31: With me, I can lead my family to the stars!

Inside the banquet hall, the atmosphere, filled with sweetness and doting affection, was pushed to its peak by Lin Tian's domineering yet gentle "face-pinch kill."

Jiang Luoling covered her slightly flushed cheeks, so shy she almost buried her head in her chest, yet she couldn't help but secretly, with a hint of glee, glance at the young man beside her who made her heart pound like a drum.

And Lin Tian, after pinching his cousin's Q-elastic and tender cheeks, felt a strange sensation flicker in his heart, almost involuntarily.

Just now, the moment his fingertips touched Jiang Luoling's skin, he could clearly feel a subtle yet profound resonance between his Pangu Body myth gene, which was as silent and heavy as an ancient divine mountain, and Jiang Luoling’s SSS-rank Element Affinity gene, which was agile, lively, and seemed capable of communicating with all things.

It was as if two puzzle pieces, lost for billions of years, had finally found each other.

A thought, like a lightning bolt piercing through Chaos, instantly flashed through his mind.

It was an ancient secret, labeled "Mythical Taboo," that he had stumbled upon among the vast fragments of ancient memories after devouring the Medicine Saint's remnant soul.

"Legend has it that when the Human Race's strongest Body Refining Saint Body combines with the strongest Elemental Dao Fetus, their offspring will have an extremely small chance to Break through the shackles of myth genes, giving birth to what only exists in theory, something that would make even gods envious, something that transcends all genetic sequences…"

"—The Genesis Dao Body!"

This thought caused even Lin Tian's long-unwavering mind to ripple slightly. He looked at the shy young woman before him, his nominal "fiancée," and his eyes held an indescribable depth.

Perhaps… this "childhood engagement" set by their elders was not merely a simple Family alliance.

Amidst this warm atmosphere filled with pink bubbles and future imaginings, the banquet's mood gradually reached its climax.

The Long Family Clan Chief, Lin Tian's grandfather Long Zhanye, after exchanging pleasantries with the leaders of several top powers, slowly walked onto the main stage in the center of the banquet hall.

His aged yet wise eyes swept across the audience, and an aura of unspoken authority, belonging to a Martial God Rank powerhouse, instantly silenced the entire banquet hall.

Everyone knew that the main event was about to begin.

Long Zhanye cleared his throat and, using a loud and majestic voice amplified by a Formation, resounded throughout the hall and into the ears of billions of viewers worldwide.

"Today, I have taken the opportunity of the Global Youth Martial Arts Tournament's opening to invite all of you here, not only to celebrate this grand occasion but also to formally announce, before the entire world, a major event that concerns the future direction of my Long Family for the next hundred, even thousand, years!"

The entire hall held its breath.

Long Zhanye's gaze slowly fell upon the young man at the main seat, who had remained indifferent throughout. His eyes were filled with undisguised pride, gratification, and… supreme expectation!

"Here, in the name of the 77th Clan Chief of the Huaxia Long Family, I formally announce!"

"By the unanimous decision of our Clan's Three Ancestors and the entire Council of Elders!"

"Lin Tian!"

"Shall be the Huaxia Long Family's only one with the highest inheritance authority—"

"The 'Alpha Heir'!"

"His status transcends all other direct heirs!"

Boom!!!

This earth-shattering announcement, like a nuclear bomb detonated in a confined space, instantly ignited the atmosphere of the entire hall!

"Alpha Heir?! Did I hear that right? The Long Family actually activated this highest inheritance sequence, which only exists in legends and represents 'uniqueness' and 'absolute'!"

"Oh my god! This is tantamount to declaring to the world that Lin Tian is the Long Family's designated, next-generation sole Dominator! All other direct heirs will become mere foils for him!"

"Too… too domineering! But also… too natural! After all, he is an SSS-rank myth gene possessor who broke the gaia record!"

Applause, exclamations, and discussions erupted like thunder.

However, amidst this fervent clamor, the atmosphere at the seats of the Long Family's direct heirs was extremely subtle.

number three heir Long Ao looked at the figure in the spotlight with a complex expression, ultimately dissolving into a helpless bitter smile.

Seventh Heir Dragon Snow Phoenix, whose perpetually icy face rarely showed emotion, revealed a trace of unwillingness.

And sitting at the head of all the heirs, the First Heir Long Qingtian, who had been as steady as a divine mountain throughout and whose popularity and strength were considered the best of his generation, suddenly narrowed his sharp, hawk-like eyes upon hearing this announcement!

He slowly rose from his seat.

A powerful aura, full of defiance and questioning, instantly dispersed all the surrounding noise, causing everyone's gaze to subconsciously focus on him.

He pushed aside his followers who tried to dissuade him and strode purposefully to the front of the main stage.

He first bowed deeply to Long Zhanye, respectfully and impeccably.

Then, he slowly straightened up and, with a clear, powerful, and neither humble nor arrogant voice, issued the sharpest challenge, one that silenced the entire hall!

"Clan Chief!"

"I, Long Qingtian, respect the decision of the Three Ancestors and the Council of Elders!"

"However!"

He changed his tone, his voice suddenly rising, like a drawn sword, its sharpness fully revealed!

"According to our Long Family's ironclad Clan rules, passed down for thousands of years, the number one heir, and even the higher-level 'Alpha Heir,' must have a foundation of illustrious Battle Intent capable of suppressing an entire era!"

"Since I was ten years old, I, Long Qingtian, have been training in the military, slaying S-rank alien beasts like the 'Frost Demon Wolf' in the northern ice plains; suppressing 'Sea Race' rebellions in the Western Sea Abyss; and personally beheading three Martial Emperor Rank powerhouses from hostile forces on the alien battlefield! I believe that the blood I have shed for the Family and the merits I have established are enough to bear this honor!"

"As for Lin Tian…"

His gaze, like two tangible bolts of lightning, pierced directly at Lin Tian in the main seat!

"He has not made a single contribution! He doesn't even have one true, public battle record!"

"May I ask the Clan Chief, may I ask all the Elders!"

"On what grounds?!"

"On what grounds should he, a hothouse flower who only exists in legends and has never shed a drop of blood for the Family, be placed above us warriors who have fought in bloody battles?!"

"I refuse to accept this!!!"

He practically roared the last three words, the boundless unwillingness and grievance contained within them echoing throughout the hall!

This challenge was reasonable! Well-founded! And completely in line with the Family's rules!

He did not question Lin Tian's talent; what he questioned was the "procedural justice" of this appointment!

In an instant, the entire hall fell into an extremely awkward, deathly silence.

Even Long Zhanye, faced with Long Qingtian's sharp challenge, which was based on "righteousness" and "Clan rules," was momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond.

Just when everyone thought that the Long Family was about to witness an embarrassing internal dispute—

Lin Tian himself descended from the main seat.

He slowly walked in front of Long Qingtian, his deep eyes calmly meeting the hawk-like gaze filled with defiance and Battle Intent.

He first calmly uttered his first sentence, directly suppressing the other party's "procedural justice" with a higher-level "absolute authority."

"This is the Three Ancestors' decision."

"If you have questions, you can personally ask the Three Ancestors."

Long Qingtian's breathing instantly hitched.

Then, Lin Tian changed his tone, and his calm voice suddenly erupted with an unparalleled domineering aura that looked down on the world and regarded all things as dust!

He looked at Long Qingtian, and at everyone present, and at the entire world, and slowly spoke his own domineering declaration, one worthy of being recorded in history.

"As for, on what grounds?"

"It's because you, Long Qingtian, can guard a border for the Family."

"And I, Lin Tian…"

He paused, a curve of arrogance that looked down on the Universe appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"—Can lead the Long Family to step onto the stars and become the only, eternal number one power in this Universe!"

"Is that reason…"

"Enough?!"

"