For the first time in their lives, they felt the dark side of their clan.
And in the darkness, there were people like the Second Elder, swaggering! Yet, no one could stop his crimes!
Because he was the head of the Law Hall!
How could he judge himself?
The darkness within was truly despairing.
And just as the Lin family disciples were in despair, a figure appeared on the scene.
As the Second Elder was being arrogant, he suddenly saw this figure and broke out in a cold sweat.
He cursed inwardly, wondering what wind had blown this person here.
Then, he quickly realized that this must be the Fifth Elder reporting him.
However, on the surface, the Second Elder said with a slight bow, "Patriarch, why have you come?"
"Greetings, Patriarch!"
The Fifth Elder also said.
And from below the stage, shouts of "Greetings, Patriarch!" echoed.
A middle-aged figure appeared in mid-air.
Someone who could make the Second Elder, the Fifth Elder, and all the Lin family disciples below the stage address him like this.
This figure, this silhouette, this person, his identity was already very clear, about to be revealed!
This was precisely the Lin family patriarch, a powerful cultivator at the peak of the Dao Foundation realm!
It was said that he was only one step away from the False Core realm, and two steps away from the true Golden Core realm!
As the patriarch of one of the five great families in Liangcheng County, the Patriarch's strength was considered top-tier within the county!
His reputation was well-deserved.
This was evident from the fact that as soon as the Lin family patriarch appeared, both the Star Wheel Technique and the Azure Dragon Claw Profound Technique vanished without a trace, showcasing the Lin family patriarch's immense power.
And his prestige.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to make two elders bow their heads instantly.
Upon his arrival, the Lin family patriarch's gaze fell upon the Second Elder.
His eyes were cold.
"Second Elder, I have something I'd like you to explain."
He said coldly, "Even if it's family rules? I am the law... And Second Elder, I seem to have heard you utter these words just now. Explain to me, what exactly do you mean by that?"
"Family rules cannot control you?"
"Or does your command represent the rules, represent correctness?"
"Second Elder, you need to think carefully about what you say next!"
The Lin family patriarch's tone was cold.
And he indeed needed to be this cold!
Even if these family rules were unreliable and many people violated them, especially those of high status like the Second Elder who could disregard them as if they were nothing.
But at least, these were rules that were openly stated!
If they were to be violated, it should be done in secret, not openly, not in front of everyone, saying "I am the law"!
Wasn't this asking for trouble?
Wasn't this courting death?
The Lin family patriarch naturally could not tolerate such behavior, so he immediately reprimanded the Second Elder upon his arrival!
"I dare not! I dare not! Patriarch! I misspoke just now." The Second Elder said timidly and submissively.
"I was too angry just now. Seeing my son kneeling on the arena like that, I was so enraged that my mind went blank and I blurted out those words."
"Patriarch, what I said before was not true, it was just angry words, just angry words."
"Please don't take it seriously."
The Lin family patriarch and the Second Elder were not far apart in strength, and their status was only slightly different.
The two were theoretically on equal footing.
The Lin family patriarch was also merely angry before. If the Second Elder had resisted face-to-face, then the matter would have escalated.
But now, with the Second Elder admitting defeat and apologizing, the Lin family patriarch naturally could not escalate the matter and chose to let the Second Elder off the hook.
He gave the Second Elder some face.
Thus, the Lin family patriarch's reaction was like thunder but little rain. He only sternly reprimanded the Second Elder a few times on the surface, and the matter was concluded.
"It is good that you recognize your mistake," the Lin family patriarch said expressionlessly.
"The Fifth Elder is actually quite right. The outcome of the duel has already been decided, and it is clear that your son has lost. Since the outcome is decided and the stakes are set, why did you still make a move?"
"This is clearly interfering in the disputes between juniors, which clearly violates the rules and principles. You bully the weak, aren't you ashamed?"
"On the duel stage, there are naturally winners and losers. If you are not as skilled, losing to Lin Xuan is nothing. Who hasn't experienced failure? Is it necessary to become enraged and attack directly after losing?"
"Tell me, am I right?"
The Lin family patriarch said.
"You are right, everything you say is right."
The Second Elder replied directly.
"In the future, do not let me see this scene again."
"You are also forbidden to make a move against Lin Xuan."
"Understood?"
The Lin family patriarch's gaze fell upon the Second Elder.
This gaze made the Second Elder realize how much attention the Patriarch paid to Lin Xuan.
He could no longer make a move against Lin Xuan.
Otherwise, under any circumstances, making a move against Lin Xuan would attract the Patriarch's suspicion and displeasure.
At that time...
"This brat must be very important to the Patriarch."
The Second Elder concealed the trace of coldness in his eyes.
He suddenly thought that the Patriarch's protection of Lin Xuan was not just because if Lin Xuan were to be lost soon after the Patriarch had spoken, it would undermine the Patriarch's prestige within the Lin family.
It was also because Lin Xuan had already defeated Lin Yao, proving that he was even more talented than Lin Yao!
Lin Yao was already a spiritual body genius, and Lin Xuan, having cultivated for such a short period, had defeated Lin Yao. One could imagine how astonishing Lin Xuan's talent was.
Such a person absolutely could not be harmed or die in family strife.
Otherwise, it would not only be a loss of the Patriarch's prestige but also a loss for the entire Lin family.
When the Second Elder understood this, he was greatly alarmed.
What kind of monster, what kind of prodigy, had he unleashed?
If he had known this earlier, he should have eliminated Lin Xuan when he was still considered useless, and this disaster would have been avoided.
Dragging it out until now, this hidden danger could no longer be resolved!
The Second Elder felt intense regret, and his gaze towards Fang Ming was filled with endless killing intent, but he ultimately suppressed it.
Fang Ming calmly glanced at the Second Elder.
In his opinion, the Second Elder was no longer a threat.
If the Patriarch's protection towards him after defeating Lin Yang was not enough and still carried some risk, then now, he had easily defeated Lin Yao.
The current Lin family patriarch now believed that his value far surpassed Lin Yao's.
Defeating Lin Yao, the twenty-year-old spiritual body prodigy, at the age of fourteen, was unprecedented in the family's history. In the Patriarch's view, Lin Xuan had an eighty to ninety percent chance of forging a Dao Foundation in the future, making it almost a certainty.
Even reaching the peak of the Dao Foundation realm was highly probable.
Thus, he naturally had to protect Fang Ming, to the point where even the Second Elder could not harm him.
This was the Lin family patriarch's mindset.