Chapter 11: The Counterattack on the Lin Family

In addition to the second-grade spirit jades, Lin Chen discovered a torn map within the storage ring. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was a treasure map, with the location deep within the Zilian Mountains. However, the map was incomplete, missing the other half. Without dwelling on it, Lin Chen tucked the scrap away.

When he turned his attention back, he found that the little sapling had already consumed seventy or eighty of the second-grade spirit jades. The speed was incredible—it was truly a glutton!

"Burp, I'm full." The sapling patted its stomach, looking quite satisfied.

"And the results? You've eaten all these spirit jades, is there nothing to show for it?" Lin Chen grabbed the sapling and demanded. If he had absorbed that many spirit jades himself, he would have undoubtedly broken through to the next realm!

"What's the rush? Brother Tree hasn't finished digesting yet!" The sapling grumbled, wiggling out of Lin Chen’s grip and scurrying off to the side to digest.

Half an hour later, with a loud burst of energy, both the sapling and Lin Chen broke through to the fourth level of the Earth Spirit Realm.

"Still two levels away from my former peak," Lin Chen mused. He had entered the Wind Sword Sect with a cultivation base at the sixth level of the Earth Spirit Realm. During the trials on the Spirit Path, even though Feng Yu had a higher cultivation, in a true life-or-death struggle against spirit beasts, he was clearly a cut below Lin Chen.

It was impossible to regain his peak strength in such a short time. However, with the Ten Thousand Wood Flourishing Body and the Imperial Technique, fighting against opponents of higher levels should not be difficult.

"Let's go, back to Fanyun City!" Lin Chen’s eyes turned cold as he strode out of the mountains.

...

Inside Fanyun City, the atmosphere was turbulent. News of Lin Chen slaughtering a group of noble heirs in the Zilian Mountains had reached the city. Many families were furious. The Lin family had joined forces with them, repeatedly sending experts into the Zilian Mountains to search. They wanted to see him alive or find his corpse. Could a piece of trash whose phantom beast had been killed really turn the tables?

Lin Chen, masked, emerged from a bustling tavern; he had obtained the information he needed. Just half an hour ago, Lin Hongbin had personally led a group of experts into the Zilian Mountains. With Lin Hongbin gone, the rest of the Lin family were nothing but pathetic rabble.

The sapling sat on Lin Chen’s shoulder and asked, "Kid, are we going straight back to kill them?"

"Naturally." Lin Chen’s expression was void of emotion. "I want them to taste the pain I have endured!"

Only a few days ago, he was the peerless first genius of the Great Cang Kingdom, bringing honor to the nation and basking in glory. But what followed was like a nightmare. First, he was framed by Feng Bumie and his son on the Spirit Path; his phantom beast was killed, his cultivation was crippled, and he was tossed back to the Imperial City like refuse. What followed was the humiliation from the Great Cang Kingdom, the humiliation from Su Huanxue, and the humiliation from his own family.

All of this made Lin Chen’s heart grow colder. He was no longer the hot-blooded genius youth willing to give everything for his family and the Great Cang Kingdom. In this world, there was only one person he held dear: Lin Ning'er. Apart from her, everything else was irrelevant. He cast aside the honor he once carried, deciding from this day on to live only by his own rules.

In front of the Lin family estate, the entrance was crowded. Many Lin family disciples were coming and going, busy with activity.

"Have you heard? Lin Chen killed many young masters of other families in the Zilian Mountains..."

"Tsk, what a madman!"

"Heh, he probably couldn't handle falling from grace and went insane."

"That guy is a hypocrite. He looked upright on the surface, but he cheated to get his results, which is why the Wind Sword Sect crippled him and threw him back, bringing shame to our Lin family!"

A group of Lin disciples huddled together, discussing the matter. At that moment, a masked youth strode in with the gait of a dragon and the step of a tiger, standing firmly within the gate. Alone, he blocked the entire entrance. On his shoulder sat a small sapling.

The sapling grinned, "Kid, your Lin family is full of ingrates. You gave so much for them, and they don't appreciate a bit of it!"

"That is why I have returned to kill," Lin Chen said, pulling off his mask. His eyes glinted with murderous intent.

"Lin Chen!"
"You actually dare to come back!"
"Quick, notify the Grand Elder!"

The group of Lin disciples, initially puzzled by the masked youth's identity, turned pale ashen upon seeing him remove the black cloth. In their minds, the horror of Lin Chen surfaced once more. He was a god of slaughter!

"Boom!"

Lin Chen stepped forward, and a terrifying aura of spirit energy bloomed. His expression remained cold. "I have returned today to slaughter the leaders of the Lin family. If you cripple your own cultivation and get out, you might keep your lives. If you dare to utter another word of nonsense, I will kill you all!"

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"

With several bursts of spiritual energy, the dozen Lin disciples in front of him summoned their phantom beasts. The leader sneered, "Lin Chen, stop your posturing. Who doesn't know your Scarlet Rage Blood Wolf was killed? Without a phantom beast, you are a cripple. What kind of authority are you trying to wield?"

Lin Chen moved like lightning.

"Swish!"

A blade formed from vines appeared in his hand, and he began his slaughter. Along the way, whether it was phantom beasts or Lin disciples, everyone was cut down; no one could withstand a single blow. In an instant, the Lin family estate was filled with wails.

"You... you..." The leader was stunned, falling to the ground, his pupils dilating in terror. Lin Chen recognized him—he was the Second Elder's son, Lin Mingyi, the brother of Lin Mingxun.

"Shing!"

Lin Chen acted with ruthless precision, stepping forward to sever Lin Mingyi’s shoulder with a single strike. He asked coldly, "Tell me, where is my sister?"

Lin Mingyi’s vision went dark; he nearly fainted from the pain. As the agony surged, he wailed, "Lin Ning'er is... locked in the backyard. But just now I saw Lin Mu go there. He... he said he wanted to have his fill of her before she is sent to the Zhang family!"

Lin Mu!

Lin Chen’s pupils contracted, and infinite rage erupted. Lin Mu was the head guard of the Lin family, possessing the strength of the fifth level of the Earth Spirit Realm! Lin Mu was greedy and lecherous, and Lin Chen had punished him many times in the past, likely fostering a deep grudge.

"Lin Mu, you dare!!!"

Lin Chen plunged his blade into Lin Mingyi’s chest, let out a roar, and charged toward the backyard. His eyes were blood-red, as if he had transformed into a ferocious beast.

"Tsk tsk, the kid is going on another killing spree," the sapling remarked from his shoulder. It had been the same in the jungle when facing those noble heirs, and it was the same now. His "reverse scale"—the one thing that must never be touched—had been triggered.