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

Lin Tian stared at him, his eyes swirling with murderous intent.

Although they had shared a few drinks, they were merely casual acquaintances. Killing him wouldn't even make Lin Tian flinch.

But the question is—is it worth it?

Killing Linghu Chong would certainly intimidate the martial arts world, but it would also immediately provoke a desperate counterattack from Feng Qingyang. Lin Tian wasn't afraid of him; even if he were to wipe out the entire Huashan sect, it would be a piece of cake for Feng Qingyang.

But he had already slaughtered Qingcheng, destroyed Songshan, and suppressed Shaolin, his power was overwhelming, and no one dared to challenge him.

That's why he understands even better—the current sentiment in the martial arts world towards him is no longer one of awe, but of fear.

A kind of fear of impending disaster.

If he continues to slaughter and annihilate the sect, this fear will eventually turn into apprehension, and then into overwhelming hatred!

Lin Tian is not afraid of his enemies; what he really cares about is how the Lin family should conduct itself once he leaves.

Although the Eighteen Guards of Fuwei are strong, if they truly incur the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people, and the entire martial arts world rises up to attack them, a mere eighteen Perfected Acquired Realm cultivators would not even be enough to fill a tooth gap.

Of course, that's thinking too far ahead.

Whether to kill Linghu Chong or not depends on whether it's worth it.

"System, is there any chance of getting an orange card if we defeat the current Linghu Chong?"

"Impossible. There's a 40% chance of getting a purple card, and a 60% chance of getting only a red card."

"What?! Didn't you say before that killing Linghu Chong would guarantee a purple card drop?"

"Host, please note that Linghu Chong's current cultivation level is only at the peak of the first-rate level, and he has not yet entered the Acquired Realm. According to the strength rating, he should only be entitled to a green card. He could originally get a purple card because he had extremely high world influence in the original storyline. However, due to the host's intervention, the world line is disordered, Linghu Chong's 'protagonist halo' is weakening, and his influence is decreasing, so the drop rate is reduced."

"So, the more the plot falls apart, the more useless the protagonist becomes?" Lin Tian raised an eyebrow and summarized.

"That's one way to understand it," the system replied.

Killing Linghu Chong, who can't even keep a purple card, not only reduces the benefits but may also create hidden dangers.

After a moment's consideration, Lin Tian suppressed the killing intent in his hand.

He sheathed his longsword and said coldly, "Brother Linghu, remember this: from now on, you owe me two lives."

Linghu Chong was taken aback at first, then overjoyed: "Thank you, Brother Lin! I owe you my life from that time at Huiyan Tower. From now on, if you summon me, I will brave mountains of knives and seas of fire without batting an eye!"

With Linghu Chong's talent, reaching the Innate Realm in the future is not a pipe dream. In the long run, making him shoulder this debt of gratitude is more valuable than a purple card.

"Get lost."

Lin Tian glanced at Ren Yingying and Xiang Wentian, his tone indifferent.

Ren Yingying's eyes remained gloomy and resentful, but under Xiang Wentian's forceful dragging, she finally left the main hall.

After the three left, only the corpses of Ren Woxing and Shangguan Yun remained in the hall, besides Dongfang Bubai, Lin Tian and his three personal guards.

There's still one person who hasn't left—

Blue Phoenix.

She did not leave with Ren Yingying. From the moment Lin Tian appeared, she stood quietly in place, without moving an inch.

Lin Tian stared at her for a moment, then suddenly smiled:

"You are very smart."

Without explanation, he turned and hissed, "Lin Yi, Lin Qi."

"Your subordinates are here!" the two replied and stepped forward.

"You know exactly what to do, right?"

"I understand—Ren Yingying and Xiang Wentian will never die in front of Linghu Chong," Lin Yi replied without hesitation.

"Go ahead," Lin Tian chuckled, waving his sleeve in acknowledgment.

Releasing a tiger back into the mountains? In his eyes, Xiang Wentian and Ren Yingying were not even as good as rabbits, but he never did anything to leave trouble behind.

Two figures flashed and silently disappeared into the darkness.

Lin Tian then looked at Lan Fenghuang again, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Do you know why I said you're smart? If you had followed me just now—there would be three people to kill now."

Lan Fenghuang felt a sudden chill run down her spine.

Having narrowly escaped death, she was still in grave danger, her fate uncertain. She immediately knelt on the ground, her voice trembling, and said, "Although I was coerced by Ren Woxing into poisoning the sect leader today, I cannot escape my guilt. Please punish me, sect leader!"

"Punishment?" Dongfang Bubai suddenly laughed. "No, no, no... I should be thanking you today. If it weren't for your help, I wouldn't have won the bet with Young Master Lin so easily. My merits and demerits cancel each other out, and as for the rest of the punishment—it's all up to Young Master Lin to decide."

At this moment, Dongfang was in a very good mood, and his tone was exceptionally gentle.

But how could Lan Fenghuang dare to relax even a little?

She slowly raised her head, her gaze falling on Lin Tian.

She knew perfectly well that this man's words could decide her life or death.

"..." Lin Tian remained silent.

Take a deep breath, and then take another deep breath...

After a long pause, he managed to suppress the swear word that almost slipped out.

"I heard the Five Poisons Sect has a miraculous medicine that can drastically increase one's power, called Five Treasures Flower Honey Wine? From now on, every time you brew a jar, send half of it to the Fuwei Escort Agency. Also, prepare a few portions of the Gu worm inside Dongfang Bubai and send them over as well. Is that alright?" Lin Tian's tone was calm, as if he were simply giving orders for dinner.

Five Treasures Honey Wine is no ordinary product. A secret recipe of the Five Poisons Sect, it uses five kinds of highly poisonous insects as its main ingredients, supplemented with dozens of rare flowers and herbs. The various poisons counteract each other, creating a powerful tonic. One jar, once consumed, will dispel all ailments, render one immune to all poisons, and even replenish one's vital energy by several years' worth of energy—truly a top-tier, heaven-defying elixir in the world of *The Smiling, Proud Wanderer*.

For Lin Tian, ​​this thing was at most a dessert. But for Lin Zhennan and his wife, and even Lin Pingzhi, it was a life-saving miracle.

What truly made him envious was the Gu worm within Dongfang Bubai's body—a potent concoction that even she had been affected by, its effects comparable to a liquid version of "Sad Breeze." Once Lin Tian reached the Great Perfection of the Innate Realm, he would swallow it whole, breaking through to the Perfection Realm in three days, experiencing an exhilarating feeling akin to ascending to immortality.

"No...no problem!" Lan Fenghuang quickly replied.

……

After leaving Blackwood Cliff, the group continued in silence. After walking for several dozen miles, Linghu Chong parted ways with Ren Yingying and Xiang Wentian.

"Father... Father is gone." Ren Yingying murmured softly, her eyes vacant.

"Yingying, cheer up! We still have to avenge the leader!" Xiang Wentian said in a deep voice.

"But... Lin Tian is too strong, and Dongfang Bubai is on his side. How can I take revenge?" Thinking of Lin Tian's overwhelming strength, Ren Yingying felt gloomy.

Xiang Wentian's eyes turned cold, and he said in a sinister tone, "Hmph, even if he's the best in the world, he still has parents and family, right? If you can't kill him, can't you kill his relatives?"

These words struck Ren Yingying like a bolt of lightning. A fierce glint flashed in her eyes, and she gritted her teeth: "Yes! Kill his parents! Let him taste the pain of losing loved ones!"

The mouth of a green bamboo snake, the stinger of a wasp, but nothing is more venomous than a woman's heart.

"The Gu worms in Dongfang Bubai's body can last for three days, so Lin Tian will definitely stay at Blackwood Cliff to take care of her. There's no time to lose, let's set off tonight and head straight for Fuzhou!" Xiang Wentian made a decisive decision.

"Um!"

Ren Yingying nodded, then suddenly paused, "Wait... where's Lan Fenghuang? She... doesn't seem to have come down the mountain with us."