Another Dispute

"Ancient Whirlpool Rune."

Lin Yiqing gently scraped the moss from the old wood. A few faint runes were visible beneath it, though he had no idea where the stall owner had found this thing.

He hadn't expected to obtain it by such a twist of fate, and couldn't help feeling excited.

He vaguely remembered reading that this rune was a Life Spirit Rune, an exceedingly rare treasure, and one of the greatest opportunities in Qingyang Town.

But since he'd been lucky enough to come across it, it naturally belonged to him.

"Earth Origin Realm..."

Lin Yiqing couldn't help sighing. In a short time, thanks to luck and a little foresight, he had gained quite a few opportunities. Unfortunately, most of them were still beyond his reach.

He had cultivation techniques, manuals for training his spiritual energy, and now he had even obtained a Life Spirit Rune.

Many people spent their whole lives without ever obtaining the things he now had in his possession. All he had to do was wait until he entered the Earth Origin Realm.

He was sure that by then, his strength would undergo a complete transformation!

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Lin Yiqing took a wooden box from his Universe Bag and carefully opened it. Inside lay the Azure Glaze Fruit he had acquired in the trade.

A faint fragrance immediately filled the air. The Azure Glaze Fruit was a vivid green all over, its flesh as translucent as jade. It was quite remarkable.

Lin Yiqing pondered for a moment, then took out one of the fruits and gently placed it in his mouth. It tasted cool and slightly astringent, and a chill soon spread deep into his lungs and viscera.

Its potent medicinal power coursed through his body. Streams of warmth nourished his meridians and bones, bringing such comfort that he could hardly resist falling asleep.

Warmth spread through him as the Origin Power Seed in his marrow continued to grow, growing denser by the moment.

Feeling that the Origin Power Seed was on the verge of breaking free from his bones, Lin Yiqing immediately swallowed another Azure Glaze Fruit.

The potent medicine brought a flush to his face. Taking two Third-Grade Spirit Herbs at once was a tremendous challenge, even for him.

Sweat soaked his clothes, and Lin Yiqing's body began to tremble. The vibrations within him grew ever stronger—this was the sign that he was about to break through to the seventh layer of the Body Tempering Realm.

"Is it finally about to break free from my bones?"

At the realization, Lin Yiqing's face lit up with joy. Once the Origin Power Seed broke free of his bones, it would flow into his meridians. Then he would be able to absorb the Origin Energy of heaven and earth to cultivate.

"Crack!"

His body shook more and more violently. Suddenly, the sound of something breaking came from within him.

In a daze, Lin Yiqing saw a milky-white orb of light, about the size of a walnut, slowly moving through his meridians. It was an astonishing sight.

The white orb gave off a strange pull. The Origin Energy of heaven and earth around him seemed drawn to it, gradually entering his body with each breath and joining the flow.

"Body Tempering Realm, seventh layer!"

"So this is the Origin Power Seed? Truly extraordinary."

Lin Yiqing smiled as he felt the Origin Energy circulating within his body. If he faced his former self now, he'd dare say he could take on five of him!

He gazed into the distance. The lush green forest stretched out like an ocean, its trees thick with leaves and radiating a soothing coolness. Sunlight streamed through the layered branches like strands of golden sand, spilling over the grass.

Lin Yiqing stood beneath the shade of a tree. He never tired of the beautiful mountain scenery, and always lingered to admire it after finishing his cultivation.

"Penetrating Fist, three rings? How is that possible?!"

Suddenly, an uproar rose from nearby, jarringly disrupting the tranquil scene. Lin Yiqing couldn't help growing curious. He wondered who had gotten into a fight.

"It wasn't three rings—it was four!"

Lin Yiqing walked toward the voices. Not far away, a youth dressed in black was fighting Lin Shan, with many Lin Family disciples gathered around them.

"Is Lin Shan throwing his weight around again?"

Lin Yiqing's expression turned displeased. Lin Shan was truly despicable. He was so vicious at such a young age; he would surely become another scourge of Qingyang Town.

"Huh? Isn't that Lin Dong?"

Lin Yiqing spotted Lin Qingtan and Lin Changqiang among the crowd. Both looked rather bedraggled. Lin Qingtan clutched a First-Grade Spirit Herb, a Red Sun Grass, in her hand, tears welling in her big eyes. Lin Changqiang was also drenched in sweat, his clothes smeared with dirt.

Against Lin Dong's four-ring Penetrating Fist, Lin Shan had been driven back step by step. He staggered, on the verge of falling, when a youth of fifteen or sixteen dressed in white grabbed him and stepped forward to confront Lin Dong.

"That must be Lin Shan's genius older brother, Lin Hong. Looks like Lin Dong and the others are in for trouble."

Seeing Lin Hong about to attack Lin Dong, Lin Yiqing's gaze turned cold. Lin Shan had come looking for trouble with him last time, and now he was bullying someone younger. It was simply infuriating.

"Everyone, stop!"

Just then, a pretty young woman in red parted the crowd and strode out, anger written across her lovely face.

Seeing how imposing she was, Lin Yiqing stopped to watch. She looked to be seventeen or eighteen, a little older than the others present. Though she was a girl, her features were full of heroic spirit.

"Sister Lin Xia!"

The Lin Family disciples cried out one after another, clearly showing her great respect.

Lin Xia reprimanded Lin Hong, and soon the group dispersed in ill humor.

Before leaving, however, Lin Hong actually told Lin Dong that he intended to marry Lin Qingtan. When Lin Yiqing heard this, he nearly burst out laughing.

He vaguely remembered that Lin Hong had been beaten black and blue by Lin Dong during the family tournament because of this very matter. Seeing him practically offering his face to be slapped, Lin Yiqing couldn't help finding it absurd.

"It's you! You actually dare show your face in front of me again. Let's see who can save you today!"

Lin Shan glanced around and spotted Lin Yiqing nearby. He immediately strode over, his face dark as he shouted at him.

"Little brother, who's this?"

Having failed to teach Lin Dong and the others a lesson, Lin Hong was seething with anger. Seeing Lin Shan's expression, he came over at once, his face darkening as he asked.

Lin Shan quietly told him about his earlier dispute with Lin Yiqing. How much he'd embellished the story, Lin Yiqing had no way of knowing.

"Hmph! Since when does a bastard from a branch family dare defy the authority of the main line? If I don't break all four of his limbs today, how can I warn these insolent underlings against defying their betters?"

Lin Hong's face twisted with malice, and killing intent flashed in his eyes. He gestured to the surrounding Lin Family disciples, who closed in around Lin Yiqing.

Lin Dong and the others changed expressions and immediately stepped forward. "Lin Hong, if you've got the guts, fight me at the clan tournament! What kind of skill is it to bully your own family?"

"When the clan tournament comes, I'll deal with you then. But right now, I'm punishing a branch-family member for his disrespect. What, are you going to stop me?"

Lin Hong looked at Lin Dong in displeasure as he spoke.

"You!"

Lin Dong's expression turned anxious, and he was about to charge forward when Lin Xia reached out and stopped him. Under his confused gaze, Lin Xia slowly shook her head. Clearly, she didn't want to get involved.

"Big brother, stop wasting your breath. Let me handle him! I'll make this brat kneel and apologize!"

Lin Shan rolled his wrists, then sprang up and swung a fist at Lin Yiqing with all his might.

"First-Grade Martial Art, Falling Rock Fist!"