The morning sun spilled over the courtyard walls, painting the stone ground in warm golden light. Lin Chen stood in the center of the practice area, his eyes closed, his breathing steady and deep.
After using the first Body Cleansing Pellet, his body had been thoroughly cleansed of impurities. Every meridian was wider and smoother, every muscle filled with suppressed, explosive power. Even without actively cultivating, the rich spiritual energy around him flowed into his body automatically, nourishing his dantian.
He could feel that he was already on the verge of breaking through to the late stage of the 3rd level of Qi Refining. For any other disciple, this kind of speed would be unthinkable, but for Lin Chen, it was just the beginning.
Just as he was about to circulate his spiritual power to continue his cultivation, the familiar cold mechanical voice rang in his mind.
[Ding! Daily sign-in refresh completed! Do you want to sign in now?]
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Lin Chen's mouth. He didn't hesitate for a second.
"Sign in."
[Ding! Sign-in successful! Congratulations to host for obtaining:
1. Cultivation Base Upgrade: 4th Level of Qi Refining!
2. High-Grade Earth-Rank Skill: Azure Dragon Thunder Fist!
3. Defensive Treasure: Spirit Shield Talisman x2!
4. Spirit Stones: 20,000!]
Boom!
An earth-shaking surge of spiritual power exploded inside Lin Chen's body. It was like a dam breaking, the violent energy rushing through his meridians without any resistance. His cultivation rose rapidly, breaking through the late stage and peak of the 3rd level, and stepped straight into the 4th level of Qi Refining!
In an instant, the aura around him skyrocketed. The air around him rippled, and the stones on the ground trembled slightly under the pressure of his power.
At the same time, a complete set of profound boxing technique memories flooded into his mind. Azure Dragon Thunder Fist, a genuine earth-rank skill, far more powerful than any technique the Lin Family had in their collection. Once fully unleashed, it could summon the power of thunder and the might of the azure dragon, crushing any enemy with a single blow.
Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing through them.
In just three days, he had gone from the 1st level to the 4th level of Qi Refining. This kind of speed was unprecedented in the entire history of the Lin Family. Even the most talented geniuses in the clan had taken years to reach this level.
But with the Supreme Sign-In System, Lin Chen had done it in three days.
He clenched his fists, feeling the surging power in his body. Even if he faced a peak 5th level Qi Refining warrior now, he had the confidence to defeat them.
And the Spirit Shield Talismans were a pleasant surprise. Each one could block a full-power attack from a 6th level Qi Refining expert. This was the perfect defense against Lin Kun, the 6th level elder who had been eyeing him.
Lin Yue's warning from the day before echoed in his mind. Lin Kun would not let him off easily for crippling his two nephews. It was only a matter of time before he came for revenge.
But Lin Chen was no longer the helpless boy he had been three days ago.
He was ready.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, the courtyard door was kicked open with a violent crash.
"Lin Chen! Get out here right now! You dare to offend Elder Lin Kun? You're dead meat!"
A harsh, arrogant roar came from outside, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps.
Lin Chen's eyes turned cold.
Speak of the devil.
He turned around calmly, and saw five men storming into the courtyard. The leader was a tall young man in a black inner courtyard robe, his face twisted with a sneer, his eyes blazing with malice.
This was Lin Tao, the personal disciple of Elder Lin Kun, and a peak 4th level Qi Refining expert. He was well-known in the inner courtyard for his cruelty and arrogance, and he had always been Lin Hao's right-hand man.
Behind him were four other inner courtyard disciples, all at the 3rd level of Qi Refining, their hands on their weapons, staring at Lin Chen with murderous intent.
Lin Tao stopped in the middle of the courtyard, spat on the ground, and glared at Lin Chen with disdain.
"You trash! You really think you're someone now just because you beat a few useless brats? You crippled Young Master Lin Hao and Lin Feng, and you dare to swagger around the inner courtyard? Do you have any idea who you're messing with?"
The disciples behind him laughed mockingly.
"He's just a lucky fool who got a little stronger! He doesn't know his place at all!"
"Elder Lin Kun is furious! He ordered us to take this trash back and break his limbs!"
"Kneel down now, trash! Maybe we'll let you die a little faster!"
Lin Chen stood still, his expression completely calm, as if he was looking at a group of barking dogs.
"Lin Kun sent you?" he said lightly.
Lin Tao sneered, crossing his arms. "That's right! Elder Lin Kun wants you to kneel in front of him and kowtow to apologize for what you did to his nephews. If you're smart, you'll come with us quietly. Otherwise, we'll break your legs and drag you there!"
He took a step forward, and the violent aura of a peak 4th level Qi Refining warrior burst out, pressing toward Lin Chen like a tidal wave.
In his eyes, Lin Chen was just a lucky outer courtyard trash who had just entered the inner courtyard. Even if he had some strength, he could never be a match for a peak 4th level expert like himself.
But what happened next would shatter all his expectations.
Lin Chen didn't even flinch under the pressure of his aura. He just looked at Lin Tao coldly, and said in a flat voice.
"Tell Lin Kun this: if he wants to apologize, he can come here himself. You're not qualified to make me move."
The courtyard fell silent for a second.
Then Lin Tao burst into furious laughter, his face twisted with rage.
"Hahaha! Did you hear that? This trash is talking crazy! You dare to insult Elder Lin Kun? I'll tear you apart right now!"
He roared, and his right hand shot out like a viper, his fist wrapped in thick yellow spiritual power, aiming straight for Lin Chen's dantian. He wanted to cripple Lin Chen with one blow, just like Lin Chen had done to Lin Feng.
The four disciples behind him grinned, already waiting to see Lin Chen fall to the ground screaming.
But at the moment the fist was about to land, Lin Chen moved.
He didn't dodge. Instead, he raised his right fist, and a faint blue thunder glow wrapped around his hand, accompanied by the low roar of a dragon.
Azure Dragon Thunder Fist!
Boom!
The two fists collided with a deafening crash.
A terrifying shockwave exploded outward, sending the four disciples behind Lin Tao flying backward, crashing into the courtyard wall.
Lin Tao let out a shrill, blood-curdling scream. He felt an unstoppable force of thunder and dragon might rush into his body, shattering his arm bones in an instant, tearing through his meridians, and destroying his dantian.
His entire body was sent flying more than twenty meters away, slamming into the stone wall at the end of the courtyard, leaving a huge human-shaped dent. He fell to the ground, spitting out blood, his eyes wide with terror and disbelief.
His arm was completely shattered, his dantian crippled, and his cultivation completely gone.
In just one punch, he, a peak 4th level Qi Refining expert, had been crippled by Lin Chen.
The four disciples who had been knocked to the ground stared at this scene, their faces pale as paper, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. They didn't even dare to breathe too loud.
This was not a lucky trash. This was a monster!
Lin Chen slowly lowered his fist, the thunder glow fading from his hand. He looked at the crippled Lin Tao on the ground, his voice cold and emotionless.
"I told you. You're not qualified."
He walked over to Lin Tao, and looked down at him indifferently.
"Go back to Lin Kun. Tell him if he wants to take revenge for his nephews, he can come to me himself. But if he comes, he'd better be ready to pay the price."
Lin Tao stared at Lin Chen in terror, unable to say a single word. He could only nod frantically, his eyes filled with despair.
Lin Chen waved his hand dismissively. "Take him and get out of my courtyard. And don't ever come back."
The four disciples scrambled to their feet, picked up the crippled Lin Tao, and fled the courtyard as fast as they could, as if the devil was chasing them.
The courtyard returned to calm.
[Ding! Host has defeated Lin Tao and established his prestige in the inner courtyard!]
[Reward issued: 15,000 Spirit Stones, and a complete set of 4th Level Qi Refining Cultivation Manual!]
Lin Chen smiled faintly.
Another reward.
He knew that this was just the beginning. Crippling Lin Tao would definitely make Lin Kun fly into a rage. The elder would come for him personally soon.
But Lin Chen was not afraid.
Every day, he grew stronger. Every sign-in gave him more power.
By the time Lin Kun came for him, he would be ready.
He turned around and walked back to the practice area, closing his eyes to stabilize his new cultivation base.
The sun rose higher in the sky, shining brightly over the Lin Family.
No one knew that the trash they had mocked for years was about to shake the entire clan to its core.
His path to the Immortal Emperor had only just begun.