Master Gu

Lei Bao took his seat at the center of the hall, then announced with a smile, "Today is a joyous day for the Lei and Xie Families. Thank you all for honoring us with your presence at this wedding banquet. I will not waste any more words. Let us begin the wedding."

The proceedings that followed were rather dull. Lin Dong yawned repeatedly as he watched from the side, while Lin Changqiang looked at the stiff movements of Lei Li and Xie Yingying with some emotion.

Most of the guests knew that the Lei Family must have some ulterior motive behind this, so they had no real interest in the wedding between the two juniors and merely watched coldly. The few hotheads and gossip-lovers also stopped applauding under the strange atmosphere.

Amid this peculiar mood, Lei Li and Xie Yingying soon left the hall, and every gaze in the room turned toward Lei Bao.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Lei Bao smiled faintly. After draining the wine in his cup, he slowly rose to his feet. "Now that the wedding is over, it is time to discuss serious matters."

At this, Lin Changqiang and Lin Dong, who had nearly fallen asleep, immediately perked up and sat straight.

"To put it simply, my Lei Family intends to unify Qingyang Town and make everyone here subordinates of the Lei Family!"

As soon as his words fell, an exceptionally powerful surge of Yuan Power erupted from Lei Bao's body. In an instant, it blanketed the entire hall, terrifying many of those present.

"Yuan Dan Stage!"

Feeling that surging Yuan Power, cries of alarm rang through the hall. If Lei Bao had merely been at the Late Heavenly Origin Stage, he would naturally not have inspired such fear. But the Yuan Dan Stage was different.

"If you are willing, then everyone will be happy. If anyone is unwilling, you may leave at once. This old man will not force you."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions shifted constantly. Many cursed inwardly, yet none dared to truly turn around and leave. For a moment, the entire hall fell silent.

Seeing this, Lei Bao smiled smugly.

"In that case, excuse us. My Lin Family will take our leave first. Farewell."

Lei Bao's smile slowly froze at the calm voice. Then, his sinister and venomous gaze instantly settled on the members of the Lin Family.

Seeing the Lin Family members rise one after another, many guests were stunned. They had clearly not expected the Lin Family to dare show Lei Bao so little respect.

Over at the Mad Saber Martial Hall, Luo Cheng was also somewhat wary of Lei Bao's strength. However, after seeing the Lin Family take the lead, he gritted his teeth and stood up. "My Mad Saber Martial Hall has no such intention either."

Though the situation had developed beyond Luo Cheng's expectations, he absolutely did not want the Mad Saber Martial Hall he had built through painstaking effort to become the lackeys of the Lei and Xie Families.

Seeing the other two major forces refuse the Lei Family together, many people secretly cheered. Unless they had no other choice, who would be willing to become someone else's subordinate?

"Since the Lin Family disdains associating with my Lei Family, this old man will not force you." In the center of the hall, Lei Bao's face darkened as he stared at Lin Zhentian with blade-sharp eyes. After a moment, a chilling smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "However, your Lin Family must give this old man an explanation for killing Lei Mu and Xie Qian!"

The instant his final word fell, an immensely powerful aura erupted from Lei Bao's body, like a tornado tearing through a stable, nearly crushing the people nearby until they could not breathe.

Yet Lin Zhentian's expression remained as calm as ever. In the end, he could not help laughing. "Lei Bao, after all these years, you are still just as shameless."

"That day, Lei Mu and Lei Pi attacked Lin Dong. He injured one and killed the other in retaliation. Not long ago, Xie Qian led men to besiege members of my Lin Family and was blasted to death by Lin Changqiang." As he spoke, a trace of ferocity appeared in Lin Zhentian's eyes. "In the end, they brought it upon themselves!"

Lin Zhentian's words made many informed people in the hall sigh with emotion, while those who knew nothing stared at the two sides in shock.

"Lei Bao! Do you think that entering the Yuan Dan Stage means you can do whatever you please? You want to use my Lin Family as an example? Your Lei Family is not qualified!" Lin Zhentian's expression turned stern as he suddenly stepped forward. A powerful aura that had been suppressed for a long time exploded in every direction. A wooden table beside him was directly shattered into splinters, scattering across the floor.

"Another Yuan Dan Stage?!"

One figure after another stared at Lin Zhentian in horror. Only now did they understand why the Lin Family had shown no fear even when facing the combined forces of the Lei and Xie Families.

"This old fellow also broke through to the Yuan Dan Stage?!" Seeing the powerful aura erupting from Lin Zhentian, the people of the Lei and Xie Families were pale with shock, their earlier pride and confidence completely gone. Clearly, this was something they had never anticipated.

"Heh. I was wondering where the Lin Family got the nerve to attend the wedding banquet of my Lei and Xie Families. So this old ghost has also broken through to the Lesser Yuan Dan Stage." Lei Bao stared intently at Lin Zhentian, putting away his earlier complacency as a hint of gravity appeared on his face.

Lin Zhentian's sudden display of strength had caught him somewhat off guard. The Late Heavenly Origin Stage and the Lesser Yuan Dan Stage were entirely different concepts.

Even he found the situation somewhat troublesome now. Still, it was only somewhat troublesome. Cautious by nature, he had long made other preparations!

"System, display the Yuan Power cultivation and Spiritual Power cultivation of everyone nearby."

As soon as his words fell, densely packed yellow text appeared before Lin Changqiang's eyes.

Earthly Yuan Stage, mid-stage.

Heavenly Origin Stage, early-stage.

Ninth Layer of Body Tempering.

...

Lin Changqiang swept his gaze across the entire hall and quickly found two especially conspicuous lines of blue text amid the sea of yellow.

Gu Yuan, Two-Seal Symbol Master.

Lin Dong, One-Seal Talisman Master.

Lin Changqiang focused his eyes and saw a gray-clothed man seated with a smile at an inconspicuous table.

"Talisman Masters really are troublesome." Lin Changqiang frowned. If possible, he wanted to sneak directly behind the man and give him a vicious blow. But this man was not a novice like Lin Dong and himself. He had likely already spread his Spiritual Power throughout the surroundings as a warning.

"Lin Zhentian, hand over Lin Dong and Lin Changqiang, and my Lei Family can let bygones be bygones!" Lei Bao's tone grew increasingly vicious.

Yet Lin Zhentian did not care in the slightest. "Bullshit."

At this point, everyone understood that a great battle was about to begin.

"Huff."

Luo Cheng exhaled and finally made up his mind. He led the men of the Mad Saber Martial Hall to stand near Lin Zhentian, making his position clear.

Seeing this, Lei Bao's smile became even uglier. "Hall Master Luo, are you truly going to stand with the Lin Family?"

"If we stand with your Lei Family, then after the Lin Family is destroyed, we will be next, won't we?" Since he had already made his decision, Luo Cheng no longer hesitated.

"Good. Very good."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lei Bao, amid countless astonished gazes, respectfully clasped his hands toward an inconspicuous table. "I ask Master Gu to lend us his aid!"