Primordial Emperor
Chapter 20: Resorting to Drugs When Defeated, The Astray Lin Liang

Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Resorting to Drugs When Defeated, The Astray Lin Liang

"Young Master Lin Liang is the best, in this exchange of blows, Young Master Lin Chen’s true strength has been revealed, right? He’s just a match for Young Master Lin Liang, nothing more. How is someone like that fit to be our Princely Heir? Moreover, Young Master Lin Liang must not have used his full strength yet."

"Although what you’ve said makes some sense, Young Master Lin Chen has only reached the Seventh Layer of the Body Tempering Realm in his cultivation, but he was still able to hold his own against Young Master Lin Liang. If Young Master Lin Chen was also at the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm..."

"This..."

Below the Martial Arts Practice Ground, Lin family disciples were whispering amongst themselves.

Most of the Lin family disciples were sycophants of Lin Liang, all of them heaping praise on Lin Liang, just like they had crazily flattered Lin Chen three years ago.

Such behavior is inevitable within a great family.

Still, there were quite a few who were having a realistic discussion.

They felt that Lin Chen wasn’t that simple.

Half a month ago, they had thought that Lin Chen’s cultivation had fallen to the Third Layer of the Body Tempering Realm, and there was even talk of his meridians shattering.

However, at this moment, he had managed a standoff with Young Master Lin Liang after a brief exchange.

The battle had become interesting.

Until the end, it was impossible to say who would come out on top.

On the high platform at the Martial Arts Practice Ground, the Elders all wore faint smiles on their faces.

Even the Second and Third Elders felt the same.

Despite their hearts leaning somewhat towards supporting Lin Liang, wanting Lin Liang to take over as the new Princely Heir, being the followers of Lin Chen’s Great Uncle and Second Uncle’s line of authority.

But that was because Lin Chen’s cultivation had fallen in the last three years, going from the dazzling pedestal to a fall from grace, leaving the Elders feeling disillusioned and unable to see hope in Lin Chen leading the Lin Family towards glory.

However, if Lin Chen’s talent and cultivation were to make a comeback, then it would be an entirely different matter.

No matter how much the Elders fought amongst themselves, no matter their struggle for power, what they hoped for most in their hearts was for the Lin Family’s future to become better.

At this moment, both Lin Chen and Lin Liang had displayed their talent and extraordinary prowess.

Though the Second and Third Elders would prefer Lin Liang to win the contest, for they were followers of the line led by Lin Chen’s Great Uncle and Second Uncle, and Lin Liang’s rise to the position of Princely Heir would be more beneficial in securing their power and status within the Lin Family.

But Lin Chen’s strength, as demonstrated today, was already worthy of being called the Lin Family’s Heavenly Pride, and they had decided that after this battle, they would fully cultivate both individuals.

"You are still at this level of strength, huh? After three years, I didn’t expect you to still be stuck in the same place," Lin Chen shook his head and sighed as he looked at Lin Liang.

Lin Chen didn’t harbor hatred towards Lin Liang, after all, they were both from the Lin Family, sharing the same fresh blood.

Lin Liang had grown up overshadowed by his own brilliance, vying for his position as Princely Heir, setting him as a target to surpass; it was all within reason.

In a great family, such things are inevitable, and Lin Chen didn’t blame him.

If their positions were reversed and Lin Chen were in Lin Liang’s place, perhaps he might have done the same.

It’s just that over the years, Lin Liang had focused too much on wooing people’s hearts, greatly neglecting the improvement of his own strength. At this moment, Lin Chen was merely offering Lin Liang a kind-hearted reminder.

Had Lin Chen not sacrificed his own cultivation three years ago to expand Mu Qingxue’s meridians, who knows how far apart he and Lin Liang would be now.

"Less talk, don’t think that after going up against me you can lecture me, as if you’re still the genius from back then. I haven’t even shown my true strength yet, take this!"

Others might not be aware, but after the exchange with Lin Chen, Lin Liang had stepped back seven paces, while Lin Chen had only taken five steps back. He had retreated two steps more; Lin Liang was of course aware of this slight difference.

He was not willing to accept it, nor could he believe it.

He refused to believe that Lin Chen had truly regained his strength.

In his heart, he still felt that Lin Chen was merely feigning strength, using medicinal elixirs to temporarily boost his cultivation, how could he possibly be so strong.

With that thought, Lin Liang launched another angry attack, his eyes even flashing with a murderous intent, aiming fatal strikes at Lin Chen.

And Lin Chen did not shrink back, fighting against Lin Liang with all his might.

Hum—

Two figures clashed intensely on the Martial Arts Practice Ground.

"Mountain Splitting Fist!"

"Sweeping Leg!"

"..."

The two fought each other for nearly a hundred moves.

The sounds of battle and the impact of the aura continued to erupt on the stage.

The crowd below had long since been stupefied.

No one dared call Lin Chen trash anymore at this moment.

This was simply a feast of martial arts. During the sparring between the two Lin family disciples, they even gained some insights.

The way Lin Chen and Lin Liang utilized martial arts skills and spiritual power was many times higher than theirs.

This was the difference between heavenly prides and them.

The elders on the stage were also smiling, stroking their beards contentedly.

At this point, they naturally saw that Lin Chen’s cultivation had truly recovered.

Although he had not returned to his peak state from three years ago, being able to fight Lin Liang for nearly a hundred moves, even gaining the upper hand, he was once again the number one heavenly pride of the Lin Family.

The Great Elder was extremely delighted. Others might not see it, but he could definitely tell.

This battle, Lin Chen was completely prevailing. Within ten moves, he would be able to achieve victory.

"Boom—"

A powerful palm wind burst forth from Lin Chen’s hand.

Lin Liang was knocked back to the edge of the Martial Arts Practice Ground, fresh blood spurting from his mouth.

Lin Liang couldn’t understand why Lin Chen, whose cultivation was clearly lower than his, was stronger than him.

He was unwilling. Why, why couldn’t he defeat Lin Chen?

With his heart growing more and more resentful, Lin Liang suddenly took out an elixir from his bosom.

The pill was purple-black in color, clearly not a common elixir.

After taking it out, Lin Liang glared at Lin Chen before swallowing the purple-black elixir.

"Lin Chen, I want you dead."

Lin Liang shouted loudly, his eyes instantly turning blood red.

After swallowing the elixir, Lin Liang’s aura suddenly burst, becoming more powerful.

In a mere three breaths’ time, Lin Liang’s cultivation climbed to the half-step Spirit Gathering Realm.

"Lin Liang has... taken the Bloodthirsty Pill!"

"This child, for just a mere competition, to go so far! The Bloodthirsty Pill will damage the meridians and cause irreversible harm to the body; he’s self-sabotaging his foundation!"

The Great Elder, watching Lin Liang’s cultivation surge after consuming the elixir, had his expression darken drastically.

But the effects of the Bloodthirsty Pill were swift, and it was already too late for them to stop it.

"Great Elder, the clan competition on the Duel Platform determines not only victory or defeat but also life and death; it is the clan’s rule."

"Do you intend to break the clan rules first?"

The Second Elder, seeing the Great Elder wanting to protect Lin Chen, spoke up to stop him.

Although he was also somewhat surprised in his heart, Lin Liang, for the sake of the Princely Heir position, actually resorted to taking the Bloodthirsty Pill.

But since things had come to this, he had no choice but to forcefully support Lin Liang.

On the Duel Platform, there was no explicit rule against using elixirs or other strength-augmenting auxiliary items.

Upon hearing this, the Great Elder glared fiercely at the Second Elder a few times, but could only relent.

His gaze fell on Lin Chen, and if Lin Chen showed any signs of defeat, he would, despite violating clan rules, go to protect him.

At this moment, on the Martial Arts Stage, a brief moment of surprise appeared on Lin Chen’s face, which then returned to a calm demeanor.

He looked at Lin Liang and sighed slightly.

Lin Liang’s actions today would surely damage his foundation. The position of Princely Heir had already led him astray.

And the cultivation level Lin Liang had raised was merely a half-step Spirit Gathering, not a true Spirit Gathering Realm.

Lin Chen might not be defeated!

Watching Lin Liang charge toward him with murderous intent, Lin Chen calmly took out a Talisman Inscription from his bosom.