"I heard that a disciple of the Heng Yue Sect suddenly died in an extraterritorial battlefield a hundred years ago. I didn't expect him to still be alive. It seems the rumor wasn't reliable after all."
The first to speak was an elderly man dressed in magnificent clothing. His silver-white hair was neatly combed, and the exquisite crown on his head added to his regal aura.
This man was Teng Huayuan, the ancestor of the Teng Family of Zhao Country, at the early Nascent Soul stage.
The other elders present were also Nascent Soul cultivators from the Country of Zhao. Though all over a thousand years old, it was hard to compare them with Lin Che sitting before them.
Punnan Zi, head of the Xuan Dao Sect, shrugged and stared at Lin Che, who was sipping tea while seated. He had initially planned to annex the Heng Yue Sect, but Lin Che, thought to have vanished a century ago, had returned.
This development clearly caught him off guard.
Lin Che held a teacup in one hand, leaned back in his chair, and lightly tapped the table with a finger. The action was silent yet deliberate.
Seeing Lin Che's relaxed posture, the Nascent Soul cultivators frowned slightly. They were respected ancestors of their sects, yet none had seats. Wasn't this a bit excessive?
The main hall of Heng Yue Sect had already been occupied by Huang Long, leaving no chairs for these old men, causing their expressions to darken.
Noticing their looks, Lin Che didn't speak. Instead, he tapped the table faster and with greater force.
Suddenly, all Nascent Soul cultivators present felt a tremor in their hearts, gasping for breath. Faces flushed, and eyes reddened.
Punnan Zi and the others were horrified. Their Nascent Souls nearly collapsed from the spiritual pressure every time Lin Che tapped.
They knew if he tapped again, their Nascent Souls might shatter.
"Such terrifying spiritual power—he's reached the Diety Transformation Stage? But... this spiritual power is far more stronger than the envoy and that troll. This means his cultivation may be above them... Impossible! He's only a hundred years old!"
Teng Huayuan was stunned. This was truly the prodigy who shook the Planet Suzaku a century ago!
Ye Zizai of the Corpse Yin Sect was also fearful. "So, he's really Lin Che, the prodigy from a hundred years ago... With this strength, the Country of Zhao is nothing to him."
Lin Che gradually slowed his tapping, and the others regained some color. But their Nascent Souls still trembled.
"Greetings, Senior!"
Punnan Zi and the others knelt and kowtowed. To them, a Diety Transformation Stage was already an unbeatable monster. But a Soul Transformation expert was godlike—capable of razing nations.
Lin Che sipped his tea and said, "Didn't you come to see my realm?"
Punnan Zi, drenched in sweat, replied, "Senior, we are Zhao Country cultivators. Your fame precedes you. We only came to welcome your return, nothing else."
The others echoed, terrified of Lin Che's wrath.
In the cultivation world, the strong ruled. The weak could only survive by currying favor.
At that moment, Li Muwan poured tea for Lin Che, watching silently. She once thought her Senior Brother was only at the Nascent Soul Realm.
She hadn't expected him to reach Soul Transformation—enough to shake Planet Suzaku itself.
Lin Che sipped his tea and slowly said, "From now on, Heng Yue Sect will no longer offer tributes to the fourth-level cultivation country. Instead, all other sects must give Heng Yue Sect 30% of their gathered resources. "
The Nascent Soul elders were stunned.
Thirty percent of their resources…
This was an immense burden. They still had to offer magic weapons and pills to the fourth-level country. If they also gave to Heng Yue Sect, how could they sustain themselves?
Seeing them sweat and hesitate, Lin Che grew impatient. In the Land of the Ancient God, such weaklings would've been annihilated instantly.
"If you don't wish to comply, then let Heng Yue Sect be the only sect left in the Country of Zhao."
He wasn't negotiating—he was warning them. In cultivation, strength determined everything. Disobedience meant death.
Heng Yue Sect, lacking a Nascent Soul ancestor in the original novel, had collapsed like a fallen tree scattering monkeys.
At that moment, Teng Huayuan's eyes gleamed. He stepped forward and bowed to Lin Che. "Please calm your anger, Senior."
He turned to the others and said, "You should reconsider. Giving 30% won't ruin us. Senior Lin Che is a Soul Transformation expert. If he stays for a hundred years, the Country of Zhao may become a fifth-level cultivation country."
"If that happens, we'll gain far more resources. Then what we contribute now will come back manyfold. Why worry?"
The crowd fell into deep thought. Even Lin Che was surprised by Teng Huayuan's clarity.
Though ruthless, Teng Huayuan was pragmatic—he understood priorities.
Turning back, Teng Huayuan bowed deeply again. "Senior Lin Che, my Teng Family is Zhao Country's top cultivation family. We'll contribute 50% of our resources to Heng Yue Sect."
"Haha, Head of Teng Family, you're quite wise." Lin Che smiled. "In that case, I'll give you a chance. If you reach late Nascent Soul Realm, I'll personally guide you to reach Deity Transformation."
At these words, the other Nascent Soul ancestors turned pale with regret. They had lost the chance due to hesitation.
Teng Huayuan knelt in joy, hands clasped. "Thank you, Senior Lin Che! The Teng Family shall remain loyal and never falter!"