As this was happening, some people began to worry about Lin Xuan. These were the disciples from the collateral branches who had no backing—the key point being collateral branch disciples without backing.
Lin Yao was arrogant and often his subordinates would bully collateral branch disciples without backing. For example, Lin Yang, who was crippled by Lin Xuan, had been extorting benefits in the Salary Hall. This made those who had been bullied hate Lin Yao deeply. Thus, feeling empathetic, they hoped Lin Xuan would win, though in their eyes, this hope was minuscule, almost impossible.
At this moment, a young man in blue leaped onto the stage. It was Fang Ming.
Simultaneously, it was Lin Xuan.
The Undying True Soul of a Celestial Lord, though it had lost its ability to interfere with the outside world and the physical body, still possessed great power.
In the ancient past, Lin Xuan, the Celestial Lord who was defeated by the Seven Great Celestial Lords, had undergone countless cycles of reincarnation. This was one of his reincarnated lives, and he should not have awakened. However, due to the memory of an outsider, he had revived.
Even with the restrictions of the netherworld, the former Celestial Lord, who had touched the realm of immortality, increasingly influenced Fang Ming's soul.
Whether it was Fang Ming or Lin Xuan, as memories merged, much had been altered, and many habits had changed.
Fang Ming looked at Lin Yao and sneered, "Lin Yao! You scumbag! Was it satisfying to send people to chase and kill me? Too bad I didn't die in the Taihang Mountains as you wished, but lived to this day!"
He channeled his mystic energy, his voice carrying for hundreds of meters.
All the clan members of the Lin family present could hear his words clearly.
This caused them to discuss amongst themselves.
"What? Lin Yao chased and killed Lin Xuan, wanting to put him to death?"
"Is this true or false? Did Lin Xuan fabricate it to frame Lin Yao, or did it really happen?"
"Does this even need to be asked? Think about their personalities, and you'll know who is telling the truth and who is lying."
"This brother speaks wisely. Isn't it easy to discern the truth and falsehood? Lin Xuan stormed the Salary Hall, purged Lin Yao's forces there, and deeply offended Lin Yao. Lin Yao would surely retaliate."
"Given his personality, retaliation is not strange. Not retaliating would be truly strange."
"No... are you all so sure it was Lin Yao who sent people to chase him?"
"With Lin Xuan's talent, second only to a spiritual body, how could Lin Yao dare to cripple a top mortal body genius? Even if his father is the Second Elder, he would face punishment according to family rules."
"That's why he sent pursuers instead of acting himself... What, you say that's like covering one's ears while stealing a bell? Heh, then you truly don't understand politics!"
"Alas, some people today never understand that even an age-old stratagem can be used precisely because it is so old and has stood the test of time, allowing it to be passed down for millennia..."
Below the stage, many people were discussing.
Among them were collateral branch disciples, and some were direct lineage disciples.
Lin Yao, one of the involved parties, turned red with anger. He could not tolerate Lin Xuan's public accusation and roared, "Lin Xuan, you're slandering me! I never did such a thing!"
Hearing the crowd's discussion, he became flustered and quickly clarified, all while hating Lin Xuan even more.
"What evidence do you have to prove I did this? Show it!"
"Without evidence, it's false accusation! Do you understand the crime of false accusation?"
"Produce the evidence!"
Lin Yao's frantic shouting and his expression of intense hatred seemed to reveal everything.
Fang Ming coldly glanced at the clown and said nothing. He directly addressed the Fifth Elder, "Fifth Elder, Lin Yao's subordinates have been bullying me for years. The main culprit is clearly Lin Yao himself, who instigated it. Now, he has even sent people to kill me."
Fang Ming bowed to the Fifth Elder presiding over the arena.
His words revealed his attitude towards Lin Yao.
In fact, Fang Ming did not harbor such deep hatred for Lin Yao. After all, he was merely a transmigrator, and his identification with the original body was not yet profound.
However, due to the influence of the will within his body, Fang Ming had developed a hatred for Lin Yao.
At this moment, he was also enraged by this emotion.
"Lin Yao has bullied me so much. If this revenge is not taken, I swear I am not human!"
"I, this junior, dare to challenge Lin Yao to a life-and-death duel to settle our grievances completely and turn him into a dead man!"
A flicker of resentment flashed across Fang Ming's face.
This malevolent intent was sensed by some disciples below the stage, who wondered how much Lin Xuan had been bullied by Lin Yao to harbor such deep hatred.
A hatred that almost made him want to kill him instantly!
However, recalling Lin Xuan's experiences within the family for several years, it seemed reasonable and very plausible to possess such hatred.
"This request... Can't this be... resolved?"
The Fifth Elder frowned. Both were geniuses of the Lin family, and the death of either would be a loss to the Lin family. No, this life-and-death duel absolutely could not be agreed to.
He coughed and said, "Although life-and-death duels are a long-standing rule of the Lin family, Lin family disciples value harmony above all else..."
"This..."
Just as the Fifth Elder was racking his brain for a reason to stop this duel, Lin Yao, upon hearing Lin Xuan's challenge to a life-and-death duel, immediately jumped out and disdainfully said, "This is utterly absurd! You, a cripple, who has only had a minor encounter and risen by luck, dare to want to fight me?"
"Are you worthy?"
"You are not worthy of fighting me at all!"
"However... since you have so graciously invited me."
"Then I, this lord, will have a life-and-death duel with you, to let you feel true despair and die miserably!" Lin Yao took several steps, leaping onto the stage.
He also wanted to kill Lin Xuan completely, and a life-and-death duel suited his intentions.
Although he had said earlier that Lin Xuan was not worthy of fighting him.
He naturally would not give up this opportunity to kill Lin Xuan.
Therefore, his tone immediately changed, and he rushed onto the stage.
On the stage, the two faced each other, their eyes filled with hatred, and they were about to fight.
"Wait..."
The Fifth Elder could not think of a suitable reason to stop them, but with his strength at the Dao Foundation realm, he naturally thought of using force to intervene.
He quickly flicked his fingers, unleashing a top-grade mortal-tier profound technique, separating the two.
The power of the Dao Foundation realm was immense. Even though Lin Yao was at the seventh level of Vein Condensation, practicing both body and law, and possessed superior cultivation techniques, he was unable to resist across such a large realm and was forced back.