The sun was slowly setting beyond the distant mountains.
Golden-orange light painted the skies above LinJian Sect.
The entire sect was filled with excitement.
For the first time in years—
the surviving members of the Lin Clan felt genuine happiness.
Children ran through the stone streets.
Disciples discussed today's events with excitement.
Elders gathered together while occasionally glancing toward the mountain where Lin Shuan was resting.
The young master had returned.
The last heir of the Lin Clan had returned.
And most importantly—
he could cultivate.
That single fact alone was enough to make countless clan members emotional.
Inside a quiet cultivation chamber—
Lin Shuan sat cross-legged.
A crystal floated before him.
Soul Spark Energy Crystal.
The crystal slowly dissolved.
Pure Luo Essence continuously entered his body.
The moment the energy entered—
his Frost Divine Heart immediately began refining it.
Wave after wave of energy spread through his meridians.
His wounds healed rapidly.
The injuries caused by Mo Chen gradually disappeared.
Inside his dantian—
the fifth Meridian Tracer star shone brilliantly.
Then—
another star slowly formed.
Crack.
A tiny sound echoed.
Sixth Star.
The newly formed star suddenly erupted with light.
BOOOOOM!
Six-Star Meridian Tracer.
A powerful aura exploded from Lin Shuan's body.
The room trembled.
The crystal shattered completely.
For a brief moment—
his aura rose dramatically.
Yet—
nobody noticed.
Because at that exact moment—
something far more shocking happened.
BOOOOOOOOM!
The heavens suddenly trembled.
The earth shook violently.
Mountains rumbled.
Countless disciples stumbled in shock.
"What happened?!"
"The mountain is shaking!"
"Enemy attack?!"
A terrifying pressure suddenly spread across the sect.
ROOOOOOOAR!
A beast roar echoed through heaven and earth.
Immediately afterward—
another roar erupted.
RAAAAAAWWWWR!
The two roars collided.
The atmosphere exploded.
Outside—
dozens of disciples stared toward the eastern training grounds.
Then their expressions changed.
Because two gigantic figures had appeared.
One was covered in icy-white fur.
Its body exceeded twenty meters in height.
A pair of majestic wings stretched across the sky.
Ice Feng White Tiger.
The divine beast belonging to Han Qing Li.
Facing it—
stood another enormous creature.
Its body resembled a serpent.
Yet dragon scales covered its entire body.
Ancient horns extended from its head.
Its golden eyes glowed with arrogance.
Longshe.
The mysterious beast companion of Lin Shuan.
BOOM!
The two beasts collided again.
The ground immediately exploded.
Cracks spread across the earth.
Trees collapsed.
Several nearby buildings shook violently.
The disciples instantly panicked.
"Run!"
"Move away!"
"Quickly!"
A group of girls who had been playing with the Ice Feng White Tiger moments earlier fled in terror.
"We only wanted to feed it!"
"Why did it suddenly attack?!"
Meanwhile—
high above the sect—
Han Qing Li immediately appeared.
Her blue-white robes fluttered in the wind.
Behind her—
Yan Feng Luo.
Lei Yun Hua.
Han Xue Long.
Xue Han Yue.
Tai Gu Chen.
And the others arrived one after another.
Their expressions became serious.
"What kind of divine creature is this?"
"How scary is it?"
BOOM!
Longshe slammed its tail into the ground.
A massive crater appeared instantly.
The Ice Feng White Tiger retaliated.
A freezing storm descended.
The entire battlefield transformed into a world of snow and ice.
Even Immortal Seeds could feel the pressure.
Han Qing Li frowned.
"This is becoming dangerous."
Yan Feng Luo's eyes brightened.
Finally.
A fight.
His battle intent immediately rose.
"Princess!"
"Should we stop them?"
Han Qing Li looked toward the battlefield.
Then shook her head.
"No."
"They're both Rank Seven Tilasmanic beasts."
"If we force ourselves into the battle..."
"The damage will become even greater."
Tai Gu Chen slowly nodded.
"She's right."
"Protect the disciples first."
Immediately—
the Immortal Seeds began forming defensive barriers.
One after another.
Large protective shields appeared around the battlefield.
The disciples retreated behind them.
Everyone stared nervously at the fight.
BOOOOOOM!
The collision between Longshe and the Ice Feng White Tiger became increasingly violent.
Neither was willing to back down.
Neither was willing to surrender.
The entire sky shook continuously.
Then—
a voice suddenly echoed across heaven and earth.
Calm.
Playful.
Yet carrying an indescribable authority.
"Can I join this fight too?"
Silence.
Everyone froze.
The next moment—
CRAAAAACK!
A bolt of white lightning split the heavens.
Dark clouds gathered instantly.
Thunder roared.
The sky darkened.
A figure appeared within the lightning.
Standing in midair.
White robes fluttering.
White lightning dancing around his body.
Lin Shuan.
The moment he appeared—
everyone became stunned.
Because he was flying.
A Meridian Tracer.
Flying.
Impossible.
Yet nobody had time to think.
Because another unbelievable phenomenon occurred.
The surrounding frost energy suddenly began moving.
Streams of icy energy rose from every direction.
Toward Lin Shuan.
Toward the sky.
Toward his body.
The Frost Luo Essence belonging to countless cultivators was being drawn toward him.
Even Han Qing Li's eyes widened.
"What? This is still possible?"
The disciples stared blankly.
The Frost Luo Essence within their bodies was responding to Lin Shuan's presence.
Especially the members of the Lin Clan.
Their energy was almost trembling.
Like subjects greeting a king.
The moment Lin Shuan appeared—
Longshe froze.
Its enormous body immediately stopped attacking.
Then—
it looked toward Lin Shuan.
The arrogance vanished instantly.
The fierce expression disappeared completely.
Instead—
it rushed toward him like a guilty child.
Its gigantic head rubbed against Lin Shuan.
It even lowered its head pitifully.
As though apologizing.
The disciples nearly fainted.
"That..."
"That monster is acting cute?"
"Am I dreaming?"
Meanwhile—
the Ice Feng White Tiger also noticed Lin Shuan.
The giant beast froze.
Its pupils contracted.
Fear.
Genuine fear.
The twenty-meter giant immediately shrank.
Ten meters.
Five meters.
Three meters.
One meter.
Soon—
it became the size of a normal tiger cub.
Then it jumped directly into Lin Shuan's arms.
The entire sect fell silent.
Nobody knew what to say anymore.
Longshe.
Rank Seven Divine Beast.
Ice Feng White Tiger.
Rank Seven Tilasmanic Beast.
Both were terrifying existences.
Yet now—
both were behaving like obedient children before Lin Shuan.
Even Chen Feng stood frozen.
The Immortal Seed expert's mouth slowly opened.
When he found Lin Shuan—
the boy had been lying unconscious within a battlefield capable of destroying mountains.
Now—
that same boy was floating in the sky.
Controlling frost energy.
And casually holding two Rank Seven beasts.
Chen Feng suddenly doubted reality.
"...What kind of monster is this child?"
Meanwhile—
the Lin Clan members were experiencing something entirely different.
Tears began appearing in their eyes.
Because they recognized that ability.
The ability to draw Frost Luo Essence.
The ability that belonged to only one bloodline.
The true bloodline of the Lin Clan.
Several elders immediately turned emotional.
One elderly woman covered her mouth.
Tears flowed freely.
"It's him..."
"It really is him..."
"The Young Master..."
"The true heir..."
Lin Shuan slowly descended.
The moment his feet touched the ground—
the surrounding frost energy calmed.
Han Qing Li immediately walked toward him.
Her blue eyes examined him carefully.
Only after confirming he was completely fine did she relax.
Then—
her gaze shifted toward Longshe.
The strange beast was still standing beside Lin Shuan.
"Proudly."
Like a loyal guardian.
Han Qing Li tilted her head slightly.
"This divine beast..."
"Who is it?"
Lin Shuan laughed softly.
For the first time today—
his smile looked completely genuine.
"This is my old friend."
He patted Longshe's head.
"Longshe."
Han Qing Li softly repeated the name.
"Longshe..."
The strange beast immediately raised its head proudly.
As though pleased.
Chen Feng walked forward.
His expression was complicated.
"Little Friend..."
"Your luck is truly unbelievable."
"You somehow managed to raise two monsters."
The surrounding disciples immediately nodded.
Exactly.
Two monsters.
Not spirit beasts.
Monsters.
Lin Shuan rubbed his forehead helplessly.
"If I tell you they simply appeared in the forest..."
"Would you believe me?"
The surrounding crowd immediately shook their heads.
Not a single person believed him.
Yan Feng Luo laughed loudly.
"Brother Shuan!"
"Even your lies sound ridiculous!"
The crowd erupted into laughter.
The tense atmosphere finally disappeared.
Yet—
when Lin Shuan turned toward the members of the Lin Clan—
the smile slowly faded.
Dozens of familiar faces.
Elders.
Children.
Survivors.
The last remnants of his clan.
For a moment—
his chest tightened.
Pain.
Warmth.
Relief.
And anger.
All at once.
His mind immediately remembered Myriad Frost City.
The burning buildings.
The corpses.
The snow stained red.
The destruction.
His hands slowly clenched.
Yu Long Sect.
One day.
Every debt would be repaid.
Every injustice would be settled.
Han Qing Li quietly noticed the change in his eyes.
Without saying anything—
she simply stepped beside him.
Close enough to show support.
Far enough to respect his silence.
Lin Shuan took a deep breath.
Then slowly smiled.
"Let's go."
Everyone nodded.
Soon—
the entire group headed toward the main hall.
The great hall of LinJian Sect.
The place where the future of the Lin Clan would be decided.
As they walked—
countless disciples watched excitedly.
Girls whispered among themselves.
"Young Master is so handsome..."
"Did you see his eyes?"
"And that seal on his forehead..."
Several young boys stared with admiration.
"One day I'll become as strong as him."
"No."
"I'll become even stronger."
The atmosphere was lively.
Hopeful.
Warm.
Something the Lin Clan had lacked for years.
At the center of it all—
Lin Shuan walked quietly.
Surrounded by friends.
Surrounded by family.
Yet deep within his heart—
he knew.
The road ahead remained dangerous.
Yue Sha Empire.
Yu Long Sect.
The mysteries surrounding Protector Yi.
And the truth behind his bloodline.
None of those storms had disappeared.
They were merely waiting.
Waiting for the day when the last heir of the Lin Clan would become strong enough—
to face them all.