Clan Cultivation: Starting with Building an Island Immortal City

4: The spiritual energy manifested its power, and it triumphed over all.Twenty-seven days passed in a flash.

On this day, the autumn wind rustled, sweeping up withered grass and dust from the wilderness outside Linhai City, filled with murderous intent!

A giant arena, about ten feet high, stood majestically.

Around the arena, heads bobbed; the common folk of Linhai City, Jianghu wanderers, and small vendors all gathered here, eagerly awaiting.

In front of the arena, a clear space was intentionally made, with several grand chairs placed.

City Guard Xia Donghai, dressed in a brocade robe, sat calmly in the main seat.

To his left and right were prominent gentry and dignitaries of the city, most of whom were now observing silently, their eyes cast down.

As the sun rose higher, the autumn wind grew colder.

Suddenly, there was a commotion on the periphery of the crowd, and a passage opened up like a tide.

The people of the Lin family, a prominent maritime merchant household, had arrived.

Lin Liang, the Clan Chief of the Lin family, was about fifty years old, lean, and had a grim expression. He strode forward with a majestic gait, surrounded by his supporters.

His eyes, sharp as an eagle’s, swept over the arena, a hint of undisguised ruthlessness and arrogance at the corner of his mouth.

Half a step behind him followed a young man.

This person was no more than twenty, with a stern face and eyes full of the arrogance and indifference of youth who had achieved early success.

Dressed in a black tight-fitting suit, which outlined his strong physique, he carried a four-foot long saber inverted in his hand. The saber’s scabbard was ancient, with a faint cold glint emanating from it.

His steps were steady, his breath long, and an invisible Aura around him seemed to push away the surrounding clamor. He was Lin Bei, who had risen to fame in recent years and was hailed as the Lin family’s greatest martial arts Genius in a hundred years!

The Lin family contingent walked directly to the east side of the arena and stood, their Aura imposing, silencing the nearby spectators.

Almost simultaneously, the crowd on the other side also parted.

Li Yinglong had arrived.

Today, he had changed into a faded old blue robe, his long hair tied with a wooden hairpin. Although his face still carried a hint of paleness from his recent severe injuries, his eyes were as serene as an ancient deep well, showing no ripples.

Behind him, his eldest son, Li Qingshan, had a solemn expression, his fists clenched; his second son, Li Qingchuan, had flickering eyes, with hidden worry and fear; further back were a group of young and strong disciples and loyal servants of the Li family, all with expressions of tragic determination.

Li Qingzhu, wearing a coarse cloth martial arts outfit, was hidden at the very back of the crowd, inconspicuous, with only her large eyes fixed on the arena.

The two sides stood in confrontation on either side of the arena, and the air instantly tightened, as if substantial, making it hard to breathe.

Lin Liang was the first to break the deadly silence:

”Senior Li, the hour has come. Why do you not step forward? Do you still wish to play the coward!”

Li Yinglong’s gaze swept over him indifferently, but he did not reply.

Li Qingshan stepped forward and shouted angrily:

”Lin Liang! Do not be so arrogant! Who lives and who dies today is yet to be known!”

Upon hearing this, Lin Bei said with disdain:

”A dying clan, merely showing off with words.”

”City Guard Xia, and all you respected elders, you are here to bear witness! The Li family has fallen, their martial fortune is over, and the Escort Agency business has been losing money for years, long since being insolvent! This life-and-death battle today is the Li family’s last chance! If they are willing to kneel and beg for mercy now, and voluntarily hand over all their properties in Linhai City, the Escort Agency’s deeds, and all the escort routes from previous years, my Lin family, being benevolent, might show them mercy and allow the old and weak of the Li family to leave Linhai City and live!”

”Nonsense!”

”Too much!”

The Li family disciples were enraged, cursing loudly.

Li Yinglong raised his hand and pressed it down slightly.

All the noise behind him instantly subsided.

His gaze passed over Lin Liang and fell directly on Lin Bei behind him, sizing him up for a moment. A faint hint of surprise flashed deep in his eyes, but it immediately vanished, leaving his expression as calm as an ancient well.

He then looked at Lin Liang:

”The Lin family wishes to seize my Li family’s foundation; why bother with so many excuses? Let’s fight first.”

As soon as he spoke, his words were direct and concise, which instead choked Lin Liang’s prepared rhetoric in his throat.

City Guard Xia Donghai, who was sitting in the main seat, slowly rose at this moment:

”Two Clan Chiefs, Linhai City is originally a harmonious place, why resort to life-and-death struggles? Peace is precious, peace is precious! Why not sit down and talk? This City Guard is willing to mediate for you...”

Lin Liang interrupted impatiently:

”Lord City Guard! Fists have no eyes, and swords are merciless! Once a life-and-death battle is declared, there is no turning back! This is a Jianghu rule. If the Li family is afraid, what I said earlier still stands!”

A hint of anger flashed across Xia Donghai’s face, seemingly displeased by the Lin family’s rudeness, but in the end, he only sighed and waved his hand helplessly:

”Since it is so... Alas, then let it be.”

With that, he slowly sat down, but a deeply hidden cold glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.

”My son.”

Lin Liang turned his head.

Lin Bei understood, stomped his foot, and his figure, like a nimble black eagle, soared into the air and landed steadily in the center of the arena, stirring up a cloud of dust.

He pointed his long saber obliquely at the ground, his gaze sweeping arrogantly towards the Li family’s direction, and declared proudly:

”Old fool Li Yinglong, come up and die!”

The faces of the Li family members grew even uglier.

Li Yinglong, expressionless, took a long weapon wrapped in a cloth sheath from Li Qingshan’s hand.

The cloth sheath slid off, revealing the family heirloom, the dark, heavy, nine-foot-long overlord spear!

The spear shaft was mottled with many old marks, and the spearhead was gleaming, reflecting a bone-chilling cold light in the autumn sun.

He did not show off his footwork like Lin Bei, but simply walked up the wooden steps of the arena, step by steady step.

The two stood opposite each other, one wielding a long spear, the other a sharp blade. They were two generations apart in age, yet their Auras clashed fiercely.

No unnecessary words, no need for a referee.

In this battle, the victor lives, the loser’s clan perishes!

”Buzz!”

Lin Bei moved first!

As the family’s ’Breaking Sea Saber Art’ was unleashed, the saber light erupted, truly surging like a furious tide, tearing through the air and emitting a wailing shriek!

The saber technique was wide and powerful, fierce and overbearing, filled with a destructive Aura that surged forward, instantly enveloping all of Li Yinglong’s vital points!

Gasps of surprise erupted from below the stage!

A true expert’s first move reveals all! Lin Bei’s strength far exceeded expectations!

Li Yinglong’s pupils constricted slightly, but he did not meet the attack head-on.

His footwork changed, and the overlord spear in his hand, like a coiled python, suddenly sprang forth, blocking, parrying, deflecting, and sweeping with its shaft, defending impenetrably.

The spearhead occasionally darted out like a venomous snake’s tongue, pointing at the weaker points of the saber light, forcing Lin Bei to change his moves.

”Clang!” ”Clang!” ”Clang!”

The sound of clashing metal was incessant, and sparks flew.

Li Yinglong fought and retreated, seemingly suppressed by the fierce saber technique. Although his spear technique was steady, he was entirely on the defensive.

The hearts of the Li family members below the stage were in their throats, and Li Qingzhu even held her breath.

Only Li Yinglong himself knew that he was observing!

After twenty-seven days of arduous Cultivation, with the help of those few Low-Grade Spirit Stones, he had successfully drawn Qi into his body, officially entering the first level of the Qi Refinement Stage!

Furthermore, he had cultivated several wisps of Evergreen True Qi, which circulated within him, providing continuous stamina.

At this moment, he clearly sensed that Lin Bei’s blood Qi surged within him like a great river, far surpassing martial artists of his generation. His bone strength and explosive power were definitely not achievable by mere arduous Cultivation!

There even seemed to be a very faint... Spiritual Qi fluctuation within it?

Li Yinglong’s heart was in turmoil.

This Lin Bei indeed had a fortuitous encounter!

He had somehow strengthened his physique and saber technique, making his attack power terrifying.

If he hadn’t cultivated Evergreen True Qi and possessed keen spiritual sense, he wouldn’t have been able to detect it at all!

And it could be concluded that he was not a Cultivator; he did not understand Cultivation Technique, merely squandering this external force by instinct.

”No wonder he’s so confident, unbeatable in the surrounding area. He’s like me, had a fortuitous encounter!”

Li Yinglong understood in his heart, and his murderous intent grew stronger.

This child must not be allowed to live!

As his thoughts raced, dozens of moves had already passed on the stage.

Li Yinglong feigned a slight disturbance in his breathing, and the speed of his spear technique imperceptibly slowed down. A faint sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his face became even paler, as if his old injuries had flared up, and the signs of aging and physical decline were becoming apparent.

The bloodthirsty glint in Lin Bei’s eyes intensified, and his offensive grew more urgent. He laughed wildly:

”Old fool! Can’t you hold on any longer? Break for me!”

He spotted an opening, his long saber sweeping aside the slightly sluggish spear shaft. With immense force, he cleaved straight towards the center!

The saber wind was fierce, intending to cut Li Yinglong in two!

”Father!”

”Clan Chief!”

Li Qingshan and others below the stage cried out in horror, many closing their eyes in shock.

Xia Donghai leaned slightly forward.

Lin Liang’s face already showed a cruel smile of impending victory.

Just as that fatal saber strike was about to land, in a flash of lightning!

A faint green light suddenly flashed in Li Yinglong’s originally ”exhausted” and cloudy eyes!

Within his Dantian, those few wisps of nourishing Evergreen True Qi instantly circulated throughout his body, like spring rain revitalizing dry land. His slightly fatigued bodily functions instantly returned to their Peak!

He was seen, in the nick of time, slightly shifting his body at an incredible angle!

That fatal saber strike grazed his robe, the fierce Saber Qi tearing his collar, but not harming his skin!

At the same time, Li Yinglong abandoned his spear and closed in!

Before the deflected long spear even hit the ground, he had already surged into Lin Bei’s open guard!

Lin Bei’s saber strike missed, his strength spent, and new strength not yet generated.

What awaited him was Li Yinglong’s fist, which had condensed all his strength and secretly contained a wisp of Evergreen True Qi!

The fist broke through the air, silent but deadly, striking directly at Lin Bei’s Dantian and Qi Sea!

”Puff!”

A dull thud, like striking a worn leather, emanated!

”Ugh ah!!!”

All of Lin Bei’s arrogance, ruthlessness, and murderous intent instantly froze on his face, turning into extreme pain and bewilderment!

He only felt an indescribable sharp pain erupt from his Dantian. The powerful surging blood Qi throughout his body suddenly dissipated like a receding tide, and the powerful physique he relied on to run rampant completely collapsed!

His limbs went limp, unable to summon even a fraction of strength, and his long saber clattered to the ground.

He was like a dead fish with its spine removed, his eyes rolled back, blood spilling from his mouth, as he softly knelt forward.

All this happened too fast!

From Li Yinglong’s peril to his close-quarters counter-kill, it was but a single breath!

The expressions on the faces of the crowd below the stage had not yet changed from their previous shock.

A fierce glint flashed in Li Yinglong’s eyes; to cut weeds, one must remove the roots!

Without giving the Lin family any chance to concede or rescue, taking advantage of Lin Bei’s forward momentum as he knelt, his right leg rose high, then chopped down like a mighty axe!

His heel, imbued with a thousand jin of force, ruthlessly stomped on the back of Lin Bei’s head!

”Crack!”

Lin Bei’s head suddenly burst open like a ripe fruit, and red and white matter splattered!

The headless corpse twitched violently once, then fell heavily onto the arena, lifeless.

The autumn wind swept through, carrying a strong, nauseating smell of blood.

The entire venue was dead silent!

You could hear a pin drop!

Everyone’s eyes were wide, mouths agape, staring in disbelief at the old man with blood-stained hair and beard, standing proudly on the arena, and the headless corpse at his feet, rapidly soaked in blood.

The Lin family Genius, who had just been so arrogant and had forced Li Yinglong to only parry, in an instant... had become a mangled corpse!

After a brief moment of extreme silence, the scene instantly changed.

”Clan Chief is mighty!”

”We won! We won!!!”

A deafening cheer of wild joy erupted from the Li family’s side. The excitement of surviving a disaster brought tears to the eyes of many tall men, who embraced each other.

In contrast, the Lin family’s side was like a funeral, utterly silent.

Lin Liang’s smile had long since frozen, turning into extreme shock, bewilderment, followed by heartbreaking pain and ferocity. He pointed at the arena, his fingers trembling, his lips quivering, yet he couldn’t utter a single word. He suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered backward, hastily supported by his clan members behind him.

City Guard Xia Donghai suddenly stood up, his face no longer calm, but filled with astonishment and scrutiny, his gaze fixed on the old but rock-like figure on the arena.

Li Yinglong slowly retracted his foot, standing alone on the arena, breathing slightly (a pretense, of course). His gaze was as cold as ice, sweeping over the distraught Lin family members below, finally resting on the overlord spear that had fallen to the side.

”Unrelated persons, disperse.”

”The entire Lin family, slaughter them all!”