16: I am the rule.

Smoke and dust filled the air, and shattered stones lay everywhere.

The once solemn and majestic Deliberation Hall, symbolizing the Lin Family's highest authority, had now been reduced to ruins.

The three Grand Elders stood amidst the rubble, their hair and beards disheveled, their robes covered in dust, looking utterly disheveled. They glared fixedly at the young man standing not far away, a brilliant smile still on his face, trembling with rage, their anger boiling!

Madman!

A complete and utter madman!

They had lived for over a hundred years and had never seen anyone act with such utter disregard for all taboos!

A disagreement, and he tore down the family's center of power?

Is this something a normal person would do?

"You... you...!" The Red-Robed Grand Elder pointed at Lin Chen, too furious to utter a complete sentence.

"What about me?" Lin Chen spread his hands innocently. "I just thought this place was an eyesore, so I helped the three ancestors tear it down and rebuild it. Oh, right, the rebuilding costs will be deducted from your offerings. After all, you all agreed just now that family resources are at my disposal."

"Pfft—!"

The Red-Robed Grand Elder was already injured, and Lin Chen's words infuriated her, causing her anger to rush to her heart, and she spat out another mouthful of blood!

Shameless!

Too shameless!

He tore down their place and still wanted to deduct their money?!

The White-Haired Grand Elder and the Blue-Robed Grand Elder also had ashen faces, their chests heaving violently.

They finally understood.

This young man before them was not a fierce tiger that could be restrained by the empty title of "Saint."

He was a true, lawless Demon Dragon who wanted to trample the entire world underfoot!

Any attempt to bind him with rules would only provoke his most violent and direct trampling!

"Good... very good!"

The White-Haired Grand Elder took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger and killing intent in her heart, and said in a hoarse voice, "As expected of my Lin Family's Saint, truly courageous! Since the old doesn't go, the new won't come, then from now on, family deliberations will be held in the Saint's courtyard!"

She, once again, chose to compromise.

Or rather, it was a strategic concession.

She knew very well that confronting this madman now would definitely not end well.

"That's more like it," Lin Chen nodded in satisfaction. "If you had been this obedient earlier, I wouldn't have wasted so much effort."

Having said that, he no longer paid attention to the three old women who were almost exploding with rage, and turned to Lin Zhan and Lin Ziyan, who were already dumbfounded beside him, saying, "Father, Ziyan, let's go back."

The group slowly departed amidst the complex gazes of awe, worship, and horror from countless clan members.

Leaving behind only a messy ruin and three Grand Elders whose faces were darker than the bottom of a pot.

"Big Sister! Are we just going to let this go?!" the Red-Robed Grand Elder asked unwillingly.

"If we don't let it go, what else can we do?" A deep trace of apprehension and helplessness flashed in the White-Haired Grand Elder's eyes. "This child has already come into his own; the strength of his physical body is astonishing! Unless the three of us join forces and risk mutual destruction, otherwise... we simply cannot do anything to him."

"Then... what about the Bai Family...?" the Blue-Robed Grand Elder said worriedly. "Wu Jun was crippled; the Wolf Clan Tribe will certainly not let it rest. If the Bai Family uses this to cause trouble..."

"Hmph!" The White-Haired Grand Elder snorted coldly, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in her eyes. "They wouldn't dare! Hasn't the Bai Family always coveted my son's Chaos Dao Body? Perfect! Let them come and see if the current Lin Chen is a bone they can chew!"

Although Lin Chen had angered her half to death, in external matters, she still maintained the clear-headedness expected of a superior.

No matter how much Lin Chen stirred things up, it was still an internal conflict of the Lin Family.

But the Bai Family was a real external threat!

She even had a faint thought of killing with a borrowed knife—using the Bai Family's hand to test Lin Chen's true depth!

...Back in his own courtyard.

This place had now become the new center of power for the Lin Family.

Lin Zhan still felt like he was dreaming. He looked at his son, his mouth opening and closing, then opening and closing again, finally dissolving into a bitter smile: "Chener, you... you're too reckless."

"Father, it's useless to reason with those self-righteous power-holders," Lin Chen smiled faintly. "You can only use the method they believe in most—power—to trample their pride and rules underfoot. Only then will they truly learn what respect is."

Lin Ziyan and Lin Xiaoya, who were beside him, both had sparkling beautiful eyes, and their gazes at Lin Chen were filled with an unshakeable adoration.

This was their man!

Dominant! Powerful! Fearless!

"Alright, let's not talk about these things anymore." Lin Chen waved his hand, looked at Lin Ziyan, and issued his first command after becoming the "Saint."

"Ziyan, you now command the Law Enforcement Team. Do three things."

"First, thoroughly investigate all internal family members who colluded with the Grand Elder Lin Cangyuan, habitually oppressed fellow clan members, and embezzled for personal gain. Every single one, without exception, must be taken down and severely punished!"

"Second, in my name as the Saint, issue new rules: All of my Lin Family's bloodline, regardless of gender, regardless of direct or collateral lineage, as long as they possess outstanding talent and make significant contributions, shall receive preferential family resources! Break those old, seniority-based conventions!"

"Third," Lin Chen paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, "send people to keep a close watch on every move of the Bai Family and the Wolf Clan Tribe. I want to see if they dare to come to my Lin Family and demand someone!"

The three commands, each more shocking than the last!

Internal cleansing! System reform! External deterrence!

How was this merely a Saint who "only needed to cultivate in peace"? This was clearly an iron-blooded monarch who intended to firmly control the entire Lin Family in his own hands!