Lin Ke’er, known as one of the top ten beauties of the Tianxu Dynasty, appeared today, causing quite a stir, attending for the sake of her family.
Ye Chen stood at the edge of the square, smiling faintly as he saw a familiar figure. It hadn’t been long since he last saw Lin Ke’er, but she had grown even more enchanting, with an added subtle allure that attracted many men’s gazes.
Facing Lin Tian was another middle-aged man, more robust and tall, clad in thick combat armor, an Ancient Saint Level expert, who looked at Lin Tian coldly: "Lin Tian, the Space Gate belongs to the capable, not necessarily you or your family."
Lin Tian snorted coldly, and in his hand appeared a Proclamation Decree, bearing the distinct aura of the Tianxu royal family, surging with hidden power. He said icily, "Meng Ao, this is a decree granted by the Emperor to my Lin family. This year, it is to be handled by us. Does your Meng family intend to defy the Emperor’s decree?"
The Lin family was unworried, for the decree was personally issued by the Emperor, possessing almost the greatest authority in this dynasty, and no one dared to defy it; doing so would be tantamount to defying the entire Tianxu Dynasty.
"You have a decree, do you think I don’t have one?"
Meng Ao’s expression remained unchanged as he turned his broad palm, revealing another decree, equally golden and radiant, both decrees from the Emperor, causing a change of expression among all in the Lin family. What was happening?
No one doubted the Meng family faked it, for this was the Imperial City, and no one dared defy the Tianxu royal family.
Lin Tian shouted: "Impossible, the Emperor clearly granted it to my Lin family, how could it also be granted to your Meng family?"
"Lin Tian, today you will die convinced." Meng Ao smiled coldly, presenting it to the Royal Supreme Elder presiding at the stone platform with a respectful demeanor: "Supreme Elder, please inspect."
An elegantly dressed old man with a hunched posture reached out with a withered palm to take it, opening the decree, instantly releasing a surge of dazzling golden light, causing the Supreme Elder’s eyes to involuntarily squint.
The aura was identical to the decree Lin Tian held.
After a while, the Supreme Elder nodded indifferently, his ancient voice echoing across the Central Square: "Indeed, this is a decree of our Tianxu royal family, no mistake."
The words of the Supreme Elder seemed to plunge the entire Lin family into an abyss, incredulous.
Like a call from an abyss, Lin Tian, and indeed the entire Lin family, felt as if struck by lightning.
Even Lin Tian, who held power over millions of troops in the Empire, with a face hardened by countless battles, felt his heart sink.
His fists clenched so tightly they creaked, his entire demeanor radiating a gloomy aura.
This time, the Space Gate was of utmost importance to the Lin family. Besides the substantial income from the Space Gate, ever since the old ancestor, who was once a Great Marshal, passed away, the Lin family had begun its decline, going downhill.
These years, the Lin family’s influence in the military waned daily, the entire family steadily declining.
Lin Tian intended to use the Proclamation Decree granted by the Emperor, once held by his late ancestor, to take charge of the Space Gate and restore the Lin family’s prestige. Yet, on the day of taking over, they suffered an unexpected blow.
For the entire Lin family, this was an extremely severe blow.
The family members behind Lin Tian felt a deep despair, wondering if the Lin family was truly destined to decline.
"Father—" Lin Ke’er’s face turned pale, seeing the once unshakable and towering figure of her father, now appearing somewhat hunched, made her feel like crying.
Lin Tian suddenly raised his face, staring directly at Meng Ao, shouting: "Meng Ao, I cannot believe the Emperor would issue such a decree. Clearly, this time it was for our Lin family. How could it be allowed for you?"
Not only Lin Tian but others also wondered how the reigning Emperor could issue the same Proclamation Decree twice to two families, affecting his authority.
"Lin Tian, indeed, this decree was not issued by the Emperor, but was issued by the Supreme Emperor, almost without distinction." Meng Ao sneered coldly, revealing a startling truth.
Though the Supreme Emperor had retired, in the dynasty, unlike a secular monarchy where might makes right, the Supreme Emperor, of Saintly Treasure Absolute Peak Old Immortal level, rarely intervened, but when he did, even the reigning Emperor had to show due respect.
"Incidentally, my ancestor was once a comrade-in-arms with the Supreme Emperor in battles, sharing a life-and-death friendship, so..."
He chuckled meaningfully, leaving the implication clear.
The hearts of the Lin family sank entirely. Even the Supreme Emperor involved, leaving Lin family seemingly hopeless.
"Lin Tian, I advise you to retreat obediently. Now, my Meng family is not something your declining Lin family can compare to." Meng Ao spoke with the arrogance of a superior, completely disregarding the Lin family.
Lin Tian’s fists clenched tightly, for Meng family was truly overbearing, revealing a hidden anger on his stern face, even faintly releasing a potent Ancient Saint aura.
Yet Meng Ao did not falter, rather more importantly, an old man emerged behind him, whose aura was terrifying by far, erupting with Heroic Lord level might, completely suppressing Lin Tian, forcing him to retreat step by step as if struck by lightning, with a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
Lin Ke’er hurriedly cried out upon seeing this, rushing forward to support Lin Tian.
"Father, are you alright?" Lin Ke’er was on the verge of tears.
Lin Tian shook his head, but his face was very pale, filled with despondency and disappointment.
The Meng Family had such powerful figures, and their ancestor was closely linked with the Supreme Emperor, meaning the Lin Family was completely defeated.
He showed a bittersweet smile, shook his head at Lin Ke’er, and lovingly patted her on the head, "Ke’er, let’s go."
Lin Ke’er nodded, tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms in the rain.
Suddenly, a voice sounded as a handsome yet somewhat sinister young man walked out from beside Meng Ao. He appeared to be about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, bearing some resemblance to Meng Ao, clearly his son, named Meng Hua.
When he saw Lin Ke’er, his eyes immediately lit up, and he exclaimed with admiration, "Wow, what a beautiful young lady. I never expected that after a few years apart, Ke’er sister would grow more and more beautiful."
Lin Ke’er looked at him with disgust, turning away and leaving without a second thought.
However, Meng Hua did not retreat. On the contrary, he strode forward and shouted, "Ke’er sister, we grew up together. You don’t need to leave so quickly. Now I can offer your Lin Family an opportunity, a chance to rise again."
Though she knew Meng Hua’s words were ill-intentioned, Lin Ke’er couldn’t help but pause slightly, hesitantly asking, "What opportunity?"
Meng Hua chuckled, "Of course it’s a good opportunity. If Ke’er sister is willing to marry me, I can guarantee that the Lin Family will receive the Meng Family’s protection from now on, and with our families united, wouldn’t that be even more splendid?"
"Meng Hua, don’t even think about it!" Lin Ke’er refused fiercely, her lovely face becoming unpleasant. How could she want to be with him? Furthermore, if they really married, the entire Lin Family would just become subservient to the Meng Family.
Lin Tian naturally understood the stakes and could not agree.
But at this moment, Meng Hua directly lunged forward, extending a large, hairy hand towards Lin Ke’er’s well-developed bosom in broad daylight, an act of sheer shamelessness and vulgarity.
Lin Ke’er exclaimed, and Lin Tian could not tolerate someone defiling his precious daughter right in front of him. He snorted coldly and raised his hand to sweep across.
But Meng Ao also snorted coldly, grabbing Meng Hua back with a hand and slapping forward, clashing with Lin Tian, immediately causing an earth-shattering, frightening wave of shock.
Both men retreated several steps, though they both tried to suppress their power to the utmost. Yet, as two Ancient Saint Level experts of the Emperor Dynasties, neither were weak, and the solid stone slabs beneath them shattered horribly with each step they took back.
Ultimately, the ground beneath both of them was crushed into stone powder, rising and scattering in the wind.
"Lin Tian, truly drinking the penalty wine instead of the toast, daring to lay a hand on my son." Meng Ao snorted coldly.
Lin Tian did not back down in the slightest: "Meng Ao, your son dares to lay a hand on my daughter, yet he courts death. If he dares to touch my daughter again, I will have him die on the spot, believe it or not!"
Hearing Lin Tian’s harsh words, Meng Ao’s son was gripped with fear, and even Meng Ao appeared quite surprised. Over the years, though they opposed each other sharply, he had never seen Lin Tian make such ruthless remarks.
Evidently, Lin Ke’er was indeed Lin Tian’s bottom line, not to be touched.
Both being Great Generals of the Emperor Dynasties, although the Lin Family was gradually declining, a skinny camel is still bigger than a horse, not to mention the royal family strictly forbids internal killing.
Otherwise, once discovered, they would face severe punishment from the Emperor Dynasty.
Yet today, if he didn’t give the Lin Family a lesson, Meng Ao indeed could not swallow his anger, immediately responding coldly, "Such arrogance, Lin Tian. I won’t make a move on Ke’er, but if today I don’t teach the Lin Family a lesson, they’ll still think they are the old Lin Family. Clan elder, please, give them a lesson."
The clan elder nodded indifferently, stepping forward and sweeping out a palm. The Heroic Lord Level might came crushing down like an overwhelming sea, making everyone in the Lin Family change their expressions.
Lin Tian’s complexion turned pale. Although he knew it was difficult to take the next move, he still faced the danger of severe injury and actively stepped forward.
At that moment, the overwhelming momentum suddenly halted, and a faint voice echoed across the Central Square: "Meng Family, aren’t you a bit too much?"