10 Chapter 10: His First Kill

After handing the ring to the Patriarch he bowed and kowtow to the Patriarch before standing up. "Patriarch, I have paid my respect, I will be taking my leave now," Lin Wei called to the Patriarch, before turning his back to him and start going back to the stairs.

Lin Wei had already inspected the ring, using his spiritual sense to gauge its contents. It held a vast reservoir of spiritual energy, comparable to the ancient energy he had absorbed. Though such power would be highly coveted by kings and emperors, to Lin Wei, it was insignificant compared to his own capabilities. 'This spiritual energy must be the accumulation from my five years worth of cultivation,' he surmised.

Initially, Lin Wei had intended to contribute to the clan by enhancing the summit's array. However, considering the value of the ring, he deemed it sufficient repayment.

After handing over the ring, he bowed respectfully to the Patriarch before rising to his feet. "Patriarch, I have paid my respects. I will now take my leave," he announced, turning to descend the stairs.

As Lin Wei made his way towards the stairs, Fang Yulong's voice halted him in his tracks. "Wait," he called out, his tone commanding attention. Lin Wei turned back, his expression a mix of curiosity and caution but was still respectful.

Fang Yulong's smile remained serene, but there was a glint of something more in his eyes. "Yes, you do have something I want," he acknowledged, his voice soft yet insistent. "Can you give it to me?"

Lin Wei's brows furrowed slightly, but he nodded in affirmation. "If I have it, I will surely give it to the Patriarch," he replied, his tone respectful yet guarded. "May I ask what the Patriarch needs from me?"

Fang Yulong's smile widened, though it held a hint of something unsettling. He turned to his servant, his gaze lingering before returning to Lin Wei. "I want..." he began slowly, the gentle smile still playing on his lips, "your life."

As Fang Yulong's request hung in the air, Lin Wei face the Patriarch with a mixture of surprise and apprehension. "My life?" he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper, disbelief coloring his tone.

Fang Yulong's smile remained serene, belying the gravity of his words. "Yes, your life," he affirmed, his tone unwavering.

Lin Wei's brows furrowed, his mind racing to comprehend the sudden request. "Why would you want my life?" he blurted out, a hint of fear creeping into his voice despite his attempt to maintain composure.

Fang Yulong's smile widened ever so slightly, though it held an unsettling edge. "Let's just say, it's a matter of personal gain," he replied cryptically, his gaze unwavering.

Glancing at his servant, Yulong commanded, "Bai'er, handle this for me." He spoke with a chilling detachment, as if sentencing Lin Wei to death were no more significant than swatting a fly.

"Of course," Bai'er replied without hesitation. His eyes bore into Lin Wei with unmistakable malice as he slowly drew his saber. Instead of striking immediately, Bai'er advanced methodically, knowing that escape was futile for Lin Wei, given his realm at the peak of Master Stage, and his understanding of Fang Yulong's debauch behavior when dispatching his victims.

Fang Yulong mused to himself, 'I've checked his Realm; he's still at the junior or beginner level of the Martial Apprentice Stage. It's fortunate there were no mishaps, and he didn't throw the ring.' His thoughts continued, 'After all, before he acquired that ring, his cultivation had reached the peak of the Martial Disciple stage, on the verge of breaking through to the Martial Master Realm.'

If Lin Wei hadn't intentionally revealed his stage, Fang Yulong likely wouldn't have been able to discern it.

Glancing back at Lin Wei, Fang Yulong inquired, "Do you have any inkling as to why your Realm regressed to the Martial Apprentice level and remained stagnant for five years?" There was a twisted amusement in his tone, as if he were relishing the power play. Before Lin Wei could even respond, Yulong interjected, "Ah, but alas, the answer will remain a mystery. Ha!"

"Such a twisted personality," Lin Wei muttered under his breath. Observing Fang Yulong's actions, he discerned the sadistic pleasure the man derived from toying with his victims before inflicting harm.

Lin Wei's voice trembled with a mix of desperation and curiosity as he asked, "Why won't you tell me?" He made a calculated decision to play along with the Patriarch's manipulative behavior, hoping to extract more information by feigning subservience. If he could coax the Patriarch into letting his guard down, perhaps he would reveal more. And if all else failed, Lin Wei knew he could still resort to soul searching. However, if possible, he preferred not to use such drastic measures.

Lin Wei harbored a deep-seated desire to uncover the truth behind his father's demise, suspecting Fang Yulong might be the culprit. Simultaneously, he yearned to understand why his father had bestowed upon him such a mysterious parasitic ring. It occurred to him that since Fang Yulong understood the ring's use, he might also know why his father had given it to him.

"Hmph, there's no need for you to know," Fang Yulong declared, his playful expression turning to ice as satisfaction washed over him. "Little Bai, kill him," he commanded his servant, his tone cold and devoid of emotion.

The abrupt shift in Fang Yulong's demeanor added an eerie intensity to the scene. If Lin Wei were an ordinary apprentice, this day would undoubtedly mark his death anniversary.

"Yes," Bai'er affirmed, sensing his master's satisfaction, he surged forward, covering the remaining distance to Lin Wei in less than a second, the gap between them reduced to a mere meter.

In the blink of an eye, Little Bai appeared behind Lin Wei, his saber poised dangerously close to his neck. Anticipating Lin Wei's imminent demise, a cold smile crept across his lips, while Fang Yulong's expression remained stoic, though his anticipation mirrored his servant's.

With the strike poised to land, both Fang Yulong and Little Bai anticipated a gush of blood. Yet, as the saber descended, it met unexpected resistance, as though striking a solid wall of metal.

Hearing the metallic clang, reminiscent of metal striking metal, Fang Yulong's surprise flashed across his face as he turned his gaze towards Lin Wei. With a cold stare at his servant, he remarked, "Hmph, did you skip breakfast?" His tone dripped with disdain as he continued, "Exert more strength and finish him in one stroke."

Fang Yulong suspected his servant had held back, failing to inflict the intended harm on Lin Wei. After all, during those five years, Lin Wei had also cultivated a body-forging technique. Lin Wei surviving the servant's 'weakened' attack didn't surprise him much.

Sensing his master's displeasure, Bai'er snapped out of his surprise, his expression turning serious. He swiftly repositioned himself in front of Lin Wei, slashing at his neck with increased force, determined to execute the command with full vigor.

As Bai'er's second slash also failed, he cried out in disbelief, his voice tinged with surprise, "Impossible! How could you survive my full strength? Has your body reached the Grandmaster level?"

Lin Wei met the servant's gaze, then shifted his attention to the ugly expression that replaced Fang Yulong's cold demeanor. "Since you won't tell me," Lin Wei declared, his voice steady, "then I can only resort to extreme measures."

The tension in the air thickened as Lin Wei prepared to take decisive action, the stakes escalating with each passing moment.

Looking back at the servant before him, Lin Wei focused his will on the primordial energy stored in his Dantian. With a surge of concentration, he altered the aura of the primordial energy, harmonizing it with the surrounding energy. Then, channeling the primordial energy's pressure, he directed it towards the servant, unleashing its destructive force. In an instant, the servant was annihilated, his very essence consumed by the overwhelming power. Not even a drop of blood remained as evidence of his existence.

Meanwhile, witnessing Lin Wei effortlessly dispatch his servant sent shivers down Fang Yulong's spine. He hadn't anticipated that the seemingly insignificant Lin Wei possessed such formidable strength. Suppressing the fear bubbling within him, Fang Yulong locked eyes with Lin Wei and spoke, his voice devoid of any feelings, trying to make himself look stronger in Lin Wei's eyes. "Hmph, you've concealed your true strength quite well. Even I couldn't discern your true realm. You truly are an unparalleled genius, born only once in a thousand years," he acknowledged. Continuing, he ventured, "If I'm not mistaken, you must be at the same realm as me—the Martial King Realm. Am I correct?"

"But so what? Although I may not be able to fight you now, since I'm injured, I could still hold you off until reinforcements arrive," he said coldly to Lin Wei, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "You should know that the Fang Clan has several seniors at the Martial Emperor Realm. Those seniors have likely already sensed the spiritual fluctuation you've caused."

"Now, you have only two options," he continued, his smile turning even colder. "Either continue our conflict and meet your demise, or forsake any thoughts of retribution and sign a blood contract to serve the clan for the rest of your life?"

Despite the threats, Lin Wei remained calm, appearing lost in thought about Fang Yulong's mention of his unparalleled talent. If he was not mistaken, in about a week from now, the ring should reach its maximum capacity. After that, the Patriarch would harvest his 'crop' and likely dispose of him. However, by deciding to leave the clan before the ring reached its maximum capacity, Lin Wei had forced the Patriarch's hand. 'Too bad, an unexpected event occurred' Lin Wei thought, before returning to the present reality.

Seeing that Lin Wei appeared to have contemplated the options presented to him, Fang Yulong inquired, "So, have you decided?" His confidence surged, sensing that success was within his grasp.