Chapter Sixty-Six: Crisis in River Province

Lin Yi paid no heed to Qiao Weiliang’s astonishment. He grasped Qiao Weiliang’s fist and gently pressed downward.

Crack.

Qiao Weiliang’s hand bones fractured instantly. Yet he was tough—his brow merely twitched before he raised his leg to kick at Lin Yi’s abdomen.

But Lin Yi seemed to have anticipated every move. At the very instant Qiao Weiliang lifted his leg, Lin Yi struck first, kicking him in the knee.

Immediately after, Lin Yi pulled his arm, and Qiao Weiliang felt a surge of overwhelming force. With his knee injured, he lost control and collapsed, kneeling before Lin Yi.

Silence.

For a moment, the scene was perfectly still.

Everyone had expected a one-sided match, but none had foreseen such a reversal.

Qiao Weiliang—Grandmaster Qiao. The man who lingered at the threshold of grandmaster for over fifty years, relentlessly strengthening his foundation. Newly promoted to grandmaster, he had challenged three others in succession, earning a moment of fame.

Yet even so, he was defeated in just two or three moves by a young upstart.

The outcome remained a crushing victory, but not at all as they had imagined.

Moreover, Lin Yi was barely in his twenties.

A young grandmaster?

At that moment, the thought surfaced in everyone’s mind.

Standing with his hands folded behind his back, Lin Yi asked calmly, “Do you concede?”

Qiao Weiliang’s face shifted between pale and flushed. He stared at Lin Yi for several seconds before sighing, “I admit defeat.”

Without facing Lin Yi, one could never fathom his depth.

His age was young, yet his strength was as boundless as the ocean.

The crowd was momentarily stunned, then erupted in jubilant cheers.

They had thought the Zhao family’s invitation to Qiao Weiliang was a masterstroke, never expecting that the perennial runner-up, the Zhang family, would be the final victor.

Feng Yi swallowed hard, his voice bitter, “Granddaughter, is this the person you wanted me to deal with?”

If I went up, I’d surely be killed with a single punch.

Zhang Yuling bit her lip, eyes dazed, “He’s actually a grandmaster—how is that possible?”

Zhang Tianfang and Zhang Xinyi stood up, hearts pounding with excitement. They never imagined Lin Yi would bring them such a surprise.

“Daughter, Lin Yi seems pretty good—young, and a grandmaster. Why not consider him?” Zhang Tianfang’s gaze was heated as he looked at Lin Yi.

How could he let go of such a young grandmaster?

“Dad, what are you saying?” Zhang Xinyi blushed, lightly punching her father.

Yet in her heart, she couldn’t help but entertain the thought.

Lin Yi wasn’t handsome, but his character was steady and his strength formidable. Even if he couldn’t be a prince on a white horse, a dark horse prince wasn’t bad either.

“Haha.” Zhang Tianfang, experienced as he was, saw through his daughter’s attitude—she was clearly moved.

But he didn’t push further; after all, this was a matter for the young, best left to unfold naturally.

Lin Yi was indifferent to the cheers, turning instead to the two hosts, “Announce the results.”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

Mu Hanyu nodded dumbly, needing a moment to regain her composure.

Once the result was announced, Lin Yi leapt down from the stage.

He walked over to Zhang Xinyi, the crowd parting before him—such was the power of strength, commanding awe.

“Lin Yi, you’re amazing,” Zhang Xinyi said, her eyes sparkling.

Lin Yi smiled faintly. He’d heard such praise countless times and no longer felt anything. “I’ve fulfilled my promise to you.”

With that, Lin Yi prepared to return to the hotel.

Zhang Xinyi’s gaze held a trace of longing. She hurried to say, “Lin Yi, you’ve helped us so much this time. Let me treat you tonight.”

Lin Yi nodded. It was convenient—he had matters for which he needed the Zhang family’s help.

...

Evening.

The Zhang Family Grand Hotel, a simple name but a five-star establishment.

Lin Yi dressed plainly, yet not a soul dared underestimate him.

“Lin Yi, thank you so much for today. I must toast you,” Zhang Tianfang said, raising a glass of white liquor.

Lin Yi took a bite of food. “I don’t drink.”

Zhang Tianfang looked awkward, uncertain whether to put the glass down or keep holding it.

Zhang Xinyi, rarely seeing her father so flustered, chuckled softly. She poured a cup of black tea, smiling, “Dad, I always tell you to drink less. Have some tea.”

Zhang Tianfang gave his daughter a grateful look. “Right, Mr. Lin, I’ll use tea instead. Cheers to you.”

Lin Yi didn’t put on airs, raising his own tea and drinking it, his voice calm. “There’s something I need your family’s help with.”

Zhang Tianfang was delighted—Lin Yi needing something was a good sign. If they built a strong relationship, the Zhang family’s position would be secured.

“Mr. Lin, just say the word. Thanks to you, we’ve been able to secure three resource-rich regions,” Zhang Tianfang said sincerely.

Lin Yi smiled. “I hope your family can help me search throughout Shan Province for medicinal herbs, spirit medicines, and precious jade that are at least a hundred years old.”

“No problem,” Zhang Tianfang agreed instantly—this was no trouble at all.

Lin Yi continued, “I won’t let you help for nothing. I have here a Foundation Pill, which can strengthen and stabilize one’s core.”

As he spoke, Lin Yi produced the pill.

Zhang Tianfang’s eyes lit up. Just a whiff of this pill brought comfort—if taken, who knew what wonders it might work...

“Mr. Lin, you’re too polite,” Zhang Tianfang said, though his gaze remained fixed on the pill.

Lin Yi smiled mildly, tossing the pill directly to him.

Zhang Tianfang hurried to catch it. The Zhang family had pills, but none could compare to Lin Yi’s.

Just then, Lin Yi’s phone rang.

It was Wang Yang.

“Excuse me,” Lin Yi said, answering the call.

“Teacher, something terrible has happened,” Wang Yang said, voice trembling.

“What’s wrong? Calm yourself,” Lin Yi said.

“The Qian family has been wiped out,” Wang Yang tried to suppress his fear.

Lin Yi frowned. The Qian family ranked last in Jiang Province, but even so, they had two half-step grandmasters.

“How could they be annihilated?” Lin Yi’s tone was grave.

Wang Yang asked cautiously, “Teacher, do you recall Cui Cheng’s challenge a few days ago?”

Lin Yi nodded. “I remember. Does this relate to him?”

Wang Yang continued, “Yesterday, Cui Cheng brought a feng shui master to Jiang Province. But their purpose was to find you.”

“To find me?” Lin Yi was puzzled.

Could it be that just because he didn’t accept the challenge, they decided to wipe out an entire family?

“Yes. Not long ago, the ten great families joined forces to pursue Yang Manli and Master Wu. The feng shui master is Master Wu’s teacher. He came to Jiang Province for revenge. He said if the mastermind wasn’t revealed within a day, he’d destroy a family each day,” Wang Yang explained.

Lin Yi’s gaze turned cold. He hadn’t expected that his actions would implicate other families.

“All right. I’ll return as soon as possible,” Lin Yi said.

After ending the call, he informed Zhang Tianfang and then left for the hotel.

“Angel, arrange a helicopter immediately. I need to be back in Jiang Province within two hours,” Lin Yi instructed.

Angel quickly notified Jin Anhui.

...

Meanwhile.

Inside the Zhou family hall.

An elderly man in a black robe sat cross-legged on the sofa; beside him was Cui Cheng.

These two were Master Long and Cui Cheng.

In the hall, all members of the Zhou family, including the maids—thirty-one people in total—were crouched on the floor.

Fortunately, the Zhou family estate was large enough to accommodate them all.

“Each of you stay put and don’t try anything clever. You should know by now—the Qian family was annihilated yesterday, thanks to Master Long,” Cui Cheng boasted, riding on Master Long’s authority.

The Zhou family was one of Jiang Province’s ten great clans, ranked ninth—always out of Cui Cheng’s reach.

Now, with Master Long’s backing, he could swagger and berate these family members.

The Zhou family members were furious. As a martial household, they thought little of Cui Cheng’s skills; now, to be bullied so, it was intolerable.

“Grandmaster, may I ask why you have come to our Zhou family?” asked a middle-aged man with a square face—the Zhou family head, Zhou Dongliang.

“Tell me, who killed my disciple?” Master Long’s voice was raspy.

Cui Cheng spoke for him, “It was Wu Kun—Master Wu. Not long ago he came to Jiang Province, and your ten families joined forces to hunt him down. Don’t tell me you don’t know.”

Zhou Dongliang replied, “Grandmaster, I honestly don’t know who the culprit is. Master Wu had many tricks—our ten families joined forces, but he escaped us.”

Master Long said, “Since you don’t know, so be it.”

A flash of relief appeared in Zhou Dongliang’s eyes, but Master Long’s next words plunged him into despair.

“There’s no need for the Zhou family to exist anymore. I want to see if all ten families are so stubborn,” Master Long said blandly.

He extended a withered finger and tapped lightly.

The two women beside Zhou Dongliang shriveled instantly, becoming desiccated corpses in less than three seconds.

The sight chilled everyone’s blood.

“Ah, wife, daughter!” Zhou Dongliang cried out.

But then, he felt a burning sensation—his arms and body dehydrating rapidly.

...

Lin Yi returned to Jiang Province, where Wang Yang was already waiting at the entrance of Linda Group.

“Teacher, the Zhou family was annihilated an hour and a half ago,” Wang Yang said quietly.

Lin Yi nodded without expression, but anger stirred within.

“Take me to the Zhou family,” Lin Yi said calmly.

“Yes, sir.”

Soon, the two arrived at the Zhou residence.

Lin Yi looked up at the sky, his gaze darkening.

Clearly, someone had set up an array here—a particularly sinister one, called the Lifespan Formation.

This formation could drain the vitality from people and transfer it to the caster.

A thousand years ago, dark cultivators used the Lifespan Formation to plunder the life force from entire cities.

Lin Yi hadn’t expected that such a technique would still exist today.

Even a weakened version was terrifying in its effects.

“Where did Cui Cheng and that feng shui master go?” Lin Yi asked.

“Teacher, I’m not sure. The security cameras show that as soon as they left the Zhou residence, they were shrouded in black mist, just like Master Wu before,” Wang Yang replied.

Lin Yi nodded, then said, “Spread the word for me: tell them the one who killed Master Wu was me. Let them come to the Zhou family.”