Chapter 670: Return to the Lin Clan
After Thunder Master left, several sharp whistles of wind sounded from afar. In the next instant, streaks of light flashed across the sky, and the world dimmed.
A petite figure streaked over carrying two others, finally landing beside Lin Langtian and Lin Dong. It was Qing Tan, flanked by the two Supreme Elders of the Dark Hall.
"Qing Tan?" Lin Langtian and Lin Dong blinked, then smiled.
"Brother Lin Dong, Brother Langtian, are you all right?"
Seeing the blood on them, Qing Tan's face tightened. "We searched a thousand li around the Dark City and couldn't find you.
"We only rushed here after sensing a burst of energy from this direction."
The brothers exchanged a glance and shook their heads.
"We're fine. Didn't you see? The Demons ran," Lin Langtian said lightly.
"So it really was them," Qing Tan muttered, her expression icing over as killing intent flashed in her eyes.
"These residual auras… two of them are extremely strong.
"Were they driven off by you two?" one of the Supreme Elders asked, his face shifting slightly.
Among the lingering traces of demonic qi, two stood out so sharply that even they felt a chill.
Those had to be powerhouses who had crossed two or even three Samsara Tribulations.
For the brothers to have beaten such foes sounded impossible.
"Hehe, we only managed it thanks to Thunder Master's intervention," Lin Langtian replied, seeing their shock.
He did not bother to mention that he had nearly killed Seven Kings Hall himself.
"I see…"
The elders both let out a faint breath.
Without Thunder Master, the idea that the brothers had beaten such enemies single‑handedly would have been too terrifying to accept.
…
In the wake of Seven Kings Hall's ambush, the Dark City's defenses tightened considerably.
With Seven Kings Hall wounded by Lin Langtian, he would not dare move lightly again.
For all their ferocity, Abyssal Prison still hesitated in this delicate age; they would not make grand moves without absolute certainty.
Lin Langtian and Lin Dong remained in the Dark City for several more days as Qing Tan solidified her hold on the Dark Hall.
By then, she had completely mastered its hearts and forces.
No one dared voice dissent any longer.
It was finally time to take the little girl back to the Eastern Xuan Region.
On a plaza in the Dark City, a vast spatial array shimmered in the sky, crackling with wild spatial energy.
"Palace Master, the teleportation array is ready. We can use it at any time," a black‑robed elder reported, turning to the girl in black beside him.
Qing Tan nodded. "Elder Cheng, while I'm away, you will manage the Dark Hall in my stead.
"If anything major happens, crush the transmission talisman I left you. I will return immediately."
"Yes," the elder answered respectfully.
Her instructions given, Qing Tan floated up to the platform.
The stern set of her features melted at once into a bright, girlish smile.
She looped her arms through those of Lin Langtian and Lin Dong.
"Brother Langtian, Brother Lin Dong, we can go now," she chirped.
The brothers shared a smile.
"Then let's be off," Lin Langtian said.
The three of them leaped into the spatial array.
Below, countless Dark Hall experts dropped to their knees.
"Respectfully sending off the Palace Master!" they shouted as one.
Qing Tan gave a tiny nod and raised her hand.
The array flared to life; savage spatial waves burst outward and silver light wrapped around the trio.
Buzz!
Radiance exploded.
When the watching eyes cleared again, the three were gone, leaving only a warped distortion hanging in the air.
…
Moments later, Lin Langtian and his companions stepped from the twisted void.
He glanced around, then turned his gaze north and smiled faintly.
"Home."
Imperial capital of the Great Yan Dynasty.
The city was far more prosperous and imposing than in years past.
The dynasty itself was no longer the insignificant low‑rank kingdom it had once been.
Thanks to the Lin Clan, even super dynasties and major sects dared not show the slightest disrespect here.
Everyone in the Eastern Xuan Region knew why.
In the northern quarter of the city, an enormous compound sprawled across the land, eclipsing even the imperial palace nearby.
This was the Lin Clan.
On high vantage points around the estate, stone‑still figures sat cross‑legged in silence—Heavenly Mansion experts.
Lin Langtian had wanted to move the entire clan into the Heavenly Mansion, but many elders refused to leave their homeland.
So he took only some of the younger talents, leaving most of the clan in the Great Yan Dynasty.
He also stationed a contingent of Heavenly Mansion warriors here.
With them present, no one dared harbor designs on the Lin Clan.
The clan's status in the dynasty was unmatched.
Though Lin Langtian was clan head, he rarely remained in residence.
He had thus entrusted the acting position to Lin Xiao.
At first, Lin Xiao had been stunned.
The two of them had not always been on the best of terms.
But he swiftly came to admire Lin Langtian's broad heart and accepted the role.
He had used heavy measures to clean house, punishing anyone who tarnished the clan's name with the harshest penalties.
No one opposed him—not even the oldest elders.
They all knew exactly how the Lin Clan had earned its current status.
His efforts paid off.
The arrogance of the younger generation faded.
Scandals from clan members abusing their name all but vanished.
In turn, the clan's reputation across the Great Yan Dynasty quietly rose even higher.
As streaks of light streaked across the sky toward the city, Heavenly Mansion watchers around the estate stiffened—
Then relaxed, dropping to one knee in fiery reverence.
Within the clan, many disciples saw their actions and froze.
Then pure joy burst across their faces.
Only one man in the clan could earn such respect from these terrifying guardians.
"The Clan Head has returned!"
Excited cries erupted across the Lin estate.
In the discussion hall, Lin Xiao and Lin Fan glanced at each other and hurried outside with several elders.
As they emerged, light flared in the courtyard and several figures stepped into view.
"Welcome back, Clan Head," Lin Xiao and Lin Fan said together, bowing low.
The Lin Clan had endured for centuries; its rules were strict.
Now that Lin Langtian wore the title of clan head, the proper courtesies could not be ignored.
"Hehe, get up.
"Take a look at who I brought," he said, waving a hand with a smile.
"Dong'er."
The moment he spoke, Liu Yan, standing behind Lin Xiao, spotted Lin Dong and joy lit her face.
Lin Xiao's smile matched hers.
Lin Dong grinned and stepped aside, revealing the girl hiding behind him.
"Qing Tan?"
They both blinked, then their eyes flew wide.
"Father, Mother," Qing Tan said softly.
She had approached warily at first, but seeing the tears roll down Liu Yan's cheeks made her own eyes redden.
With a choked cry, she flew into Liu Yan's arms like a baby swallow returning to its nest.
Liu Yan clutched her tightly, drinking in the familiar features.
The childish roundness was gone from that little face; in its place stood a young woman.
The difference only made her heart ache more.
The thought of what Qing Tan must have endured stung worse than anything Lin Dong's path had ever cost them.
"You little brat. All these years without a word.
"Were you trying to drive us mad with worry?!" Liu Yan demanded, her voice thick as she smacked Qing Tan's rear.
Qing Tan squeaked, her cheeks flushing as she buried her face in Liu Yan's embrace.
In that instant, there was no trace of the Dark Hall's icy Palace Master—only a runaway girl finally dragged home.
"So you finally remember you have a home?" Lin Xiao said sternly.
"I missed you, Father," Qing Tan replied, grabbing his hand with a dazzling smile.
He snorted, meaning to scold her—
But the words melted on his tongue.
He could only sigh inwardly.
How much had she suffered out there?
"Fine. You're back now.
"But if you sneak off again without a word, I'll have the Clan Head and your brother tan your hide," he grumbled.
The tension in his face finally eased as his rough hand ruffled her hair.
"Still… it's good you're home.
"It's good you're home," he murmured.
"I'm sorry, Father, Mother. I know I was wrong," Qing Tan whispered.
She too had seen enough of the world's cruelty to understand how rare and precious such pure love really was.
Lin Dong watched his parents through a soft smile.
At last, their family was whole again.
Lin Langtian stood off to the side, a complicated warmth in his chest.
Lin Dong truly was blessed.
…
The clan buzzed with excitement over the return of the three.
Every courtyard hummed with talk of them.
Lin Langtian took advantage of the noise to wander the familiar grounds in peace.
Along the way, he ran into several younger clan members.
Each one stared at him with blazing respect and awe.
Even the elders were no different.
He shook his head and turned down a quieter path, slipping into a more secluded grove.
Sunlight filtered through leaves, scattering spots of gold across the stones underfoot and across his body.
The lazy warmth tugged a faint smile to his lips.
Only here, in the Lin Clan where he had grown up, did he truly feel at home.
He vaulted into a leafy tree and lounged back along a broad branch, eyes half‑lidded.
Before long, he drifted into sleep.
By the time he woke, the sky was brushed with dusk.
Stretching, he dropped lightly to the ground—
And paused.
From deeper within the woods, he sensed the faint stirring of spiritual power, oddly familiar even after all this time.
"Oh?"
Curious, he walked toward it.
At a small stream hidden deep in the grove, he found a slim figure seated quietly in meditation.
She wore a simple dress, her aura calm and serene.
From the side, her face was quite pretty.
Lin Ke'er—once second only to him among the Lin Clan's younger generation, and someone he had always gotten along quite well with.
Spiritual power rippled steadily around her, the strength of it hovering at the peak of Symbol Master.
She stood a single step away from becoming a lesser Celestial Symbol Master.
Lin Langtian smiled faintly and sent out a gentle wave of spiritual power, wrapping it around her own.
The sudden intrusion made her jolt, her spiritual energy surging up to resist.
But the mysterious force radiated a warm, soothing comfort.
Under its touch, her power relaxed like a child in its mother's arms and drifted into a deep slumber.
While it slept, it quietly grew—
Until it finally broke through the thin membrane that had blocked her for so long.
In that peaceful warmth, she stepped into the realm of Celestial Symbol Master without even realizing it.
By the time the warmth faded, Lin Ke'er's eyes flew open in shock.
She spun around, looking for the source—
Catching only a glimpse of a green‑robed back retreating through the trees.
"Clan Head…" she whispered, biting her lip.
Her gaze lingered on the distant figure, dazed.
Once, he had been the Lin Clan's top genius—and she its brightest daughter.
Now, after only a few short years, the gap between them stretched like heaven and earth.
(END CHAPTER)
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