Chapter 857: Heartache
"Earth American Federation..."
"Earth Huaxia Organization..."
"Sentenced to death!"
"Sentence them to death!"
As Lin Yun's words of judgment rang out above the Earth, one after another, the high-ranking members of Earth's local organizations were eradicated.
"What?"
"How could this be?"
"Aren't we all humans from Earth? Why would Lin Yun kill us? Could it be that Lin Yun isn't just dealing with cultivators from the Immortal World and the Heavenly Realm to stand up for the humans of Earth?"
"No! I can't accept this! Lin Yun is truly a despicable man! He's using this incident to purge those who are not part of Qingyun Company, to eliminate dissenters!"
"I surrender! I'll join Qingyun Company, don't kill me..."
It wasn't just the high-ranking members of the major sects in the Immortal Origin World who were terrified. Many of the leaders of Earth's major powers were also in a state of panic, especially those who were named one by one. They, too, were driven into a frenzy, screaming their heads off.
Some angrily criticized Lin Yun but subconsciously forgot that when they were previously oppressed by the forces of Immortal Origin World, they didn't feel much anger, mostly fear, because they naturally assumed that the Immortal Origin World and Earth were two different worlds. The strength of Immortal Origin World's cultivators far surpassed theirs, so wasn't it normal for them to be oppressed?
Perhaps many ordinary people of Earth couldn't see the big picture, but those at the top of the major powers had a deeper understanding of the survival of the fittest.
The reason they were angry with Lin Yun is that he, like them, was a human from Earth. In their eyes, the cultivators of Immortal Origin World were foreign enemies. It was fine for Lin Yun to deal with external enemies however he pleased, but to deal with them in the same manner was unacceptable.
This is why, sometimes, being hurt by one's own people is the most infuriating reason of all.
They had forgotten how they, at first, mistreated their fellow humans on Earth and killed them while willingly serving as vassals for the cultivators of Immortal Origin World.
They also didn't know that Lin Yun wasn't just taking a stand for Earth's humans this time.
Lin Yun also held another title, that of the Lord of Immortal Origin.
Lin Yun was executing the justice in his heart.
Similarly, all the clamor from these Earthlings was to no avail, and they were promptly eradicated by Lin Yun one by one.
"Good! This is just great!"
"These scoundrels deserved to die a long time ago!"
"Haha! The heavens have eyes! At last, they've been killed by someone! Thank you, heavens! No, thanks to Lin Yun! Thank you, Lin Yun!"
"Thank you, Lin Yun!"
"Many thanks to Lin Yun for administering justice on our behalf!"
Many ordinary people of Earth, upon hearing Lin Yun start the judgment against their fellow Earthlings, were initially shocked, but then they voiced their excitement and gratitude.
What shocked them was Lin Yun beginning to deal with Earthlings, but they quickly realized that Lin Yun was targeting the scum of Earth's humanity. So why would they fear him?
Their hearts were filled with excitement and gratitude. Many of those who had been oppressed by those people over the years even knelt in the direction of Lin Yun and his group, continuously expressing their gratitude with tears streaming down their faces.
For years, they had suffered too much injustice and oppression. The damage inflicted upon them by those Earthly scoundrels even surpassed that of the cultivators from the Immortal World and Heavenly Realm. Finally, someone was speaking and standing up for them.
Thousands of miles away from Shen City lay a town, Immortal Origin County.
On the outskirts of the town, inside the hall of a tall building.
Countless young female employees were glued to the central display screen in the staff lounge. Most of these women were very young, and many girls watching the video of Lin Yun and his companions were visibly excited, their faces flushed with emotion.
Lin Yun had reached the pinnacle of strength, surpassing even the average Saint Lord Realm, and whether it was his change in appearance or his overall demeanor, he was top-tier. Even through the display screen, his extraordinary charm was undeniable to these ordinary girls.
Not to mention, Lin Yun had also demonstrated immense power, and at that moment, in the eyes of many Earthlings, he was almost seen as the savior of Earth's humanity.
Intelligent life forms often worship strength, and humans are no exception. Such an outstanding Lin Yun naturally made these young girls' hearts flutter.
"Lin Yun is so handsome! Plus, I heard he's very young. If only I could be his girlfriend..."
"Give it up, will you? Look at your appearance, and then look at the two girls beside him, both as beautiful as celestial beings. It's never going to be your turn..."
"Can't I even dream about it?"
"I'm just asking you to be realistic! I don't aspire to be his girlfriend; I only hope to see him in reality. Rumor has it that he's from our very own Immortal Origin County. I wonder if he'll ever visit..."
A group of young girls chattered away.
In a corner, one girl was watching the large screen in front and couldn't help but smile bitterly.
If Lin Yun were here, he might recognize the girl. She was one Yan Lee, a girl he had once met for a blind date in Immortal Origin County.
Now, more than a decade had passed since Lin Yun's blind date with her, and although she was in her thirties, the arrival of cultivation on Earth and various technological elixirs had significantly extended the lifespan of Earth's humans. She still looked quite young and indeed, was still quite youthful.
Back then, she looked down on Lin Yun, thinking he was unworthy of her. Later, when Lin Yun helped her grandfather with his cart, she thought it was a little scheme born out of Lin Yun's pursuit of her.
The events that followed made her realize that it was all her own wishful thinking, not that Lin Yun was unworthy of her, but that she was unworthy of Lin Yun. His identity and status were far beyond what she could match.
At the time, the realization left her utterly ashamed.
Later on, perhaps she herself wasn't clear about it, but this once close and special contact made her develop a complex feeling for Lin Yun, and it significantly raised her standards... to the point that, in the past decade, even though many boys courted her, she never fell in love again.
Watching the big screen, Lin Yun was sentencing legendary figures to death, one after another. The top beings from the Immortal World and Heavenly Realm were trembling on their knees before Lin Yun, while he appeared as calm as a breeze.
He was indeed very charming...
The infatuated stares of many colleagues around her proved this point.
In that moment, Yan Lee couldn't help but reflect on herself, questioning how she could have been so blind as to not fancy him back then. Perhaps, if she had taken an interest in him, there might have been a chance?
Maybe, she could have gotten to know him earlier... it wasn't impossible. Her aunt lived in the same village as Lin Yun, and if she had visited her aunt more often and made use of her aunt's relationship with Lin Yun's family... It was said that Lin Yun's conditions back then had been quite ordinary, which would have made her chances with him even greater.
At the very least, things wouldn't have turned out so awkward later on.
What a pity...
A whirlwind of messy thoughts raced through her mind before she let out a soft sigh.
In truth, she knew that whatever she had done in the past, she and Lin Yun were unlikely to be together. Perhaps, if she had gotten to know Lin Yun earlier, there might have been a slim chance, but with her mindset at the time, how could she have fancied Lin Yun?
Yet, she couldn't help but indulge in some fantasies.
However, the one with the greatest regrets should not be her.
Pausing, another thought crossed Yan Lee's mind.
With that in mind, she looked up towards another corner.
There, a girl was staring blankly at the big screen, her face pale.
This girl was her best friend, Zhang Hui, who had been with her during her blind date with Lin Yun.
She had another identity; she was the ex-girlfriend of Zhao Gang, Lin Yun's close friend.
Unlike her negligible chances with Lin Yun, Zhao Gang had once been deeply infatuated with Zhang Hui. Had it not been for her family's objections and her own wavering doubts, belittling Zhao Gang's circumstances, the two would've likely ended up together.
Back then, Zhao Gang was the person Lin Yun trusted most and was very prominent on Earth.
At that moment, on the big screen, Zhao Gang stood by Lin Yun's side. Although not as noticeable as Lin Yun, he still shone brightly upon closer inspection.
The accumulation of many resources had brought Zhao Gang to the twelfth level, his demeanor and charm naturally extraordinary, far surpassing the average Earth human.
If not for Lin Yun's dazzling presence on the big screen, Zhao Gang alone would also be an incredibly charismatic top figure.
Just take the female colleagues around her; many fancied Zhao Gang, quietly discussing him.
Yet, they were sensible enough to know their limits; Lin Yun was too eye-catching, as were the women beside him, their brilliance causing even the most confident to feel inferior.
Blinded by his brilliance, they dared not fantasize about any romantic feelings for Lin Yun, so they settled for shifting their attention to the men by his side, like Zhao Gang, Xia Xiaotian, and Lin Jianfei.
Such a top-notch figure... and yet, Zhang Hui had missed her chance...
Yan Lee felt heartache for her best friend.
But inside, she couldn't help but sigh, it was all fate!
In truth, her best friend did have feelings for Zhao Gang back then, but due to continuous persuasion from her family and the influence of the environment, she wavered and ultimately chose the son of a small county bureau chief.
Looking back now, how laughable that choice was.
The son of a small county bureau chief, how could he compare to the current Zhao Gang?
Not to mention that the bureau chief's son later got caught and imprisoned. Even if he hadn't, he probably couldn't compare to even a hair of the current Zhao Gang.
Yet, who could have foreseen Zhao Gang's astonishing rise from his destitute state back then?
Zhang Hui had not expected it, nor had her family, nor anyone else... In the end, missing out on this great opportunity and relationship.
Listening to her colleagues' excited chatter, Yan Lee felt a sharp pain in her heart, for her unrealistic fantasies and even more for Zhang Hui.
"Boss Lin... is so strong... so incredible..."
"I actually... collaborated with Lin Yun before? That's... that's..."
"I used to call Lin Yun my brother..."
"I knew it, partnering with Qingyun Company wasn't a mistake. I saw right away that Lin Yun and Qingyun Company were no ordinary entities, haha..."
Around the world, many businessmen who had worked with Lin Yun, especially those who had collaborated with him early on, watched the scene on the big screens with excitement, saying.
They were thrilled not only for Earth's humanity, now represented by Lin Yun, but also for the fact that they had known Lin Yun and interacted with him. Such an event was the most dazzling experience of their lives, something they could boast about for a lifetime.