Chapter 167: Chapter 166: The Lin Family’s Wavering

"Out of the question!"

"Fang Han, you absolutely must not act rashly!"

The moment Fang Han finished speaking, Fang Lingyuan and the four Elders objected in near unison.

"Fang Han, we understand your intentions, but your most important task right now is to focus on your Cultivation at the Qingxuan Sect!"

"You are a genius the likes of which our Fang Family hasn’t seen in a hundred years. We cannot allow anything to happen to you! As for the Lin Family, the family has its own plans. We can still maneuver; we absolutely cannot let you take such a risk!"

Fang Lingyuan leaned forward, his tone urgent.

"Kid, it’s good to have guts! But the Lin Family’s current patriarch, Lin Yaotian, is a Seventh Grade Martial Artist of considerable strength, and the family has many other Martial Artists as well."

"If we rashly declare war, the outcome will be uncertain. Even if we win, it would be a pyrrhic victory. You should focus on your Cultivation. Once you’ve achieved greatness in the Martial Dao, will you still need to fear a single Lin Family?"

Guard Elder Fang Tu added in his gruff voice.

"Patriarch, Elder Tu, this isn’t a moment of heated passion. Since I am the one proposing this, I naturally have some confidence."

Their opposition was expected. Fang Han was not surprised. He swept his gaze across the five of them and spoke in a steady voice.

"Confidence?"

Instructor Elder Fang Yuan’s hand, which had been stroking his beard, paused for a moment. A probing look appeared in his eyes.

"Fang Han, your Cultivation... what Realm has it reached?"

They could all sense that Fang Han’s aura was profound, far beyond what it had been when he left a year ago. But without seeing him in action, it was difficult to discern its exact depth.

"Elders, I am now at the Late Stage of Eighth Grade."

Fang Han said.

"Late Stage of Eighth Grade?!"

Those five words struck like a thunderclap, exploding within the study.

Fang Lingyuan shot up from his chair, his eyes filled with incredulous shock.

Fang Tu’s eyes went wide. Fang Yuan’s beard-stroking hand froze in mid-air. The slick smile on Fang Mingde’s face vanished completely. Even the ever-silent Fang Zhenshan snapped his head up, his gaze shooting toward Fang Han like a bolt of lightning.

Once in the Inner Qi Realm, progress was much slower compared to the Basic Four Realms. An ordinary Martial Artist often took several years to advance a single rank.

But Fang Han, in one year—a single year—had gone from the Early Stage of Ninth Grade to the Late Stage of Eighth Grade!

This was a simply terrifying Cultivation speed!

In all their long lives, they had never heard of anyone in Liangshui City, or even the surrounding cities, possessing such a frightening rate of progress.

"The Qingxuan Sect... it truly lives up to its name!"

Fang Lingyuan murmured, sinking back into his chair. His gaze toward Fang Han was filled with complex emotions: ecstasy, relief, and an even more indescribable excitement.

’Thankfully, I went against the opposition back then and sent Fang Han to the Qingxuan Sect. I didn’t let this fine sapling go to waste!’

"There’s more. The Martial Arts I practice is a Middle Grade Martial Technique from the Qingxuan Sect, and I have already reached the Great Success Realm with it. In terms of actual combat power, I am confident I can even slay an ordinary Early Stage of Seventh Grade Martial Artist."

"Furthermore, I am not far from the Seventh Grade now. I am confident I can break through within the next few days."

Fang Han continued.

"..."

The five Elders’ hearts pounded wildly.

Among the five great families of Liangshui City, the most profound Martial Arts were merely Low Grade. Even when cultivated to the Perfection Realm, their power was only comparable to a Middle Grade Martial Technique at Minor Achievement.

And due to limitations in their talent, Martial Artists who could cultivate a Martial Technique to Perfection were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.

With a Middle Grade Martial Technique at the Great Success Realm, Fang Han’s combat prowess truly could not be measured by conventional standards.

And the news that Fang Han was confident he could break through to the Seventh Grade in a few days left them shocked beyond words.

In the entire Fang Family, only the Patriarch was a Seventh Grade Martial Artist. Fang Han had been away from home for a year, and now he was about to break through to the Seventh Grade.

Shock was no longer sufficient to describe their current feelings.

The study fell into a brief silence, broken only by the occasional soft crackle of the lamp wick.

The five Elders were all processing this astonishing information, their expressions shifting unpredictably.

Fang Lingyuan pondered for a long time, exchanging several glances with the other four Elders. Finally, he spoke slowly, his voice a little hoarse.

"Fang Han, your growth rate has far exceeded our expectations. Your strength has also shown us the possibility of completely resolving the threat of the Lin Family."

His tone shifted, and his expression became incredibly solemn.

"However, this matter is of great importance and concerns your safety. You are the future pillar of our Fang Family. We cannot let you take a single unnecessary risk."

"How about this? If, before the end of your new year’s leave, your Cultivation can advance another step and you break through to the Seventh Grade Realm!"

"Then we will launch a lightning strike against the Lin Family and eliminate this problem for good!"

Fang Lingyuan stared at Fang Han with a burning gaze.

"If you fail to break through..."

Fang Lingyuan paused, his tone resolute.

"Then we will set this matter aside for now. You will return to the Sect to continue your dedicated Cultivation. As for the Lin Family, we can settle the score when you are absolutely certain of victory. What do you say?"

This agreement ensured Fang Han’s safety to the greatest extent possible.

The gap between Seventh and Eighth Grade was a huge hurdle. Once broken through, one’s strength would experience a qualitative leap. The risk of dealing with the Lin Family then would be greatly reduced.

"Alright. We’ll do as the Patriarch says. If I can break through to the Seventh Grade before the end of my new year’s leave, we will make our move on the Lin Family!"

Fang Han had absolute confidence in his current Cultivation speed.

With a thirty-two-fold Root Bone Talent Amplification and a Root Bone improved by the Earth Core Stone Milk, breaking through to the Seventh Grade wouldn’t take long at all.

He met Fang Lingyuan’s gaze without any hesitation, nodding calmly and firmly.

His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an unquestionable self-confidence.

Looking at the calm and confident young man before them, the last shred of doubt in the hearts of Fang Lingyuan and the four Elders vanished, replaced by an indescribable excitement and anticipation.

’The Fang Family is truly about to rise!’

...

The night was as black as ink. Deep within the Lin Mansion in Liangshui City, a study was lit by a flickering candle.

Patriarch Lin Yaotian of the Lin Family stood before the window with his hands behind his back. He stared out at the heavy darkness, his brow furrowed and his face shrouded in an impenetrable gloom.

News of Fang Han’s return had spread through Liangshui City as if it had grown wings, and had naturally reached his ears.

"Why couldn’t my Lin Family... have a Qilin’er like that?"

Lin Yaotian murmured under his breath, his tone filled with an indescribable mix of emotions—a blend of extreme envy and regret.

He envied the Fang Family’s incredible luck in producing such a stunningly brilliant junior who had even joined the Qingxuan Sect, one of the seven great powers of Qingyang County.

And he regretted that the assassination of Fang Han he had arranged with Zhao Qianjun had failed.

He had gone to great lengths to find out that Zhao Qianjun was dead.

Combining that with Fang Han’s safe return, he was almost certain that Zhao Qianjun had most likely failed the assassination and been killed by Fang Han instead.

This speculation made his heart pound with fear, but he didn’t dare breathe a word of it, let alone reveal any related clues to the Qingxuan Sect.

Because if the Qingxuan Sect found out that the Lin Family had hired someone to assassinate one of its Sect Disciples, the first thing they would do would be to annihilate the Lin Family. Punishing Fang Han would come second.

As for Fang Han’s punishment, it would surely be a mere slap on the wrist. After all, Zhao Qianjun had been the one with malicious intent first; Fang Han had only been counter-attacking.

"Someone, summon the three Elders for a meeting."

Lin Yaotian took a deep breath, suppressing the anxiety in his heart, and said in a heavy voice.

Ever since he learned of Fang Han’s return, a faint sense of unease had been growing in his heart.

Logically, even if the boy had joined the Qingxuan Sect, it should have taken at least several years for him to grow powerful enough to threaten the Lin Family, not just one or two.

But that sense of unease coiled around his heart like a venomous snake, growing clearer and clearer.

A moment later, the study door was gently pushed open, and three old men with profound auras entered in single file.

The leader, a man with a lean face and sharp eyes, was none other than Instructor Elder Lin Shan, who had once hosted a banquet intending to show off his own family’s "Qilin’er."

Now, the smug satisfaction was long gone from his face, replaced by a somber gloom in his brow.

To his left was a short, stout, dark-skinned old man named Lin Yan. His knuckles were thick and gnarled, a clear sign he specialized in hand-to-hand combat, and he had an explosive temper.

To the right was a tall, thin, pale-faced old man with a sinister gaze. Named Lin Ying, he was responsible for the Lin Family’s unsavory affairs, and his aura carried a chilling coldness.

These three were the only Core Elders the Lin Family had left.

There had been another Core Elder, but he had fallen in an ambush set by the Fang Family.

"Patriarch, you’ve summoned us so late at night. What is the urgent matter?"

Lin Shan was the first to speak, his voice slightly hoarse.

Lin Yaotian’s gaze swept over the three men. He didn’t beat around the bush and said directly, "Fang Han has returned."

Those four simple words made the air in the study instantly freeze.

"So what if he’s back? Is our Lin Family supposed to be afraid of some wet-behind-the-ears kid?"

Lin Yan’s brow furrowed, and he snorted coldly.

Despite his words, he couldn’t hide the trace of fear deep in his eyes.

"With this boy’s return, the Fang Family’s morale will soar. I’m afraid the friction between us will become even more intense,"

Lin Ying added ominously.

"Friction? It would be good if it were only friction."

"What I worry about is that once this boy has fully matured, the current stalemate where our Lin Family can still contend with the Fang Family will be shattered in an instant. When that happens, it will be a catastrophe for the Lin Family."

Lin Yaotian shook his head, his tone heavy.

Hearing this, a vicious glint flashed in Lin Shan’s eyes. "Patriarch, in that case, why don’t we again..."

He made a throat-slitting gesture, his meaning obvious.

"Absolutely not!"

Lin Yaotian rejected the idea outright.

"Our relationship with the Fang Family is already terrible. If something happens to Fang Han, the Qingxuan Sect will suspect us, the Lin Family, first! For a power like the Qingxuan Sect, they don’t need proof—mere suspicion is enough to plunge our Lin Family into an irrecoverable disaster!"

"We can’t fight them, and we can’t outlast them. What are we supposed to do? Are we just going to stand by and watch the Fang Family walk all over us?"

Lin Yan raked his hands through his hair in frustration. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Lin Ying also looked to Lin Yaotian, awaiting his decision.

"At this point, there may be only one path left for us... to abandon our foundations in Liangshui City and relocate the entire family."

Lin Yaotian was silent for a long time, as if steeling himself. He slowly exhaled, his voice low but filled with resolve.

"What? Relocate?"

The three, Lin Shan and the others, cried out in unison, their faces etched with shock and unwillingness.

To abandon their ancestral home, which they had managed for generations, and move far away would be a crippling blow. They might never recover and could even decline into obscurity.

"I know this is hard to accept, but staying here is likely a dead end."

"Relocating, despite the heavy losses, will at least preserve the Lin Family’s bloodline and allow us to wait for a future opportunity. That’s better than being slowly forced into a dead end here in Liangshui City by the Fang Family."

Lin Yaotian said bitterly.

A long silence fell over the study, with only the crackling of the candle flame. The light flickered across the faces of the Lin Family’s four highest decision-makers, illuminating their shifting expressions, which finally settled into a complex mixture of despair and helplessness.