"Marshal Ouyang is too kind. General Lin was severely wounded for the sake of the human race. Now that heaven has seen fit to allow his recovery, I, Ye, should be here to guard him. Where is General Lin?"
"Shanhe is currently adjusting his state to prepare for the healing treatment in three days. My daughter and my sworn brother, Lord Zhang Zhen, will be guarding him." Ouyang Chengshan pointed out Zhang Zhen, informing Ye Fan that a lord-level expert was also on their side.
Inside the living room, Zhang Zhen and Lin Shanhe were chatting, "Brother, Ye Fan is here too. It seems he agrees with Uncle Chengshan's plan."
"Ye Fan's agreement is certain. Except for that bodyguard chief from the federal government, I doubt any other lord-level expert would object, especially since they were the ones risking their lives on the battlefield," Lin Shanhe said.
"Brother, how do you intend to conclude this matter? Uncle Chengshan and I are thinking of killing two high-ranking officials as a warning to others."
"Big Brother, if I successfully recover and advance to lord-level, I will be the one to kill them. After all, I am still a five-star general of Huaxia. If I fail, send Zhan'er to my second and third uncles. With Zhan'er's talent, he will surely earn the favor of our ancestors, and his future achievements will not be inferior to my father's."
"Rest assured, brother, you will succeed. Zhan'er is not an unreliable child." Although Zhang Zhen didn't say it aloud, the killing intent in his eyes said it all. If Lin Shanhe failed, Zhang Zhen would surely seek vengeance. After all, if the federal government had agreed to pay, they could have secured the intervention of a primordial spirit to treat him.
Three days later, Lin Zhan took the liter of Xuan Shui True Blood, spat out by Xiao Hei, and went into a room alone.
"Ding, the system has been updated. The temporary novice sign-in function has been canceled. Compensation rewards: Advanced Bloodline Upgrade Pills * 20.
System upgrade reward: True Dragon Essence Blood (a trace, can be used to enhance snake-type and sub-dragon-type spirit beasts with dragon bloodline. After use, the spirit beast's bloodline talent will be unlimited and can be infinitely advanced.)
New function enabled: System Store. The host can use evolution points to exchange for items in the store."
Lin Zhan briefly scanned the store's list: Beginner Bloodline Upgrade Pill * 1, 10 evolution points. Intermediate Bloodline Evolution Pill * 1, 100 evolution points. Advanced Bloodline Upgrade Pill * 1, 1000 evolution points.
Divine Beast Rune Armament * 1 million evolution points. For special items, please consult the system.
"System, the Xuan Shui True Blood and beast cores are ready. Hurry up and get it done. I'm waiting for you."
"Evolving Xuan Shui True Blood to Diamond grade will consume 1 million evolution points, leaving 500,000 evolution points. Estimated time: 1 hour." Ouyang Chengshan and Zhang Zhen, fearing the beast cores might not be enough, gave Lin Zhan more.
One hour later, Lin Zhan brought a bottle of red potion into Lin Shanhe's room.
"Dad, are you ready? You can take it now. The potion was very successful. You have a 90% chance of directly breaking through to lord-level. Make sure to seize the opportunity."
"Don't worry, your father has been preparing for so many years, and in the end, I still have to rely on my son to heal me."
"Zhan'er, is your father alright?" Ouyang Xinlan tightly held Lin Shanhe's hand.
"Don't worry, Mom, it's very safe. It's all very nourishing stuff, nothing to worry about." After comforting his mother, Lin Zhan handed the potion to Lin Shanhe.
"Brother, rest assured and focus on healing. Prepare to ascend to lord-level. I'll handle everything else. I'll be guarding outside," Zhang Zhen said, patting Lin Shanhe's shoulder.
As Lin Shanhe drank the potion, only Zhang Zhen and Elder Wen remained outside the room. The others gathered in the courtyard. Jin Jiao also descended from the sky and landed on the roof of Lin Shanhe's room to guard.
"Report, the Secretary-General of the Federal Government, along with the Director of the Office and other officials, are requesting an audience outside," a guard entered and reported to Ouyang Chengshan.
"Bring them in."
"Yes."
Soon, the guard led a middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses and ten federal officials behind him into the room.
"Marshal Ouyang, Director Ye, good day. I am the Secretary-General of the Federal Government. I am here to see Marshal Ouyang to understand some matters," the middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses introduced himself.
"Hmm, what is it?" Ouyang Chengshan did not look up, still engrossed in fiddling with his teacup.
"Marshal Ouyang, may I ask why the area around South Sea Villa has been completely cordoned off? Do you have an explanation for this?"
"Explanation? To whom? What is your rank to speak to Marshal Ouyang like that?" Ouyang Zhongyong interjected, questioning the Secretary-General.
"Heh heh, according to regulations, this villa was the residence of the late Marshal Lin Tian. After the Marshal's death, only direct descendants of the Lin family who have advanced to lord-level are qualified to reside here. Otherwise, no one has the right to live here, correct?" The Secretary-General directly revealed his purpose for coming.
"Who is residing here?" Ouyang Chengshan countered without looking up.
"Marshal Lin Tian and I were close friends for many years, and our children are also married. Old Lin has been gone for so many years, can't I come back to pay my respects?"
"What about the person inside? Are they also here to pay respects to Marshal Lin?" the Secretary-General pressed.
"The person inside is Marshal Lin's own son, Huaxia's five-star general Lin Shanhe, and Marshal Lin's sworn brother, Marshal Zhang Zhen, are inside paying respects to his late father. Are you going to interfere with that as well?" Ouyang Zhongyong sarcastically retorted to the officials without holding back.
"What 'paying respects to his late father'? You just want that good-for-nothing Lin Shanhe to move in, don't you? I'm telling you, that's impossible." A young man among the officials said dismissively.
"Who are you?" Ouyang Chengshan asked coldly.
The Secretary-General heard the young man's words and knew that things had gone awry. "Marshal Ouyang, this is the Director of my office, and also the only son of Federal Vice Premier Sun. We will take our leave now."
Before he could finish speaking, a powerful pressure suddenly emanated from the room. The pressure was sharp and irresistible, carrying an incomparable aura of looking down upon the world.
Everyone rejoiced. Shanhe had succeeded.
Under everyone's gaze, a figure walked out of the room. As the figure moved, the clouds in the sky were split in two by a blade of energy.
The three sat down near Ouyang Chengshan. Lin Shanhe looked at the only son of Vice Premier Sun and asked, "Did you just say that Lin Shanhe is a good-for-nothing?"
"Yes, I did. So what?" The young man said through clenched teeth, wanting to save face.
"According to federal law, insulting a human lord or a great general is punishable by death. Is that correct, Secretary-General?" Lin Shanhe asked the Secretary-General.
"General Lin, this is all a misunderstanding. Please be merciful!" The Secretary-General regretted bringing such a reckless person with him.
"This blockade is a joint operation by our military and the Martial Arts Bureau, an action undertaken to apprehend the greatest betrayer of the human race within the Ten Thousand Races Cult. It is a top military secret. You, without prior authorization or being an executor of the military, have come to question and inspect. It seems you are also suspicious."
As Lin Shanhe spoke, the Secretary-General was about to explain when Lin Shanhe waved his hand, and he felt his vision go black, plunging into darkness.