Inner Clan and Branch Family

"Xiao!"

What had happened in the arena in the blink of an eye nearly made Lin Zhentian's eyes split with rage. His once spirited face instantly became far more despondent and bleak because of Lin Xiao's defeat.

Lin Xiao's defeat had betrayed the expectations his father, Lin Zhentian, had held for him for many years. Unfortunately, Lin Xiao was unconscious now and naturally could not spare a thought for such things.

In the blink of an eye, Lin Zhentian's long-cherished wish of returning to the Lin Clan Inner Family had turned into nothing more than a shattered dream. Yet even so, Lin Zhentian and Lin Xiao were father and son, bound by blood.

Thus, after seeing the unconscious Lin Xiao carried away by Lin Family guards to the resting area, Lin Zhentian hurriedly rose to his feet. He did not even bother to exchange farewells with his old friend Lin Tao. After merely cupping his hands and saying a few words, he headed toward where Lin Xiao was, while giving an order to the two lean middle-aged men behind him.

"Lin Ken, Lin Mang, look after Dong'er and his mother..."

After Lin Zhentian left the stands, Lin Tao saw the anxious, restless looks on Lin Ken and the others' faces. He naturally knew they did not dare disturb the order of the stands as his old friend had, fearing his punishment, so he raised his voice and instructed them.

"Your third brother Lin Xiao's injuries are still unknown. Your father's wish of many years has now come to nothing, and it is uncertain whether he can endure this blow. You two brothers should take your clansmen and follow your father at once."

"Thank you, Elder Tao..."

Lin Ken and Lin Mang rose and bowed in thanks. Then, with Lin Dong's mother, who could not stop crying, Lin Dong, whose eyes were clouded with confusion, and the other members of the Qingyang Town Branch Family, they left the stands.

Lin Xiao's injuries... Without strength in the Three Creation Realms, they will likely be impossible to fully cure. It seems it is time to make some plans.

No one knew what Lin Chen was thinking at that moment.

Having long been familiar with this world, Lin Chen knew very well that during the earlier match between Lin Xiao and Lin Langtian, Lin Langtian had secretly dealt a vicious blow.

On the surface, Lin Xiao had merely coughed up blood, collapsed, and lost consciousness, seemingly without suffering any serious harm. In truth, however, his injuries were extremely severe. The violent Origin Energy of Lin Langtian had ravaged the inside of his body beyond recognition.

Not only had Lin Xiao's Origin Energy cultivation fallen from the Heavenly Origin Realm to the Earthly Origin Realm, but his severe internal injuries had also accumulated. Seventy to eighty percent of the meridians throughout his body were blocked, making it virtually impossible for him to absorb the world's vital energy and cultivate in the future.

"Lin Langtian was far too ruthless..."

Lin Ke'er pursed her rosy lips and whispered to Lin Chen.

"What? Is this little girl's soft heart acting up again?" Hearing Lin Ke'er's dissatisfied whisper beside him, Lin Chen turned back, gave her a careful look, and chuckled.

"Brother Lin Chen, it is not that Ke'er is too kindhearted. Ke'er simply feels that, no matter what, Lin Xiao is still from our Lin Clan Branch Family. It would have been enough for Lin Langtian to force him to admit defeat with his strength. Why did he have to show so little mercy?" Lin Ke'er explained.

"You're thinking far too simply of Lin Langtian, little girl..."

Lin Chen shook his head before continuing, "Quite a few top experts of the Great Yan Dynasty came to today's Clan Assembly. It is hard to say whether there are Nirvana Realm experts like the clan chief among them, but there is certainly no shortage of experts in the Three Creation Realms."

"You must understand that the Lin Clan Assembly is not merely a competition among the younger generation within the Lin Clan. More than that, it is a means for the clan to display its strength."

"Perhaps Lin Langtian's current strength cannot be considered truly formidable, but in the eyes of the higher-ups of our clan, he is the future of the entire Lin Clan. That is why this Clan Assembly, which he originally did not need to attend, ultimately became a stage for him alone."

"Compared to others, whether in temperament or cultivation talent, Lin Langtian can be considered among the very best in the entire Great Yan Dynasty."

"Perhaps for that very reason, Lin Langtian tried his best to display himself today. As someone from a Branch Family, Lin Xiao was simply unlucky."

As Lin Chen spoke, an unusual charm seemed to radiate from his handsome, jade-like face. Lin Ke'er, seated beside him, had a strange glimmer in her eyes as she nodded repeatedly.

It had to be said that the handsome and gentle Lin Chen was deeply liked by Lin Ke'er. Ever since childhood, he had been the kind older brother she felt close to.

As time passed and the young girl grew up, Lin Ke'er's affection had gradually transformed from a childhood dependence on an older brother into an indescribable feeling.

Unfortunately, Lin Chen, who was gazing toward the arena and continuously moving his lips as he spoke softly to Lin Ke'er, did not notice the change in her gaze.

"Besides, not just Lin Langtian—most people of the Inner Clan are arrogant when they encounter those from the Branch Family. There are not many who think as you do, little girl."

"I understand..." Lin Ke'er replied softly.

Most members of the Lin Clan Inner Family held a sense of superiority over those from the Lin Clan Branch Family, and Lin Langtian's sense of superiority was even stronger.

Of course, this was not because Lin Langtian had a cold and arrogant personality. More often, it was because those from the Branch Family were weak and easy to bully, with neither strength nor backing.

If Lin Xiao had been a member of the Lin Clan Inner Family today, his fate would have been entirely different. Lin Langtian might be proud, but he was not reckless. He had no desire to bear the charge of crippling a fellow clansman and suffer such an undeserved disaster.

Among the Lin Clan's descendants, conflicts between factions could only ever be conducted in secret. They could never be brought into the open, or they would surely not be tolerated by the Lin Clan's strict rules.

The Lin Clan Branch Family, at most, could only be regarded as an appendage of the Lin Clan Inner Family. Aside from possessing the qualification to participate in the Clan Assembly, they were no different from ordinary people of the Great Yan Dynasty. The Lin Clan Inner Family would not distribute even the slightest cultivation resource to the Branch Family, much less offer them protection through its strength.

Within the Lin Clan, there was an obvious difference in status between the Inner Clan and the Branch Family. The two were simply incomparable. Even so, because of cultivation resources and the benefits of having a powerful patron, every Branch Family of the Lin Clan tried every possible means to return to the Inner Clan.

In the vast Arena, the matches among the younger generation of the Lin Clan continued. Lin Xiao's defeat was merely one of Lin Langtian's successive victories. Aside from Lin Xiao's closest relatives, no one else cared about it in the slightest.

At twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, being in the Heavenly Origin Realm was barely considered ordinary in the Great Yan Dynasty.

Instead, people only cared about the victors, those outstanding youths of the Lin Clan with exceptional talent and strength.

"Lin Clan, Lin Langtian wins!"

"Lin Clan, Lin Zan loses!"

"..."

"Lin Langtian! Lin Langtian!"

As time passed, the cheers in the arena eventually became nothing but one person's name.

"The champion of this Clan Assembly: Lin Langtian!"

With that final announcement, this Clan Assembly of the Lin Clan finally came to an end. Lin Langtian, the number one genius of the Lin Clan, became ever more renowned throughout the Great Yan Dynasty.

"Ke'er... The Clan Assembly is over. Your Brother Lin Chen should be leaving Lin City as well. No one will be around to nag at you anymore, little girl..."