41: The aftermath has not yet subsided, the ancestor passed on the Dharma

The Global Youth Martial Arts Tournament concluded in a manner no one had ever anticipated, filled with blood and dominance.

However, the aftershocks it unleashed were like a super tsunami sweeping across the entire planet, taking a long time to subside.

Lin Tian, a name that previously only existed in legend, became the sole focus of all media, all powers, and all Martial Artists worldwide within a single day, in the most powerful and undeniable way.

"One man suppresses a generation! The Qilin Child of the Long Family, the path to becoming a future Martial God, has already begun!" — Headline of "Global Martial Arts Daily."

"From the gaia record to mythical genes, from crushing Prodigies to confronting Demigods, an in-depth analysis of 'Alpha Heir' Lin Tian's invincible path!" — In-depth feature in "Federal Martial Arts Observer."

"Shocking! The Third Ancestor of the Long Family remotely annihilated a Holy Mountain Elder, two top powers may initiate an all-out war!" — "World Crisis Watch."

Global networks and media were completely swept into a frenzy of celebration and discussion about Lin Tian. His prestige and status were finally and unshakeably solidified on a global scale. He was no longer just the Long Family's "Number Zero," but was recognized as the undisputed... number one among the younger generation of this era!

...However, beneath this clamor of praise and awe, the licking of wounds by the defeated and the lurking of the vengeful also quietly played out in the shadowy corners of the world.

North America, the main temple of the "Holy Mountain" organization headquarters.

The atmosphere was as oppressive as a ten-thousand-year-old ice cave.

All high-ranking members knelt on one knee, silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to even breathe. Because above them, on the divine throne, a terrifying rage, capable of freezing time and space, was slowly burning.

"Holy Light... is dead."

A majestic voice, devoid of discernible emotion, came from the divine throne, "Annihilated by that old immortal of the Long Family, in front of the entire world, both his Clone and his main body... were erased."

"This is the greatest humiliation our 'Holy Mountain' organization has suffered... since its inception!"

The high-ranking members below bowed their heads even lower.

After a long silence, the voice spoke again, but had already regained its cold, absolute rationality.

"However, now is not the time to go to war with the Long Family. That old immortal's strength has advanced again. Before we have absolute certainty, we... must endure."

"Deliver my divine oracle."

"All S-rank resources shall be directed towards the 'Holy Land'!"

"At all costs, accelerate... Adam's final genetic modification!"

"Tell him, I need him to perfectly achieve the Fusion of the Seraphim Bloodline and become a true 'Terrestrial Deity' in the shortest possible time!"

"Only he is our 'Holy Mountain's' ultimate trump card... against that little monster of the Long Family!"

"Yes!"

...Meanwhile, aboard the flagship intergalactic spaceship returning to the "Star Group" headquarters.

Ye Star slowly awoke from several days of deep coma.

He lay in the top-tier medical capsule, his bodily injuries already perfectly repaired. But his eyes were as hollow as a puppet that had lost its Soul, utterly lifeless.

He lost.

He lost utterly.

He lost completely.

His proud Family background, talent, and strength all seemed so ridiculous, so vulnerable, before that person.

What made him even more desperate was that his beloved woman, Jiang Luoling, stood firmly by that man's side throughout the battle, her eyes filled with unfamiliarity and... disappointment when she looked at him.

Everything he had was taken away.

Just as he was disheartened, utterly despondent, and even cracks began to appear in his Heart-Nature of Martial Dao—

Boom!!!

A vast, unfamiliar, yet incredibly intimate torrent of memories, without warning, like a bursting river of stars, instantly surged into the depths of his mind!

Those were ancient memories filled with glory and splendor!

He saw a supreme expert, clad in star armor and wielding a star spear, fighting gods and demons, contending with giant beasts on an ancient battlefield. With a single spear thrust, he could pierce through stars and annihilate all things!

"I am... the Star Martial God!"

"Later generation, since you are my Reincarnation, you shall inherit my will, reascend to the Peak of Martial Dao, and rekindle the glory of the Star God!"

"Wake up!"

"—Awaken!!!"

"Ah ah ah ah ah!"

Ye Star clutched his head, letting out a painful yet exhilarating roar!

He finally understood!

He, Ye Star, was actually the Reincarnation of the strongest Star Martial God, who only existed in ancient myths and legends, who attained the Dao through the power of the stars, and whose combat power was unparalleled!

No wonder he was born with an affinity for the power of the stars!

No wonder he could achieve such accomplishments at such a young age!

"So that's how it is... so that's how it is!"

His fighting spirit reignited, and in his once lifeless eyes, a raging fire, a hundred times more intense than ever before, burned once again!

"Lin Tian!"

"It turns out you are merely a whetstone... on my path back to the Peak!"

"Just wait! Once I completely achieve Fusion with the Martial Dao insights of my previous life and awaken the true power of the Star God! I will surely... repay today's humiliation a hundredfold!"

A "leek (metaphor for harvestable resource/easy target)" that had been severely damaged, after acquiring the even more powerful "cheat" of "Rebirth through Reincarnation," once again, burst forth with vibrant vitality... Inside Lin Tian's exclusive Cultivation room at Dragon Perch Residence.

As for the turmoil in the outside world and the "Rebirth" of those losers, Lin Tian naturally couldn't be bothered with it.

At this moment, he was enjoying the rare peace and warmth after the great battle.

"Ah — open wide."

Jiang Luoling, who had completely become Lin Tian's "exclusive little accessory," was like a diligent little bee, carefully feeding peeled, crystal-clear purple crystal grapes to Lin Tian, who was sitting cross-legged on the warm Jade bed, resting with his eyes closed.

Lin Tian was happy to enjoy it, opening his mouth and swallowing the Spiritual Qi-filled pulp, along with the faint fragrance lingering on the girl's fingertips.

"Brother Tian, you're amazing! That Ye Star, he's so annoying! He used to always flaunt his good looks, but seeing him get sent flying by your punch today was so satisfying!"

"And that Kyle, he's even worse! He actually launched a sneak attack! He deserved to have his arm torn off by you!"

The girl chattered like a happy lark, sharing her joy in his ear.

Lin Tian just listened quietly, a faint, doting smile playing on his lips.

Just then, an old yet deeply gratified voice transmission, without warning, slowly sounded in his ear.

"Tian'er, come to the Forbidden Ground."

It was the Third Ancestor.

Lin Tian's eyes moved, and he said to Jiang Luoling, "Luo Ling, you play by yourself for a while, I'm going out."

"Oh, okay." Jiang Luoling nodded obediently... In the Long Family's Forbidden Ground, within that mysterious space perpetually shrouded in Chaos Qi.

Lin Tian met the Third Ancestor, who he had only heard but never seen.

This time, the Third Ancestor's phantom was more solid than ever before. He looked at this junior, who even he found stunning and proud, his eyes, which seemed to penetrate all ages, filled with undisguised admiration.

"Good, very good."

"Both your strength and your Heart-Nature far exceeded my expectations."

"Especially at the end, facing the pressure of that old thing Holy Light, not only did you not back down, but you even killed his junior and seized his treasure right in front of him. This decisive ruthlessness, this dominance, truly embodies the essence of my Long Family!"

Receiving the highest praise from this stabilizing force of the Family, Lin Tian remained calm and composed, neither humble nor arrogant.

Seeing this, the Third Ancestor was even more satisfied. He slowly spoke, uttering words that would shake the entire Long Family.

"Now, your Foundation is established, and your strength is sufficient for self-preservation. It is time to impart to you the true, inherited, supreme secret technique of my Long Family, capable of suppressing all enemies."

He paused, then enunciated, word by word, the four names that would drive any Martial Artist mad.

"—The God Slaying Sword Canon!"

"This is an SSS-rank forbidden Sword Canon created by my Long Family's Old Ancestor, who spent ten thousand years of painstaking effort observing the ancient battle between gods and demons! This Sword Canon does not Cultivate the body, nor does it Cultivate techniques, it only Cultivates... a wisp of supreme Sword Intent capable of severing Karma and slaying gods and demons!"

"Once mastered, within the same rank, one sword can instantly kill!"

"Challenging those of higher ranks is as easy as drinking water and eating!"

"Today, I shall impart this method to you!"

"I hope you can use it to carve out a... more glorious future for my Long Family!"

The moment his voice fell, an ancient Jade Slip, entirely crafted from Chaos immortal gold and engraved with countless profound Sword Intent marks, slowly floated before Lin Tian.

A supreme "cheat" actively bestowed by the highest Elder pushed the protagonist's all gains and prestige from this tournament to its ultimate and most perfect climax!