Chapter 348: Eliminating Lin Dong?
With the annual competition concluding in Lin Langtian's victory over Ling Chi, the position of Spirit General of the Fire Division had finally fallen into Lin Langtian's hands. If this news were to spread, it would undoubtedly cause a tremendous stir within the Gate of Origins.
The Gate's disciples numbered in the hundreds of thousands, yet only the "Three Princes" and the "Eight Spirit Generals" held positions at the very top. These eleven individuals commanded respect, their status elevated above that of most elders. Lin Langtian, having joined the Gate less than six months prior and still considered a newcomer, had surprised everyone by defeating Ling Chi and ascending to the lofty rank of Spirit General of the Fire Division.
In a swift leap, Lin Langtian took his place atop the prominent platform that Ling Chi had once occupied. This spot, now his as the Spirit General, would be his reserved seat at future Fire Division gatherings, representing his newfound status and authority.
"Senior Brother, congratulations," a senior disciple, Song Yun, remarked with a stiff smile as he addressed Lin Langtian. This disciple was well-regarded among the eight core disciples for his strength and experience.
With a calm demeanor, Lin Langtian responded, "Thank you, Junior Brother Song." His courtesy was measured, mindful that maintaining polite relations was essential. Song Yun, who might have regarded Lin Langtian with a hint of arrogance before, now pushed aside his initial hesitations. The power Lin Langtian had displayed in his battle with Ling Chi left no room for disrespect.
One by one, the other senior disciples followed suit, expressing respect. Even Zhang Hao, who had long held a grudge against Lin Langtian, now had no choice but to bow with flushed cheeks.
Lin Langtian waved dismissively, choosing not to confront Zhang Hao immediately. After all, in his new role, he had to exhibit a dignified attitude. Concerning Zhang Hao, he thought, There will be time to deal with him later.
"We're all disciples here, so let's not stand on ceremony," Lin Langtian addressed them with a friendly smile. "Although I joined the Gate later than most, rest assured that as long as no one crosses me, I won't cross them. We're all here to support each other."
The core disciples, including Song Yun, smiled and nodded, a mix of relief and respect in their expressions. They could see Lin Langtian's determination and strength, traits that had seen him rise from a low-level kingdom to reach this position, and they respected him for it.
Inwardly, Song Yun and the others couldn't help but marvel at Lin Langtian's potential. It might not be long, they thought, before even the Three Princes find it difficult to stand against him.
Lin Langtian returned to the elevated platform, taking a seat as he surveyed the thousands of disciples who regarded him with admiration and reverence. This, too, was part of why he had joined the Gate of Origins. In other elite sects, even with his strength, he wouldn't have ascended so rapidly due to rank and seniority restrictions. Only a place like the Gate, where strength reigned supreme, could offer him the freedom to claim greater power and influence.
One hour later, Feng Cang and the other Fire Division elders concluded the promotions for nearly a hundred disciples. Lin Langtian stretched as he prepared to leave with his supporters when Feng Cang appeared at his side.
"Lin Langtian," Feng Cang began, scrutinizing him closely, "reaching the level of Spirit General in less than six months is no small feat. And the Master even granted you a piece of the Immortal Origin Ancient Tree, despite the Wood Division's requests being rejected numerous times."
With an unaffected smile, Lin Langtian replied, "Thank you, Elder Feng. I owe my progress to diligent training. As for the tree fragment, I imagine the Master saw some promise in me and decided to reward my efforts."
Though Feng Cang held a high rank as head of the Fire Division, Lin Langtian's recent promotion to Spirit General allowed him to speak more freely. He knew that the elder was unaware of the Immortal Tree fragment's hidden tracking function, so he could suggest that he enjoyed a close relationship with the Master, subtly encouraging caution in Feng Cang.
Sure enough, Feng Cang's brows furrowed as he considered Lin Langtian's response. With Lin Langtian's talent clearly evident, it was plausible that the Master had taken a special interest in him.
With a softened expression, Feng Cang continued, "Now that you're the Spirit General of the Fire Division, you have greater responsibilities. In three months, the Fiery Demon Space will open, and the Chaos Demon Flame will be stored within it. As Spirit General, you'll have the opportunity to enter. But whether you can claim the Chaos Demon Flame will be up to you."
"Three months from now, the Fiery Demon Space…"
Lin Langtian was momentarily stunned, but his gaze soon ignited with fervor. One of his main reasons for joining the Gate of Origins was precisely to obtain the elusive Chaos Demon Flame, and now, as Spirit General, he was finally one step closer to claiming it.
"Hmph! Just because you've become a Spirit General doesn't mean you'll be able to conquer the Chaos Demon Flame. Many elders of the Fire Division have failed to do so. Don't set your hopes too high, kid." At that moment, the Deputy Head of the Fire Division, Yan Ba, approached, his disdain evident. Known for his fiery and arrogant temperament, he had always viewed Lin Langtian's ambition with irritation.
Lin Langtian's brow furrowed briefly, but he responded calmly, "Success comes to those who put in the effort. Just because Elder Yan didn't succeed doesn't mean no one else can."
Having defeated powerful opponents like Mu Ku at the Blood Horn Domain, Lin Langtian viewed Yan Ba as nothing more than a reckless brute.
"What arrogance!" Yan Ba's face turned dark, anger sparking in his eyes. In all of the Gate of Origins, there were few disciples besides the "Three Princes" bold enough to speak to him in such a way.
Nearby disciples like Song Yun wiped sweat from their brows at the scene. Yan Ba's explosiveness was well-known throughout the Gate; even other Division Heads usually avoided provoking him. To see Lin Langtian clash with Yan Ba on his very first day as Spirit General was surprising, especially given Yan Ba's strength as a Saint Genesis Realm practitioner.
"Enough, Yan Ba. As the Deputy Head, there's no need for you to argue with a disciple." Before the tension could escalate, Fen Cang, the Division Head, spoke up. His word carried great weight in the Fire Division as one of its strongest leaders, and Yan Ba had to comply.
Yan Ba scowled but would not let the matter go easily. He fixed his gaze on Lin Langtian and sneered. "Fine, since the Division Head is willing to let this slide, I'll do the same for now. But mark my words, kid—if you fail to conquer the Chaos Demon Flame, I'll teach you the true meaning of respect!"
With a final icy glare, Yan Ba turned and left. As he departed, Lin Langtian's eyes narrowed with a glint of coldness. Every bit of progress he'd made within the Gate was through his own efforts, yet here was Yan Ba lecturing him on respect and loyalty. How absurd. If Yan Ba ever seriously opposed him, Lin Langtian thought, then he would just have to meet the same fate as Mu Ku.
Fen Cang's expression remained neutral, showing no inclination to mediate the matter further. After Yan Ba had left, he spoke slowly. "Incidentally, not long after the Fiery Demon Space opens, the Division Trials will begin. The Eight Divisions host this competition together, and our division's ranking will depend on your performance."
As he spoke, Fen Cang's gaze settled on Lin Langtian. Now that he was the Spirit General, Lin Langtian represented the strongest among the Fire Division's disciples. His performance would be crucial to their success. Though Fen Cang hadn't entirely figured out Lin Langtian's motivations, he recognized his talent. If Lin Langtian could win first place, it would bring great honor to the Fire Division and to Fen Cang himself.
"The Division Trials…" Lin Langtian nodded slightly. Given his current strength, the other Spirit Generals posed little challenge; taking first place would be simple.
"Will the Three Princes be participating in the trials?" he asked, curious.
"The Three Princes?" Fen Cang paused, considering the question. "The Three Princes are the Gate of Origins' most gifted disciples and are personally trained by the Masters. Their power is on a different level entirely. Usually, they do not participate in the Division Trials, as no one within the Gate can stand against them."
"So the Three Princes won't participate…" Lin Langtian felt a twinge of disappointment. Within the Gate, only the Three Princes could pose a challenge for him. Of particular interest was Yuan Cang, the leading Prince, whose strength was rumored to rival that of a Saint Genesis practitioner. Without relying on his demonic seed, Lin Langtian was certain he couldn't defeat Yuan Cang.
"Oh, by the way," Fen Cang continued, "are you acquainted with Lin Dong from the Dao Sect?"
The question caught Lin Langtian off guard, but after a moment, he responded, half-truthfully, "Yes, we're from the same family, though he belongs to a branch, and I to the main lineage, so we're not particularly close."
"Well, according to intelligence reports from the Gate, Lin Dong recently made quite a name for himself in the Blood Rock Grounds. Under siege by the Demon Seal Alliance and many powerful figures, he managed to injure Yao Ling, ranked fourth on the Sect's wanted list."
Fen Cang's gaze sharpened. "Yao Ling, though fourth on that list, is actually an operative we had planted in the Blood Rock Grounds—a strong nine-symbol Nirvana practitioner who once held a respectable position as an elder in our Gate. But to have been defeated by a newcomer from Dao Sect—well, it's a disgrace that has boosted Dao Sect's reputation and stained ours."
Fen Cang's eyes flashed coldly. "So, no matter what relationship you once had with Lin Dong, he is now an enemy of the Gate. As a Spirit General, it is your duty to eliminate such threats when you encounter them. He must not be allowed to grow any stronger!"
Fen Cang fixed his gaze on Lin Langtian, as though scrutinizing his reaction. Lin Langtian, though outwardly surprised, remained unfazed internally. He was well aware of Lin Dong's talent and rapid growth. The original timeline saw Lin Dong's fame spread across the Eastern Plains after his battles in the Blood Rock Grounds.
Yet faced with Fen Cang's commands, Lin Langtian masked his thoughts, responding in a calm tone, "Rest assured, Elder Fen. Ever since I joined the Gate, I have placed its interests above all. The next time I encounter Lin Dong, I won't hesitate to eliminate him."
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