Ironwood Manor

"There is, but I can't explain this method clearly to you right now. You'll understand in a few days."

Lin Chen smiled meaningfully and said no more as he headed outside. Upon reaching the door, he added one more sentence.

"I have nothing to do at the moment, so I'm going out for a walk. You don't need to accompany me."

Both Lin Dong and Lin Qingtian were destined to have lives different from what they would have had. Lin Xiao had not been injured, so neither of them needed to feel emotionally repressed and could enjoy a happy childhood.

Moreover, with him around, Lin Qingtian could suffer far less and awaken her Fiend Demon Body early, becoming no different from an ordinary child.

However, he still needed to carefully plan how to absorb the Yin Sha Energy within Lin Qingtian's body. Once he absorbed high-grade Yin Sha Energy, reaching the peak of the Heavenly Origin Realm would be quite difficult without high-grade Yang Gang Energy to merge with it.

Only by maintaining a balance between Yin Yang Energy within the dantian could he lay a solid foundation, harmonize yin and yang within his body, and condense a high-quality Yuan Dan.

"The Lei Family's Ironwood Manor in Qingyang Town... I'll investigate it first, then make plans."

Lin Xiao's courtyard.

Lin Xiao's family was moving from the inner residence to the back mountain, and this caused quite a stir within the Lin Family. The ones who reacted most strongly were naturally Lin Dong and Lin Qingtian.

"Brother Lin Dong, who is that big brother? Why is he making Father and Mother move with us to the back mountain? There's no one there, and it isn't fun at all..."

Watching the Lin Family members pack up their belongings one by one, Lin Qingtian's delicate little face was filled with resistance.

For no reason at all, they had to move to an unfamiliar place with no sign of life. With her childish nature, Lin Qingtian simply could not accept it.

Faced with his sister's question, Lin Dong gently shook his head. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Well... I don't know either. But that big brother is a good person. He saved Father."

"Oh..."

Lin Qingtian answered reluctantly, but she did not dwell on the matter any further, nor did she cry and fuss before Lin Xiao and Liu Yan.

Elsewhere, at the Lei Family's Ironwood Manor.

After asking several passersby for directions, Lin Chen finally confirmed the location of the Lei Family's Ironwood Manor. Using his Spiritual Power to glide at low altitude, he eventually arrived outside Ironwood Manor.

Ironwood Manor was a rather famous estate near Qingyang Town. However, rather than calling it an estate, it would be more accurate to call it a special forest with an owner. Ironwood was abundant here. This wood was like refined iron, impervious to water and fire, dense and heavy in texture, and extremely suitable for crafting weapons and all kinds of buildings.

Thus, ironwood had always commanded a high price. The Lei Family, one of Qingyang Town's four major powers, possessed ironwood as its specialty product, which was why its overall strength slightly surpassed that of the town's other three powers: the Lin Family, the Xie Family, and the Savage Blade Martial Arts School.

Yet what interested Lin Chen was obviously not this ordinary ironwood. What he cared about was the Yang Yuan Stone Vein hidden beneath Ironwood Manor.

With his foreknowledge in this world, Lin Chen clearly knew that beneath the Yang Yuan Stone Vein at Ironwood Manor lay high-grade Yang Gang Energy that he could absorb in large quantities. This Yang Gang Energy could maintain a balance with the Yin Sha Energy in Lin Qingtian's body within his dantian, and it was indispensable if he wished to condense a high-quality Yuan Dan.

"The Lei Family is still going to be troublesome..."

Having just arrived in Qingyang Town, Lin Chen had eagerly come to Ironwood Manor with a clear purpose in mind. However, how to achieve what he wanted was indeed a problem.

Ironwood Manor was property of the Lei Family in Qingyang Town. With the Spiritual Power of a Four Symbol Master, he could easily wipe out the Lei Family and forcibly seize Ironwood Manor, but he was not the sort of cold-blooded, murderous person who would stop at nothing to achieve his goal. He could not commit such brutal banditry.

"Forget it. I only hope the Lei Family knows what is good for them when the time comes. Otherwise, I can only force their hand."

Though Qingyang Town was small, it had everything it needed. The town's four major powers had no shortage of conflicts among themselves. Lin Chen did not believe he had the patience to quietly wait for the conflict between the Lin Family and Savage Blade Martial Arts School and the Lei and Xie Families to erupt.

After secretly using his Spiritual Power to conduct a rough survey of Ironwood Manor, Lin Chen quietly left. Some matters could not be rushed.

Mining the Yang Yuan Stone Vein beneath Ironwood Manor would require a considerable number of hands. In Qingyang Town, without the Lin Family, relying on his strength alone to search for the special Yang Gang Energy beneath the Yang Yuan Stone Vein would take who knew how many years.

At sunset.

Lin Chen's residence, along with that of Lin Xiao's family on the Lin Family Back Mountain, had been completely arranged under Lin Zhentian's orders. Though it was not as bright and comfortable as the Lin Family's courtyard, it possessed a leisurely and elegant charm of its own.

Inside Lin Chen's room.

"Not bad, not bad. Thank you for your trouble, Old Master Zhentian."

After looking over the place where he would be staying from now on, Lin Chen was quite satisfied. He clasped his hands toward Lin Zhentian in thanks.

"You are too polite, Young Master Lin Chen. You have come from afar as our guest. This is what the Lin Family should do." Lin Zhentian replied with a smile.

Seeing that there were no loose-tongued Lin Family juniors around Lin Zhentian at the moment, only Lin Ken and Lin Xiao, Lin Chen's thoughts became active. He said calmly, "Old Master Zhentian, please sit. There is something I need to do, and I'm afraid I will need the Lin Family's help."

"I wonder what important matter Young Master Lin Chen has in mind?"

Under Lin Chen's gaze, which allowed no refusal, Lin Zhentian sat somewhat stiffly in a nearby chair. His curiosity greatly piqued, he asked in return.

"I took a walk around Qingyang Town today and accidentally discovered that a Yang Yuan Stone Vein lies beneath the Lei Family's Ironwood Manor outside town. The Lei Family is unaware of it, so I intend to purchase it. Once the Yang Yuan Stones are mined in the future, the profits will be split equally with the Lin Family. However, I will need Old Master Zhentian to handle the matter, including providing the manpower required for future mining and sales."

After briefly organizing his words, Lin Chen got straight to the point. He did not explain things to Lin Zhentian too complicatedly.

"There's actually a Yang Yuan Stone Vein beneath Ironwood Manor..."

"That makes sense. Ironwood Manor used to be a volcano, so it is not strange for there to be a Yang Yuan Stone Vein there."

Lin Zhentian's grizzled brows furrowed tightly. He pondered for a moment, as though he had thought of something, then nodded repeatedly.

"So, what does Old Master Zhentian think?"

The smile on Lin Chen's face remained as he asked.

Hearing this, Lin Zhentian sighed. "Sigh... Acquiring Ironwood Manor would certainly be good. No matter the cost, we could earn it back in the future. But perhaps Young Master Lin Chen does not know that the Lei Family and my Lin Family have never been on good terms. We have always been rivals. Ironwood Manor is also the Lei Family's most profitable enterprise each year. If I go to purchase it, I fear the Lei Family will demand an exorbitant price."

"Not only that, but judging by the Lei Family head Lei Bao's usual way of doing things, once he discovers that we are mining the Yang Yuan Stone Vein within Ironwood Manor, he will never let the matter rest. He will certainly join forces with the Xie Family and make a move against my Lin Family."