The cold snort was sudden, but it instantly gave the other three a hint.
For someone to provoke such an attitude from Lin Mingzhao of the Fourth Branch, yet still be a stranger to them, it could only be Lin Yan—the very person whose name was on everyone’s lips today for causing the major clash between the Third and Fourth Branches.
"If this is your first time in the Spiritual Weapon Vault, come and get a copy of the Spiritual Weapon List." An old man sitting cross-legged in the very center of the plaza spoke slowly.
Lin Yan stepped forward, bowed in respect to the elder, and took the topmost booklet from a three-foot-high stack beside him.
On the booklet’s cover were three words written in ink: Spiritual Weapon List.
He opened it to the first page and read carefully.
[Spiritual Weapon General Outline]
[Spiritual Weapons are not forged from common iron. They are born from rare materials such as Meteor Metal, Cold Iron, and Melted Crystal, refined through countless hammer blows. They are supremely durable, capable of withstanding the infusion of Blood Gang from a Blood Exchange Realm powerhouse without sustaining damage. They are profoundly spiritual, able to connect with their wielder’s mind and act as an extension of their own body. Thus, a Spiritual Weapon can accompany a Martial Artist for a lifetime, growing stronger with each battle and more attuned with constant nurturing.]
Lin Yan’s expression didn’t change as he read this introduction to Spiritual Weapons. Brother Hai had already mentioned it to him before he came.
He turned to the second page.
Spiritual Weapon Record: [Hundred Slash Spear]
[Has had eighteen successive wielders and endured seven great calamities for the Lin Family.]
[Three hundred years ago, during the Great Upheaval in Qing State, its seventh wielder defended the north gate with this spear. He faced thirteen foes alone. The spear struck like a dragon as he cut down nine True Gang Realm powerhouses in a row, staining the gate red with blood and making his enemies’ hearts fail. In the century that followed, the spear accompanied its masters on numerous campaigns, slaying over a hundred enemies in total. Thus, it was named the "Hundred Slash."]
[Broken River Saber]
[Has had twenty-one successive wielders and has expanded the Lin Family’s territory on numerous occasions.]
[Five hundred years ago, when the Water Bandits of the East River ran rampant, its ninth wielder fought the three Bandit Leaders alone with this saber. The light of his blade flashed like a waterfall. With a single strike, he seemingly split the river itself, and the Bandit Leaders were slain. Their forces scattered, never again daring to take a single step across the East River. For this, the saber earned the name "Broken River."]
[Mountain-Suppressing Hammer]
[Red Gold Hundred Refinement Halberd]
Lin Yan flipped through the pages one by one, his gaze lingering on the descriptions of each Spiritual Weapon.
Every Spiritual Weapon was a piece of the Lin Family’s history.
This was more than just a list of weapons; it was an education in clan pride.
Even though he was from a branch family, reading the deeds of each Spiritual Weapon’s wielder made his heart race and his blood pump with excitement.
Of course, the feeling came as quickly as it went.
By the time he finished reading, Lin Yan had calmed down. He already had a weapon in mind.
"Finished reading?"
"Yes."
The elder’s gaze shifted to the caves. "Every member of our Lin Clan may choose a Spiritual Weapon from the Spiritual Weapon Vault. After they pass away, the weapon is returned here. Each one of these Spiritual Weapons is not merely a tool of war, but a vessel for the glory of our Lin Family ancestors. Whichever you choose, do not bring shame to its name."
"I will take your words to heart, Senior. I will not tarnish the glory of our ancestors."
"You are one of us, a member of the Lin Clan. You may simply call me Grand-uncle," the old man said with a warm smile. Lin Yan readily complied, calling out, "Grand-uncle."
"Go on. Once you’ve chosen a Spiritual Weapon, you may reach in and take it directly. But remember... you only have one chance. The moment you reach for it, the choice is final. There are no second chances."
"Thank you for the reminder, Grand-uncle."
Lin Yan nodded, set the booklet down, and walked toward the three cave openings. He gave a slight nod to the other young men as he passed them.
However, when he reached the slightly chubbier young man, the latter glared at him with undisguised hostility. "Lin Yan, don’t think you can soar to the heavens just because you defeated Lin Wang. Lin Wang is nothing but trash. And even though Brother Chuan and the others are confined at Reversed Lake, clan rules still allow them to participate in next year’s grand competition. Your good days are numbered."
Hearing this, Lin Yan stopped. "Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll be sure to enjoy my good days while they last."
PFFT!
Anyone who didn’t know about the grudge between the Third and Fourth Branches, or hadn’t heard Lin Mingzhao’s threat, would have mistaken Lin Yan’s earnest tone for genuine gratitude.
’This Lin Yan is more interesting than I thought.’
The other three exchanged a glance. They had expected Lin Yan to retort, perhaps even trade barbs and mock Lin Mingzhao, but they never imagined he would answer like that.
Seeing Lin Mingzhao’s face flush a deep, furious purple, it was clear he was choking on all the retorts he had prepared. A thoughtful expression appeared on the faces of the other three.
’Learned a new trick today.’
’I used to think Brother Minghai’s vicious tongue was devastating enough, but it looks like Lin Yan’s approach is even more lethal.’
’First Brother Minghai, and now this Lin Yan.’
’When it comes to verbal takedowns, the Third Branch’s power is skyrocketing.’
The reason they were enjoying the show was that they didn’t have a high opinion of the Fourth Branch either.
Every branch knew the truth about what had really happened seven years ago.
But considering the man in question was already dead—and that if Tenth Uncle’s betrayal of the family were officially confirmed, the Fourth Branch wouldn’t be able to hold their heads high for decades—everyone tacitly agreed to let the matter go for the sake of unity among the five branches.
Otherwise, how could Uncle Qi have escaped any form of punishment?
Uncle Qi’s self-confinement in the ancestral hall wasn’t a punishment handed down by the clan; it was his own decision. The Fourth Branch only brings it up to save face.
Of course, the three of them had their own selfish motives. When the Fourth and Third Branches were at odds, their own families stood to gain.
But there was a line, and what the Fourth Branch had done yesterday crossed it. Even they found the Fourth Branch’s behavior contemptible.

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