118: Father's followers, the dust has settled

When Third Prince Qin Wushuang of the Qin Family was utterly disintegrated at the genetic level by that silent infrasonic attack, turning into a wisp of smoke and being erased as if he had never existed, right in front of his father’s eyes, the entire world seemed to have been muted.

The Head of the Qin Family, Qin Zheng, stared blankly at the spot where his son had just stood. All the rage and all the Divine Might on his majestic, god-like face vanished without a trace in that instant.

In their place was an incredibly complex, almost distorted expression, a mixture of extreme fury and extreme terror.

He wanted to rage, to recklessly strike out and tear apart this young man who dared to provoke him and inflict the greatest humiliation of his life, along with the mysterious guardian behind him!

But he… dared not!

Because he knew more clearly than anyone present what that strike just now meant.

It wasn't a simple energy attack; it was a 'rule-level' obliteration, something he had only seen in the Family's most ancient secret scrolls, which documented the battles of 'True God'!

A method of attack belonging to a higher-dimensional existence, capable of ignoring space, ignoring defenses, and directly 'deleting' a life form from the Karma level!

An existence capable of wielding such power, even among SSS-level demigods, was absolutely among the pinnacle few! His strength might even surpass that of his own grandfather, the Qin Family's 'Grand Supreme Elder' who had been in seclusion for nearly a century!

Was it worth offending such an unfathomable, terrifying existence—one who might have already touched the threshold of 'True God'—and the even more mysterious Lin Tian behind him, all for a son who had long since become a failure?

Reason, like the coldest current, instantly extinguished the erupting fury in his heart.

Just as Qin Zheng was caught in this dilemma of intertwined rage and terror, unsure how to resolve the situation, Lin Tian seemed completely unconcerned by the internal struggle of this demigod expert.

His Divine Thought had long since transformed into an invisible ripple, transmitting a message to an unknown coordinate in the Void Realm.

"Who are you?"

It was a simple, direct question. Lin Tian knew that since the other party addressed him as 'Master,' an answer would surely be provided.

Indeed, the next second, that cold, gender-neutral electronic synthetic voice respectfully echoed directly in the depths of his Soul Sea.

"Reporting to Young Lord."

"My codename is 'Phantom.' I am subordinate to 'Heavenly Court,' the highest authority organization personally founded by your father, which transcends all secular organizations."

Father? Heavenly Court?!

These two words, like two world-creating thunderclaps, exploded in Lin Tian's mind!

"I am the supreme commander of the 'Dark Department' of the 'Heavenly Court' organization, under your father's command. Back then, after 'that incident' occurred, 'Heavenly Court' was forced into a dormant state. We, the old guard, have been awaiting the Young Lord's summons."

"This time, I am acting on the 'Madam's' orders, to secretly remove all threats—those worthy of my intervention—for you during your training in the secular world."

Madam… is that Mother?

One massive enigma after another, like a series of stellar explosions, detonated in Lin Tian's heart. What kind of people were his parents, who had been missing for over a decade? How could they have founded a terrifying organization like 'Heavenly Court,' one that possessed 'rule-level' experts? And why did they disappear? What did 'that incident' refer to?

Lin Tian forcibly suppressed the turbulent waves in his heart; he knew now was not the time to ask such questions.

Just as Qin Zheng's expression shifted erratically and the atmosphere in the entire Taihe Hall Plaza became so oppressive it was on the verge of exploding, a voice even older, more ancient, and more majestic than Qin Zheng's, like a divine oracle from the Nine Heavens, slowly emanated from the deepest part of the Forbidden City, from that Forbidden Ground perpetually shrouded in mist.

"Enough."

"Everyone, stop."

This voice seemed to carry a magical power to calm all things and stabilize the universe. The moment it appeared, the demigod's Divine Might that was about to spiral out of control from Qin Zheng's body vanished instantly, as if meeting its nemesis.

Under everyone's awestruck gaze, a slightly hunched figure, dressed in simple hemp clothes and looking like an ordinary old man from next door, slowly appeared above the plaza.

The true highest authority of the Qin Family, the 'Grand Supreme Elder' who had lived for centuries and had long become the 'stabilizing force' of the Qin Family!

After the 'Grand Supreme Elder' appeared, he didn't even glance at his great-grandson who had been publicly erased. His gaze, however, rested on Lin Tian with keen interest. His turbid eyes, which seemed to have seen through countless ages, were filled with undisguised admiration and… a hint of reminiscence.

"Good, good…" He slowly nodded, letting out a sigh of praise, "This domineering nature, this audacity that disregards all rules, truly… has the demeanor of your father back then."

His words were tantamount to the highest endorsement for all of Lin Tian's previous 'arrogant' actions!

Not only did he not pursue the death of the Third Prince, but he also changed the subject, delivering a final judgment to everyone, and to his son Qin Zheng, in a tone that was almost 'biased.'

"The strong are inherently entitled to the privileges of the strong."

"Since he won this 'Martial Arts Tournament of Prodigies,' then he is qualified to receive the 'reward' he desires."

He looked at Lin Tian and said in an equal, consultative tone, "The 'Pangu Tomb' is the Foundation that my Qin Family has guarded for ten thousand years; it is of great importance. But since you possess the 'mythical creator figure' Bloodline, you are qualified to enter it and seek your own 'Dao.'"

"This old man permits it."

A final decision!

Upon hearing this, Qin Zheng's expression remained grim, but he could only bow and accept the order: "I respectfully obey… Old Ancestor's decree."

At this point, all conflicts and grievances were completely resolved invisibly with the intervention of this higher authority.

This grand and turbulent 'Qin Family Martial Arts Marriage Contest' that swept across the entire Golden Generation finally drew to a close in a way no one had expected.

Lin Tian had achieved all his goals.

He looked at the benevolent phantom of the Qin Family's 'Grand Supreme Elder' and calmly nodded, accepting the other party's goodwill.

Then, he no longer lingered.

He put away the 'White Tiger Token,' one of the highest military authority symbols, which he had won as a 'trophy' from Marquis Champion Huo Qubing; he put away the 'Bosom Friend Pendant,' which the 'Heavenly Zither Woman' had voluntarily given him as a token of her personal friendship before leaving; and he also put away the four 'authority chips' he had collected, which could pinpoint the 'bronze gate.'

Finally, under the complex gazes of awe, jealousy, and unwillingness from the Head of the Qin Family, Qin Zheng, and all the Prodigies, he boarded the 'candle dragon' air-space carrier, which symbolized absolute power and authority, taking with him his biggest 'trophy' from this journey—the 'Princess Maid' Qin Yubing, who had long accepted her fate and stood quietly behind him like a perfect work of art, and the Golden Lion mount, Simba, who had been fed plump and shiny by Jiang Luoling and had completely become a 'pet dog.'

The massive carrier slowly ascended, tore through space, and warped away amidst awestruck gazes.

The turmoil at The Peak of the Forbidden City thus settled.

And Lin Tian's new journey, leading to the 'bronze gate' and the sea of stars, had just begun.