In another part of the Lin Clan compound, three men gathered in a quiet chamber shrouded in soft candlelight. Two of them were elderly, their hair silver and faces lined with age and experience. The third was younger, perhaps in his forties, with sharp eyes and a cold demeanor. These were the three highest-ranking Elders of the Lin Clan.
"I believe we can begin this extraordinary session of the Lin Clan Elders, don't you agree?" said the oldest among them, his voice gravelly but steady. He was the First Elder, the one with the most authority within the council.
"You haven't invited the Fourth Elder, I presume?" asked the other old man—the Second Elder, his tone neutral but carrying a hint of disapproval.
"Of course not," replied the First Elder without hesitation. "You both understand the current situation with the Fourth Elder. How is that matter progressing, Third Elder?"
The man in his forties gave a sly, almost malicious smile before replying. "I'm handling it. There's no need for concern."
The First Elder gave a satisfied nod before turning serious. "Then, we all understand why this meeting has been called."
The Second Elder let out a weary sigh. "Yes. The decline of our clan has become undeniable. We haven't produced a single Foundation Establishment cultivator in the last twenty years."
"Exactly," said the First Elder, his eyes narrowing. "Our strength is fading. The other clans are watching us—waiting. If we fail to act, they won't hesitate to strip us of our spiritual fields."
Right now, those fields—home to recovery-grade spirit herbs—were the backbone of their economy. But without cultivators strong enough to protect them, they were vulnerable.
"Currently, the only one with true potential to reach Foundation Establishment is my son," said the Third Elder proudly. "He's already at the sixth level of Qi Gathering."
The others nodded solemnly. "He is our greatest hope," said the Second Elder. "We've already diverted most of our cultivation resources toward him. But… it's not enough. One Foundation Establishment cultivator isn't sufficient to turn the tide."
The First Elder's expression darkened. "Indeed. Both the Second Elder and I are aging. Our strength will decline over the next few years. The burden cannot fall solely on you, Third Elder—and certainly not on the Fourth Elder. He's… unstable, to say the least."
The Third Elder leaned forward. "Then tell us, First Elder. You summoned us here for a reason. You must have a plan."
"I do," said the First Elder calmly. "I've reviewed our current resources—spiritual herbs, coin reserves, pill stocks. We have enough to support two promising members of the younger generation. Not on the same level as your son, of course, Third Elder, but enough to give them a real chance."
"If one of them succeeds, he can become the next Foundation Establishment cultivator after your son. When that happens, our clan will finally have the strength to defend itself and reclaim the prestige it once held."
The room fell silent for a moment, heavy with thought and consequence.
The Second Elder finally spoke. "Do you already have candidates in mind?"
The First Elder nodded slowly, his eyes gleaming with calculation. "Yes of course I have. But we need to make it like everybody has the same opportunity. Right now, we have in our stock, two Crimson tiger pills, that we can deliver to the two most talented youngs of our generation. I'm planning to gather all the clans members to try to make a test of their talent and deliver this to be the most talented ones. We need talent, discipline, and most importantly—loyalty."
The Third Elder smiled faintly, his eyes sharp with interest, He could see behind this old man schemes.. "If you are already plan everything and you already have the two candidates in mind, why did you gather us here?"
"Of course. I only wanted to make sure we were aligned," said the First Elder calmly.
The Third Elder gave him a skeptical look, clearly unconvinced.
"You're always so impatient, Third Elder," the First Elder added with a small shake of his head. "But I also called this meeting to update you on the current state of affairs between the three great clans of the city."
He leaned forward, his tone turning more serious.
"The coming year will be critical. Several events are set to take place that could drastically reshape the balance of power in the city. First, in just one month, we have the annual selection process for the Divine Leaf Martial House. And in seven months, the much more dangerous Core Disciple Selection will take place within the Martial House."
He paused for a moment, letting the weight of his words settle.
"I don't believe I need to explain how important this is. As you both know, the selection is a true trial by fire. The mortality rate is extremely high. And I know for a fact your son is planning to participate," he said, addressing the Third Elder directly. "We cannot afford to lose him. That's why I want to begin formulating a contingency plan to give him every possible advantage."
"If he were to succeed—if he were chosen as a Core Disciple—then the other clans wouldn't be able to threaten us for a long time."
The other two Elders nodded solemnly in agreement.
"The truth is," the First Elder continued, "the other clans are already making moves. I've received reports of their elders leaving the city to gather resources. They've been completing missions for the Dragon Pavilion, trying to gain any edge they can to strengthen their younger generation."
The room grew tense.
Then the Third Elder spoke, a glint of mischief in his eye. "Actually, I've been thinking... I have an idea involving your granddaughter, Second Elder. Though, I'm not sure you'll like it."
The Second Elder's expression darkened immediately, his brow furrowing.
"Easy," the Third Elder chuckled, holding up a hand. "Just hear me out before you decide to curse my name."
-----
The next day, every member of the Lin Clan received a message: they were all to gather that afternoon in the Grand Hall.
Lin Tian was in the middle of cultivating when the notice reached him. He still had some beast meat left and was far from reaching the third stage of Body Cultivation—Organ Refinement.
Wiping away the sweat from his brow, he took a moment to tidy himself up before dressing and heading toward the Grand Hall. By the time he arrived, a large number of people were already gathered inside.
At the center, raised on a platform, stood two elderly men. Drawing from the memories of this life, Lin Tian quickly recognized them as the First and Second Elders of the clan. There should have been a third elder as well, but he was nowhere to be seen.
The hall had been neatly divided into two sections. On one side stood all the official members of the clan—ranging from ordinary mortals to low-ranked cultivators. On the other side, seated in orderly rows, were the younger members under the age of fifteen.
Although Lin Tian had previously been dismissed as a talentless burden and often grouped among the mortals, he made his way to sit with those his own age. He noticed his uncle was absent. Perhaps he had already left the clan grounds… or maybe he was simply hidden, observing from the shadows.
There was a constant murmur throughout the hall, everyone wondering the same thing: what was the reason for this rare clan-wide gathering? Meetings of this magnitude were only called when something of true importance was at stake.
A few minutes passed before the First Elder cleared his throat. Instantly, the room fell into silence.
"I know you're all wondering why you've been called here today," the First Elder began, his voice calm yet heavy. "Unfortunately, I bring troubling news. It's no secret that our clan has been in decline. Over the past years, the talent of our younger generation has steadily weakened. It's been more than twenty years since a cultivator of our bloodline has reached the Foundation Establishment realm."
A wave of unease rippled through the crowd. The mortals might not have understood the full significance of lacking Foundation Establishment cultivators, but they all knew one thing—without powerful protectors, the safety of the clan and everything they had built was at risk.
"Please, remain calm. We are not without hope," the First Elder continued, raising a hand to settle the murmurs.
With a subtle gesture, he pointed toward the seated youth. "Here, before us, sits the future of our clan. Among them may be the one—or several—who can rise above and restore our family to its former glory," he declared proudly.
"As many of you know, in just one month, the Divine Leaf Martial House will hold its annual selection trials."
"At this moment, we already have a few promising young members enrolled in this prestigious academy. When they complete their training by the age of twenty, they will become powerful assets capable of defending us and advancing our interests. But that is not enough. We need more. More talent, more strength, and more successors to ensure our survival."
He paused for emphasis, then dropped the bombshell.
"That is why we've opened our treasury and taken out two Crimson Tiger Pills."
The reaction was immediate. Whispers and murmurs swept through the young crowd. While only a few truly understood the significance of the pill, its name alone—and the fact the First Elder was revealing it—made it clear: this was no ordinary treasure.
"This pill greatly accelerates the cultivation speed of the one who consumes it. It may very well be the key to ensuring that two of our young candidates reach the required level in time for the trial. As you all know, one of the minimum requirements for participation is the strength equivalent to the third level of Qi Gathering."
"Now, I will hand the floor to the Second Elder, who will be in charge of selecting the two fortunate candidates," said the First Elder, gesturing toward his fellow elder.
The Second Elder nodded solemnly and slowly made his way toward the area where all the young members of the clan were gathered.
Now that he was so close, Lin Tian could truly sense the power radiating from these elders. The Second Elder was at the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment realm, while the First Elder had already reached its peak. That made perfect sense—without someone of such strength, a clan like theirs would be defenseless in this world.
But Lin Tian also understood the danger in that moment: the First Elder was nearing the end of his potential. At his advanced age, a breakthrough to the next realm—the Golden Core stage—was almost impossible. When the time came, the First Elder would have no choice but to enter a desperate life-or-death seclusion, a final attempt to break through… or perish in the process.
And in this country, where resources were scarce and breakthroughs were rare, his chances were close to zero.
Lin Tian now understood the fear behind the elders' eyes. Once the First Elder fell, the clan's greatest pillar would crumble. The future would depend entirely on the younger generation—and right now, they weren't strong enough.
The Second Elder scanned the group of youths with a grave expression, then took a deep breath.
"All those who plan to participate in the upcoming assessment for the Divine Leaf Martial House, step forward."
A few seconds passed before six boys and four girls stepped ahead. Lin Tian was among them.
Initially, he hadn't planned to draw attention to himself. From all the cultivation novels he read in his previous life, he knew that exposure often led to conflict. His original plan was to grow in silence, cultivating quietly in the shadows, far from the scrutiny and power games of the clan.
But after hearing the First Elder's speech, he began to rethink his strategy. Something was clearly brewing behind the scenes, and if his uncle was involved, that could only mean trouble—for both of them. Lin Tian wasn't foolish enough to believe he could stay safe simply by hiding. He needed strength, and for that, he needed resources—and those resources existed in the Divine Leaf Martial House.
The Second Elder's eyes moved carefully from face to face, assessing each youth. But when he stopped in front of Lin Tian, his expression darkened into a scowl.
"Lin Tian," he said, his voice cold and sharp. "What do you think you're doing?"
Lin Tian met his gaze with calm respect. "What do you mean, Elder?"
"You're not even a cultivator. Don't insult our intelligence by standing here. Even with a Crimson Tiger Pill, you'd still be nothing but trash."
A tense silence filled the hall. Lin Tian's brows furrowed. What the hell was this old man's problem?
He quickly searched through the memories of this life. He had always been treated like an outcast—dismissed, overlooked—but the hostility from the Second Elder felt personal. There had to be something more. Something tied to his uncle, perhaps.
With immense effort, Lin Tian swallowed the surge of fury rising within him.
In the years of his past life, he had come to understand the root of arrogance among the powerful. After all the hardship and sacrifices it took to rise above the masses, being disrespected by someone weaker—a mere ant—was more than an insult; it was a mockery of everything one had endured. Lin Tian had once brushed against immortality itself. So now, being insulted by a frail old man whose greatest achievement was reaching Foundation Establishment felt... unbearable.
But Lin Tian was no fool. He knew that letting his anger explode here would achieve nothing. Recklessness had no place in his new life.
"As you may have noticed, Second Elder," Lin Tian said, his voice controlled and composed, "I've recently begun cultivating. That makes me a valid candidate for the selection, does it not?"
The Second Elder gave him a slow, scrutinizing look from head to toe. Outwardly, he remained calm, but inside, he was clearly surprised. The last report he'd received about Lin Tian stated that the boy couldn't even begin cultivation. Yet now, just weeks later, Lin Tian's aura was clearly visible—comparable to someone in the second level of Qi Gathering. Still... there was something off about his presence. His cultivation felt different. Unconventional.His uncle must have had something to do with it.
"Of course, I noticed your cultivation," the Second Elder replied coldly. "Unless you're trying to imply I'm blind or stupid?"
Lin Tian clenched his jaw. That was it. The man was clearly goading him, trying to provoke a reaction. But still, Lin Tian remained silent.
After a few seconds of tense quiet, the Second Elder pressed further. "What, nothing to say?"
"You didn't ask a question, Second Elder," Lin Tian responded through gritted teeth, his tone icy.
"Why don't you go back to your seat and stop pretending to be a real cultivator?" the elder said with a sneer.
That was the final straw.
"Is it respectful, Second Elder," Lin Tian asked sharply, "to mock and insult a fellow clan cultivator in front of everyone? As you just said yourself, the requirement for the assessment is power equivalent to the third level of Qi Gathering—not to actually be in it."
The Second Elder's expression darkened. "You insolent brat! How dare you speak like that to your elders?"
"Shouldn't you be ashamed, Second Elder?" Lin Tian replied coldly. "You insult me openly and then get angry when I demand the same respect you expect from others?"
The tension in the hall grew thick as the two locked eyes. In his past life, Lin Tian had met plenty of men like this one—those used to getting their way, throwing tantrums when things didn't go as expected. They were nothing more than spoiled children trapped in old bodies. Wrinkled toddlers.
But this time, in this life, Lin Tian was going to do something different. He was going to keep a list—a list of those who dared to provoke him, humiliate him, or try to harm him. Not for immediate revenge, but for the future. Someday, he would return the favor… with interest. And the Second Elder had just earned the top spot.
To Be Killed List:
Second Elder – Lin Clan
Suddenly, the Second Elder gave a twisted smile, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Well, if you're so confident in your qualifications, you won't mind a little test, right?" he said, addressing the crowd more than Lin Tian.
Lin Tian remained silent. He could already see where this was going. Seeing no objection, the Second Elder continued. "I propose a sparring match. You will face Lin Zemin—one of our most promising disciples—here and now."
"I assume that if I win, I'll receive the Crimson Tiger Pill, correct?" Lin Tian asked without a hint of emotion.
"Yes, yes, of course," the elder said with a mockingly pleasant tone. His malicious grin deepened. There wasn't a single fiber in his body that believed Lin Tian could win.
"Then I accept the duel," Lin Tian said flatly.