Unexpected Incident

Seeing Lin Chen fall silent after asking casually, Lin Lie understood at once and began to explain.

"When Clan Uncle Lin Mu learned that you needed a spiritual medicine beneficial to demonic beasts, he specifically spent Clan contributions to exchange for it from the clan, then sought me out and asked me to deliver it to you personally."

"But you needn't take this matter too much to heart. Given Clan Uncle Lin Mu's current circumstances, whether he used those Clan contributions or not made little difference. At his stage, without a Nirvana Pill, attempting to break through to the Nirvana Realm is a dead end."

"You should also know some of the rules within the Lin Clan. Clan contributions can be exchanged for anything, except Nirvana Pills."

"If you truly wish to repay him for his many years of nurturing grace, then cultivate diligently. Strive to stand out in the Seed Battle ten years from now, enter the Hundred Dynasties War, and join one of the super sects. Then, he will truly be able to take that step."

Hearing this, Lin Chen shook his head, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

"Uncle Lin Lie, rest assured. I have my own plans for this matter."

Ten years was far too long for him. He could not wait that long, nor did he need to. There was no need for him to participate in any Seed Battle to enter the Hundred Dynasties War.

"Oh, right. Lin Zhentian, who delivered your message this time, ran into some trouble. Before I left, I had Lin Tao arrange for him to be sent back to Qingyang Town."

Lin Chen stiffened, a trace of confusion flashing through his dark, bright eyes. "What happened to Lin Zhentian?"

"It is a long story. You should know that Lin Zhentian was once a member of the Inner Clan. Later, the failure of a mission caused considerable losses to the clan, and he was expelled from the Inner Clan."

"That failed mission also indirectly caused him to offend quite a few people within the clan. In the past, whenever he attended the Lin Clan Clan Gathering, no one dared make a move against him in private to vent their anger, because of the specific clan rules in effect during the gathering."

"But this time was different. After the Clan Assembly ended, his status as a member of the Lin Family Branch Family meant nothing. He was no different from an ordinary citizen of the Great Yan Dynasty. This time, when he went to Lin City on your behalf, he happened to be spotted by some of the people he had offended back then."

"Though those people were not much within the Inner Clan, they were more than capable of dealing with Lin Zhentian. In the past, Lin Zhentian stayed in Qingyang Town, so no one would travel all that way just to trouble him. This time, though, he could only count himself unlucky."

Lin Lie sighed as he spoke, feeling considerable sympathy when he recalled Lin Zhentian's final plight.

"Uncle Lin Lie, how are Lin Zhentian's injuries now?"

Lin Chen's expression changed, and even his voice as he questioned Lin Lie had turned much colder.

Hearing the chill in Lin Chen's words, Lin Lie frowned slightly. Come to think of it, this was the first time in all these years that he had seen Lin Chen angry.

"Lin Zhentian's injuries are not life-threatening. He only lost an arm and fell unconscious from excessive blood loss. Lin Tao is escorting him back now, and he should return to Qingyang Town in at most half a month," Lin Lie sighed.

Lin Chen nodded lightly. His handsome, jade-like face did not display explosive rage. Instead, it appeared exceptionally calm.

"This matter concerning Lin Zhentian arose because of me. I will give the Lin Family an explanation."

It was not that Lin Chen had not considered immediately returning to the Lin Clan to stand up for Lin Zhentian, but he knew it would be useless.

It is never too late for a gentleman to take revenge, even after ten years.

Besides, reaching the Life Profound Realm as soon as possible and regrowing Lin Zhentian's arm was far more important than standing up for him.

The reason he had not personally returned to the Lin Clan this time was that he feared Lin Mu might regret it after he returned, or Lin Ke'er might pester him, creating unforeseen complications that would make it difficult for him to leave again. Yet he had not expected trouble to arise even after sending Lin Zhentian to deliver a message on his behalf.

Lin Chen knew something of why Lin Zhentian had been expelled from the Inner Clan. Although Lin Zhentian had only been in the Earthly Origin Realm when he carried out that mission, his responsibility had been extremely important. Otherwise, why would Lin Mu, the Grand Elder of the Lin Clan, remember an ordinary clansman like Lin Zhentian?

Lin Zhentian's accident during this trip to Lin City was somewhat unexpected, but it was not without cause.

The so-called butterfly effect existed at every moment. If he had not sent Lin Zhentian to Lin City, Lin Zhentian would never have returned crippled today.

"You needn't dwell on it too much. In the future, I will do my best to look after this Branch Family. That is also Clan Uncle Lin Mu's intention."

"The Origin Energy fluctuations I released earlier were meant to deter some petty villains, as he requested before falling unconscious."

"Although I do not have the authority to let this Branch Family fully return to the Inner Clan, I can provide them with a certain degree of protection."

"Besides, after having me handle this matter, you probably will not return with me this time. Since that is the case, I should naturally make sure you are safer."

"In the future, with the identity of a member of the Lin Clan of the Great Yan Dynasty, no one in this tiny place will dare deliberately provoke you."

"Furthermore, although the Lin Family Branch Family is not within the clan, they are still members of our Lin Clan."

Seeing that Lin Chen was not in a good mood, Lin Lie sighed and tried to comfort him.

Lin Chen merely nodded, appearing rather indifferent. He did not say much more about Lin Zhentian's matter.

As far as the Lin Family was concerned, Lin Zhentian's injuries no longer affected much. Several days ago, Lin Xiao had broken through to the Lesser Core Formation Realm, and with that Yang Yuan Stone Vein, the Lin Family's prospects in the Flame City region were fairly promising.

Moreover, unlike in the original world, Lin Xiao had not been injured. The Lin Family's overall strength had increased, and Lin Dong's starting point would be far higher than in the original world. Not only could he begin cultivating earlier, but he would also not lack resources during the early stages of cultivation.

Everything had its advantages and disadvantages. Although Lin Zhentian losing his arm could not directly spur Lin Dong on, it would still have some influence on him.

Since this world had granted Lin Dong Ancestral Symbol Affinity, as long as he possessed the heart to cultivate, his future achievements would certainly be extraordinary.

As for what achievements Lin Dong, the future Martial Ancestor of the original world, would attain, that was no longer something Lin Chen needed to worry about.

Flame City, Blood Wolf Gang headquarters.

After speaking briefly with Lin Lie, Lin Chen brought him into Flame City. He then had Lin Lie conceal himself in the shadows while he went alone to the Blood Wolf Gang's headquarters.

Although he now had the Thousand Year Demonic Spirit Ginseng and could awaken Little Marten at any time, the Ice Fire Snake Scale Fruit would still be of some use even after Little Marten awakened. And the stronger Little Marten became, the greater the benefits to him.

However, whether Yue Shan would keep the Ice Fire Snake Scale Fruit for himself after obtaining it, and whether it would still be there when Lin Chen came to claim it today, remained a question.