Chapter 267: The Five Tigers of the Lin Family?
A hundred flashes of light streaked across the sky, converging above the arena within moments. The crowd watched in astonishment as the newcomers gathered around Lin Langtian, forming an orderly line with him at their center. Seeing the formidable lineup and hearing their allegiance to the "Flame Alliance," many turned to Lin Langtian, suddenly reminded that he was not alone, but the leader of a powerful faction that had rapidly grown into a dominant force in the Northwest Region.
"Brother Lin, are all these people ours?" Su Rou asked, her delicate face showing both surprise and curiosity at the vast assembly.
Lin Langtian gave her a small nod and smile. Su Kui, standing beside them, let out a sigh of relief. With the overwhelming might of the Zhao Dynasty pressing in, it was reassuring to see their own numbers strengthened.
"Brother Langtian, we made it just in time," a voice called out as a young man in a black robe stepped forward from the crowd—it was none other than Lin Dong. Six months had passed since they had last met, and Lin Dong now seemed to have shed the last remnants of his youth, with a depth and calmness to his presence that spoke to his growth, especially after receiving the Azure Dragon Hall's inheritance.
Not surprised by Lin Dong's transformation, Lin Langtian greeted him warmly, clapping him on the shoulder. "Just on time," he said, smiling.
The day before, Lin Langtian had used Jinwu's beast form to contact Lin Dong and the others, who were rushing from the Northwest Region to Wanxiang City. Learning that Lin Langtian was in urgent need of backup, Lin Dong led the Flame Alliance members day and night to reach the city without delay. Lin Langtian felt a swell of gratitude; Lin Dong was indeed worthy of trust and responsibility.
Lin Langtian's gaze swept over familiar faces: the towering and good-natured Lin Yan, Mo Ling from the Great Flame Dynasty, and others who had joined along the way, including Mo Tie, Ling Zhi, and Liu Yuan. After months of intense training and with ample resources from the Flame Alliance, they had all grown considerably stronger.
Lin Langtian took note of the impressive strength now gathered around him—among the hundred figures, there were at least twenty or thirty in the Three-Yuan Nirvana stage, a level of power that could easily enter the Nirvana Rankings. Truly, the Flame Alliance had matured into a mighty force, firmly establishing Lin Langtian's authority.
Just then, Lin Langtian's gaze paused on a striking young man beside Lin Dong. Dressed in dark purple, the youth was not just handsome but exuded a unique, almost mesmerizing charm. His presence had a touch of something mysterious, as if hiding a hint of mischief beneath his smile. Some women, at first glance, might have found themselves quite infatuated with him.
Lin Langtian, however, was not swayed, instead surmising the young man's identity as he stood flanked by Lin Dong and Lin Yan. This was undoubtedly Lin Yan's second brother, the recently revived prince of the Heaven Demon Marten clan: Lin Qiao.
Noticing Lin Langtian's gaze, Lin Dong gestured to his side with a smile. "Brother Langtian, this is my second brother, Xiao Qiao."
Lin Langtian greeted him politely, playing along with Lin Dong's introduction even though he already knew Xiao Qiao's background. "So, this is Brother Xiao Qiao. If you're Lin Dong's brother, you're family to me as well."
Xiao Qiao had initially stood there with a casual, almost indifferent demeanor. But when he saw Lin Langtian's warm gesture, he responded with uncharacteristic respect, bowing in return. "Greetings to Brother Langtian."
Both Lin Dong and Lin Langtian were taken aback by Xiao Qiao's respectful attitude. The Heaven Demon Marten prince was known for his arrogance, so this response was quite unusual.
Xiao Qiao's humility had its reasons, though. First, his bond with Lin Dong had grown stronger over time, subtly influencing him. Second, while residing within the mysterious stone talisman over the years, he had witnessed not only Lin Dong's incredible journey but also Lin Langtian's strength. He understood that Lin Langtian's potential was nothing short of exceptional, perhaps even greater than Lin Dong's. So, even the prideful Xiao Qiao felt that Lin Langtian was someone deserving of genuine respect.
Just then, Lin Yan spotted Jinwu and exclaimed, "Jinwu, you've also taken human form!" He moved closer, a grin spreading across his face.
"Ha! Surprised?" Jinwu laughed, clapping a hand on Lin Yan's shoulder. "I may have transformed after you, but my strength now surpasses yours!" Jinwu and Lin Yan had once been close companions, one a creature of flight and the other a fierce predator of the land, forming an inseparable duo.
Beside them, Xiao Qiao looked on with amusement. "Looks like those two will be back to their old mischief together."
Lin Dong chuckled, glancing between Jinwu, Xiao Qiao, and Lin Yan. "With the three of you, we're like the five tigers of the Lin family!"
Lin Langtian paused at that, suppressing a chuckle as he muttered to himself, "The five tigers? Sounds more like a gang name…"
His lighthearted musings were cut short by a mocking voice from across the arena. The Zhao Dynasty's Second Commander, Zhao Zhan, sneered as he eyed the newly arrived group. "Such a farce," he jeered. "A bunch of nobodies forming some Flame Alliance, daring to challenge the Zhao Dynasty? Laughable!"
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 15 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Franklin1