59: Undercurrents surged, father and son secretly discussed matters.

Meteor Star Ancient Domain, Entrance Camp. The sun set, dyeing the temporary tent area in a blood-red hue. At the reception points set up by the various great families, Disciples completing their trial missions began returning one after another. Some wore joyful expressions, having gained significant rewards; others were covered in wounds, looking exhausted.

In the northeast corner of the camp, at the Lin Family's station, Fourth Elder stood outside a tent wearing a black Law Enforcement robe, hands clasped behind his back, staring intently at the entrance to the Ancient Domain. His face was gloomy, deep worry lines etched around his mouth, and unconcealed impatience churned in his eyes.

Four and a half hours. According to the plan, those six should have completed the mission within two hours, then dispersed and retreated, leaving behind the 'mission accomplished' markers at the three designated safe points. But now, not only had no markers appeared, but the two confidants he secretly sent to scout the periphery of the Falling Star Abyss had also vanished without a trace, no news whatsoever.

"Could it be..." an ominous thought sprouted in his mind, which he forcefully suppressed. "Impossible! Six cultivators at the Mid to Late Stage of the Condensing Spirit Realm, forming the 'Six Absolute Killing Formation,' could contend even with a powerhouse who just entered the Divine Power Realm. Even if Lin Fan's Physical Body is strong, he is still only in the Early Stage of the Condensing Spirit Realm." Yet, the more he tried to comfort himself, the stronger the anxiety grew.

"Elder Fourth Elder..." a gentle voice came from behind him.

Fourth Elder suddenly turned, his pupils shrinking slightly.

He saw that Lin Fan had appeared several feet away without him noticing. Dressed in a spotless cyan tight-fitting outfit, his aura was steady and restrained, and a faint smile even graced his face. He carried a bulging leather package in his left hand, his right hand hanging casually by his side, walking over with unhurried steps.

In that instant, Fourth Elder's heart almost stopped beating.

How was he still alive? How could he be alive? And he looked completely unharmed?!

"Lin Fan?" Fourth Elder forcefully suppressed the turbulent waves in his heart, his voice slightly dry. "You've returned. Was the mission smooth?"

"Thanks to the Elder's blessing, it was relatively smooth." Lin Fan walked closer and gently placed the package he was holding on the ground. The package made a muffled sound upon landing, and dark red stains seeped from its edges. "The Falling Star Abyss indeed had some unusual activity, but it wasn't an anomaly in the Power of the Stars crystal vein; rather, some unclean things mixed in."

Fourth Elder stared fixedly at the package, an indescribable chill rising from his spine.

"What is this?" He heard his own voice sounding slightly shaky.

"Oh, on the way back, I conveniently cleaned up a few 'Yao Beasts' that didn't know their place." Lin Fan lightly nudged a corner of the package with his toe, revealing several pieces of torn black clothing inside, along with half a twisted and deformed hook blade. "These beasts disguised themselves rather well, but unfortunately, the Killing Intent in their eyes could not be hidden. How could I allow petty thieves to run rampant during my Lin Family's Ancient Domain trial? So, I cleaned house for the Elder."

Thud. The wooden stool behind Fourth Elder was knocked over as he subconsciously stepped back, making a harsh sound. His face turned pale, his lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word.

He recognized that hook blade! It was the High Grade Spiritual Artifact 'Shadow Hook' that he had personally bestowed upon the assassin wielding it!

All six were dead! Not only dead, but they were packed up and brought back by Lin Fan in such a humiliating manner, thrown right in front of him!

"Elder, you don't look well?" Lin Fan asked with feigned concern, though there was no warmth in his eyes. "Have you been overworking these past few days? Your Junior happens to have a few stalks of 'Spirit Calming Grass' I gathered in the Ancient Domain, which has the effect of calming the spirit. Perhaps..."

"No need!" Fourth Elder almost roared out, then realized his loss of composure and forcibly suppressed the churning blood and Qi. "This old man is just a bit surprised. These villains actually dared to infiltrate my Lin Family's Ancient Domain; they truly deserve death! You did very well! Very well!" The last two words were practically squeezed out from between his teeth.

"The Elder flatters me." Lin Fan nodded slightly, as if he hadn't heard the hatred hidden in the other's words. "Since that is the case, your Junior will go report the mission and then report to Father. I will trouble the Elder to dispose of these corpses. After all, dealing with matters concerning the Ancient Domain's safety is the duty of the Law Enforcement Hall, isn't it?"

He gave Fourth Elder a deep look, then turned and walked towards the largest golden tent in the center of the camp.

Only after Lin Fan's back disappeared behind the tent curtain did Fourth Elder violently smash his fist onto the wooden pillar beside him!

Crack! The wooden pillar, as thick as a bowl, snapped instantly, causing the entire tent to shake slightly.

"Elder, calm your anger!" Several Law Enforcement Hall Disciples rushed forward.

"Scram! All of you, get out!" Fourth Elder's face was contorted, his Killing Intent almost bursting out of his body. But he was, after all, an old fox who had cultivated for many years. After taking several deep breaths, he forcibly calmed down.

Since things had come to this, anger was useless. The priority now was damage control.

Those six were all Death Soldiers he had secretly cultivated; could their identities withstand scrutiny? shadow recording stone—right, Lin Fan hadn't mentioned the shadow recording stone at all just now! Did he fail to obtain it, or is he waiting for something?

Fourth Elder stared at the blood-seeping package on the ground, a cold light flickering in his eyes.

"Someone..." he lowered his voice to the most trusted steward. "Handle these things thoroughly. Remember, 'thoroughly'."

"Yes!" The steward understood immediately, quickly leading men forward to lift the package away swiftly.

Fourth Elder then straightened his robes, put on a businesslike expression, and also headed toward the golden main tent. He had to probe for information; he absolutely needed to know how much Lin Fan had grasped.

Inside the golden main tent. Lin Zhantian sat upright in the main seat, playing with a Jade Slip in his hand, his expression calm. But when Lin Fan walked in, he looked up, paused briefly on his son's figure, and gave an almost imperceptible nod.

"Father," Lin Fan bowed in greeting.

"You're back." Lin Zhantian put down the Jade Slip. "How was the mission?"

"I did not fail my mission." Lin Fan took out the mission token and several high-quality Power of the Stars crystal stones. "There is indeed a small mineral vein anomaly deep within the Falling Star Abyss, caused by the resonance of crystal stones triggered by the underground Power of the Stars tide. It is now stable. These are samples taken from the core area."

"Mm." Lin Zhantian took them, glanced over them briefly, and placed them aside, seemingly not genuinely concerned about these items. He looked at Lin Fan, his eyes conveying inquiry.

Lin Fan understood, waved his hand, and laid down a soundproofing barrier—a small trick he had learned from the Family's Scripture Pavilion.

"Six of them, all dead," Lin Fan stated concisely. "All were at the Mid to Late Stage of the Condensing Spirit Realm, attacking in formation. The leader personally confessed that he was instructed by Fourth Elder."

A cold light flashed in Lin Zhantian's eyes: "Evidence?"

Lin Fan took out that shadow recording stone and infused it with True Qi. A clear image reappeared.

The tent fell deathly silent; only Fourth Elder's low yet fierce voice echoed from the image: "You must kill them all, leave no survivors. Make it look like a Yao Beast attack. After success, there will be a great reward."

The image ended.

Clan Leader Lin Zhantian remained silent, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest. One tap, then another; each sound seemed to strike the hearts of those present.

After a long while, he slowly spoke, "How do you intend to deal with this?"

"Fourth Elder is the Second Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall, holding high authority. He is also a core figure in Grand Elder Lin Yuan's faction," Lin Fan analyzed calmly. "With just one shadow recording stone, he can easily deny everything, claiming it was forged or that his subordinates acted independently. If we move against him now, not only will it be difficult to strike a decisive blow, but we might also alert the snake, forcing the Grand Elder's faction into desperate measures."

Approval flashed in Lin Zhantian's eyes: "Not bad. So, what is your plan?"

"We keep the evidence for now," Lin Fan said, putting away the shadow recording stone. "Fourth Elder saw me return alive today, bringing back a 'gift.' He must be terrified. He only has two paths now: either remain completely quiet and wait for the next opportunity, or take a gamble and accelerate his actions."

"Which do you think he will choose?" Lin Zhantian asked.

"Given Fourth Elder's vengeful nature and his doting on Lin Hong, he won't be able to endure for long," Lin Fan's lips curled into a cold smile. "Moreover, I deliberately provoked him today. The contents of the package, and my unharmed state, all tell him that his scheme not only failed but was also exposed. He must find a new Breakthrough point or destroy the evidence before we can strike."

Lin Zhantian nodded slightly: "So, you plan to lure the snake out of its hole?"

"Yes," Lin Fan's gaze sharpened. "Fourth Elder is just the vanguard. Behind him stands Grand Elder Lin Yuan, and possibly other factions within the Family dissatisfied with Father. This assassination attempt might have been a test—testing my strength, and testing Father's reaction. If we overreact, we fall right into their trap; if we tolerate it without acting, they will become suspicious and throw themselves into disarray."

"And then, when they are most flustered..." Lin Zhantian finished the sentence.

"Strike a killing blow decisively." Lin Fan stated firmly. Silence fell in the tent again. The last sliver of the setting sun shone through the tent flap, casting long, narrow patches of light on the ground.

Lin Zhantian looked at his son, whose gaze was firm and whose thoughts were far-reaching. He felt both gratification and a hint of complexity. Once upon a time, this youth needed his constant protection, but now he had grown to the point where he could stand on his own, even helping to share his burdens.

"Go ahead and do what you must," Lin Zhantian finally said. "I will suppress internal Family matters for you. I will also send people to monitor Fourth Elder's every move on behalf of the Law Enforcement Hall. But you must remember, the real danger might not just come from within the Family."

Lin Fan's expression grew solemn: "Father means?"

"Do you know why the Grand Elder's faction has become increasingly rampant over the last century?" Lin Zhantian stood up, walked to the edge of the tent, and looked out at the darkening sky. "Because outside forces might be backing them."

"Outside forces?" Lin Fan frowned.

"The Lin Family has been established for ten thousand years; a towering tree attracts the wind. In the Divine Realm, there are quite a few who covet the foundation of our Lin Family," Lin Zhantian's voice was low. "Grand Elder Lin Yuan traveled outside for a hundred years in his youth. After returning, he completely changed his previous low profile, began cultivating his own faction, and started contending with my lineage. There have long been speculations within the Family that he might have acquired a new backer outside."

Lin Fan was shaken. If that were true, the internal strife wasn't just a struggle for power; it might involve the infiltration of external forces!

"Of course, this is just speculation, lacking concrete evidence," Lin Zhantian turned around and patted Lin Fan's shoulder. "But you must keep it in mind. From now on, no matter what you do, maintain a degree of vigilance against hidden arrows."

"Your son understands," Lin Fan nodded solemnly.

"Alright, you've worked hard today. Go back and rest first," Lin Zhantian's expression returned to gentleness. "In three days, the Family will hold the 'Star Festival' to celebrate the successful conclusion of this Ancient Domain trial. At that time, all Disciples who performed excellently in the trial will receive rewards. Be prepared."

The Star Festival? Lin Fan's heart stirred. According to Family tradition, the Festival was not only a reward ceremony but also a crucial occasion for the younger generation to display their strength and establish their status. Would the Grand Elder's faction make a move then?

"Yes, Father." Lin Fan bowed and took his leave.

When he walked out of the main tent, night had completely fallen. Bonfires were lit in the camp, their flickering light reflecting on the faces of the people passing by.

Lin Fan looked up at the starry sky, golden light and starlight intertwining and flickering in his eyes.

Internal Family strife, external threats, the currents of the Six Realms—the road ahead was destined to be anything but smooth.

But so what? He clenched his fist. The Eternal Indestructible Body circulated quietly within him, and the star pagoda vibrated slightly in his Dantian, resonating with the vast expanse of stars.

"I'll meet force with force," Lin Fan murmured to himself, stepping toward his own tent. "But before that, Elder Fourth Elder, don't disappoint me."

In the distance, inside the Law Enforcement Hall's tent.

Fourth Elder listened to his confidant's report with a grim expression—the clothes and weapons in the package had been completely destroyed, and even the ashes were scattered into the poisonous swamps deep within the Ancient Domain.

Yet, the unease in his heart had not diminished in the slightest.

Lin Fan's seemingly calm eyes, and Lin Zhantian's completely undisturbed reaction—both were abnormal!

"Elder, what should we do next..." the confidant asked cautiously. Fourth Elder closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with ruthlessness.

"Send a message to the Grand Elder," he said hoarsely. "The plan has changed; it must be moved up. The Star Festival is our last chance."

"Also, contact the people 'outside'," Fourth Elder lowered his voice, almost inaudibly. "Tell them the prey is trickier than anticipated and that the price needs to be raised."

The confidant trembled all over and bowed his head: "Yes!" Outside the tent, the night wind blew, carrying the desolate aura unique to the Ancient Domain.

Under the calm surface, undercurrents were surging turbulently.