Chapter 67: Cannot Let Him Grow Unchecked

If one thing and another are the same, then perhaps you can still console yourself with coincidence.

But now!

Everything happening here coincides exactly with the scene of Zhao Jianfei's head exploding that day—identical!

So does that mean…

The next person whose head explodes should be myself?

Thinking that, Lin Zecheng suddenly became restless.

He wanted to seize the moment while everyone was still shouting to avenge Lin Zehong, and make a quick exit.

But at that moment, Lin Family patriarch Lin Yuanshan nodded, then pressed his palm downward in a vague gesture.

In an instant.

The council hall, which had been filled with shouts of bloodshed, suddenly fell silent.

Lin Yuanshan then fixed his gaze on Lin Zecheng, who had been absent‑minded and ready to slip away since earlier, and said lightly.

"Lin Zecheng, you just saw the clan members' attitude a moment ago!"

"The purpose of summoning you back this time is to ask how much you know about Li Mu!"

"Don't blow me up, don't blow me up!"

"I don't know!"

"I really know nothing!"

Who would have thought.

The moment he heard the name Li Mu, the previously absent‑minded Lin Zecheng suddenly shivered violently.

Then, instinctively, he shielded his head with his hands, screaming in terror while rolling on the ground.

"……"

For a moment.

The vast council hall now seemed as if a sudden snowstorm had descended.

Lin Yuanshan and all the Lin Family members stared dumbfounded at Lin Zecheng, who was rolling on the ground before everyone.

At this moment, he bore none of the bearing of a fourth‑generation Lin leader or a future young clan head!

Instead, he resembled a terrified, broken‑hearted stray dog, utterly pathetic and comically ridiculous.

Seeing Lin Zecheng turn into this bear‑like fright the instant he heard Li Mu's name.

This made the Lin clan members, who had just been raging and shouting to avenge Li Mu, feel as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over them.

Everyone looked at me, I looked at you, and we could see bewilderment on each other's faces.

Could it be…

That Li Mu, behind the scenes, might have some unknown methods?

Or perhaps some background that can reach the Heavenly Court, defying the heavens?

If not,

We wouldn't have just mentioned Li Mu's name and scared Lin Zecheng into this state!

"Cough cough…"

Seeing the crowd in the council hall stare at him with eyes that seemed to ask, "Are you okay?"

Lin Zecheng instinctively touched his head, and after confirming it hadn't exploded, his face flushed.

He then awkwardly coughed twice, brushed dust off himself, and stood up from the ground.

"So…"

"Grandfather, I was exhausted from traveling yesterday and didn't rest well."

"So my behavior just now was a bit out of line…"

Whether it helped or not, Lin Zecheng first tried to save face as usual, then got straight to the point.

"Regarding Li Mu, I had already investigated before coming here."

"Li Mu is merely an ordinary person that Zi Yuan uncovered from the mortal realm, an orphan from childhood with no parents."

"Therefore, for the Lin Family to deal with him is truly a matter of pinching his throat."

"However…"

He paused at that point, then continued.

"However, this Li Mu, a prodigiously gifted talent, joined the Ziyang Sect only a month ago and already seized the Four Peaks Grand Competition Champion!"

"At the same time, I suspect the 'Five Thunder Jade Scripture' he practices was passed down by some master."

"Thus, if the Lin Family truly intends to strike him, it cannot be an overt killing; it must be done covertly."

"At the very least, when acting against Li Mu, we must leave no leverage for anyone to grab."

"Ideally, Li Mu should die in an accident, so that even if the Ziyang Sect or the master behind Li Mu investigate later, they could never trace it back to us."

After hearing Lin Zecheng's analysis, Lin Yuanshan and the Lin Family members present all nodded in deep agreement.

Indeed!

Given the Lin Family's century‑long foundation as a major cultivation clan, killing a mere Ten Grade Lian Qi Realm Li Mu poses no problem at all.

But for the Lin Family to have reached such heights in Qingzhou, none of the people present could be fools!

Li Mu, a grassroots ascendant from the mortal realm, managed within a single month to rise from a commoner to the Four Peaks Grand Competition champion.

And he possessed the strength to directly Slash the Concentration Realm cultivator Lin Zehong!

If Li Mu hadn't received a master's guidance, they wouldn't believe he could be killed!

That is why, after learning of Lin Zehong's death, Lin Yuanshan did not immediately issue a death warrant against Li Mu.

Instead, he chose to first recall Lin Zecheng from the Ziyang Sect before discussing further.

The Five Thunder Jade Book?

Just as I expected, this boy named Li Mu is truly extraordinary…

Lin Yuanshan kept mulling over the name "Li Mu", a sharp killing aura flashing from his murky eyes, and his hands hidden in his sleeves clenched involuntarily.

He asked, "What cultivation level did Li Mu have when he first entered the Ziyang Sect?"

It should have been the Third‑grade Refining Qi Realm!

Lin Zecheng stroked his chin, pondered seriously, and then said.

"According to what my younger brother said before he died, Li Mu, when he first entered the Ziyang Sect, once had a fierce clash with Qin Zhixiang in the Heaven Peak Ridge Grand Hall."

"At that time, the cultivation Li Mu displayed before everyone was already the Third‑grade Refining Qi Realm."

"Now he has reached the Ten Grade Lian Qi Realm Peak, and on top of that he can choose any treasure from the third tier of the sect's Cangbaoge."

"I think this kid Li Mu has probably already broken through the Concentration Realm!"

"In just a month, he went from the Third‑grade Refining Qi Realm to the First‑tier Concentration Realm…"

Lin Yuanshan chuckled wryly, "In this world, does a youngster truly possess such terrifying talent?"

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would find it hard to believe…"

Recalling his own youth, it took him a full four years of hard work to break from the Third‑grade Refining Qi Realm to the First‑tier Concentration Realm!

Back then, Lin Yuanshan was also a young prodigy of a sect, a favored son of heaven adored by countless people!

Result…

Comparing people, they deserve death; comparing goods, they should be thrown away.

Compared with Li Mu, who broke to the Concentration Realm in a month, Lin Yuanshan felt like smashing his head against a stone pillar!

It is precisely because Lin Yuanshan deeply realized that even with his own terrifying talent, there is an insurmountable chasm between him and Li Mu.

This made him understand one thing at this moment.

That is.

If we let Li Mu run unchecked, at his current growth rate, it would take, at most five years, at least three!

Li Mu could certainly become a terrifying force capable of easily wiping out the Qingzhou Lin Family!

Not to mention, behind Li Mu hides a senior master who can teach him the Five Thunder Jade Book!

At this pace, it might even accelerate!

I say this without exaggeration!

If Li Mu is not eliminated, he will inevitably grow into a terrifying presence capable of overturning the Qingzhou Lin Family's centuries‑old foundation!

Huh…

Thinking of this, Lin Yuanshan let out a long sigh; a previously unseen solemn expression appeared on his wrinkled old face.

"I, as an elder, absolutely cannot permit the Qingzhou Lin Family's centuries‑old foundation to be lost because of my own hands!"

"Otherwise…"

"After a hundred years, how could I face the ancestors of the Lin Family!"

He made up his mind.

Lin Yuanshan's voice was icy, and a single sentence made his stance clear.

"Lin Zecheng, since Li Mu has entered Inner Peak, he will certainly receive the Inner Peak entry assessment trial today!"

"When the time comes, you will be responsible for gathering the mission details and making the necessary arrangements."

Having said that, Lin Yuanshan gave Lin Zecheng a cold glance, his lips moving, yet no sound emerged!

Only Lin Zecheng's mind echoed with Lin Yuanshan's cold, murderous voice.

"No matter the cost, you must bribe the Inner Peak disciple responsible for taking Li Mu on missions!"

"Make him act opportunistically, and have Li Mu die in this mission in a reasonable and justified manner."

"After the deed is done, remember to eliminate any witnesses!"

"We must absolutely prevent the mysterious master who taught Li Mu the Five Thunder Jade Book from discovering that Li Mu's death is linked to our Lin Family."

"In short!"

"The success or failure of this matter concerns the Qingzhou Lin Family's centuries‑old foundation!"

"Act according to the situation!"

"Yes!"

"Grandfather, the grandson understands!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Zecheng hurriedly bowed deeply to Lin Yuanshan, then turned and briskly left the family council hall.

"Enough!"

"Today's clan meeting ends here; everyone may disperse!"

Lin Yuanshan withdrew his gaze from Lin Zecheng, glanced once at the Lin Family members in the council hall, gave a faint wave, and then turned and left.

But just as the clan members dispersed, Lin Yuanshan had just returned to his own residence.

Whoosh!

At that moment, a resonant sword sound suddenly rang out from directly above the residence!

Immediately thereafter.

A terrifying sword aura, sweeping like a galaxy, slammed down, filling the entire sky above the Lin Family mansion!

Such a sharp, cutting aura!

As if it would split the Lin Family mansion in half!

Feeling the terrifying aura bearing down, Lin Yuanshan abruptly lifted his head, his gaze following the streams of sword aura, his expression becoming more solemn than ever.

"Great Achiever of the Foundation Establishment Realm?"

"Such arrogance, what do you come to my Lin Family for!"

"Clang!"

Just as Lin Yuanshan was about to summon a flying sword and pursue the sword energy in the sky,

A three‑foot green blade sword instantly lodged in front of him!

Soon he saw a breathtaking silhouette in a violet skirt, her whole body encircled by countless tiny flying swords formed from true qi, slowly descending from the heavens.

She wore a flowing purple long dress; a faint violet gauze brushed her jade feet and lightly touched the sword hilt, then she lowered her head to look down at Lin Yuanshan.

"Ziyuan Zhenren?"

After seeing the newcomer clearly, Lin Yuanshan furrowed his white brows, then reined in his aura and, with clasped fists, said.

"I wonder, Ziyuan Zhenren, what brings you from thousands of miles away to our Qingzhou Yao Family? What business do you have?"

Within the Ziyang Sect, even between Personal Disciples there exists a gap as vast as a heavenly trench!

Just like Zi Yuan!

She and Lin Zecheng are both inner‑peak Personal Disciples, yet outsiders, upon seeing Zi Yuan, would respectfully call her Ziyuan Zhenren rather than Zi Yuan Personal Disciple.

Because the weight of the title "Zhenren" is, of course, far heavier than that of "Personal Disciple"!

The so‑called Personal Disciple merely signifies your standing within the sect.

And Zhenren?

It signifies that a cultivator has completed his cultivation, entered the Foundation Establishment Realm, roams the world with a sword, and has earned this hard‑won title!

Don't be fooled by Ziyuan Zhenren's appearance as a nine‑heaven celestial maiden; her whole being exudes an ethereal, dust‑free aura.

Yet beneath that stunning, nation‑shaking beauty, who could imagine that countless unspeakable demonic cultists and malevolent spirits meet their end beneath her sword!

It is precisely because of these gleaming white bones, mountains of corpses and seas of blood!

Only then was her illustrious reputation as Ziyuan Zhenren forged!

Although Lin Yuanshan's cultivation, at half a step into the Divine Ability Realm, clearly surpasses Zi Yuan's, he dares not be even slightly lax when facing Zi Yuan.

Meanwhile, Lin Yuanshan's mind was occupied with one thought.

The figure before him, as if a nine‑heaven celestial maiden stepped out of a poem or painting, had suddenly visited the Qingzhou Lin Family.

What exactly is the purpose?