Chapter 2143: Lin Xie

Yehuicheng, three great families: Lin, Tian, Zhao.

The Lin family, due to the emergence of Lin Xie, ranked first; the family head, though inferior to him, had reached the peak of Lower Grade Divine, and his paired swords were immensely powerful, inspiring fear.

As for the Zhao family, they were the weakest, far inferior to the first two in both talent reserves and the family head. Their inclusion among the three great families was due to their control over the city's merchant guilds and immense wealth.

Lin Family Mansion.

"Lin Xie, with your strength, you're no weaker than Ming Laixiang. Why listen to her and give up the position of city lord? You're not alone—you have the entire family behind you!"

Looking at the middle-aged man before him, the Lin family head felt a sense of frustration.

Lin Xie was the most famous genius of the Lin family and also the strongest in cultivation. He had thought he could secure the position of city lord and bring greater glory to the family, never dreaming that an unexpected contender would appear and snatch the position away from an unknown youngster.

Since it was taken, they should find a way to reclaim it. But this man, instead of challenging, had directly acknowledged the other... The more he thought about it, the angrier and more frustrated he became.

The Lin family's one and only chance to soar to the heavens had been squandered like this.

"Ming Laixiang is no match, and neither am I. Besides, he has refined the City Lord Stele. Rather than humiliate myself and lose face, it's better to admit defeat!" Lin Xie shook his head, his expression calm. "Alright, I need to cultivate. If there's nothing important, don't bother me!"

With that, he turned and walked toward his room. Before he had gone far, he saw the steward rushing in, bowing with clasped hands: "Family head, Young Master Lin Xie!"

The Lin family head stood with his hands behind his back.

"The new city lord has announced a public lecture! It's already started, and many are attending. Should our family send someone as well?" the steward asked.

"Send someone? This fellow just snatched the city lord position that belonged to our Lin family. It's good enough that we're not causing trouble. Attend a lecture? Dream on! What, do you want our Lin family members to become his students?" The Lin family head waved his hand dismissively.

"Well..." the steward hesitated, then said, "Those who attended report that the new city lord's lecture is excellent, clearing up many people's confusion and benefiting them greatly..."

"Benefiting greatly? Just a trick to win people over!" The Lin family head waved his hand again. "Enough. Warn the clan: no one is allowed to attend the lecture or accept his favors. Anyone who disobeys will be expelled from the clan and never allowed to set foot in the family again!"

"Yes..." Seeing the family head's decision, the steward swallowed his words and walked out helplessly to convey the order.

"Lin Xie, did you hear that? This fellow, as soon as he became city lord, starts doling out petty favors. Once he's fully established, won't the entire Yehuicheng fall under his control? You want to cultivate? I'll have the eight elders come now and use the family's most secret formation to help you improve. You must reclaim the city lord position!" The Lin family head gritted his teeth.

"This... how can we? Using the formation to improve will cause great harm to the eight elders, even shorten their lifespans..."

Lin Xie was taken aback.

The Lin family had a secret technique that could pool others' power to temporarily boost a recipient's cultivation. Since the improvement wasn't too significant and the cost was great, it had rarely been used.

He never dreamed the family head would want to use it now.

"No need to argue. As long as you become city lord, any loss can be compensated. All you need to do now is adjust your state and prepare to receive the power of the eight elders!"

The Lin family head waved his hand, cutting him off, and issued the order.

Soon, the eight elders, all at the Lower Grade Divine level, appeared in the room. They set up the formation and transmitted power, toiling for four hours.

Boom!

A surge within his body; Lin Xie felt his entire aura soar like a dragon, making a great leap.

He quickly rose. Inside his dantian, an explosive sound rang out, and the cultivation that had been stagnant for so long broke through in an instant.

Half-Step Upper Grade Divine!

Though not yet fully at the Upper Grade Divine level, he was only half a step away. Both combat power and awareness had greatly improved and leaped forward.

"With this strength, why worry about not getting the city lord position..." Clenching his fist and exhaling, Lin Xie's eyes gleamed.

Previously, his fight with Ming Laixiang had been evenly matched. But now, having absorbed the power of the eight elders through the secret technique, his combat power was more than double what it was before!

If he contested the city lord position now, he would surely succeed!

"Thank you, everyone..."

Looking at the eight elders sitting on the ground, their vitality nearly exhausted, Lin Xie nodded, full of gratitude.

The secret technique essentially used the cultivation of eight people to boost him slightly...

Losing eight experts at once—in the previous stalemate, no one would have been willing. But now, with the situation changing, if he didn't act, the other party would completely win the people's hearts, making it much harder to seize the position!

As long as he became city lord, all losses would be compensated!

"No need to say more. Go and reclaim the city lord position. Even if we die, it will be worth it..." said an elder with a snow-white beard, his voice weak.

"Go. The city lord position is destined for our Lin family..." said another elder.

"Alright..." Lin Xie nodded, gathered his strength, and was about to leave when he saw the steward rushing in again.

"Reporting to the family head and Young Master Lin Xie... The rogue cultivator Wuyang, Tian family head Tian Fei, and Zhao family head Zhao Meng, along with a group of juniors, have come to visit!"

"Visit? Why visit at this hour?"

The family head and Lin Xie exchanged glances, both puzzled.

Usually, the three families interacted but remained wary of each other. What were they doing here in the dead of night?

"Show them in!"

Though curious, he waved his hand.

Soon, the group entered the room.

"Greetings, Family Head Lin, Young Master Lin Xie!" The group clasped their hands.

"May I ask,诸位, why have you come to the Lin family late at night?"

The Lin family head looked at them with confusion.

"We just finished the city lord's lecture and noticed no one from the Lin family attended, so we came specifically to ask," Tian Fei said with a smile.

"Attend a lecture? Our Lin family, the top family in Yehuicheng, lacks no experts. Why would we listen to a wet-behind-the-ears kid?" The Lin family head's face darkened. "What a joke!"

"Family Head Lin, we came because we thought your family missed the lecture and wanted to share the recording jade with you. If you don't want to listen, fine, but why insult my teacher?" Tian Fei's face darkened.

After two hours of the lecture, deep down, he had already regarded the calm and steady young man on the stone wall as his teacher.

"Your teacher? Ha, even if he's the new city lord, there's no need to flatter him so much! Sooner or later, he'll lose this position and become the shortest-reigning city lord in the history of Youhuntian..."

The Lin family head sneered.

"Lose it soon? You want to seize power?" Tian Fei paused, then looked at Lin Xie and suddenly understood: "So you've just broken through. No wonder you speak like that..."

"Since Brother Lin Xie has broken through to Half-Step Upper Grade Divine, how about we have another match?"

Wuyang, who had been silent until now, interrupted Tian Fei and stepped forward.

The two had competed for the city lord position for over half a year and had fought no fewer than five times, knowing each other's strength well.

"I'd be happy to oblige!" Lin Xie smiled slightly.

Having just broken through, he wanted to practice and establish his authority. The other party's approach was perfect.

Whoosh!

With a flicker, he charged forward, fingers spread, fist striking.

To establish authority, he had to display power and momentum.

He struck with his strongest force, holding nothing back.

Slap!

Before he could reach his opponent, he felt a sharp pain on his face and involuntarily spun around.

He looked and saw Wuyang, with whom he had fought fiercely before, slapping him across the face as if disciplining a junior.

"You..." His pupils contracted, Lin Xie gritted his teeth and charged again.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

Three consecutive slaps sent him spinning several times. He collapsed to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, completely dazed.

"Your strength..."

The other's strength was still at Middle Grade Divine, not broken through. So why was his combat power so strong?

He, a Half-Step Upper Grade Divine, was easily slapped without even the power to fight back?

"Lin Xie, I once considered you a rival, but now it seems you're not worthy," Wuyang said, looking down at him. "And if you ever speak ill of the city lord again, beware—I'll take your life!"

With that, he turned and left.

"This..." Lin Xie was going mad.

Having just broken through, he thought he was unmatched in Yehuicheng. Never did he dream that this man, whom he had fought countless times, would slap him back with a few blows...

How had he suddenly become so strong?

Just yesterday, they had sparred!

"Those who follow different paths cannot work together. We'll take our leave too. Family Head Lin, remember: if I hear you insult the city lord again, I will kill your entire Lin clan!" Tian Fei also stood up.

"Don't be in such a hurry..." Seeing even this Tian family head, who was only at the peak of Lower Grade Divine, so arrogant, Lin Xie nearly exploded. He stood up abruptly, stepped forward, and struck with his fist.

He couldn't beat Wuyang, but dealing with this man, who had previously been no match for him, should be easy.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

Similarly, before his fist could land, he was slapped several times and fell to the ground.

"..." Lin Xie was completely stunned.

He had just broken through...

How could even a Lower Grade Divine beat him?

Whoosh!

While he was still in shock, Zhao family head Zhao Meng approached: "How dare you speak ill of my teacher? You're asking for death!"

He kicked out.

Lin Xie tried to dodge, but found all his escape routes sealed.

Thud!

His face reddened as he was kicked in the head and sent flying backward over ten meters.

"I can't even beat him..."

He never expected that even Zhao Meng, the weakest family head whom he usually ignored, could kick him flying, leaving him utterly defenseless. Lin Xie was completely losing his mind.

Hadn't he spent a huge price to improve?

Why did it feel... everyone else had improved faster?

Who can tell me what the hell is going on...