In a brightly lit room, the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive. Lin Zhentian and Lin Xiao sat there, their expressions solemn.
"Father, the businesses that the Lin family previously operated in secret are about to open. They should get on track quickly."
Lin Xiao glanced at Lin Zhentian, who had a serious expression, and said in a low voice.
"Mm."
Lin Zhentian nodded distractedly. A moment later, he suddenly looked up at Lin Xiao and the others, sighing softly, "I originally thought that after defeating the Lei and Xie families, our Lin family's situation would improve a bit. I didn't expect us to provoke the Blood Cloak Sect."
"Father, it was Lin Dong's recklessness. It's because I didn't discipline him strictly enough," Lin Xiao said suddenly, his voice heavy. He knew this matter had caused Lin Zhentian and the others a great deal of worry, as the Blood Cloak Sect's strength far surpassed that of the Lei and Xie families.
"It has nothing to do with Dong'er. Gu Ying was born with a greedy and vicious nature. Even if we had let him go, he would have brought disaster upon us, so killing him or not killing him would have been the same."
Lin Zhentian waved his hand and said.
"If we must blame someone, blame that old fox Lei Bao for being so cunning, daring to use such methods for the Yang Yuan Stone Mine."
"Father, what should we do then? I've sent many people to scout for information on the Blood Cloak Sect. They haven't made a move yet, probably investigating our Lin family's strength. Once they figure it out..."
Lin Ken pondered aloud.
"The Blood Cloak Sect Master is named Wei Tong, with a cultivation of Initial Yuan Dan Stage. Under him, there is also a Revered Elder with a cultivation of Minor Yuan Dan Stage, and nearly ten experts at the late Heavenly Yuan Stage. With such strength, it will be very difficult for our Lin family to resist."
Lin Zhentian said slowly. During this time, he had put a lot of effort into investigating the Blood Cloak Sect's situation, but the more he learned, the more worried he became.
"Initial Yuan Dan Stage."
Hearing this, Lin Xiao and the others' expressions changed slightly. Although it was only one level higher than the Minor Yuan Dan Stage, the difference was immense. Therefore, Lin Zhentian was currently no match for Wei Tong, not to mention that the Blood Cloak Sect also had a Revered Elder at the Minor Yuan Dan Stage. Their strength was indeed much greater than the Lin family's.
In the oppressive atmosphere, Lin Zhentian and the others fell silent.
"Lin Xiao, during this time, secretly move the younger generation of the family to another place. If something unexpected truly happens, our Lin family can still preserve some of its bloodline."
Lin Zhentian looked a bit weary. He waved his hand and said.
Hearing this, Lin Xiao and the others clenched their fists. They had no retreat now.
"The Yang Yuan Stone Mine is an incredibly tempting piece of cake. If the Blood Cloak Sect knows about it, they will certainly find an excuse to seize it, especially since outsiders can't say anything about their current excuse."
Lin Zhentian said with a bitter smile, "Therefore, they will definitely make a move; it's just a matter of sooner or later."
"Lin Xiao, remember this: if the Blood Cloak Sect makes a move, even if you have to risk your life, you must protect Dong'er. His talent is extraordinary; he will surely make a name for himself in the future!"
"Alright, it's getting late. You all go back and rest."
Lin Zhentian sighed, not wanting to say anything more. He waved his hand and turned to Lin Xiao and the others, speaking.
"Yes."
Seeing the old man's weariness, Lin Xiao and the others nodded and quietly left the room. The family head was clearly in a bad mood.
***
As Lin Xiao and his group departed, in a room in the rear courtyard, Lin Dong, who had been sitting cross-legged on the bed, slowly opened his eyes. With his current strength, no one could detect him even if he eavesdropped.
"Initial Yuan Dan Stage, Minor Completion."
Lin Dong pursed his lips. With his current strength, if he exerted his full Mental Energy, he could contend with a Yuan Dan Stage expert. However, if he encountered an Initial Yuan Dan Stage, Minor Completion expert, his chances of winning would be extremely low.
"At most, within half a month, the Blood Garment Sect will have finished investigating the Lin Family's situation. Lured by the Yang Yuan Stone Mine, they will certainly mobilize a large force and come."
Lin Dong's eyes flickered. What could he accomplish in half a month? At most, he could only reach the late Heavenly Yuan Stage. But would that be enough to resist Wei Tong, who possessed the strength of an Initial Yuan Dan Stage, Minor Completion expert?
"Phew."
Lin Dong exhaled deeply. There might not be much significant progress in these two weeks, but he wouldn't be discouraged. The Lin Family had worked so hard to reach its current position, and he didn't want to watch it crumble into dust.
His fingers toyed with his right palm, and Lin Dong slowly closed his eyes. His spirit once again appeared in a dark space.
Within the Mental Energy space of the Stone Talisman, there were now several light projections. However, the light projection of the Mysterious Gate Seal had already completed the incomplete scroll of the Mysterious Gate Seal.
The Mysterious Gate Seal currently had four layers. According to Lin Dong's estimation, it already possessed power comparable to a Fifth-Grade Martial Art. This was his strongest move apart from his Mental Energy. Although it wasn't enough to defeat Wei Tong, the Blood Garment Sect's master, it could at least be considered a trump card.
Lin Dong stood before the light projections, but he didn't immediately begin cultivating. Instead, he slowly surveyed the dark space with his gaze.
Lin Dong's Mental Energy could now be considered to have achieved some success, so he dared to do some things he couldn't before. Lin Dong speculated that his current body was not a physical entity, but rather formed by the Stone Talisman condensing Mental Energy.
At the same time, as his Mental Energy grew stronger, Lin Dong began to explore this mysterious Stone Talisman. Therefore, he really wanted to know what other abilities the Stone Talisman possessed, besides its power to complete martial arts and refine spiritual medicines.
Lin Dong focused on examining the dark space, but as time passed, he still found nothing. The space remained as silent as ever.
After observing for half an hour, Lin Dong sat down. His Mental Energy spread out, covering the invisible darkness inch by inch.
He didn't know why, but using Mental Energy in this space felt incredibly draining to Lin Dong. In just a few short minutes, Lin Dong already felt his spirit weaken considerably.
However, Lin Dong did not stop. The young man, who was inherently stubborn and persistent, continued to release Mental Energy, constantly expanding his search range.
The dark space was silent and still. Invisible Mental Energy spread out like ripples.
"Phew."
Lin Dong had been searching for an unknown amount of time, and now his face showed extreme exhaustion. He hadn't achieved any results.
"Could it be that I was overthinking it...?"
He muttered to himself, furrowing his brows. After such a long and fruitless search, Lin Dong decided to give up. His spirit trembled slightly, then quickly dissipated.
As his mental energy dissipated, a faint sigh of relief seemed to echo in the darkness.
"Who's there!"
The sigh was incredibly soft, but Lin Dong still heard it. His eyes widened, and he turned to look into a dark void, shouting loudly.
After shouting, Lin Dong's hair stood on end. This dark space was indeed not empty!
Lin Dong often used the Stone Talisman to refine elixirs, and he understood that some of the medicinal power was absorbed by the Stone Talisman. For example, when the Stone Talisman absorbed the strange demonic flower in the stone cave, Lin Dong couldn't absorb most of its medicinal power, but the Stone Talisman had absorbed it for him!
This had raised suspicions in Lin Dong's heart, and it was also one of the reasons why Lin Dong decided to investigate the Stone Talisman.
After Lin Dong's shout, the dark space remained silent as usual. The situation was exactly the same as before the sigh, making him wonder if the sigh had been an illusion.
However, Lin Dong didn't believe it was an illusion. He stared intently at a section of the dark space, his mental energy quickly condensing in front of him, transforming into a long weapon that shot straight into that area, similar to Gu Ying's "Spirit Transformation Needle."
Although this was just a common mental secret technique, Lin Dong currently knew nothing else besides this one.
"If you don't show yourself, I will attack!"
The "Spirit Transformation Needle" glowed, slowly moving into that dark space.
Lin Dong still saw no movement. His eyes flashed, and without hesitation, he directly propelled the Spirit Transformation Needle into it.
"Whoosh!"
As the "Spirit Transformation Needle" shot into it, a ray of light appeared in the darkness, then quickly fled deeper into the shadows.
"Still trying to run?"
Seeing this, Lin Dong's mental energy, like an invisible thread, instantly pursued the ray of light, grabbed it, and pulled it back.
"Thump!"
The ray of light fell not far from him. When he looked at it, he was surprised to see that it resembled a pitch-black rat, about the size of a palm!
What shocked Lin Dong was that in the tiny black rat's eyes, there was no fear, but rather an extremely human-like anger.
"What is this?"
Seeing the pitch-black rat, Lin Dong couldn't help but take a light breath.