201: Chapter 201 The Dispute over the Library

Three days had passed since the storm in the Discussion Hall, and the Lin Family's ancestral lands had returned to a surface-level calm. However, the undercurrents never ceased.

Lin Fan sat cross-legged in his courtyard, Spiritual Qi surging around him as starlight faintly flickered. Since refining the star pagoda, he would draw upon the Power of the Stars every night to temper his Physical Body, complementing his Eternal Indestructible Body.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The sound of knocking echoed.

Lin Fan opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing within them.

"Enter."

The door pushed open, and a young servant in green robes bowed. "Divine Son, the Clan Leader requests your presence."

Lin Fan nodded, stood up to straighten his robes, and walked toward his father's study.

Lin Zhantian's study was located at the core of the ancestral lands, surrounded by Restrictions. When Lin Fan stepped inside, he saw his father standing by the window with his back turned.

"You've arrived?"

Lin Zhantian turned around, a flicker of gratification in his eyes as he looked at his increasingly outstanding son.

"Has there been any movement from Great Elder's side lately?" Lin Fan asked.

Lin Zhantian shook his head. "It is quiet on the surface. Lin Hong is grounded at the Grand Elder's manor, and Great Elder has also stayed behind closed doors. However, I have received word that he has been secretly contacting several Elders from outside the clan."

Lin Fan sneered. "He cannot sit still. He has cultivated the position of transmission elder for thirty years; he won't be willing to just hand it over like this."

Lin Zhantian nodded and picked up a simple, ancient jade plaque from the desk, handing it to Lin Fan.

"This is the transmission elder's command token. Tomorrow, you will officially take over this position."

Lin Fan took the jade plaque, feeling the ancient aura contained within it.

The transmission elder managed the instruction and borrowing of all the Lin Family's Cultivation Techniques. This position was important not only because it held the Family's Legacy, but also because it allowed for free entry and exit from the Lin Family's most important location: the Scripture Pavilion.

"The Scripture Pavilion has seven floors in total," Lin Zhantian said. "The first five floors are open to all clansmen. Only Elders and the Divine Son can enter the sixth floor. As for the seventh floor..."

He paused and looked at Lin Fan. "Only the Clan Chief and the transmission elder can enter the seventh floor. It houses the Lin Family's core Legacy, including several Cultivation Techniques left behind by the Ancestor."

A light flashed in Lin Fan's eyes.

"Does Father mean for me to go to the seventh floor and take a look?"

Lin Zhantian nodded. "Although your Eternal Indestructible Body is powerful, it lacks matching Cultivation Techniques. The Lin Family Ancestor was also a master of Body Refining back then; perhaps he left something suitable for you."

Lin Fan felt a stir in his heart.

The Eternal Indestructible Body was his greatest trump card, but this Physique was too unique; ordinary Cultivation Techniques simply couldn't unleash its true power. If he could find the Body Refining technique left by the Ancestor, his strength would surely take another step forward.

"However," Lin Zhantian's tone shifted, "if you want to enter the seventh floor, you still have to pass a test."

Lin Fan raised an eyebrow. "What kind of test?"

Lin Zhantian said solemnly, "After taking over as transmission elder tomorrow, according to clan rules, you must accept an examination by three Elders. This is to prevent a transmission elder from being one in name only and wasting the Family's Legacy."

"The content of the examination?"

"It's simple. The three Elders will each pose a question, and you must answer them on the spot. If you answer correctly, you can officially take the position. If you answer incorrectly..."

Lin Fan said indifferently, "What happens if I answer incorrectly?"

Lin Zhantian looked at him and said slowly, "Over the past century, three Divine Sons have attempted to take over as transmission elder. Two answered incorrectly and were stripped of their Divine Son status and demoted to the outer sect. One passed, and later became the Lin Family's strongest Clan Chief."

Lin Fan smiled.

"Interesting. Those three Elders—I assume they are Great Elder's people?"

Lin Zhantian nodded. "The Second Elder, Fifth Elder, and seventh elder are all Great Elder's confidants. They will certainly make things difficult for you tomorrow."

Lin Fan was silent for a moment before asking, "Father, when you took over as Clan Chief, did you undergo an examination?"

A hint of memory flashed in Lin Zhantian's eyes. "I did. My examination was to enter the seventh floor and come out alive."

Lin Fan was stunned.

Lin Zhantian walked to the desk, picked up a yellowed ancient book, and handed it to Lin Fan.

"These are the notes of the Lin Family's past transmission elders, recording their understanding of Cultivation Techniques. Take a good look tonight; it might come in handy tomorrow."

Lin Fan took the notes, feeling their heavy weight.

"Thank you, Father."

Lin Zhantian patted his shoulder. "Go. Remember, no matter the outcome tomorrow, you are my, Lin Zhantian's, son."

The next day, in front of the Scripture Pavilion.

Hundreds of Lin clansmen gathered there, whispering amongst themselves.

"I heard Lin Fan is taking over as transmission elder today and has to pass an examination by three Elders."

"transmission elder... that's a position second only to the Clan Chief. How old is Lin Fan? Sixteen?"

"What can you do? He has a good father."

"Shh, lower your voice, the Divine Son is here."

The crowd parted automatically as Lin Fan walked over slowly.

Today he wore a black robe with the transmission elder's jade plaque tied at his waist. His bearing was steady, not at all like a sixteen-year-old youth.

At the entrance of the Scripture Pavilion, three white-haired Elders were already waiting.

The leader was the Second Elder, Lin Guang, who had a thin build and sinister eyes. He was a die-hard supporter of Great Elder, managed the Lin Family's penal laws, and held great power in the clan.

Standing on the left was the Fifth Elder, Lin Zhen, who was burly and one of the rare Body Refining experts of the Lin Family.

Standing on the right was the seventh elder, Lin He, who had a lean, scholarly face and was responsible for the Lin Family's Medicinal Pill refinement.

"Lin Fan," Lin Guang said indifferently, "today you take over as transmission elder. According to clan rules, you must accept our examination. Among the three questions, if you answer even one incorrectly, your qualification as transmission elder will be revoked, and your status as Divine Son will be re-evaluated."

As soon as these words were spoken, an uproar broke out in the surroundings.

"Re-evaluate the Divine Son? Isn't that just trying to ruin Lin Fan?"

"The Second Elder came prepared."

Lin Fan's expression remained unchanged as he said calmly, "Second Elder, please pose the question."

Lin Guang stared at him and said slowly, "First question: our Lin Family's techniques are based on the 'Star Art,' and past ancestors have derived thirty-six branch techniques from it. I ask you, in the fifth level of the 'Star Art,' how many variations are there in the move 'Falling Stars Like Rain'?"

When this question was posed, many clansmen gasped.

The 'Star Art' was the Lin Family's foundational technique, and almost everyone knew it. But the fifth level was core content that only direct descendants could Cultivate. 'Falling Stars Like Rain' was the most difficult move within it, known for its 'myriad changes.' How many specific variations there were was something even Elders who had cultivated for years might not be able to say clearly.

Lin Fan was silent for a moment before slowly speaking. "In the fifth level of the 'Star Art,' the move 'Falling Stars Like Rain' uses the Power of the Stars within the body to trigger resonance with external stars. There are one hundred and eight basic variations. However, if coordinated with different Meridian circulation routes, three hundred and sixty variant forms can be derived. Past ancestors, based on their own insights, added seventy-two secret variations. Therefore, the total is five hundred and forty."

Lin Guang's face changed slightly.

What Lin Fan said was not off by a single word.

He had originally thought that because Lin Fan was young, even if he had cultivated the 'Star Art,' he couldn't possibly remember such obscure knowledge. Who would have thought Lin Fan not only remembered it but even knew the secret variations added by past ancestors clearly?

"Second question," Lin Zhen took a step forward and said in a booming voice, "Our Lin Family has a Body Refining technique called 'Star Golden Body.' It is said that when cultivated to Major Achievement, the Physical Body can withstand a strike from a World Master. I ask you, what is the flaw of this technique?"

Lin Fan smiled.

This question was tricky. Most people only remember the strengths of a technique; who would specifically study its flaws?

But he had read the notes of the past transmission elders last night, and it just so happened that one Elder had specifically researched this issue.

"The flaw of the 'Star Golden Body' lies in its dependence on the Power of the Stars," Lin Fan said slowly. "The practitioner needs to absorb the Power of the Stars at night to temper the body. If they remain in a starless place for a long time, the Golden Body will gradually degrade. Three hundred years ago, the Sixth Elder Lin Xiao was trapped in an underground Secret Realm. Having not seen the stars for three years, his Golden Body collapsed, and he eventually perished. Since then, successive transmission elders have tried to improve this technique, but have yet to succeed."

Lin Zhen's face stiffened.

He had prepared this question for a long time, intending to stump Lin Fan. Who knew Lin Fan not only knew the flaw but even cited the specific case clearly?

"Third question," Lin He stepped forward, his gaze like lightning. "Our Lin Family has a secret Medicinal Pill called the 'star pellet' that can help one achieve a Breakthrough in their Realm. I ask you, to refine a star pellet, which three primary herbs and nine auxiliary herbs are needed, and what must be noted during the refining process?"

Lin Fan looked at him and said calmly, "seventh elder, are you sure you want to ask this question?"

Lin He was stunned. "What do you mean?"

Lin Fan took out an ancient book from his robes; it was precisely the transmission elder's notes Lin Zhantian had given him last night.

"On page thirty-seven of the past transmission elders' notes, the complete formula for the star pellet is recorded, along with seventeen points of attention during the refining process. If the seventh elder wants to test me, perhaps he should choose another question?"

Lin He's face turned red, and he was speechless.

He had indeed wanted to use this question to make things difficult for Lin Fan. The star pellet formula was a closely guarded secret of the Lin Family that outsiders had no way of knowing. But he had forgotten that it would certainly be recorded in the notes of the past transmission elders.

"Enough," an aged voice rang out.

Everyone looked toward the source of the sound and saw the Grand Elder, Great Elder, walking over slowly.

He glanced at the three Elders, and they quickly lowered their heads.

Great Elder walked up to Lin Fan and gave him a deep look.

"Lin Fan, you are very good."

Lin Fan said indifferently, "The Grand Elder overpraises me."

Great Elder was silent for a moment before saying slowly, "The three questions have passed, and you answered them all correctly. From this day forward, you are the Lin Family's transmission elder."

After saying this, he turned and left.

The three Elders looked at each other and followed him out.

The watching clansmen broke into cheers.

"The Divine Son is mighty!"

"That was a beautiful set of answers!"

Lin Fan ignored the cheers and walked straight toward the gates of the Scripture Pavilion.

The Elder guarding the pavilion opened his eyes, glanced at him, and slowly pushed open the gates.

"You can only stay on the seventh floor for one hour. When the time is up, you will be automatically teleported out."

Lin Fan nodded and stepped inside.

Behind him, the gates slowly closed.

The seventh floor of the Scripture Pavilion, the core Legacy of the Lin Family—he was finally going to see it.

He had not missed Great Elder's final look.

In that gaze, there was wariness, killing intent, and something else that was hard to define.

Lin Fan sneered in his heart.

Great Elder, the more you want to deal with me, the higher I will stand.

Just wait; this is only the beginning.