Over the next few days, Lin Dong entered the Ancestral Stone Space every day and used the Spirit Grinding Mill to temper his Spiritual Power.
Although the sensation of having his spirit ground to pieces was excruciating, every time he finished cultivating, he could feel his Spiritual Power growing denser and stronger. That filled him with motivation, and the next day he would return to the Spirit Grinding Mill.
This almost masochistic cultivation made Little Marten curse Lin Dong as a freak from the sidelines.
In between sessions, Lin Dong also noticed some marks left on the Spirit Grinding Mill. They were rather crude, but after studying them carefully, he still learned a great deal.
Little Marten was even more astonished. His horizons were far broader than Lin Dong's, and at a glance, he could tell those marks had been carved casually under conditions of extreme pain.
Little Marten even suspected that the great figure had recorded the process of having his spirit ground to pieces to distract himself from the pain, then incorporated it into his use of Spiritual Power.
After several days of cultivation, Lin Dong's Spiritual Power had grown considerably denser. On top of that, when Cang Wu had infused Spiritual Power into Lin Dong's talisman while helping him reform its seal, it had left a very distinct crack in his Mysterious Spirit Talisman.
"Whew. I'm just one step away from becoming a Two-Seal Symbol Master!"
In his room, Lin Dong slowly opened his eyes and breathed out gently. Sensing the state of the Life Spirit Talisman in his Numinous Palace, a relaxed smile appeared on his face.
By Lin Dong's estimate, it might take only a few more days for him to break through to Two-Seal Symbol Master.
Once he reached the Two-Seal Symbol Master level, Lin Dong believed he could handle Wei Tong, who was at Lesser Perfection of the Yuan Dan Realm, with ease, thanks to the domineering Devouring Power of his Life Spirit Talisman.
But just as a smile appeared on Lin Dong's face, the ground trembled slightly. A faint vibration reached him, making his expression change.
Sensing the disturbance, Lin Dong immediately leaped out of the room and onto the top of a nearby tree, spreading his Spiritual Power at once.
The next moment, Lin Dong's expression shifted. Through his Spiritual Power, he sensed a large group of people surging toward the Lin Family from the entrance to Qingyang Town like a flood.
When his Spiritual Power "saw" the red robes worn by the approaching group, Lin Dong let out a quiet sigh and murmured,
"The Blood Robe Sect came after all."
He had expected as much. After all, quite some time had passed since Gu Ying's death. Even so, Lin Dong couldn't help feeling a little wistful.
He knew it was unlikely, but he had kept hoping the Blood Robe Sect would arrive a few days later. That way, he could handle them himself and wouldn't have to trouble Senior Cang Wu.
But now, Lin Dong truly wasn't confident he could deal with Wei Tong, especially with so many secrets inside him. Perhaps he had no choice but to ask Senior Cang Wu to intervene.
With that in mind, Lin Dong didn't hesitate. He immediately leaped toward the entrance of the Lin Family Manor.
"The Blood Robe Sect is at your door! Lin Family, come out and meet your deaths!"
Amplified by Primal Energy, the voice rang out like a great bell across the sky above Qingyang Town, immediately alarming countless factions throughout the town.
Nearly every faction and expert turned their attention toward the Lin Family at once, and many began whispering among themselves.
"Tsk, the Lin Family really can't catch a break!"
"Tell me about it. They'd just dealt with the two jackals from the Lei and Xie Families, and now a tiger's come charging over from Yan City."
"Alas, this time the Lin Family probably won't escape their fate."
"Forget the Lin Family. Given the Blood Robe Sect's ways, they'll probably swallow up all of Qingyang Town."
Outside the Lin Family Manor in Qingyang Town, a large force of red-robed figures had surrounded the entire estate. The baleful aura rolling off their bright crimson robes was enough to make anyone's heart tremble.
At the head of the group, a burly man sat astride his horse. His skin was dark as iron, and he looked like an iron tower. Sitting on the horse, he made it seem almost undersized.
The man wore a blood-red robe. Above his sharp eyes, a pair of dark red brows gave off a bloody air.
This dark-skinned man was none other than Wei Tong, master of the Blood Robe Sect and a powerhouse at Lesser Perfection of the Yuan Dan Realm. Even throughout Yan City, he was a renowned expert.
At that moment, Wei Tong noticed the commotion around him, and a smug look crossed his face.
Someone had guessed correctly. He hadn't come today just for the Lin Family. He intended to swallow up all of Qingyang Town.
After all, the Yang Yuan Stone Mine was far too valuable. Unless he took over the entire town, Wei Tong wouldn't feel at ease.
Not long after the shout faded, the gates to the Lin Family Manor opened. A thin old man led several middle-aged men and a crowd of others out of the estate.
Looking at Wei Tong and the others on horseback, Lin Zhentian took a deep breath, clasped his hands toward them, and greeted them courteously.
"This old man is Lin Zhentian, head of the Lin Family. I have brought my clan members to pay my respects to Sect Master Wei Tong!"
Wei Tong said nothing. Instead, a gaunt old man sitting on a horse beside him watched Lin Zhentian and the others with a sinister expression. He gave a strange cackle and said,
"Ke ke! Your Lin Family certainly has some nerve. The master of my Blood Robe Sect came here in person with his men, yet you still kept your gates shut and didn't come out to welcome us. Do you think my Blood Robe Sect is beneath you?"
The gaunt old man's words made Lin Zhentian's expression change. He quickly looked up at Wei Tong, whose face remained impassive, and his heart sank.
Wei Tong had come in person and brought the sect's only Lesser Yuan Dan Realm honored elder with him. It looked as though the Blood Robe Sect was set on wiping out the entire Lin Family.
Lin Zhentian immediately signaled Lin Xiao and the others discreetly, then apologized to Wei Tong and the old man.
"I was discourteous just now. I apologize to Sect Master Wei Tong and to this honored elder."
"Spare me the empty words. You know why my Blood Robe Sect has come to your Lin Family. You're a Lesser Yuan Dan Realm expert yourself, so I'll give you some respect. Blood must be paid with blood. You should know what to do."
Wei Tong waved a hand and stared coldly at Lin Zhentian as he spoke without the slightest courtesy.
Lin Zhentian's expression changed again and again. He clenched his teeth, stepped forward, and began to explain.
" Sect Master Wei Tong, what happened that day was—"
"I told you why I came: to avenge him. I don't care whether Gu Ying brought his death upon himself. Since he died at the hands of your Lin Family, your Lin Family must answer for it!"
As soon as Wei Tong finished speaking, a chuckle rang out.
"Gu Ying deserved to die. Does that answer satisfy you?"
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