The first rays of dawn spilled over the Lin Family's inner courtyard walls, painting the rooftops in soft gold. The entire clan was still buzzing with the shock of what had happened the day before—Lin Chen, the once-mocked trash written off for over a decade, had crippled Elder Lin Kun, a 6th level Qi Refining powerhouse, in just two moves.
Every disciple who passed Lin Chen's courtyard now lowered their heads in awe, not daring to make a single sound. No one dared to call him trash anymore. The name Lin Chen had become the most talked-about, and most feared, in the entire Lin Family.
Inside the courtyard, Lin Chen sat cross-legged on his stone bed, his eyes closed, his breathing steady. After breaking through to the 5th level of Qi Refining, his foundation was rock solid, thanks to the Divine Body of Primordial Chaos and the Body Cleansing Pellets. Even without actively cultivating, the rich spiritual energy around him flowed into his body automatically, strengthening his meridians and dantian.
Just as he was about to circulate his spiritual power, the familiar cold mechanical voice rang in his mind.
[Ding! Daily sign-in refresh completed! Do you want to sign in now?]
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Lin Chen's mouth. He didn't hesitate for a second.
"Sign in."
[Ding! Sign-in successful! Congratulations to host for obtaining:
1. Cultivation Base Upgrade: Mid-stage 5th level of Qi Refining!
2. High-Grade Earth-Rank Skill: Dragon Soul Perception!
3. Special Item: Qi Gathering Pill x5!
4. Spirit Stones: 30,000!]
A warm, powerful surge of spiritual energy flooded his body instantly, pushing his cultivation smoothly to the mid-stage of the 5th level. At the same time, a new set of memories flooded into his mind—Dragon Soul Perception, a rare earth-rank sensory skill that allowed him to see through illusions, sense hidden enemies, and even detect the strength of anyone within a hundred meters.
This skill was perfect for avoiding ambushes and seeing through his opponents' weaknesses.
Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing through them before fading away. He could now clearly sense the auras of every disciple within a hundred meters, even the hidden guards posted around his courtyard by the clan's high-level elders.
They were watching him.
He wasn't surprised. Crippling a core elder like Lin Kun would definitely draw the attention of the clan's top brass. It was only a matter of time before they came for him.
Sure enough, just a few minutes later, a light, respectful knock sounded on his courtyard door.
"Senior Brother Lin Chen, I am the personal guard of the Clan Leader. The Clan Leader and the Grand Elders have invited you to the main hall for a meeting." A clear, polite voice came from outside, no trace of the disdain most people had shown him before.
Lin Chen raised an eyebrow slightly. He had expected this.
"Come in."
The door opened slowly, and a tall, muscular guard in silver armor walked in, bowing deeply to Lin Chen with a look of absolute respect. He had seen Lin Chen cripple Lin Kun with his own eyes, and he knew better than anyone how terrifying this young man was.
"The Clan Leader and the three Grand Elders are waiting for you in the main hall, Senior Brother," the guard said, his head still bowed.
Lin Chen nodded, standing up slowly. "Lead the way."
The guard turned and led Lin Chen out of the courtyard. Along the way, every disciple they passed stepped aside quickly, bowing deeply as Lin Chen walked by. No one dared to look him in the eye. This was the respect that strength brought in the cultivation world.
Before long, they arrived at the Lin Family's main hall. It was a grand, imposing building, with tall stone pillars and a golden roof, the spiritual energy here even richer than in the inner courtyard. This was the heart of the Lin Family, where all the clan's most important decisions were made.
The guard bowed again and left. Lin Chen took a deep breath and walked into the hall.
Inside, four men sat on high thrones at the end of the hall. The man in the center was in his fifties, with a calm, dignified face, his eyes sharp and deep. This was Lin Tianxiong, the Clan Leader of the Lin Family, a powerful 9th level Qi Refining expert.
On either side of him sat the three Grand Elders, all of them 8th level Qi Refining powerhouses, the most senior and influential figures in the clan.
When Lin Chen walked in, all four pairs of eyes locked onto him, their auras pressing down on him like mountains. They were testing him, trying to see just how strong this young man who had shaken the entire clan really was.
But Lin Chen didn't flinch. He walked forward calmly, stopping in the center of the hall, and cupped his hands slightly in a polite greeting.
"Greetings, Clan Leader. Greetings, Grand Elders."
His voice was steady, neither arrogant nor humble, even in front of the four most powerful people in the Lin Family.
The Clan Leader and the Grand Elders exchanged a look of surprise. Most young disciples would be trembling with fear under their combined aura, but Lin Chen was completely calm. This alone showed that he was far from ordinary.
"Lin Chen," the Clan Leader said, his deep voice echoing through the hall. "We have heard about what happened yesterday. You crippled Elder Lin Kun and his disciples. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
His tone was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it.
Lin Chen looked up at him, his eyes clear. "Elder Lin Kun's nephews bullied me for years, and his disciple broke into my courtyard to kill me. They challenged me, and they lost. In the cultivation world, strength is the only rule. I did nothing wrong."
The Grand Elder on the left raised an eyebrow, a faint smile on his face. "Bold words. But you are just a sixteen-year-old boy. How did you grow so strong so quickly? Even the most talented genius in the clan can't break through four levels in four days."
This was the question everyone wanted to ask. No one believed that a former trash could suddenly become a genius without a reason.
Lin Chen had expected this question. He said calmly, "I had an adventure a few days ago. A wandering immortal passed by and gave me a set of cultivation techniques and some medicinal pills. That's all."
It was the most common, and most believable, excuse in the cultivation world. No one could prove it wrong, and it explained his sudden rise in strength.
The Clan Leader and the Grand Elders exchanged another look. They didn't fully believe him, but they also couldn't find any fault with his explanation. And at the end of the day, Lin Chen was a member of the Lin Family. The stronger he was, the better it was for the clan.
The Clan Leader nodded, a faint smile appearing on his face. "Very well. From today onward, you are a core disciple of the Lin Family. You will receive 20,000 spirit stones every month, full access to the Scripture Pavilion, and personal guidance from any of the Grand Elders if you wish it."
Core disciple!
This was the highest status a young disciple could have in the Lin Family. Only the absolute top geniuses could get this title. Even Lin Xiaotian, the Clan Leader's son and the previous number one genius of the clan, had only become a core disciple at eighteen. Lin Chen was only sixteen.
Lin Chen bowed slightly. "Thank you, Clan Leader."
But just as he finished speaking, a loud, arrogant voice boomed from outside the hall.
"Father! Grand Elders! I don't agree!"
The doors of the hall slammed open, and a tall, handsome young man in a white robe walked in. He had a sharp, proud face, his eyes blazing with arrogance and anger. He was at the 7th level of Qi Refining, his aura powerful and oppressive.
This was Lin Xiaotian, the Clan Leader's son, the former number one genius of the Lin Family. He had been in seclusion for three months, breaking through to the 7th level of Qi Refining, and had just come out that morning. When he heard that a former trash named Lin Chen had become a core disciple and crippled an elder, he was furious.
Lin Xiaotian stopped in front of Lin Chen, staring at him with disdain and contempt.
"You're Lin Chen? The trash who was stuck at the 1st level for ten years?" He sneered, his voice loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear. "You got lucky with an adventure, and now you think you're someone? You don't deserve to be a core disciple!"
The Clan Leader frowned. "Xiaotian, stand down. This is a meeting of the clan's high council."
"I won't stand down, Father!" Lin Xiaotian roared, his eyes locked on Lin Chen. "This boy is a fraud! If he's really so strong, he should prove it! I challenge you, Lin Chen! To a life-or-death duel on the clan's martial stage tomorrow! If you win, I'll give up my core disciple title to you. If you lose, you get out of the Lin Family forever!"
The entire hall fell silent.
A life-or-death duel between the former number one genius and the new rising star. Everyone's eyes turned to Lin Chen, waiting for his answer.
Lin Chen looked at Lin Xiaotian, a cold, faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He had expected something like this. There would always be arrogant geniuses who thought they could step on him to prove themselves. But Lin Xiaotian was just another stepping stone.
"Fine," Lin Chen said calmly, his voice clear and steady. "I accept your challenge. Tomorrow, on the martial stage. Life or death."
Lin Xiaotian laughed loudly, his face twisted with triumph. "Good! Tomorrow, I'll show everyone that you're just a lucky trash! I'll crush you with my own hands!"
He turned and stormed out of the hall, his aura blazing with confidence.
The Clan Leader and the Grand Elders looked at each other, then at Lin Chen, their eyes filled with curiosity and concern. Lin Xiaotian was at the 7th level of Qi Refining, two whole levels above Lin Chen. No one thought Lin Chen had a chance.
But Lin Chen was completely calm. He turned to the Clan Leader and bowed slightly. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave to prepare for the duel tomorrow."
The Clan Leader nodded slowly. "Very well. You may go."
Lin Chen turned and walked out of the hall, his steps steady and confident.
As he walked toward the Scripture Pavilion, the system's voice rang in his mind again.
[Ding! New side mission triggered!
Mission: Defeat Lin Xiaotian in the life-or-death duel.
Reward: 50,000 Spirit Stones, High-Grade Heaven-Rank Skill, and a special physique upgrade!]
Lin Chen's eyes lit up.
A heaven-rank skill! That was the highest rank of technique in the entire Lin Family. Even the Clan Leader only had one low-grade heaven-rank skill.
He smiled faintly.
Lin Xiaotian had no idea what he had gotten himself into. Tomorrow, on the martial stage, he would shock the entire Lin Family again.
And his path to the Immortal Emperor would take another huge step forward.