Chapter 90: The Seven Fiends Dark Gold Crow
"Lin Dong?" Lin Langtian's eyes flickered as he looked over at the newcomer.
In the original timeline, Lin Dong had managed to reach the depths of the tomb long before Lin Langtian and Wang Yan, securing an early advantage. But now, it seemed he'd arrived much later than expected. Could this be due to Lin Langtian's "butterfly effect"?
While Lin Langtian pondered, a crowd of figures entered through the open bronze doors, led by none other than Wang Pan, along with Lin Ke'er and several others.
Upon seeing Lin Dong, Wang Pan's face lit up with a cold sneer. The group moved quickly to Wang Yan's side, muttering in his ear. Lin Langtian raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting back to Lin Dong. Could it be that Lin Dong, true to form as a protagonist, had somehow managed to offend the entire Wang Clan?
"You there—are you the one who stole a treasure belonging to our Wang Clan?" Wang Yan asked Lin Dong, his tone icy.
At this, Lin Dong scoffed, "That's quite a bold claim. This tomb is full of ownerless artifacts; when did they all suddenly become property of the Wang Clan? Are you saying that every person who's obtained something here should just hand it over to you?"
"Hmph, don't try to twist the facts! That mid-grade treasure was mine first, but you sneak-attacked me and snatched it!" Wang Pan retorted, glaring at Lin Dong.
Lin Dong didn't respond, only laughed coldly.
The tension caught everyone's attention, and they quickly realized that a dispute had arisen between Lin Dong and the Wang Clan. Many of the onlookers weren't overly concerned with how it had started; after all, the Wang Clan was known for its domineering ways, while Lin Dong was alone. Given Wang Pan's nature, there was no way he'd let Lin Dong off so easily.
"Wang Pan, stop lying! The treasure was Lin Dong's from the start. We were all witnesses, and your story is far from the truth!" A sudden, sharp voice rang out—Lin Ke'er.
Wang Pan's face darkened, and Wang Yan's brows furrowed slightly. They hadn't expected a member of the Lin Clan itself to side with Lin Dong.
"Langtian, what is the meaning of this?" Wang Yan asked, his expression stiffening.
"It's only a treasure," Lin Langtian replied mildly. "Since Lin Dong is part of the Lin Clan, I'd hope that you, Wang Yan, could let this matter go. There's no need to escalate things over a mid-grade treasure."
What had seemed like a life-or-death dilemma for Lin Dong was easily handled by Lin Langtian's status and authority. With a single word, he had the power to dispel Wang Yan's wrath. Wang Yan's posture faltered momentarily; if Lin Langtian was siding with Lin Dong, he had no choice but to relent. After all, Lin Langtian's family background was at least equal to his, while his personal strength far surpassed Wang Yan's own.
Left frustrated, Wang Pan turned to Wang Yan, whispering, "Lin Dong is only from a branch family; he doesn't truly belong to the Lin Clan!"
In the eyes of the Four Great Clans, only those of the main family were considered "true" members. Those from branch families, though related by blood, were often treated as little more than outsiders. Wang Pan's disdain was evident.
"Oh? Are you questioning me?" Lin Langtian's voice turned cold as he let his imposing energy flare, pressing heavily down upon Wang Pan. His mere aura was so strong it left Wang Pan nearly gasping for breath.
Seeing this, Wang Yan broke into a cold sweat. Somehow, Lin Langtian's strength had grown even more intimidating than before, and the gap between them continued to widen.
"Please, Langtian, there's no need for this! Clearly, this has all been a misunderstanding, and I'll have Wang Pan apologize immediately," Wang Yan said, his tone almost pleading. "Wang Pan, apologize to Master Langtian right now!"
Realizing he was in over his head, Wang Pan quickly wiped his brow and bowed to Lin Langtian. "Master Langtian, I spoke out of turn. That treasure rightfully belongs to Lin Dong."
Lin Langtian gave a curt nod and waved him away.
Lin Dong, meanwhile, was feeling a mix of emotions. Approaching Lin Langtian, he bowed in gratitude. "Thank you, Master Langtian."
Lin Langtian dismissed the gesture with a light laugh. "It's a trivial matter. As a Lin Clan elder, it's my duty to look after our people. Besides, I promised Old Master Lin that I'd watch over you. A mid-grade treasure is hardly worth going back on my word."
"No matter what, I'm grateful for your help," Lin Dong replied, sincerity evident in his expression. Then, after a moment's hesitation, he added, "Master Langtian, were you able to obtain the Extreme Fiendish Yin Dragon Saliva? I searched for it but couldn't find any trace."
Lin Langtian was momentarily taken aback but quickly realized that Lin Dong's late arrival had been due to his pursuit of the Yin Dragon Saliva. With a knowing look, he smiled and nodded. "Rest assured, I already have it. When we return, I'll make sure Qing Tan gets it to help ease her suffering."
Hearing this, Lin Dong's calm demeanor broke, a rare smile crossing his face. Bowing low, he said sincerely, "Thank you very much!"
Seeing Lin Dong's genuine gratitude, Lin Langtian realized the importance of family to him. "No need to thank me. Qing Tan's unique constitution is worth investing in, and it's my pleasure to foster good relations," he replied honestly. Lin Langtian preferred an open approach when dealing with someone like Lin Dong, knowing he would appreciate sincerity over pretense.
"You still haven't forgotten about our fight, have you?" A cool voice suddenly cut through the exchange. Lin Qingzhu's gaze was icy.
Lin Langtian gave a resigned smile and, under the confused stares of the crowd, followed Lin Qingzhu outside. They soon arrived at a quiet cliff's edge, away from prying eyes.
As they faced each other, Lin Langtian prepared himself, his Yuan power surging, ready to summon the Red Flame Howling Sky Spear. But before he could act, Lin Qingzhu surprised him by withdrawing a small, black-and-gold bird.
The bird was no larger than two inches, covered in intricate, mysterious feathers of black and gold. Its eyes, deep and dark, held a sinister quality, and a palpable aura of intense energy wrapped around its form. Despite its small size, its strange beauty was enchanting, likely to be a prized pet in any woman's eyes.
Though not obviously dangerous in appearance, Lin Langtian could feel an unmistakable power within its tiny body, one that even a Yuan Core expert would be cautious to underestimate.
"What... is this?" Lin Langtian asked, his tone laced with intrigue.
"It is the 'Seven Fiends Dark Gold Crow,'" Lin Qingzhu replied coldly.
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