Settling Old Scores

"Martial arts?"

Hearing Lin Mang's words, Lin Yiqing's heart stirred. He glanced instinctively at Lin Yun, only to find him blushing with embarrassment, his head bowed as he stared at the ground, uneasy and guilt-ridden.

"Ha, I see. So Cousin Lin Yun intends to offer the gains from our exploration of that Relic Mansion to the clan." Lin Yiqing spoke with a hint of sarcasm.

The one who had demanded secrecy was Lin Yun. And now, the one who had taken the initiative to expose everything and report it was still Lin Yun. The irony was hard to miss!

Self-interest was tempting, and now that Lin Mang had arrived, he was sure to use this matter as an excuse to make trouble.

A glint flashed in Lin Yiqing's eyes. Then he said, "We agreed to study this cultivation method together. Since Cousin Lin Yun now intends to offer it to the clan, I'm all for it. But none of us are in the clan right now. Why don't we wait until the next clan gathering and present it to the family head in front of everyone? That way, the whole clan can share in the joy. What do you think?"

"Hmph! Why go to all that trouble? If you offer it to my father now, isn't that the same as offering it to the clan? There's no need for such a needless step!" Lin Hong, standing nearby, jumped in at once, unable to wait another moment.

Lin Yiqing quickly waved his hand in refusal. "That won't do. I'm offering it to the clan, not to my clan uncle. The clan gathering is more appropriate."

To be honest, after cultivating the Taiyin Scripture, which the Mysterious Light Orb had helped him modify, the Lesser Red Sun Scripture was no longer of much use to him. Still, simply handing it over would accomplish nothing.

Since Lin Mang and the others had come here, they had clearly arrived intending to attack. Whether he gave them the scripture or not, unless something changed, this fight was unavoidable.

In that case, he might as well see what tricks they had up their sleeves.

His mental power surged outward like a tide, and in an instant Lin Yiqing took in everything around him. He was checking whether his opponent had arranged for any other helpers.

"No one else. Looks like he came alone. Heh, he really thinks he has me in the palm of his hand!"

After searching the area, Lin Yiqing found no one else nearby and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. What he had feared most was that the remaining experts of the Lin Family would be there too.

Now that his opponent had come alone, this was an ideal place to kill him and bury the body!

Lin Yiqing quickly calculated the difference in strength between them. Lin Mang had broken through to the early Heaven Origin Realm two years ago. After his breakthrough, he had taken over the Lin Family's finances, so his strength could hardly have improved much over the past two years!

By contrast, Lin Yiqing was in the unprecedented Late Earth Yuan Stage. With the boost of his Greater Yin Qi and the Taiyin Scripture, not to mention the mental power of a Two-Seal Symbol Master, all he could say was that killing Lin Mang would be like slaughtering a dog!

"Enough talk. You're a clever man, so you should know that he who understands the times is a hero. Hand over every opportunity you've come across, then cripple your own cultivation. For the sake of our shared bloodline, I'll spare your life!"

Lin Mang stared at Lin Yiqing coldly. Then a powerful aura suddenly burst from within him, pressing down so heavily that the surrounding air seemed as dense as iron.

"Father, why leave him alive? Last time, he even dared to hurt me. After you cripple him, hand him over to me, and I'll take my time torturing him!"

Lin Hong's face was full of mockery and arrogance as he stared at Lin Yiqing. Contempt filled his eyes, along with streaks of venom. If Lin Yiqing really fell into his hands, he would wish he were dead.

"Ha, you actually have the nerve to talk about our shared bloodline? What a joke! You're one of the Lin Family's three Heaven Origin Realm experts, and you hold great power. Instead of leading the clan to a better future, you're trying to steal a junior's opportunity. Aren't you ashamed?"

As he spoke, torrents of incomparably powerful Yuan Power surged through Lin Yiqing's body. He stretched out a hand toward his opponent. "Come and fight!"

"Late Earth Yuan Stage!"

Feeling the sheer force of that Yuan Power, Lin Mang was stunned. What kind of opportunity could have advanced a youth's cultivation so far?

Two months ago, Lin Yiqing had been no more than an insignificant cultivator at the fourth level of the Body Tempering Realm. Now, in Qingyang Town, he could already be considered a powerful expert.

At the thought, jealousy and a trace of apprehension filled Lin Mang's heart!

"At this rate, that brat will reach the Heaven Origin Realm in less than two years. He might even become an Origin Pill expert someday."

Lin Mang's eyes flickered. Then uncontrollable killing intent surged in his heart. Their feud had already grown deep, and if Lin Yiqing escaped, he would surely become a source of endless trouble!

It was better to eliminate this threat once and for all!

"Arrogant!"

Lin Mang stamped hard on the ground. Like a cannonball, he appeared in front of Lin Yiqing in an instant!

"Boom!"

The domineering Yuan Power of a Heaven Origin Realm expert erupted from Lin Mang's body. He leapt forward and swung a palm at Lin Yiqing, Yuan Power gathering in his hand. He was clearly planning to kill him outright.

Lin Yiqing gave as good as he got. Yuan Power rapidly gathered in his dantian, and then his right fist slammed toward his opponent like a jade pillar holding up the heavens.

"Bang!"

Fist and palm collided, unleashing a violent surge of Yuan Power. The bricks and stones around them were swept away in an instant.

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

Unexpectedly, Lin Yiqing had only swayed slightly from their exchange, while Lin Mang was sent staggering several yards backward before he finally managed to steady himself.

"You bastard, die!"

Lin Mang's face flushed red, his eyes bloodshot with fury. He had never expected a mere Earth Origin Realm cultivator to be this troublesome!

Their brief exchange had made him lose face completely!

"Pure Yuan Finger!"

A brilliant radiance lit the tips of Lin Mang's fingers. Then, carrying Yuan Power sharp enough to cut through anything, they thrust forcefully toward Lin Yiqing!

"You old bastard, you're the one who deserves to die!"

A dark gleam flickered in Lin Yiqing's eyes. In that instant, his frenzied mental power crashed into Lin Mang's mind. How immense was the mental power of a Two-Seal Symbol Master? It burst Lin Mang's mind apart in an instant.

Lin Mang crumpled to the ground in a horrifying state. His eyes were bloodshot, and a mixture of red and white matter streamed from his seven orifices. He had died instantly.

A Two-Seal Symbol Master could already contend with an Origin Pill expert, let alone deal with an early Heaven Origin Realm cultivator like Lin Mang.

"Father!"

Just then, Lin Shan arrived late with a few lackeys, having only just received the news. He hadn't expected to see such a scene the moment he got there.

Lin Hong, standing nearby, had collapsed to the ground. His whole body shook like a sieve.

"If you'd known this would happen, why did you do it in the first place?"

Lin Yiqing glanced at the Lin brothers, who had no idea what to think. Then he moved his mental power, and a short blade that had fallen to the ground rose into the air. Like an arrow, it shot forward and pierced through both of their brows.

Suddenly, Lin Yiqing's heart stirred. A tall, dark figure was speeding toward him. He immediately went on guard.

Within a few breaths, the newcomer was standing before him. He was a man in his thirties or forties, with a somewhat slender build and a faintly sharp look between his brows. A boy of fourteen or fifteen was tucked beneath his arm. It was Lin Dong.