The Zhao Family's heartfelt gratitude!

He had grown afraid of Lin An, too.

All along the way, whenever Lin An pointed his little hand at someone, City Lord Lin Xiao would immediately subdue that person.

It was practically the King of Hell calling roll.

He could let the earlier incidents slide. Although quite a few people had been subdued, they were only servants and guards of the Zhao Family, with little blood relation to them.

But the little girl before them was different. She was his youngest daughter, and the only girl born to the Zhao Family in three generations, doted on by everyone.

So by speaking up to explain the little girl's identity, he was also telling City Lord Lin Xiao that enough was enough.

Lin An glanced at Zhao Tong and paid him no heed.

"Father, this little girl can still be saved," Lin An said, looking at Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao understood. With a sweep of his hand, he pulled the little girl in front of him from a distance.

Before the Zhao Family members could grow angry, Lin Xiao placed his right hand directly on the little girl's head.

Buzz...

The next instant, Lin Xiao drew a wisp of black energy straight out of the top of her head.

The sight sent a jolt through everyone in the Zhao Family.

How could they fail to recognize that the little girl had been possessed by a Sin Beast?

"Get out!"

Lin Xiao gave a cold shout, then extracted an entire mass of black energy.

Within the black energy, a Sin Beast no larger than a grain of rice appeared.

"A Sin Beast! That's an Envy Louse!"

"What's going on? Why was Little Ling'er possessed by a Sin Beast?"

Shock filled the Zhao Family members' eyes. A Sin Beast had infiltrated their family without being discovered.

"The little girl has fallen asleep. She'll recover after some rest."

Lin Xiao handed the little girl, who had already fallen asleep, to Zhao Tong.

"Thank you for intervening, City Lord. If not for you, Little Ling'er would have been in danger." Zhao Tong's expression was full of gratitude.

A Sin Beast could only be extracted from someone's body if the possession had lasted no more than twenty-four hours.

In other words, after just one more day, even Lin Xiao would have been helpless.

The other Zhao Family members also looked grateful. This was the only girl born to their family in three generations, and she had nearly died so young.

"Don't thank me. An'er was the one who noticed."

Lin Xiao smiled. "I told you earlier that your Zhao Family had quite a few problems."

Zhao Tong's heart jolted. Earlier, he had thought Lin An was simply picking people at random to put the Zhao Family in their place and establish his authority.

But now, things clearly weren't as he had imagined.

He couldn't help looking toward the thirty-six people his family had subdued. Could they all have been possessed by Sin Beasts, too?

"Young City Lord, these people..."

Zhao Tong swallowed and pointed at the thirty-six people.

"That's right. They've all been possessed by Sin Beasts," Lin An said with a nod.

Although he had already suspected as much, Zhao Tong still couldn't help shuddering inwardly at Lin An's confirmation.

His Zhao Family was one of Shenglin City's three great families, yet so many Sin Beasts had infiltrated it?

He also thought of something else. If what Lin An said was true, that meant he had a way to identify possessing Sin Beasts.

If that was true,

then even if Lin An, the Young City Lord, had no cultivation whatsoever, this ability alone would secure his position as city lord.

He would have the support of everyone in Shenglin City.

"An'er, get started."

Lin Xiao spoke then. "Once we've dealt with the Zhao Family's Sin Beasts, we still have to visit the Zhang Clan and the Wang Clan."

"All right."

Lin An nodded, then took out the long saber Lin Xiao had given him earlier. First, he killed the Envy Louse, gaining one attribute point.

Then he began killing the thirty-six people caught in the Zhao Family.

[You have successfully killed the Sin Beast Sloth Snail (Bronze Grade Three), gaining 2 attribute points.]

[You have successfully killed the Sin Beast Anxiety Ant (Black Iron Grade Eight), gaining 1 attribute point.]

[You have successfully killed the Sin Beast Wrath Mantis (Bronze Grade Six), gaining 3 attribute points.]

[...]

As heads fell one after another, Lin An harvested a large number of attribute points.

At the same time, as these people were killed, the Zhao Family members confirmed that they had indeed been possessed by Sin Beasts.

An endless chill rose in the hearts of all the Zhao Family's senior members. So many Sin Beasts had infiltrated their family.

After killing the last person, Lin An stopped and checked his attribute points. They had reached seventy-four.

He had gained a full forty-eight attribute points in the Zhao Family.

Once he visited the Zhang Clan and the Wang Clan, surpassing a hundred attribute points was assured.

"The Zhao Family thanks the City Lord and Young City Lord. If not for you both, our family's survival would have been uncertain."

"From now on, our Zhao Family will follow the City Lord and Young City Lord's lead without a word of complaint."

Zhao Tong led the Zhao Family's senior members in bowing.

The Zhao Family members, who had been dissatisfied earlier, were now filled with gratitude toward Lin Xiao and Lin An.

It turned out that the City Lord had not brought the Young City Lord here to run wild, but had truly come to help resolve their family's internal problems.

Thinking of their earlier thoughts, they were filled with shame.

"As Shenglin City's city lord, I naturally cannot stand idly by, especially when your Zhao Family has contributed to the city over the years."

Lin Xiao smiled faintly, his tone carrying a measure of authority and generosity. "Today's events have also removed a hidden danger from Shenglin City. Family Head Zhao, there's no need for such ceremony. From now on, your family and the City Lord's Estate need only work together to protect Shenglin City."

Hearing this, Zhao Tong felt greatly reassured and hurriedly bowed again. "City Lord, you are truly magnanimous. Everyone in the Zhao Family is endlessly grateful. From now on, we will spare no effort in assisting you and the Young City Lord, with absolute loyalty!"

Lin Xiao nodded, his gaze sweeping over the Zhao Family members. Seeing their respectful expressions, he felt quite satisfied.

He turned toward Lin An, his tone softening. "An'er, thank you for your efforts today."

Lin An shook his head, his expression calm. "You give me too much credit, Father. As the Young City Lord, this is simply my duty."

Lin Xiao smiled and patted Lin An's shoulder, his eyes full of gratification.

Then he looked at Zhao Tong and said, "Family Head Zhao, matters here are settled. I still need to visit the Zhang Clan and the Wang Clan, so I won't stay any longer."

Zhao Tong hurriedly replied, "Yes. We respectfully see off the City Lord and Young City Lord."

Lin Xiao nodded, then turned and left with Lin An.

The Zhao Family members watched them leave. Only after the two disappeared from view did they all breathe sighs of relief.

"Family Head, that was a terribly close call today," a Zhao Family elder said quietly as he stepped forward.

Zhao Tong nodded, his expression grave. "Yes. If the City Lord and Young City Lord hadn't intervened, I'm afraid our Zhao Family would soon have been completely consumed by Sin Beasts. We must be more cautious from now on and never give them another opening."

Another elder agreed. "You're right, Family Head. Still, to think the Young City Lord has the ability to identify Sin Beasts. It's truly shocking."

Zhao Tong's expression turned stern as he looked at all the senior Zhao Family members present. "Don't get any ideas about the Young City Lord. He is the City Lord's bottom line. If anything happens to him, no one will be able to stop the City Lord."

Although their three great families did indeed harbor some ulterior motives, Zhao Tong understood clearly that Shenglin City could do without anyone except Lin Xiao.

Shenglin City's current situation, and the three great families' ability to develop in peace, were entirely due to City Lord Lin Xiao's presence.

Without Lin Xiao, a Gold Tier expert, Shenglin City would be destroyed in an instant.

"Rest assured, Family Head. We'll warn the younger generation shortly. If they encounter the Young City Lord in the future, they must never get into a conflict with him," the Zhao Family members all said.

Zhao Tong nodded, then added, "Prepare three carts of gifts. Tomorrow, I'll personally deliver them to the City Lord's Estate as a token of our thanks."

Meanwhile, Lin Xiao and Lin An had already left the Zhao Family and were heading toward the Zhang Clan.

"Father, the Zhao Family should know about my ability by now. They won't get any ideas about me, will they?" Lin An asked with a smile.

"Don't worry. They wouldn't dare. You're my only attachment, which makes you my weakness. Once something happens to you, I'll no longer have that weakness."

Lin Xiao said, "They also know very well that they can develop in peace because I'm holding up the sky for them."

Lin An nodded. This was the benefit of having a backer.

Especially here in Shenglin City, with a backer whose strength far surpassed everyone else's, he could do as he pleased.