The Prodigies War

Chapter 656: Price of Betrayal

After hearing Lin Xun’s resolute reply, Lin Tianlong internally crumbled, becoming akin to a lifeless husk as he blankly stared into space.

The fires of battle continued to spread as screams echoed across the area. More and more corpses appeared on the ground, the pools of blood appearing glaringly red due to the flashes of blade light.

It was an unpredictable tragedy, and it wasn’t over yet!

Lin Tianlong wasn’t dead and neither were Lin Nianshan and Lin Pingdu. Unlike Lin Tianlong, however, the latter two seemed to have already gone mad.

They had long lost their composure and were falling deeper and deeper into insanity with each scene of carnage they were forced to watch. They continuously charged at Lin Xun without any concern for their lives.

However, Lin Xun did not plan to kill them immediately and merely knocked them away each time.

“You’re heartless. Do you plan on making us helplessly watch you butcher all of our clansmen?” Lin Nianshan howled as his eyes bulged from their sockets.

“Kill me if you have the balls! Why don’t you dare to? Come on!” Lin Pingdu’s hair was messily scattered, and his expression twisted with madness.

Unfortunately, Lin Xun ignored everything they said. His indifferent and callous attitude made the duo nearly go crazy for real.

It was cruel torture that made them wish for the sweet release of death. However, they could only watch helplessly as the tragedy continued to play out, forced to witness each clansman fall into pools of their own blood with expressions of terror, powerlessness, and anger.

It was unbearable torture!

More than half of the people present had already been killed. Lin Xun’s clean and efficient killing method was akin to a whirlwind of death which crushed everyone’s spirits, causing them to be overwhelmed by fear.

When they tried to escape, however, they were horrified to discover that the surroundings were covered in a thick mist. Four mysterious stone pillars stood amidst the mist, completely sealing off the entire area.

The Four Coiling Dragon Pillars!

How could anyone present fail to recognize this treasure? It was the supreme treasure of the Flying Peak Lin Clan, which had been in the possession of Lin Pingdu’s father, Lin Feifeng.

However, Lin Feifeng had been killed by Lin Xun long ago, and the treasure had naturally fallen into his hands.

Everyone began to despair. Only now did they realize that Lin Xun had made ample preparations before he stepped into the West Creek Lin Clan and was not planning on letting any of them leave alive!

It was no wonder that the other clansmen had yet to appear despite the huge disturbance.

The entire area had already been sealed off!

Rumble!

The revelation felt like being struck by a thunderbolt. Lin Tianlong was originally still grasping onto a sliver of hope that their Old Ancestors might notice, rush over, and kill the evil-doer Lin Xun.

However, this hope died the moment he saw the Four Coiling Dragon Pillars.

Sorrow was sometimes greater than death!

Lin Tianlong’s current state of mind could be described as having lost all hope.

……

“You three are the only ones left.”

After an unknown amount of time, an indifferent voice sounded in Lin Tianlong’s ears, waking him from his dazed state like a peal of thunder.

He dazedly looked around only to find that he was surrounded by corpses and blood.

The only other survivors were Lin Nianshan and Lin Feifeng. Their hair was disheveled, their clothes were in tatters, their eyes were blank, and they were covered in mud and blood.

Lin Xun stood opposite them, his clothes still clean and pristine, and his expression still calm and indifferent. He looked like an untouchable existence and appeared very glaring amidst the bloody and messy scene.

“These…are your relatives…how could you…” Lin Tianlong finally managed to croak out, his hoarse voice filled with sorrow.

“Relatives?”

Iciness rose in Lin Xun’s black eyes. “I’ve never seen such despicable and shameless relatives. The moment you guys chose to betray the Lin Clan and become our enemies is the moment you guys became nothing but a group of traitors to me!”

“Hehe, for all of history, the victor always has the final say. You’ve won this time and I have nothing to say. Death of torture, do whatever you wish!”

Lin Tianlong’s expression had become somewhat desolate.

“The victor has the final say, huh?”

Lin Xun suddenly sighed and asked, “Do you think the Zuo Clan and Qin Clan will avenge you guys after they find out what happened today?”

Lin Tianlong was taken aback. Soon after, he answered without hesitation, “Of course!”

“Are you certain?” Lin Xun stared hard at him.

Lin Tianlong’s expression changed slightly as his eyes flickered in thought. In the end, he did not dare to meet Lin Xun’s eyes and turned his head to the side.

Lin Xun calmly said, “You already know the answer. The Zuo Clan and Qin Clan will not stand up for you guys!”

“Because I’m still alive and you guys are dead. Dead people have no value to these high clans, and it is impossible for them to offend me for your sakes!”

Lin Xun’s words were like a knife that viciously stabbed Lin Tianlong’s heart, causing him to tremble as his complexion turned deathly pale.

As someone who could become the West Creek Lin Clan Head, he was naturally no ordinary individual and knew that Lin Xun was right.

However, who would be able to calmly face such a cruel reality?

Lian Nianshan spoke up in a gloomy and powerless voice, “We’ve already lost. Must you still humiliate us?”

Lin Pingdu muttered with vacant eyes, “Give us a quick death.”

“You guys are wrong. I let you guys live not to humiliate and torture you.”

Lin Xun indifferently said, “I only wish to give your three clans one final chance.”

Chance?

Lin Tianlong and the others were stunned.

Lin Xun said, “You guys might deserve death, but do you want all of your clansmen to accompany you as well?”

These words made the hearts of Lin Tianlong and the others jump. They somehow regained some energy and sternly shouted, “What exactly do you want?”

They were not alone in this world and had wives, children, relatives, and clansmen that depended on them!

Lin Xun heartlessly killing off all of their family was something they absolutely did not wish to see.

“You’re asking me what I want?”

The calm in Lin Xun’s eyes was finally replaced by unconcealable rage. “If any of you could have thought about your other clansmen just once for the past three years, how could today’s events have happened!?”

His cold voice boomed like thunder. Lin Xun had finally snapped. How could personally killing off the traitors of his clan feel good?

Outsiders might view him as a ‘kin-killer,’ but which of them could imagine the pain he felt?

Lin Tianlong and the others could only tremble as their faces grew increasingly pale. In the end, they glumly lowered their heads, unable to speak.

After a long time, Lin Xun took a deep breath and calmly said, “Don’t worry. To me, those innocent clansmen are still a part of the Lin Clan. As long as they are willing to turn over a new leaf, there will be a place for them in Mind Cleansing Peak.”

Lin Tianlong and the others were stunned as if they were unable to believe what they had just heard. It was an outcome they would never have expected, not because it was terrible, but because it was too good!

“You guys might not believe me, but ever since I was given Mind Cleansing Peak, I’ve never had any interest in the so-called clan authority. In fact, I planned long ago to give up the Clan Leader position after I’ve resolved all the clan’s internal and external troubles.”

Lin Xun softly said, “I still have to avenge my parents, search for my teacher, and seek my own dao. I have neither the time nor effort to spare on managing a clan. Unfortunately…even if you guys knew about this, you would have never believed it.”

Lin Tianlong’s and the others’ expressions fluctuated indeterminately in silence.

Rumble!

With a wave of his sleeve, Lin Xun dispelled the Four Coiling Dragon Pillars, releasing the area from its lockdown.

“Tianlong! You guys…this…how did this happen…”

An elder immediately appeared. He was Lin Xixi, Lin Xun’s second granduncle and a Cyclic Derivation expert.

He had been alerted some time ago, but could only worriedly pace about outside as he was unable to break the restriction.

When he was finally able to see everything inside, Lin Xixi was stunned as if he had been struck by lightning as his eyes instantly turned blood-red.

The ground was covered in corpses and blood, making it appear like hell on earth!

“This was all done by you?” Lin Xixi fiercely stared at Lin Xun.

There was a crowd of other Lin Clan members behind him who were also in shock due to the bloody sight as their hands and feet turned cold.

How terrifying!

They could not accept what had happened.

“That’s right.”

Lin Xun calmly answered. He looked at Lin Xixi and said, “I am the Lin Clan Leader and have eliminated some traitors. Did I do anything wrong?”

“You…”

Lin Xixi trembled with anger, nearly shattering his teeth as he said, “How dare you kill your own clansmen and elders? You deserve death ten thousand times over!”

Rumble!

A dreadful aura spread from Lin Xixi, stirring up the wind and clouds. It was the pressure of a Cyclic Derivation expert. Once angered, he could burn mountains, boil the seas, and create inestimable disasters.

Lin Xun’s expression was calm and unafraid. However, Lin Tianlong’s expression changed drastically as he rushed forward to block Lin Xixi.

“Father, don’t!”

Lin Tianlong cried out, “It’s our fault and enough people have already died today! Please do not start it again!”

“You…” Lin Xixi was stunned. He never imagined that his own son would stop him!

Even Lin Xun was somewhat surprised, but he soon regained his calm. He knew that Lin Tianlong merely wanted to try and make some amends.

“Why?” Lin Xixi’s face was ashen.

“We made a mistake more than a dozen years ago. Everything that happened today has finally allowed me to understand that we…cannot keep making this same mistake!”

Lin Tianlong gasped for a while before he said in a strong and resolved voice, “Moreover, Lin Xun has already agreed to let off the innocent clan members and will even give them a chance to return to Mind Cleansing Peak.”

“Father, this is already the best outcome. I do not wish for us to continue killing each other, because it’s too painful…”

“I do not want the other clansmen to be implicated by me. If I allow it, I will be a great sinner who our ancestors will be ashamed of even if I die…”

Toward the end, the mighty Heaven Ascension expert and West Creek Lin Clan Head was crying rivers and on the verge of losing control of his emotions.

Lin Xixi’s expression changed along with the other West Creek clan members. They were stunned and unable to describe the emotions they were currently feeling.

In the distance, Lin Xun inwardly nodded as his expression softened slightly. Lin Tianlong had finally gained a sliver of acknowledgment from him.