The Lin Family’s current situation was dire, all because Lin Xuan was deed a fallen prodigy.
When this news first reached Cloud Sea City, no one believed it. Lin Xuan was their city’s number one genius; how could he possibly be a fallen prodigy? A person like that was supposed to have a limitless future. But soon enough, the Sun Family received a letter from Sun Tian, who detailed Lin Xuan’s condition and confird the truth.
The Sun Family was ecstatic and spread the news far and wide. Gradually, the other great families ca to accept that Lin Xuan was, indeed, a fallen prodigy. He had no future. He would never be able to beco a Martial General in his lifeti. Such a person was no different from trash.
And so, the Lin Family’s fortunes turned. Previously, all the major families had cooperated with them, elevating the once-ordinary Lin Family to the status of Cloud Sea City’s number one power. This was all because of Lin Xuan—his formidable Martial Dao talent, coupled with his gift for Alchemy, promised an imasurable future. He had the potential to beco both a Martial King and an Alchemy King. That was why the other families had bowed their heads and chosen to work with them.
But now, Lin Xuan’s future was gone, which ant the Lin Family was finished as well.
The other families turned on them. The Sun Family, in particular, fanned the flas from behind the scenes. They had always held a grudge against the Lin Family, and with their rivals’ fall from grace, the Sun Family aggressively seized the opportunity. They began to move against the Lin Family, and the other families quickly switched sides, kicking the Lin Family while they were down. For a ti, the Lin Family’s very survival hung in the balance.
Throughout this process, the City Lord did not intervene. He, too, believed the Lin Family was finished. With Lin Xuan’s future erased, they were no longer worth his protection. Standing atop the city wall, he gazed toward the Lin Family’s estate and murmured to himself, "I watched them build their high towers, I watched them entertain their guests, and now I watch their towers fall." He had personally witnessed the Lin Family’s rise and tragic fall.
Just when he thought the Lin Family was dood, the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower intervened. Bai Qianqian, the lord of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower, stepped in and saved the Lin Family from utter destruction. This ca as a surprise to everyone. However, although the Lin Family survived, they were ostracized and their status plumted.
It was into this situation that Lin Xuan returned.
He arrived at the Lin Family estate and pushed open the main gate. "I’m back!" he called out joyfully.
However, no one ca to greet him. The residence was desolate.
Lin Xuan frowned. What happened? How did the family end up like this?
He walked deeper into the family grounds. He saw very few people along the way, but he could hear the sound of a heated argunt coming from nearby.
"Grand Elder, we have to leave Cloud Sea City! It’s impossible to survive here, we have enemies on all sides!"
"Our family can’t hold on for much longer."
"If we want to live, our only option is to leave and try to establish ourselves in another city."
A sigh followed, filled with resentnt. "The young master was too ruthless when he offended the Sun Family. He forced the Sun father and son to kneel and beg for rcy, thoroughly humiliating them. He may have had his mont of triumph, but now that he’s a fallen prodigy, the Sun Family has launched a campaign of crazed retaliation. We can’t withstand it!"
"Third Elder, how can you say that? The young master did what he did for the good of our family," the Second Elder retorted.
The Third Elder sneered, "I am also thinking of the family now! For the Lin Family to survive, we must move out of Cloud Sea City."
The Second Elder suggested, "What if we beg the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower for help one more ti?"
At this, the Grand Elder finally spoke. "The Ten Thousand Treasures Tower has already helped us a great deal. We cannot trouble them any further. If the Lin Family is to survive in Cloud Sea City, there is only one way."
"What way is that?" The other elders all turned to look at him.
The Grand Elder spoke in a low voice, "We bow down to the Sun Family."
"What? Impossible!" the Second Elder imdiately objected. "I disagree! We are mortal enemies with the Sun Family. Even if we bow our heads, they won’t spare us."
"We can give up our current family businesses," the Grand Elder said. "I will personally go to the Sun Family and kowtow in apology. If we then ask the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower to diate, the Sun Family might be convinced to abandon their revenge and spare the Lin Family."
The Second Elder fell silent. The Third Elder sighed, and the other elders said nothing. Kneeling and begging for rcy was a monuntal humiliation, yet the Grand Elder was willing to do it for the sake of the family.
"I’ll go with you," the Second Elder said firmly.
"I’ll go too," the Third Elder added through gritted teeth. "So what if we have to bow to the Sun Family? As long as our Lin Family can survive, what does kowtowing to them matter?"
But the Grand Elder shook his head. "There’s no need. I will go alone. You don’t have to suffer that disgrace with ."
"No, I’m going with you!" the other elders insisted, one after another.
As they argued, the doors to the main hall burst open with a BANG! A figure walked in.
The Lin Family elders in the main hall jumped in surprise. "Who is it?"
The Third Elder frowned. All the family’s elders were present. The only other people who could open those doors were the family disciples. Which disciple is so arrogant as to cause a disturbance here?
The Grand Elder also frowned, a different worry on his mind. Could it be soone from the Sun Family?
The Second Elder shot to his feet. "I’ll go see."
He walked toward the entrance, but just as he stepped forward, he saw a figure walking in. Upon seeing who it was, the Second Elder froze.
"Second Elder, I’m back."
The figure was, of course, Lin Xuan.
"Young... Young Master, you’re back!" The Second Elder’s eyes widened in disbelief. He never expected Lin Xuan to return at a ti like this. Seeing his young master again filled him with joy, especially since Lin Xuan looked to be in good spirits, seemingly unaffected by his recent ordeal. This put the Second Elder’s heart at ease.
But his relief was short-lived. His expression changed drastically, and he said urgently, "Young Master, you must leave at once! Don’t stay in Cloud Sea City! If the Sun Family finds out you’ve returned, they will definitely co after you. I’ll arrange for soone to escort you away imdiately. You must return to the Heavenly Dao Academy and not co back. As long as you stay within the academy, no one can touch you."
Lin Xuan, however, just shook his head. "Second Elder, don’t worry. Even here in Cloud Sea City, no one dares to touch . If the Sun Family tries anything, I’ll wipe them from existence."
With that, Lin Xuan strode toward the main hall.
The Second Elder, left behind, stomped his foot in anxiety. Oh dear, why is the young master bragging again? In his current state as a fallen prodigy, how could he possibly threaten the Sun Family? Back then, he could suppress them because he had boundless potential, the City Lord’s favor, and the support of the other families. But now? The other families have long since turned on us. As for the City Lord, we begged him for help, but he completely ignored us. The City Lord has abandoned the Lin Family. What does Lin Xuan have now to challenge the Sun Family? He is no match for them at all. Unless... unless he isn’t a fallen prodigy. Unless he could restore his forr glory. But that’s impossible. Everyone knows that Lin Xuan is a fallen prodigy.
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