THUMP THUMP THUMP!

Lin Hao stood firm as a mountain, but Lin Zheng was forced back three large steps before he could regain his footing.

"You!" Lin Zheng’s eyes went wide, as if he’d seen a ghost.

He could never have imagined that even when channeling True Essence into his fist technique, he would still be no match for Lin Hao.

’He must have had some fortuitous encounter! Not only does he have a profound Body Technique, but his Cultivation Technique is also bizarre and tyrannical. I must get my hands on them!’ Lin Zheng’s gaze burned with fervor.

Lin Hao, oblivious to Lin Zheng’s thoughts, pressed his advantage and attacked again.

Since Lin Zheng was asking for a beating, he was happy to oblige.

"You’re courting death!" Lin Zheng roared, raising his fist to meet the attack.

The two fists were about to collide, but in the next moment, Lin Zheng’s previously straight arm twisted bizarrely. His fist slid past Lin Hao’s and slammed into his wrist instead.

At the Eighth Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm, one could move their bones and tendons at will!

"With this blow, I’ll cripple your right hand! We agreed to a fair fight, Fifth Brother, so don’t blame me!" As the blow landed, Lin Zheng’s arrogant voice echoed in Lin Hao’s ear.

"We’ll see about that!" Though caught off guard, Lin Hao reacted in a flash. He activated the Godslaying Celestial Slash Skill, channeling the mysterious True Qi into his wrist.

Even without activating his Cultivation Technique, Lin Hao’s body had already reached the state of dragon sinews and tiger bones. By circulating the technique and channeling his True Qi now, a layer of Protective Gang Qi instantly formed around his wrist.

The expected sound of breaking bones and tendons never came. Instead, an incredibly strong rebounding force slammed back into him, and Lin Zheng felt only a sharp, numbing pain in his arm.

In their second exchange, Lin Zheng still failed to gain any advantage.

Just then, a sly grin touched Lin Hao’s lips. He thrust his fist toward Lin Zheng’s chest, but his middle and index fingers suddenly shot out, striking a major acupoint on Lin Zheng’s chest with lightning speed.

The next moment, Lin Zheng’s body stiffened.

’I got him!’

A smile appeared on Lin Hao’s young face.

In truth, from the moment Lin Zheng announced he would suppress his cultivation level, Lin Hao had been plotting, waiting for this exact moment!

With Lin Zheng as a hostage, Lin Hao was confident Lin Tianhao would be forced to comply.

"One shouldn’t be too arrogant. By suppressing your cultivation, you truly were no match for me!" Lin Hao looked at Lin Zheng, his face full of pity.

He even finished with a long sigh and a shake of his head.

Lin Zheng, with his major acupoint struck, was completely immobilized. Hearing these words, his handsome face flushed red as blood and twisted into an ugly grimace.

Just moments ago, he had been arrogantly boasting about teaching Lin Hao a lesson, saying Lin Hao was no match for him, but now he was Lin Hao’s captive. The irony was palpable.

"Lin Hao, I will repay today’s humiliation a hundredfold in the future!" Lin Zheng’s eyes were bloodshot, and he bit out each word, his hatred surging.

As the esteemed Young Master of the Lin family, when had he ever suffered such a humiliation?

Lin Hao raised an eyebrow and said coldly, "Humiliation? You have the nerve to use that word? You suppressed your cultivation just so you could crush me more thoroughly. Now that you’re my prisoner, you dare talk to me about humiliation? There’s a saying from Lu Dieyi that’s quite fitting, so I’ll say it to you again: Those who humiliate others will themselves be humiliated!"

"You!" Lin Zheng was speechless.

He had indeed harbored such intentions, but he never imagined Lin Hao had already seen right through him.

"I was just wondering how I’d get into the ancestral hall, and then you show up. What a timely gift. To think the Lin family still has such ’good people’ like you. I suppose I really should go inside and pay proper respects to the ancestors."

Lin Hao stared at the ancestral hall’s main gate, then moved his hands again, allowing Lin Zheng’s lower limbs to move.

Then, he gave a hard push.

Watching the two disappear, the remaining guards outside the ancestral hall were all petrified. They simply couldn’t believe what they were seeing—their Young Master, a cultivator at the Eighth Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm, had actually been taken captive!

"He truly is his father’s son!"

They hadn’t recognized Lin Hao before, but after Lin Cheng called out his name, they learned his identity. One of them, snapping out of his stupor, couldn’t help but exclaim.

...

Passing through one gate after another, Lin Hao pushed Lin Zheng, gradually approaching the depths of the ancestral hall.

"Halt! This is the heart of the ancestral hall. Outsiders are forbidden!" Before the final gate, two middle-aged men glanced at Lin Zheng, then fixed their hostile gazes on Lin Hao.

’This Young Master of ours is getting more and more out of line. How dare he bring a mere servant into the Lin family’s ancestral hall!’

Lin Hao saw their expressions and knew exactly what they were thinking.

’So this is what they mean by snobs looking down on others, huh?’

Seeing Lin Zheng looking as dejected as a defeated rooster, Lin Hao beamed and said, "Gentlemen, he’s my prisoner."

The two middle-aged men’s pupils suddenly dilated.

"I’m going to kill you!" Lin Zheng never thought Lin Hao would use this kind of method to humiliate him. Furious to the point of madness, he tilted his head back and roared.

SLAP!

Lin Hao casually delivered a slap across his face.

After hitting him, Lin Hao put a finger to his lips and said with a serious expression, "Shhh, this is the ancestral hall. Quiet, quiet!"

Lin Zheng was stunned, and the two middle-aged men were both petrified.

"This is the sacred ground of the ancestral hall, Zheng’Er, you’re getting more and more disrespectful..." The door was pulled open, and Lin Tianhao appeared at the entrance. But when he saw the scene before him, his eyes widened like bronze bells, and his voice died in his throat.

His own son’s face was a mask of shame, the five bright red finger marks on his cheek standing out in sharp relief.

And behind him, Lin Hao—who was supposed to be a vacant-minded idiot—was staring right at him with a grin, wearing an expression no fool could possibly possess!

’What the fuck is going on?!’

"Hey, Second Uncle. Second Brother was causing a ruckus in the ancestral hall, so I went ahead and taught him a lesson for you. Don’t thank me; as a member of the Lin family, it’s the least I could do."

Lin Hao’s expression was like that of a child showing off a prize—utterly carefree, disarmingly innocent.

Lin Tianhao felt his vision go black and staggered. If he hadn’t grabbed the doorframe, he might have fallen over.

’That little bastard actually recovered! Dammit, what the hell is going on?!’

This thought flashed through his mind for only an instant. The next moment, killing intent surged from Lin Tianhao, and he attacked without any warning.

A giant hand formed from True Essence suddenly slapped down from the void!

Experts of the Elemental Realm can command True Essence, manifesting the ethereal into solid form.

When an expert of the Elemental Realm made a move, their aura alone was overwhelmingly powerful. Though Lin Hao was prepared and used the Ghostly Divine Step, his movements were still impeded. He barely managed to pull Lin Zheng in front of him as a shield.

The giant True Essence hand abruptly dissipated.

Experts of the Elemental Realm have incomparably masterful control over True Essence.

Even though the True Essence hand retreated quickly, Lin Zheng’s body still went limp, and he was forced to his knees by the immense pressure of the aura.

Behind Lin Zheng, Lin Hao kept one hand clamped on his captive’s head. Although he hadn’t lost his footing, his legs were still trembling uncontrollably.

This wasn’t from fear, but because the pressure from an Elemental Realm expert was simply too immense to resist. If it weren’t for the protection of his Cultivation Technique, Lin Hao would have already collapsed to the ground. Even so, the close call had him breaking out in a cold sweat.

An expert of the Elemental Realm was simply not someone he could contend with. His opponent could kill him with a single finger.

If he hadn’t captured Lin Zheng as a hostage, his chances of survival today would have been slim.

At this thought, Lin Hao decisively dragged Lin Zheng and retreated.

"Hao’Er, let go of Zheng’Er. Second Uncle promises to let bygones be bygones." Seeing Lin Hao’s vigilance, the killing intent in Lin Tianhao’s eyes vanished as quickly as it appeared. He then put on an amiable expression and spoke in a gentle voice.

"I’ll release him, but only in exchange for Yan’Er!" Lin Hao stated his true purpose.

"Yan’Er?" Lin Tianhao looked confused.

Lin Hao said coldly, "Don’t play dumb! She’s in there!"

"Hao’Er, you’re mistaken. The person inside isn’t Yan’Er, just a servant girl. She was captured on Skybreak Mountain a few days ago and has since gone mad. Today, we’re using her blood as an offering to the ancestors in hopes of receiving their blessing," Lin Tianhao said with a smile.

"I don’t care who she is, let her out!" Lin Hao didn’t believe his bullshit for a second.

Lin Tianhao didn’t hesitate for a moment. "Fine!" he said.

’A servant’s life is nothing compared to my son’s.’

’First, I’ll save Zheng’Er. Then I’ll torture this little bastard!’

Lin Tianhao turned around. A short while later, he dragged out a trembling woman and threw her to the ground. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Yan’Er!" Lin Hao’s whole body trembled as he cried out.

The woman on the ground looked up. Lin Hao saw an unfamiliar face. She was about thirty years old with delicate features; it wasn’t Yan’Er.

Lin Hao didn’t know her, but the woman recognized him. Her tear-filled eyes widened, and after a moment of shock, she cried out in pleasant surprise, "Young Master Lin Hao!"

"Young Master Lin Hao, please save me! I’m not crazy, I don’t want to die."

It was as if she were grasping at a life-saving straw; the woman reached desperately for Lin Hao.

"Hao’Er, I told you it wasn’t Yan’Er. Now, can you release Zheng’Er?" Lin Tianhao was still all smiles.

He had no choice. His son was in Lin Hao’s hands.

Hearing this, the woman collapsed to the ground, her face a mask of despair.

’Young Master Lin Hao came for Yan’Er... That means I’m still going to die.’

"Lin Tianhao, you truly are depraved and inhuman! She’s speaking and acting perfectly normal, yet you were going to use her as a living sacrifice!" Although it wasn’t Yan’Er and Lin Hao was disappointed, it didn’t mean he would stand by and do nothing.

The woman was taken aback, and the flames of hope were rekindled in her eyes.

She was just an insignificant servant. Originally, she didn’t think Lin Hao could save her, but his words now sparked hope within her once more.

"Her life for your son’s!" Lin Hao stared at Lin Tianhao, his palm tightening on Lin Zheng’s head.

"Fine!" With his son in Lin Hao’s hands, could Lin Tianhao say no?

Hearing this, the woman, with a sudden burst of strength from who-knows-where, scrambled to her feet and scurried behind Lin Hao.

"I’ve fulfilled my promise. Now it’s your turn." A strange glint flashed in Lin Tianhao’s eyes.

’The moment Lin Hao lets Lin Zheng go, I’ll make him experience a fate worse than death!’

"Do you take me for a fool? Once I’ve safely left the Lin family estate, I’ll naturally release him." Only a three-year-old would fall for such a trick.

Lin Tianhao wasn’t surprised. He said in a low voice, "I agree. I can even prepare a horse carriage for you!"

’Even if Lin Hao manages to leave the Lin family grounds, I’m absolutely certain he won’t escape!’

Lin Hao backed away step by step, dragging Lin Zheng with him. The woman followed closely behind, while Lin Tianhao watched Lin Hao like a tiger stalking its prey.

Before long, the group had retreated from the Lin family’s ancestral hall and was now outside.

Lin Tianhao’s gaze swept across the area, and his expression filled with shock.

The once spotless plaza was now a bloody mess of flesh and gore, and a third of the several dozen guards were gone.

’He doesn’t even have his bloodline anymore, yet he managed to kill over a dozen Martial Artists at the Third Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm. He’s hiding a huge secret!’

Lin Tianhao stared at Lin Hao, his eyes burning with greed.