Martial Arts Master: The Lin Family Sword God, who swept through the Five Mountains and Four Sects

Golden light flowed and shone brightly.

[Golden Divine Power Card: Blessed by Heaven]

Synopsis: Once activated, one's fortune surges, destiny descends, and one is truly chosen by the heavens. Misfortune will always turn into good fortune, danger will always be averted, one's fate is defying the heavens, and boundless blessings surround one.

Lin Tian's pupils contracted, and he gasped, "Good heavens... isn't this the legendary protagonist buff? The exclusive treatment for a max-level lucky player!"

"As expected of my system, it always delivers a royal flush."

Without a word, he crushed the card. In an instant, golden light surged forth, flooding his body like a tidal wave, and lasted for a full quarter of an hour before completely merging with it.

"Hmm?" Lin Tian blinked and scratched his head. "Why don't I feel anything?"

In the past, when using supernatural powers, such as driving mountains and summoning wind and rain, it was a shocking feeling like the awakening of bloodline, as if a dormant power in the body suddenly exploded.

But this time... there was no movement at all.

Upon opening the system panel, I saw that a new "Heavenly Mandate" had appeared in the Divine Powers section, but everything else remained the same—not even a new realm had appeared.

It's not that there have been no changes at all.

He suddenly felt an inexplicable urge to do something stupid, a strong urge to do something stupid.

A destiny bestowed upon him? The protagonist's halo?!

Lin Tian was startled and vaguely understood.

Without much hesitation, he immediately activated his supernatural power. His body remained outwardly calm, but deep down, he felt an absurd yet undeniably certain premonition:

Even if a legendary expert from the fourth realm personally intervened, he couldn't be harmed in the slightest.

Lightning might strike off course, poison might lose its effectiveness, internal energy might suddenly reverse, and the enemy might trip over himself... In short, God will clean up his mess.

"Tianyi." Lin Tian's eyes flickered slightly as he looked at the person standing beside him. "Attack me with all your might."

"Yes, sir!!"

Tian Yi paused for a moment, then drew his sword without hesitation. He never questioned orders, and he certainly didn't believe he could touch a hair on Lin Tian's head.

The sword flashed like lightning, aiming straight for the throat.

Lin Tian stood still, not even blinking – he knew that this sword strike would miss.

really!

When the sword tip was only inches from his throat, it suddenly veered off course, grazing his neck.

"What's going on?!" Lin Tian frowned.

Tianyi sheathed his sword and stepped back, his expression strange: "My lord... my hand suddenly cramped up just now."

cramp?!

Once a martial artist reaches the Acquired Realm, their muscles and bones are controlled by their will. Unless they are completely exhausted, it is impossible for them to make such a basic mistake!

"Again," Lin Tian said calmly.

"Yes, sir!"

This time, Tianyi gritted his teeth and focused intently, his sword strikes sharp and fierce, radiating a chilling killing intent.

He lifted his foot and lunged forward, his steps barely beginning—

*Thud*, he fell face down, landing face-first in the mud.

"M-Sir," he scrambled to his feet, his face flushed, "my foot...suddenly slipped."

Would a naturally gifted athlete slip? Or would they fall flat on their face in front of the head coach?

If this gets out, who in the martial arts world will believe?

Tianyi wished he could dig a hole and bury himself right there.

Lin Tian laughed and waved his hand, "It's not your fault."

Whether it's cramps or slipping, these things that shouldn't have happened are happening one after another, which can only mean one thing—fate has intervened and taken effect.

He couldn't help but click his tongue: This is too outrageous!

If this thing were activated in battle, let alone a Mythical Realm expert, even if the Heavenly Dao itself descended, he would dare to go up and pluck a couple of whiskers for fun.

Of course, he wouldn't actually do that.

This supernatural power consumes too much internal energy—it only lasts for a minute before seventy percent of one's true essence is depleted.

Without this protective technique, one would likely be reduced to ashes with a single slap when facing a Mythical Realm expert.

As expected, at this stage, this supernatural power can only be kept as a trump card and used to turn the tide at crucial moments.

"Your Highness," Meng Gong hesitated before speaking, "we are already within Dali territory, and the capital is just three hundred li to the west. Is it... perhaps inappropriate for us to lead such a large army to press on our borders?"

After destroying the Mongol Empire, Lin Tian did not return to Lin'an with his troops. Instead, he ordered Meng Gong to mobilize an army of 600,000 to march straight towards Dali.

Without an imperial edict, mobilizing such a large force would have been unthinkable in the past, even if Meng Gong had risked his life to question it.

But now, he only obeys one person's orders—Lin Tian.

"It's alright," Lin Tian chuckled. "Dali doesn't have the guts to turn against us."

Now that even the Mongols have been destroyed, even if Dali had ten times the courage, they wouldn't dare utter a sound in front of the Song Dynasty.

"Even if their emperor is out of his mind and actually dares to take action—" Lin Tian's lips curled into a slight smile, "I think General Meng wouldn't mind helping the Song Dynasty expand its territory a bit while he's at it, would he?"

"Yes, Your Highness." Meng Gong said no more and clasped his hands in acceptance of the order.

……

A hundred miles away, the outline of the capital of Dali Kingdom is already faintly visible.

"Your Majesty, even if it is the Crown Prince of the Great Song Dynasty who has come, you, as the ruler of the country, should not personally go out a hundred miles to greet him!" An old minister looked at the middle-aged man wearing a bright yellow dragon robe in front of him, his tone full of anxiety.

This man was none other than Duan Xingzhi, the seventeenth emperor of Dali. He was the son of Emperor Yideng of the Southern Dynasty and the great-grandson of Duan Yu, possessing noble blood and an illustrious status.

Upon hearing this, Duan Xingzhi shook his head slightly, his voice low and somber: "The Crown Prince of the Great Song Dynasty has personally led an army of 600,000 to press on our border, reaching the outskirts of Dali. How can this be considered friendly? We absolutely cannot give him the slightest excuse to start a war. Even the Mongols have been conquered by the Great Song Dynasty; how can Dali, confined to a corner of the country, possibly withstand this?"

"War?" The old minister was taken aback. "But Dali and the Song Dynasty have been on good terms for generations and have never had any conflicts."

Duan Xingzhi's gaze turned slightly cold, and he did not respond further. As an emperor, he knew better than anyone else that there are no eternal allies, only eternal interests.

For many years, the Song Dynasty did not touch Dali, firstly because the northern border was constantly embroiled in war, with the Liao, Jin, and Mongol dynasties taking turns to attack; and secondly because Dali always kept its head down and remained a subordinate, willingly serving as a vassal state, without vying for power or territory.

Now that the north is pacified and the Mongols have been defeated, the Song Dynasty has freed up its resources. Who can guarantee that it won't turn its attention to the southwest?

"Report! The Song army has appeared three miles away!" The scout galloped away on horseback, his voice like tearing silk.

Duan Xingzhi's expression hardened as he surveyed the assembled officials: "Follow me to greet him. Remember, if the Crown Prince speaks arrogantly, do not lose your temper. Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"

"As you command!" The old ministers standing here are all mature and prudent; how could they not know the gravity of the matter?

A wind rose outside the city, raising dust. Duan Xingzhi saw Lin Tian approaching on horseback and immediately greeted him with a smile, bowing respectfully: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, has traveled a long way to welcome you. I, Xingzhi, have failed to greet you properly; my apologies!"

Lin Tian dismounted, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, and smiled faintly: "Your Majesty is too kind."

As the Crown Prince of the Song Dynasty, being addressed as "King" was already an honor. Duan Xingzhi knew this perfectly well, but he didn't show it on his face.

Seeing Lin Tian's expression soften, Duan Xingzhi breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly flattered him, saying, "Your Highness's command of the Xiangyang campaign resulted in the defeat of 500,000 enemy troops in a single day, shaking the world and even causing a stir in the Dali court. It is truly a pity that we were unable to send troops to assist you in time."

These words seemed like flattery, but they were actually a test—he was afraid that Lin Tian would blame Dali for standing idly by.

Lin Tian simply smiled dismissively: "They're just a bunch of defeated soldiers."

His purpose in coming here was not to establish his authority, much less to destroy a country, so he naturally couldn't be bothered with such formalities.