Compared to the colossal green vine before him, the fiery lotus drifting from Lin Tian's palm was so insignificant it could scarcely be mentioned. As the two drew ever closer, Jiang Tao's heart tightened, and his nerves tensed uncontrollably.
Yet at the very instant they collided, a violent surge of spiritual power erupted outward. The moment they sensed that fluctuation, the expressions of the three Lu brothers changed dramatically.
In the next breath, they watched in shock as the seemingly tiny flame lotus exploded the instant it touched the vine, unleashing an overwhelming blaze. It was as though a charge of explosives had detonated—its destructive power utterly terrifying.
In an instant, raging flames engulfed the vine. Within moments, the verdant tendril was reduced to ash, drifting down from the air. The three brothers staggered backward in unison, blood spraying from their mouths. A flicker of astonishment flashed through their eyes—only to vanish just as quickly, replaced by a chilling tide of murderous intent.
"Senior brother, please leave—now. You don't need to offend the Lu brothers because of me," Jiang Tao cried anxiously as he noticed their expressions, grabbing hold of Lin Tian in panic.
He had already felt Lin Tian's goodwill. This matter had never truly concerned Lin Tian to begin with, and if not for him, Lin Tian would never have been dragged into this mess. Earlier, the three brothers had joined forces without using their full strength, but now the situation was different. That exchange had thoroughly enraged them, and from this moment on, they would show no restraint. If Lin Tian truly faced them head-on, the outcome would likely be disastrous.
"You're right," Lin Tian said calmly. Without hesitation, he seized Jiang Tao's hand and fled the scene at full speed.
The sight left the three Lu brothers utterly dumbfounded. They had never expected that Lin Tian, who had just displayed such domineering force, would suddenly choose to retreat in the heat of battle.
But just as they prepared to give chase, a flash of light appeared. In the blink of an eye, streams of talismanic runes formed in midair, coalescing into a first-level Foundation Establishment trapping formation that locked the three of them firmly in place.
It was clear that when Lin Tian struck earlier, he had done far more than merely unleash the Crimson Lotus Fury. While the three brothers had focused all their attention on the blazing lotus, Lin Tian had secretly laid down a containment array.
The three, of course, had noticed nothing. They had hurled their vine forward without the slightest hesitation. Though the collision between the Crimson Lotus Fury and the vine produced tremendous destructive force, Lin Tian's true objective had never been to defeat them outright—it was to create a commotion large enough to draw attention.
That earlier explosion was likely heard throughout the entirety of Medicine Peak. And the location itself was a medicinal field—an area of paramount importance. Though such fields were normally tended by disciples, the outer sect elders monitored them with extreme vigilance.
With such a disturbance, the outer sect elders would undoubtedly arrive at once. And once they did, any disciples found fighting within the outer sect would inevitably be punished. After all, the rules of the Xuanwu Sect were explicit: internal conflict among disciples was forbidden. Though enforcement in the outer sect was more lenient than in the inner sect, it did not mean the elders could simply turn a blind eye.
Lin Tian's trapping formation was precisely meant to hold the three brothers in place until the elders arrived.
"Senior brother, thank you—truly," Jiang Tao said once they had left the medicinal fields, gratitude evident in his voice.
Because of his weak cultivation, Jiang Tao was thoroughly looked down upon within the outer sect. Were it not for his limited usefulness, he might not even have been able to remain on Medicine Peak. Yet Lin Tian had given him something he had not felt since entering the Xuanwu Sect—a rare warmth, the feeling of being genuinely protected.
"I can help you this time," Lin Tian said sincerely, looking at Jiang Tao, "but what will you do the next time you encounter those three?"
This time, Jiang Tao had indeed escaped disaster thanks to him. But escaping once did not mean escaping forever. As long as the Lu brothers remained in the Xuanwu Sect, Jiang Tao would never truly know peace.
Lin Tian could not help but feel deeply concerned about Jiang Tao's future.
"I… I don't know," Jiang Tao finally admitted after a long silence. He truly had no idea how to face the Lu brothers. After glancing at Lin Tian, he suddenly dropped to his knees. "Senior brother, please take me in as your junior."
"What did you say?" Lin Tian was completely stunned. He had spoken those words in hopes that Jiang Tao would grow stronger through his own efforts and no longer be oppressed by others. He had never imagined the man would make such a decision.
Yet when Lin Tian met Jiang Tao's earnest gaze, he understood that changing his mind in such a short time was impossible.
"Very well. I'll take you in," Lin Tian said after a moment's thought. "But there are things I must make clear in advance. I cannot carry dead weight by my side forever. Your strength must reach my standards. If you ever become a burden, I will abandon you without hesitation."
"Alright!" Jiang Tao agreed instantly, without the slightest pause. Having someone willing to protect him was already beyond his wildest dreams; as for everything else, he scarcely gave it any thought.
Just as Lin Tian gave his assent, three furious roars echoed from the direction of the medicinal fields. Hearing them, Lin Tian nodded in quiet satisfaction—he knew all too well what had caused such enraged cries.
At the moment, however, he had no interest in paying them any attention. Not long ago, a message had arrived through his Beast Peak deacon's token.
He had no idea what had happened, but the tone of the message was unmistakably urgent. Something serious had clearly occurred on Beast Peak. What Lin Tian could not understand was why, when trouble had arisen there, he was being summoned—after all, he was nothing more than an outer disciple.