22: The storm is coming, the global martial arts conference!

Outside Yanjing, beneath a dilapidated bridge.

Ye Fan slowly opened his eyes, having received the vast and boundless Legacy from the remnant soul of the human emperor.

Although his body was still weak, his gaze had undergone a complete transformation. It no longer held the despair and resentment from before; instead, it was filled with a profound tenacity, carrying an ancient will, and an endless yearning for the path of future revenge.

"Disciple, how do you feel?" The remnant soul of the human emperor's voice echoed in his mind, carrying a hint of satisfaction.

"Better than ever before!" Ye Fan trembled with excitement as he sensed the supreme divine art named "Human Emperor Suppressing World Art" in his mind. "Master, with this divine art, I will only need five years... No, three years! Within three years, I will surely return to Yanjing and ruthlessly trample Lin Tian underfoot!"

"Three years?" The remnant soul of the human emperor scoffed disdainfully. "Foolish! Do you think that boy from the Long Family will stay put and wait for you for three years? He devoured the split soul of that Medicine Saint and obtained some of the mysteries of the ancient Legacy. His growth speed will only be faster than you imagine!"

"Then... what should I do?" The flame in Ye Fan's heart felt as if it had been doused with cold water.

"Breaking before building; your Foundation is now completely destroyed, which is the best time to re-cultivate a supreme divine art. But to become strong quickly, mere arduous cultivation is far from enough; you must seek out true great Opportunities!" The remnant soul of the human emperor's voice was full of temptation.

"Opportunity? Where can I find it?"

"Kunlun Mountain!" The remnant soul of the human emperor's tone became extremely solemn. "Deep within that ancestor of all mountains, there is a 'Human Emperor Relic' that I left behind. There, I have prepared the true Legacy for you, and supreme divine objects powerful enough to completely transform you! Go, disciple, go there and seek your power! The day you return from Kunlun will be the beginning of your revenge!"

"Kunlun... Human Emperor Relic..." Ye Fan murmured, a blazing fire reigniting in his eyes.

He bowed deeply to the Void Realm, then quietly rose, and, facing the faint light of dawn, dragged his broken body westward, stumbling towards that distant land filled with the unknown and hope.

A new path of advancement for the "Son of Destiny" thus began... Inside Dragon Perch Residence.

Lin Tian was currently watching a real-time report on Ye Fan's movements, which had just arrived, with great interest, through the Long Family's global Heavenly Eye intelligence network.

"He went to Kunlun Mountain... It seems the 'main soul' in that jade pendant is even more Advanced than I imagined."

He dismissed it with disdain.

In his eyes, the current Ye Fan was just a small leek that had just broken through the soil and needed careful nurturing to grow. There was no need for him to pay attention to it before it grew into a towering tree and bore abundant fruit.

"Young Lord, the official invitation letter for the Global Youth Martial Arts Tournament has been delivered," Long Ling'er reported softly from the side.

Lin Tian closed the intelligence interface and nodded.

"The time is about right."

He looked at Long Ling'er and instructed, "Pass on my order: from today onwards, Dragon Perch Residence is to enter the highest level of lockdown. For the next year, I will be in deep secluded cultivation, and no one is to disturb me."

"Yes!" Long Ling'er bowed and accepted the order.

"Additionally," Lin Tian added, "transfer all the information I previously asked you to compile regarding the 'Holy Mountain' organization and 'Atlantis's' known strongholds and industries worldwide to my seclusion chamber. This year, it's time to prepare a 'big gift' for them."

He decided to make the most thorough and complete preparations for his first global debut, which was to be held a year later...

Time, like a white steed flashing past a crack, flew by.

One year later.

Only one week remained until the official opening of the Global Youth Martial Arts Tournament.

The entire world was completely abuzz because of this upcoming, once-in-a-decade Martial Arts grand event.

From New York to London, from Tokyo to Moscow, the front pages of major global media outlets were dominated by news related to the Martial Arts Tournament. Countless retired Martial Arts veterans and professional commentators were fiercely analyzing and predicting the favorites to win this year's tournament on television and online.

"Undoubtedly, the biggest highlight of this tournament is still the showdown between the two giants: North America's 'Holy Mountain' organization and Huaxia's 'Long Family'!"

"That's right! The 'Holy Mountain' organization's Divine Child of this generation, Kyle Austin, was born with an S-Rank [Holy Light] Ability. It is said that he already broke through to the Martial Emperor Realm half a year ago, and his strength is unfathomable. He is the strongest contender for this year's championship!"

However, in the internal forums of major powers and on the dark web, which ordinary people could not access, there was only one focus of discussion.

— Would the Long Family's mysterious "number zero heir," Lin Tian, who had never appeared in any public occasion, make his global debut at this tournament?

"Nonsense! Of course he will! Fourteen years ago, he broke the 'gaia record' at birth and was hailed as 'humanity's future hope'! The Long Family has kept him hidden for so many years, isn't it precisely to make a splash at the Martial Arts Tournament?"

"Hard to say. I heard this number zero heir has an extremely domineering personality. A year ago, he even shattered the Dao Heart of their Family's number three heir, Long Ao. Perhaps he disdains participating in such 'children's' competitions?"

"Regardless of whether he participates or not, he will be the uncrowned king of this tournament! I bet ten thousand Federal Coins that he will absolutely win the championship with an overwhelming advantage!"

Expectation, speculation, worship, doubt... The eyes of the entire world were focused with unprecedented fervor on that mysterious Young Lord, of whom not even a single clear photograph had ever been circulated.

He had not yet appeared, but he had already become the center of the world's storm...

However, beneath this fervent anticipation, a deadly undercurrent, capable of overturning everything, was quietly brewing.

North America, inside a lavish private estate filled with lights and luxury, a wild party for top-tier scions was underway.

Long Xiaoqian, who had been expelled by the Long Family and eventually made her way to North America, her appearance and figure becoming even more alluring, now held a glass of champagne. Her gaze, almost like a pilgrimage, filled with tension and fanaticism, was fixed on the golden-haired youth at the center of the party, surrounded by countless beauties and children of powerful families like stars around the moon.

He was the son of one of the twelve directors of the "Holy Mountain" organization, the biggest favorite to win this year's Martial Arts Tournament, a top-tier scion with an S-Rank [Holy Light] Ability — Kyle Austin!

Kyle was arrogant and vindictive, always regarding the Huaxia Long Family as his biggest rival and a stepping stone that he must trample underfoot.

Long Xiaoqian knew this was her only chance for revenge.

Over the past year, by selling some trivial, inconsequential secondary intelligence about the Long Family, she had finally gained access to this party.

She still held one last, and most fatal, trump card in her hand.

A shocking secret that would make the "Holy Mountain" organization determined to kill Lin Tian!

She took a deep breath, gathered all her courage, and, swaying her seductive waist, moved through the crowd to Kyle's front.

Under Kyle's scrutinizing and playful gaze, she bowed slightly, fully revealing her most impressive cleavage, and in a seductive voice, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, she whispered:

"Young Master Kyle, good evening."

"I have a shocking secret about the Long Family's mysterious 'Number Zero' that you will absolutely be interested in..."

"His publicly claimed A-Rank Talent is fake."

"His true Talent Rank is one that would make even gods tremble..."

— "SSS-Rank!"