Lin Hong's Provocation, Cold Air Erupts!

Lin Hong's Provocation, Cold Qi Erupts!

Lin Fan raised his brows slightly and recognized the youth before him at once. He was Lin Shan's biological older brother, Lin Hong.

Within the Lin Clan, aside from Lin Xia, Lin Hong was the most outstanding among the younger generation.

Lin Hong and Lin Shan's father, Lin Mang, managed the Lin Clan's finances, and the cultivation resources at his disposal far exceeded Lin Xiao's.

Thus, at only fifteen years old, Lin Hong had already reached the Body Tempering Stage Sixth Level! The current Lin Fan was no match for him.

However, Lin Fan was not worried.

Because Lin Fan knew that Lin Xia should be arriving soon and would stop Lin Hong from making a move.

Even if Lin Xia did not come, Lin Fan could still take a Body Tempering Pill and temper his body through battle, using Lin Hong's attacks to speed up the refinement of the medicine's power and improve himself! In fact, what happened next unfolded exactly as Lin Fan had expected.

The two sides first exchanged a round of verbal sparring, after which Lin Hong attacked Lin Fan.

However, Lin Hong had only launched one move when Lin Xia arrived in time and stopped him from continuing his attack on Lin Fan.

After Lin Xia reprimanded him a few times, Lin Hong prepared to leave with Lin Shan.

As he passed by Lin Fan, Lin Hong paused slightly and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "At the Clan Competition half a year from now, I'll place in the top three. Then I'll use that to ask Grandfather to agree to my engagement with Qing Tan. So take good care of Qing Tan for me—she's my future wife."

"You won't get the chance. I guarantee it!" Lin Fan smiled faintly and patted Lin Hong on the head as though he were treating a little brother.

Lin Fan knew Lin Hong was deliberately trying to provoke him, so naturally, he would not let the other party have his way.

Moreover, Lin Fan was completely certain that Lin Hong could never succeed, so he did not take Lin Hong's provocation to heart.

Lin Fan's words and actions filled Lin Hong with fury. Yet he ultimately did not act up, instead leaving with a dark expression as he hurried away with Lin Shan.

After Lin Hong left, Lin Xia encouraged Lin Fan a few times before departing as well.

Qing Tan watched Lin Xia's slender retreating figure with some envy. "Sister Lin Xia is so impressive. Even Lin Hong has to obediently lower his head before her. I wish I were as powerful as Sister Lin Xia."

Lin Fan chuckled. "Who told you to be lazy and not cultivate diligently?"

"Hehe, then I'll work harder at cultivation from now on," Qing Tan said with a giggle.

Lin Fan rubbed Qing Tan's head and smiled. "It's fine. Even if you don't have Sister Lin Xia's strength, Brother Lin Dong and I will protect you."

"I don't want you two to protect me. I'll cultivate hard and become stronger, then I'll protect you, Brother Lin Dong, Father, and Mother."

Qing Tan stuck out her little pink tongue, looking utterly adorable.

"Alright, then I'll wait for Qing Tan to protect me," Lin Fan said, his face full of smiles.

The two chatted and laughed as they headed back to their residence.

Lin Changqiang ran after them for some distance. Seeing the sky grow dark, he could only leave reluctantly.

When Lin Fan and Qing Tan returned home, Lin Xiao, Liu Yan, and Lin Dong were already waiting at the dining table.

"Fan'er, Qing Tan, you're back. Come eat," Liu Yan said softly upon seeing them return.

As she spoke, Liu Yan was about to serve Lin Fan and Qing Tan their food.

Lin Xiao sat at the table in silence, while Lin Dong winked at Lin Fan and Qing Tan as if he wanted to say something, but held himself back.

Lin Fan quickly said, "Thank you, Third Aunt. I'll do it myself."

Lin Fan's parents in this life had died when he was six years old, and he had lived with Lin Xiao and his wife for ten years.

Lin Xiao and his wife treated him as their own son, and in his heart, they were no different from his real parents.

Now that Lin Fan had awakened the memories of his past life, he cherished this bond even more.

As he spoke, Lin Fan took the rice ladle and served everyone.

Liu Yan felt deeply gratified as she watched the sensible Lin Fan.

"Fan'er, did you get into another fight with the Lin Shan brothers this afternoon?" After dinner, Lin Xiao set down his bowl and chopsticks and spoke calmly.

At those words, Qing Tan's body tensed involuntarily, while Liu Yan shook her head and shot the two of them a reproachful glance.

Qing Tan said timidly, "Father, this happened because of me..."

Lin Xiao glanced at them, his expression barely changing, before asking Lin Fan, "Fan'er, what level of Body Tempering are you at now?"

Lin Fan replied, "I broke through to the Body Tempering Stage Fifth Level two days ago."

"Fifth Level already. Not bad!" Lin Xiao nodded slightly, looking satisfied, but then said with some regret, "I've held you back. Otherwise, even Lin Hong probably wouldn't be your match."

Lin Fan hurriedly said, "Third Uncle, please don't say that. If it weren't for you and Third Aunt, even food and clothing would have been a problem for me, let alone cultivation."

After all, cultivation required resources!

Lin Fan did not want Lin Xiao to keep focusing on him, so he changed the subject. "By the way, Lin Dong seems to have broken through as well."

"Oh?" Lin Xiao's attention was indeed diverted. He looked at Lin Dong with some surprise. "Give me your hand."

Lin Dong nodded silently and held out his hand.

Lin Xiao grasped Lin Dong's arm and flicked it lightly. An unconcealable look of delight appeared on his normally calm face. "Body Tempering Stage Fourth Level?"

"Mm." Lin Dong nodded, looking slightly nervous.

It was only with the Stone Talisman's help that his cultivation speed had increased.

But he did not want to expose the Stone Talisman's existence. He had always felt that its secret was best kept hidden, or disaster might befall him!

"Haha, good!"

After receiving confirmation, Lin Xiao burst into laughter, his voice brimming with relief and joy.

Because of what had happened back then, Lin Xiao had always believed that he had caused the Lin Clan to lose a genius and ruined the family's hopes.

Thus, stubborn by nature, he had spent all these years wanting to give the Lin Clan another genius in return.

And Lin Dong was naturally the genius Lin Xiao had hoped for most! It now seemed that Lin Dong had not disappointed him.

Suddenly recalling something, Lin Xiao asked in slight confusion, "It seems you only advanced to the Body Tempering Stage Third Level around ten days ago. How did you advance again so quickly?"

Lin Dong attributed the reason for his increased cultivation to the Red Ginseng he had eaten earlier.

Liu Yan smiled at this point. "I've heard that some people are exceptionally gifted, and their bodies absorb spirit medicines far better than ordinary people's. Perhaps Dong'er is one of them."

Lin Xiao had initially been somewhat doubtful, but Liu Yan's words dispelled his suspicions. He did not ask further and took out another spirit medicine.

"This... a Second Grade Spirit Medicine, Golden Jade Branch?" Liu Yan covered her mouth in surprise upon seeing it.

"Hehe, I went into the mountains yesterday and got lucky enough to find this. Liu Yan, boil the Golden Jade Branch tomorrow and let Fan'er and Dong'er take it," Lin Xiao said with a smile.

However, his smile faded before long as his face turned pale, and he coughed violently twice.

"Third Uncle (Father), I don't need it. You should keep it to treat your injuries!"

Lin Fan and Lin Dong spoke in unison when they saw Lin Xiao's condition.

After some back-and-forth, Lin Xiao brought up the Clan Competition. In the end, he still insisted that Lin Fan and Lin Dong use the spirit medicine, then sent them back to rest.

Even after Lin Fan and the other two left the room, they could still hear Lin Xiao's hearty laughter from inside.

Lin Fan patted Lin Dong on the shoulder. "Lin Dong, work hard. At the Clan Competition, we must claim a place in the top three and live up to Third Uncle's expectations!"

"Mm." Lin Dong lightly clenched his fist and nodded firmly.

At the same time, the system notification sounded once more in Lin Fan's mind.

Ding! You touched Lin Dong and obtained Heaven Defying Comprehension! Note: Those with Heaven Defying Comprehension can easily understand and comprehend any cultivation method or martial art!

As Lin Fan secretly rejoiced at the system reward, he suddenly felt a chill sweep over him from the side. He hurriedly turned his head to look.

Qing Tan's delicate little face had turned deathly pale. Threads of visible cold air slowly seeped out from her body, causing fine ice chips to form on the nearby ground!