Chapter 36: The Lin Family’s Deception Unveiled

“Damn it… I refuse to believe I can’t tame this ghostly entity!”

A cultivator, drenched in sweat, was currently unleashing a torrent of spiritual energy, striving to bend the Heaven Profound Primordial Qi to their will.

While Young Master Duan’s plight was certainly regrettable, the overwhelming allure of the Heaven Profound Primordial Qi proved too strong to resist. Undeterred, many cultivators, scoffing at the notion of ill omens, continued to step forward. Each failed, yet their persistent efforts gradually unveiled a hidden pattern.

They discovered that employing brute force to subjugate this spiritual essence would only prove counterproductive. The outcome would invariably mirror Young Master Duan’s: either death or grievous injury.

However, by gently coiling their own spiritual energy around the wild essence, and slowly, patiently attempting to coax these primordial energies into submission, the chances of success dramatically improved. This method also circumvented the peril of a spiritual backlash; at worst, one might suffer a mere internal injury.

Consequently, the cultivators who followed seemed to have reached a silent consensus. They began to release their spiritual energy with a gentle touch, actively seeking to sense the wild essence. Though each attempt still ended in failure, none suffered anything more than minor internal discomfort.

“It appears another attempt is destined to fail… Alas, is there truly no one capable of taming this volatile spiritual essence?”

As if the outcome was already written, the spectators below the stage shook their heads with a collective sigh of regret. This particular individual, possessing considerable strength at the Profound Wheel Realm, would undoubtedly live a life of comfort and abundance here. With fortunate turns, they might even secure a position as an attendant to a powerful faction, their status destined to soar.

Yet, today alone, the number of Profound Wheel Realm cultivators who had attempted was well over ten. Even Golden Core experts, a sight rarely witnessed in everyday life, had ascended the platform, each striving to subdue the turbulent spiritual force with their potent energies.

The prowess of that particular Golden Core expert was, without question, formidable. While perhaps a touch less refined than Yun Haoxiong of the Yun family or Lin Fengting of the Lin family, they were undeniably on a completely different plane than the Profound Wheel Realm cultivators.

At first, the spiritual essence resisted with fierce tenacity, but a gradual weakening soon became apparent. Both sides found themselves locked in a tense stalemate—a moment when success seemed most within reach.

Just as everyone believed the expert was on the cusp of victory, the seemingly weakened spiritual energy suddenly erupted with an even more terrifying might. Streams of vital qi coalesced into forceful energy pillars, piercing through the expert’s chest. Their meridians were instantly perforated, their Dantian severely compromised, and blood surged from their abdomen in an unstoppable torrent. Ultimately, Yun Haoxiong, unable to bear witness to such a demise, intervened, saving the man’s life. Without his intervention, a Golden Core expert would have perished before their very eyes.

“Pfft!”

With a violent expulsion of blood, the man reeled back, clutching his chest, before being flung unceremoniously from the arena. A collective sigh of lament swept through the assembled crowd.

“Idiot, are you suggesting this spiritual essence is truly so overwhelmingly powerful?”

Lin Yufei tugged at Lan Wu Xi’s sleeve, her striking eyes gleaming with a touch of curiosity. He could only shake his head, a sigh escaping his lips.

“It’s not that the spiritual energy is too potent; it’s that they are too foolish.”

“What? Idiot, what precisely do you mean by that?”

She tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with golden curiosity as she pressed him with an eager, almost pleading, question.

Evidently unable to withstand Lin Yufei’s ‘criminal’ gaze, Lan Wu Xi’s face flushed a delicate crimson, and his eyes briefly evaded hers. After a few deliberate breaths, he began to speak.

“That’s because…”

“Because it’s highly probable that this entire spectacle is a calculated scheme by the Lin family. Otherwise, no matter how formidable this spiritual essence might be, it couldn’t possibly withstand such continuous depletion from so many cultivators.”

Yun Jingping spoke, while beside him, Tian Yilan gazed up at him with an expression of profound adoration. Her eyes, brimming with tender affection, seemed to openly declare her feelings for him.

“Young Master Yun, have you perhaps uncovered something amiss?”

Lin Yufei once again slipped away from Lan Wu Xi’s side. The stunned Lan Wu Xi felt as though countless divine beasts were stampeding directly over his head at that very moment.

“Don’t you find it peculiar? While this spiritual essence indeed appears immensely powerful, remember that all things possess moments of vulnerability. Yet, despite the assaults of countless cultivators, this spiritual energy has not only shown no signs of weakening but seems to have grown even stronger. This defies all conventional logic.”

Yun Jingping paused, a thoughtful expression on his face. He gently rested his fingertips against his nose, lost in contemplation, before speaking slowly and gravely, each word heavy with meaning.

“Moreover, the Lin family’s conduct has been exceedingly peculiar. I refuse to believe they possess such a benevolent nature. While Lin Fengting has repeatedly sworn he had no hand in this, that doesn’t necessarily mean… wait!”

“That statement is flawed!!!”

The words erupted simultaneously from both Yun Jingping and Lan Wu Xi. Both men shared an expression of sudden, profound realization, as if a veil had been lifted.

“Idiot… Young Master Yun, what has come over you both? Have you truly uncovered something significant?”

“The Lin family is undeniably involved! They are orchestrating some colossal conspiracy.”

Lan Wu Xi’s face was grim as he spoke. Yun Jingping nodded, seemingly in silent agreement with the former’s assessment, before elaborating further.

“We’ve all been ensnared in Lin Fengting’s logical trap. While he adamantly declared he had no hand in this, that doesn’t preclude others from having interfered. Indeed, it’s possible the entire Lin family, not just him, is complicit!”

“Initially, I detected no fault in that particular statement. However, upon reflection, I realize we instinctively regarded Lin Fengting as an extension of the Lin family, simply because he holds the position of patriarch, thus affixing the family’s label to him. Only now do I perceive the monumental loophole in that seemingly innocuous phrase. Truly, the Lin family’s cunning knows no bounds…”

With a rapid-fire exchange of words, Lan Wu Xi and Yun Jingping had inadvertently unraveled Lin Fengting’s elaborate scheme. Both men found their gazes locking for a brief moment, a shared understanding passing between them, before they swiftly averted their eyes, severing any further connection.

“Hmph, what a collection of simpletons. To think I actually held any anticipation for surprises in this desolate backwater. Alas, I truly placed too much hope in this place; it is, after all, nothing more than this.”

The stunning woman with voluminous wavy hair, whom Lan Wu Xi had observed earlier, sat elegantly, legs crossed, revealing her fair, smooth, and alluring calves. Her form-fitting attire accentuated her captivating figure, lending her an air of cold sophistication and maturity. While the consensus among the crowd was that Yun Haoxiong and Lin Fengting were the most powerful present, she knew these people were nothing more than frogs in a well. Her own strength, after all, ranked among the absolute elite in the Yunxiao Kingdom.

She, too, had identified the linguistic flaw in the Lin family’s declaration early on. Yet, she had chosen not to expose it, instead lounging languidly in her chair, content to embody the role of a beautiful, silent observer. While the spiritual essence was undeniably enticing, her discerning eye judged it not worthy of her personal intervention. She, after all, hailed from the most preeminent…

“Alas, after traversing so many lands, I still haven’t encountered any promising talents. Once this temple fair concludes, I shall simply return to deliver my report, having merely indulged in a leisurely excursion.”

“Surely, the Lin family must have secretly employed some artifice to maintain the unwavering potency of this spiritual energy. Otherwise, that Golden Core expert from earlier would have, in all likelihood, succeeded.”

“Indeed! Considering the Lin family’s nature, they would never undertake a venture that guaranteed a loss. It’s plausible that even our attempts to subdue the essence are an integral part of their machinations.”

“But what precisely could their ultimate objective be…?”

“I remain uncertain, but one thing is unequivocally clear: the Lin family is unequivocally embroiled in something suspicious!”

“What, then, should be our course of action? We cannot simply allow the Lin family to continue deceiving everyone with impunity.”

Upon realizing the Lin family’s high probability of orchestrating a grand conspiracy, Lan Wu Xi and the others huddled together to strategize. Curiously, it was primarily Lin Yufei and Tian Yilan who dominated the discussion.

“Perhaps we should inform Patriarch Haoxiong? He will surely be able to expose the Lin family’s treachery!”

“No, that won’t do. Even if Patriarch Haoxiong were to expose them, it would likely be in vain. We currently possess no concrete evidence, and the Lin family would certainly not concede defeat so readily. We would merely squander our chance to truly unmask their conspiracy.”

“What, then, is our recourse?”

“If we can only secure tangible proof against the Lin family, they will be utterly unable to deny their culpability.”

And so, Lin Yufei and Tian Yilan reached a decisive consensus.

“Idiot~”

“Brother Yun~”

Suddenly, sweet, saccharine voices assailed them. An ominous premonition instantly swept through the hearts of those addressed, as if they were being inexorably pushed into a fiery abyss.

“Miss Yilan, are you, by any chance, contemplating…?”

“Girl… could you possibly intend to…?”

“Indeed! I am counting on both of you!”

And thus, in a unilateral declaration, the protagonist and antagonist found themselves reluctantly embarking on their first-ever collaboration!!!