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

"Great-grandfather, are you mistaken?" Duan Xingzhi asked urgently, his voice trembling. "If you are of the Duan family bloodline, why do you bear the surname Wang?"

"You'd have to ask your great-grandfather." Lin Tian's lips curled slightly, his smile gentle yet undeniably authoritative. "Don't even mention the Wang surname; even if they were surnamed Zhong or Li, back in the day, eight out of ten people in the martial arts world could claim kinship with your Duan family. Who can say for sure what happened over a hundred years ago?"

"Yu Yan is my younger sister, the daughter of my late father," Duan Yu said slowly, his tone calm yet as heavy as a hammer blow.

Duan Xingzhi's face turned deathly pale instantly, and his last shred of hope crumbled into dust.

"Fine!" Lin Tian's gaze suddenly shifted, fixing on Duan Yu. "Since that's the case, Wang Yuyan attacked me first, so it's reasonable for me to come to your Duan family today to collect my debt and settle accounts. Isn't that fair?!"

"Yes." Duan Yu closed his eyes, then opened them a moment later, his voice low but firm.

"Your Highness..." Duan Xingzhi opened his mouth to speak, but his throat felt like it was filled with bitter water, and he couldn't utter a single word.

There is no way to argue.

Lin Tian's lips curled slightly; his goal had been achieved.

He stopped being aggressive and changed his tone, saying casually, "The Great Song and Dali have been on good terms for generations, with no enmity or grudges. Your Majesty need not worry, the Great Song will not resort to arms because of personal grudges."

Duan Xingzhi looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with astonishment.

Lin Tian's words, seemingly mild, were actually like a knife to the throat—not using force did not mean not employing any means.

"However," Lin Tian continued calmly, "I have no connection with Wang Yuyan, yet she sent someone to assassinate me. After investigation, it was found that someone else was behind it, and is currently hiding within Dali territory. I would like to request Your Majesty to investigate and bring this person to justice. Is that possible?"

"These treacherous officials harbor treacherous intentions, clearly aiming to incite conflict between our two nations and ignite war. Their hearts are utterly despicable!" Duan Xingzhi immediately responded, "I will order a thorough investigation at once and show absolutely no leniency!"

He dared not refuse.

Six hundred thousand Song Dynasty iron troops were stationed fifty miles away, and could be at the city gates in a single day. His life, along with the fate of the entire Dali, was in Lin Tian's hands.

"Hmm." Lin Tian nodded, stood up, and spoke casually as if he were attending a tea party. "In that case, Your Majesty, let's find another place to talk."

"Your Highness, please follow me." Duan Xingzhi bowed and led the way, his posture so humble that he was almost invisible.

Lin Tian took a step, but suddenly stopped, turned around and looked at Duan Yu, and said indifferently, "Since Master Daoyuan has already converted to Buddhism, then keeping this perfect innate cultivation is just a burden."

He has a bottom line in his actions—he wouldn't kill Duan Yu outright if Duan Yu harbored no hatred or desire for blood.

But even a top expert who has lived for a hundred years, in his old age, is still a potential threat.

The hidden dangers must be eliminated.

Duan Yu remained silent.

He understood what Lin Tian meant.

I also know that I can only choose one path.

Taking a deep breath, his inner energy erupted, causing waves of energy to surge around him and his robes to flutter wildly. The oppressive feeling was like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing down. Liao Chen and Duan Xingzhi both groaned and staggered back several steps before regaining their footing, their foreheads covered in cold sweat.

This aura... is terrifying!

Just how strong would their actual combat power be?!

Lin Tian's expression remained unchanged, his gaze as calm as a still well.

This bit of pressure was nothing more than a gentle breeze to him.

Just as everyone was holding their breath, Duan Yu's momentum reached its peak, and suddenly—

It collapsed with a roar!

He swayed, staggered half a step, and his face instantly turned ashen, as if all his energy had been drained away. Even his wrinkles deepened, and he looked as old as a candle flickering in the wind.

Lin Tian saw through it at a glance—not only were his meridians completely severed, but his dantian had also been completely destroyed.

With his current physical condition, even if there were miraculous medicines to repair his foundation, it would be difficult for him to rebuild his internal strength, let alone return to his peak.

"Your Majesty, let's go." Lin Tian turned his head, smiled at Duan Xingzhi, and said calmly.

The capital of the Dali Kingdom.

"Your Highness, Xingzhi has already relayed your orders. Within seven days, the news will spread throughout the country." Duan Xingzhi stood before Lin Tian, ​​his posture almost as humble as a servant.

He had no choice but to bow his head.

With an army of 600,000 men ready for battle, the capital of Dali could be reduced to ashes in an instant at the mere command of the emperor.

"I trouble Your Majesty," Lin Tian said politely. "This may not be the way of a gentleman, but it is the most direct and effective method. I hope you will understand."

"It's alright, it's alright!" Duan Xingzhi waved his hands repeatedly, smiling apologetically, but in his heart he was already bitter as gall.

He is more than just not a gentleman.

This is downright demonic!

What Lin Tianzhen really wanted was never to intimidate the Duan family.

Instead, it brought out a person—Murong Fu.

Having lived for over a hundred years, Murong Fu had long lost his former arrogance and impulsiveness. Even Wang Yuyan was no match for Lin Tian, ​​so how dare he show himself?

At this moment, they are mostly hiding in the shadows, observing the situation and waiting for an opportunity to counterattack.

Trying to force him to reveal himself?

It's easier said than done.

Fortunately, Lin Tian never puts on airs. As long as he doesn't cross his own red line, he's ruthless when he needs to be ruthless and crazy when he needs to be crazy, without the slightest hesitation.

He killed Wang Yuyan without batting an eye, and immediately ordered that Murong Bo, who had just been buried and whose corpse energy had not yet dissipated, be dug out, wrapped in thousand-year-old black ice, and sealed tightly.

Forcing Murong Fu to show himself? There's no need to beat around the bush.

Murong Bo's body was hung on a high platform outside the capital city gate of Dali, exposed to the public, and Duan Xingzhi was ordered to spread the word throughout the city: "Half a month later, chop him into mincemeat and feed him to wild dogs."

Lin Tian didn't believe it—that there really was a son in this world who could watch his father being torn to pieces and then hide in the shadows pretending to be dead.

……

Half a month was about to end, and the night was as dark as ink.

Outside Dali city, a corpse-exposing platform several meters high pierces the night sky, its white cloth fluttering in the wind.

Below the stage, a gaunt figure quietly emerged.

Looking up at the body on the platform, its surface bluish from the cold, the old man's fingers trembled slightly, and a deep, heart-wrenching sorrow welled up in his eyes.

"Murong Fu, you've finally shown yourself."

A lazy voice suddenly sounded from behind, like a blade slicing through porcelain, "I'm really afraid you're planning to be a subterranean rat for the rest of your life."

The old man turned around abruptly—it was Murong Fu.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth: "The dignified Crown Prince of the Great Song Dynasty has resorted to such insidious methods! Doesn't he fear the condemnation of the world and the scathing scrutiny of history?!"

"Tsk, don't try to pin this on me." Lin Tian shrugged and smiled, flicking his sleeve with his fingertips. "I just casually offered a suggestion to the King of Dali. No matter how much dirty water is poured on me, it won't get on me."

"you--!!"

Before the words were even finished, the head had already been severed.

Lin Tian didn't even bother listening to any nonsense. The innate, body-breaking, formless sword energy silently swept past, a line of blood bloomed on Murong Fu's neck, and his head flew into the sky, still carrying a hint of shock and anger.

Wait for him for half a month? In the middle of nowhere, eating dry rations in the wind, his temper would have already burned through his skull, and he wouldn't have the leisure to engage in verbal sparring with him.

Orange Martial Arts Card: Spiritual Finger

—Above and below the heavens, amidst swords, spears, and halberds, only when I pinch them between my two fingers do all the soldiers fall silent.

With a snap, it was crushed. The attack penetrated to the marrow.

With Murong Fu dead, Lin Tian didn't even want to bother looking at Dali anymore, and he broke camp and returned to Song.