Chapter 2169: Lin Xie

In Everbright City, there were three major families: Lin, Tian, and Zhao.

The Lin family ranked first due to the presence of Lin Xie. Although the family head was not as powerful as Lin Xie, he had reached the peak of low-grade Celestial God cultivation, and his pair of mother-child swords possessed immense, intimidating power.

As for the Zhao family, they were the weakest in terms of talent reserves and the family head's strength, far behind the other two. Their ability to stand among the three major families stemmed from their control over the city's merchant guilds, which brought them immense wealth.

At the Lin family mansion.

"Lin Xie, your strength is comparable to Ming Laixiang's; why did you listen to her and give up the city lord position? You are not alone; you have the entire family behind you!"

Looking at the middle-aged man before him, the Lin family head felt deeply frustrated.

Lin Xie was the Lin family's most renowned genius and strongest cultivator. The family head had expected him to secure the city lord position, bringing greater glory to the family. He never dreamed that an unexpected challenger would emerge, snatching the position away from an unknown young man.

If it was taken, they should find a way to reclaim it. Yet, the man before him not only failed to challenge the usurper but directly acknowledged them... This made the family head increasingly angry and frustrated the more he thought about it.

The Lin family's one chance to ascend to prominence had been squandered in this manner.

"Ming Laixiang is not their match, nor am I. Furthermore, they have already refined the City Lord Stele. Rather than humiliating ourselves and losing face, it's better to acknowledge it gracefully!" Lin Xie shook his head, his expression calm. "Alright, I'm going to cultivate now. Don't disturb me unless it's important!"

With that, he turned and walked towards his room. Before he had gone far, the steward rushed in, bowing with clasped hands. "Family Head, Young Master Lin Xie!"

The Lin family head stood with his hands behind his back.

"The new City Lord has announced public lectures throughout the city! The lectures have already begun, and many people are attending. Should our family send representatives?" the steward asked.

"Send people? That fellow just stole the City Lord position that belonged to our Lin family. It's enough that we haven't gone to cause trouble; attending his lectures is out of the question! What, do you want members of our Lin family to become his students?" The Lin family head waved his hand dismissively.

"Well..." The steward hesitated, then said, "Those who attended reported that the new City Lord's lectures are excellent, enlightening many and providing great benefit..."

"Great benefit? It's just a trick to bewitch and win over people!" The Lin family head waved his hand. "Enough! Warn the clansmen that no one is permitted to attend his lectures or accept his favors! Anyone who disobeys will have their family registration revoked and never be allowed to set foot in the family again!"

"Understood..." Seeing the family head's decision, the steward reluctantly swallowed what he wanted to say and walked out to convey the order.

"Lin Xie, did you hear that? This fellow just became City Lord and is already using small favors to win people over. Once he's completely stable, won't all of Everbright City fall under his control? Didn't you want to cultivate? I'll have the eight Grand Elders come over and use the family's most mysterious formation to help you enhance your cultivation. You *must* seize the City Lord position!" the Lin family head gritted his teeth.

"This... how can this be! Using the formation to boost my cultivation would cause immense harm to the eight Elders, possibly even shortening their lifespans..."

Lin Xie was stunned.

The Lin family possessed a secret technique that could gather the power of others to temporarily boost a beneficiary's cultivation. However, because the improvement wasn't drastic and the damage incurred was severe, it had rarely been used.

He never dreamed the family head would resort to it now.

"Say no more. As long as you become the City Lord, any loss, no matter how great, can be recovered. All you need to do now is adjust your state and prepare to receive the power of the eight Grand Elders!"

The Lin family head waved his hand, cutting him off, and issued the command.

Soon, Elders at the low-grade Celestial God realm appeared in the room. They set up the formation and channeled their power, a process that took four hours.

*Boom!*

His body surged with power. Lin Xie felt his entire aura erupt, like a dragon or a flood dragon, making a huge leap forward.

He quickly stood up as an explosive sound echoed within his Dantian. His cultivation, previously constrained, broke through in the blink of an eye.

Half-step high-grade Celestial God!

Although he hadn't fully reached the high-grade Celestial God realm, he was now only half a step away. Both his combat power and consciousness had experienced significant improvement and breakthroughs.

"With this strength, why would I fear failing to obtain the City Lord position..." Clenching his fists and letting out a breath, Lin Xie's eyes gleamed.

Previously, his battles with Ming Laixiang were evenly matched. But now, having absorbed the power of the eight Elders through the secret technique, his combat strength was more than double what it had been!

If he were to contend for the City Lord position again, he would definitely succeed in one go!

"Many thanks, Elders..."

Lin Xie looked at the eight Elders, who sat on the ground, their life force nearly depleted, and nodded with profound gratitude.

The secret technique, when performed, was equivalent to using the cultivation of eight individuals to slightly boost his own.

To lose eight masters at once was something no one would have willingly done during the previous stalemate. But now, the situation had changed. If they didn't act, the opponent would completely win over the people, making it difficult to seize power later!

As long as he became the City Lord, all losses would be compensated!

"Don't say so much. Go and reclaim the City Lord position. Even if we die, it will be worth it..." a white-bearded Elder said weakly.

"Go, the City Lord position is destined for our Lin family..." another Elder added.

"Alright..." Lin Xie nodded, gathering his strength. Just as he was about to leave, the steward rushed in again.

"Reporting to the Family Head, Young Master Lin Xie... Wandering cultivator Wu Yang, Tian family head Tian Fei, and Zhao family head Zhao Meng have come to visit, accompanied by a group of their juniors!"

"Visit? Why visit at this hour?"

The family head and Lin Xie exchanged glances, confusion evident in their eyes.

Although the three families usually interacted, they were always wary of each other. Why would they come calling so late at night?

"Show them in!"

Despite their surprise, he gestured them in.

Soon, the group entered the room.

"Greetings, Family Head Lin, Young Master Lin Xie!" they greeted with clasped fists.

"May I ask, esteemed guests, what brings you to my Lin family at this late hour?"

The Lin family head looked at them questioningly.

"We just finished attending the City Lord's lecture and noticed no one from the Lin family was there, so we specifically came to ask!" Family Head Tian Fei said with a smile.

"Attending lectures? Our Lin family, the foremost family of Everbright City, possesses countless masters. Why would we listen to a lecture from some greenhorn?" The Lin family head's face darkened. "What a joke!"

"Family Head Lin, we came because we noticed no one from your family attended the lecture, and we specifically wanted to share the content recorded on the jade crystal with you. If you don't wish to listen, that's fine, but why insult my teacher?" Family Head Tian Fei's expression turned grim.

After listening to the two-hour lecture, deep down, he had already come to regard the composed young man on the stone tablet as his teacher.

"Your teacher? Haha, even if he is the new City Lord, there's no need to fawn over him so much! Unless something unexpected happens, he will soon lose his position, becoming the shortest-lived City Lord in the history of Youhun Heaven."

The Lin family head sneered.

"Lose it soon? Are you planning a coup?" Family Head Tian Fei paused, then looked at Lin Xie, realizing instantly. "So, your cultivation just broke through. No wonder you're speaking this way..."

"Since Brother Lin Xie has broken through to the half-step high-grade Celestial God realm, how about we have another sparring match?"

Wu Yang, who had been silent at the side, interrupted Family Head Tian Fei and stepped forward.

The two had competed for the City Lord position for over half a year, clashing no less than five times. They knew a great deal about each other's cultivation.

"I'd be glad to!" Lin Xie replied with a slight smile.

He had just broken through and wanted to practice and establish his might. For his opponent to rush in now was perfect.

His figure flickered as he charged forward, his fingers splayed, and a punch struck out.

To establish dominance, he naturally needed to display power and imposing presence.

He unleashed his most potent strength from the very start, holding nothing back.

Before he even reached his opponent, he suddenly felt a sting on his face, and his body involuntarily spun around.

He quickly looked, only to see Wu Yang, with whom he had previously fought to a standstill, slap him across the face as if teaching a junior a lesson.

"You..." Lin Xie's pupils contracted. Gritting his teeth, he charged again.

*Slap, slap, slap!*

Three consecutive slaps sent him spinning several times on the spot. His body went limp, and he slumped to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He was utterly bewildered.

"Your strength..."

His opponent's cultivation was only at the middle-grade Celestial God realm and hadn't broken through, yet why... was his combat power so immense?

He, a dignified half-step high-grade Celestial God, had been easily slapped, unable to even retaliate?

"Lin Xie, I once considered you my rival, but now, it seems you're unworthy!" Wu Yang looked down at him indifferently. "And be warned, if you dare to speak ill of the City Lord again, I'll take your life!"

With that, he turned and left.

"This..." Lin Xie was on the verge of madness.

He had just broken through, believing he would sweep through Everbright City unopposed. He never dreamed that this very person, with whom he had fought countless times, would smack him back with a few slaps...

How could he have suddenly become so strong?

They had just sparred yesterday!

"We walk different paths, so we'll take our leave. Family Head Lin, remember this: if I hear you insult the City Lord again, I will annihilate your entire Lin clan!" Family Head Tian Fei also stood up.

"Don't be so quick to leave..." Seeing Family Head Tian Fei, who was only at the peak of low-grade Celestial God, act so arrogantly, Lin Xie almost exploded. He abruptly stood up, stepped forward, and unleashed a punch.

Unable to defeat Wu Yang, dealing with this fellow, who was previously no match for him, should still be easy.

*Slap, slap, slap!*

Similarly, his punch didn't land. He was slapped several times again and fell to the ground.

Lin Xie was utterly dumbfounded.

He had just broken through...

How could even a low-grade Celestial God beat him up?

As he seethed in frustration, Family Head Zhao Meng of the Zhao family stepped forward. "Dare to speak ill of my teacher? You're asking for death!"

He aimed a kick.

Just as he tried to dodge, Lin Xie realized all his escape routes were sealed.

His face flushed as he was kicked in the head, sending him flying backward over ten meters.

"I'm not his match either..."

He never imagined that even Zhao Meng, who had the weakest cultivation and whom he usually wouldn't even glance at, could kick him away, leaving him utterly helpless. Lin Xie was completely losing his mind.

Hadn't he progressed at immense cost?

Why did it feel like... everyone else had progressed even faster?

Can anyone tell me what just happened?