Chapter 13 I Can't Afford a Filial Son Like You
"9th Level Peak…"
In the courtyard, Lin Chen sat drenched in sweat, a massive black sword like a door panel resting at his side, mysterious runes etched along its surface.
"With ten drops of Millennium Earth Core Milk, my strength has reached 100,000 jin."
"My Body Refining Realm strength is no weaker than an ordinary divine body holder. Defeating Gu Qing will be child's play."
A cold glint flashed in his eyes, followed by a crooked smirk as a dragon-like confidence radiated from within.
"Pathetic. So what if you have talent? To achieve greatness in cultivation, talent, diligence, and opportunity are all essential. I have peerless sword arts, a master's guidance, countless opportunities, and tireless effort. What do you have, Gu Qing?"
"Idling away in a woman's embrace, you are unworthy to be my opponent. You are nothing more than a stepping stone beneath my feet."
Yet when he thought of that woman being his sister, his blood boiled with fury. His sister, pure and divine as a celestial maiden, had been tainted by his enemy—how could he accept it?
"Tomorrow, before the entire city, I will trample you beneath my feet."
…
Inside the remnant sword, He Ni fell silent. "Does he have nothing better to do than swear oaths every day? Fine, if it makes you happy…"
"Chen'er…"
At that moment, Lin Zhantian entered. His name spoke of defying the heavens, yet his appearance was plain. When he smiled, he looked no different from an ordinary man.
"Father, what brings you here?" Lin Chen asked in surprise.
"Lin Yuan's talent has been restored. He even broke through to the Qi Condensation Realm. Tomorrow in the tournament, he may not let you go," Lin Zhantian said worriedly.
In his understanding, Lin Chen's rapid breakthroughs came from a stroke of fortune, paired with a refined sword technique. Defeating other geniuses had always relied on this swordsmanship.
He had no idea his son's strength had reached 100,000 jin. The last test showed barely over 10,000. Even with skill, such strength should be no match for Lin Yuan's true qi.
The Qi Condensation Realm, though in its early stage, still enhanced the body's reflexes and imbued techniques with qi, doubling their power.
"Don't worry, Father. Lin Yuan is nothing more than an ant to me," Lin Chen replied calmly, as if killing him were effortless.
Lin Zhantian frowned and scolded, "I know your sword art is formidable, but you must not underestimate your foe. Arrogant soldiers invite defeat."
"Heh, but how do you know I will lose if I haven't fought yet? Why don't we make a bet, Father? If I win, you must annul Sister's engagement with Gu Qing."
Lin Chen grinned wickedly, rubbing his hands in a lewd manner.
"Absurd! This is a match of life and death, not a child's game."
Lin Zhantian nearly exploded with rage.
"Well, Father, do you dare or not?" Lin Chen pressed, using his old trick—the provocation method that had never failed him.
"Sigh… how is it that this boy is becoming more insufferable by the day?" He Ni muttered within the sword. Concealing his realm from his father, she could overlook. But to manipulate him so shamelessly? That was intolerable.
In her eyes, this was not cleverness but rotten character. And such a vulgar provocation was beneath dignity.
Her disciple could not be some petty street rogue. It was time to prepare alternatives.
"Impudent brat! Is that how you speak to your father?"
Lin Zhantian roared, his fury ignited. He wanted nothing more than to slap his son across the face. He worried for Lin Chen's life, while Lin Chen only sneered and joked.
If he weren't his own blood, Lin Zhantian would have slapped him dead already.
"Father, Gu Qing is nothing but a hypocrite. Sister absolutely cannot marry him. I'm doing this for her happiness. You wouldn't want her to entrust her life to the wrong man, would you?"
Seeing his provocation fail, Lin Chen switched tactics, pressing his argument further.
"And what's wrong with Gu Qing?" Lin Zhantian snapped. "When you were being mocked, don't forget who stood up for you." His tone softened into earnest admonition. "You'd do well to put aside your hostility. Befriending him may bring you unimaginable benefits in the future."
Once, he thought Gu Qing was the perfect son-in-law—gifted, handsome, humble, childhood companion to Lin chuqing, and deeply affectionate toward her. He had also taken good care of Lin Chen, and marriage between them would only strengthen that bond.
But now, he felt Gu Qing was unworthy of his daughter. He too wished for the engagement to be broken, but that decision was no longer in his hands. Lin chuqing was beyond his control.
"Hmph. I don't care what you say. If you won't end it, I'll find my own way to dissolve the engagement," Lin Chen muttered coldly.
Lin Zhantian's face darkened. Unwilling to waste more words, he pulled out a radiant suit of armor, dragon shadows swirling across its surface.
"Put this on. Tomorrow, don't die."
It was the Flood Dragon Armor, a top-grade spiritual artifact gifted by Lin chuqing.
Though Lin Chen had no true qi to activate it, Lin Zhantian had infused it with his own. It could withstand even a strike from the Divine Sea Realm, enough to safeguard Lin Chen's life.
"Hiss…" Lin Chen's breath caught. "A top-grade spiritual artifact!"
"Father, you've had such a treasure all this time and never gave it to me sooner?" He hurried to put it on, overjoyed. This was a life-saving trump card, like gaining another life.
But suspicion stirred—how did his father obtain such a treasure? Not only was it top-grade, it housed a flood dragon spirit, making its defense several times greater and even providing offensive boosts. Even cultivators of the Purple Mansion or Profound Core Realm might not afford it.
"Father, be honest. Do you have more treasures hidden away? Show me everything."
Greed glinted in his eyes. If there was one, surely there was another.
"Impudent brat!" Lin Zhantian's face turned blacker, cursing as he stormed off. Any longer and he feared he'd lash out at this so-called filial son.
"Hehe… one day, I'll drain your coffers dry," Lin Chen chuckled slyly, caressing the armor with relish.
"Master, now that I have the Flood Dragon Armor, even if Gu Qing has some special constitution, he will not be my match."
To ensure absolute victory, his thoughts turned toward He Ni. If she would lend her aid, even a Divine Sea Realm cultivator like Gu Qing would perish.
But his master was too aloof—no persuasion seemed to work. Perhaps, though, she could at least help him wield the armor?
"I only passed down a sword art to you. I have not taken you as a disciple. From now on, do not call me master," He Ni's ethereal voice rang cold, like celestial music.
"Master, you taught me peerless sword arts, a grace as if reborn. In my heart, you will always be my master."
Her refusal dimmed his hopes.
As for her words forbidding him from calling her master, he ignored them completely. Surely this was just a test. He was confident he would be accepted as her disciple one day. After all, with only a fragment of her soul left, who else could she take?
"Grace as if reborn? Spare me. I can't afford a filial son like you," He Ni muttered to herself, too exasperated to continue.
Her resolve to abandon Lin Chen grew ever firmer.
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