A wedding turned into a battleground, resulting in the deaths of Lei Bao and Xie Qian. Seeing these two perish, everyone understood that the Lei and Xie families had made extremely thorough preparations for today's situation, yet they failed to eliminate the Lin family. Instead, they lost their lives and paid a heavy price.
And the greatest price was the decline of these two ancient families from this day forward.
Having lost their two pillars, the status of the Lei and Xie families in Qingyang Town would rapidly diminish, with no possibility of restoring their former standing.
Evidently, this battle had made the Lin family's reputation resound, and no one dared to underestimate this young family anymore.
...
After seeing the outcome decided, the Lin family brought their forces back to Qingyang Town. Whereas before they had to operate cautiously, now they continuously opened new shops. Currently, the Lin family's status in Qingyang Town was like the midday sun; no longer restrained or threatened by the Lei and Xie families, the Lin family in Qingyang Town was now fully deserving of being the number one power.
This reputation attracted many experts who sought to join the Lin family. The Lin family was quite pleased about this, but it was nothing compared to the Yangyuan Stone mine.
However, after the battle with the Lei and Xie families, the Lin family also suffered considerable losses. Recruiting new members was essential, so after a brief investigation, they accepted experts with clean backgrounds, and the Lin family's strength consequently increased.
***
While Lin Zhentian and the others were busy arranging matters after the great battle, Lin Dong returned to the Lin family's back mountain. Ever since his identity as a Talisman Master was exposed, his status in the Lin family had reached new heights. Even Lin Zhentian, when speaking to his grandson, always had a look of affection and pride on his aged face.
Of course, a seventeen-year-old youth with the strength of the middle stage of the Heavenly Yuan Realm and a One-Seal Talisman Master was indeed something to be proud of. Such achievements would be excellent even within the main Lin clan.
Everyone understood that the old master always harbored the desire to return to the main Lin clan. All his hopes were placed on Lin Dong, and with the Lin clan's triennial Clan Assembly approaching, no one knew what abilities Lin Dong would be able to display.
On a large rock on the back mountain, Lin Dong sat cross-legged in quiet meditation. Around him, Yuan Power surged out, then was drawn back in, replenishing his Dantian.
While cultivating with Yuan Power, the Natal Talisman Seal in Lin Dong's Niwan Palace also pulsed like a heart. A surge of Mental Energy moved around the Talisman Seal; as it entered the Talisman Seal, another stream of Mental Energy flowed out. This process cycled continuously, making the Talisman Seal increasingly condensed.
Because the Natal Talisman Seal absorbed a considerable amount of Mental Energy, Lin Dong's current Mental Energy was much stronger than before. Lin Dong was quite surprised by this; the "Ancient Spring Talisman Seal" he was cultivating surely had no small reputation.
"Phew."
After about two hours of cultivation, Lin Dong exhaled a puff of white air, and his eyes slowly opened, the shimmering points instantly disappearing.
"It will probably take another month for me to reach the late stage of the Heavenly Yuan Realm. The Green Yuan Art is too low-grade; at the Heavenly Yuan Realm, it can no longer satisfy my cultivation needs."
After completing his cultivation, Lin Dong furrowed his brows. He had been stuck at the intermediate stage of the Heavenly Origin Realm for over four months, yet he felt no sign of a breakthrough. His cultivation speed was relatively slow, which left him feeling somewhat helpless. He blamed it on his low-grade cultivation technique.
Of course, if people like Lin Keng and Lin Mang heard him say that, they would probably spit blood. They had been stuck at this level for several years. Although there had recently been signs of a breakthrough, their time spent was ten times longer than Lin Dong's. If this speed wasn't satisfying to Lin Dong, then how were they supposed to live?
Shaking his head, Lin Dong dismissed the distracting thoughts. The Lin family was currently developing vigorously, and many of the properties of the Lei and Xie families were gradually being swallowed up by his clan.
This situation was not excessive; reality was always cruel. Clan struggles could even lead to total annihilation. Lin Dong believed that if the Lin family were to fail, with Lei Bao's personality, he would surely spare neither chicken nor dog in the Lin family.
***
"Life Spirit Talisman..."
After he stopped thinking about family matters, Lin Dong's thoughts turned to himself. When he killed Gu Ying, he obtained the Qiankun Bag from the opponent. Lin Dong only knew a little about the path of a Talisman Master. After all, when he was in Yan City, Master Yan only taught him the cultivation method for the first three layers of "Divine Movement Heaven," so his understanding of the Talisman Master path was extremely low.
Fortunately, there was some information related to Talisman Masters in Gu Ying's Qiankun Bag, including information about the "Life Spirit Talisman" that had made Gu Ying scream in terror.
The Life Talisman Seal was the most crucial aspect for a Talisman Master. Only by condensing a Life Talisman Seal could one unleash the power of Mental Energy. And the Life Talisman Seal was divided into special grades.
According to the information recorded within, there were three special grades of Life Talisman Seals: Life Talisman Seal, Life Spirit Talisman, and Life Heaven Talisman.
The Life Talisman Seal was just the most ordinary type, possessing no special abilities. The vast majority of Talisman Masters only had this common Life Talisman Seal.
The Life Spirit Talisman, however, was a rarer type of Talisman Seal. This type of Talisman Seal could take on a physical form and simultaneously contained a special ability, much like Lin Dong's "Ancient Spring Talisman Seal" which had the ability to absorb Mental Energy.
The Life Heaven Talisman was even more terrifying. It was said that once unleashed, it had the power to devour the heavens and consume the earth. Of course, this item was too special, and the book didn't introduce much about it.
This was also why Gu Ying was so shocked when he saw the "Ancient Spring Talisman Seal" transform into a vortex. After all, this type of "Life Spirit Talisman" was extremely rare and unusual. Moreover, a Talisman Master who could condense a Life Spirit Talisman would receive immense help in their cultivation process.
"Is this a Life Spirit Talisman..."
Lin Dong's eyes widened, and an invisible ray of light shot out from his pupils, transforming into an ancient Talisman Seal that floated before him. He could never have imagined that such a simple, ordinary Talisman Seal could possess such miraculous power.
After all, being able to absorb others' Mental Energy was truly terrifying...
After admiring it for a while, Lin Dong retracted the Talisman Seal into his Niwan Palace and continued to examine the mental secret techniques that Gu Ying had left in his Qiankun Bag.
Simply put, this was another kind of "martial art," except that martial arts required Yuan Power to be unleashed, while mental secret techniques required Mental Energy.
The grades of spiritual secret techniques are divided into three levels by people, from lowest to highest: Essence, Qi, and Spirit.
Spiritual secret techniques below the Essence grade are merely common. Many Talisman Masters only possess these common spiritual secret techniques.
Previously, when Gu Ying performed "Spirit Transformation Needle," although its name sounded incredibly grand, it was still just a common spiritual secret technique. Powerful spiritual secret techniques are not something one can simply acquire.
"The path of a Talisman Master is indeed profoundly mysterious..."
Lin Dong narrowed his eyes, then took out Gu Ying's Qiankun Bag, frowning.
Although the recent great battle resulted in victory over the Lei and Xie families, it also left a huge hidden danger...
This hidden danger was, of course, the Blood Robe Sect of Yan City. Lin Dong had killed the Deputy Sect Master of the Blood Robe Sect. Once this news spread, given the Blood Robe Sect's modus operandi, they would not let it go.
This matter was also a heavy stone weighing on the hearts of Lin Zhentian and the core members of the Lin family. Although they didn't show it outwardly, Lin Dong knew they were somewhat worried.
The Blood Robe Sect's revenge would not be as simple as that of the Lei and Xie families!
After all, the Blood Robe Sect was a power in Yan City, and its strength was many times greater than that of the Lei and Xie families. The Lin family was facing a genuine crisis of survival this time.
If that happened, their rising momentum would be shattered into dust!
Many powers in Qingyang Town knew that although the Lin family was momentarily triumphant, few powers came to express goodwill. The Lin family's triumph would likely only last for a short time...
The Blood Robe Sect was like a sharp sword hanging over the Liu family's head, and this sharp sword would definitely strike down. This was not a situation Lin Dong wanted to see.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Dong clenched his hands. Facing the renowned powers of Yan City, he felt an immense pressure.
"No matter who wants to destroy my Lin family, they will have to pay with blood!"
Lin Dong pursed his lips, a cold glint appearing in his eyes. Just as Lin Zhentian said, their Lin family was a tough bone. Anyone who wanted to gnaw on it had to be prepared to break their teeth!