"Lin Chen, Lin Chen, I really underestimated you!"
"Now I'll give you a chance. Hand over the spiritual artifact in your hand, kneel and acknowledge me as your master, and be responsible for refining pills for me from now on. I can consider sparing your life."
"Moreover, I can guarantee that you won't be lacking in wealth and status. What do you say?"
Liu Huaiyu was completely tempted. After all, the weapon he currently possessed was merely a top-grade magical artifact.
This top-grade magical artifact was a reward he received for submitting the thousand-year-old silver root this time.
If this mid-grade spiritual artifact could fall into his hands, his strength would absolutely skyrocket!
"Hehehe, you've got a good plan there!"
Upon hearing Liu Yunhua's words, Lin Chen couldn't help but laugh.
He had to admit, Liu Yunhua's ambition was truly extraordinary!
"Unfortunately, I, Lin Chen, have always believed in an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth! Ling Jian Jue, strike!"
As soon as Lin Chen finished speaking, the Ling Snake Sword in his hand shot out, heading directly for Liu Yunhua's throat.
"Ling Yan Shield!"
Seeing that Lin Chen could use a flying sword, Liu Yunhua was startled and quickly channeled his spiritual energy to defend.
However, how could a mere Ling Yan Shield, hastily deployed, possibly block Lin Chen's Ling Jian Jue?
"Chirp!"
With a light sound, the Ling Snake Sword cut through the spiritual energy shield in front of Liu Yunhua as if it were tofu. The sword tip easily pierced Liu Yunhua's throat, and blood instantly splattered everywhere.
There was no doubt that Liu Yunhua was already dead.
"You... you killed Elder Liu?"
Seeing Lin Chen kill Liu Yunhua with a single sword strike, the several Liu family retainers who had accompanied him were all greatly shocked.
Good heavens, although Liu Yunhua's status in the Liu family wasn't very high, he was a legitimate member of the Liu family and an elder of the Liu family's outer court!
And he was killed just like that?
"What? He wanted to kill me, and I can't kill him? Could it be that the Liu family is above reason and law?"
Hearing the retainers' words, Lin Chen couldn't help but laugh.
A life for a life; Liu Yunhua was just one person. If he hadn't come here to kill him, why would Lin Chen have laid a hand on him?
"This..."
Upon hearing Lin Chen's words, the retainers froze subconsciously.
In their opinion, Liu Yunhua could be killed, but now that Lin Chen had killed him in front of all of them, they, as retainers, would also be held accountable by the Liu family when they returned.
Given the Liu family's blindly protective nature, how could these retainers have any chance of survival?
"Esteemed fellow daoists, I know what you are thinking. If that's the case, why not take this opportunity to leave the Liu family?"
"My young master is currently recruiting talents, and the treatment is much better than that of the Liu family!"
Perhaps sensing their thoughts, Qin Lie stepped forward and began to persuade them.
Having been a retainer of the Liu family himself, he knew very well that many retainers in the Liu family were currently very reluctant to serve.
The Liu family never hesitated to resort to any means to achieve their goals.
He himself had merely been a rogue cultivator in Zhejiang province. After a chance encounter, he had advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage, and was then targeted by the Liu family.
At first, he felt that as a rogue cultivator, he was free and unfettered, and lived a very happy life, so he directly refused.
But to his surprise, that very night, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator appeared at his door. If he refused to become a Liu family retainer, there was only death awaiting him!
Under duress, Qin Lie had no choice but to join the Liu family.
Most of the people in front of him were in similar situations!
"This... Daoist Qin, my wife and children are still with the Liu family. If I leave, what hope will they have of surviving?"
A daoist in a white robe spoke to Qin Lie with a helpless expression.
Although Liu Yunhua's death left them afraid of being blamed by the Liu family, they secretly felt a sense of joy.
After all, this person had been causing trouble in the outer court for a long time, and all the retainers were already dissatisfied with him.
"Oh? What? Do you esteemed fellow daoists actually not wish to stay with the Liu family?"
Upon hearing their words, Lin Chen narrowed his eyes and revealed a hint of a smile.
It seemed that this Liu family was not very popular.
"Alas, Young Master Lin, if we truly intended to serve the Liu family, how could we not fight you to the death after you killed Liu Yunhua?"
Several retainers sighed deeply, their expressions filled with helplessness.
"Since that is the case, why don't you all continue to stay with the Liu family? For today's events, consider yourselves to have seen nothing."
"From now on, I will give each of you an Induction Spirit Pill every three months as remuneration. And you only need to send me news from the Liu family on time. How about it?"
Lin Chen made a decisive move, directly stating his intentions.
Since the Liu family was like this, after he participated in the martial arts competition, wouldn't he completely offend them?
Rather than reacting blindly at that time, it was better to start laying the groundwork in advance!
This way, he wouldn't be caught off guard in the end.
"Oh? Young Master Lin means for us to act as informants?"
Upon hearing Lin Chen's words, the white-robed daoist's eyes lit up.
Indeed, acting as an informant was undoubtedly the most suitable choice to protect his family and secure a future for himself.
"That's right, and you can also recruit those you trust."
"I say the same thing: one Induction Spirit Pill every three months as remuneration. Whether they are from the Liu family or other noble families, I want anyone you can win over!"
Lin Chen said resolutely to the Liu family retainers.
"An Induction Spirit Pill every three months? Is that true?"
Upon hearing the remuneration Lin Chen mentioned, the white-robed daoist was visibly excited.
Good heavens, their current remuneration was basically one coin each, with only one Induction Spirit Pill per year as an additional reward.
And as cultivators, how could they lack money? What they truly lacked was elixirs!
But now? Lin Chen had increased the reward several times over with a single utterance. How could this not excite them?
"Yes, it's true. Moreover, if the information you provide is of great use to me, there will be additional rewards."
Lin Chen nodded, his expression full of certainty.
A mere first-grade Induction Spirit Pill was something he could easily refine dozens of. And the medicinal ingredients for refining elixirs were also not a concern.
Once the spiritual field in his Nine Dragon Ring expanded in the future, this reward could be increased again!
"Alright, Young Master Lin, we believe you!"
After receiving Lin Chen's affirmative answer, the white-robed daoist immediately agreed.
At this point, they had no other good options and could only choose to believe Lin Chen.