Facing It with a Smile

Time flew like a shuttle, and three months slipped away quietly. During this time, the atmosphere in Qingyang Town had grown especially tense.

The Lei and Xie Families interacted more frequently, Ironwood Manor's defenses tightened, and the Lin Family secretly kept 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 Technique: Azure Yuan Art

Spiritual Power Level: Talisman Master Apprentice (72%)

Secret Skill: None

Spiritual Power Technique: Divine Movement Chapter (Beginner)

Treasures: ...

Lottery Draw Count: 3"

Taking a look at his panel, Lin Changqiang nodded with satisfaction. "Once I reach the Yuan Dan Stage, I'll do another draw and see if I can get a new Martial Arts. Turtle Style Ki Blast lets me beat Lesser Yuan Dan Stage opponents, but it doesn't let me crush them."

"Boom!"

A loud crash snapped Lin Changqiang out of his thoughts. He glared to the side, only to see Lin Dong pulling back his fist, with a blasted tree lying pitifully at his feet.

"Brother Lin Dong, Brother Changqiang! Uncle and the others sent me to call you to the meeting hall!"

Before Lin Changqiang could complain, a graceful figure came running from afar, making him furrow his brows.

"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 burned bridges 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 Zhou's Third Skill—Unity of Man and Heaven: Consume Spiritual Power and Yuan Power to clear all negative statuses from allied characters (affection greater than fifty) within range, rendering them immune to control and granting a shield equal to the host's current realm. Energy consumed scales with the number of targets affected.

If the mission fails, reduce the affection of all Lin Family members toward the host; the lower the base affection, the greater the reduction."

Inside the meeting hall.

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

"Uncle, Second Uncle, Third Uncle." Lin Changqiang looked at the gloomy faces of the people in the room, nodded politely, and cut straight to the point. "What happened?"

Seeing the two arrive, Lin Ken and the others breathed a slight sigh of relief. Ever since Lin Changqiang had defeated Yun Shan and Lin Dong had killed one of two Heavenly Yuan Stage attackers, everyone understood that these two youths might already be second only to Lin Zhentian in strength.

"We've been quietly moving the dependents to Ironwood Manor..."

"So the Lei and Xie Families found out this time?" Lin Changqiang interrupted Lin Ken before he could finish the setup, skipping the preamble. "Uncle, send someone to lead the way. Lin Dong and I will handle it."

Lin Xiao and the others were taken aback, and even Lin Xia, who had been crying like a pear blossom in the rain, froze for a moment, not expecting Lin Changqiang's mind to work so fast.

"Are you sure?" Hearing this, Lin Xiao hesitated. He exchanged glances with Lin Ken and the other two, then said gravely, "Xie Qian, leading the Lei and Xie Families, is already at Late Heavenly Origin Stage!"

"Late Heavenly Origin Stage?" Lin Changqiang raised an eyebrow, not giving Lin Xiao and the others a chance to argue. He walked straight toward the exit, only turning his head slightly at the door. "Fighting above my level is nothing to fear, let alone at the same level."

As his words fell, a wave of pressure unique to a Heavenly Origin Stage expert burst from Lin Changqiang, surging even higher under the effect of the Overbearing Path of Action.

"At the same level, I am undefeated!"

"Late Heavenly Origin Stage!" Staring at the proud youth standing straight as a spear, Lin Ken was startled at first, then no longer hesitated. "Send a team of good hands to accompany Changqiang and Dong'er to retrieve the dependents!"

"Yes!"

On a rugged mountain path, many figures were hurrying forward in panic. At the edge of the crowd, guards armed with swords and knives scanned their surroundings warily.

"How's the situation?" Among the crowd, a woman with a lovely face forced herself to stay calm. She was none other than Lin Dong's mother, Liu Yan!

"Reporting to the madam, the Xie Family is pursuing at full speed. I'm afraid they'll catch up soon." The guard captain tightened his grip on his steel blade, yet his heart was at peace. He smiled lightly at Liu Yan and the others. "I'll lead the remaining brothers to hold them off. You madams should take the chance to head to Ironwood Manor. That way, you'll be safe."

Liu Yan exchanged glances with the other women beside her, all silently nodding, then quietly touched the daggers hidden in their sleeves. This was the last resort—if escape proved impossible, they would never fall into enemy hands!

"Everyone, who will join me in covering the madams' retreat?"

Facing what was clearly a death sentence, a bright smile spread across his face, calm and warm, as if he had shed all burdens and shackles.

The guards all smiled. One by one, they left the formation and stood calmly beside their captain.

When the Lin Family had moved their dependents, knowing the risk of discovery grew with each passing day, they had still prioritized moving the families of guards and servants first, leaving their own people to cover the rear. Now... it was their turn.

At this moment, their hearts were spotless, their minds as still as water. The crescent-shaped hollows of their eyes held nothing but calm, and deep in their souls, there was purity without a ripple. Everything could be faced with serenity.

"Willing to die for the Lin Family!"

"Then die, all of you!" At that moment, from the woods dozens of meters behind, countless arrows suddenly shot out. But Xie Qian, who had shouted the order, was filled with confusion, disbelief, and fear.

"Gao Lao Village!" Lin Changqiang, who had just arrived in a rush, had no time to think. He directly channeled Yuan Power to activate the Universal Capsule. He didn't know why these guards could face death so fearlessly, but he knew they were the people he was meant to protect!

Under the infusion of Yuan Power, Gao Lao Village swelled in the wind. In an instant, it became a three-story villa about ten meters tall, crashing down to shield the guards.

"Dada da..."

A torrent of arrows rained down on Gao Lao Village's protective barrier, yet failed to stir even a single ripple.

"What... what is this?" For a moment, everyone stood dumbfounded, even the guards who had steeled themselves for a heroic death were taken aback.

"Xie Qian!" Lin Changqiang and Lin Dong landed one after the other in front of Gao Lao Village, an invisible Sha Qi spreading from both of them.

"Fire Cloud Art!" Without a word, Lin Changqiang drew his hands back to his waist in a Turtle Style Ki Blast stance, a dazzling crimson light blooming and flickering from his palms. The next instant, a terrifying pillar of fire half a meter wide blasted forth!

"Lin Dong!"

"Got it!"