Revelation

Lin Zhentian wore a troubled expression, his words laced with helplessness. Though the Yang Yuan Stones were tempting, this concerned the Lin Family's safety. A single move could affect the whole situation, so Lin Zhentian had no choice but to consider it carefully.

"No matter. We need only offer courtesy before resorting to force. If the Lei Family fails to appreciate our goodwill, I have my own methods."

Lin Chen let out a soft breath. His dark, bright eyes flickered as he gave Lin Zhentian a firm answer.

The so-called four great powers of Qingyang Town were not worth mentioning in Lin Chen's eyes. Even if the Lei and Xie Families, the local tyrants of Qingyang Town, joined forces, they posed no threat to him whatsoever.

Unlike the somewhat weak Origin Energy cultivation he displayed outwardly, his Spiritual Power, which could contend with ordinary peak Core Formation Realm experts, gave him absolute confidence in Qingyang Town and even Flame City.

A Four Symbol Master might not count as a top expert in the Great Yan Dynasty, but within Flame City and Qingyang Town, he possessed a measure of safety and was more than capable of dominating the region.

Was that not one of the reasons he had left the Lin Clan to gain experience in Qingyang Town and Flame City?

If the Lei and Xie Families refused to be reasonable, failed to recognize when to stop, and remained insatiably greedy, he would not mind staining his hands with blood for the first time and wiping the two families out of Qingyang Town completely.

The path of cultivation was, by nature, a struggle against others, against heaven, and against oneself. Fifteen years of life had made Lin Chen understand this principle thoroughly. When it concerned the foundation of his cultivation, he would not let misplaced kindness delay him.

"This..."

Lin Zhentian looked at Lin Chen, who stood calmly before him. Seeing the confidence radiating from that handsome face, his emotions churned, yet he hesitated to speak.

Although Lin Chen came from the Lin Clan Inner Family, and Lin Zhentian felt deeply grateful and trusting toward him after he had indirectly saved Lin Xiao, Lin Zhentian remained undecided about taking action against the Lei Family. His normally dignified face was filled with unmistakable conflict.

In Lin Zhentian's view, even if Lin Chen possessed an extraordinary background in the Lin Clan and had the protection of an expert of the Three Creation Realms like Grand Elder Lin Mu, his own Origin Energy cultivation was ultimately only at the initial Heavenly Origin Realm. At the age of fifteen, such strength could indeed be called astounding.

However, if the Lin Family went to war with the Lei and Xie Families, such strength would not play any decisive role. More than that, once the Lin and Lei Families began fighting, it would surely become a battle to the death.

Lin Chen's lack of experience fighting others under the protection of the Lin Clan would become his weakness. One careless mistake could cost him his life.

Lin Zhentian did not believe that revealing Lin Chen's identity as a member of the Lin Clan Inner Family at a life-or-death moment would make the Lei Family wary. On the contrary, to eliminate future trouble, the Lei Family would certainly not let Lin Chen leave easily.

At the thought that Lin Chen might suffer harm in Qingyang Town, Lin Zhentian's thoughts surged endlessly, unable to settle for a long while.

Lin Zhentian had no doubt that if anything happened to Lin Chen, a junior valued by the Grand Elder, then their Branch Family's hopes of returning to the Lin Clan Inner Family would become a hundred, even a thousand times more difficult than they were now. It might even become an utterly impossible task.

"Young Master Lin Chen... it is not that this old man does not trust you. It is simply that, compared to the Lin Family, the Lei Family has been established in Qingyang Town for a full century. Their strength truly cannot be underestimated."

Lin Zhentian rose from his seat and slowly sighed. His face carried an unprecedented gravity as he spoke after a moment of consideration.

"Young Master Lin Chen may not know this, but the Lei Family alone has five Heavenly Origin Realm martial artists. Our Lin Family, on the other hand, has only myself, my son Lin Xiao, and Lin Ken. If we were to fight, even with you joining us, I fear we still could not contend against them."

"As for Earthly Origin Realm martial artists, our Lin Family is even less comparable to the Lei Family. Aside from my son Lin Mang, who has reached the late Earthly Origin Realm, no one else in the entire Lin Family has attained that realm. They have all remained at the initial or middle Earthly Origin Realm for many years."

"The Lei Family, meanwhile, has several times as many Earthly Origin Realm martial artists as we do. They even have several late Earthly Origin Realm experts serving as retainers."

"Furthermore, should the Lin Family clash with the Lei Family, the Xie Family, which has always been on good terms with them, will likely not stand by idly. Those two families have always been hostile toward outside forces in Qingyang Town. If we rashly move against the Lei Family over Ironwood Manor, I fear it will ultimately be our Lin Family that suffers defeat."

"If the Lei Family had not been unwilling these past years to fight the Lin Family to mutual destruction, fearing that the Savage Blade Martial Arts School and the Xie Family would benefit, the Lin Family might not have been able to gain a foothold in Qingyang Town."

"Rather than this, it would be better to wait until my son Lin Xiao breaks through to the Core Formation Realm before conducting the Ironwood Manor transaction with the Lei Family. By then, no matter how the Lei Family reacts, we will be able to handle it..."

Hearing Lin Zhentian's earnest and tactful words, Lin Chen merely smiled noncommittally.

"Lin Xiao has indeed gained a blessing from misfortune this time. After absorbing and refining the pure Origin Energy within that Nirvana Pill, breaking through to the Core Formation Realm should not be a problem. But without several months, I fear his realm will not be stabilized."

Before Lin Zhentian, who had opened his mouth to respond, could refute him, Lin Chen waved a hand and continued, "What Elder Zhentian is worried about is nothing more than my safety should the Lin Family go to war with the Lei Family, and whether the Lin Family can ultimately win. As for that, I can only say that Elder Zhentian is worrying too much."

Under Lin Zhentian's puzzled gaze, Lin Chen smiled slightly as he spoke and lifted his head. His dark eyes became exceptionally bright. In an instant, an exceedingly vast surge of Spiritual Power rippled out from his body, causing Lin Zhentian and the others' expressions to change dramatically.

"What powerful Spiritual Power..."

"I never expected it... Young Master Lin Chen not only possesses outstanding talent in Origin Energy cultivation, but his talent in Spiritual Power is even greater. He is a Symbol Master of no low rank..."

"With Spiritual Power of this intensity, even Lesser Core Formation Realm experts would find it difficult to resist... Destroying the Lei Family would be effortless. What I said earlier was born of my own ignorance and needless worry. I hope Young Master Lin Chen will not take offense."

Under the pressure of the Spiritual Power Lin Chen released, the stabbing pain and dizziness in his mind made Lin Zhentian's thoughts become far clearer. As he repeatedly marveled at Lin Chen's true strength, his words also carried genuine reverence.

Without question, that reverence no longer stemmed from Lin Chen's identity as a member of the Lin Clan Inner Family with an extraordinary background, but from the strength Lin Chen had revealed.