A Brother’s Sacrifice and a Sister’s Vengeance

“I understand. Then proceed,” Lin Tian said slowly. Zhang Yu was unaware of his storage bag. If he fired the instant Zhang Yu attacked Luo Tao, he would have a chance to kill him. However, if his timing was off, not only would Luo Tao and the stout young man die, but he would also be in grave danger.

“I knew you would understand, Junior Sister!”

Zhang Yu grinned, walking directly towards the stout young man. After a quick glance, he scoffed, “What? He’s already dead.”

“Hm?!”

The stout young man was dead?

Lin Tian cast a glance at the stout young man lying on the ground. Indeed, he had no breath left, leaving a complex taste in his heart.

Though they had not known each other long, the stout young man had been a tremendous help with his martial arts. Now, he lay dead before him, and he was powerless to change it.

‘Jiaofeng, can you break through that spiritual energy barrier?’ Lin Tian communicated with the demonic beast through his thoughts.

“That’s a top-tier magic tool. Even if you use the weapon that injured me, you won’t break it.”

****

“Junior Sister Yingkong, I knew you would stand with me. You kill Luo Tao! Prove your sincerity to me!”

Thump-thump! Lin Tian’s heart pounded. If Zhang Yu didn’t make a move, he would lose his chance to kill him.

What should he do? He fell into deep thought, needing to devise a way to save Luo Tao.

Zhang Yu tossed a dagger to him, snapping Lin Tian back to reality. Slowly, he approached Luo Tao.

What to do? What to do?

Using the explosives directly would surely kill Zhang Yu! But everyone present, including himself, would perish with him.

Standing before Luo Tao, the hand holding the dagger trembled.

Just as he hesitated, Luo Tao suddenly scrambled to his feet, grasping Lin Tian’s trembling hand and plunging the dagger into his own heart!

“Brother…” Lin Tian’s pupils constricted sharply, his hand drenched in blood! His myriad thoughts from moments ago ceased in an instant.

“Yingkong, don’t shoulder everything alone. Our parents told me to protect you. I’m useless… You’ll have to walk the rest of the path by yourself.”

After Luo Tao finished speaking, the light in his eyes faded, and his body went limp.

“Haha, Junior Sister, I knew you’d be on my side!”

At this moment, Lin Tian had his back to Zhang Yu, his eyes filled with murderous intent! Turning around, his face instantly transformed into a captivating, smiling expression:

“Senior Brother Zhang Yu, you’ll teach me the ways of cultivation, won’t you?”

Zhang Yu found this charming smile irresistible. He retracted his defensive spiritual energy barrier and embraced her, then pulled out a book.

“This is the cultivation method. Junior Sister can try it first. You missed the last selection, so if you happen to have a spiritual root, then…”

Bang! He hadn’t finished speaking when a gunshot rang out. Lin Tian held a pistol, pressing it against Zhang Yu’s chest. The bullet pierced his heart, exiting from his back!

“Junior Sister, you!” Zhang Yu’s eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief. The aura emanating from Lin Tian was that of a cultivator! Qi Refinement, seventh layer!

“Of course I remember my brother’s words: ‘When an enemy relaxes their guard, even the most powerful expert will fall!'”

Zhang Yu had no time for further thought. He shoved Lin Tian away, attempting to use a magic tool to conjure a spiritual energy barrier.

Bang! Another shot struck Zhang Yu’s Dantian, preventing his spiritual energy from coalescing. The smile vanished completely from Lin Tian’s face, replaced by icy eyes and undisguised killing intent.

“Junior Sister! Don’t kill me! I’ll give you anything you want!” Zhang Yu collapsed to the ground, his face pale with terror.

“Zhang Yu, I used to admire you, but you’ve fallen. You’ve been corrupted since the moment you stepped onto the path of cultivation!”

In the setting sun, Muyu watched the silhouettes of the two figures. The young woman raised her gun and shot through the man’s head.

****

After killing Zhang Yu, Lin Tian knelt before Luo Tao, his eyes dim.

Aside from his parents, it had always been this brother, four years his senior, who accompanied him, gathering materials, scouting for information, selecting weapons, and practicing swordplay.

Whatever troubles Lin Tian faced, he would always be the first to rush forward.

“You were a good brother…” Lin Tian shed no tears, but his heart ached terribly. Just then, a hand patted his shoulder.

“Junior Sister Yingkong, don’t be sad. Everyone must eventually part, and besides, you are now a cultivator.”

“Senior Brother?! You’re not dead?”

It was the stout young man. Tears streamed down his face as he choked out, “My lifebound Gu put me in a state of suspended animation. I’m truly useless!”

“You two…” Muyu whispered softly from the side.

Lin Tian waved his hand, collecting Zhang Yu’s belongings. He then picked up Luo Tao and began walking towards the mountain peak.

He buried Luo Tao at his usual cultivation spot on the mountain, erecting a tombstone with a profound iron sword.

“Senior Sister Yingkong, what’s the situation?” Nolan and the others were still hiding, completely unaware of the events below.

Seeing Lin Tian’s silence, they dared not ask further questions.

With Luo Tao’s death, he prepared to return home to deliver the news. So much had happened in just over a year since he ascended the mountain.

Looking at the few people beside him, Lin Tian took a deep breath and said, “That Zhang Yu is dead. Go notify the others. Also, do not come to the mountain peak again.”

****

The news of Mufu Mountain being attacked by a cultivator quickly spread. Many opposing sects sought to seize the opportunity to occupy Mufu Mountain, but upon hearing there was a cultivator guarding it, they all refrained from acting.

The remaining Mufu Mountain disciples wanted Lin Tian to become the sect leader, but he flatly refused. They had no choice but to rebuild from scratch.

From then on, the mountain peak was considered forbidden territory, with no one allowed to approach. This incident was also recorded in the Mufu Mountain archives, becoming a legendary tale, even a folk myth.

The stout young man left the sect, and no other disciples ever saw Lin Tian again. With the reputation of a cultivator presiding over it, other sects dared not act rashly, and Mufu Mountain gradually recovered its vitality.

****

Half a year later…

A person clad in black robes entered a tavern. Their face was half-obscured by the hood, making it impossible to discern their gender. A small boy followed beside them.

“Two bowls of noodles.”

“Alright, please take a seat!”

“Master, is this your hometown?” the small boy asked curiously.

“How many times have I told you, don’t call me Master. Anyone who doesn’t know might think I’m a human trafficker.” Taking off the black hood, a cascade of silver hair and fair skin was revealed, drawing furtive glances from the surrounding patrons.

“Then I’ll call you Big Sister!”

“Hmm… no, call me Big Brother.”

“Huh?”

****

The two were none other than Lin Tian and Jiaofeng, who had traveled from Mufu Mountain.

He had cultivated on the mountain for several months. Zhang Yu’s storage bag contained many valuable items, including numerous pills that boosted cultivation.

It also held a complete Qi Gathering Art, allowing cultivation up to the fifteenth layer! Most importantly, there was a jade pendant magic tool that, when infused with spiritual power, could withstand the blast of a grenade!

In addition, there was a set of thirty-two formation flags and three hundred spirit stones.

Jiaofeng’s injuries had fully recovered. After using up the pills, Lin Tian secretly descended the mountain, his cultivation now at the eighth layer of Qi Refinement!

Inside Zhang Yu’s storage bag was an invitation.

It described an immortal’s trade convention, an opportunity Lin Tian certainly wouldn’t miss. With half a year remaining until the convention, he had merely returned for a brief visit.

“Noodles coming!”

Lin Tian didn’t eat his two bowls of noodles, instead giving them all to Jiaofeng to devour. Its appetite was enormous; spiritual energy alone couldn’t satisfy its hunger.

Jiaofeng’s cultivation was at the mid-stage of the second rank. Its cultivation method differed from humans, with the mid-stage of the second rank being comparable to a human’s mid-stage Foundation Establishment, but its strength was considerably greater than others at the same rank.

After finishing their meal, the two walked through the familiar streets, arriving at the Luo Estate!