Arrival at Ironwood Manor, Seizing Ironwood Manor

Since Liu Yuan had already put it that way, Lin Dong naturally had no reason to refuse.

Besides.

He had just witnessed the Phantom Spirit Cat's scalp-numbing terrifying strength firsthand.

With such a powerful helper joining them, this trip to Ironwood Manor would undoubtedly be like adding wings to a tiger.

"Since that's the case, then thank you, Brother Liu Yuan!"

Lin Dong rose to his feet and solemnly cupped his fists toward Liu Yuan, his eyes full of gratitude.

Liu Yuan simply smiled and waved his hand, still looking calm and composed.

"Why be so polite between brothers?"

With that said.

Liu Yuan patted the Phantom Spirit Cat's little rear.

"Go on, follow your Brother Lin Dong."

"If you perform well, I'll give you an extra meal when you return."

"Meow!"

At the words "extra meal," the Phantom Spirit Cat's sapphire-like eyes instantly lit up.

It nodded in a remarkably human-like manner, then leaped lightly onto Lin Dong's shoulder.

Though it still maintained a measure of arrogance toward humans other than Liu Yuan, it decided to lower itself for the time being for the sake of a sumptuous meal.

Flattered, Lin Dong straightened his back, afraid he might accidentally make this "Lord Cat" fall.

Afterward.

The two chatted for a few more moments and finished the tea in their cups.

Seeing that it was getting late, Lin Dong bade Liu Yuan and Qing Tan farewell, taking the Phantom Spirit Cat and Little Yan with him.

That afternoon.

Outside the Lin Family gates, crowds gathered and banners fluttered.

For this trip to Ironwood Manor to take over the estate, the Lin Family had sent out its finest.

Not only were the two Heavenly Origin Realm experts, Lin Xiao and Lin Ken, personally leading the group, but they were also accompanied by dozens of skilled fighters.

Clearly.

Old Master Lin Zhentian was determined to reclaim Ironwood Manor this time.

When Lin Dong returned to the group with the Phantom Spirit Cat on his shoulder, it drew some curiosity from the clan members. However, everyone assumed it was merely a new pet Lin Dong had acquired and paid it little attention.

Only Lin Xiao gave it an extra look, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes.

With his cultivation, he could vaguely sense an extremely restrained yet dangerous aura from that seemingly lazy little White Cat.

But with more pressing matters at hand, he did not ask further.

With a single command.

The large force set off in grand fashion, racing toward Ironwood Manor.

Ironwood Manor was located in a mountain basin outside Qing Yang Town. It produced a special kind of timber known as "ironwood," which was as hard as iron and excellent for crafting weapons and armor.

It was also one of the Lei Family's major economic pillars.

After a period of travel.

About an hour later, a vast manor built against the mountain came into view.

However.

When the Lin Family arrived before Ironwood Manor's gates, they were stopped by a group of hostile-looking Lei Family guards armed with weapons.

The gates were tightly shut, and security was strict.

Above the gates, on the watchtower, two figures looked down from on high.

They were Lei Nuo and Lei Ying of the Lei Family.

"Lin Xiao? Lin Ken?"

"You brought so many people charging menacingly into my Ironwood Manor. What exactly do you intend to do?"

Lei Nuo stood with his arms crossed, a mocking sneer on his lips as he knowingly asked the question.

Lin Xiao's face darkened as he shouted coldly.

"Lei Nuo, stop playing dumb!"

"At the hunting competition, your Lei Family lost to our Lin Family. It was clearly written in black and white that Ironwood Manor now belongs to the Lin Family!"

"We have come today to take over the manor. Open the gates at once!"

Hearing this, Lei Nuo unhurriedly picked at his ear and said with a shameless expression.

"Oh, Brother Lin Xiao, why are you in such a hurry?"

"We never said we wouldn't hand it over."

"But you know, Ironwood Manor has been managed by our Lei Family for many years. There are numerous accounts to sort through, and the supplies also need to be inventoried."

"We've been working hard to organize everything these past few days. Once it's done, we'll naturally notify you to come take it over."

"You're so eager to barge in now. If you mess up the accounts and something goes missing, who will be responsible?"

This was clearly a delaying tactic.

"Bullshit!"

The hot-tempered Lin Ken immediately cursed.

"Don't try that crap on me!"

"How many days has it been already? Even a mountain of gold should have been inventoried by now!"

"You're obviously trying to renege on the deal!"

"Charge in!"

At Lin Ken's command, the Lin Family fighters behind him immediately drew their weapons, ready to force their way through.

The Lei Family guards showed no weakness either. Each of them stood viciously before the gate, and the two sides faced off with drawn weapons as the atmosphere instantly grew tense to the extreme.

Just as the two sides were deadlocked.

The Phantom Spirit Cat, which had been resting with its eyes closed on Lin Dong's shoulder, suddenly opened its eyes.

Its ears twitched slightly, as though it had heard some faint movement.

Then.

"Meow!"

It cried out, flashed forward, leaped from Lin Dong's shoulder, and darted into the dense forest to one side.

"Little White?"

Lin Dong froze for a moment.

What was the little fellow going off to do?

Before he could react, a white blur flashed past moments later as the Phantom Spirit Cat returned.

But this time, it did not leap back onto his shoulder. Instead, it stood at the edge of the forest, urgently meowing twice at Lin Dong before gesturing deeper into the woods.

Those intelligent eyes were filled with anxiety.

"You want me to follow you?"

Lin Dong's heart stirred.

Had the little fellow discovered something?

Thinking this.

Lin Dong glanced at his father and uncle, who were confronting the Lei Family and clearly would not start fighting anytime soon, then made a swift decision.

Taking Little Yan with him, he quietly slipped away from the crowd and followed the Phantom Spirit Cat.

The Phantom Spirit Cat was incredibly fast, weaving through the forest like the wind.

Riding Little Yan, Lin Dong followed close behind.

One man, one cat, and one tiger swiftly traveled through the rugged mountain forest.

Before long.

Led by the Phantom Spirit Cat, they bypassed the high walls at the front of Ironwood Manor and arrived at a hidden corner behind the side of the estate.

There was a seemingly messy thicket here, but after the Phantom Spirit Cat pushed aside several dead branches, it revealed an abandoned breach concealed beneath weeds.

"There's actually a way in like this?"

Lin Dong was secretly amazed.

The Phantom Spirit Cat's senses truly were extraordinary. It had even found such a hidden dog hole.

Passing through the breach, Lin Dong successfully infiltrated Ironwood Manor.

However.

When he saw the scene before him, a nameless fury instantly rushed to his head.

In an ironwood grove not far ahead.

More than a dozen Martial Artists dressed in Lei Family attire were busily moving about with large wooden basins in their hands.

The basins were filled with black liquid that gave off a pungent, foul stench.

"Hurry up! Move faster!"

"Pour all this Black Corpse Water in there!"

"Rot away the roots of these ironwood trees!"

"Hmph, even if we give this manor to the Lin Family, we'll make sure they get a ruined estate!"

A Lei Family Steward who appeared to be the leader was viciously directing his men.

The Lei Family Martial Artists mercilessly splashed basin after basin of Black Corpse Water onto the roots of the precious ironwood trees that had grown for decades.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...

Waves of teeth-grating corrosion sounded.

The trees, once Full of Vitality and hard as iron, rapidly blackened and rotted upon contact with the Black Corpse Water, with curls of Green Smoke rising from their bark.

Even the surrounding soil was corroded into a patch of lifeless scorched earth.

"These bastards!"

Seeing this, Lin Dong trembled with rage, his eyes blazing with fury.

Ironwood Manor was a place where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathered, and these ironwood trees were immensely valuable.

To prevent the Lin Family from profiting, these people from the Lei Family were actually using such despicable and sinister methods to destroy this treasure land.

They were utterly insane!

"Since you don't want to live, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"

Killing intent surged in Lin Dong's eyes.

However.

Before he could make a move.

The Phantom Spirit Cat, which had long been unable to suppress its killing intent, moved even faster than he did!

"Meow—!!!"

A sharp, piercing cat's cry filled with viciousness suddenly rang out.

The next moment.

A streak of white lightning tore through the air!

It was so fast that even its afterimage could not be seen!

Splat! Splat!

Two dull sounds of blades piercing flesh rang out almost simultaneously.

The two Body Refining Seventh Layer Martial Artists who were carrying basins and preparing to pour the Black Corpse Water suddenly stiffened.

Several deep, bone-revealing bloody gashes had appeared on their throats at some unknown moment!

Blood gushed out like fountains!

They did not even have time to scream before their bodies collapsed limply to the ground. The wooden basins in their hands overturned, spilling Black Corpse Water everywhere and corroding their corpses with sizzling sounds.

"Who goes there?!"

This sudden change instantly alerted the remaining Lei Family Martial Artists who were carrying out the destruction.

The leading steward abruptly turned around. Seeing the two subordinates lying in pools of blood, his pupils contracted sharply.

When he saw the little White Cat standing beside the corpses and elegantly licking the blood from its claws, he flew into a rage.

"Where did this beast come from?!"

"How dare it kill members of my Lei Family?!"

"Kill it!"

At his furious roar, the remaining dozen or so Lei Family Martial Artists drew their weapons and surrounded the Phantom Spirit Cat with savage expressions.

From the shadows of the forest.

Lin Dong slowly walked out.

Looking at those loathsome Lei Family Martial Artists, he gave a cold smile and waved toward Little Yan, who had long been ready behind him.

"Little Yan!"

"Since these scum don't want to live."

"Then join Little White..."

"And send them on their way!"

"Roar!!!"