Ironwood Manor was a well-known estate near Qingyang Town, located roughly half a day's journey from the town.
When the Lin Family party arrived at Ironwood Manor, they saw that the manor gates were tightly shut. Faintly, they could hear shouts coming from within.
"The gates are shut tight. It looks like we won't be able to complete the handover peacefully..." Lin Xiao frowned as he gazed at the closed gates.
Lin Zhentian nodded slightly, then waved his hand. The Lin Family troops behind him immediately grew vigilant as well.
Clanging sounds rang out as they drew their glinting swords from their horses. Their expressions turned cold, and faint killing intent began to rise from them.
"Lin Xiao, take some men to call on the gate first." Lin Zhentian narrowed his eyes as he stared at the gates of Ironwood Manor.
"Understood." Lin Xiao answered, then urged his horse forward. Dozens of trails of yellow dust followed behind him, and the group soon arrived beneath the tightly shut manor gates.
"Stop right there! This is Lei Family Manor. No one may enter without permission!"
When Lin Xiao and the others reached the gates, flickers of cold light appeared atop the towering walls. Someone shouted down at them.
"Have the person in charge here come out. Today, the Lin Family has come to take over Ironwood Manor!"
Lin Xiao shouted in a deep voice. His powerful voice spread like thunder, ringing throughout the entire manor.
"Heh, your Lin Family is rather impatient, isn't it? If you want to complete the handover, go to the Lei Family and settle the formalities first, then come back here."
Two figures appeared atop the wall, accompanied by a voice laced with mockery.
"Lei Nuo. Lei Ying."
Lin Xiao frowned slightly as he looked at the two men on the wall. Both were core members of the Lei Family, and both were Heaven Origin Realm experts. It seemed the Lei Family had been prepared for this long ago.
"Heh heh, Brother Lin Xiao, since my Lei Family said we would hand Ironwood Manor over to your Lin Family, we will naturally keep our word. Why are you in such a rush? Once we finish handling the remaining matters inside the manor, we will naturally hand Ironwood Manor over to you."
A man dressed in gray smiled as he spoke from atop the wall.
"Lei Ying, enough nonsense. Open the gates immediately and complete the handover, or we'll force our way in!"
After seeing the Lei Family's reaction, Lin Zhentian became even more certain of Lin Yi's guess. He immediately shouted angrily at the gray-clad man on the wall.
As he spoke, Lin Zhentian and Lin Yi led the remaining group rapidly toward the manor gates.
"Not good! Lin Zhentian actually came too!" When Lei Ying saw Lin Zhentian arrive, his expression changed drastically. With a slightly panicked but defiant look, he said, "Patriarch Lin, are you planning to start a war with my Lei Family?"
Lin Zhentian said coldly, "The half-month deadline has passed, yet your Lei Family still refuses to hand over Ironwood Manor. You broke the agreement first, so don't blame this old man for showing you no courtesy! As for starting a war between our families, can you make that decision in Lei Bao's place?"
Lei Ying and Lei Nuo exchanged a glance, their expressions extremely ugly.
Lei Ying's eyes flickered. After a long moment, he said, "Patriarch Lin, how about this? Wait here for a moment. I'll immediately send someone back to ask our patriarch for instructions."
Lin Yi raised his brows slightly and reminded Lin Zhentian, "Grandfather, they're obviously stalling for time. To prevent further complications, we should just attack and force our way in!"
Lin Zhentian nodded slightly, then shouted, "Lei Nuo, Lei Ying, if you don't open the gates within three breaths, this old man will lead his men in by force!"
Lei Ying and Lei Nuo exchanged a glance, then asked anxiously, "What do we do? The Lin Family won't be easy to fool!"
Lei Nuo said, "The patriarch's orders haven't been carried out yet. There's no choice—we can only hold them off for a while and send someone back to report."
Lei Ying nodded. He immediately gave a few instructions to a man beside him, sending him away through the back gate.
Lin Yi stood beneath the manor gates and spread out his Spiritual Energy, clearly sensing everything that happened.
"Grandfather, they intend to resist to the bitter end, and they've sent someone to call for reinforcements. I'll stop that messenger!"
Lin Yi said this to Lin Zhentian. Without waiting for his response, he left the group, locked onto the man who had departed earlier with his Spiritual Energy, and circled around along the manor wall.
"Qin Ying, take two men and follow Yi'er. Protect him well." Seeing this, Lin Zhentian hurriedly instructed a Lin Family guard.
The Lin Family guard named Qin Ying answered, then quickly chased after Lin Yi with two companions.
Then Lin Zhentian shouted, "Lei Ying, Lei Nuo, since you're so stubborn, don't blame this old man! Attack!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Zhentian leaped from his horse and flew straight toward Lei Ying atop the wall.
Lin Xiao followed close behind and went after Lei Nuo.
In an instant, four Heaven Origin Realm experts began a fierce battle atop the manor wall.
The Lin Family guards and the Lei Family guards also clashed in a chaotic melee.
Meanwhile, Lin Yi and the other three quickly caught up with the messenger Lei Ying had sent out earlier.
"Young Master Lin Yi, this man is Lei Hu, a Earth Yuan Stage expert from the Lei Family." After seeing the man's face clearly, Qin Ying introduced him quietly to Lin Yi.
When Lei Hu saw Lin Yi and the other three blocking his path, his expression changed immediately. He shouted harshly, "What are you trying to do?"
Lin Yi said indifferently, "You should stay here obediently and wait until everything is settled."
Lei Hu's expression darkened, and he sneered, "You think you can stop me?"
As soon as his voice fell, Lei Hu stomped heavily on the ground. Yuan Power surged violently from within him, and his body shot toward Lin Yi like a cannonball, instantly closing the distance.
In the next moment, Lei Hu seemed to transform into a killing machine. His fists, elbows, fingers, legs—in fact, every part of his body—erupted with formidable force. His attacks fell upon Lin Yi like a rainstorm!
"Mid Earth Yuan Stage—Thunderstorm Strike... No, Young Master Lin Yi, dodge!"
Qin Ying's face filled with urgency. He punched toward Lei Hu's back, hoping to divert the attack and save Lin Yi.
Lei Hu ignored Qin Ying's attack. He focused solely on Lin Yi before him, a savage smile spreading across his face. "Die!"
"You brought this upon yourself."
Lin Yi shook his head slightly and shifted his body to the side, easily avoiding Lei Hu's attack. At the same time, he brought the fingers of his right hand together. Powerful Yuan Power surged as his two fingers became as sharp as a blade's tip, stabbing forcefully toward Lei Hu's forehead.
It was the Lin Family's only fourth-grade martial art—Pure Yuan Finger!
Lin Yi's two fingers struck Lei Hu's forehead with a dull thud. The Yuan Power at his fingertips then erupted, easily piercing through Lei Hu's skull!
Lei Hu died instantly. His corpse collapsed limply to the ground, his eyes wide open in disbelief.
"Gasp! Young Master Lin Yi is so powerful!"
Qin Ying and the two guards could not help sucking in a cold breath at the sight. Their hearts were filled with immense shock.
"All right, let's go inside and see what's happening." Lin Yi calmly waved his hand, then called for Qin Ying and the other two guards. Together, they climbed over the wall and stormed into Ironwood Manor.
They soon discovered that the Lei Family's people were chopping down Ironwood and even splashing foul-smelling chemicals across the ground.
"These filthy bastards!"
Qin Ying, behind Lin Yi, gritted his teeth and cursed furiously at the sight.
Lin Yi had expected this. Fortunately, they had arrived early, and the Lei Family had not destroyed much yet.
"Stop them!" Lin Yi ordered, charging straight toward the Lei Family crowd.
Qin Ying and the two guards hurried forward to help as well.
Before long, all the Lei Family workers were restrained. As for the Lei Family guards who resisted, they were naturally killed.
At the manor entrance, Lin Zhentian and Lin Xiao also successfully fought their way inside with their men.
While Lin Zhentian and Lin Xiao dealt with the aftermath, Lin Yi quietly headed deeper into Ironwood Manor, wanting to see whether he could find the Yang Yuan Stone vein.
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