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The door of the Quiet Room slid open silently.

Lin Dao slowly walked out. After a month of secluded Cultivation, his aura had become even more profound. His cultivation at the Peak of the Life Soul Realm Second Level was flawless and complete. When his eyes opened and closed, it was as if Laws were being created and destroyed.

The vigorous and upward-moving atmosphere of the manor naturally reflected in his heart, causing him to nod slightly.

"Let him enter." Lin Dao's voice came out calmly.

Moments later, Lin Zhen respectfully led Shi Lie inside.

Having not seen him for a month, all the arrogance Shi Lie once possessed had transformed into humility and reverence. Upon seeing Lin Dao, he immediately bowed deeply:

"Shi Lie greets Master!"

"What is it?" Lin Dao's gaze fell upon him.

Shi Lie dared not delay. He quickly took out a Gilded Invitation Card from his embrace, presented it with both hands, his tone carrying a trace of barely noticeable nervousness:

"Master, this is an invitation sent by an envoy from 'Tianhuang City'. Tianhuang City is located ten thousand miles northeast of Black Rock City. Its scale and power far surpass Black Rock City, making it the true overlord of this region. Its City Lord... is a true Life Soul Realm expert!"

He paused, lowering his voice further:

"The invitation states that Tianhuang City has noticed the recent... rapid development of the Lin Family. It specifically invites you, Master, to meet in Tianhuang City. Although the wording seems polite, the underlying meaning... is likely a 'summons,' intended to probe your true strength, or even... force the Lin Family to submit and pay tribute."

After Shi Lie finished speaking, he held his breath and dared not look up.

A Life Soul Realm expert!

That was an existence he previously had to look up to!

Although he now served the even more unfathomable Lin Dao, hearing the name of such an expert still instinctively made his heart tremble.

Lin Zhen's expression also changed slightly beside him; he clearly felt immense pressure as well.

Tianhuang City, Life Soul Realm... To the newly rising Lin Family, this was undoubtedly a behemoth.

Lin Dao took the invitation card.

The invitation card was made of luxurious materials, tanned from the hide of some exotic beast, and emitted a faint pressure. The handwriting on it was vigorous and strong, containing a trace of sharp will, clearly indicating the writer's extraordinary cultivation.

The content was nothing more than high-sounding pleasantries about long-standing admiration, but the condescending and undeniable implication between the lines was clearly discernible.

He gently rubbed the invitation card with his fingertips, his expression undisturbed.

"Tianhuang City... Life Soul Realm..."

He repeated it softly, and a faint, almost imperceptible curve seemed to hook up at the corner of his mouth.

The hall fell silent for a moment, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

Both Shi Lie and Lin Zhen could feel an invisible, suffocating pressure slowly spreading out from Lin Dao. It was not intentionally released, but rather an aura naturally emanating from his slightest mental movement.

This aura was infinitely more terrifying than the Tongtian Realm known to Shi Lie, and even... seemed deeper than the pressure he imagined a Life Soul Realm expert should possess!

Shi Lie's heart trembled violently, and an absurd yet terrifying conjecture uncontrollably surged into his mind: Could it be that Master... is not just Life Soul Realm First Level?!

Lin Dao paid no attention to their palpitations. He casually tossed the invitation card, which represented the prestige of Tianhuang City, onto a side table, as if it were nothing more than unimportant scrap paper.

"Reply to the Tianhuang City envoy,"

He spoke, his voice still flat, yet carrying an undeniable decisiveness,

"This Venerable One is currently in seclusion and has no time for other matters. The Lin Family has busy affairs and is also inconvenienced by long journeys. If the City Lord of Tianhuang City truly wishes to see This Venerable One, tell him to... come to Qingfeng County himself."

As soon as these words were uttered, Shi Lie and Lin Zhen snapped their heads up, their eyes filled with unbelievable shock!

To ask... to ask a Life Soul Realm expert to come here himself to pay respects?!

This was no longer a refusal; it was undisguised contempt and provocation!

"Ma... Master!"

Shi Lie's voice trembled, "The City Lord of Tianhuang City is a Life Soul Realm mighty figure, with countless experts under his command. Such a reply will likely completely infuriate him, and then..."

"Infuriate?" Lin Dao glanced at him indifferently. "So what?"

Three simple words, yet they contained unparalleled confidence and dominance!

Shi Lie was instantly speechless, feeling a chill rush straight from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

He looked at Lin Dao's bottomless eyes and suddenly understood: his Master likely didn't put the so-called City Lord of Tianhuang City in his sight at all!

"Y-yes! This subordinate obeys the command! I will go deliver the reply immediately!"

Shi Lie dared not say more. He quickly bowed to receive the order, his back already drenched in cold sweat.

"Go." Lin Dao waved his hand.

Shi Lie, as if granted a great pardon, respectfully withdrew, his steps even a little unsteady.

Lin Zhen stood rooted to the spot, his shock undiminished, and worriedly said:

"Old Ancestor, that Tianhuang City..."

"It's fine."

Lin Dao interrupted him, his tone calm,

"Mere clowns; pay them no mind. Family development continues as usual. Urge the Disciples to Cultivate diligently, especially Lin Hao and Ye Chen."

"Yes!"

Seeing the Old Ancestor so composed, the unease in Lin Zhen's heart gradually subsided, replaced by a blind trust and fervor.

If the Old Ancestor says it's fine, then it must be fine!

After Lin Zhen withdrew, the Quiet Room returned to silence.

Lin Dao's gaze swept over the Gilded Invitation Card that had been tossed aside, his eyes slightly cold.

"Life Soul Realm... perfect."

He muttered to himself, "It is time the Lin Family had a true whetstone to let the world know what cannot be offended."

His figure flashed, and he returned to the depths of the Quiet Room.

The coming storm might truly test the extent to which the Lin Family had grown over the past month.

And he was also eager to see how much strength a Life Soul Realm Cultivator would force him to use... After Shi Lie left with the reply that was enough to stir up monstrous waves, the Lin Family manor did not descend into panic. Instead, influenced by Lin Dao's absolute confidence, they entered an even more intense frenzy of Cultivation.

Invisible pressure is sometimes the best catalyst.

Lin Dao's Divine Thought entered the ears of every core Family member: "Tianhuang City, Life Soul Realm, may be arriving soon. You must seize every second."

There was no unnecessary agitation; merely stating the facts ignited a flame in the eyes of all the Lin Family Disciples.

Especially Lin Hao and Ye Chen.

In the center of the Martial Arts Arena, Lin Hao stood with his eyes closed, his long sword humming softly.

His cultivation had climbed to the Innate Realm Seventh Level due to massive resources and his own efforts, but what he pursued now was not simple accumulation of Spiritual Qi.

His Divine Thought was fully immersed in the Profound Truths of the Qingyuan Sword Art and the Wind Control Art, attempting to capture that elusive trace of "Concept."

Fierce winds naturally gathered around him, stirring up fallen leaves and dust, yet unable to approach within three feet of him.

His brows were tightly furrowed, his aura sometimes sharp like a sword, sometimes fleeting like the wind, in a mysterious critical state.

[Ding! Destiny Member Lin Hao comprehends the trajectory of wind and sword under pressure. Sword Intent Seed is condensing...]

In another specially opened Gravity Cultivation Field, Ye Chen was bare-chested, his bronze skin showing bulging muscles, and the sound of his surging Qi and blood was like muffled thunder.

He wasn't Cultivating any Martial Skill, but merely repeatedly practicing the most basic Body Tempering movements from the Archaic Savage Bull Art—punching, stepping, and lifting the tripod!

Every movement was slow and heavy, as if he were carrying a mountain.

Vast medicinal power was frantically refined within his body, merging into his limbs and bones.

His cultivation had also reached the Innate Realm Fifth Level, but the true terror lay in his Physical Body; the vitality of his Qi and blood far exceeded that of ordinary Spirit Sea Realm Cultivators!

His eyes were bloodshot, and every breath he took exhaled scorching white Qi, as if an Archaic Giant Beast within him was about to break free from its shackles.

[Ding! Destiny Member Ye Chen tempers the Ancient Desolate Sacred Body under extreme pressure. Qi and blood purity increases, Physical Body strength increases by 300%, Sacred Body Seal loosens by 0.01%!]

Lin Dao oversaw everything from the Quiet Room, his vast Divine Thought covering the entire Lin Family like an invisible network.

He "watched" Lin Hao searching in the wind, "watched" Ye Chen roaring under gravity, "watched" Lin Feng's Movement Technique become increasingly ghostly, Lin Yun's Medicinal Garden Spiritual Qi growing denser, and the cold light from the weapons Lin Tie forged becoming more intimidating.

With a slight thought, he used the System to accurately inject more pure Spiritual Qi and a trace of his own subtle comprehension of the Laws of Heaven and Earth into the Cultivation areas of these core Disciples, especially around Lin Hao and Ye Chen.

"Comprehension requires guidance. Breakthroughs require a push."

At the same time, the massive resources transported from Black Rock City were distributed without reservation. The entire Lin Family was like a huge furnace, with every clan member desperately burning themselves to increase their strength.

Every one or two hours, the aura of a Disciple achieving a Breakthrough would soar into the sky. Although most were Acquired breaking into Innate, or Innate advancing to a higher heaven, when gathered, they formed a formidable torrent.

[Ding! Family member Lin XX achieved a Breakthrough to the Innate Realm. Feedback cultivation +2...]

[Ding! Family member Lin XX achieved a Breakthrough to the Spirit Sea Realm First Level. Feedback cultivation +10...]

[Ding! Overall Family strength continues to rise. Feedback cultivation +15...]

[Ding! Family Luck steadily increases. Feedback cultivation +20...]

The System prompts were practically continuous. Weak cultivation feedback constantly poured into Lin Dao's body, pushing his Life Soul Realm Second Level Peak cultivation to strike against that barrier again and again.

Fifth day.

On the Martial Arts Arena, the fierce winds surrounding Lin Hao suddenly paused, then began spinning wildly in a more profound trajectory. Countless fallen leaves and dust were swept into the air, faintly condensing into vague, azure phantom swords!

He abruptly opened his eyes, and a sharp light burst forth from them, like a sword blade leaving its sheath!

"Wind is formless, the sword is without appearance! So that's it!"

He joined his fingers like a sword and waved his hand!

*Hiss—!*

A streak of Sword Qi, invisible and intangible yet extremely sharp, containing the Concept of tearing and swiftness, shot out and silently sliced a ten-foot-tall, dark green Sword Testing Stone a hundred yards away into two halves, the cross-section smooth as a mirror!

Sword Intent!

Initially formed!

His cultivation instantly surged at this moment, directly breaking through the barrier and stepping into the Innate Realm Eighth Level!

Moreover, his aura was still rapidly climbing, closing in on the Ninth Level!

[Ding! Destiny Member Lin Hao comprehends Gale Sword Intent (Elementary)! Cultivation Breakthrough to the Innate Realm Eighth Level! Triggering Ultra High Multiplier Critical Hit. Feedback cultivation +200!]

Tenth day.

Inside the Gravity Cultivation Field, Ye Chen let out a roar suppressed to the extreme. The sound waves rolled, actually cracking the walls reinforced by the Formation!

His entire body turned crimson, like a red-hot iron, and the sound of Qi and blood rushing through his body boomed like the Yangtze River.

A wild, ancient, and incomparably dominant aura violently erupted from his body!

*Boom!*

He violently smashed a fist into the ground!

The entire Cultivation Field shook violently. Centered around his fist, the incredibly hard specialized stone slabs cracked layer upon layer like a spiderweb, collapsing into a pit several feet deep!

Pure strength!

The dormant Seal on the Ancient Desolate Sacred Body was finally forced open by his majestic Qi and blood, creating a tiny, insignificant gap!

Although not yet fully Awakened, a trace of true Sacred Body might had been revealed!

His cultivation subsequently broke through fiercely, stepping into the Innate Realm Sixth Level!

His Physical Body strength could now directly contend with the Middle Stage of the Spirit Sea Realm!

[Ding! Destiny Member Ye Chen's Ancient Desolate Sacred Body Seal is initially loosened. Physical Body undergoes qualitative change! Cultivation Breakthrough to the Innate Realm Sixth Level! Triggering Super Critical Hit. Feedback cultivation +300!]

The Breakthroughs achieved almost simultaneously by the two Sons of Destiny brought massive feedback!