Flying artifacts for cultivators were not actually fast.

  Lin Lin had tested the Peak Mountain Sword, the flying artifact he currently used. It maxed out at around forty to fifty kilometers per hour.

  This was understandable. Without a windshield, the air resistance on a person was significant.

  If you flew too fast, control became very difficult.

  Of course, this did not mean flying artifacts were weak.

  First, the fastest horses on the ground could only sustain about twenty kilometers per hour over long distances.

  And horses traveling long distances needed fine feed. Traveling far, exposed to the elements, if people could not eat well, how could the horses?

  In comparison, flying artifacts had a stable speed.

  Second, they could take the shortest route.

  Infrastructure in the cultivation world was terrible. Spending a whole day crossing a mountain was common.

  But flying artifacts were different.

  By gaining altitude, crossing mountains was like walking on flat ground.

  Lin Lin estimated that Li Wangxuan's trip to get reinforcements would take at least four or five days.

  So he took the time to inventory the sect's assets.

  In the end, he did not see Li Wangxuan and Zhang Shan return until the morning of the seventh day.

  Yawning, Lin Lin looked at the swarm of people overhead.

  He felt a bit displeased.

  Tch, not a single female cultivator. He had hoped for a pretty one to add to his collection for research.

  Lin Lin strolled forward and greeted them. "Oh, long time no see, two elders. And who might these people behind you be?"

  "Less talk! Where is Ma Zhaoyuan? Tell that bastard to come out!" Zhang Shan immediately started cursing.

  Lin Lin remained calm and composed, speaking slowly. "Elder Zhang, Elder Li, can't we just talk things over?"

  Among the group of Canglong Gang cultivators, the leader was a middle-aged, burly man with a scarred face and graying hair.

  He keenly sensed that Qingfeng Sect had already activated its defensive formation. Most of the disciples had taken refuge inside.

  Attacking now would be pointless.

  "This must be Acting Sect Leader Lin. I am Li Rushi from the Canglong Gang. I came to seek justice for some younger relatives from my family."

  With that, he put away his artifact, leaped down from the sky, and landed on the ground.

  The others also put away their artifacts and landed.

  Lin Lin naturally knew the name Li Rushi from the Canglong Gang.

  From the previously seized letters, Lin Lin knew the Li family had a relative in the Canglong Gang.

  The Li family did not show themselves, letting the two youngsters go to the Canglong Gang.

  It was because Li Rushi was there to receive them.

  "Senior Li's reputation precedes you. You have all come from afar. Why not come in and have a chat? The pre-rain tea of Qingfeng Sect is quite good."

  Li Rushi was an old hand, skilled in handling things tactfully.

  Seeing Lin Lin unaffected even with an army at the gates, he immediately suspected a trick.

  Was Liu Fenghai already out of seclusion, or did they have the Spirit Sword Sect as backup? Li Rushi could not be sure.

  Since he was unsure, he would take it one step at a time.

  This time, including himself, they had one mid Foundation Establishment, one early Foundation Establishment, four late Qi Refining, and five mid Qi Refining.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  This combat strength was neither too much nor too little. It was best to proceed cautiously.

  Lin Lin led them to the guest reception room and had outer disciples serve pre-rain tea to everyone. "Junior Brothers Li and Zhang, you brought all these people just for Ma Zhaoyuan?"

  Summoning his courage, Li Wangxuan recited his lines like a little kid performing a talent show for relatives during New Year.

  "The Ma father and son harbor evil intentions and want to harm the sect leader. We came to help the sect leader."

  "Oh, really?" Lin Lin's tone was full of mockery.

  "Yes, that's right." Zhang Shan also insisted.

  Lin Lin looked at Li Rushi and asked, "And you, Senior Li? Is that your position too?"

  Li Rushi's eyes darted around, still unsure why Lin Lin was so calm. "With the father of trouble alive, the disaster won't end. Please, Sect Leader Lin, hand over the Ma father and son. Otherwise, they will surely become a great calamity for Qingfeng Sect in the future."

  Li Rushi's calculation was to force Lin Lin to kill the Ma father and son.

  If Lin Lin did not kill them, Li Rushi would force Liu Fenghai to appear.

  If Liu Fenghai could not appear, then Li Rushi would drop the pretense and directly seize Qingfeng Sect.

  If Lin Lin killed the Ma father and son, Qingfeng Sect would be cutting off its own arm, and he would still drop the pretense.

  His plan was flawless. He just did not expect Lin Lin to have a countermeasure. "Alright, then follow me, everyone."

  Lin Lin led them to the training ground. In the center of the ground were two sealed large water vats.

  Just as everyone was puzzled and murmuring,

  Lin Lin gently moved his sword finger, and the vats instantly shattered.

  The formalin inside splashed out, emitting an indescribable stench.

  Li Rushi looked closely and saw two mutilated corpses inside the vats.

  Li Wangxuan was young and could not bear to look at the disfigured bodies.

  Zhang Shan, afraid of losing face, forced himself to recognize the two殘 corpses. "That's Ma Zhaoyuan and his father! You killed them?"

  Lin Lin raised his hands and bowed to everyone present. "Alright, the two criminals with evil intentions have been executed. Your wishes are fulfilled. You can now leave the mountain gate."

  Li Rushi turned and gave Li Wangxuan and Zhang Shan a contemptuous look.

  As an old fox of the cultivation world, he understood the news had leaked.

  A leak meant the other side was prepared.

  Originally, Li Rushi had planned a long-distance raid to catch Qingfeng Sect off guard.

  Attacking now meant hitting a hard target.

  But Li Rushi had no choice. Having come all this way, he had to bite the bullet.

  At the very least, he had to secure some tangible benefits. "Sect Leader Lin is too stingy. We brothers came all this way, and you just want to send us off?"

  "Oh, Senior Li, I am a bit clumsy and prefer to speak frankly. If you have any requests, you can state them directly."

  "We brothers came to help Sect Leader Liu eliminate the Ma father and son. Even without merit, we have worked hard. I want Sect Leader Liu to come out personally and give each of us five hundred spirit stones as travel expenses!"

  This time, the Canglong Gang had twelve people total. Five hundred each would be six thousand spirit stones.

  Li Rushi made this outrageous demand, betting the other side could not produce so many stones.

  If they could not produce the stones, he would have an excuse to be unreasonable.

  Ask a high price, negotiate on the spot. It would also help probe their defenses and confirm Lin Lin's hand.

  "Senior Li, I actually think your price is too low."

  "Oh?" Li Rushi was quite surprised. Could Qingfeng Sect really be that wealthy?

  "Senior Li, since you have come all this way, why not simply kill Sect Leader Liu and the two elders and make yourself the new sect leader of Qingfeng Sect? I, Lin Lin, am willing to pave the way for the new sect leader."

  Li Rushi was both shocked and delighted. He hypocritically stroked his beard to calm his inner agitation. "Sect Leader Lin, you must be joking with this old man."

  Lin Lin bowed solemnly to everyone. "Senior Li flatters me. It is the senior who started joking first."

  "You!"

  Ignoring Li Rushi's frustration, Lin Lin turned to look at Li Wangxuan and Zhang Shan. "You two, don't you realize you are being used? This Senior Li made an outrageous demand to force me to kill your fathers and uncles."

  "After he kills all of us, he will be the next sect leader of Qingfeng Sect."

  "Do you really want to disregard your blood relatives' lives for the glory and wealth of an outsider?"

  The Canglong Gang's thug business relied on trust.

  If you played both sides, no one would hire you in the future.

  If Li Rushi could take Qingfeng Sect in one swift move, fine.

  But if he could not, and word got out that he had cheated his relatives' kids, how could he continue taking jobs in the Canglong Gang?

  Out of caution, Li Rushi chose to reassure these two clueless juniors. "Don't worry. Do not listen to his instigation. This old man prioritizes rescuing your fathers and uncles."

  Li Wangxuan and Zhang Shan did not answer, clearly believing it thirty to forty percent.

  Lin Lin changed his target, directly addressing the Canglong Gang members. "Everyone from the Canglong Gang, I suspect you have also been deceived by this Senior Li."

  "I guess this Senior Li promised you would take Qingfeng Sect and then use its assets as your reward."

  "Unfortunately, all of Qingfeng Sect's assets are inside the defensive formation. With your abilities, it would probably take at least ten days to break the formation. And before the formation breaks, we will destroy all artifacts and pills, leaving you with nothing."

  "Not to mention, I have spent a lot to get people from Baiyue City to mediate. Your Canglong Gang probably does not want to be enemies with Baiyue City either."

  The Canglong Gang members were just scattered mercenaries Li Rushi had hired.

  Hearing this, everyone became restless.

  Li Rushi quickly played his last card. "Everyone, calm down. The Li family is funding this. Even if we take Qingfeng Sect and find nothing, the Li family will still provide a generous reward."

  Good. Very good.

  This way, the situation was completely under control.

  The Canglong Gang would be the fish on his chopping board.

  A sinister, strange smile curled at the corner of Lin Lin's mouth.

  Then, with composure, he circulated his energy. Spiritual energy flowed through his meridians, spreading throughout his body.

  With each breath, powerful spiritual energy shook the surroundings.

  "Senior Li, didn't the Li family mention sending their own guards to help?"

  Seeing this, Li Rushi was shocked. "You... you are at Foundation Establishment? No, your Foundation Establishment is equivalent to a normal cultivator's late Foundation Establishment. You are practicing demonic arts."