Feng Lin walked through the main street, his gaze cautiously scanning his surroundings. He didn’t know the city well, but he understood that one wrong step could be fatal. His eyes stopped on an imposing building: the branch of the Thousand Lotus Pavilion. Two armored guards stood at the entrance, their upright and menacing posture discouraging passersby from approaching without a valid reason.

  He decided to test his Golden Eye on them. After all, if he wanted to understand his limits, he needed to experiment.

  — Let’s see…

  First, he simply tried to stare at the guards, focusing his gaze on them. He let his mind open to the fluctuations of their aura, attempting to perceive something. But nothing appeared.

  — Strange…

  He narrowed his eyes slightly and tried to infuse a bit of his own Qi into his eyes. He felt a slight warmth spread through his skull, but still, no information came to him about the guards' cultivation.

  Changing his approach, he completely relaxed his mind, no longer forcing his perception. He expected to see natural fluctuations appear before him, like a mist revealing the strength of cultivators. Still nothing.

  — Tch. It’s not that simple.

  He frowned. Was it a matter of posture? He straightened up, changed his viewing angle, adjusted his breathing… Nothing worked.

  — Ridiculous. I refuse to believe this eye is useless.

  His gaze shifted to the crowd, and he decided to try it on other people. He tested his eye on an old man with a stern look. This time, he saw something: a faint fluctuation of energy. He focused and discerned his cultivation.

  — Fifth stage of Body Refinement…

  He continued testing it on a young, arrogant man passing nearby.

  — Fourth stage.

  Then on a stocky man with a shifty gaze.

  — Second stage.

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  A slight smile appeared on his lips. He finally had a result.

  — So I can see cultivators within my realm… but not those above?

  His gaze returned to the guards of the Thousand Lotus Pavilion. He still couldn’t see their cultivation. Two possibilities: either they were above the Body Refinement Realm, or they were using an artifact to mask their strength.

  He turned to Liang and calmly asked:

  — Liang, what kind of cultivators does this pavilion employ?

  The servant bowed slightly before answering:

  — Young Master, I don’t know their exact level, but since this is a weak branch, their guards shouldn’t be too strong. However, their main pavilion is formidable, so they must still have some means of protection.

  Feng Lin nodded silently. He still had much to learn about this world, and his Golden Eye was clearly not yet mastered. But he would remember this. This was only the beginning.

  Feng Lin assumed that the Feng Clan had not risen to power through brute force, but rather through intelligence and strategic vision. After all, possessing an eye capable of seeing others' cultivation was a formidable asset, especially in a world where strength reigned supreme.

  He pondered for a moment. If the Golden Eye allowed him to discern others' levels, it could be an invaluable tool for recruiting talent. His once-prosperous clan had likely used this ability to identify hidden geniuses and attract them under their banner.

  Moreover, his own spiritual root granted him a faster cultivation speed than normal. If this was part of the Feng Clan's traits, then they might have developed specific mantras or techniques to fully exploit these advantages.

  But then… why had they disappeared?

  Feng Lin clenched his fists. If he wanted to rebuild his heritage, he needed to understand his clan’s history and master every secret it had left behind.

  He cast a sideways glance at Liang, who was walking beside him cautiously. He was a servant, but he had grown up within the clan and must have known something.

  — Liang, you’ve been with the clan for a long time, haven’t you?

  — Yes, Young Master, Liang replied respectfully. I have served the Feng family for twelve years.

  — Hm… Twelve years is a long time. You must have heard a lot. Tell me, what was the true strength of the Feng Clan?

  Liang hesitated for a moment before answering.

  — I… I don’t know all the details, Young Master. But it is said that the Feng Clan never stood out through brute strength. It was respected for its intelligence and unique abilities.

  Feng Lin narrowed his eyes.

  — Unique abilities?

  — Yes… It is said that the Feng Clan had a special gift for identifying talent and accelerating their growth. This was what made it great in the past.

  Feng Lin remained silent. His suspicions were correct: the Feng Clan did not dominate through power, but through intellect.

  However, something felt off.

  If the Feng Clan possessed such a precious ability, why had it been reduced to mere remnants of the past? Why hadn’t the major powers wiped it out completely to prevent future threats?

  — Liang, if the Feng Clan really had such a power, why wasn’t it completely destroyed? he asked skeptically.

  Liang hesitated, lowering his head slightly.

  — I… I don’t know, Young Master. Maybe those who attacked thought it wasn’t worth it after its fall. Or… they never fully understood what the Feng Clan truly possessed.

  Feng Lin tapped his chin in thought. If the Feng Clan’s secret remained vague in the world’s eyes, then perhaps there was still something undiscovered. A hidden trump card that even his enemies had failed to uncover.

  He had to learn more.

  Liang thought for a moment, choosing his words carefully before replying.

  — Young Master… Perhaps the Feng Clan, despite being famous in the empire, was ultimately just one among many for the true great powers. Certainly, it was feared and respected here, but beyond the borders, it was nothing compared to the true titans of this world.

  Feng Lin narrowed his eyes. He didn’t like that answer, but it made sense.

  — Are you saying the past patriarchs never sought to rise beyond the empire?

  Liang nodded.

  — That’s what I believe. Their abilities were unique, but they lacked the ambition to transcend their status. Instead of aiming for the heavens, they chose to remain in their comfort zone, avoiding the attention of the true monsters of this world.

  Feng Lin remained silent. A powerful clan without ambition…

  That’s why they had ultimately disappeared.