On the other side of Yan City, within the expansive, newly fortified Lin Family compound, Lin Dong, wearing the simple, sturdy uniform of the family's martial instructors, was drilling a group of younger disciples. He was a picture of earnest, focused energy, patiently guiding them through the complex footwork of the newly acquired martial arts techniques. His innate talent and recent victories made him an invaluable teacher, though his youth remained a point of occasional, playful contention among the students.
Suddenly, the air of structured training was pierced by a wave of sharp, condescending laughter that echoed from the compound's main entrance.
Four young men, dressed in finely woven, subtly more ornate robes than the Yan City Lin Family members, strode into the practice grounds. Their posture was one of ingrained arrogance, and their eyes held a mixture of disdain and amusement as they surveyed the training group, their gazes lingering on Lin Dong.
"Well, look at this," one of them, a youth with a sharp, unpleasant face, sneered, his voice loud enough for the entire courtyard to hear. "A martial instructor who looks barely older than his students. The Yan City branch has truly fallen on hard times if this is the best they can muster."
Another chimed in, a smirk widening across his face. "Indeed. We should not allow the main clan's name to be tarnished by such an image. If the branch needs proper instruction, we can simply send one of our own from the Great Yan Dynasty capital."
The younger generation of the Lin Family immediately bristled with anger, their training forgotten.
"Who are you?!" one of the more outspoken disciples, Lin Hong, demanded, stepping forward aggressively. "And who gave you permission to stride into our compound and insult our instructor?"
The sharp-faced youth stepped forward, his expression hardening with contemptuous power. "Permission? I can come and go as I please in this branch family. Even Lin Zhentian wouldn't dare try to stop me. I am Lin Qiang, and we are from the main Lin Clan."
Lin Dong, who had been observing the exchange with a calm gaze, felt a slight internal shift. 'Main Clan, I haven't seen them visit the Lin Family before… Are they here for the Nirvana Tomb?'
"Main Clan, so what?" Lin Hong retorted, his face flushed with a furious sense of loyalty. "If you think you can disrespect Brother Dong, then prove your worth. I challenge you!"
Lin Hong immediately surged forward, his Yuan Power flaring with an Early Yuan Dan Stage intensity, aiming a rapid, powerful fist strike at Lin Qiang. Lin Qiang laughed, a sound full of malicious mockery, and met the attack with a similarly powerful palm, sending Lin Hong stumbling back a step.
"A spirited branch dog," Lin Qiang sneered. He then suddenly gathered Yuan Power in his other hand, Lin Hong also gathered the energy and both attacked each other, colliding their fists.
The resulting thud vibrated through the air, but no energy leaked. Lin Qiang's face twisted in surprise as he took a few steps back, while Lin Hong remained in place.
"Enough," Lin Dong said, his voice calm but imbued with a firm, undeniable authority that transcended his young age. "This is a training ground, not a place for fight."
Lin Qiang violently yanked his hand back, staring at Lin Dong with renewed venom. "Petty? Who are you to stop me, a mere branch instructor? You remind me of a certain guy from this branch family. Have you really forgotten that he was defeated and crippled by our brother, Lin Langtian? You are nothing more than a glorified servant to the main clan."
The casual cruelty in Lin Qiang's words, the intentional dredging up of his father's miserable defeat, was like a physical blow. Lin Dong's calm façade instantly shattered, his eyes turning cold and deadly. The memory of his father's struggle, the years of humiliation, fueled a sudden, righteous fury.
With a silent, powerful surge of intent, Lin Dong launched himself forward, his palm striking out with the raw, untamed power of his own Yuan Dan cultivation, forcing Lin Qiang to fly backward with a bloody mouth and few broken teeth.
Lin Feng, an early Yuan Dan Expert, immediately stepped in to back him, but he was no match for Lin Dong's enraged power. After a brief but intense exchange, Lin Feng was sent skidding across the dirt, clutching his chest and staring up at Lin Dong with a mixture of shock and disbelief.
The small skirmish ended as quickly as it began. Lin Dong stood breathing slightly heavily, his gaze fixed on the now subdued group from the main clan. "Get lost, I don't want to kill anyone today." After speaking he turned around and left, no one dared to stop his way or utter any word.
…
After a while,
Lin Dong cousin Lin Xia visited him and called him to the main hall, Lin Zhentian wanted him to meet someone,
"You handled that well, but you need to be more careful, Cousin," Lin Xia murmured, guiding him away. "The two people you just fought, Lin Qiang and Lin Feng, are just normal younger generations. They have two others accompanying them this time, the true geniuses of the main clan: Lin Chen and Lin Ke'er, whose strength have already reached the Peak Yuan Dan Realm. They are sitting in the main hall right now."
Lin Dong nodded, processing the gravity of the information. Peak Yuan Dan… that was a significant leap above his own current strength. But, he isn't afraid.
He followed Lin Xia to the main hall, where the atmosphere was thick with a palpable tension. His grandfather, Lin Zhentian, sat in the main seat, his expression calm mixed with pride looking at him.
Next to Lin Zhentian sat a striking young male and a female, both radiating the unmistakable aura of Peak Yuan Dan Experts. The male, Lin Chen, looked about twenty-five, with sharp, arrogant eyes that immediately fixed on Lin Dong. The female, Lin Ke'er, slightly younger at twenty-four, possessed a serene, almost detached beauty, observing the room with quiet calculation. Beside them stood an elderly man, whose placid expression masked the formidable strength of a Top Yuan Dan Expert.
...