The first round of the Green Talent List had ended, and the second was scheduled for a week later. Upon returning to his small courtyard at Yanhuang Academy, Lin Yun didn’t find the Crown Prince and the other two. Instead, he came face-to-face with someone completely unexpected.

The Headmaster of Yanhuang Academy, who was also the paternal uncle of Yanhuang Country’s current ruler, His Holiness. His cultivation had long reached the Peak of the Ninth Layer of the Primordial Ocean Realm. Rumor had it that he was the single strongest person in all of Yanhuang Country.

At that moment, Elder Bai was also standing beside the Headmaster. His gaze toward Lin Yun held a hint of resignation; it seemed that even Elder Bai was powerless before the Headmaster.

Lin Yun was briefly stunned, not having expected the Headmaster himself to come looking for him, but he quickly regained his composure. Things had already reached this point; he would just have to deal with whatever came his way.

"Lin Yun, come inside with me," the Headmaster said lightly before turning and walking into his room.

Not worried in the least that Lin Yun wouldn’t follow, the Headmaster sat down calmly. After Lin Yun and Elder Bai had taken their seats, the Headmaster slowly began to speak.

"To think that the most outstanding student of my Yanhuang Academy would turn out to be a wanted criminal of the Royal Family."

Hearing this, Lin Yun remained silent. He didn’t even look at the Headmaster, simply sitting there with calm indifference, taking a small sip of tea.

"My name is Tang Qing," he began. "Yanhuang Academy was founded for the purpose of cultivating talent. For hundreds of years, the vast majority of Yanhuang Academy’s students have become pillars of the nation."

"To a large extent, Yanhuang Academy is the cradle where the Royal Family nurtures its talent. So, Lin Yun, do you understand? You have offended the Royal Family. Even if I wanted to protect you, it would be impossible."

If he were to speak from the heart, Tang Qing held Lin Yun in very high regard. The boy’s talent and temperament were both exceptional. With the right guidance, he would surely be capable of great things in the future.

But who could have known that Lin Yun and the Royal Family would become mortal enemies? Tang Qing was the Headmaster of Yanhuang Academy, but he was also a member of the Royal Family. In anything he did, Tang Qing had to prioritize the Royal Family’s interests.

Tang Qing’s words were tinged with deep regret. He had never imagined that Lin Shan was Lin Yun. Looking at Lin Yun, who had reverted to his true appearance, Tang Qing felt a pang of melancholy.

Lin Shan had been plain and ordinary, but Lin Yun was dazzling. With his sharp, chiseled features and refined face, the real Lin Yun was heroic and handsome. And yet, Tang Qing wished more than anything that Lin Yun could have remained the unremarkable Lin Shan forever.

After hearing Tang Qing out, Lin Yun finally looked at him, his eyes filled with unwavering resolve. Although Tang Qing had mostly expressed regret, Lin Yun could still discern that his loyalties ultimately lay with the Royal Family.

"The Royal Family has been the aggressor from the very beginning. I was merely acting in self-defense," Lin Yun said firmly. "This time, the Royal Family has taken my parents, my teacher, and my friends. I will save them, no matter what."

Sighing deeply, Tang Qing looked at Lin Yun with a complicated expression. On the one hand, he admired Lin Yun for his excellence; having someone like him was a stroke of luck for Yanhuang Academy.

On the other hand, the conflict between the Royal Family and Lin Yun had escalated to this point. He also knew that Lin Yun planned to use his own aptitude to gain the backing of a major power and fight back against the Yanhuang Royal Family.

However, this was no simple matter. Leaving aside whether Lin Yun could even attract the attention of a major power, even if he succeeded, was the Yanhuang Royal Family truly that simple?

A Royal Family that had stood for a thousand years without falling—could it really have no background of its own? Outsiders had no idea about the hidden power and network of connections the Royal Family possessed.

The most likely outcome was mutual destruction.

"Lin Yun, things are not as simple as you think," Tang Qing said. "I can help you. As long as you hand over the inheritance of the Thunder God Hall, I can guarantee the safety of your parents and friends."

"And then what? Live under the Royal Family’s house arrest for the rest of my life? Become a man with no freedom?" Lin Yun sneered.

’Hand over the inheritance, and the Royal Family might spare my life, but they would never let me go. They’d cripple my Cultivation and let me live out a mundane existence. That’s the absolute most they would concede.’

’After all, the Royal Family wasn’t stupid enough to let a tiger back into the mountains.’

Hearing Lin Yun’s retort, Tang Qing paused before finally saying with a sense of helplessness, "Lin Yun, this is the best possible outcome. To save your life and live peacefully for the rest of your days—is that not a good thing?"

The reason Tang Qing had sought out Lin Yun today was because of the talent Lin Yun had displayed in the first round of the Green Talent List. Tang Qing didn’t want to see Lin Yun and the Royal Family fight until both sides were destroyed.

"Lin Yun, it’s impossible for you to rescue your parents on your own. Even if a major power takes an interest in you, how far would they be willing to go for you?"

"Would they really offend another major power just for your sake?"

"Lin Yun, in this situation, just staying alive is the best outcome you can hope for. Otherwise, once the Green Talent List is over, no matter the result, your parents will not survive."

Tang Qing continued to reason with him. From the bottom of his heart, he hoped that Lin Yun and the Royal Family could reconcile, or at least not fight to the point of mutual destruction.

Just as Tang Qing had said, even if Lin Yun were valued by a major power, would that power really be willing to offend another major power for him alone?

As Tang Qing continued his persuasion, Lin Yun remained utterly silent. Even if what Tang Qing said was true, Lin Yun could never accept his proposal.

’My life must be in my own hands. Besides, my great vengeance is not yet complete. How could I be content with becoming a cripple?’

’The Divine Emperor, the Divine Realm Princess, and all those arrogant, smiling faces...’ Images flashed through Lin Yun’s mind, scene after scene of his clan’s annihilation in his past life.

’No! In this life, I will use my own power to change everything! The Divine Emperor must be killed, and the Yanhuang Royal Family must be destroyed! My parents, friends, and teacher—I, Lin Yun, will save them with my own two hands!’ he roared in his heart.

At this thought, the conviction in Lin Yun’s heart solidified. ’No matter how powerful the Royal Family’s hidden forces are, I, Lin Yun, will not take a single step back. Anyone who dares to harm my family and friends, I will slaughter their entire clan!’

Silence fell over the room. After Tang Qing finished speaking, Lin Yun remained quiet for a long time. Then, suddenly, the silent Lin Yun looked at Tang Qing and stood up, bursting into loud laughter.

"HAHAHA...!"

His laughter was filled with an unbridled, world-scorning arrogance.

The laughter echoed for a long time. Just as Tang Qing’s expression began to turn cold, Lin Yun stopped, stood ramrod straight, and looked at Tang Qing, his voice firm and powerful.

"My parents, my teacher, my friends—I, Lin Yun, will save them with my own hands. If you want my life, then bring it on. But if you dare lay a hand on my parents, I, Lin Yun, swear I will become the Yanhuang Royal Family’s worst nightmare, until I have slaughtered every last one of you."

With that, Lin Yun turned and left without a single look back.

Watching Lin Yun’s departing figure, Tang Qing was speechless for a long time. After a long while, he let out a deep sigh. "Why did things have to develop like this? Does the Royal Family really intend to make an enemy of a newly risen Demon Fiend?"