the number of targets affected.

If the mission fails, everyone in the Lin Family will have their favorability toward the host reduced. The lower their base favorability, the greater the reduction.

Inside the discussion hall.

Lin Changqiang pushed the door open and strode toward the center, with Lin Dong following close behind.

"First Uncle, Second Uncle, Third Uncle." Lin Changqiang looked at the gloomy expressions of everyone in the room, nodded politely, and got straight to the point. "What happened?"

Seeing the two arrive, Lin Ken and the others relaxed slightly. Ever since Lin Changqiang had defeated Yun Shan some time ago, and Lin Dong had killed one of two Heavenly Origin Stage attackers, everyone had understood that these two youths might already be second only to Lin Zhentian in strength.

"During this time, we've been secretly transferring the dependents to Ironwood Manor..."

"So the Lei and Xie Families discovered us this time?" Before Lin Ken could finish explaining the situation, Lin Changqiang skipped straight ahead. "First Uncle, have someone lead the way. Lin Dong and I can handle it."

Lin Xiao and the others were stunned. Even Lin Xia and the women beside her, who had been crying their hearts out, froze briefly. They had not expected Lin Changqiang to grasp the situation so quickly.

"Are you sure?" Lin Xiao hesitated at those words. He exchanged looks with Lin Ken and the other two before saying gravely, "Xie Qian, who is leading the Lei and Xie Families, is already at the Late Heavenly Origin Stage!"

"Late Heavenly Origin Stage?" Lin Changqiang raised an eyebrow. Without giving Lin Xiao and the others a chance to object, he walked straight out of the discussion hall. Only when he reached the doorway did he turn his head slightly. "Fighting above one's level is nothing to fear, much less fighting someone at the same level."

As soon as he spoke, an aura unique to a Heavenly Origin Stage expert burst from Lin Changqiang's body, rising further under the effect of Overbearing Path of Action.

"Against those at my level, I am invincible!"

"Late Heavenly Origin Stage!" Lin Ken stared at the proud youth standing tall, his body straight as a spear. After his initial shock, he finally stopped hesitating. "Arrange a team of capable men to accompany Changqiang and Dong'er to receive the dependents!"

"Yes!"

On a rugged mountain path, many people hurried forward in panic. Along the outskirts of the group, guards wielding swords and sabers vigilantly scanned their surroundings.

"How is the situation?" Within the crowd, a beautiful woman forced herself to remain calm. She was none other than Lin Dong's mother, Liu Yan!

"Reporting to Madam, the Xie Family is pursuing us at full speed. I'm afraid they'll catch up to us very soon." The guard captain clenched the steel saber in his hand, yet his heart was remarkably calm. He smiled at Liu Yan and the others. "Later, I'll lead the remaining brothers and hold them off. The ladies can take that chance to head for Ironwood Manor. Then you'll be safe."

Liu Yan exchanged glances with the women beside her, and they all nodded silently before quietly touching the daggers hidden in their sleeves. This was their final measure. If they truly could not escape, they absolutely could not fall into the enemy's hands!

"Who among you is willing to come with me and hold the rear for the ladies?"

Though it was clearly a certain death situation, a bright smile appeared on his face, open and warm, as though he had cast aside every burden and shackle.

The guards all smiled. One after another, they left the group and calmly stood beside the captain.

When the Lin Family transferred their dependents, they knew the risk of being discovered grew greater the later it went, yet they had still been willing to prioritize the families of the guards and servants, leaving their own people to bring up the rear. So now... it was their turn.

At that moment, their hearts were spotless and still as water. Even their crescent-shaped eye sockets were filled with calm, while their souls were pure and unblemished, without the slightest ripple. Everything could now be faced with composure.

"We are willing to die for the Lin Family!"

"Then all of you can die!" At that moment, countless arrows suddenly shot out from the forest several dozen meters behind them. Yet Xie Qian, who had shouted those words, wore a face full of confusion, incomprehension, and fear.

"Gao Lao Village!" Lin Changqiang, who had rushed over, had no time to care about anything else. He immediately activated the Universal Capsule with his Yuan Power. Though he did not understand why these guards could face death so generously and without fear, Lin Changqiang knew that they were people he had to protect!

Powered by Yuan Power, Gao Lao Village expanded with the wind. In an instant, it became a three-story villa roughly ten meters tall and crashed down before the guards.

Rat-a-tat-tat...

The overwhelming rain of arrows struck Gao Lao Village's protective barrier, yet failed to raise even the slightest ripple.

"Th-this... what is that?" Everyone was left dumbfounded, even the guards who had been prepared to die heroically.

"Xie Qian!" Lin Changqiang and Lin Dong landed one after another before Gao Lao Village, while an invisible killing intent continuously spread from their bodies.

"Fire Cloud Art!" Without another word, Lin Changqiang drew his hands to his waist in the stance of Turtle Style Ki Blast. Brilliant red light bloomed from his palms and flashed continuously. The next instant, a terrifying Fire Pillar more than half a meter thick blasted forth!

"Lin Dong!"

"Got it!"