At that moment, Huo Zhen had already slain the demonic beast.
Even in its beast form, it could only match the strength of a Second or Third Transcending Tribulation Realm cultivator—far inferior to Huo Zhen.
The courtyard fell into dead silence.
Huo Zhen dragged the beast’s corpse back to Lin Yun, the sound of his footsteps clear in the hushed space.
“My lord, I have killed the beast!” Huo Zhen reported.
He was inwardly shocked, still unable to fathom how Lin Yun had identified this man as a demonic beast with such certainty.
Had they killed the wrong person—not a beast—the consequences would have been dire!
Lin Yun nodded, then turned to the over eight hundred Dongguo Party generals.
“Everyone, do you see? This is why I sought to execute Fan Xiao—not to kill senselessly for authority, but because he was a demonic beast traitor!” Lin Yun’s words rang out, each one resolute.
He continued, “You generals served the previous lord for some time, didn’t you? You must feel some loyalty to him. He was poisoned by a traitor, and now I’ve rooted out the culprit. I believe the former lord can rest in peace.”
Many generals lowered their heads; some even began to sob.
Finding this traitor had been no small feat. Since the previous lord’s death, they’d searched for the killer for months without a single lead.
Without Lin Yun, they’d never have caught the culprit.
What shamed them most was that they’d refused to believe Lin Yun, defending the demonic beast traitor Fan Xiao. Had Lin Yun pressed the issue, their guilt would have been immense!
“Everyone, now you know the truth—it’s time to decide. My offer stands: renounce the Dongguo Party, swear by your souls to serve it no longer, and do your duties well henceforth, and I’ll forgive your past. Your ranks will remain unchanged,” Lin Yun said.
Subduing these generals was ideal—killing them all would disrupt the city guard significantly.
“Lord, I, Chang Shu, pledge to follow your lead!”
“I, Shen Xun, renounce darkness for light and obey only you, my lord!”
A flood of generals stepped forward, kneeling with booming voices.
“I’m willing too!”
“So am I! Pay respects to the lord!”
…
In moments, countless Dongguo Party generals knelt, bowing and shouting to Lin Yun!
Many among them had joined the party reluctantly, knowing refusal meant no future in the city guard—they’d had no choice.
The generals behind Lin Yun marveled at his boldness and wisdom, turning the tide without a fight!
Wu Tong, seeing this, collapsed into his chair, face ashen, trembling uncontrollably.
He knew his cause was lost.
He’d completely underestimated this forty-something young lord!
In this struggle, he’d fallen!
Of the over eight hundred Dongguo Party generals, only thirty-some refused to submit to Lin Yun—staunch supporters of Wu Tong or the Dongguo Party.
Lin Yun looked up at Wu Tong.
“Wu Tong, I sought to execute a demonic beast traitor, yet you defied me at the cost of rebellion. Now the truth is out, and I strongly suspect you’re tied to the demonic clan!” Lin Yun pointed at him, eyes blazing, tone sharp.
“Lin Yun, don’t slander me! No matter how low I sink, I’d never collude with the demonic clan!” Wu Tong roared through gritted teeth.
Lin Yun clasped his hands behind his back, advancing slowly under countless gazes, “Regardless, your rebellion tonight is proven—on that alone, you’re guilty of a capital crime! You’ve lost!”
“Commander Wu, let’s fight them!” the thirty-some unyielding Dongguo Party generals shouted.
Wu Tong sprang to his feet, facing Lin Yun, “Lin Yun, I underestimated you, a forty-something cultivator. Your wisdom and courage exceeded my expectations!”
He knew Lin Yun’s victory tonight hinged on his boldness.
At several critical moments, had Lin Yun not made decisive, correct choices—hesitating even slightly—Wu Tong would have won!
Then, Wu Tong’s tone shifted, booming, “But I still don’t accept defeat! You’re just a Third Transcending Tribulation Realm cultivator—what qualifies you to be lord with such a realm? Even if you win tonight, it doesn’t change that fact! If you’re capable, prove to all of Dongyuan Prefecture that your strength is worthy!”
“Fine, Wu Tong, today I’ll make you concede utterly! You and I will fight one-on-one. If you win, I’ll let you and your men leave alive! How’s that?” Lin Yun said steadily.
“Fight me alone? Hah, I’m Seventh Transcending Tribulation Realm! You’re far too arrogant, even if you’re the emperor’s disciple—we’re four realms apart!” Wu Tong laughed.
Lin Yun’s lips curved slightly, “Just tell me—do you dare accept?”
Lin Yun knew outwitting Wu Tong tonight was his chance to establish authority in Dongyuan Prefecture.
He knew many shared Wu Tong’s view—that his Third Transcending Tribulation Realm was too low to bear the lord’s mantle.
To establish authority, he’d do it thoroughly. Defeating Wu Tong would silence any doubts about his strength in Dongyuan Prefecture!
“Why wouldn’t I dare? But you’d better keep your word—if I win, let me and my men go!” Wu Tong’s voice rang out.
“Of course, I, Lin Yun, always keep my word. But if I defeat you?” Lin Yun smiled.
“If you beat me today, I, Wu Tong, will end my own life!” Wu Tong declared confidently.
Lose to a Third Transcending Tribulation Realm cultivator? Impossible!
“Very well, let’s do it!”
Lin Yun leaped into the air, landing in the center.
“Is the lord really fighting Wu Tong?”
“The gap… it’s just too vast, isn’t it?”
“With the lord’s performance today, he’s clearly wise—how… how could he make this choice?”
“Right, his brilliance tonight won everyone over, but this move is baffling. If he loses, all the image and authority he built tonight will collapse!”
“No idea what the lord’s planning.”
…
The city guard generals and soldiers were utterly perplexed.
Only Huo Zhen, Liang Yuan, and Yang Wan smiled—they knew Lin Yun’s true strength!
They understood exactly what Lin Yun intended!
