60: The reclusive family, Lin Feng!
The Lin Family, with an almost overbearing posture, rose rapidly within just a few short years, and now they have openly declared their intention to join the ranks of the Heaven-Grade!
This was undoubtedly a fierce shock to the existing order.
For a time, across the Nine Provinces, in the Secret Realms and Blessed Lands shrouded in Spiritual Qi and isolated from the world, auras that had slumbered for untold ages quietly awakened.
In the Central Province, atop a ten-thousand-zhang peak shrouded in clouds and mist, within an ancient bronze palace:
"The Lin Family? Lin Dao? Nirvana Realm... Investigate his specific Realm, and observe his Ascension Ceremony."
An aged voice echoed, carrying a hint of scrutiny and indifference.
This was the attitude of the ancient Heaven-Grade Family, the 'Xuanyuan Clan,' whose Legacy spanned over ten thousand years. They stood above worldly affairs, placing greater emphasis on the Lin Family's potential and future standing.
In the Western Region, beneath the barren Gobi Desert in an underground ancient city:
"Hmph, just a nouveau riche, daring to claim Heaven-Grade status? Send someone to 'attend the ceremony' and see what confidence they possess!"
A cold, sinister voice rang out, carrying undisguised hostility.
This was the 'Sand Puppet Clan,' a strange Family adept at controlling Sand Beasts and curses. Their sphere of influence conflicted with the Western Region interests the Lin Family was expanding into.
In the Northern Plains, within the core of a ten-thousand-year-old glacier, inside a crystal-clear ice palace:
"Phoenix Aura... And that Lin Dao seems to carry some ancient and powerful Legacy... Interesting. We can attempt contact. If friendship is impossible, then we will decide on countermeasures."
A beautiful woman surrounded by an icy-blue aura murmured softly.
This was the 'Ice Spirit Clan.' They possessed extremely keen sensory perception regarding auras and had noticed something unusual about the Lin Family.
In the Southern Border, deep within a primeval jungle permeated with miasma, beneath a giant totem pillar:
"Sacrifice to Heaven? Perfect timing! My 'Witch Barbarian Clan's' Soul Devouring Gu hasn't tasted the Luck of a Heaven-Grade Family in a long time! Send someone to infiltrate!"
A savage and greedy roar shook the forest.
The Witch Barbarian Clan acted ruthlessly, accustomed to plundering the Luck of others to strengthen themselves.
Besides them, some even more mysterious Hidden Families, appearing almost only in legends, also cast faint gazes.
Some expressed ambiguous congratulations, some watched coldly waiting for a joke, and others secretly plotted how to profit from the situation or even cause destruction.
The high-level powers across the entire Continent of Nine Provinces became turbulent and gathered forces due to the Lin Family's impending Ascension Ceremony.
Countless eyes, open or hidden, were cast towards the Azure Province.
Meanwhile, amidst the Lin Family's fervent preparations, a strange scene appeared that was utterly out of step with the surrounding fanatic atmosphere.
Behind the main residence, beneath an ancient 'Enlightenment Tree' said to be several thousand years old with dense foliage, a boy of about fifteen or sixteen, dressed in plain coarse cloth, sat quietly cross-legged.
Lin Feng was just a very ordinary collateral Disciple of the Lin Family.
The reason he was ordinary was because he... could not Cultivate.
From the day it was detected that he possessed no Spiritual Root, he had been marginalized, usually only responsible for menial tasks like sweeping and cleaning.
But on the very day the Lin Family announced its promotion to a Heaven-Grade Family, this boy with no Cultivation base, as if possessed, walked to the base of this Enlightenment Tree, sat down cross-legged, and... never moved again.
No eating, no drinking, no sleeping.
At first, no one paid attention.
It was normal for a Mortal unable to Cultivate to behave strangely.
But one day, two days, three days... ten days passed!
He still sat there like a stone sculpture, covered in dust and fallen leaves, his aura so faint it was almost undetectable. If not for the extremely weak rise and fall of his chest, he would have been no different from a dead person.
Now, it finally attracted attention.
"Hey, Lin Feng! What trick are you pulling? Get up quickly! The Family needs people right now, don't be a hindrance here!"
A steward came forward to reprimand him.
There was no reaction.
Lin Feng's eyes were tightly closed, his expression calm, as if his Divine Soul had long since left his body.
"Did he get afflicted by something evil? Carry him away!"
A guard stepped forward, attempting to lift him up.
However, what was bizarre was that when their hands touched Lin Feng's body, they felt as if they had touched a stubborn rock rooted to the earth, or perhaps touched a void—they couldn't move him in the slightest!
With their cultivation at the Spirit Sea Realm, or even the Tongtian Realm, they couldn't move a Mortal with no Cultivation base?
At this point, the matter spread.
More and more people came to watch, pointing fingers and discussing animatedly.
"Bizarre, truly bizarre!"
"He seems to have a... very strange feeling about him?"
"Could it be an Epiphany? But he doesn't even have a Spiritual Root!"
No one could approach within three feet of him, as if an invisible force was protecting him.
What was even more astonishing was that around the twentieth day of his silent sitting, some sensitive individuals vaguely perceived that around his body, which had no energy fluctuations, there seemed to linger an extremely faint yet incomparably profound rhythm.
That was not Spiritual Qi, nor Soul Power, but something closer to the 'Principle' itself.
Dao Rhyme!
Although it was as faint as a candle in the wind, seemingly ready to dissipate the next second, it truly existed!
And it was on a Mortal with no Cultivation base!
This completely subverted everyone's understanding!
Dao Rhyme was a trace that occasionally manifested when a Cultivator reached a profound level in comprehending the Laws of Heaven and Earth, merging with the Dao!
Usually, only Cultivators above the Life Soul Realm might induce a trace during deep enlightenment, and even then, it would vanish instantly.
A Mortal, sitting silently for twenty days, actually manifested Dao Rhyme on his body?
How was this possible?!
The news eventually reached Lin Xuan and the several Pulse Masters.
They came to inspect personally. Upon sensing that faint, almost non-existent Dao Rhyme, they were all shocked, looking at each other, unsure how to handle the situation.
Finally, Lin Xuan reported the matter to Lin Dao.
In the Quiet Room of the Ancestral Shrine, Lin Dao slowly opened his eyes, and his Divine Thought instantly enveloped the youth beneath the Enlightenment Tree.
His gaze pierced through the superficial appearance, seeing the faint yet incomparably pure Dao Rhyme surrounding the youth, seeming to originate from the beginning of the world.
It was a Dao Rhyme of 'Nothingness,' a state close to 'Void Silence.'
"A bit interesting..."
A trace of surprise flashed in Lin Dao's eyes, then he returned to calm.
He could feel that this youth was not Cultivating, nor was he experiencing an Epiphany, but rather seemed to be... His body, his very existence, was unconsciously resonating slightly with an extremely distant 'Dao' close to the Origin.
This state was rare throughout eternity.
It had nothing to do with Cultivation, nothing to do with talent, only with 'Fate' and 'Essence.'
"No need to disturb him."
Lin Dao transmitted his voice to Lin Xuan.
"Seal off that area and forbid anyone from approaching it, and also forbid spreading the news. Everything will be discussed after the Ascension Ceremony."
"Yes, Old Ancestor!"
Although Lin Xuan was full of doubts, he executed Lin Dao's command unconditionally.
Soon, the area around the Enlightenment Tree was designated a forbidden zone, guarded by Disciples of the War Hall.
And Lin Feng remained seated silently beneath the tree like an eternal stone statue, along with the faint Dao Rhyme surrounding him, as if waiting for something.