Chapter 87

The expressions on the faces of the Feng family and Dou family members changed, and they said with a sinister tone, "Kid, it looks like you'll have to pay a price for your words today!"

As they spoke, two people from the Feng family leaped out, one on each side, and fiercely lunged at Lin Zheng. Lin Zheng sat quietly in his chair, not even glancing at the two powerful gusts of wind rushing towards him. Then, *bang! bang!* Two consecutive sounds of bodies hitting the ground echoed. Lin Dao and Lin Qian had appeared in front of Lin Zheng, and they had sent Feng Yunxing and Feng Yuntao flying back.

Everything happened so quickly that the crowd had not even had time to react before the two were thrown out.

"You have a lot of nerve!" Feng Yunsheng and Feng Yunlei, who had come together, shouted and were about to rush forward.

"Cough, cough! Come back!" Feng Yunxing and Feng Yuntao, who had fallen to the ground, quickly stopped the two brothers. The four of them were evenly matched in cultivation. If those two could easily knock them down, then Feng Yunsheng and Feng Yunlei would definitely not be a match for them either.

Feng Yunxing stood up from the ground and said with a sinister look, "Kid, you will pay for your arrogance. Young Master Kong will be back soon, and I will wait for the day you die a miserable death! Let's go!" With that, they quickly left, without even saying goodbye to the Li family.

"You, what's your name, Qiu Shao? I advise you to get rid of the杂念 (extraneous thoughts) in your mind, so as not to bring an insurmountable disaster to the Dou family!" Lin Zheng sat in his chair, like a high and mighty emperor, his无形的气势 (intangible aura) tightly pressing on Dou Xuanyu.

"Good! Very good! It has been many years since anyone dared to threaten the Dou family! But I want to know what the head of the Li family means?" Dou Xuanyu stared at Lin Zheng intently, then shifted his gaze to Li Daoyuan. The jade pot in his hand was crushed into powder, which fell to the ground!

"Hehe, Qiu Shao, your question is inappropriate. Lin Zheng is already my Li family's son-in-law. Why do you have to ask such a question knowingly?" Li Daoyuan said with a light laugh, his eyes showing no ripples, as if he were talking about something very ordinary!

"Fine! Then I'll take my leave! The Dou family will visit in the future!" With that, Dou Xuanyu sucked the powder from the ground into his hand, stood up, and walked out of the hall.

"This Dou Xuanyu is not weak, and he seems to have cultivated some kind of supernatural power. That move just now is enough to show his extraordinary abilities. You must be careful in the future. Although the Dou family and the Feng family may not be as strong as the Bai family, they are almost on par with our Li family. In recent years, both families have had some extraordinary encounters, and each of their disciples has cultivated some extremely powerful supernatural powers. I wonder if there is a large force supporting them from behind!" Li Daoyuan said to Lin Zheng and the others after Dou Xuanyu left.

"Offending two major families at once, and I heard that the Zhao family also has some grudge against you. You will likely face many difficulties in Ze Shui City. I suggest you stay at the Li family for a while, and then directly return to Wu Shuang City. Nowadays, Ze Shui City is also gathering talents from all over. If they find out that you are representing Wu Shuang City, there will be unprecedented trouble. Some people will surely take advantage of this to create more problems!" Li Daoyuan thought for a moment and added.

"Alright, we have no other business in Ze Shui City anyway, but we still need to be cautious about the Feng family and the Dou family. I don't think this matter will end so easily. The Feng family and the Dou family are not the kind to swallow their anger!"

Then Li Daoyuan left, leaving Lin Zheng and his group sitting in the hall. After Li Ruoshui left for a while, she returned to the hall and told everyone about the Feng family and the Dou family. The information she had gathered made everyone's faces quite serious.

"From what you say, the Feng family and the Dou family are much stronger than the Tang family in Wu Shuang City?" Lin Zheng said thoughtfully.

"Yes, these two families are long-standing major families with deep roots. Cultivating their disciples is much easier for them. Moreover, there are many powerful old monsters in these two families! Now, with the support of unknown forces, they are even stronger than before!"

"The Seven Heroes Competition is getting closer, and many families, clans, and sects from the countries controlled by Ze Shui City will send people to participate. Among them, there will be countless talented martial artists. When these people arrive in Ze Shui City, they will definitely seek a patron to rely on, and these patrons will be the various families in Ze Shui City, such as the Li family, the Bai family, and of course, the Feng family and the Dou family. If these people join the Feng family and the Dou family, they will definitely cheer for them. Once the two families spread the word, countless people will flock to us, causing endless trouble. Even the independent cultivators without any sect will come, because the Feng family and the Dou family will offer them benefits they cannot resist. This is the advantage of major families!"

"For the time being, we should not separate and try to avoid going out. The Li family is currently the safest place for us."

After discussing for a while, everyone followed Li Ruoshui to tour the Li family estate. Lin Zheng and his group have experienced a lot, and they have gradually become more calm when facing these situations. Problems will always be solved, whether they are simple or complicated. Running away is not their style!

"What? You two were defeated in one move?" In the secret room of the Feng family, the stern head of the family, Feng Cangqiong, asked loudly.

"Yes, and the ones who acted were just two of Lin Zheng's brothers!" Feng Yunxing reported truthfully.

"Go and investigate the background of these people, and send someone to Wu Shuang City to gather information. Report back as soon as possible!" Feng Cangqiong's eyes flickered, as if he was thinking about something.

"Father! Why bother? For a few unknown troublemakers, why go to such lengths?" As he spoke, the door of the secret room opened, and a martial artist with a smile on his face walked in. He wore a white Daoist robe embroidered with silver wind dragons, as if they were about to struggle and fly out. This was actually a Daoist artifact robe! He sat down next to the head of the family, picked up a jade cup, and took a sip of water, then continued, "Now is the time of the Seven Heroes Competition, when heroes gather. Each time, the Feng family accepts many forces. If we spread the word..."

He did not finish his sentence, but everyone in the room understood. This was a plan to use others to do the dirty work!

"Feng Yunkong, you have returned at the right time, and your thinking is much deeper than that of your peers. Since you are back, this matter will be handled by you. Moreover, Li Ruoshui is the woman you have chosen! The Li family must be completely swallowed up, or our Feng family will always be the second in Ze Shui City!" Feng Cangqiong finally showed a smile when he saw Feng Yunkong.

"This is not so simple. I heard that Lin Zheng is representing Wu Shuang City in the Seven Heroes Competition. Now, the disciples of Wu Shuang City are all cultivating on Wu Shuang Peak, and Lin Zheng and his group have actually come to Ze Shui City. This must have the tacit approval of the old masters! Sending forces to join me is just a preliminary probe. I will personally handle the rest, and the Dou family is not easy to deal with either! I need to plan carefully!" Feng Yunkong said with a smile, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes!

"Ha ha, you decide how to handle it! I heard that this time, the Seven Heroes Competition will have important figures from the imperial capital. You must make our Feng family stand out!"

"Rest assured, this time I will surprise everyone!"

In the Dou family of Ze Shui City, Dou Xuanyu was sitting in the hall, discussing with the elders everything he had seen at the Li family. However, the current Dou Xuanyu showed no arrogance or conceit, only steadiness and calmness. The outward appearance was just a means to deceive others. How could the next head of the Dou family be so incompetent?

"Xiao'er, you said that Lin Zheng is very strong? You even used the phrase 'deep and unfathomable'?" An old man with white hair and a long beard spoke up. He was the Dou family's direct-line elder, Dou Poyue.

"Yes, even I had no confidence that I could definitely kill Lin Zheng at that time. I couldn't see through him, and I even had a feeling that he was invincible! Lin Zheng is very strong! I believe the information we gathered is true! Lin Zheng disgraced the Tang family in Wu Shuang City and caused such a big commotion but still remained unharmed, which already proves his ability!"

"Then what do you suggest, Xiao'er?"

"I heard that the Zhao family has a deep-seated grudge against Lin Zheng and his group. Why not let them probe the way for us? Moreover, the Zhao family has an old monster. If the Zhao family members die at Lin Zheng's hands, that old monster will definitely appear. At that time, we might not even need to act! Watching from the sidelines and using others to do the dirty work is better, isn't it?"

"Good! Do it your way, and Xiao'er, the hope of the family in the Seven Heroes Competition rests on your shoulders. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand. I will make Lin Zheng a stepping stone for me to shine before the Seven Heroes Competition!"

At the Li family in Ze Shui City, a guard respectfully reported to Li Daoyuan, "Head of the family! The head of the Zhao family is here to see you!"

"I didn't expect the Feng family and the Dou family to act so quickly. I wonder which family suggested the Zhao family to come. They wouldn't dare to cause trouble at the Li family without news of the old monster from the Zhao family!" Li Daoyuan muttered to himself.

"Alright, please bring him in. And go get Lin Gongye as well!" Li Daoyuan put down his book and said with a serious face.

"Yes!" The guard bowed and left. Soon, the head of the Zhao family came to Li Daoyuan's presence. Zhao Lao Da bowed to Li Daoyuan, without the usual restraint, as if he had a great deal of confidence.

Li Daoyuan, without lifting his eyes, asked, "Zhao Lao Da, why are you here today?" His tone was calm but carried a high and mighty air. He picked up his book again! This was the difference in status between a major family and a third-rate family!

"Head of the Li family, let's not beat around the bush. Lin Zheng killed my grandson and my brother. Now, I just want to seek justice!" Zhao Lao Da was straightforward, his face showing a ruthless expression!

"Oh? Lin Zheng is my Li family's son-in-law. Regardless of who is right or wrong, what if I just killed you?" Li Daoyuan said with a domineering and arrogant tone, still not putting down his book, and lifted his eyes to look at Zhao Lao Da! He was clearly showing his disdain, and what could Zhao Lao Da do?

"I know the head of the Li family looks down on us small fry, but small fry can also turn the tide. Our Zhao family's old ancestor will be out of seclusion in a few days. You can't protect the entire Li family all the time, can you? If I were in charge of such a large family, I couldn't protect everyone either!"

"Hehe, are you threatening me?" Li Daoyuan's eyes narrowed, and a cold killing intent emanated from him! He didn't mind killing Zhao Lao Da on the spot!

"Hum! Do as you please, Head of the Li family. I just want a fair duel with Lin Zheng!" Zhao Lao Da gritted his teeth, resisting Li Daoyuan's killing intent. The gap between them was too great, but thinking of the people behind him, Zhao Lao Da's confidence returned!

"Alright! How do you want to duel?" Before Li Daoyuan could speak, a loud voice came from outside the door, and Lin Zheng and his group slowly walked in!

The plans of the Feng and Dou families were set in motion, and the Zhao family was pushed to the forefront. An inevitable duel was about to take place! How would Lin Zheng and his group face it? What waves would be stirred up in Ze Shui City?

PS: Third update! Still a ten-thousand-word update! Thanks to Mo Ye's recommendation! Thanks to all the readers for your support! I will definitely work hard! Please give me more red tickets! If you haven't added me to your favorites, please do so! This is a great encouragement for me! Thank you!