Lin Tian stood in the tranquil central courtyard of the Orchid Pavilion. He was still nine months old, yet he stood unsupported, his stance radiating the heavy, absolute authority of a Soul Transformation Peak master. His time in the Mortal Realm was ending; the Ascension Tribulation was less than forty-eight hours away.
He had summoned his puppets first. Grandmaster Wei and Elder Long Wei stood obediently, their eyes fixed on the infant with utter devotion. Lin Tian gave them precise, final instructions via mental command. Guard my family. The General must be protected. The lineage must continue.
The two masters knelt. "It shall be done, Master. The Imperial Guard is already loyal to the General. We will ensure the Lin Clan becomes the true ruling power of the Azure Cloud World."
Lin Tian dismissed them. Their loyalty was secured by the Soul Seal-they required no emotional assurance. The true challenge was addressing his parents.
General Lin Zhao and Lian Hua entered the courtyard, worry etched on their faces. They had seen Lin Tian standing upright before, but the gravity of his presence was now overwhelming.
"Tian'er," Lian Hua whispered, rushing forward to scoop him up. She stopped, sensing the invisible barrier of power around him. "Why did the Grandmaster say we must remain here? What is happening in the capital? Is the poisoning returning?"
Lin Tian knew he could not communicate the complex truth through cooing or tapping. He needed absolute clarity. He channeled the full power of his Divine Nascent Soul, focusing it not on attack, but on Direct Spiritual Transmission-a technique designed for communication between high-level Immortals.
He spoke, not with his infant mouth, but directly into their Sea of Consciousness. His voice, though only a whisper in their minds, carried the cold authority of his past life and the ancient wisdom of his present Dao.
"Father. Mother. I leave in two days. You must not interfere."
General Lin Zhao staggered back, dropping his ceremonial sword. Lian Hua covered her mouth, tears instantly flooding her eyes. They heard the voice, clear and cold, emanating from the serene infant before them.
"You speak! You are a Divine being!" General Lin Zhao whispered, falling to his knees. He was a brave soldier, but the cosmic reality of his son broke his understanding of the world.
Lin Tian did not spare them the details. "I am Lin Tian, reborn. I come from a place of infinite complexity. I was sent here to correct the flawed Dao. I have fixed the treason against the Lin Clan, cured your puppet, and secured the kingdom. My journey continues to the Cloud Heavens."
Lian Hua stepped forward, fear giving way to a desperate, maternal fury. "Ascension? You are a baby! You have only just been born! You cannot leave us! We are your family!"
"The Ascension is my price for fixing the Azure Cloud World," Lin Tian transmitted calmly. "If I remain, the Immortals who seek the source of my power will destroy this entire realm. My departure is the only shield."
General Lin Zhao rose, regaining his military composure. "If you are a master, then tell me how I may serve you. How do I protect the family in your absence?"
This was the question Lin Tian needed. He projected a massive, complex amount of information-the ultimate military and political road map-directly into his father's mind.
"The Azure Water Sect's fall has made you a hero. You will be named the Imperial Regent. Elder Long Wei and Grandmaster Wei are your absolute servants. They will guide the kingdom for you. You will establish the Lin Dynasty."
Lin Tian detailed the entire political sequence for the next twenty years, ensuring the Lin Clan would become the true, benevolent power of the realm, capable of shielding themselves from future threats.
"But the ascension is too dangerous," Lian Hua pleaded, ignoring the politics. She was fixed on the Tribulation. "You are too small. You will be destroyed by the lightning."
Lin Tian addressed her gently, for her love was the most unpredictable force he controlled. "My cultivation is pure. I will survive. You must understand, Mother, I am not merely your son; I am the Heaven-Shaking Daoist."
Lin Tian used the last of his focus to make his final, critical promise-a vow that would secure the future lineage.
"I will secure a way to return. I will stabilize the Heavenly Gate itself. Until then, you must live well, secure in the knowledge that your son rules the heavens. Father, you will govern with wisdom. Mother, you will be the foundation of the greatest lineage in this world's history."
He paused, knowing the emotional appeal was necessary for their mortal hearts.
"I am the Divine Nascent Soul. My power is eternal, and it is tied to your bloodline. Live for the future of our name."
With his task complete, Lin Tian slowly, deliberately, lowered himself back into the cradle. He closed his eyes, his spiritual energy retreating inward. The communication was finished.
General Lin Zhao and Lian Hua rushed forward, tears streaming down their faces, but they knew the infant who lay before them was now a force of the cosmos. They would follow his command. They had to.
The sky outside the Orchid Pavilion, though still blue, had begun to darken, gathering the terrifying cosmic energy of the Ascension Tribulation. The final act of the Mortal Realm saga was about to begin.