2: The missing parents were personally named "Heir No. 0" by the ancestor!

Lin Tian stood before the French window in his room, his consciousness sinking into the System interface in his mind.

A massive, three-dimensional map unfolded before his eyes, showing every corner of Donghai City with crystal clarity. Among them, an area marked in deep red was particularly striking, with the System's cold prompt text hovering above it.

["New Check-in Location: Scarlet Ruins"]

["Area Rank: A-Class Restricted Zone"]

["Danger Assessment: Ruled by a Lord-level Monstrous Beast, the 'Three-headed Crimson Demonic Python.' With the host's current 'Elementary Martial Artist' strength, the survival rate is zero."]

Survival rate: zero.

These four words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the faint stirrings of excitement that had just ignited in Lin Tian's heart. He understood that while the System was powerful, it wasn't omnipotent; one had to eat bite by bite and walk step by step. Before he had sufficient strength, entering such a death restricted zone was akin to suicide.

The most pressing task was to transform the potential of his newly Awakened Pangu Body into tangible combat power.

As Lin Tian pondered his future path, an urgent meeting concerning his future had already convened in the Long Family's central deliberation hall.

Around the massive circular conference table, holographic projections radiating immense Auras lit up one by one. Those seated were, without exception, the true core of the Long Family's power—members of the Supreme Elder Council. The Clan Chief was prominently among them.

The atmosphere in the deliberation hall was solemn and oppressive. Everyone's gaze was fixed on the dignified middle-aged man at the head of the table, Lin Tian's father, the current Clan Chief of the Long Family.

"Everyone," Lin Wei said, his voice deep and powerful as he surveyed the room, "I'm sure you've all seen the detector data and the soaring energy anomaly. Lin Tian's Talent is confirmed to be SSS-Rank; there's no doubt about it."

At these words, even though it was expected, a hint of uncontrollable excitement flashed in the eyes of several Elders present.

"SSS-Rank! My Long Family has finally produced another SSS-Rank!" an excitable red-faced Elder exclaimed, slamming the table. "The last one was Elder Lin Zhan!"

Lin Zhan, a name that was once the pride and legend of the Long Family's previous era, was also a possessor of SSS-Rank Divine-Grade genes. His wife, Lin Tian's mother Qin Xue, was also an Peak A-rank Prodigy. Their union was once hailed as the most brilliant pearl in the Hua Xia Martial Dao world.

However, at the mention of this name, the atmosphere in the deliberation hall suddenly grew heavy.

The most senior Elder sighed faintly, "Indeed, Lin Zhan... what a pity. Had it not been for that accident ten years ago, with his Talent, he would likely have already knocked on the door of a Martial God. How could our Long Family be so suppressed by those 'Olympus' fellows from North America?"

Ten years ago, Lin Zhan, then the Long Family's first-in-line heir, led a team to explore the Federation's S-Rank Restricted Zone [Kunlun Ruins No. 07]. The entire team, including him, mysteriously disappeared without a trace, their fate unknown to this day.

This incident was an unremovable thorn in the Long Family's heart.

"The past is a guide for the future!" another stern-faced conservative Elder said solemnly. "Lin Tian's Awakening of SSS-rank Talent is a blessing for our Long Family. But precisely because of this, we must never repeat the same mistakes! I propose that Lin Tian be immediately put into seclusion, and all Family resources be used to secretly Cultivate him in an absolutely safe environment. Before he achieves Major Achievement in his Divine Arts, he must not be exposed to the outside world, especially not to the 'Olympus' Family!"

"A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. An unparalleled Genius who has not yet grown is the greatest asset, but also the greatest weakness!"

These words garnered approval from many. After all, they did not want to endure the pain of losing a Lin Zhan a second time.

"I object!"

Clan Chief Lin Wei suddenly stood up, his tiger-like eyes wide open, and a domineering Aura swept across the room.

"A true Dragon should soar through the Nine Heavens; how can it be confined to a shallow pond? A towering tree cannot grow in a greenhouse! Lin Tian, having inherited his father's Bloodline, should walk the invincible path his father walked! Suppression and hiding will only dull his sharpness and erode his Dao Heart! I advocate for pouring all of the Family's resources into him, allowing him to grow at the fastest possible speed, to fight, to temper himself, and to experience trials! Only a strong person forged in blood and fire can truly bear the future banner of the Long Family!"

Both sides argued, unable to reach a consensus. The conservative faction's concerns were not unfounded, and the radical faction's passion was also a fact. How to Cultivate this once-in-a-millennium uncut jade became a dilemma.

Just as both sides were deadlocked and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense—

Buzz!

The space above the main seat in the deliberation hall distorted without warning.

A figure, as if stepping out of primordial chaos, slowly materialized. It was a majestic, aged holographic projection, somewhat ethereal, but the eyes that seemed to contain the rise and fall of suns, moons, and stars with every blink instilled a deep sense of awe in everyone present, including the Clan Chief, from the depths of their Souls.

"Greetings, Third Ancestor!"

All the Elders, along with Lin Wei, stood up in unison, bowing respectfully to the figure, their posture utterly humble.

The Third Ancestor of the Long Family, an Old Ancestor who had lived for nearly two hundred years, a true "Martial God-Rank" existence, and the Long Family's true stabilizing force.

"What's all the fuss about?" he said.

The Third Ancestor's projection spoke calmly, his voice not loud, yet it seemed to contain the ultimate truths of heaven and earth, instantly calming all the agitation in the deliberation hall.

His all-seeing eyes swept across the room, finally resting on the conservative Elder.

"Seclusion? Why should my Long Family's Qilin hide its head and tail?"

Just one sentence made that Elder break out in a cold sweat, no longer daring to speak.

The Third Ancestor's gaze turned towards North America, his tone calm yet filled with boundless domineering power: "If those descendants of miscellaneous gods from 'Olympus' dare to harbor ill intentions, this Old Ancestor will make a trip to North America himself and ask them if they've forgotten the taste of having their spines broken by my Long Family's ancestors a hundred years ago."

The entire hall was awestruck.

This was the might of a Martial God; a single word could determine the world's situation!

"Lin Zhan's matter was due to the strangeness of the Kunlun Ruins itself, not a fault of the battle." The Third Ancestor's voice rang out again, settling the matter and completely rejecting the proposal of seclusion.

He scanned the room, his majestic voice echoing in everyone's ears, announcing a decision that would shake the entire Family.

"Effective immediately, the Family's number zero heir sequence shall be established."

Everyone was stunned. The Family's heir sequence had always been from one to nine; when had there ever been a "Number Zero"?

"Lin Tian shall be the sole candidate for 'number zero heir.'"

"His status shall be higher than all heirs from Number One to Number Nine!"

Boom!

These words were like a thunderbolt, exploding in the minds of all the Elders. Higher than all in-line heirs—this was tantamount to declaring that Lin Tian was the Long Family's sole, unshakable future master!

However, the Third Ancestor's declaration was not yet over.

"All S-Rank permissions of the Family shall be unconditionally open to him."

"Including..." The Third Ancestor paused, then uttered a name that made several Elders' expressions change slightly.

"The right to use the [Dragon Pool]."

At these words, even Lin Wei, who had always advocated for open resources, showed a hint of shock in his eyes. The Dragon Pool was the true Foundation of the Long Family, a Holy Land for Cultivation built with the efforts of countless generations. Even he, as Clan Chief, needed the approval of half of the Elder Council to use it.

And now, it would be unconditionally open to Lin Tian alone!

This was no longer just a shift in resources; this was staking the entire Family's future on a fifteen-year-old boy!

This resolution, significant enough to shake the entire Family, was instantly transmitted to Lin Tian's personal terminal via the highest level of encrypted communication.

Lin Tian stood by the window, quietly looking at the clauses on the screen that granted him supreme privileges, yet without too much wild joy in his heart. His gaze pierced through the clouds, looking towards the distant west, in the direction of the Kunlun Mountains.

It turned out that the parents of this body had not simply passed away, but were trapped within that mysterious restricted zone.

He slowly clenched his fists, his knuckles turning slightly white from the effort.

"Father..."

He whispered in his heart.

"What exactly did you encounter in the Kunlun Ruins? Don't worry, your son will ascend to the Peak of Martial Dao, uncover all the mysteries, and bring you... back!"

At this moment, the power brought by the System, the privileges granted by the Family, and the deep-seated obsession to find the truth merged perfectly.

The boy's eyes shed the last trace of a Transmigrator's confusion and detachment, leaving only a determination and sharpness like ten-thousand-year-old profound ice.

From this moment on, his Martial Dao path had its clearest direction.