Forty years old, awakening attribute panel

Chapter 264

Suddenly, the steward announced loudly: "Lin Langtian wins this round!"

The sound echoed in the field, like a thunderclap, causing cheers and screams from the audience. They all stood up and applauded, cheering for Lin Langtian's victory. After hearing the announcement, Lin Langtian's face did not change much, but just nodded slightly to signal to the audience.

After the intense competition, Jiang Sheng returned to the guest room prepared by the Lin family for their external disciples, feeling a little tired and deeply moved.

The guest rooms are located on the east side of the Lin family's main house. Rows of simple and elegant courtyards are scattered in an orderly manner. The bluestone-paved paths are winding and various flowers and plants are planted on both sides, emitting a faint fragrance. The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkles in the courtyard, adding a bit of warmth to this quiet space.

Jiang Sheng pushed open the door and walked in. Although the room was not big, it was very neat and elegant. The wooden furniture exuded a faint wood fragrance. On the desk in front of the window was a set of exquisite tea sets, and next to it was an open ancient book. There were several landscape paintings hanging on the wall, adding a bit of literary and artistic atmosphere to the room.

Jiang Sheng walked to the bed and sat down, sighing deeply. He recalled the game just now, and a complex emotion surged in his heart. He thought of Lin Langtian's deep and firm eyes, and his smooth and elegant movements, and felt a little envy and admiration in his heart. But at the same time, he also knew his shortcomings and areas where he needed to work hard.

Jiang Sheng stood in front of the window, his eyes firm and deep, as if he could see through the setting sun and reach the goal in his heart. He whispered to himself: "I must work hard to practice and constantly improve my strength." Every word was full of determination and perseverance, as if it was his promise to his future.

Then, Jiang Sheng gently closed his eyes, formed seals with his hands, and a faint spiritual power surged out of his body. He silently chanted the summoning spell in his heart, summoning his spirit beast - the Fiery Eyebrowed Red Bearded Beast Wildfire.

As the spell was chanted, a red light flashed from Jiang Sheng's palm and gradually condensed into the form of a young spirit beast. The spirit beast was covered with red hair, and its eyes flashed with a fiery light, as if it could ignite everything around it. There was an obvious flame pattern between its eyebrows, giving people a majestic and mysterious feeling.

After Wildfire transformed into a cub, it leaped lightly and floated onto Jiang Sheng's shoulder. It looked at Jiang Sheng with its tender but firm eyes, as if it was waiting for its master's instructions.

Jiang Sheng and Huanghuo communicated through summoning thoughts. He gently stroked Huanghuo's hair and conveyed his determination and belief with his thoughts: "Huanghuo, we must work hard together to cultivate and continuously improve our strength. The road ahead is still long, and we must face challenges together and grow together."

Jiang Sheng and Huanghuo established a special connection through summoning thoughts. He gently stroked Huanghuo's soft and smooth hair, and every touch seemed to feel the power surging in Huanghuo's body. Jiang Sheng's thoughts echoed in Huanghuo's mind, and he deeply conveyed his determination and belief: "Huanghuo, we must work hard together to practice, constantly break through ourselves, and pursue higher realms. The road ahead is full of unknowns and challenges, but I believe that as long as we fight side by side, nothing can stop us from moving forward."

Wildfire seemed to understand every word Jiang Sheng said. Its eyes flashed with a fiery light, as if responding to its master's call. In Jiang Sheng's mind, Wildfire's voice gradually became clearer. It responded with a tender but firm voice: "Master, I heard your determination. I will always be by your side, providing you with strength and protecting you from the wind and rain. No matter what challenges we face, we must face them together and grow together."

Jiang Sheng felt Huang Huo's response, and a warm feeling surged in his heart. He smiled and continued to communicate with Huang Huo with his mind: "Thank you, Huang Huo. With your company, I am more confident to face future challenges. Let us work together and become the strongest partners."

Huanghuo nodded gently, as if comforting his master in his own way. He floated in front of Jiang Sheng and rubbed his head against his cheek, as if telling him, "Master, don't worry. With me here, you will never be alone."

Jiang Sheng was amused by Huang Huo's behavior and laughed softly. He reached out his hand, gently stroked Huang Huo's head, and said, "You little guy, you really know how to comfort people."

In Jiang Sheng's mind, the wild fire seemed to laugh as well. It responded to Jiang Sheng's joke in its own way, as if to say, "Master, I am your partner, so of course I have to know how to make you happy."

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Jiang Sheng turned around and saw a servant standing at the door, saying respectfully, "Master Jiang Sheng, dinner is ready. Please come to the restaurant for dinner."

Jiang Sheng nodded and replied, "Okay, I'll go right away." He sorted out his clothes and walked out of the room. He knew that this was the rules and etiquette he needed to follow as a member of the Lin family's outer disciple. But he also believed that as long as he kept working hard, one day he would be able to stand on a higher stage and show his strength and style.

Jiang Sheng left the guest room and walked slowly along the bluestone path to the restaurant. The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the road, reflecting his firm steps. The restaurant is located in the central area of ​​the Lin family's main house. The architectural style is simple and elegant, surrounded by green trees and flowers.

Jiang Sheng gently pushed open the door and walked out of the room, his footsteps echoing slightly on the bluestone slabs. He walked along the winding path, the flowers and plants on both sides of the road swaying gently in the breeze, exuding a faint fragrance, which made people feel relaxed and happy.

After walking through several corridors, he finally arrived at the restaurant of the Lin family. The restaurant's appearance was simple and elegant, with delicate patterns carved on the wooden doors and windows, revealing a low-key luxury. A wooden plaque was hung on the lintel, with the four characters "Lin Family Restaurant" written in golden font, which looked solemn and elegant.

Entering the restaurant, the interior design is also eye-catching. The restaurant is cleverly divided into three areas: A, B, and C. The decoration and atmosphere of each area are completely different. Area A is decorated with a variety of precious tableware and decorations, which are dazzling; Area B is relatively simple, but also tasteful, and every corner reveals a sense of refinement; while Area C is more plain, but also clean and tidy, giving people a sense of intimacy.

Jiang Sheng's eyes swept around the restaurant and finally stopped at an empty table in the C-level area. He walked over and sat down, looking around. Although the C-level area was not as luxurious as the A-level and B-level areas, every detail was handled very well. The wooden dining table and chairs exuded a faint wood fragrance, and there were several landscape paintings hanging on the wall, adding a bit of literary atmosphere to the restaurant. The sunlight outside the window poured in through the window and shone on the dining table, forming a mottled light and shadow, giving people a warm and comfortable feeling.

Jiang Sheng secretly felt fortunate. Although he had limited pocket money and could only dine here, he was very satisfied with the environment and atmosphere here.

Jiang Sheng walked slowly along the edge of the Class C restaurant, his eyes casually swept past the window seat, and saw two familiar figures in his sight - the brothers Lin Xuan and Lin Yi. Lin Xuan was tall and upright, like a towering ancient tree, with a handsome face and a pair of deep eyes that revealed the calmness and confidence unique to aristocrats. Lin Yi, who was sitting next to him, was a little immature, but his eyes were shining with intelligence, like a bright star.

The two were talking in low voices, laughing happily from time to time. Seeing this, Jiang Sheng could not help but quicken his pace, walked forward, and greeted with a smile: "Brother Lin Xuan, Brother Lin Yi, you are also having dinner here."

Lin Xuan heard the voice and looked up. Seeing that it was Jiang Sheng, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He stood up and greeted him warmly: "Brother Jiang Sheng, long time no see. Are you here for dinner too? Why don't you sit together?"

Jiang Sheng readily agreed, and the three of them sat around the dining table. Lin Yi also greeted Jiang Sheng enthusiastically, and the atmosphere between the three of them suddenly became relaxed and pleasant.

After sitting down, Lin Xuan was the first to break the silence. He gently picked up the chopsticks, picked up a piece of food and put it into his mouth, then smiled and said, "Brother Jiang Sheng, I heard that you performed well in the martial arts competition. It really impressed people."

Jiang Sheng waved his hands modestly and replied, "No, no, I just won by luck. Brother Lin Xuan and Brother Lin Yi, your performance in the martial arts competition was truly outstanding."

Hearing this, Lin Yi showed a proud smile on his face. He excitedly interrupted and said, "Yes, we two brothers have tried our best. Especially my brother, his swordsmanship is getting better and better."

When Lin Xuan heard his brother's praise, he couldn't help but smile with pride.

Hearing this, Lin Yi's face lit up with a brilliant smile, his eyes sparkling with excitement, as if he wanted to release all his pride. He excitedly interrupted, "Brother, you are right! We two brothers really gave our all in the martial arts competition. Especially your swordsmanship, it has reached the level of perfection, which is beyond the reach of others."

When Lin Xuan heard his brother praising him like this, he couldn't help but smile with pride. He nodded slightly, as if he was humbly accepting the praise, but the light in his eyes revealed his inner pride.

At this time, Lin Yi seemed to remember something, his eyes became brighter, and then he said: "By the way, brother, do you know who my opponent is? His summoned beast is a bird like mine - the Flame Falcon. However, his realm is not as high as mine, and his tacit understanding with the summoned beast is not as high as mine. My Suzuki Bird Wing showed extraordinary strength as soon as he came on the court, and a few clever attacks put the opponent in trouble. In the end, I won by chance, it was so exciting!"

As Lin Yi spoke, he gestured with his hands, as if he was describing the battle scene at that time. His face was filled with a smug smile, and his eyes were full of desire for victory and love for fighting. His Suzuki bird seemed to have sensed the excitement of its master, and it gently flapped its wings, making a pleasant chirping sound.

Lin Xuan couldn't help laughing when he saw his brother's excitement. He gently patted Lin Yi on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Brother, you did a great job. The tacit understanding with the summoned beast is one of the keys to victory in battle, and you did a great job in this regard. Keep practicing hard, there is still a long way to go in the future."

Jiang Sheng nodded in agreement. He said with deep feeling: "That's true. The martial arts competition is not only a stage to show strength, but also a battlefield to sharpen our will. Only by experiencing challenges and failures can we better understand our own shortcomings and work harder to practice."

Lin Yi smiled and comforted him, "Brother Jiang Sheng, don't underestimate yourself. The road of cultivation is long and difficult. As long as you persevere, you will achieve something."

The three of them exchanged their thoughts and experiences on cultivation while dining. The atmosphere in the restaurant was warm and harmonious, with occasional whispers from waiters and the sound of cutlery colliding.

At this time, a loud noise broke the silence of the restaurant. Lin Yan, the son of the law enforcement elder of the Lin family, walked out of the first-class restaurant. His steps were brisk and arrogant, and every step seemed to show his status and dignity to others. He was followed by two fawning younger brothers who followed Lin Yan all the way and kept showing their courtesy.

Lin Yan's eyes swept around the restaurant, and finally fixed on Jiang Sheng, Lin Xuan, and Lin Yi. A mocking arc appeared on the corner of his mouth, and his eyes revealed his disdain for the three people.

"Hey, isn't this Jiang Sheng? And Lin Xuan and Lin Yi, why are they dining in a Class C restaurant?" Lin Yan said sarcastically, his voice full of provocation.

Jiang Sheng and the other two frowned slightly when they heard this, but they did not get angry. Lin Xuan stood up and responded calmly: "Lin Yan, we dine here does not mean that we are worse than you, it's just that everyone has their own choice."

Hearing this, Lin Yan couldn't help but sneer. He walked in front of the three people, put his hands on his hips, and looked down on them. His two younger brothers followed closely behind, standing aside to cheer them on. "Choice? Humph, I think you don't have money! In the Lin family, strength is everything. If you don't have money, you can only eat leftovers here." Lin Yan sneered, his voice getting louder and louder, attracting the attention of people around him.

Seeing this, Lin Yi couldn't help but stand up and wanted to refute. But Jiang Sheng gently pulled him back, signaling him not to be impulsive. Jiang Sheng took a deep breath and said as calmly as possible: "Lin Yan, we don't have to settle the grudge between us here. Please respect others and yourself."

When Lin Yan heard Jiang Sheng's words, the mockery on his face became even stronger. He widened his eyes, pointed at Jiang Sheng's nose and said, "Respect? Do you deserve it? A loser who can only eat in a third-class restaurant, do you deserve respect?"

Jiang Sheng frowned, but he knew he couldn't do anything at this time, otherwise it would only make things worse. He suppressed his anger and silently endured Lin Yan's ridicule.

Lin Xuan and Lin Yi also stood aside, clenching their fists, their eyes filled with anger.

The diners around were shocked by Lin Yan's arrogance. They whispered to each other, shook their heads and sighed. Some people looked at Jiang Sheng, Lin Xuan and Lin Yi with sympathy, as if they were standing up for them; while others chose to remain silent. After all, in the Lin family, where strength is respected, the law of the jungle is the norm, and they are powerless.

Seeing that no one directly refuted him, Lin Yan became even more complacent, and his laughter echoed in the restaurant, sounding particularly harsh. He continued to mock Jiang Sheng and the other two, and his words became more and more excessive.

Jiang Sheng listened to Lin Yan's ridicule, and his heart was burning with anger. But he knew that this was not the time to be impulsive, and he had to remain calm. On the surface, he catered to Lin Yan, with a slight smile on his lips, as if he didn't care about his ridicule at all.

However, behind the smile, Jiang Sheng secretly performed a little magic trick "Open the Door". His fingers slid gently under the table, as if drawing something in the air. There was a sly flash in his eyes, as if he had already planned the next move.

Just when Lin Yan was getting carried away, Jiang Sheng suddenly stood up, pointed at Lin Yan's pants and said in surprise: "Brother Lin Yan, what's wrong with your pants?"

Lin Yan was attracted by Jiang Sheng's words and subconsciously looked down. At this time, he found that his belt had been untied and his pants were slowly slipping down. His face suddenly changed drastically, and he tried to grab his pants in panic, but it was too late.

"Hahaha..." There was a burst of laughter from all around. The diners looked at Lin Yan's embarrassed appearance and couldn't help laughing. Lin Yan's two younger brothers also stood there in a daze, not knowing what to do.

Lin Yan's anger was like a ignited flame, burning fiercely in his heart. He stared at Jiang Sheng angrily, his eyes full of anger and disbelief. He took a step forward, as if he wanted to rush towards Jiang Sheng, but then stopped.

He knew that he couldn't lose his temper in this situation, after all, there were so many people around watching. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down, but the redness of shame on his face was like a brand that was hard to fade away.

Lin Yan pointed at Jiang Sheng with a shaking finger, his voice filled with anger and trembling: "Jiang Sheng, what kind of gentleman are you? How dare you use such a despicable method to humiliate me!"

Jiang Sheng looked at Lin Yan's angry expression, and a mocking smile appeared on his lips. He responded calmly: "Brother Lin Yan, I am just treating a villain with a villain's method. You call yourself a gentleman, but you openly humiliate others in this restaurant. Is this what you call a gentleman's demeanor?"

Lin Yan was choked by Jiang Sheng's words and was speechless. His face turned pale and blue, as if he had been hit hard. He realized that he had lost his composure in front of everyone, which was undoubtedly a huge shame for him.

He clenched his fists in anger, wanting to refute Jiang Sheng, but swallowed the words back when they came to his lips. He knew that he had already lost in this situation, and arguing further would only make himself more embarrassed.

In the end, Lin Yan could only suppress his anger and turned away in disgrace. His back looked extremely lonely and embarrassed under the lights of the restaurant.

Lin Yi had a worried look on his face, and his brows were furrowed, as if he was thinking about something important. He stood up slowly, his steps steady but heavy, as if every step carried his worries about the future. When he walked to Jiang Sheng's side, he stopped and stared at Jiang Sheng's face, as if trying to read something from his expression.

He leaned down slightly and lowered his voice as if he was afraid of being heard by others: "Jiang Sheng, although your behavior just now made Lin Yan suffer a loss, you also know that people like him will never give up. He will definitely find fault with you in other ways, and may even use more insidious means to suppress you. You must be more careful."

Lin Yi's words were full of concern and worry, and his eyes revealed his deep worry for Jiang Sheng. He unconsciously clenched his hands into fists, as if he was nervous for Jiang Sheng.

Jiang Sheng nodded, a hint of determination flashed in his eyes. He smiled and said, "Thank you for your reminder. I will be careful. However, I will not allow myself to be bullied. If he dares to attack me, I will naturally have a plan to deal with it."

Lin Xuan stood aside, his eyes deep, he observed the conversation between Jiang Sheng and Lin Yi, a trace of worry flashed across his face. He knew Lin Yan's character very well, that he was a narrow-minded person who would never let go of any grudge. He frowned slightly, and added in a low and serious voice: "Jiang Sheng, you must be careful. Lin Yan, once he holds a grudge against you, he will not let you go."

As he spoke, he made a careful gesture, and gently crossed his throat with his right index finger, as if simulating an invisible knife, indicating that Jiang Sheng should always be vigilant, because Lin Yan's suppression could be fatal. Although this action was small, it was full of warning meaning.

Lin Xuan's eyes revealed his concern and worry for Jiang Sheng. He continued, "In the Lin family, Lin Yan's strength and resources are far superior to yours. He has plenty of ways to deal with you. Whether it's suppressing you openly or framing you secretly, you have to be on guard."

Jiang Sheng took a deep breath and kept the two people's words in mind. He knew that he was just a branch family member in this big family, and it was not easy to gain a foothold. But he also believed that as long as he worked hard enough and was cautious enough, he would be able to gain a foothold in this family.

He looked at Lin Yi and Lin Xuan with gratitude and said, "Thank you, it's great to have friends like you."

Lin Yi and Lin Xuan also smiled when they heard this.

The three of them returned to the guest room together. Lin Yi and Lin Xuan returned to their own rooms, while Jiang Sheng lay on the bed, thinking about a lot of things. As the night deepened, the moonlight outside the window was like water, sprinkling on Jiang Sheng's bed, creating a quiet and mysterious atmosphere.

Jiang Sheng lay in bed, tossing and turning, but still couldn't fall asleep. His mind kept replaying the conflict with Lin Yan during the day, as well as the reminders from Lin Yi and Lin Xuan. He knew that he was in a difficult situation in this big family and had to stay vigilant at all times.

At this moment, Jiang Sheng's eyes fell on the stone talisman he had accidentally picked up during the day. He sat up, took out the stone talisman from his arms, and looked at it carefully in his palm.

The stone talisman was round, and its surface was covered with traces of time, making it look simple and mysterious. Jiang Sheng gently stroked the stone talisman, feeling a cool touch, as if a chill spread from his fingertips to his whole body. He carefully observed the lines on the stone talisman, which were intricate and seemed to contain some profound mystery.

Jiang Sheng held the stone talisman in front of his eyes. The moonlight shone through the window onto the stone talisman, giving it a layer of silver-white brilliance. He stared at the tiny groove in the center of the stone talisman. The groove was like a sleeping eye, quietly waiting to be awakened.

Driven by his curiosity, Jiang Sheng stretched out his finger and lightly touched the groove. At that moment, a faint vibration came from the stone talisman, as if an invisible ripple spread across his fingertips.

Then, Jiang Sheng's eyes suddenly went dark, as if he was sucked into an unknown space by a powerful force. His consciousness began to blur, and everything around him became distorted and blurry.

Gradually, Jiang Sheng's consciousness began to become clear. He found himself in a mysterious space, surrounded by a faint mist, hazy and mysterious. He looked around and saw that the space was full of strange runes and patterns, which flashed a faint light, as if containing some powerful power.

Jiang Sheng's heartbeat quickened, and he felt an unprecedented shock and excitement. He took a step carefully, and the ground beneath his feet gave him a strange touch, as if he was walking on soft clouds. He reached out and touched the runes and patterns around him, and the touch from his fingers was cold and hard, but it also brought an indescribable wonderful feeling.

"Where is this place?" Jiang Sheng asked himself. His voice echoed in the space, seeming empty and distant. He felt a strong desire to explore and uncover the secrets behind this mysterious space.

He took a deep breath, calmed down his excitement, and began to carefully observe the runes and patterns around him. He tried to interpret their meaning, but found that these runes and patterns did not seem to belong to any kind of writing or symbol system he was familiar with. He felt confused for a while, but at the same time he was more determined to explore.

Jiang Sheng's mind was full of thoughts and guesses, and he tried to connect these runes and patterns with everything he knew. He realized that this mysterious space might be closely linked to his destiny, and the stone runes were the key to this space.

After wandering in the mysterious space for a long time, Jiang Sheng gradually felt tired and uneasy. He knew that he couldn't stay in this place for too long, otherwise he might fall into unpredictable danger. He took a deep breath and decided to leave this mysterious space.

When he touched the stone talisman again, a familiar vibration came, and his consciousness began to gradually blur. When he opened his eyes again, he found that he had returned to the real world, and the stone talisman in his hand still emitted a faint light. Jiang Sheng's heartbeat accelerated, and his breathing became rapid. He felt an unprecedented excitement and curiosity surging in his heart, like a tide that was difficult to contain. He examined the stone talisman in his hand again. He said to himself: "This is definitely not an ordinary stone talisman."

(End of this chapter)