Chapter 35: Are you out of your mind?

At this moment, Tianhe City was no longer merely a border town; it had transformed into a grand metropolis, a convergence point for the elite of the human race.

Royal families, noble clans, and influential organizations from distant lands had followed the footsteps of the various kingdoms’ top-tier martial academies, all gathering here in Tianhe City.

Lin Zhengyang’s words were heard clearly by countless noble houses. In that instant, a deluge of astonishment, confusion, bewilderment, and shock erupted among the crowd.

"The Lin family... they actually have another descendant?"

Among them, Xiao Chen, the Prince of the Northern Frontier, was the most stunned. He remembered every word Lin Zhengyang had ever uttered: the Lin family had only one heir, known as Lin Tianjiao.

Ignoring every gaze directed at him, Lin Zhengyang stared silently at Lin Yin. This strange atmosphere fueled endless speculation among the onlookers.

"Could this be a scam? After all, every kingdom’s royal academy is fighting over a student with Level 9 martial talent."

"Could it be that the Martial King Lin is about to claim this is his long-lost child? Hah! Just because they share a surname?"

"It shouldn't be someone from the Martial King’s estate. Martial King Lin has never mentioned having any other children."

"Indeed, Lin Tianjiao has long been recognized as the undisputed heir of the Lin family."

"But Lin Yin possesses Level 9 martial talent! Could he have such potential without a powerful bloodline?"

"That’s the truth of it! No wonder he has Level 9 talent—he’s from the Martial King’s estate. Tsk, tsk. Who said that 'kings and nobles are not born with special status'? The children of the elite remain unreachable to commoners."

"Sigh, I thought having Lin Tianjiao, who reached the Bone Condensation Realm at seventeen, was already monstrous enough for the Lin family. I didn't expect there to be someone even more terrifying."

"I suspect Martial King Lin deliberately kept him hidden. Think about it: if you possessed a treasure that the whole world craved, wouldn't you hide it?"

"That actually makes sense!"

"But given the Martial King’s status and strength, would anyone even dare to try and take or destroy it?"

"True. 'The innocent man is guilty of his own treasure,' but is the Martial King just an ordinary man? If he is, then he must be one of the most formidable in the entire human race."

Finally, Xia Changsheng could no longer contain himself and stepped forward. "Martial King Lin, what is the meaning of all this?"

In truth, Xia Changsheng was excited. If Lin Yin were truly from the Imperial Capital’s Lin family, he would surely remain within the Great Xia Kingdom.

"Indeed, Martial King. Hasn’t the Lin family always had only one descendant, Lin Tianjiao?"

"Yes, please, Martial King Lin, enlighten us."

Faced with the mounting curiosity of the various clans, Lin Zhengyang remained impassive, his gaze fixed solely on Lin Yin. He hoped that Lin Yin would see the error of his ways and return to the Martial King’s estate. If he returned, Lin Zhengyang was even considering whether it was time to strip Lin Tianjiao of his status as heir.

"Brother Zhengyang." The Prince of the Northern Frontier, Xiao Chen, accompanied by Xiao Ruoyu, walked up to the Great Sun Qilin Beast. "What is going on? Who exactly is the heir of the Lin family?"

Lin Zhengyang could not answer the question and remained silent. However, his aura as a Martial King began to spread invisibly!

Waves of blood-red mist dispersed, billowing into the sky, making Lin Zhengyang appear as powerful and mysterious as a demon king standing atop a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

Gradually, all the questioning voices faded away. Anyone with eyes could see that the Martial King was displeased. Throughout the world, excluding those from Jixia and the Royal Court, who dared to not show the current Martial King some measure of respect?

Consequently, Xia Changsheng fell silent; the royal academies fell silent; and the countless students and parents fell silent as well. Across the vast and desolate Great Wall, only the blood-tinged gale howled, as if reflecting the turmoil within the Martial King’s heart.

"Come home."

Lin Zhengyang’s hoarse voice finally shattered the long silence.

The two words—"come home"—sounded like the helpless plea of an elderly father to a rebellious son. At least, that was how it sounded to the ears of the many parents present. Even the representatives of the royal academies wore thoughtful expressions.

*Come home? He’s calling his son home, isn’t he?*

It seemed there was no mistake; Lin Yin was truly the son of Martial King Lin Zhengyang. If that were the case, there was a high probability that Lin Yin would stay in the Great Xia Kingdom.

Xia Changsheng of the Great Han Dynasty cast a look of envy, jealousy, and resentment toward them.

The fierce wind whipped Lin Yin’s black hair across his face. Standing with his back to Lin Zhengyang and facing Old Jiang, he suddenly offered a gentle smile.

Old Jiang was slightly taken aback, not quite understanding the meaning behind Lin Yin’s smile.

But the next second, Lin Yin made it clear.

Lin Yin turned around, his eyes shooting forth a sharp, piercing light. He violently ripped open his upper garment, revealing a scarred body and a horrific, deep blade wound that spanned from his chest to his abdomen!

"Lin Zhengyang, I have already carved out my flesh to repay you—is that still not enough!?"

Lin Yin laughed toward the heavens, unrestrained, reckless, and without a care for the consequences. He snatched up a steel blade.

"Hahahaha! Home? What home? When have I, Lin Yin, ever had a home? I have never had one, and now, I do not covet one either!"

"Since you are like a ghost that refuses to be exorcised, always believing that because you gave birth to this body, you have the right to control my life..."

"Then today, I shall no longer bother with calculations or weights. I will return this body to you completely!"

"Lin Zhengyang, take your flesh and blood and go back to your home!"

As the words fell, the blade in Lin Yin’s hand struck his own body without a second of hesitation.

"No!"

"Stop!"

The members of the royal academies were jolted by a sudden shock. The King of Great Han rushed forward in a panic, attempting to intercept Lin Yin. Old Jiang, trembling uncontrollably, screamed "You fool!" as he lunged toward his disciple.

*Squelch!*

The steel blade tore into his flesh, carving out a massive chunk that fell to the ground, staining the eyes of countless onlookers with blood.

"Stop! Stop it! Have you lost your mind!?" The King of Great Han finally grabbed Lin Yin’s hand, only to find with horror that the boy’s strength had not diminished in the slightest. As if he could not feel the pain, he still attempted to swing the blade at himself!

"You’ve gone mad! You’re insane!" The other royal academies rushed to Lin Yin’s side, scrambling over one another to snatch the blade from his grip.

Old Jiang looked at Lin Yin’s mangled torso, nearly breaking down in tears. He turned, his eyes bloodshot, and roared at the stunned Lin Zhengyang: "Get out! Get out!"

"Your Lin family abandoned Yin'er when he was a child, only to turn around and produce your heir, Lin Tianjiao."

"It was only after Yin'er turned fifteen that he was brought to the Martial King’s estate. But what kind of life did he lead there? He didn't even have a room to shelter him from the wind and rain or a place to sleep! Every day, he was forced to kneel before you, the Martial King, to recite the family laws and endure the lash! Three years—three whole years!"

"Now that my disciple has finally weathered the storm, your Lin family comes clinging back. Do you think that just because you gave birth to him, you can beat him and curse him, and he will just follow your lead?"

"Lin Zhengyang, get out of my sight right now! Get out!!!"

Decades ago, when he was driven out by Jixia, Old Jiang had merely smiled it off. Years ago, when his daughter-in-law sacrificed herself, Old Jiang had only spent a night in silence. Even days ago, when he learned he had been poisoned for years, Old Jiang had remained calm.

But today, seeing Lin Yin mutilate himself to sever their ties, Old Jiang was enraged.

His white hair danced wildly, and his aura surged unceasingly. Even the towering Great Wall trembled under the pressure of the Great Demon King of Jixia. Countless martial artists and students felt a suffocating, abyssal dread.

It was as if the white-haired man, with his dancing locks, were a terrifying demon king crawled out from the depths of the abyss.