The wedding hall remained frozen in stunned silence.
Every gaze was fixed on the man who had just risen from the dead.
Moments ago, Patriarch Lin Tianyu had collapsed in a pool of blood.
Now he stood upright, his black-and-gold robes stained crimson at the collar, his sharp eyes sweeping across the hall with a calmness that sent chills through everyone present.
The air itself felt heavier.
Lin Tianyu slowly lifted a hand and touched the back of his head.
Warm blood.
Real.
Not a dream.
The pain was sharp, but something else was sharper—
The flood of memories crashes through his mind.
A lifetime that was not his own.
He saw a young Lin Tianyu standing atop the clan walls, sword in hand, leading the defence against a beast tide.
He saw years of political struggles, sect alliances, family feuds, and countless nights spent protecting the Lin Clan from destruction.
He saw the original owner's pride.
His burdens.
His love for his only son.
And finally—
his death.
All because of one reckless push.
The modern man inside him inhaled slowly.
So this is my new life.
A patriarch.
A clan leader.
A man with power, authority, and responsibilities far greater than his previous life.
The mechanical voice echoed once again.
[Ding!]
[Heaven-Seizing Legacy System successfully bound to Host: Lin Tianyu]
A translucent golden panel appeared before his eyes.
[Host]: Lin Tianyu
[Identity]: Patriarch of the Lin Clan
[Age]: 58
[Physical Condition]: Severe Head Injury (Healing)
[Cultivation]: Nascent Soul Realm – 3rd Layer
[Lifespan]: 123 / 300 years
[Current Mission]: Complete the wedding ceremony
[Reward]: Heaven-grade Spirit Pill, Lifespan +20 years, Random Skill Chest
Lin Tianyu's pupils contracted.
A system…
His heartbeat quickened.
In his previous life, he had read countless cultivation novels online during sleepless nights at the office.
He knew exactly what this meant.
A cheat.
A golden finger.
A second chance.
And unlike his previous life, where he had lived for everyone else, this time…
He would carve his own path.
A path to power.
A path to immortality.
A path where no one could ever decide his fate again.
He lifted his gaze toward the wedding altar.
His son, Lin Hao, was still kneeling on the floor, face pale as death.
"F-Father…"
His voice trembled.
There was fear.
Guilt.
And disbelief.
For a moment, the new Lin Tianyu simply stared at him.
The memories of the original owner's emotions were still lingering in his chest.
Anger.
Disappointment.
Pain.
But beneath all of it—
love.
This was his son.
And this reckless boy had nearly destroyed everything.
Before he could speak, one of the Mu Clan elders slammed his palm against the armrest.
"Patriarch Lin," the elder said coldly, "is this how the Lin Clan treats our young lady?"
The atmosphere instantly grew tense.
The other guests began whispering again.
Lin Tianyu's eyes narrowed.
Of course.
The real danger was not the push.
It was the humiliation.
If the marriage alliance collapsed tonight, the Mu Clan would become an enemy.
The Lin Clan, already weakened after years of conflict, could not afford another war.
The system's mission suddenly made perfect sense.
He took a deep breath.
Then his voice rang through the hall.
"The wedding will proceed."
Silence.
Everyone stared at him.
Even the Mu Clan elders looked shocked.
Lin Hao jerked his head up.
"Father, I—"
"Enough."
The world was calm.
But it carried the pressure of a mountain.
Lin Hao froze.
Lin Tianyu slowly walked toward him.
Each step echoed across the marble floor.
When he stopped in front of his son, he looked down at him with eyes as deep as an abyss.
"You seek strength," he said quietly.
"You seek cultivation."
His tone was steady.
"But strength without responsibility is nothing more than selfishness."
Lin Hao clenched his fists.
His eyes reddened.
Lin Tianyu continued.
"A true cultivator does not abandon duty because it is inconvenient."
The words struck the young man harder than any slap.
Lin Hao lowered his head.
The entire hall listened in silence.
Then Lin Tianyu turned.
His gaze moved toward the woman in crimson.
Mu Xue'er.
Even beneath the bridal veil, he could sense the icy elegance in her presence.
The original memories surfaced again.
She was known throughout Azure Cloud City as the Moon Frost Fairy.
A genius.
Beautiful.
Proud.
And tonight, she had nearly been publicly humiliated.
Lin Tianyu's expression softened slightly.
"Miss Mu," he said calmly, "the Lin Clan offers its sincerest apology for tonight's disturbance."
His tone was neither arrogant nor weak.
It was dignified.
The dignity of a true patriarch.
Mu Xue'er slowly lifted her veil.
The hall collectively held its breath.
Her silver hair shimmered beneath the lantern light like moonlit snow.
Her cold blue eyes were clear and sharp, yet there was visible hurt within them.
For a moment, their eyes met.
Something strange stirred inside Lin Tianyu.
Not desire.
Recognition.
Respect.
He could immediately tell—
This woman was far from ordinary.
The system suddenly chimed.
[Ding!]
[Detected: High-Grade Cultivation Physique][Target: Mu Xue'er][Physique: Moon Frost Body][Potential Benefits from Dual Cultivation: Extremely High]
Lin Tianyu nearly laughed inwardly.
So even the system is encouraging this marriage.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
He extended a hand toward the altar.
"The auspicious hour has not yet passed."
His gaze swept across the hall.
"This marriage alliance shall proceed as planned."
For a moment, no one moved.
Then the Mu Clan patriarch slowly nodded.
"Very well."
The musicians hesitantly resumed playing.
The tense atmosphere eased, though countless eyes remained fixed on Lin Tianyu.
Some are in disbelief.
Some are under suspicion.
Some are in fear.
But one pair of eyes watched him differently.
Mu Xue'er.
There was now curiosity in her gaze.
As the ceremony resumed, Lin Tianyu felt the system panel flicker again.
[Mission Progress: 70%]
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
He had survived his first crisis.
But deep within the flood of inherited memories, something stirred.
A face.
A young man.
Cold eyes.
Sword in hand.
The system panel flashed urgently.
[Ding!]
[Future Son of Heaven Detected within Azure Cloud City]
[Name: Xiao Feng]
[Destiny Rank: Gold]
[Threat Level: Rising]
Lin Tianyu's smile slowly deepened.
So the real story was about to begin.
A Son of Heaven.
A chosen genius.
A protagonist.
In every cultivation novel, such people were blessed by fate.
They found inheritances.
Saved heroines.
Rose to power.
But this time—
Lin Tianyu was here.
And fate itself…
would belong to him.