The competition grounds were boiling with excitement, and amidst the chaotic fervor, no one noticed the man in the corner wearing a conical hat.
No one knew when he had arrived or where he had come from.
It was as if he had simply appeared out of nowhere.
Yet, this abrupt appearance didn’t attract the slightest attention.
People acted as though this strangely dressed man’s presence was perfectly normal.
He slowly extended his hand, and within his palm, a kind of energy began to gather—vastly more profound and powerful than true essence.
This force quietly condensed and then dispersed without a sound or trace.
It seemed to ripple throughout Luoshui City, or perhaps it was focused on a few key points.
And yet, from beginning to end, no one noticed this terrifyingly powerful energy.
Then, just as suddenly, that figure vanished from the scene without a trace.
Likewise, not a single soul noticed his departure.
Everything was so strange… and yet, somehow, it all felt natural.
Suddenly, a thunderclap rolled across the sky.
The crowd looked up in alarm—bright blue skies, not a single dark cloud in sight.
“What’s going on? That thunder just now—wasn’t my imagination, right?”
“I heard it too, but…”
But in this cloudless sky, where could thunder possibly come from?
“You little girl… you’ve got too much time on your hands, following this old man like that…”
Far away, atop the clouds, the conical-hatted figure reappeared.
Looking ahead, his expression was no longer calm, and his appearance slightly disheveled.
“What did you do?”
A figure in flowing white robes drifted forward.
Her sleeves fluttered lightly, yet she radiated an unshakable authority.
“I meant no harm,” the man said.
“I know. Otherwise, you’d already be dead.”
The girl’s brows drew together slightly.
She clearly wasn’t joking.
“Heh… little girl, your words are bold. You think you can kill me so easily?”
The man lowered his conical hat slightly and said…
“Though this old body is stiff and can’t move like before, I won’t embarrass myself before a youngster.”
“Is that so…”
The woman in white offered no comment.
Suddenly, divine power erupted from her—shaking the heavens and halting the stars in the sky.
She stood like a goddess descending upon the mortal world, looking down on all creation.
“Immortal beast bloodline?!”
The man’s expression changed drastically.
This young girl… her background was extraordinary.
And her strength—terrifying.
If they were to fight directly, in his current condition… he likely wasn’t her match.
“There’s no need for pointless conflict between us, is there?” he said.
“Not necessarily…”
Her melodious voice hummed with coldness.
“I don’t care who you are or what your goal is. If you try to touch him, not even the underworld or the heavens will have a place for you to hide.”
“I said, I have no ill intent…” the man smiled bitterly.
“I won’t harm him. After all… he could be considered the descendant of an old friend.”
“I hope so.”
Her cold voice faded, and so did her figure.
The man in the conical hat stood still, eyes bright, visibly shocked.
Just a mere projection… and she already possessed such terrifying might.
‘This young girl with the blood of an immortal beast—her strength might even rival that person from back then…’
‘It seemed… she had already reached the peak of this world.’
“How ironic. The supreme peak… yet utterly pathetic…”
He sneered.
No matter how strong a mortal was, they were still mortal.
Without ascending to immortality, they could never defy the gods.
Unless…
Unless a supreme one inherited the royal bloodline hidden within this world, carried the will of heaven itself, defied fate, ascended to godhood, and slew the evil deities—only then could this world see a boundless future again.
And the only clan worthy of carrying the dragon vein… had always been that one lineage.
He only recognized that lineage!
All others were but thieves—lowly impostors stealing the divine bloodline.
He had returned from the Nine Netherworlds to cleanse the world of these usurpers and return it to its rightful rulers.
Whether it was the Lin Clan or the Ji Clan, descendants of the once-glorious lineages—they would all become vassals of the true sovereign, forging a new supreme empire.
What he had just done was merely the first step: awakening the slumbering bloodline and allowing the fallen heirs to regain their former glory.
And that glory… would ultimately converge upon two people.
Those bearing the mission would return to the path destined for them, and serve the one they were meant to serve.
Until then, all he needed to do was… wait.
***
At this moment, Lin Wuming stared at the sudden prompt in his mind, looking deeply conflicted.
[System Notification: Quest – Resolve Family Matters. Current Progress: 50%.]
What just happened?
What had he done?
How had the quest suddenly reached 50% completion?
After thinking it over, the only explanation he could find was that it must have been related to defeating that Ji family heir earlier.
So, this “family matter” was about the family competition?
He scratched his head, more confused than ever.
Was the system’s entire purpose just to make him join this clan tournament?
But why?
And… that strange sensation just now…
His body had undergone some subtle change in that moment—but that odd feeling vanished almost instantly, as if it had never existed.
Like it had all been in his imagination.
But Lin Wuming was almost certain—it wasn’t just a hallucination.
Still, pondering it now wouldn’t help.
Since the goal seemed to be the clan competition, then he might as well focus on winning first place and completing the quest.
Half an hour passed.
The second round of the tournament concluded, and the third round began.
This time, Lin Wuming fought under everyone’s watchful eyes.
His battle with the Ji family genius had already made him the center of attention.
Stories of his feat were spreading rapidly through the crowd.
Naturally, his next match was a breeze.
If even Ji Zikang was no match for him, how could the average clan descendant stand a chance?
On the stage, Ji Xiaolv was still in shock, unable to accept the fact that his son had been utterly defeated.
Meanwhile, on the Lin family side, Lin Tiancheng and the Grand Elder sat with furrowed brows, unable to say a word.
Were they really going to sit and watch Lin Wuming steal the spotlight and win the clan tournament?
If he survived and even won… his name would spread like wildfire.
And once the young lady from the Liu family caught wind of it, the moment they met, the truth would come out.
The Lin Clan… would be doomed.
Killing him now might carry great risk of exposure, but…
Between certain death and possible danger, there was no real choice.
One way or another, Lin Wuming had to die before the competition ended.
Whether or not they could cover things up afterward… would depend on fate.
But how should they do it?
“Patriarch, I have a plan,” the Grand Elder said gravely before Lin Tiancheng could speak.
“You…”
Lin Tiancheng stared at him, stunned after hearing the plan—his expression was extremely complicated.
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