Jiang Tianlin certainly did not believe Yan Beihang's words. Putting himself in the other's shoes, no one would ever agree to such terms.
Right at that moment, the System sounded off. Without needing to think, the System's multiple-choice prompts were back:
"Ding! A new mission has been issued. Please make your choice:
First, accept Yan Beihang's proposal. Reward: Divine Concealment Art.
Second, accept Yan Beihang's proposal, and demand compensation from Yan Beihang. Reward: Black Qilin Robe.
Third, ignore Yan Beihang's proposal. Reward: Universe Moyuan Sword Technique.
Fourth, disregard Yan Beihang and walk straight away. Reward: Random."
"Well, another set of choices? Four options this time."
Out of these four options, there was really no choice to make. Accepting Yan Beihang's proposal was best, but he also had to demand compensation.
"System, decided. I choose option two: accept the proposal and demand compensation."
"Very well, Your Majesty, I agree, but..." he deliberately left the sentence hanging.
"What other demands do you have? His Majesty can satisfy any of them for you!"
"Your Majesty, I want you to not only release my family, but also pay compensation!"
"Compensation? Right, compensation is only fitting."
Yan Beihang thought to himself: *So be it. Once I cultivate to the Ninth Layer of Dao-Entering Realm, it will be the Lin Family's day of reckoning. Let you temporarily store these things for now.*
He thought: *Once my adoptive father and adoptive brother return, along with treating the Old Ancestor's injuries, I'll have Xuesheng examine them all together. After that, I'll deal with you. Besides, I still have my secret weapon.*
Both men harbored their own hidden agendas, yet on the surface they appeared entirely amicable, playing the roles of a benevolent ruler and a filial subject.
"Come here," he beckoned to Yan Luoxue.
Yan Luoxue walked over.
All she had to do was follow exactly what Yan Beihang had taught her.
"I am now going to teach you the method to control the fiery poison—ah, it is the Lin Family's Zhuque Sacred Scripture. However, I cannot cultivate it myself, because only those with the Phoenix bloodline or members of the Lin Family are able to."
"Hiss!" Hearing this, Yan Beihang was dumbfounded.
This brat actually handed over his clan's foundational cultivation technique! What an absolute prodigy of a spendthrift, damn it. Still, this was for the best. Once Luoxue mastered it, he would completely annihilate the Lin Family.
"How is it, Luoxue?"
"It feels quite comfortable, it really works!"
Jiang Tianlin said, "Your Majesty, it's your turn!"
Yan Beihang replied, "Rest assured, a ruler never breaks his word! Release the prisoners! Bring up the spirit stones."
Before long, Lin Potian, Lin Yunxing, and Lin Junyang all arrived in the grand hall, accompanied by three chests of top-grade spirit stones.
*Tsk tsk tsk! This Emperor certainly has grand ambitions!* Jiang Tianlin sighed inwardly.
"Brother, little Lin, Lin'er, why are you here?"
"Hahahaha! Lin Junyang, that your injuries have stabilized is thanks entirely to me. As for the rest of you, I've released every single one."
"Yan Beihang, you're not kind-hearted enough to just let us go and compensate us with spirit stones, are you?"
"Lin Junyang, my decision to release you naturally had its reasons. Little friend Tianlin handed over your family's foundational cultivation technique, the Zhuque Sacred Scripture, which is why I let you go. To be completely fair, little friend Tianlin certainly knows how to read the situation!"
"..."
"Let's go. Being able to ensure your safety is already enough. Mother and sister are still waiting for you at home."
"..."
"Sigh! You win, Yan Beihang!" Lin Junyang sighed.
He cast a glance at Yang Shan, then departed along with Lin Junyang and the others.
"Imperial Father, why didn't we just kill them right now?"
"Hehe, my daughter, let's carefully study this cultivation technique first. If it proves viable, Father will practice it as well. In three months at most, Father will surely wipe out the Lin Family!"
"Mm, mm, I believe in Imperial Father!"
"Sigh, Lin'er, you are still too young. I know Yan Beihang; he will definitely cultivate the Zhuque Sacred Scripture. Given his talent, at most three months, or as little as one, my Lin Family is bound to be destroyed."
The other members of the Lin Family set down their bowls and chopsticks upon hearing these words.
"Old Ancestor, are you saying he will definitely cultivate the Zhuque Sacred Scripture?"
"Yes!"
"Hm, I'd actually be worried if he didn't practice it."
"??? Lin'er, what is the meaning of this?"
"It's nothing, everyone eat! If you trust me, in seven days there will be results."
"..."
Though they still didn't understand, matters had reached this stage, so what else could they do? Life had to go on.
In the blink of an eye, seven days had passed.
On this day, as Yan Beihang was cultivating, he suddenly felt an intense heat inside his body.
He found it strange; he had clearly already suppressed the fiery poison, so why was he burning up again?
Before he could figure it out, his spiritual power began to drain away, and his cultivation plummeted rapidly from the Eighth Layer of Dao-Entering Realm.
By the time he noticed, it was already beyond his control, and his cultivation had completely shattered.
He was now left with only the cultivation of the Second Layer of Dao-Entering Realm.
Thinking it must be a dream, he tried repeatedly over and over again, until he finally had to accept that he genuinely possessed only the Second Layer of Dao-Entering Realm. This meant all his previous efforts had gone completely down the drain.
He was on the verge of madness.
Right at that moment, someone arrived.
The person asked coldly, "Are you Yan Beihang?"
In a foul mood, Yan Beihang completely ignored him.
"No answer? Then I'll take that as consent." The man continuously gathered spiritual qi in his hands.
"Who are you?"
Instead of answering, the man simply kept gathering spiritual qi.
"Guards! Someone come quick!"
"You can save your breath. All your subordinates, including your daughter, have been killed by me."
"Luoxue? No, that's impossible! Who on earth are you?"
"Hehe, don't you recognize me anymore? It's me!"
"You... you are... weren't you already dead? How could you... I get it, it was Yang Shan who let you out of the Soul Prison."
"No, not him. It was the Prince of Northern Suppression's heir."
"Him?! Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
"Young Lord, please come and have a chat with him."
"You..."
"How are you doing, Yan Beihang! Thanks to the spirit stones you gifted our Lin Family, I am now at the Third Layer of Awakening Realm—though compared to you, there is still some gap."
"You..."
"As for Yang Shan, protect the Emperor! Guards, come protect the Emperor!"
"Yang Shan probably won't be coming."
"You, you all..."
"I'm going to kill you!"
At that critical moment, the man struck. With little suspense, Yan Beihang met his end.
"Congratulations to you, your deep hatred is finally avenged!"
"It is I who should thank you, Senior, as well as Head Steward Yang."
At that moment, Yang Shan slowly walked out and said, "I merely acted for the sake of all living beings under heaven. There are many ordinary people locked inside the Soul Prison, alas!"
"Head Steward Yang needn't dwell on it. From now on, just properly assist Yan Nanxing."
"I know what must be done. Furthermore, Ye Feng is also dead. These are his belongings." Yang Shan stepped forward and handed them over.
"I'll just take this necklace. The rest of the items belong entirely to you."
He thought to himself that this was probably the most disgraceful Son of Destiny ever, dying so cleanly.
"Young Lord, this..."
Jiang Tianlin had already walked away.