"Is it just you here?" The leader of the group was none other than Lin Tian's father, Lin Tianuo, the head of the Lin family. Looking at the devastation before him, a flicker of disbelief passed through his eyes.
When Lin Chen's ability to unleash eight dark forces with his eighteen layers was revealed, the senior members of the Lin family had been quietly observing him. The recent explosive incident had undeniably drawn the attention of the entire Lin family. With Lin Chen appearing at the center of the explosion, it was hard not to associate him with the incident.
"Yes, just me. I never expected the martial techniques from the stele to have such power. Even my residence was destroyed," Lin Chen said nervously, looking at the high-ranking members of the Lin family.
For as long as he could remember, he had sought to surpass Lin Mo and become the leading figure of the younger generation in the Lin family. The eight stars on the Star Stele represented a golden opportunity for him. Though this opportunity came with great challenges, he couldn't resist seizing it. After all, since the person who had stolen his token and gained the martial techniques from the stele had yet to show themselves, why not take advantage of this chance to replace them?
"Good, very good," Lin Tianuo said, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "From today onward, you will be a key focus for our family's cultivation efforts."
As Lin Tianuo finished speaking, Lin Mo and the others hastily arrived. Upon witnessing the explosion, they rushed to the scene, though their arrival was slower than Lin Tianuo's. However, they hadn't expected to find such a scene upon their arrival.
"I never thought you could hide this well." After the senior members of the Lin family left, Lin Mo's eyes darkened, a cold smile forming on his lips. For so long, he had regarded Lin Chen as nothing more than a subordinate. He never imagined that this person, whom he had always dismissed, would one day become such an influential figure in the Lin family.
"What's the matter? Did you really think I would be content staying in your shadow?" Lin Chen had long been dissatisfied with Lin Mo. Now that he had earned the recognition of the senior members, there was no need for him to keep up the façade any longer.
"It seems like a lesson is in order. You really don't know your place, do you?" Lin Mo's face darkened. The person who had once been obedient to him now dared to speak out in defiance. The stark contrast was deeply unsettling.
"Do you really think it's wise to raise your hand against me, especially if the family head finds out?" Lin Chen was not intimidated by Lin Mo's threat. Instead, he stepped forward, pressing the issue. "Do you really think the Great Elder has unchecked power in the Lin family?"
"Enough. You better not give me the chance, Lin Chen," Lin Mo said through gritted teeth, before storming off in anger.
After Lin Mo and the others had left, Lin Chen's gaze turned toward the back mountain. Though others might not understand what had happened, he knew the truth all too well. Everything that had occurred today might have been an accident, but what he couldn't understand was why the person behind this accident chose to remain hidden.
After all, the one capable of unleashing such martial techniques would undoubtedly be a highly valued figure in the Lin family. The resources they could access would increase significantly, and their position within the family would rise considerably. Yet, this person had chosen to abandon all of that, refusing to step forward. What could their motivations be? And who exactly were they?
For the next several days, Lin Chen remained at the back mountain every night, hoping to find some clue. But no matter how much he stayed, he found no trace of the mysterious person, as though no one had been there at all.
Just as Lin Chen was about to give up after seven days, he noticed a shadow quietly infiltrating the back mountain.
Soon, a series of jade bottles were produced, and as each bottle was opened, a surge of pure spiritual energy was released. Upon sensing the fluctuations of this spiritual energy, a gleam of greed appeared in Lin Chen's eyes. Moreover, one thing became clear to him: the person who had stolen his token that night was undoubtedly the person before him.
However, without knowing the cultivator's exact strength, Lin Chen dared not act hastily. He remained hidden, like a venomous serpent, watching intently.
As the bottles of spiritual energy were consumed, Lin Tian's cultivation level was exposed.
Three layers of Qi Refining?
Lin Chen's eyes lit up, and a cold smile flickered on his lips. If the person's cultivation was far beyond his own, he would never dare make a move. But now, not only was their cultivation lower than his, but they were also at a critical stage of their cultivation. If he didn't act now, it would be a lost opportunity.
After all, even a single infusion of pure spiritual energy had boosted Lin Tian's cultivation significantly. If he could seize all the spiritual liquid from the jade bottles in front of him, perhaps he could break through to the seventh layer of Qi Refining and leave Lin Mo and the others far behind.
With spiritual energy surging in his palm, Lin Chen leaped forward. A fireball materialized in his hand, releasing the pressure of the fifth layer of Qi Refining, charging directly toward the figure before him. As the distance between them grew shorter, a wicked smile appeared on Lin Chen's lips.
But just as he was less than a meter away, a sudden burst of spiritual energy rippled through the air. The figure's cultivation level had broken through to the fourth layer of Qi Refining.
A punch was thrown, and eight dark forces erupted instantly. The fireball in Lin Chen's palm was extinguished, and the immense force slammed into his palm like a massive hammer. Lin Chen staggered back, his arm trembling as if it might shatter.
In his eyes, a flicker of shock appeared. He hadn't expected that despite being weaker in cultivation, the person before him could still force him into such a humiliating position.
"Lin Chen, repaying kindness with malice seems rather inappropriate, doesn't it?" Lin Tian slowly turned, his face cold. News of Lin Chen's actions had spread throughout the entire Lin family. Even someone as reclusive as Lin Tian knew all about it.
As the person directly involved, Lin Tian knew all the details, and seeing that it was Lin Chen who had struck him left him somewhat astonished.
"Lin Tian, what are you doing here?" As their eyes met, disbelief filled Lin Chen's gaze.