**Chapter 2: Lin Hong's Provocation, Cold Air Bursts Out!**

**Chapter 2: Lin Hong's Provocation, Cold Air Bursts Out!**

Lin Tian raised his eyebrows slightly and recognized the boy in front of him at a glance—it was Lin Shan's brother, Lin Hong. 

Lin Hong was the most outstanding junior in the Lin family, second only to Lin Xia. 

As the son of Lin Mang, who managed the family's finances and had access to more cultivation resources than Lin Xiao, Lin Hong—at just fifteen years of age—had already reached the sixth level of Body Tempering! 

Currently, Lin Tian was not his opponent. 

However, Lin Tian was not worried. He knew that Lin Xia should arrive soon to stop Lin Hong from taking action. 

Even if Lin Xia didn't make it, Lin Tian could take the Body Tempering Pill, temper his body during the encounter, and use Lin Hong's attacks to accelerate the refinement of the medicine and improve himself! 

In fact, the following events unfolded just as Lin Tian had expected. 

The two sides began with a verbal confrontation, and then Lin Hong attacked Lin Tian. 

However, after just one attack, Lin Xia arrived in time and prevented Lin Hong from continuing his assault.

Lin Hong received a few scoldings from Lin Xia and was about to leave with Lin Shan. 

As they passed by Lin Tian, Lin Hong paused slightly and whispered, just loud enough for Lin Tian to hear, "In the clan competition in six months, I will rank in the top three and then ask Grandpa for permission to get engaged to Qingtan, so take good care of her for me. This will be my future wife." 

"You have no chance, I promise!" Lin Tian replied with a faint smile, patting Lin Hong's head as if he were addressing a younger brother. 

Lin Tian understood that Lin Hong was deliberately trying to provoke him, and he wasn't about to give him the satisfaction. 

Moreover, Lin Tian felt confident that Lin Hong would not succeed, so he did not take his provocation seriously.

Lin Tian's demeanor infuriated Lin Hong, but he ultimately held back his anger and left quickly with Lin Shan.

After Lin Hong left, Lin Xia offered a few words of encouragement to Lin Tian before departing. 

Qingtan gazed at Lin Xia's slender back enviously and said, "Sister Lin Xia is so impressive. Even Lin Hong has to bow his head before her. I wish I could be as powerful as Sister Lin Xia." 

Lin Tian chuckled and replied, "Who told you to be lazy and not practice hard?" 

"Hehe, then I will practice more in the future," Qingtan said with a smile.

Lin Tian affectionately ruffled Qingtan's hair and smiled, "That's okay. Even if you don't have Sister Lin Xia's strength, you have me and your brother Lin Dong to protect you." 

"I don't want your protection. I want to work hard to practice and become stronger, so I can protect you, Brother Lin Dong, and my parents," Qingtan said, sticking out her pink tongue cutely. 

"Okay, then I'll look forward to you protecting me," Lin Tian laughed.

The two made their way back to their residence, chatting and laughing along the way.

Lin Changqiang trailed behind them for a distance but reluctantly turned back when he noticed the sky darkening.

Upon returning home, Lin Tian saw Lin Xiao, Liu Yan, and Lin Dong sitting around the dining table, already waiting for them. 

"Tian Er, Qingtan, you're back! Come and eat!" Liu Yan said gently upon seeing Lin Tian and Qingtan.

While speaking, she began to serve Lin Tian and Qingtan.

Lin Xiao sat in silence at the table, while Lin Dong blinked at them, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating.

Lin Tian quickly interjected, "Thank you, Third Aunt. I can serve myself."

Lin Tian's parents had died when he was six years old, and he had lived with Lin Xiao and his wife for ten years. 

They treated him as their own son, and in Lin Tian's heart, they were no different from real parents.

Now that he had awakened his past life memories, he cherished their relationship even more.

As Lin Tian dished out rice for everyone, Liu Yan looked at his thoughtfulness with great satisfaction. 

"Tian Er, did you fight with Brother Lin Shan again this afternoon?" After they finished dinner, Lin Xiao set down his bowl and chopsticks, speaking casually.

Upon hearing this, Qingtan couldn't help but tense up while Liu Yan shook her head, giving both of them a reproachful glance.

Qingtan timidly spoke up, "Dad, this started because of me..." 

Lin Xiao cast a discerning glance at both of them, his expression unchanged, and asked Lin Tian, "Tian Er, what level are you in Body Tempering now?"

Lin Tian replied, "I broke through to the fifth level of Body Tempering two days ago."

"Fifth level? Not bad!" Lin Xiao nodded slightly, a satisfied expression crossing his face. He then said with some regret, "If it weren't for my delays, Lin Hong wouldn't be your opponent."

Lin Tian hurriedly replied, "Third Uncle, don't say that. If it weren't for you and Aunt San, I would have faced difficulties in food and clothing, let alone cultivation." 

After all, cultivation requires resources!

Not wanting Lin Xiao to focus too much on him, Lin Tian shifted the topic, "By the way, Lin Dong seems to have broken through too."

"Oh?" Lin Xiao's attention piqued as he turned to Lin Dong with astonishment. "Show me your hand."

Lin Dong nodded silently and extended his hand.

Lin Xiao held Lin Dong's arm and flicked it gently, revealing unconcealed delight on his calm face. "The fourth level of Body Tempering?" 

"Yeah," Lin Dong nodded, looking a bit nervous.

He had been able to speed up his cultivation with the assistance of the stone talisman. 

But he didn't want to reveal its existence, fearing that exposing its secret might invite disaster!

"Haha, good!" 

After receiving confirmation, Lin Xiao laughed heartily, joy radiating from him. 

Due to a past incident, Lin Xiao always felt he had lost a genius to the Lin family and ruined the family's hope. 

Thus, he had longed to return a genius to the Lin family over the years. 

Lin Dong was naturally the genius Lin Xiao had most eagerly awaited! 

Now it seemed Lin Dong had not disappointed him.

Suddenly, Lin Xiao remembered something and asked, perplexed, "It seems you only got promoted to the third level of Body Tempering ten days ago? How could you advance so quickly?"

Lin Dong attributed his cultivation boost to the red ginseng he had consumed earlier. 

Liu Yan smiled, "I heard that some people possess innate talents that allow them to absorb spiritual medicines better than ordinary individuals. Perhaps Dong'er is one of them."

Initially skeptical, Lin Xiao's doubts were alleviated by Liu Yan's explanation, and he didn't ask any further questions as he retrieved another spiritual medicine.

"This... second-grade spiritual medicine, Jin Yuzhi?" Liu Yan gasped in surprise upon seeing the spiritual herb.

"Haha, I came across it in the mountains yesterday by chance. Liu Yan, I'll boil the Jin Yuzhi tomorrow and let Tian'er and Dong'er take it," Lin Xiao said with a broad smile.

However, his laughter was short-lived as his face paled, and he began to cough violently.

"Third Uncle (Father), I don't need it! You should use it to heal your wounds!" 

Lin Tian and Lin Dong exclaimed in unison upon noticing Lin Xiao's condition.

After some back-and-forth refusals, Lin Xiao eventually brought up the clan competition and insisted on letting Lin Tian and Lin Dong use the elixir before sending them off to rest.

As Lin Tian and the others walked out of the room, they could still hear Lin Xiao's hearty laughter echoing behind them.

Lin Tian gave Lin Dong a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Lin Dong, let's work hard. During the clan competition, we must strive for the top three and make Third Uncle proud!"

"Yeah," Lin Dong said, lightly clenching his fist and nodding resolutely.

At the same time, the system prompt sounded once more in Lin Tian's mind.

—

[Ding! You touched Lin Dong and gained incomparable enlightenment! Note: Those with incomparable enlightenment can easily understand and comprehend any martial arts!]

—

Upon hearing the system reward, Lin Tian felt a surge of happiness, but suddenly sensed a chill at his side. He quickly turned to look.

Qingtan's delicate face was pale, and a visible coldness seeped from her body, causing small ice chips to form on the ground nearby!

(End of this chapter)