The Lin Family’s Distant Ancestors

Upon its release, the treasure swiftly expanded, enveloped in roaring flames, and descended upon Yan Yun.

Yan Yun’s expression subtly shifted.

She immediately raised her hand and waved it, summoning a Golden Armored Puppet that burst forth from her storage artifact.

The puppet delivered a powerful punch to the fiery pagoda, forcefully pushing it back a considerable distance.

“A Golden Armored Puppet from the Heavenly Puppet Gate?” Luo Lie exclaimed.

Observing that even his Divine Mark Realm artifact failed to suppress her, he immediately called out to his fellow disciples.

“Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters, form the Five-Direction Fire Array to refine this demoness!”

Hearing his command, the other four instantly teleported to positions surrounding Yan Yun.

Luo Lie continued to control his artifact, suppressing Yan Yun, while simultaneously moving to another designated spot.

The five cultivators then simultaneously formed hand seals.

“Qianyuan, Dui above, Zhen below, Kan right, Kun left.
Combine!
Five-Direction Fire Array!”

Once their positions were fixed, five streams of energy emanated from their bodies, swiftly connecting to form a barrier that trapped Yan Yun within.

The adjudicator in the sky also observed the battle unfolding below.

However, according to the rules, intervention was only permitted if a participant faced a genuine life-threatening danger or voluntarily withdrew from the event.

As the array activated, walls of fire rose from all directions, sealing off Yan Yun from every side and above.

The Divine Mark Realm artifact hovering overhead now presented a formidable threat.

This array was so potent that not only Cavern Heaven Realm cultivators but even Great Perfection Divine Mark Realm cultivators would find it challenging.

“Demoness,” Luo Lie loudly warned, “This Five-Direction Fire Array, when unleashed by five Spirit Transformation Realm cultivators, can even overwhelm a powerful Minor Perfection Divine Mark Realm expert.
Withdraw from the event now, and you might still have a glimmer of hope.”

His words carried a hidden implication: if she refused to surrender and perished, it would be her own doing.

The statement was made with considerable volume, clearly intended for others to hear, suggesting they undoubtedly had further deadly moves.

Yan Yun did not retaliate immediately.

Instead, she swiftly activated another talisman, which emanated a fiery red energy that enveloped her.

For a time, the flames of the array could not approach her; it was a Three-tier Fire Repelling Talisman.

“Heh heh, I’m rather curious,” Yan Yun asked with a smile, “Does your Lieyang Gate harbor a grudge against me?”

Alas, the disciples of Lieyang Gate had no intention of answering her question.

“If you manage to leave this place alive, perhaps you’ll have a chance to learn why,” Luo Lie suddenly transmitted through his divine sense, offering a seemingly ‘kind’ reminder.

“As for now, you should focus on how to escape.
Oh, and one more thing: your woman, your mother, and those from the Jiang family are also being targeted by our Lieyang Gate because of their connection to you.”

This particular revelation caused Yan Yun’s expression to darken considerably.

If they sought to kill her solely because of her actions, she wouldn’t have cared.

However, to target Jiang Yao and the others meant it was undoubtedly connected to the enemies of Yan Lingyun.

“You were hired by the Lin family, weren’t you?” Yan Yun understood now.

Luo Lie neither denied nor admitted it, simply watching Yan Yun with a cold gaze.

Indeed, just as Luo Lie had stated, Jiang Yao, Su Muyu, Yan Kun, and others were also being targeted by Lieyang Gate disciples.

However, because Su Muyu and Jiang Yao were moving with disciples from Yunhua Pavilion, the Lieyang Gate members had no opportunity to strike.

The Yan family, however, faced trouble.

Numerous Lieyang Gate Cavern Heaven Realm cultivators were suddenly seen assaulting the Yan and Jiang family members.

Many disciples from both families were injured before they could even react.

“Who are you people?
Why are you attacking us?” the group Yan Kun belonged to demanded, looking at the suddenly appearing sect cultivators with alarm and fury.

“Too much nonsense,” a Lieyang Gate cultivator sneered.

“Either withdraw or die.”

Outside the arena, Yunshuang and the others realized that Lieyang Gate’s targets were indeed the Yan and Jiang families.

She immediately understood.

“Second Elder,” Yunshuang pondered for a moment before asking Yunyan, “Is there any connection between Lieyang Gate and the Lin family?”

Yunyan paused, slightly taken aback, then offered a response after a moment of thought.

“Lieyang Gate and the Lin family?
While I’m not entirely certain of a direct connection, I do recall that Lieyang Gate has a Divine Venerable Realm cultivator named Lin Zhentian.

And the Lin family’s ancestor was named Lin Zhennan.”

“Lin Zhentian?
I seem to have some recollection of him.
Wasn’t he from the same era as my master?
How is it that I’ve never heard of any connection between him and the Lin family?” Yunshuang wondered, bewildered.

If Lin Zhentian truly had ties to the Lin family, their influence would be far greater than currently perceived.

Yet, in reality, Lin Zhentian had never interacted with any member of the Lin family.

“Eh?
Sect Master, are you suggesting that Lieyang Gate’s attack on Yan Yun might be connected to the Lin family?” Yunyan quickly understood.

Yunshuang nodded.

Looking over at the Lin family’s high-ranking members outside the arena, Lin Xiong and the others watched Yan Yun and her companions being attacked by Lieyang Gate disciples, their faces alight with excitement.

‘You never would have guessed, would you?’ Lin Xiong thought excitedly to himself.

‘My Lin family still conceals a Divine Realm Old Ancestor.
I wouldn’t have disturbed the old man unless the Lin family faced a crisis of life and death.’

Lin Zhentian was indeed an Old Ancestor of the Lin family of the Royal Capital.

However, their relationship was distant, spanning some dozen generations.

The direct ancestor of the Lin family of the Royal Capital was Lin Zhennan, who was Lin Zhentian’s biological brother.

Lin Zhennan, however, possessed no cultivation aptitude.

Lin Zhentian, on the other hand, had joined the Lieyang Gate of that era and, approximately seven hundred years ago, ascended to become a Divine Venerable Realm expert.

Originally, the Lin family had been unaware of this hidden Old Ancestor.

Yet, after Lieyang Gate disciples attacked the Lin family, Lin Zhentian intervened to save them once, revealing his existence to the family.

He informed the Lin family’s high-ranking members that he was not truly a part of the Lin family, but merely shared a distant connection with them.

He further stated that he would not intervene unless the Lin family faced a crisis of life and death.

A Lin family disciple with decent aptitude had joined Lieyang Gate and coincidentally met Lin Zhentian.

Lin Zhentian then proactively told the disciple about his connection.

He also instructed the disciple to convey a message to the then-Family Head Lin.

If the Lin family ever faced a life-or-death situation, he would fully exert himself to resolve one such crisis.

However, once he acted, it would signify the end of his worldly ties with the Lin family.

Not long before the Immortal Dao Assembly commenced, Lin Xiong personally visited Lieyang Gate to request an audience with Lin Zhentian, explaining the Lin family’s predicament.

Initially, Lin Zhentian was reluctant to offend the Yunhua Sect over this matter.

However, with his lifespan dwindling and the Lin family facing a potential catastrophic disaster, he reconsidered.

Since the danger had been perceived, failing to nip it in the bud now would only lead to their demise in the future.

Thus, he agreed to assist.

Lin Zhentian was currently the most senior Divine Venerable Realm cultivator in Lieyang Gate.

The current Sect Master of Lieyang Gate was even his disciple.

With such a command from his master, the Lieyang Gate Master had no choice but to instruct his disciples to act.

The reason they hadn’t intervened in the first and second rounds was that doing so would have certainly drawn the attention of the Yunhua Sect.

To avoid being targeted, they decided to strike in the third round, catching Yan Yun and her companions off guard.

Meanwhile, back with Yan Yun, the five-person array continued its assault.

Yan Yun didn’t possess many other treasures, but she had an abundance of consumable artifacts.

“Damn it, how does this demoness have so many talisman treasures?
One after another!” a female Lieyang Gate disciple exclaimed anxiously.

“Luo Meng, if this continues, our energy will be completely depleted.
Senior Brother, quickly think of a solution!”

Yan Yun, at this moment, appeared perfectly serene, as if she were not in any danger at all.

Luo Meng gritted his teeth and pulled out a red talisman from his person.

The energy emanating from this talisman was even more potent than that of a Three-tier Talisman.

This was a Four-tier Talisman, its power sufficient to kill a Great Perfection Divine Mark Realm cultivator.

“A Four-tier Talisman?
This doesn’t seem like Lieyang Gate is merely competing with Yan Yun for treasure,” the Divine Venerable Realm adjudicator in the sky immediately grew vigilant.

“It looks more like they intend to kill her.”

Just then, an unexpected incident occurred on another part of the field.

“Ah!
My hand!
My hand!” A bloodcurdling scream echoed from somewhere on the battlefield.

A Jiang Country sect cultivator was seen with one of his hands severed, blood gushing from his shoulder.

This individual was a Great Perfection Cavern Heaven Realm cultivator, not a Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator, and thus incapable of regenerating severed limbs.

He had merely reached out to grab a Spirit Transformation Realm-grade treasure, but as soon as his hand extended, it was swiftly cut off by a blade.

“Eh?
Your Jiang Country cultivators are far too slow, aren’t you?
You couldn’t even dodge my casual slash.” A burly Ji Country Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator, wielding a long saber, sauntered over from the side, speaking in a sarcastic tone.

“My apologies, my apologies, you can’t blame me for being heavy-handed.”

“You!
You’re going too far!
You did that on purpose!
Esteemed Senior, this person deliberately inflicted a severe injury; please, I beg for your judgment!” The severed-arm cultivator’s fellow disciple, both shocked and enraged, immediately looked up at the Divine Venerable Realm expert in the sky.

After a moment of thought, the Divine Venerable Realm expert pointed a hand from afar at the injured youth with the severed arm.

The next moment, the severed arm swiftly flew up, reattaching itself to the youth’s shoulder and instantly healing.

“Young man,” the Divine Venerable Realm cultivator’s voice echoed in the saber-wielding youth’s ears, “As fellow cultivators of the Righteous Dao Alliance, you must understand the weight of your actions.
Let this not happen again.”

‘Severing a limb is not considered a severe injury in the cultivation world; I can only issue a warning for now,’ he mused.

The saber-wielding Ji Country cultivator chuckled, then stood directly in front of the treasure.

“If you desire this treasure, defeat me first,” the Ji Country cultivator challenged, resting his saber on his shoulder.

“Otherwise, move along.”

‘This will surely provoke the Jiang Country’s Spirit Transformation Realm cultivators beyond endurance,’ onlookers thought.

“What are you boasting about?
I’ll take you on!” A Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator from the severed-arm youth’s sect immediately rushed forward.

“Haha, excellent!
Take this slash!” Seeing someone challenge him, the Ji Country cultivator instantly brought his saber down.

The next moment, a dazzling saber glow descended directly towards his opponent.

Its speed was astonishing; by the time the opponent reacted, he was already engulfed by the saber light.

“How is this possible?” the youth could only forcefully circulate his cultivation to resist.

However, the opponent’s saber light was simply too formidable.

His protective magical energy shattered instantly, sending him flying dozens of meters before he crashed into a tree, finally coming to a halt.

“Pfft!” Coming to a stop, he immediately spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, a terrifying wound appearing on his chest.

Spirit Transformation Realm cultivators could use their power to heal injuries, so theoretically, this wound was not severe.

Yet, the saber light of this Ji Country cultivator contained a peculiar power that prevented his wound from healing.

“You?
Let’s go together!” Seeing this, the other cultivators from the severed-arm youth’s sect dared not face him individually.

Since there was no rule against multiple people attacking one, several of them charged forward together.

Unfortunately, the saber-wielding youth executed another sweeping slash, sending all of them flying.

“Tch!
Is that all?
If I weren’t worried about killing you, you’d already be dead men.”

“Remember my name: I am Song Heng of the Tianmen Sect from Ji Country.
If you have the guts, challenge me; otherwise, scram!”

Saber light surged wantonly from Song Heng’s hand, causing the others to retreat in fright.