The enormous doors slowly closed behind them.
**RUMBLE.**
The sound rolled through the Clan Hall like distant thunder, echoing off the towering stone pillars.
Immediately, the atmosphere grew noticeably heavier.
Ling Wei and Ling Yue both lowered their heads respectfully.
"We greet the Clan Head."
"We greet the Four Great Elders."
Their voices echoed clearly across the vast chamber.
At the very front of the hall, five figures sat upon elevated seats.
The Clan Head occupied the central position.
He was a middle-aged man with sharp features and calm, unreadable eyes. His aura was steady and profound, like a deep lake that gave nothing away yet quietly suppressed everything beneath it.
Beside him sat the Four Great Elders of the Ling Clan.
Each one held a status second only to the Clan Head himself.
Normally, even seeing one of them at the same time would be rare.
Yet today—all four were present.
Ling Wei's heart tightened slightly.
*Why are all four elders here?*
*It seems our recent actions have drawn attention.*
However, outwardly, his expression remained calm, respectful, and perfectly composed.
Ling Yue, on the other hand, felt far more nervous. The pressure in the room made it difficult for her to breathe evenly.
Several moments passed.
No one spoke.
The Clan Head simply observed them.
The Four Great Elders did the same.
The silence stretched on deliberately.
Ling Yue gradually became more uneasy.
Ling Wei remained still.
He understood this was intentional.
A test.
Of patience.
Of composure.
Of the ability to remain calm under overwhelming pressure.
Finally, the Clan Head smiled faintly.
"Relax."
His voice was calm and steady.
"We did not summon you here for punishment."
Both siblings instinctively released a breath of relief—only inwardly. Neither showed it on their faces.
Ling Wei's thoughts shifted slightly.
*Why mention punishment? What exactly have we done to warrant that word… or was it simply a warning?*
The Clan Head continued.
"Rise."
"We thank the Clan Head."
They straightened immediately.
One of the Great Elders stroked his beard slowly, his sharp gaze resting on Ling Wei.
"Your cultivation has advanced considerably."
It was not a question—it was a statement.
Ling Wei bowed slightly.
"I have merely been cultivating diligently."
The elder let out a low chuckle.
"Diligently?"
Another Great Elder gave a soft laugh.
"If diligence alone were enough, every disciple in the clan would be advancing at your speed."
Ling Wei did not respond. He simply maintained his respectful silence.
The elders exchanged subtle glances.
The Clan Head lightly tapped the armrest of his seat.
"For the past month, both of you have been renting high-grade cultivation chambers at the Golden Lotus Pavilion."
"You have also purchased large quantities of pills."
"And acquired cultivation resources far beyond your previous means."
Ling Yue felt a slight chill run down her back.
The Clan Head's gaze remained calm and unreadable.
"Naturally… the clan became curious."
Ling Wei exhaled inwardly.
*As expected.*
There was no way their activities could remain hidden forever—especially not after such frequent transactions with the Pavilion.
One of the Great Elders leaned forward slightly.
"Do not misunderstand. There is no rule forbidding disciples from seeking opportunities."
"Cultivation itself depends on opportunities."
Another elder nodded.
"Had we intended to investigate forcefully, we would have already done so."
"Instead—"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"We simply wish to know whether the opportunity you encountered poses any threat to the clan."
Silence fell once more.
Ling Yue's heartbeat quickened.
Ling Wei's thoughts moved rapidly.
Every answer carried risk.
Too much truth was dangerous.
Too many lies were equally dangerous.
The Clan Head simply observed them quietly, neither pressing nor rushing—only waiting.
Then, unexpectedly—
the oldest of the Four Great Elders spoke.
His voice was slow, deep, and measured.
"Tell me."
His gaze locked directly onto Ling Wei.
"When you returned from Lotus Valley…"
"…what exactly did you find there?"
The hall instantly fell into complete silence.
Ling Yue's pupils contracted sharply.
Ling Wei's heart skipped a beat.
That question struck directly at the source.
The hidden valley.
The white-scaled creature.
The beginning of everything.
For the first time since stepping into the hall—
both siblings truly felt pressure.
And from the expressions of the Clan Head and the Four Great Elders, it was clear they already suspected that whatever had changed the siblings' fortunes… had begun in Lotus Valley.
The Clan Hall remained silent.
All eyes rested on them.
Ling Yue's heartbeat thundered in her ears.
Yet beside her—
Ling Wei smiled.
Not nervously.
Not arrogantly.
But calmly.
Respectfully.
"Lotus Valley?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"What exactly does the Elder mean?"
The old elder's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
Ling Wei continued smoothly before anyone could interrupt.
"When we entered Lotus Valley, we followed the planned route."
"We encountered several ordinary beasts."
"We searched for resources."
"And on our return journey, we were attacked by an Iron-Spine Cat pack."
He spread his hands slightly.
"Beyond that…"
A faint look of confusion appeared on his face.
"…I'm afraid I don't understand what the Elder is referring to."
Silence.
The Clan Head studied him quietly.
One of the Great Elders let out a soft chuckle.
"Interesting."
Ling Wei bowed slightly.
"This junior is merely speaking the truth."
Another elder leaned back slightly.
"The truth?"
His tone carried faint amusement.
"We have already spoken with Elder Qin and Elder Zhao of the Feng Clan."
Ling Yue's stomach dropped instantly.
Ling Wei's expression, however, remained unchanged.
The elder continued.
"They mentioned that the valley's atmosphere was unusual."
"The spirit beasts were behaving strangely."
"The Iron-Spine Cats appeared displaced from their territory."
He paused deliberately.
"And both of you seemed… somewhat unsettled after returning."
Ling Wei nodded.
"That is true."
The answer caused a subtle shift in the room.
Even Ling Yue glanced at him in surprise.
The elder raised a brow.
"Oh?"
Ling Wei exhaled lightly.
"As this junior understands it, the elders suspect we discovered some hidden opportunity."
The Clan Head's lips curved into a faint smile.
"That is one possibility."
Ling Wei nodded again.
"Then this junior can answer honestly."
For the first time—
every elder leaned forward slightly.
Ling Yue nearly stopped breathing.
Ling Wei spoke calmly.
"We did discover something unusual."
The room fell into absolute silence.
The Clan Head's eyes sharpened.
The Four Great Elders exchanged brief glances.
Ling Yue's face paled slightly.
*Big brother…!*
Ling Wei continued.
"When we discovered the strange atmosphere in Lotus Valley…"
"…we became frightened."
The hall went silent again.
The elders blinked in confusion.
Ling Wei maintained a perfectly serious expression.
"We believed a powerful spirit beast might be nearby."
"So we remained cautious throughout the journey."
"We were worried something might suddenly emerge and kill us."
He sighed lightly.
"After all… we were only Spirit Refining cultivators."
Several elders stared at him.
The explanation was so ordinary that it left them momentarily unsure how to respond.
Ling Wei continued without pause.
"Then the Iron-Spine Cat pack appeared."
"Which only confirmed our fears."
"We thought we were going to die."
Ling Yue stared at him in disbelief.
*He's actually doing this…*
One of the Great Elders rubbed his temple slightly.
"You are saying the opportunity you discovered was fear?"
Ling Wei immediately shook his head.
"No."
The elder's eyes narrowed.
Ling Wei smiled.
"The opportunity came afterward."
The room refocused instantly.
"The battle made me realize how weak I was."
His expression turned slightly more serious.
"Genuinely weak."
"I almost died."
"I could not protect myself."
"And I could not protect my sister."
Ling Yue nearly choked.
*Protect me? You were panicking too!*
But she wisely remained silent.
Ling Wei continued.
"After returning, I reflected deeply."
"I realized that if I continued cultivating slowly, I would eventually die outside the city."
His gaze remained steady.
"So I used every resource available to me."
The Clan Head spoke for the first time in a while.
"Every resource?"
Ling Wei nodded.
"Everything."
"I sold assets."
"I borrowed resources."
"I liquidated future inheritance allocations."
"I exchanged favors."
"I purchased cultivation opportunities."
"I spent nearly everything."
The hall fell into a heavy silence.
It sounded reckless.
Extremely reckless.
But not impossible.
Not unheard of either.
Young cultivators sometimes made desperate decisions after life-and-death experiences.
One of the elders suddenly asked, calmly and sharply:
"Then where did the spirit stones come from?"
The question struck like a blade.
Ling Yue's heart froze.
Ling Wei paused.
For the first time.
Only briefly.
Then he smiled.
"Fortune."
The elder frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Ling Wei spread his hands lightly.
"A fortunate transaction."
"Someone needed resources urgently."
"I happened to benefit from it."
The elder stared at him.
"Who?"
Ling Wei smiled again.
The same calm, polite, unreadable smile.
"This junior promised confidentiality."
Silence.
Then one of the elders chuckled.
Another followed.
Soon, even the Clan Head showed a faint smile.
Because they understood.
Ling Wei had answered—but not truly answered.
He had revealed just enough to remain respectful… yet concealed everything important.
A delicate balance.
The oldest elder studied him for a long moment.
Finally, he nodded.
"Interesting."
His gaze lingered.
"As expected."
The Clan Head folded his hands.
"We will not press further."
Ling Yue nearly collapsed in relief.
But then—
the Clan Head's next words made both siblings stiffen.
"However…"
His gaze deepened slightly.
"If the source of your opportunity ever becomes a danger to the Ling Clan…"
"…you will report it immediately."
The hall fell silent again.
Ling Wei met his gaze calmly.
For a brief moment, he felt as though the man saw far more than he revealed.
Then he bowed deeply.
"This junior understands."
The Clan Head nodded.
"Good."
Another elder spoke with a faint smile.
"Then let us discuss the real reason you were summoned."
Ling Wei blinked.
The real reason?
The elders exchanged glances.
Then the Clan Head spoke.
"One month from now…"
"The Azure Cloud Sect will begin its disciple selection."
The words struck the hall like a thunderclap.
Ling Yue's eyes widened.
Ling Wei's expression finally changed.
Because every cultivator in Lotus City understood what that meant.
A sect.
A true cultivation sect.
And apparently…
the Clan Head believed the two of them now had a chance.