Chapter 19 - Mountain Crushing finger

"Master, I need your help with Lin Bai. He's the former patriarch of the Lin family and a late-stage Golden Core cultivator. No one in the Chen family is strong enough to face him," Chen Yinyin requested. "Also, please take action against Grand Lingyun to warn him not to entertain any malicious thoughts toward the Chen family!"

Xie Ren nodded. "Alright."

Even if Chen Yinyin hadn't asked, he would have taken matters into his own hands. The Lin family had crossed him in the past, and it was time to settle the scores.

Chen Yinyin's face brightened at his agreement, and she eagerly stepped forward, motioning for him to follow. "Master, the Lin family's estate is just ahead!"

She pointed toward a grand building rising in the distance.

As they approached the Lin family estate, Xie Ren couldn't help but be struck by its size and grandeur.

The estate's white-tiled rooftops gleamed in the sun, while golden walls and ornate dragon towers adorned the premises. Large phoenix ponds dotted the grounds, their surfaces shimmering with the reflection of the bright sky. It was a place that spoke of wealth and power.

For someone like Xie Ren, who had spent years in a small grass hut, the sight of such richness stirred something deep within him, envy, frustration, or a sense of bitter irony.

With a swift flick of his finger, Xie Ren unleashed his Mountain Crushing Finger technique. A single, precise movement shattered the Lin family's grandest structures.

The once-proud buildings crumbled into dust, their ruins scattering in the wind.

A sudden, immense pressure filled the air. The Lin family's strongest member, Lin Bai, stepped forward, his late-stage Golden Core aura radiating in an attempt to assess the threat.

But before he could make a move, Xie Ren's overwhelming power crushed him into nothingness, his body reduced to mere blood mist in an instant.

The air fell silent, the destruction of the Lin family patriarch sending a chill through the grounds. Chen Yinyin watched in awe, her eyes wide at the speed and power Xie Ren had displayed.

"Yinyin, Lin Bai is dead. The rest is up to your Chen family," Xie Ren said, his voice calm as if nothing significant had just occurred. He turned away, already ready to move on.

Chen Yinyin's heart raced with gratitude and relief. She had feared this moment, but now, with Lin Bai gone, the path forward was clear. "Thank you, Master, for your help. My Chen family is deeply grateful!"

In Empyrean Cloud City, the Chen and Lin families were two of the three dominant powers. With the Lin family's Golden Core expert now dead, and the Profound Purity Sect keeping its distance, no one else in the city could rival the Chen family's power.

"No need for thanks. I'll go visit Profound Purity Sect," Xie Ren said, his tone indifferent as he set off toward the sect.

…

The journey to Profound Purity Sect didn't take long, and soon Xie Ren stood before its gates. He found an elderly man in a golden robe, along with a group of kneeling disciples, waiting for him.

"The old man, Lingyun, along with the people of Profound Purity Sect, respectfully greets Sect Master Xie!" the elder announced, It was clear that they had already heard about the Lin family's downfall.

Xie Ren didn't need any more words. With a simple gesture, he summoned his Mountain Crushing Finger technique, unleashing its immense power on the sect's martial arts arena.

In an instant, the once-proud structure was reduced to rubble. The ground trembled, dust and debris filling the air.

The display of force was enough to make any resistance seem futile. "People may not need to die, but they must be made to fear," Xie Ren thought to himself.

"Grand Lingyun, Chen Yinyin is now a disciple of my Taishan Sect," Xie Ren announced. "If Profound Purity Sect dares to cause trouble for the Chen family, you should already know the consequences without me having to say more."

Lingyun stood frozen, staring at the destroyed martial arts arena, and a shiver ran down his spine. The power Xie Ren wielded was far beyond anything he could challenge, even if he were a Nascent Soul cultivator.

In that moment, he realized just how strong the Taishan Sect had become, especially with Chen Yinyin as one of its disciples.

"Profound Purity Sect will follow Sect Master Xie's orders!" Lingyun agreed immediately. He had no choice but to accept the situation.

With no one left to oppose him, Xie Ren turned to Chen Yinyin, who had been quietly watching the scene unfold. "Yinyin, it's all settled here. Do you want to come back to the mountain with me, or stay here?"

Without a moment's hesitation, Chen Yinyin answered, "I'll go with Master!"

Xie Ren smiled slightly.

"Then let's go." He nodded to Lan Yue, who had been standing beside them, and the three of them began their journey back to the mountain.

As they walked, Xie Ren received a sudden notification from the system.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for killing the child of destiny, Lin Feng. You have earned luck points and obtained the Sovereign-grade skill, Phoenix Wing Slash!]

[Additional rewards: cultivation boost of +5]

Killing a child of destiny had actually boosted his cultivation. Xie Ren's heart soared with excitement. This was unexpected, and now he was eager to hunt down more "child of destiny" to increase his strength. This seemed like a potential shortcut to greater power.

As for the Phoenix Wing Slash, Xie Ren wasn't overly interested. A skill that focused on sharp, sweeping strikes didn't quite suit his fighting style.

The more significant issue was that, though he gained the cultivation after killing the child of destiny, he couldn't directly access their unique opportunities, which felt like a wasted potential.

Still, luck points were a valuable asset. He wasn't sure what they could buy, but the possibilities seemed endless.

Curious, Xie Ren asked the system to opened the system's store and scanned the available items

[Bottle of elixir: 1000 LP]

[Heaven Grade skill "Nascent Death Intent": 10,000 LP]

[Phoenix Wings: 20,000 LP]

[Death Arrow: 50,000 LP]