Richest Man: Divine-Grade Reconstruct System Chapter 1014 - 974: Intimidation

At the same moment, the realization struck him: his subordinate was utterly outmatched by the opponent. This immediate understanding of the situation flooded Lord Liu with the certainty that the adversary had come fully prepared. Mulling it over, it became glaringly obvious why. How else could they have infiltrated his residence with such ease and arrived before everyone in this dramatic fashion if not through superior skill?

Gazing at the gaping hole in the ceiling and then at Lin Yi, who continued his meal completely unscathed and composed, Lord Liu’s apprehension began to mount. He couldn't fathom the identity of this individual, nor his intentions for being present or his ultimate objectives.

Once he grasped that his primary subordinate was no match for the intruder, Lord Liu swiftly bellowed an order to the outside, summoning his reserves. In response to his call, a torrent of soldiers, who had been surrounding the perimeter, surged into the room. In the blink of an eye, no fewer than twenty men flooded the space. Naturally, this was constrained by the room's limited capacity; had space permitted, a far greater number of troops would have likely poured in.

Only after these reinforcements had barged in did Lord Liu's composure visibly return. Though initially taken aback by Lin Yi's formidable prowess, he now felt confident that sheer numbers would prevail, regardless of how powerful Lin Yi might be. As long as he gave the command, Lin Yi could be apprehended. With this thought, Lord Liu wasted no further time and directly addressed his advancing men: "Listen well, whoever captures him will receive fifty taels of silver immediately."

The mention of a monetary reward ignited a feverish glint in their eyes. Each soldier tensed, fixated on Lin Yi. Greed spurred them on, fearing that someone else might secure the prize, thereby costing them their potential fifty taels if this seemingly weak opponent were quickly subdued.

Observing this eager throng, Lin Yi couldn't help but shake his head with a hint of amusement. Such bold posturing stemmed from sheer ignorance! They failed to notice their leader incapacitated and vomiting blood on the ground, yet they still dared to charge him. What if he knocked them all down too? Contemplating this, Lin Yi acted without hesitation, unleashing a series of swift palm strikes behind him. Those at the forefront of the charge were sent careening backward like kites with severed strings, crashing violently.

Given the confined quarters, all thirty-odd men stood packed together. Consequently, when Lin Yi’s palms connected, they collided with those behind them, creating a domino effect of chaos. From the initially bustling group exceeding thirty, fewer than five remained upright. The onslaught didn't cease there; many who fell clutched their chests, writhing in agony, as Lin Yi's potent strikes had rendered them utterly incapable of further combat. Even the few still standing faltered, exchanging hesitant glances, rooted to the spot.

They recognized their inability to contend with this formidable individual. To press the attack would almost certainly result in their own injury. Thus, a profound silence descended upon the scene once more. At this juncture, the nonchalant Lin Yi finally set down his chopsticks. Rising slowly, his gaze shifted for the first time towards the soldiers positioned at the doorway. Instinctively, as his eyes swept over them, the soldiers recoiled, their faces etched with visible fear. Even Lin Yi couldn't articulate the precise reason for their reaction. Perhaps it was an aura of authority he projected, or merely the residual impact of his earlier display; the possibilities were numerous.

Lin Yi surveyed the remaining men, his attention eventually settling upon Lord Liu and his immediate entourage. Lord Liu's face drained of color; he hadn't anticipated Lin Yi possessing such overwhelming power. Not only had he effortlessly defeated his chief subordinate, but he had also dispatched the thirty soldiers with complete ease. Even a well-trained squad would struggle to withstand such a brutal encounter. That Lin Yi, acting alone, had achieved this overwhelming victory was utterly beyond comprehension. Without even a directed attack, they lay defeated, and the few soldiers still standing lacked the courage to engage further.

This outcome was precisely what Lin Yi had anticipated; he had foreseen their inevitable reaction. Although Lord Liu boasted of a loyal army exceeding ten thousand, claiming their readiness for rebellion, Lin Yi saw through the pretense. Only a handful of high-ranking officials were truly complicit with him, and merely a few Generals maintained close ties. The rest, he recognized, were essentially mercenaries, bound by loyalty only to the highest bidder. His cold gaze swept across their ranks, and he addressed them calmly: "I understand you are soldiers of the Dayou Nation. Surely, you would not willingly serve as this man’s pawns, would you? Very well, I am granting you an opportunity: tie him up. Him and his associates."

This proclamation utterly stunned Lord Liu, who never foresaw his own words being turned against him and delivered by this young man. His face flushed crimson as the sharp retort echoed, striking him deeply. [To be continued....]