Blood-Clothed Sect at the Gates

Days passed, and the atmosphere within the Lin Family grew increasingly tense. Lin Dong did not dare slack off in the slightest, training desperately.

That day, while Lin Changqiang and Lin Dong were sparring, the ground suddenly began to tremble faintly. Their expressions changed slightly, and they immediately rushed toward the gates of Ironwood Manor.

At the end of the road, a crimson tide suddenly appeared. Then, like a violent gale, it swept toward Ironwood Manor with overwhelming momentum.

"Blood-Clothed Sect at the gates! Members of the Lin Family, come out and die!"

A large force charged to the outskirts of Ironwood Manor like the wind. Then a furious roar, wrapped in Yuan Power, exploded above the manor like thunder.

Nearly a hundred figures dressed in red blocked the entrance to Ironwood Manor. An invisible murderous aura spread outward, sending chills down everyone's spines.

At the head of the crowd stood a burly, dark-skinned man who resembled an iron tower. Simply standing there without saying a word, he radiated an imposing presence.

The man wore a crimson shirt, his gaze cold and unreadable. His faintly reddened eyes added an extra hint of savagery to his demeanor. This man was Wei Chen, the Sect Master of the Blood-Clothed Sect!

Beside Wei Chen stood an elderly man with a hooked nose. He was evidently the Blood-Clothed Sect's offering master, whose strength was second only to Wei Chen's.

"The Blood-Clothed Sect has come to your gates, yet you still dare keep your doors shut? Are you courting death?" the lean old man sneered darkly.

Creak!

The gates of Ironwood Manor slowly opened. A large group of guards surged out and lined up on either side of the entrance, staring nervously at the Blood-Clothed Sect's men.

"I am Lin Zhentian, head of the Lin Family. May I ask why Sect Master Wei has come here today?"

Lin Zhentian slowly stepped out with Lin Xiao and the others, cupping his fists toward the dark-faced man.

"I never expected to find someone in the Lesser Yuan Dan Stage in such a backwater." Wei Tong gave Lin Zhentian an indifferent glance. "You should know why we are here. Gu Ying was the deputy sect master of our Blood-Clothed Sect, and he died at the hands of someone from your Lin Family. A life must be repaid with a life, and a debt with payment. Don't play dumb."

Seeing how resolute they were, Lin Zhentian's expression changed slightly. "Sect Master Wei, what exactly do you want from the Lin Family? Please speak plainly."

"At least you understand." Wei Tong's tone was exceedingly calm, yet everyone could easily sense his confidence. "Have the one who killed Gu Ying commit suicide to atone for his crime. Then the Lin Family will be absorbed into the Blood-Clothed Sect from this day forward. If you do that, I will let the matter rest."

"Who the hell do you think you are? You dare tell someone from my Lin Family to kill himself?"

Those outrageously arrogant words suddenly rang out. Everyone from the Blood-Clothed Sect stared ahead in disbelief, at the young man swaggering out from the crowd. The members of the Lin Family were even more terrified!

"Changqiang, get back here!" Lin Zhentian was stunned at first, then his eyes nearly split with fury. Just as he had expected, Wei Chen did not hesitate in the slightest. He suddenly burst forward, shooting toward Lin Changqiang like an arrow released from a bow.

Lin Dong, Lin Xiao, and the others immediately moved to intervene, but several figures from the Blood-Clothed Sect also darted out and charged toward them, clearly intending to prevent them from interfering.

Lin Changqiang showed no trace of nervousness as he watched the ferocious Wei Chen approach. He merely sneered and instantly took the Dragon Gallbladder Bright Silver Spear from his backpack.

"Seven Killings, Po Jun, Unity of Man and Heaven!"

Dazzling white light lit up at the spear tip and rapidly extended. In an instant, the spear, originally about two meters long, expanded to nearly three meters!

Pure Yuan Gang Qi surged as Lin Changqiang leaped fiercely toward Wei Chen, raising his spear high before smashing it down. At the same time, a nearly transparent blue barrier appeared around him!

Bang!

The spearhead and fist collided heavily. A powerful blast of air spread out in a ring, sweeping away every speck of dust nearby.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

A series of footsteps rang out. Then, both the Lin Family and the Blood-Clothed Sect members widened their eyes in utter disbelief.

The one forced back several steps was none other than Wei Chen, the Sect Master of the Blood-Clothed Sect. Meanwhile, the arrogant young man had not moved an inch!

Even Lin Changqiang himself was stunned. Although he was confident he could defeat Wei Chen, it should not have been this easy, right? Only after a moment did he remember the Body Protection Charm he had overlooked. He blinked, and his expression immediately turned solemn.

"Have you decided how you want to die?"

At that moment, Lin Changqiang looked as if the king of swagger himself had possessed him. His expression was cold and stern, his voice calm, as violent Yuan Power burst outward. Amplified by the Overbearing Path of Action and four Storm Greatswords, it became even more terrifying.

At the same time, a mysterious Rune slowly rose from above his head, swiftly transforming into a rapidly spinning vortex.

"Lesser Yuan Dan Stage, First Grade Talisman Master?!"

Wei Chen's breathing grew somewhat heavy. He could sense that his opponent's Yuan Power was slightly weaker than his own, but not by much. Of course, that was not the most important thing. The most important thing was... those bizarre techniques!

He looked at the three-meter spear in Lin Changqiang's hand and the strange mark beneath his feet, then recalled the fleeting golden and blue lights from their clash. A chill ran through his heart.

"What exactly are those things? Why can they not only take my attacks without a scratch, but also absorb my Yuan Power?"

Wei Chen's face darkened as his mind raced, but he could not find an answer.

His gaze flickered constantly, while everyone else fell silent. All eyes gathered on Wei Chen. What he did next would determine whether blood would flow like a river today or whether this would end hastily.

"Hmph, I'll remember this grudge!"

"Retreat!"

Wei Chen was also a decisive man. After throwing out that threat, he immediately turned his horse around and galloped toward the end of the road, taking the lead. Behind him, the Blood-Clothed Sect's forces did not dare linger and followed after him in unison.

Outside Ironwood Manor, Lin Changqiang narrowed his eyes as he watched the retreating force disappear into the distance.

"I really want to kill him right now..."

If he used every method at his disposal, Lin Changqiang was highly confident he could deal with Wei Chen within ten minutes. If he went all out and traded injury for injury, he would need only five.

But he had no way to ensure that Lin Xiao, Lin Zhentian, and the others would remain unharmed during those few minutes. After all, the enemy had four or five more Heavenly Origin Stage experts than they did.

That was only the first reason. The second was that if he killed Wei Chen now, it would surely become a case of killing the young and drawing out the old. When the Blood Wolf Gang, Wei Chen's backers, came after him, he would truly be out of options.

Lin Changqiang sighed helplessly, then dispersed the Yuan Power throughout his body. After putting the Dragon Gallbladder Bright Silver Spear back into his backpack, he finally turned to face the Lin Family.

!!!

"I... damn it! Why are you all standing so close to me?" He barely managed to swallow the classic curse that had nearly escaped his mouth, staring speechlessly at the people before him.

That was right. At some point, Lin Dong and the others had quietly gathered behind Lin Changqiang, staring at him with fervent expressions!

At that moment, Lin Changqiang felt as though he had used a Mid-Autumn Mooncake.