Evening descended upon the southern border of the Da Cang Empire.
The sky above Black Swamp City was covered by layers of dark clouds.
The setting sun struggled to illuminate the land, yet its light seemed unable to penetrate the darkness surrounding the city.
Black Swamp City.
The territory controlled by Yu Long Sect.
Inside a vast hall.
Rows upon rows of black stone chairs stood on both sides like silent guards.
Yet despite the enormous hall—
only three people were present.
At the center sat a man wearing black robes embroidered with dragon patterns.
His eyes were cold.
His presence was deep and unfathomable.
Yu Long Wei.
The Sect Leader of Yu Long Sect.
The man responsible for the destruction of Myriad Frost City.
The enemy whom Lin Shuan had sworn to kill.
To his right sat Hei Wu.
To his left stood Sha Ming.
The atmosphere inside the hall felt heavy enough to suffocate ordinary cultivators.
Nobody spoke.
Until Sha Ming stepped forward.
Lowering his head respectfully, he said,
"Leader Long Wei... Master Hei Wu..."
"That boy, Lin Shuan..."
His voice trembled slightly.
"He is far more terrifying than we expected."
The room became silent.
Sha Ming continued.
"He nearly killed First Commander Mo Chen."
"He did so while only possessing Meridian Tracer cultivation."
"I still cannot understand how such a thing is possible."
The hall fell completely silent.
Even Hei Wu narrowed his eyes.
Memories resurfaced within his mind.
The Primordial Garden.
The mysterious youth.
The strange beast.
The terrifying combat ability.
After a long silence, Hei Wu finally spoke.
"That day in the Primordial Garden..."
"There was something beside him."
His eyes narrowed.
"A strange creature."
"I cannot explain what it was."
"It was neither dragon nor serpent."
"Yet its aura was frightening."
Hei Wu slowly tapped the armrest.
"After obtaining that creature..."
"Lin Shuan somehow gained strength comparable to an Immortal Seed."
"He fought multiple experts simultaneously."
"Even I found it troublesome to leave safely."
A dangerous light flashed through his eyes.
"But according to Mo Chen's report..."
"That creature was not present during their battle."
"If that is true..."
"How did Lin Shuan fight a Peak Nine-Star Immortal Seed?"
The hall became silent again.
Nobody possessed an answer.
Yu Long Wei slowly opened his eyes.
"Lin Shuan..."
The name echoed softly throughout the hall.
Yet it sounded colder than winter.
"From the moment I entered the Lin Clan years ago..."
"I knew that child was abnormal."
Sha Ming looked up.
Yu Long Wei continued.
"The seal on his forehead."
"I sensed something."
"Something dangerous."
"Something that even I could not understand."
His eyes grew darker.
"Perhaps that seal was involved."
"Perhaps it allowed him to defeat Mo Chen."
Hei Wu frowned.
"But I have never seen him use it."
"I heard that during the Imperial Arena competition..."
"He exposed his face before my nephew and Yan Lie."
His fists slowly clenched.
"Both died afterward."
The killing intent in the room surged.
Yu Long Wei sighed.
"Regardless of the truth..."
"We can no longer eliminate him alone."
"He is no longer a solitary cultivator."
"According to Mo Chen..."
"He is surrounded by Han Qing Li and ten Immortal Seeds."
"To provoke them directly would be foolish."
The room became silent.
Then—
all three men exchanged glances.
A moment later.
Their figures disappeared.
Whoosh!
The hall became empty.
A few moments later.
The three figures appeared atop a massive cliff outside the city.
Cold winds howled around them.
Far below—
a terrifying scene revealed itself.
Huge chains stretched across the valley.
Bound by those chains were enormous dragons.
Hundreds of them.
Their roars shook the mountains.
Their scales reflected the moonlight.
Among them—
one stood out.
An azure-colored dragon.
Its body stretched for hundreds of meters.
Its aura far exceeded the others.
An Azure Dragon.
Hei Wu smiled.
"Leader Long Wei truly prepared well."
His eyes gleamed.
"If we combine these dragons with our Black Panther Army..."
"We can create a beast tide."
Sha Ming's eyes brightened.
"A brilliant idea!"
"The border cities will fall."
"The Empire will panic."
Yu Long Wei stood quietly.
A faint smile appeared upon his face.
Looking at the distant north—
he seemed to already see the future.
A future where Yu Long Sect controlled everything.
A future where Lin Shuan knelt before him.
Unfortunately—
that future existed only within his imagination.
Far away.
Inside Cang Yue City.
A crimson-robed woman quietly moved a chess piece.
The room remained silent.
A soldier knelt before her.
After receiving his orders—
the soldier left.
The woman continued staring at the chessboard.
Her crimson eyes remained calm.
Yet within them—
a terrifying storm seemed to be gathering.
Hours later.
News spread throughout the empire.
"Yue Sha Empire still exists!"
"Yue Sha Empire infiltrators were discovered near Cang Yue City!"
"Remain vigilant!"
"Void Chaos is not our only enemy!"
The news exploded like thunder.
Markets erupted into chaos.
Restaurants became noisy.
Cultivators discussed it endlessly.
"What?!"
"Yue Sha Empire still exists?"
"I thought they were destroyed centuries ago!"
"Who discovered them?"
"If they dare infiltrate Cang Yue City..."
"Doesn't that mean war could return?"
Fear spread rapidly.
Many older cultivators became pale.
Because they remembered.
The horrors brought by Yue Sha Empire in the past.
And now—
those horrors seemed to be awakening once more.
While the empire trembled.
Far away.
Night had fully descended upon LinJian Sect.
The moon hung high above the mountains.
Silver light flowed across the stone roads like a gentle river.
The sect was unusually lively.
Torches illuminated the courtyards.
Disciples gathered in groups.
Excited discussions echoed throughout every corner of the sect.
Because today—
their mysterious Young Master had finally returned.
The heir of the Lin Clan.
The disciple personally acknowledged by Sect Leader Lin Mo.
The youth who had already become a legend before most people had even seen his face.
Inside the main hall—
dozens of figures sat quietly.
The atmosphere was solemn.
Yet beneath that solemnity existed excitement.
Hope.
And anticipation.
At the center of the hall sat Lin Shuan.
His white robes fluttered gently.
The ancient seal upon his forehead glowed faintly beneath the moonlight.
Han Qing Li sat beside him.
Yan Feng Luo leaned against a pillar.
Han Xue Long, Lei Yun Hua, Lei Hao Tian, Tai Gu Chen, Han Lei Jun, and the others occupied nearby seats.
The remaining Lin Clan survivors sat together.
Twenty-four people.
Only twenty-four.
Once—
the Lin Clan had ruled Myriad Frost City.
Once—
their influence stretched across the western border.
Now—
only twenty-four remained.
The contrast was enough to make anyone's heart ache.
A knock suddenly echoed.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
The hall doors slowly opened.
An elderly man entered.
The Third Elder.
The moment he saw Lin Shuan—
he stopped.
For several seconds—
he simply stared.
Then—
before everyone—
he cupped his fists deeply.
"Greetings, Young Master."
Silence filled the hall.
Many disciples lowered their heads.
At that moment—
everyone understood.
The decision made months ago had not changed.
The Lin Clan had already chosen.
Lin Shuan was their future.
Lin Shuan slowly rose.
"Third Elder."
The old man smiled.
Yet his eyes were already red.
Three years.
Three years of hiding.
Three years of running.
Three years of watching clansmen die.
And now—
the child they once protected had finally returned.
Lin Shuan looked around.
Then quietly asked,
"How many members of the Lin Clan survived?"
The hall instantly became silent.
The question felt like a knife.
The Third Elder lowered his head.
After several moments—
he answered.
"Twenty-eight."
The number echoed throughout the hall.
Twenty-eight.
That was all.
The once glorious Lin Clan had been reduced to twenty-eight people.
Lin Shuan slowly closed his eyes.
For a moment—
he couldn't speak.
His mother.
His father.
The First Elder.
The Second Elder.
Thousands of clansmen.
Gone.
Only twenty-eight remained.
He slowly opened his eyes again.
"I see twenty-four people here."
Lin Mo nodded.
"Lin Yuan is cultivating in seclusion."
"Lin Feng is with him."
"After hearing you returned..."
"He became frightened and immediately ran to Lin Yuan."
Several people couldn't help smiling.
Lin Shuan shook his head helplessly.
Some things never changed.
Lin Mo continued.
"Lin Zi Chen is also cultivating."
"The grandson of the First Elder."
Lin Shuan nodded.
Then—
Lin Mo hesitated briefly.
Before speaking one final name.
"Lin Qing Xue is cultivating as well."
The hall suddenly became quiet.
Lin Shuan froze.
Lin Qing Xue.
A distant memory surfaced.
A small girl standing beside him.
Snow falling from the sky.
Two families smiling.
An engagement decided long ago.
A promise made during childhood.
His expression became slightly complicated.
Han Qing Li silently observed him.
For the first time—
she became curious about the clan that had shaped Lin Shuan's past.
The clan he had never stopped carrying within his heart.
The Third Elder slowly stepped forward.
His voice became heavy.
"My fellow clansmen..."
His eyes swept across everyone.
Tears gradually appeared.
"Our Lin Clan has not disappeared."
"As long as we live..."
"No one will erase our name."
The hall became silent.
Many people lowered their heads.
Some were already crying.
The Third Elder continued.
"Our Clan Head..."
"Lin Zhen Hai."
"Our Lady."
"The First Elder."
"The Second Elder."
"All sacrificed themselves so we could survive."
"We hid for nearly three years."
"We endured humiliation."
"We endured fear."
"We endured loneliness."
His voice trembled.
"But now..."
"The time has come."
"The time to rebuild."
"The time to take revenge."
Boom.
His aura erupted.
"The responsibility of leading the Lin Clan..."
"Has already been entrusted to Young Master Lin Shuan."
The old man suddenly knelt.
"From this day forward..."
"Lin Shuan shall be the Clan Head of the Lin Clan!"
Boom!
The declaration echoed throughout the hall.
One by one—
the surviving clansmen stood.
Then knelt.
"Greetings, Clan Head!"
"Greetings, Clan Head!"
"Greetings, Clan Head!"
The voices shook the hall.
Lin Shuan remained standing silently.
His eyes had become slightly red.
Yet—
he refused to cry.
That was who he was.
Pain always remained hidden inside his heart.
He slowly looked toward the kneeling clansmen.
Then spoke.
His voice wasn't loud.
Yet every word carried overwhelming weight.
"I..."
"Lin Shuan."
The hall became silent.
"I swear..."
"Yu Long Wei will repay every debt he owes the Lin Clan."
His eyes became colder.
"Every life."
"Every tear."
"Every drop of blood."
"I will make him repay everything."
The hall trembled.
Everyone could feel it.
The hatred.
The grief.
The determination.
Han Qing Li silently watched him.
Her heart suddenly hurt.
Because she understood.
She too had lost her family to Void Chaos.
She too understood that pain.
A single tear appeared within her eyes.
Nearby—
Yan Feng Luo quietly lowered his head.
Han Lei Jun remained silent.
Tai Gu Chen sighed.
Lei Hao Tian clenched his fists.
No one laughed.
No one spoke.
The atmosphere became extremely heavy.
Then—
a warm hand suddenly grasped Lin Shuan's.
Han Qing Li.
Lin Shuan turned slightly.
Their eyes met.
Neither spoke.
Yet somehow—
his turbulent emotions gradually calmed.
The entire hall noticed the scene.
Several clansmen exchanged strange looks.
One young disciple couldn't help asking,
"Clan Head... is this Fairy Han..."
Before he could finish—
the Third Elder immediately smacked the back of his head.
"Silence!"
The hall instantly erupted into laughter.
Even Lin Shuan looked embarrassed.
Han Qing Li lowered her eyes slightly.
A faint smile appeared upon her lips.
Lin Shuan coughed.
"She is my friend."
The hall became quiet again.
"A companion who will travel with me in the future."
Travel.
The word shocked everyone.
Many people exchanged confused looks.
Travel?
Wasn't he now the Clan Head?
Why leave?
Yet Han Qing Li remained silent.
Only her eyes lowered slightly.
A faint emotion flashed through them.
Gone before anyone noticed.
At that moment—
Yan Feng Luo suddenly stood up.
"Brother Lin Shuan!"
Everyone looked toward him.
The fiery youth grinned.
"Can we come too?"
Silence.
Then—
the entire hall burst into laughter.
Even Lin Shuan couldn't help laughing.
The heavy atmosphere finally eased.
A while later—
Lin Shuan's expression became serious again.
He turned toward Lin Mo.
"Protector Elder."
Lin Mo nodded.
"Clan Head."
Lin Shuan smiled helplessly.
"Will LinJian Sect form an alliance with the Lin Clan?"
The hall instantly froze.
Alliance?
Everyone looked confused.
Wasn't the Lin Clan already living inside LinJian Sect?
Then why form an alliance?
Lin Shuan slowly stood.
His gaze swept across everyone.
"From this day forward."
"The Third Elder shall become the First Elder of the Lin Clan."
The old man froze.
"Lin Yuan and Lin Qing Xue shall become the core disciples of the clan."
Many people nodded.
The decision made perfect sense.
Lin Yuan possessed talent.
Lin Qing Xue possessed wisdom.
Lin Shuan continued.
"Protector Elder Lin Mo shall remain Sect Leader of LinJian Sect."
"Because Lin Clan and LinJian Sect are not the same."
The hall became silent.
Everyone listened carefully.
"Lin Clan will rise again."
"As an independent clan."
"LinJian Sect will remain an independent sect."
"From this day forward..."
"The two forces shall become allies."
Shock appeared throughout the hall.
Even Lin Mo stared.
This wasn't the decision of a child.
This was the decision of a leader.
A true leader.
Han Qing Li quietly watched him.
A strange light appeared within her eyes.
Because she could see it.
Lin Shuan had changed.
The boy who once only thought about survival was slowly becoming someone capable of carrying an entire clan upon his shoulders.
Everyone eventually nodded.
No objections appeared.
The decision was accepted.
Soon afterward—
Lin Mo summoned the elders of LinJian Sect.
The First Elder.
A Four-Star Form Shaper.
The Second Elder.
A Peak Nine-Star Soul Spark.
Along with two other Soul Spark elders.
Their arrival quickly changed the atmosphere.
The elders observed Lin Shuan carefully.
Then—
the First Elder suddenly sneered.
"Hmph."
"A mere Six-Star Meridian Tracer?"
"Has the Lin Clan truly fallen so low?"
The hall instantly became silent.
Lin Mo's expression darkened.
His killing intent erupted.
He nearly stood.
Yet Lin Shuan calmly raised a hand.
Lin Mo stopped.
The First Elder continued mockingly.
"Can someone like this truly lead a clan?"
Many disciples became nervous.
Yet Lin Shuan only smiled.
"Does Elder wish to see strength?"
The old man frowned.
"Brat."
"Your manners are lacking."
Lin Shuan's smile widened.
"I merely answered Elder's question."
The old man instantly became furious.
But before he could speak—
BOOM!
An invisible pressure exploded throughout the hall.
The First Elder's face changed drastically.
His body froze.
He couldn't move.
Couldn't breathe.
Couldn't even blink.
Shock appeared within every elder's eyes.
Lin Shuan calmly sat in his chair.
"I believe..."
"This level of strength should be enough."
"To serve as the foundation of the Lin Clan."
The First Elder's pupils shrank.
"Consciousness Realm?!"
The entire hall became silent.
A Meridian Tracer possessing Consciousness Realm.
That alone was enough to overturn common sense.
The Four-Star Form Shaper Elder turned pale.
Because he could clearly feel it.
This spiritual pressure exceeded his own.
Which meant only one thing.
Third Stage Consciousness Realm.
Han Qing Li smiled faintly.
And Yan Feng Luo almost burst out laughing.