Chapter 7

Under the scorching sun, Lin Xi stepped out of his residence, clearly feeling the strange gazes of the people around him.

"The six elders are gathering. After today, our Five Thunder Sect will no longer have a young master."

"Heh, who can argue with that? It doesn’t matter who becomes the young master. Anyone would be better than this waste of space."

"… It’s just that this kid isn’t up to the task. If he weren’t such a failure, the six elders wouldn’t have been able to depose him!"

"Without any real skills, he still wanted to be the young master. Who would tolerate him?"

"Heh, this is actually good news for us. Without a young master, anyone has a chance to become the young master!"

...

The disciples of the Five Thunder Sect watched Lin Xi, whispering among themselves. Most of these disciples were in deep cultivation, and only about four or five out of ten were usually seen on the mountain. But today, there were at least twice as many as usual. Even many disciples who had already left the mountain for training rushed back upon hearing the news.

With Lin Xi’s position as young master revoked, the succession of the Five Thunder Sect’s leader was immediately left vacant. This was a huge opportunity for many core disciples of the Five Thunder Sect.

"When the wall falls, everyone pushes; when the drum is broken, everyone beats it! This is human nature!"

Lin Xi heard these whispers and thought about the glory of the past eleven years. Comparing it to his current situation, he couldn’t help but feel the coldness of human relationships and the harshness of the world:

"In this world, only true strength can earn genuine respect!"

"I won’t argue with you now. In the future, you will realize the magnitude of your mistake!"

Lin Xi continued walking, heading towards the Grand Hall at the mountain’s peak.

On Mount Five Thunder, the disciples were clearly divided into groups based on the six elders. As Lin Xi passed by, some looked at him with pity, others with ridicule, and still others with schadenfreude. With several elders present, these people were somewhat restrained and did not openly confront Lin Xi. However, after the elder council, it was hard to say what would happen.

The six elders of the Five Thunder Sect did not all live on Mount Five Thunder. Two had established their own caves outside the mountain, one was responsible for the sect’s secular business, two guarded the mountain, and one was in deep cultivation in the mountains.

"The Fifth Elder has arrived!"

A loud voice echoed through the air. The great hall on the mountain rang with the sound of a bell. The crowd parted, and an old man in a green robe, walking with the grace of a dragon and the strength of a tiger, was escorted by a group of disciples, striding towards the mountain peak.

This old man had jet-black hair, a spirited appearance, and eyes that shot out electric sparks when he opened them, sharp and piercing like two daggers, making people feel a chill and unable to look directly at him.

His steps were heavy, and with each step, the ground within a radius trembled. It seemed as if a massive beast, rather than a person, was approaching.

"Pay respects to the Elder!"

Seeing this old man, the disciples on Mount Five Thunder immediately bowed their heads, their eyes filled with respect, and they bowed deeply.

"The Fifth Elder Wei Buping, a strong warrior at the Eighth Level of the Vajra Realm! He oversees all external business of the Five Thunder Sect and holds a very high position."

Lin Xi immediately recognized the old man.

As the young master of the Five Thunder Sect, he did not need to bow to any elder. Therefore, when everyone else bowed, Lin Xi, the young master, stood out prominently.

The Fifth Elder Wei Buping’s gaze flickered and immediately noticed Lin Xi. With a single step, he covered several yards, and in a few swift movements, he was right in front of Lin Xi.

Lin Xi felt a blur before his eyes, and a towering figure appeared. The immense pressure made it hard to breathe.

"Unambitious thing!"

Wei Buping stared at Lin Xi, his eyes cold and sharp, the chill in his gaze making one’s bones freeze:

"Indeed, like father, like son! —— Back then, your father abandoned the sect for a woman and died in the Beast Mountain Range. Now you, this wicked child, have caused a great disaster. Neither you nor your father are worth anything! The Five Thunder Sect is a large and prosperous sect, and it cannot tolerate you!"

Lin Xi’s body trembled, and a strong sense of anger and hatred surged within him. The fusion of memories did not mean acceptance of the heart, but the Fifth Elder successfully provoked Lin Xi’s murderous intent.

Regardless, insulting and trampling on the dead parents of a young man was something Lin Xi deeply despised and hated. Wei Buping successfully stirred up Lin Xi’s hatred.

"This old thing—must die!!"

Lin Xi thought with hatred. His fists clenched, making a crisp sound. However, after hesitating for a moment, he slowly relaxed them, forcibly suppressing his murderous intent.

From Wei Buping, Lin Xi sensed a deep-seated killing intent. Clearly, he was waiting for Lin Xi to lose control and attack. Lin Xi had the intention to kill this old man, but the gap in strength was enormous, an insurmountable chasm.

Lin Xi knew that if he acted rashly, it would be a path to certain death!

"A gentleman avenges a wrong, but not in haste. I will deal with this old thing eventually."

Lin Xi lowered his head, using it to hide the hatred in his eyes.

Seeing Lin Xi’s clenched fists slowly relax, a hint of disappointment appeared on Wei Buping’s face, as if his prey had escaped from under his feet.

"Wicked child!"

Wei Buping coldly snorted, waved his sleeve, and immediately left Lin Xi, striding towards the Grand Hall.

"Clang! ——"

Just as Wei Buping disappeared at the mountain peak, another loud bell rang:

"The Second Elder has arrived!"

"It’s him!"

Lin Xi’s expression changed, and his body trembled.

For the Second Elder Meng Jun, Lin Xi’s hatred was even greater than for Wei Buping. Lin Xi’s father could be said to have died directly because of this man. The gathering of the six elders to impeach Lin Xi was also directly orchestrated by Meng Jun.

Lin Xi’s current situation could be said to be entirely due to Meng Jun’s "efforts"!

"Quick, look! The Elder is here!"

Someone in the crowd, with keen eyes, pointed to a tall peak opposite Mount Five Thunder and called out.

"Roar! ——"

A fierce howl echoed, shaking the mountains. Sand and stones flew, and trees swayed on Mount Five Thunder, the momentum was astonishing. Even before anything was seen, a wave of ferocity, like a prehistoric beast, rushed through the air, enveloping the entire Mount Five Thunder.

The temperature on Mount Five Thunder suddenly plummeted, and a killing aura, like an ocean, enveloped all the disciples. The feeling was as if they were submerged in the vast ocean, their lives hanging by a thread, and they could be destroyed at any moment.

"It’s that ferocious beast!"

Someone in the crowd cried out in alarm, their eyes filled with panic.

Lin Xi stared at the opposite mountain, unmoving. On the opposite mountain, a series of continuous cracking sounds were heard as dense trees were broken, forming a path. A massive white tiger-like creature slowly emerged from the forest, and a figure could be seen on its back.

Swish!

The ferocious beast paused for a moment on the mountain, then leaped into the air, transforming into a bolt of lightning, and rushed towards Mount Five Thunder along the mountain path. The white shadow twisted, and in the blink of an eye, it had covered hundreds of yards and appeared at the foot of the mountain.

"It’s a tiger-hound!"

A name immediately popped into Lin Xi’s mind.

As it got closer, Lin Xi finally saw the true face of the ferocious beast. It was an extremely fierce monster, with long, black and white fur, somewhat similar to a white tiger but different. Its face was fierce, its body large, and its bones strong. Even when crouched, it was more than four feet taller than an adult.

In the presence of this massive creature, humans couldn’t help but feel their own insignificance. This was the tiger-hound, a legendary hybrid of the ancient ferocious beast and a tiger, with a copper skin and iron bones, and immense strength!

Meng Jun had once ventured deep into the Beast Mountain Range and accidentally captured a young tiger-hound. He brought it back and raised it to become this tiger-hound.

A fully grown tiger-hound was said to be able to match a martial artist at the Tenth Level of the Thunder Roar Realm. Meng Jun’s tiger-hound, while not as powerful, could still rival a martial artist at the Eighth Level of the Vajra Realm.

Meng Jun’s position within the sect was largely due to this tiger-hound!

"Pay respects to the Second Elder!"

The disciples bowed deeply, their bodies bending more than when they met the Fifth Elder Wei Buping.

A gust of wind swept through, and a man and a beast appeared on Mount Five Thunder.

"Rise!"

Meng Jun sat on the tiger-hound’s back, his gaze sweeping over the scene. His body was robust and powerful, and despite being over fifty, he was well-preserved. He exuded an aura of authority from his high position.

His gaze swept over the scene from a high vantage point. When he saw Lin Xi, his gaze paused, and he smiled coldly, then quickly moved on to other areas, subtly retracting his gaze as if he hadn’t seen anything.

"Ha! Elder Council, don’t block the way, move aside!"

Meng Jun suddenly roared, spurred the tiger-hound, and shot forward towards the mountain. Midway, he slightly veered and immediately charged towards the direction where Lin Xi was standing, as if he was using Lin Xi’s path to reach the mountain.

"Ah! ——"

The tiger-hound flew overhead, startling a group of Five Thunder Sect disciples, their faces turning pale. Before they could react, the ferocious beast had covered more than ten yards, heading towards Lin Xi in the crowd.

"Bad! This guy is going to attack me!"

Lin Xi felt a strong sense of danger.

Meng Jun’s cunning and ruthlessness were well-known, but Lin Xi hadn’t expected that he would dare to attack him in front of so many people.

At this moment, Lin Xi realized that he had underestimated Meng Jun’s determination to depose him. As long as he could eliminate Lin Xi, he would use any means necessary!

Lin Xi instantly understood his intentions. Meng Jun wanted to create an accident by using this method, making it seem like an accident and clearing himself of any responsibility!

"What a vicious old man!"

Lin Xi moved to dodge, but the tiger-hound’s speed was incredibly fast, and Meng Jun’s attack was sudden and deliberate. As soon as Lin Xi moved, a wave of ferocity from the prehistoric beast immediately enveloped him. In his field of vision, a massive, sharp claw rapidly grew larger.

The space where the claw passed was sliced open, emitting a sharp whistling sound. Lin Xi even felt a sense of terror, as if his body had already been cut by the ferocious beast.

"I can’t fight it! This monster’s strength is too great!"

Lin Xi felt his own strength was like a grain of sand in the vast ocean, insignificant and weak. This ferocious beast, comparable to a martial artist at the Vajra Realm, could crush a mountain. How much more so for him?

At the critical moment, with his life hanging by a thread, Lin Xi calmed down, completely abandoning the idea of fleeing, and his eyes shone with unprecedented clarity.

"Vicious old man, even if I die, I will make you pay!"

Lin Xi’s gaze was fixed on the Second Elder Meng Jun on the tiger-hound’s back.

Boom!

The tiger-hound’s massive claw struck down, the momentum earth-shattering. Within ten yards, the ground trembled. Just as Lin Xi was about to die under the ferocious beast’s claw, a sudden change occurred.

"Beast! ——"

A roar echoed, and the air exploded. A hand appeared above Lin Xi’s head, trembling and rapidly expanding. Initially, it was as white as jade, but in the blink of an eye, it transformed into a bronze giant hand, like a divine being, and struck the tiger-hound’s claw with immense force.

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