Chapter 103: Crystal Accumulation (Delayed again, sorry)

  Lin Heng beheaded and killed three powerful invaders, and also seriously injured one person. The news spread quickly.

  Qili Gou, everyone's eyebrows are flying with excitement, and they are eagerly passing on the news. As for Lin Yang's display of power, they all feel a sense of pride. Most of them know that Lin Yang has already entered the third rank, and they have personally witnessed him kill three late-stage Tianwei strongmen with one move, but compared to killing a third-rank strongman who is about to be eliminated, in everyone's opinion, it's really not worth mentioning.

  My god, this is a third-grade powerhouse! In the entire Qingniu Town, only one third-grade powerhouse appears every few decades, and that's Lin Heng. But Lin Heng is so powerful that as soon as he entered the third grade, he was able to destroy one of the two sneaking third-grade powerhouses and heavily injure the other. How terrifying is this combat strength!

  Two against one, and still easily behead their opponents. Even a fool can see that Lin Huan was invincible at the beginning of the third rank!

  Such an astonishing record is simply legendary.

  Their worship and faith in Lin Guang have reached an unprecedented height. They all believe that with Lin Guang, the future of Qili Gou is almost certain to become a force no less than the Cao family, dominating Qingniu Town and no one dares to provoke!

  Cao Guan knew that Huo Tianzhao was one of Lin Heng's trusted men and didn't hide the fact, telling him about the Qiu family's affairs.

  Huo Tianzhao heard that the one killed by Lin Heng was actually a member of the Qiu family, so he knew this matter was extremely important. He didn't reveal Qiu Ze's identity as a member of the Qiu family and only told the villagers that it was an enemy of Lin Heng.

  As for the reputation of the Qiu family, he had naturally heard about it long ago. This time, Lin Heng had offended a ruthless and formidable opponent.

  However, he didn't have much deep concern now. Lin Huan's current strength far surpasses his own. In name, he was the patriarch of Qili Gou, but in reality, Lin Huan's status and prestige had long surpassed his own within Qili Gou. Since Qili Gou's fate was tied to Lin Huan's, Lin Huan's decisions were equivalent to everyone's decision in Qili Gou. Moreover, he trusted Lin Huan completely due to the various incredible miracles he had performed before.

  He was deeply moved by Cao Guan's humble attitude, knowing that in the past, as a member of the first family of Qingniu Town, he had not even been granted an audience when visiting their home. Now, Cao Guan treated him with kindness and respect, which greatly satisfied his vanity.

  He also understood that this was because of Lin's reason. But what about it, Lin is a person from Qi Li Gou, and even more so, he is the chosen successor of the clan leader by his own hand. Lin getting attention from others is no different from him getting attention himself.

  Lin Heng handed the two-product staff in his hand to Huo Tianzhao and said: "The patriarch, this thing is a second-rate weapon. The village has been keeping it first. I plan to make the hidden book pavilion of Qili Gou truly prosperous in the future. I want everyone in Qili Gou to be able to afford weapons with potential, and everyone has high-level martial skills. As long as the hidden book pavilion is rich and profound, the warriors of Qili Gou can get the best inheritance, the warriors grow in batches, and Qili Gou is truly prosperous. Relying solely on individual geniuses standing out so-called prosperity will never last."

  Huo Tianzhao's heart was filled with joy and his words were full of confidence. The cramped conditions of the library were well-known to him, but most of the materials inside were useless, covered in dust and cobwebs, and no one had entered for months. It could be said that Lin Heng's hope, which had been his hope all along, was not a matter of whether it could be done, but rather when it would be done. With his abilities, the expansion of the library was only a matter of time.

  "... Lin Hong, this is what was found on Qiu Ze's body. He was killed by you, so it's up to you to deal with it."

  Lin handed it over, a small black bag, opened it and found a crystal card inside.

  "Ten million taels of gold!" Lin Heng took a glance at the numbers above, and his eyes widened. My god, this guy is really a tycoon, carrying ten million with him all the time. Calculating based on this, how much should he have stored at home? Immediately afterwards, Lin Heng's gaze fell upon seven or eight crystal stones. Hmm, their appearance was no different from ordinary stones, but Lin Heng could clearly feel that the crystals contained a faint aura of gentle energy.

  Huo Tian noticed his surprise and smiled, saying: "This is a Yuanjing, which can directly provide martial artists with Yuanli. It's also a currency for martial artists. Hmm, this is something that only the wealthy can afford, so it's normal that we poor people rarely get to see it, which is why you haven't seen one before."

  What is Yuan Jing? Lin Huan learned about this thing from books. In the ordinary world, gold, silver, and copper coins are currencies for trading, exchanging for necessities of life. But for high-ranking warriors, they have no interest in these living necessities, and gold cannot circulate. Therefore, there is Yuan Jing, like "Du Bao Fang", according to Lin Huan's knowledge, the first floor sells low-grade elixirs, weapons, and treasures, so gold can still be used as a currency for trading. However, on the second and third floors, those second-rate martial skills, weapons, precious inner elixirs... and so on, require Yuan Jing to buy and sell.

  The ordinary black market price is one low-quality Yu Jing crystal equivalent to ten million taels of gold.

  So many warriors are eager to get one or two yuan crystals as a capital of pride, to prove that they have entered the ranks of top warriors.

  Lin Heng pinched a bead in his palm, then condensed the power and wrapped it around him. The crystalized energy transformed into a strand of gentle energy fluid that directly seeped into the Sea of Consciousness, rushing into the third whirlpool.

  "In comparison to the previous refined first-grade demon beast inner pellet, it's slightly stronger. However, if you want to rely on this crystal to fill up the new vortex of energy, at least tens of thousands are needed. Calculated in gold, who knows how many hundreds of billions it would be!" Lin Heng secretly shook his head, he had already entered the third grade, "Vortex of Energy" was vast and unparalleled, wanting to advance further was extremely difficult, let alone these were low-quality crystals, with a not-so-high energy flow concentration.

  Huo Tianzhuo watched as he swallowed the 10 million taels of gold, his face stiff with muscle spasms and waves of pain.

  He is not a stingy person, but he has never been so generous, swallowing 10 million gold in one go.

  Lin Heng pushed the crystal card and the remaining Yu Jing to him, saying: "These are considered public funds of the village. How to deal with them is up to you, Patriarch. Anyway, Qiu Ze is already dead, don't waste it."

  The news of Lin Huan killing the three men was immediately transmitted to the Cao family, and several young masters and concubines did not know that Cao Zhen was present at the time, and Lin Huan had acted to protect him.

  They were originally quarreling with Gonggong, wanting to urge Cao Guan to punish Lin Heng, but this news suddenly slapped them in the face, leaving them speechless. The three-product strongman being beheaded by Lin Heng means that Lin Heng is no longer an ordinary three-product. Such a strong man, even if they hate him to the sky, knows that he can't be provoked.

  They mumbled a few words and returned to their rooms with no interest.

  The only one who knew the inside story was Cao Hongjuan, and she even knew that her father had gone for his own lifelong event.

  Before this, she had never thought that Lin would become a candidate for her husband. The two were too far apart, one was a poor boy living in the deep mountains, and the other was a talented and intelligent lady from a prestigious family, they were not on the same social level.

  When her father mentioned this, her first reaction was to shake her head. The reason wasn't the difference in status or anything else, but a simple one: although her brother Cao Jian was arrogant and annoying, he was still her own brother, while Lin Heng had indirectly killed him.

  How can she marry an enemy by herself? This is not a matter of love or affection, but a matter of principle.

  When she knew that her father's life was not long and the Qiu family of Jinyuan City was eyeing them covetously, she had no choice but to agree.

  Because this is politics, if you want Lin to take action, then he can only let him completely eliminate the hatred between Cao's family and his own. And Qingniu Town, only Lin, a third-class strongman, may be able to resist Qiu's family. Moving Lin with her marriage, this is the best, and also the most tempting and irresistible condition.

  From the moment she agreed, she never thought that Lin would not agree. She had the looks, the wealth, and the status, and was able to marry herself off. Not only did Lin get a beautiful, gentle, and capable wife, but he also got the management rights of the Cao family's industry. What reason did he have to refuse? Unless he was an idiot!

  Lin Heng really was a fool, he actually didn't agree. However, he agreed to fight alongside the Cao family without any conditions or compensation.

  This was the answer she had been wanting most, but for some reason, instead of feeling even a little happy, she felt a wave of inexplicable loss.

  "Lin Hang, Lin Hang, do you know that I have no interest in you, so you're taking revenge on me? You want to use negation, deliberately showing your contempt for me? ... With my beauty like a heavenly being, wouldn't you like it? You're too hypocritical! Are you trying to use this coquettish trick to stimulate me, to get my attention? Don't you think you're very childish..."

  She gazed out the window at the vast starry sky, gritting her teeth in contemplation. Although she had plenty of reasons to comfort herself, she still couldn't erase that thread of loss from the bottom of her heart...

  As for Qiu's family, Lin knew very little, so he asked the clan leader to help him find some information about Jin Yuan City.

  After reading the materials, Lin Heng finally felt the strength of the Qiu family. Within five years, the Qiu family had swallowed up nine towns and made them part of their own sphere of influence. Each town was garrisoned by a third-grade warrior, which means that there were at least nine third-grade strongmen in these towns alone, not to mention the hidden strength within Jinquan City.

  Compared with the Cao family, Lin Huan had only met one of their third-grade guest elders, Guo Zui. In terms of strength comparison, it was a full ten times that of the Cao family.

  It's really unknown how Cao Kun has been stubbornly resisting the other side for several years and managed to keep Qingniu Town until now.

  Similarly, after seeing the data, Lin Heng's determination to resist the Qiu family became even more resolute. The data showed that after the Qiu family invaded and occupied nine towns, the first thing they did was to let their subordinates plunder and loot, sweeping the entire town clean. Then, they imposed a tax on the townspeople that was five times higher than before, based on the number of people in each household. Those who could not pay would have their male family members sold into slavery, while the females would be forced into brothels. Often, within a year, the townspeople would try every means to escape, resulting in massive population loss.

  If Lin Huan doesn't want his family to be humiliated and the people of Qili Gou to flee their homes, he can only take advantage of the Cao family's remaining strength and join forces with them to fight side by side.

  He thought of the terrifying power of the Qiu family and couldn't help but shake his head, the other side was too strong. If Cao Guan, the mainstay, was not damaged at all, he might have a chance to fight back. However, Cao Guan only had two days left to live, and under such a huge disparity in strength, the chances of the Cao family winning were less than one percent. In other words, the fall of Qingniu Town was almost irreversible!

  However, the more he fell into this desperate situation, the more it stirred up Lin's will to fight.

  Lin Heng's eyes flashed with a resolute light: As long as I, Lin Heng, am here, no one can enslave the Seven Li Gully, nor can they enslave Qing Niu Town!

  As a warrior, apart from cultivating martial arts and pursuing breakthroughs in the way of martial arts! There is also an inherent responsibility, that is to protect! Protecting loved ones, protecting the people and the land!

  The night was as clear as water, and suddenly Hou Tianzhao didn't expect that at such a late hour, Lin Hang would still come to his door.

  Fortunately, because of Qiu's impending invasion, he was also thinking about countermeasures and did not fall asleep early.

  "Tribe leader, this is a refined four-grade elixir, and it's the 'Yao Guan Lin Mang' inner elixir of the highest quality for cultivating the opposing rank as its main core."

  "What!" The voice of the tribe's leader, Huo Tianzhao, was trembling slightly.

  "You have been in the second rank for over twenty years, with a solid foundation. You are only one step away from advancing to the third rank. Taking this elixir will almost certainly guarantee your promotion!"

  Huo Tian's hands trembled as he took the pill, his tension making it hard for him to speak.

  PS: Sorry for the delay, something came up, so I'm posting the first update now.

  I'll just update once today. I've been coding until now and I'm really tired, haven't even taken a bath yet. Next week will be explosive, come back to repay everyone's kindness.

  List of thank-you rewards:

  "Butterfly Dance in Moonlight" rewards and update votes. Can only take 3,000, 555...

  "Little sticky rice cake"'s reward.

  "Top Brother"'s reward.