Forest Clan’s Crisis (Two)

In the past, facing the might of a First Layer Spirit Gate cultivator like Unbending Bear would have been an insurmountable challenge for Lin Huangfu. But now, empowered by the transformative gifts of Ming Ren, the Forest Clan Patriarch stood his ground, meeting the attack head-on with a surge of spiritual energy that rivaled his opponent's.

The clash of power sent shockwaves rippling through the air, forcing both combatants to stumble back. Peng Cai, the Red-Armored City Lord, and the assembled armies stared in stunned disbelief. The once unassuming Forest Clan Patriarch had just matched a Spirit Gate cultivator in a direct confrontation.

Unbending Bear, his pride wounded, ground his teeth in frustration. He hadn't unleashed his full power, but even a fraction of his strength should have been enough to overwhelm a mere Spirit Sea cultivator. Yet, Lin Huangfu stood defiant, his expression calm and unwavering, as if he had barely exerted himself.

"To think you possessed such strength..." Unbending Bear growled, his voice laced with a mixture of anger and begrudging respect. He thought he could just roll over the Forest Clan, but nothing had gone their way.

"I warned you that the Forest Clan was not to be trifled with," Lin Huangfu declared. The Heaven Grade cultivation law and arts coursing through his meridians had transformed him into a warrior capable of facing even First Layer Spirit Gate Cultivators. He would not back down, not even against the renowned Unbending Bear of the White Clan.

'How is this possible? Something is wrong,' Peng Cai's mind raced, recalculating his strategy. This was no longer a simple matter of seizing resources and territory. The Forest Clan had become a genuine threat, their strength exceeding his initial estimations. The prospect of losing more men than anticipated gnawed at him, and the realization that Lin Huangfu might even surpass him in power ignited a spark of greed and envy within his heart.

This was no longer just about resources; it was about his position as City Lord, his authority challenged by a clan he had once deemed insignificant. At that moment, greed and killing intent rose in his heart. Sensing the City Lord's malevolent intent, the Second Elder, Lin Pengfei, silently moved to position himself between Peng Cai and the Patriarch, his eyes vigilant and his body tensed, ready to intercept any treacherous attack.

Peng Cai gritted his teeth in frustration, recognizing the Second Elder's protective stance. Despite being at the Half-Step to the Spirit Gate Realm, his battle prowess wasn't much superior to the defeated Lin Huan. He had no confidence in facing the empowered Second Elder in direct combat.

Suddenly, Unbending Bear's laughter echoed across the battlefield, a harsh and mocking sound that shattered the tense silence. "Ha! It's true you are stronger than I thought. I wonder how you became that strong. However, for you to think you can match me, that is too early."

With a flourish, Bai Wei retrieved a pair of gleaming gloves from his spatial ring, their intricate designs and shimmering aura revealing them to be First Rank Middle-Grade Spirit Weapons. Lin Huangfu frowned, responding in kind by withdrawing a pair of wooden bracers, their earthy energy resonating with his own cultivation. These were the treasured artifacts of the Forest Clan, imbued with the power of nature and passed down through generations, who were also of the same rank.

Bai Wei's spiritual energy erupted around him, forming a swirling vortex of power that manifested as a ferocious bull, its image surrounded by a mystical gate adorned with ancient runes. The [Spirit Gate - Bull Strength] opened, amplifying his physical prowess and transforming his body into a hulking embodiment of raw power.

With a thunderous roar, he charged towards Lin Huangfu, his fists raised, ready to unleash the devastating [Bai Clan Art - One Hundred Fist].

"Patriarch!" the Forest Clan warriors cried out in alarm, their voices laced with concern for their leader.

Yet, Lin Huangfu stood his ground, his eyes blazing with unwavering determination. He channeled the full might of the [One With The Wood] cultivation law, the spiritual energy surging through his meridians like a raging river. His fist, encased within the protective embrace of the wooden bracers, met Unbending Bear's attack head-on. 

[Forest Clan Fist Art - Branch (Heaven Grade)]

The impact shook the very foundations of the earth, sending both cultivators reeling backward. This time, Lin Huangfu was thrown further, but he landed gracefully, his body unharmed. Unbending Bear had won the exchange, but his victory felt hollow, his mind struggling to comprehend what had just transpired.

He had unleashed an attack empowered by an open Spirit Gate, a force that should have shattered any Spirit Sea Realm cultivator. Yet, Lin Huangfu had not only withstood the blow but had countered with a strength that defied logic.

Lin Huangfu, despite the internal tremors from the clash of spiritual energies, stood tall, refusing to show any sign of weakness. The cheers of the Forest Clan erupted like a thunderous wave, their voices filled with pride and newfound confidence. Their Patriarch had proven himself capable of standing toe-to-toe with a Spirit Gate cultivator, a feat previously deemed impossible. The cheer from those of the Forest Clan was deafening, while the morale of the attackers plummeted. 

"How can this be?" Lin Huan's wife shrieked, her voice laced with desperation and disbelief. "This is madness! What trickery is this?"

Peng Cai and Bai Wei exchanged a look of consternation. Their carefully crafted plan had fallen apart, their underestimation of the Forest Clan's strength proving to be a costly mistake. They could no longer afford to press forward without risking significant losses, a prospect that threatened their reputations and authority. None of them were willing to risk losing their face over some arts, but neither were willing to back down either.

"Patriarch Lin, how brave of you!" Peng Cai bellowed, his voice laced with a mixture of anger and begrudging respect. "You possess strength, I'll grant you that. But this is still treason! Do you truly wish to condemn your entire clan to annihilation?"

But Lin Huangfu remained resolute. "Have we not already discussed this, City Lord?" he countered, his voice unwavering. "Return to your city and summon a mediator. The Forest Clan will present itself before the Overlord."

Peng Cai's eyes narrowed, his anger reaching a boiling point. Just as he was about to unleash his fury, Lin Huan, who had finished absorbing Spiritual Energy and recovering some of his injuries with pills, stepped forward, a plan forming in his treacherous mind. He sent a discreet message to his wife and Peng Cai, before charging back into the fray.

"Lin Huan, you dare!" Lin Pengfei roared, moving to intercept the traitor, but Peng Cai, seizing the opportunity, clashed against the Second Elder, preventing him from intervening. Lin Huan's wife also joined the assault, her movements swift and silent as she flanked the Patriarch. She was only at the Sixth layer of the Spirit Sea, but still a threat nonetheless. 

Their target wasn't Lin Pengfei, but the Patriarch, Lin Huangfu. 

Unbending Bear, his pride wounded, watched with a mixture of disdain and begrudging acceptance as the Forest Clan Patriarch faced a three-pronged attack. For a warrior of his stature, accepting assistance during a duel was unthinkable, yet the situation had changed. Retreating now would result in a significant loss of face, and the right side, as he saw it, was still the side of power and authority.

"Patriarch!" Lin Pengfei roared, his voice filled with concern as he struggled against Peng Cai's attacks.

Lin Huangfu found himself in a precarious position, forced to defend against both Unbending Bear's devastating strikes and the treacherous assaults of Lin Huan and his wife. He could block their attacks, but the combined pressure threatened to overwhelm him.

He braced himself, focusing his energy on deflecting Unbending Bear's blows, while utilizing his Qi to mitigate the damage from the flanking attacks. 

"Die, traitor!" Lin Huan snarled, his fist aimed at Lin Huangfu's back.

However, as his attack descended, an impending sense of doom washed over him. He instinctively halted his strike, raising his arms in a desperate attempt to shield himself, but it was too late.

Lin Dong emerged from the ranks of the Forest Clan army, his weaponized spine held high, his steps carrying the unstoppable momentum of an avalanche. The [Forest Clan's Club Art - Dancing Tree Smash] descended with devastating force, amplified by his perfect mastery of the technique and the Heaven Grade enhancements.

[Forest Clan's Club Art - Dancing Tree Smash (Heaven Grade), Perfect Accomplishment]

The spine, imbued with Lin Dong's surging spiritual energy, collided with Lin Huan's spirit weapon gloves, shattering them into fragments. The attack continued unabated, crushing Lin Huan's skull and ending his life in an instant.

"NO!" Lin Huan's wife screamed, her own attack faltering as she witnessed her husband's demise.

Before she could react, a gust of wind swept past her, and a beautiful young woman with flowing green hair materialized at her side. Lin Qiang, her movements as swift and silent as the wind itself, had already plunged her thin sword deep into the traitor's neck. Lin Huan's wife collapsed, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief, her life extinguished before she could even comprehend what had transpired.

Unbending Bear, startled by the sudden turn of events, leaped back instinctively. Lin Huan, a Peak Spirit Sea cultivator, had been slain in an instant. He realized that even with his Spirit Gate advantage, he was not invincible. The strange weapon wielded by Lin Dong possessed a power that could shatter even a middle-grade First Rank spirit weapon, and the speed and precision of the young woman's attack were unlike anything he had ever witnessed.

Lin Qiang gracefully withdrew her sword, now a prized First Rank weapon of the Forest Clan, her gaze cold and unwavering as she turned her attention towards the remaining enemies.

"Sister! No! What have you done?!" Peng Cai roared, his voice filled with a mixture of fury and fear. He hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. The Forest Clan had proven themselves to be far more formidable than he had anticipated.

"Qiang'er, East Elder," Lin Huangfu acknowledged, his voice calm despite the carnage that had just unfolded before him. He had no desire for unnecessary bloodshed, but these traitors had brought their fate upon themselves.

However, all thoughts of the dead vanished from his mind as he sensed the powerful auras emanating from Lin Dong and Lin Qiang

"Sixth Layer?!" His eyes widened in astonishment, threatening to pop from their sockets. 

Not only Lin Dong but also Lin Qiang had reached the Sixth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm!