Settling Old Scores

"Martial arts?"

Hearing Lin Mang's words, Lin Yiqing's heart stirred. He subconsciously glanced at Lin Yun, only to find the latter blushing, head bowed toward the ground, looking anxious and filled with guilt.

"Heh, so that's how it is. It seems Cousin Lin Yun intends to offer the spoils from our exploration of that Relic Mansion to the clan," Lin Yiqing said with a hint of sarcasm.

The one who demanded secrecy was Lin Yun, and now, the one actively leaking the information to report it was also Lin Yun. One had to admit, it was truly ironic!

Greed stirs the heart. Since Lin Mang had come forward, this matter would inevitably become his excuse to stir up trouble.

A sharp glint flashed in Lin Yiqing's eyes as he spoke, "We agreed to study this technique together. Since Cousin Lin Yun now wishes to offer it to the clan, I am in full agreement. However, since we are currently not in the clan, why not wait until the next clan assembly? We can present it to the Clan Head in front of all the clansmen, allowing everyone to share in this joy. What do you think?"

"Hmph! Why go to such lengths? Isn't offering it to my father the same as offering it to the clan? Why make such an unnecessary fuss!" Lin Hong, standing to the side, couldn't wait to jump in.

Lin Yiqing waved his hand in refusal, "That won't do. I intend to offer it to the clan, not to the Clan Uncle. It is more appropriate at the clan assembly."

Truth be told, after practicing the Taiyin Scripture modified by the Mysterious Light Orb, the Lesser Red Sun Scripture was of no use to him. However, giving it away for nothing was equally meaningless.

Since Lin Mang and his group had come here, it meant they had already intended to strike. Regardless of whether he gave it to them or not, unless something unexpected happened, this battle was unavoidable.

Since that was the case, he might as well see what kind of trick they were playing.

His mental energy surged out like a tide, and Lin Yiqing instantly took in the surrounding scene, checking to see if they had set up any other reinforcements.

No one else. It seems he came alone. Heh, he really thinks he has me cornered!

After a thorough search, there was no one else nearby. Lin Yiqing couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief; his biggest worry was that the remaining experts of the Lin Family were also on the scene.

Now that the man had come alone, this was a perfect place to kill him and bury the body!

Lin Yiqing quickly calculated the gap in combat power between them. Lin Mang had broken through to the Heaven Origin Realm two years ago and had taken control of the Lin Family's finances afterward; his strength couldn't have improved much in these two years!

As for himself, he was at the unprecedented late stage of the Earth Origin Realm. With the support of the Greater Yin Qi and the Taiyin Scripture, not to mention the mental energy of a Second Seal Rune Master, he could only say: killing him would be like slaughtering a dog!

"Enough talk. You are a smart man; you should know that those who submit to circumstances are heroes. Hand over all the fortunes you possess and cripple your own cultivation. For the sake of our kinship, I can spare your life!"

Lin Mang looked at Lin Yiqing with cold eyes. Suddenly, a powerful aura erupted from within his body, pressing down on the surrounding air until it felt as heavy as steel.

"Father, why spare his life? Last time, he dared to injure me. After you cripple him, please hand him over to me so I can deal with him slowly!"

Lin Hong wore a mocking expression, looking at Lin Yiqing with arrogance and disdain. His eyes were filled with malice; clearly, if he fell into their hands, he would wish for death.

"Heh, you actually have the face to speak of kinship? How laughable! As one of the three Heaven Origin Realm experts of the Lin Family, holding great power, you don't think about leading the clan to prosperity, but instead, you move to snatch the fortune of a junior. Have you no shame?"

As he spoke, an incomparably vigorous Yuan power surged within Lin Yiqing. He reached out toward them and said, "Come, let us fight!"

"Late stage of the Earth Origin Realm!"

Feeling the vigor of that Yuan power, Lin Mang was secretly horrified. What kind of fortune could allow a youth's cultivation to progress to this extent!

One had to know that two months ago, Lin Yiqing was merely a novice at the fourth stage of the Body Tempering Realm. Now, he could already be called an expert in Qingyang Town.

Thinking of this, his heart was filled with jealousy and a trace of dread.

At this rate of cultivation, I fear he will enter the Heaven Origin Realm in less than two years, or perhaps even become a Yuan Dan expert in the future.

Lin Mang's eyes flickered, and an uncontrollable murderous intent surged in his heart. The grievances between them were already deep; if he let the boy escape, it would surely lead to endless trouble!

It was better to nip this threat in the bud.

"Arrogant!"

Lin Mang stomped heavily on the ground, and his entire body shot toward Lin Yiqing like a cannonball!

"Boom!"

The tyrannical Yuan power of a Heaven Origin Realm expert erupted from Lin Mang's body. He swung a palm at Lin Yiqing, Yuan power gathering in his hand; he clearly intended to kill him on the spot.

Lin Yiqing was not to be outdone. The Yuan power in his dantian gathered rapidly, and he threw a right punch that struck out like a pillar of jade.

"Bang!"

The collision of fist and palm kicked up a violent wave of Yuan power, and the surrounding bricks and stones were instantly blown away.

"Thud, thud, thud!"

Unexpectedly, after the clash, Lin Yiqing only swayed slightly, while Lin Mang was forced back several yards before he could steady himself.

"Bastard, die!"

Lin Mang's face turned red and his eyes glowed green; he was enraged to the extreme. He hadn't expected a mere Earth Origin Realm cultivator to be this troublesome!

This exchange had made him lose all face!

"Pure Origin Finger!"

A brilliant luster lit up at the tips of Lin Mang's fingers, and then, carrying a sharp and unstoppable Yuan power, he pointed heavily at Lin Yiqing!

"Old thief, you are the one who should die!"

A dark light flickered in Lin Yiqing's eyes. In that instant, his violent mental energy surged madly into Lin Mang's brain. The mental energy of a Second Seal Rune Master was immense, instantly shattering his mind.

Lin Mang fell to the ground, his appearance in death truly horrifying. His eyes were bloodshot, and a mixture of red and white fluids flowed from his seven orifices. He had died instantly.

One had to know that a Second Seal Rune Master could already challenge a Yuan Dan expert, let alone deal with a Lin Mang who was only at the early stage of the Heaven Origin Realm.

"Father!"

At this moment, Lin Shan, who had arrived late after receiving the news, rushed over with a few lackeys, only to find such a scene the moment he arrived.

Lin Hong, meanwhile, had collapsed onto the ground, his entire body trembling like a leaf in the wind.

"If you had known it would come to this, why act as you did in the beginning!"

Lin Yiqing cast a glance at the Lin Shan brothers, who were currently lost in their own thoughts, and then flicked his mental energy. A discarded short blade on the ground rose into the air, piercing through the centers of their brows with the speed of an arrow.

Suddenly, Lin Yiqing's heart skipped a beat as a tall, black figure approached at high speed, and he immediately went on guard.

Within a few breaths, the stranger arrived before him. He was a man of about thirty or forty years old with a somewhat thin frame, though a sharp, fierce air was still faintly visible between his brows. Tucked under the man's arm was a boy of fourteen or fifteen—it was Lin Dong.