59: Family level!

As the Lin Family's influence expanded rapidly, stretching its tentacles to every corner of the Nine Provinces, and as Lin Dao's own cultivation stepped into the Middle Stage of the Nirvana Realm, he came into contact with higher levels of power and Laws. Some ancient secrets, buried in the long river of time, were also learned by Lin Dao.

By deciphering fragmented Jade Slips obtained from certain ancient ruins and through obscure exchanges with some ancient existences that had long heritages but lived in seclusion, he learned that in a period far more ancient than the current Nine Provinces Imperial Dynasties, the strength of families on this land had a clear and strict system of Rank classification.

This system of Ranks was not determined by secular power or wealth, but was measured purely by the top-tier combat power possessed by the Family!

Family Ranks:

Mortal-Grade Family: The highest combat power is the Tongtian Realm and below.

These are the most numerous bottom-tier families in the Nine Provinces continent.

Earth-Grade Family: Requires a Heavenly Soul Realm or Spirit Tribulation Realm expert to preside over it.

They can dominate a province and are considered local powerhouses.

Heaven-Grade Family: Requires a Nirvana Realm expert to preside over it!

Such families have already transcended the secular world and can speak as equals with the Central Province Imperial Dynasty. Their influence radiates across several provinces or even more, and they can participate in setting the rules of the Nine Provinces!

Saint-Grade Family: Requires a Samsara Realm powerhouse to be alive and present!

The Samsara Realm transcends life and death and controls Reincarnation; these are legendary figures.

A Saint-Grade Family is already a pillar of the Nine Provinces continent, with unfathomable foundations that can rival ancient Daoist sects. A single word can decide the fate of billions of living beings.

Emperor-Grade Family: Requires the birth of a Xiaoyao Realm supreme existence!

The Xiaoyao Realm transcends the shackles of this world, allowing one to roam the Myriad Heavens and Myriad Realms in eternal freedom!

Emperor-Grade Families only exist in the oldest legends; they are supreme existences that truly look down upon eternal eons, immortal and indestructible.

The current Lin Family has him, a Seventh Level Nirvana Realm Old Ancestor, presiding over it. Furthermore, there are three Peak Life Soul Realm Prodigy Saints who carry the Mandate of Heaven, as well as a Personal Disciple with even greater potential who possesses the Phoenix Undying Body!

The Family's Luck is even showing a pale gold color, flourishing vigorously!

Whether from the perspective of top-tier combat power, reserve potential, or the Family's overall aura, the Lin Family is fully qualified to be promoted to—a Heaven-Grade Family!

As long as they promote to a Heaven-Grade Family, the Family's Luck will surely rise to a golden color!

Moreover, in the dark, Lin Dao felt that there would be unexpected benefits!

This is not just a title, but a declaration, a recognition of status. It means the Lin Family will officially join the top-tier power circles of the Nine Provinces continent, enjoying corresponding rights and assuming corresponding responsibilities.

It can also greatly boost Family morale and attract more top talents to join.

With his mind made up, Lin Dao no longer hesitated.

On this day, a grand and majestic decree containing the majesty of the Nirvana Realm rang out from the Lin Family Ancestral Hall, spreading in all directions:

"I, Lin Dao, in the name of the Lin Family Ancestor, announce to the Nine Provinces!"

"My Lin Family has inherited the Luck of heaven and earth, received the blessings of the Imperial Dynasty, worked hard for governance, and our Family destiny is prosperous! Now we have a Nirvana expert presiding, prodigies emerging in succession, and our Luck is like a canopy!"

"Therefore, it is decided that one month from now, at our main residence in Qingzhou, we shall build the 'Heaven Sacrificial Altar' and perform the 'Heavenly Sacrificial Rite' to inform heaven and earth and rectify the name of my Lin Family—promoting to a Heaven-Grade Family!"

"At that time, we widely invite our fellow Daoists of the Nine Provinces to witness this ceremony together!"

The decree was like a clap of thunder, instantly spreading to every corner of the Nine Provinces continent!

Promoting to a Heaven-Grade Family!

All powers and individuals who heard this news were first shocked, then realized the situation, followed by various complex emotions.

They were shocked by the speed of the Lin Family's rise!

From an ordinary Family in Qingzhou to the world-renowned "family protecting the nine provinces," and now publicly declaring a promotion to a Heaven-Grade Family—how many years has it been?

But considering the unfathomable strength of the Lin Family Ancestor and the terror of the Lin Family's younger generation, the promotion to Heaven-Grade was indeed a natural progression!

The news that the Lin Family was to be promoted to a Heaven-Grade Family swept through the entire Nine Provinces like a storm!

Inside the Lin Family, it was even more of a complete boil because of this decree!

"Heaven-Grade Family! Our Lin Family is going to become a Heaven-Grade Family!"

"The Old Ancestor is mighty!"

"I knew it! Our Lin Family is destined to be extraordinary!"

All Lin Family disciples, whether from the direct line, collateral lines, or personnel from affiliated forces, were so excited their blood boiled, feeling a sense of shared glory!

This was a supreme honor belonging to the entire Lin Family!

The entire massive machine of the Lin Family began to operate with unprecedented efficiency!

The Internal Affairs Hall (Orange Vein) was responsible for overall coordination and resource allocation to ensure everything proceeded smoothly.

Countless rare Materials needed to build the Heaven Sacrificial Altar were mobilized from various places like flowing water.

The War Hall (Red Vein) entered a state of highest alert, expanding the patrol range several times to clear out all unstable factors within Qingzhou, ensuring absolute safety during the promotion ceremony.

The Pill and Weapon Hall (Yellow Vein) and the Talisman and Formation Hall (Green Vein) joined forces, working day and night to refine various Medicinal Pills and Magical Artifacts needed for the celebration, as well as setting up various large-scale Formations to guard the clan and decorate the grounds.

The threshold of the External Affairs Hall (Blue Vein) was nearly broken down as countless forces sent messengers, either to express congratulations, to test the waters, or to seek cooperation.

The External Affairs Hall Elders were busy beyond belief, screening the invitation list and arranging reception matters.

The Shadow Hall (Cyan Vein) was like an invisible net cast across the Nine Provinces, strictly monitoring the movements of all parties, especially the reactions of forces that had grievances with the Lin Family and those secluded ancient families.

The Heritage Hall (Purple Vein) was responsible for organizing the Family history, compiling the promotion sacrificial text, and drafting the celebration process and ritual regulations, striving for perfection to display the bearing of a Heaven-Grade Family.

In the center of Qingzhou, a "Heaven Sacrificial Altar" thousands of feet high, ancient and grand, inscribed with countless profound runes and the epic of the Lin Family's development, rose from the ground at a speed visible to the naked eye, emitting a solemn, majestic, and vast aura.

Lin Hao, Ye Chen, and Lin Yun were also given heavy responsibilities, each leading a team of elite disciples to be responsible for the security and guard of honor for different parts of the ceremony.

The auras of the three were steady; after years of experience, they were already capable of taking charge of their own areas.

Phoenix Spirit stayed by Lin Dao's side, with Lin Dao personally guiding her to consolidate her Life Soul Realm cultivation and familiarize herself with the power of the Phoenix Undying Body.

She knew she was young and her cultivation was still shallow, but as the Old Ancestor's Personal Disciple, she also needed to appear on such an occasion to represent the future of the Lin Family.

Lin Dao sat at the center, his Divine Thought enveloping the entire Lin Family, controlling the overall situation.

He could feel that as the promotion date approached, the Family's Luck became more active and condensed, and the pale gold canopy showed signs of transforming into pure gold.

He could also feel countless gazes, some open and some hidden, being cast from all over the Nine Provinces toward Qingzhou, toward the Lin Family.

For over a thousand years, no new Heaven-Grade Family had been born on the surface of the Nine Provinces.

It wasn't that no forces reached the standard, but that promoting to Heaven-Grade meant breaking the existing pattern of interests and carving up the already limited top-tier resources, which would inevitably touch the nerves of those established Heaven-Grade Families and even more ancient existences.

Many families with potential were often secretly suppressed or swallowed up while still in their budding stages.