97: Chapter 97 Breakthrough to the Third Rank!

The clamor and celebration at Zuixian Restaurant eventually came to an end. Lin Tian knew deep down that although he had won today, he had forged an irreconcilable blood feud with the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall, especially with Hall Master Lie Fentian.

With the death of Constable Lie Ming and the setback to the expansion of the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall, given Hall Master Lie Fentian's vindictive and ruthless nature, he would certainly not let the matter rest.

He himself had no fear, but his parents and young sister living in the Lin Family Mansion could become targets for the other party's retaliation.

After the celebratory banquet, Lin Tian did not return to the Lin Family Mansion, but instead accompanied his Revered Master, Hall Master Chen Qingfeng, back to the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall.

The next day, he arranged for his trusted clansmen to secretly bring his parents and sister to a secluded, quiet, independent courtyard within the martial arts hall, and earnestly requested his Revered Master to look after them.

Hall Master Chen Qingfeng naturally agreed and dispatched capable Disciples to guard them in secret.

With his worries behind him, Lin Tian immersed himself completely in Cultivation within the martial arts hall.

His goal was clear and urgent—a Breakthrough to Rank 3!

Only by possessing sufficient strength himself could he truly be fearless against any threat.

In the following days, Lin Tian lived a reclusive life, rarely stepping outside.

No longer satisfied with routine Cultivation, he decided to use the remaining third of the "red blood vermilion fruit."

This rare treasure of heaven and earth, with its vast and pure medicinal power, was the perfect aid for breaking through his Bottleneck.

He carefully ground the red blood vermilion fruit into powder. Each time his qi-blood reached a boiling point and he was at his Peak state during Cultivation, he would take a small amount with warm water and use the Perfection-level Five Elements Stance to refine it with all his might.

The red blood vermilion fruit lived up to its name; its medicinal power was a hundred times stronger than ordinary qi-blood powder.

Each time he consumed it, it was like igniting a miniature volcano within his body. Scorching and pure energy surged and washed through his limbs and bones, pushing his already robust qi-blood to climb toward even greater heights,

repeatedly hammering against that invisible, sturdy barrier leading to the Rank 3 Martial Artist Realm.

In addition to tempering his qi-blood and attacking the Bottleneck, Lin Tian also focused his Cultivation on the Fusion of the "Metal Element Fist," "Wood Element Fist," "Water Element Fist," and "Fire Element Fist."

Now that his four elemental fists had all reached Major Achievement or even Perfection, he understood the characteristics, operation, and conversion of the energy of each element like the back of his hand.

Under the careful guidance of his Revered Master, Hall Master Chen Qingfeng, he began to attempt to merge the four disparate, and even conflicting, energy types into one at the moment of throwing a punch, pursuing the supreme Fist Intent of "Four Elements Combined."

This process was difficult and obscure, requiring minute control over his own qi-blood and energy, and even more so, a profound understanding of the wondrous principles of the Five Elements' generation and restraint.

Fortunately, with the guidance of the incomplete "True Explanation of Five Elements Combined Strike" and his own superb Comprehension Ability, although his progress was slow, it was steady and solid.

Outside of his Cultivation, he did not forget to temper his "Fire Element Fist" and "Wind-Facing Slash."

After stepping into the "Proficiency" Realm, these two martial arts seemed to have opened up a new world; their power, versatility, and control were incomparable to when they were at "Minor Achievement."

He practiced them repeatedly every day, striving for Perfection.

Time passed rapidly amidst the boring, painful, yet rewarding hard training.

Half a month later.

Inside the quiet room, Lin Tian, who was sitting cross-legged, suddenly opened his eyes. Gold, cyan, blue, and crimson lights flashed alternately in his eyes before finally returning to a profound calmness.

He stood up slowly. There was no shocking Aura erupting from his body; instead, there was a sense of composure, like returning to simplicity.

The qi-blood flowing within his body was no longer surging like a river, but was like a deep pool—seemingly calm, but actually containing a more vast and profound power.

As the qi-blood circulated, it was perfect and unobstructed, reaching every minute corner of his body, with a faint, low, thunder-like rumbling sound emanating from within.

Rank 3 Martial Artist!

"Bright Energy" reached throughout his body, his qi-blood was condensed into one, nourishing his internal organs. Compared to Rank 2, the difference in strength was like heaven and earth!

He focused his mind: Name: Lin Tian; Cultivation: Rank 3 Martial Artist; Martial Arts: Fire Element Fist (Major Achievement 16/1000), Wind-Facing Slash (Major Achievement 9/1000).

Not only had his Cultivation successfully reached Rank 3, but his two main combat martial arts had also both stepped into the "Major Achievement" Realm through continuous hard training and the insights gained from the Breakthrough, as naturally as water flowing into a channel! His strength had skyrocketed!

Feeling the vastly different, overwhelming power within his body and the leap in his self-control, Lin Tian felt reassured.

Now, even if he encountered an old-school Rank 3 Martial Artist like Hall Master Lie Fentian face-to-face, he was confident that he had the power to fight, and even... defeat him!

However, he did not become complacent, nor was he in a hurry to leave his seclusion. Breaking through to Rank 3 was only the first step.

He continued to stay in the quiet room to stabilize his Realm while devoting more energy to the Cultivation of "Four Elements Combined."

Another half month passed.

In the open space of the small courtyard, Lin Tian slowly assumed his fighting stance. Without mobilizing too much qi-blood, he simply moved his mind. As the sharp energy of the opening move, "Metal Element Fist," rose, it turned like flowing water into the soft, resilient vitality of the "Wood Element Fist," then transformed into the penetrating flexibility of the "Water Element Fist," and finally returned to the violent heat of the "Fire Element Fist!"

The conversion of the four elemental energies was smooth, like floating clouds and flowing water, without any stagnation.

Suddenly, his eyes sharpened, and he threw a punch straight out!

The punch was silent, with no shocking phenomena. But where the fist wind pointed, a tough jujube tree, as thick as a bowl, located three zhang away, silently developed a fist-sized, transparent hole right through the center of its trunk!

The edges of the hole were as smooth as a mirror, with faint scorch marks, and fine cracks spreading all around, as if it had been simultaneously acted upon and instantly destroyed by extremely sharp, extremely flexible, and extremely scorching forces!

"Four Elements Combined... it's done."

Lin Tian withdrew his fist, his expression calm.

This punch, seemingly simple, had perfectly fused the four types of energy: Metal's sharp armor-piercing, Wood's soft, penetrating resilience, Water's flexible conduction, and Fire's violent destruction. Its power was restrained yet terrifying.

An ordinary Rank 3 Martial Artist, without a special body-protection Cultivation Technique or divine weapon and treasure armor, would be either dead or crippled if they took this punch head-on!

With this, Lin Tian had been in seclusion for a month, and his strength had undergone a complete transformation.

Just as Lin Tian was wholeheartedly Cultivating at the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall and his strength was advancing by leaps and bounds, beneath the surface of Heishan City, which was briefly calm due to the end of the fighting tournament, the undercurrents were becoming increasingly turbulent.

After suffering the crushing defeat in the tournament and the death of Constable Lie Ming, the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall was indeed silent for a few days at first, contracting its forces to lick its wounds.

However, less than ten days later, under the powerful suppression of Hall Master Lie Fentian, the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall began to operate again.

They seemed to have learned their lesson and were no longer in a hurry to confront both the Qingfeng and Baiyun Martial Arts Halls simultaneously. Instead, they turned their spearheads toward smaller families, chambers of commerce, and even some scattered Martial Artist groups with weaker strength and shallow backgrounds.

Coercion, bribery, division, annexation... various methods were used in turns. With absolute strength and the resources secretly provided by the Demonic Sect, the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall's "Little Martial Alliance" was expanding at a more covert and rapid speed.

Families and industries were constantly being annexed or controlled by them, and the flow of business and resources in Heishan City was being quietly changed.

People were becoming increasingly panicked, and many forces chose to submit or cooperate under high pressure. In a certain sense, the influence of the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall had penetrated more deeply into every corner of Heishan City.

At the same time, the tentacles of the Demonic Sect became more active. More and more signs indicated that experts of unknown identity and weird Auras had infiltrated Heishan City and were frequently in contact with the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall.

A larger-scale conspiracy targeting the entire Heishan City seemed to be in intense preparation.

Over Heishan City, dark clouds gathered; a storm was coming.

On this day, several figures with cold Auras, mysterious movements, and wearing various disguises blended into the bustling crowd of Heishan City, silent as a drop of water into the sea.

They dispersed and sneaked toward several specific areas in the city. Their movements were perfectly coordinated, and they were clearly well-trained.

However, as soon as they entered the city, their movements were firmly locked onto by several pairs of cold and sharp eyes hidden in the dark.

The news, like an invisible wave, was instantly transmitted back to the depths of the Jinyiwei Company Office.

In the quiet room, the candle flame flickered. Centurion Shen Lian put down the secret report in his hand and slowly stood up from the sandalwood chair.

He walked to the window with his hands behind his back, looking at the heavy night outside. In those eyes, deep as a cold pool, a cold light suddenly appeared, like a sword unsheathed, piercing the darkness.

"The fish have finally entered the net." Centurion Shen Lian's voice was calm, but it carried a heart-palpitating murderous intent. "It is time... to close the net."

Squad Leader Zhao, who was standing to the side, perked up. His single arm subconsciously tightened around his refined steel hook, and excitement and Battle Intent erupted in his eyes: "My Lord, when shall we make our move? Your subordinate will go and assemble the men right now!"

"No," Centurion Shen Lian slowly shook his head and turned around, his gaze falling on Squad Leader Zhao. "You first take the Ming Guard elites and, according to the established plan, blockade the key areas and strongholds where the Demonic Sect evildoers might have infiltrated, especially those places that have close dealings with the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall.

Once you discover the traces of the Demonic Sect evildoers, strike immediately and kill them without mercy! But remember, your primary task is to create chaos, attract attention, and force them to reveal themselves, rather than seeking complete victory."

"Yes!" Squad Leader Zhao accepted the order, but then asked with confusion, "My Lord, will you not take action yourself?"

"I have my own place to go." A cold light flashed in Centurion Shen Lian's eyes. "You go to the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall immediately, and then send someone to the Baiyun Martial Arts Hall. In my name, invite the two Hall Revered Masters, Hall Master Chen Qingfeng and Master Bai Song, to take their elite Disciples to the west of the city... to the former site of Tingtao Villa."

"Tingtao Villa?" Squad Leader Zhao was stunned. Wasn't that the place where last time...

"That's right." A cold arc appeared at the corner of Centurion Shen Lian's mouth. "The collusion between the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall and the Demonic Sect is confirmed by ironclad evidence. Today is the time to completely eradicate this tumor!

The two Hall Revered Masters hate evil as much as they hate a personal enemy and have long-standing grudges with the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall. They are duty-bound to clean up the house and defend the Righteous Path.

Tell them that at that time, their two martial arts halls will be the main force to deal with Hall Master Lie Fentian and the core cronies of the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall. As for the Demonic Sect experts hidden among them... the Imperial Guard will handle them."

Squad Leader Zhao suddenly realized that this was to use the strength of the two martial arts halls to frontally contain or even annihilate the effective strength of the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall, while the Imperial Guard would deal with the most difficult Demonic Sect evildoers. The division of labor was clear, and they would achieve victory in one battle!

He quickly cupped his hands: "This subordinate understands! I will go and do it right away!"

"Wait." Centurion Shen Lian called him back, pondered for a moment, and added: "When you get to the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall and see Lin Tian, ask him to stay behind for a while. I... have another important matter that requires him to handle it alone."

Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, Council Hall. It was brightly lit, and the atmosphere was solemn.

Hall Master Chen Qingfeng and Master Bai Song of the Baiyun Martial Arts Hall, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, read the secret order and the summary of evidence brought by Squad Leader Zhao, which bore the official seal of the Jinyiwei Centurion. Both of their expressions changed drastically, their eyes filled with shock and anger.

"Hall Master Lie Fentian! He... he actually colluded with the Demonic Sect?! And it has reached such a point!" Hall Master Chen Qingfeng slapped the tea table beside him, and the hardwood tea table was instantly covered with cracks.

Although he had suspected it for a long time, receiving the confirmed evidence from the Imperial Guard, especially seeing the proof regarding the Demonic Sect's Medicinal Pill, secret transactions, and the fact that the trap at Tingtao Villa was a conspiracy between Hall Master Lie Fentian and the Demonic Sect, he still felt a chill rise from the bottom of his heart.

"Colluding with the Demonic Sect, murdering imperial officials, poisoning the Martial Forest colleagues... This villain deserves to die ten thousand times!" Master Bai Song's face was also livid, and his thin body trembled slightly with anger.

Thinking of his Disciple Yun Tian being seriously injured by Constable Lie Ming, and thinking of the recent aggressiveness of the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall, it turned out that there was a shadow of the Demonic Sect behind it all!

"Two Hall Revered Masters, the Demonic Sect evildoers have already infiltrated the city. They are working from the inside and outside with the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall, and I fear there is a shocking conspiracy. Centurion Shen Lian has ordered you both to immediately assemble the elite of your martial arts halls and follow me to the former site of Tingtao Villa. The Liehuo Martial Arts Hall and its cronies will be left to you two to clean up the house! The Imperial Guard will handle the Demonic Sect evildoers themselves!" Squad Leader Zhao said solemnly.

Hall Master Chen Qingfeng and Master Bai Song looked at each other, both seeing the look of determination in the other's eyes. This matter was no longer a simple martial arts hall feud, but concerned the safety of Heishan City and the survival of the Righteous Path!

"Eliminating demons and defending the Dao is our duty!" Hall Master Chen Qingfeng said in a deep voice.

"The entire Baiyun Martial Arts Hall awaits your orders!" Master Bai Song also cupped his hands.

"Good! There is no time to lose. Please prepare quickly, and in the time it takes to burn one stick of incense, gather at the front of the martial arts hall to depart!" Squad Leader Zhao was swift and decisive.

The order was quickly transmitted. The two martial arts halls instantly entered a state of combat readiness. Elite Disciples were urgently summoned, weapons were drawn, and the air was filled with Killing Intent.

Just as Hall Master Chen Qingfeng and Master Bai Song were preparing to leave the Council Hall to assemble their men, Squad Leader Zhao suddenly turned to Lin Tian, who had been standing quietly behind Hall Master Chen Qingfeng with an Aura as deep as an abyss, and said: "Lin Tian, Centurion Shen Lian has another important matter that requires you to handle it alone, so stay behind for now."

Upon hearing this, Lin Tian raised an eyebrow slightly. Hall Master Chen Qingfeng and Master Bai Song also stopped and looked at Squad Leader Zhao with confusion.

"I wonder what instructions Centurion Shen Lian has?" Lin Tian stepped forward, cupped his hands, and asked with a calm expression.