The mountain path wound down from the Celestial Dragon Sect like a great serpent, twisting through mist-shrouded forests and along precipitous cliffs. Lin Tian walked at an unhurried pace, his eyes drinking in every detail of the world beyond the sect's walls. Despite the memories of Emperor Reinhart, who had traversed continents and conquered kingdoms, the sights before him felt entirely new.

  "Is something amusing, Young Master?" Lin Feng asked, noting the small smile playing at Lin Tian's lips.

  "It's strange," Lin Tian replied. "In the sect, I spent countless hours studying scrolls about the outside world—the great cities, spirit beast domains, hidden valleys rich with spiritual energy. Yet reading about something and experiencing it are vastly different."

  Lin Feng nodded. "The Eastern Cultivation Realms are but one region in this world, yet they span territory that would encompass several mortal kingdoms."

  Lin Tian absorbed this information, comparing it to his memories of Latvaria. His former empire had been considered vast by mortal standards, yet apparently would be merely a province within this single cultivation region. The scale was humbling, even to one who had once ruled millions.

  As they descended further, the mist began to thin, revealing the sprawling lands below. Rivers like silver threads cut through emerald forests and golden fields, connecting towns that appeared as mere specks from this distance. Mountains rose in the far distance, their peaks disappearing into the clouds.

  "How far is the Lin compound?" Lin Tian asked, pausing to take in the panorama.

  "Three days' journey at our current pace," Lin Feng replied. "We'll pass through Verdant Spring City on the second day."

  Lin Tian raised an eyebrow. "A city? I thought we would avoid populated areas."

  "Normally, yes," Lin Feng conceded. "But Verdant Spring City lies directly on our path, and avoiding it would add unnecessary days to our journey. The Lin clan maintains a residence there where we can rest safely."

  The path eventually led them into a dense forest of ancient trees, their massive trunks stretching skyward like pillars supporting heaven itself. The canopy filtered the sunlight into dappled patterns that shifted with the breeze. Lin Tian could sense the subtle spiritual energy that permeated the area—not concentrated enough for cultivation, but present nonetheless.

  "The Forest of Whispering Pines," Lin Feng explained without prompting. "It marks the boundary between the sect's immediate territory and the broader cultivation world."

  As they walked, Lin Tian observed his surroundings with newfound clarity. The headaches that had plagued him since his enhanced senses awakened had finally subsided, allowing him to appreciate the world around him with greater precision.

  "Tell me about the Lin clan," Lin Tian said. "My memories of home are... limited."

  Lin Feng considered this request carefully before responding. "The Lin clan is traditionally known for producing cultivators with exceptional control rather than overwhelming power. Our family techniques emphasize precision and efficiency over brute force."

  "And my father?" Lin Tian pressed. "He seems to command unusual respect for the patriarch of a minor clan."

  Lin Feng's expression remained neutral. "Patriarch Lin has always preferred to maintain a low profile in the cultivation world. There are advantages to being underestimated."

  As dusk approached, they reached a small clearing beside a brook that tumbled cheerfully over smooth stones. Lin Feng efficiently established their camp, retrieving supplies from a storage ring.

  "We'll rest here for the night," Lin Feng announced, setting up a simple formation around their camp.

  As darkness fell, Lin Feng built a small fire that burned with a faint blue tinge, producing no smoke that might attract unwanted attention. The flames cast flickering shadows across the clearing as Lin Tian sat on a fallen log, absorbing the peaceful sounds of the forest night.

  "Young Master," Lin Feng said after they had finished a simple meal, "if you'll excuse me, I need to relieve myself."

  Lin Tian nodded. "Of course. Don't wander too far."

  Once alone, Lin Tian closed his eyes and extended his senses outward, employing a technique that Emperor Reinhart had used to detect assassins. The forest teemed with life—small creatures scurrying through underbrush, birds roosting in branches above, insects everywhere. He detected no immediate threats, but the exercise was valuable practice for his newly enhanced perception.

  Time passed—more time than should be necessary for Lin Feng's stated purpose. Lin Tian was considering whether to investigate when he heard movement approaching the camp. His hand drifted to the simple sword at his side, even as he recognized Lin Feng's familiar footsteps.

  His attendant emerged from the darkness, and Lin Tian immediately noticed the dark stains on his clothing—unmistakably blood.

  "What happened?" Lin Tian asked, rising to his feet.

  Lin Feng's expression was as composed as ever, though slightly apologetic. "Forgive the delay, Young Master. I was ambushed while attending to personal matters." He gestured behind him, where two massive boars lay dead, their tusks gleaming wickedly in the firelight.

  Lin Tian approached the creatures cautiously. They were easily twice the size of normal wild boars, with strange patterns running along their bristled hides. Most notably, each bore a small, luminescent stone embedded in its forehead.

  "What are these?" Lin Tian asked, gesturing toward the stones.

  "Mystic Boars," Lin Feng explained, efficiently beginning to dress the carcasses. "They're drawn to areas with spiritual energy. The stone you've noticed is called a Life Stone—a valuable cultivation resource formed from the concentrated spiritual energy within their bodies."

  Lin Tian observed as Lin Feng removed the stones with precise cuts. "And you just happened upon them?"

  Lin Feng's hands never paused in their work. "Their population has been increasing rapidly in recent years. Many cultivators hunt them specifically for these stones and their spiritually enriched meat. It creates a balance—preventing the boars from overpopulating while providing resources for cultivation."

  The meat was soon roasting over the fire, seasoned with herbs Lin Feng produced from his storage ring.

  The aroma that rose from the cooking meat made Lin Tian's stomach growl involuntarily. He felt a trickle of saliva at the corner of his mouth and quickly wiped it away, hoping Lin Feng hadn't noticed.

  Too late—Lin Feng's lips quirked in the barest hint of a smile as he turned a portion of the meat. "Almost ready, Young Master. The meat of Mystic Boars is particularly flavorful, and the spiritual essence within it can aid in cultivation."

  When Lin Feng handed him a portion on a wooden plate, Lin Tian took a cautious bite—and was immediately overwhelmed by the flavor. The meat was tender and juicy, with a complex taste unlike anything he had experienced in either of his lives. The spices Lin Feng had added complemented the natural flavor perfectly.

  "This is... remarkable," Lin Tian admitted between bites.

  Lin Feng inclined his head. "A simple wilderness meal, Young Master. Nothing compared to what the Lin compound's kitchens will provide."

  After their meal, Lin Feng carefully stored the remaining meat and the Life Stones, then prepared their sleeping arrangements. Before retiring, Lin Tian practiced a simple meditation technique, circulating his Qi through his Meridians that had become second nature to him.

  Dawn found them already on the road, leaving behind no trace of their camp. The forest gradually thinned as they traveled, giving way to rolling hills dotted with occasional farmsteads and small villages. Farmers tending their fields paused to bow respectfully as they passed, recognizing them as cultivators even from a distance.

  "The common folk seem accustomed to cultivators," Lin Tian observed.

  Lin Feng nodded. "In the Eastern Cultivation Realms, mundane and spiritual worlds exist in closer proximity than in some regions. Many families send their children with cultivation potential to sects like the Celestial Dragon, hoping they might someday return as honored cultivators."

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  By midday, they had reached a well-traveled road that wound between terraced hills covered in what Lin Tian recognized as spirit herb fields. Workers moved carefully between the rows, their movements precise and deliberate as they tended the valuable plants.

  "These fields belong to the Yellow Stream Sect," Lin Feng explained. "A minor sect affiliated with the Celestial Dragon. They specialize in medicinal cultivation rather than martial arts."

  The road grew increasingly busy as the day progressed, with merchant caravans and individual travelers of various stations sharing the path. Most gave them a respectful berth, recognizing the signs of sect affiliation in their attire and bearing.

  As the sun began to set, they crested a hill to find a vast plain spread before them. At its center, beside a winding river, stood Verdant Spring City—far larger than Lin Tian had anticipated, its walls stretching for miles in either direction. Even from this distance, he could see the towering structures within, some clearly enhanced by formation arrays to reach impossible heights.

  "Impressive," Lin Tian murmured.

  "One of the seventeen major trading hubs in the Eastern Cultivation Realms," Lin Feng said. "Though not the largest by any measure. We'll reach it by noon tomorrow."

  They made camp in a designated area maintained for traveling cultivators, sharing the space with several other parties who kept respectful distances from one another. Lin Tian observed the others surreptitiously, noting their varied cultivation levels and sect affiliations.

  The night passed uneventfully, and they resumed their journey at first light. As they approached Verdant Spring City, the traffic on the road increased dramatically—merchants with carts loaded with goods, families traveling on foot, cultivators on important business, even spirit beasts bred for transportation carrying wealthy passengers.

  The city walls rose imposingly before them, constructed of massive stone blocks inscribed with protective formations. Guards at the gate wore the emblems of both the city militia and the regional cultivation alliance, their Qi levels marking them as respectable cultivators in their own right.

  Lin Feng handled the formalities with quiet efficiency, presenting identification tokens that gained them swift passage through the gates. Inside, Lin Tian was momentarily overwhelmed by the sensory barrage—thousands of people moving through bustling streets, shops lining every thoroughfare, the scents of exotic foods and medicines mingling in the air, and everywhere the hum of Qi from cultivators and spiritual items.

  "Stay close, Young Master," Lin Feng advised. "Verdant Spring welcomes all, but not all who visit have honorable intentions."

  They navigated through the crowded streets, Lin Feng leading with unerring confidence despite the labyrinthine layout. Lin Tian observed everything with keen interest—cultivation technique scrolls displayed in shop windows, spirit beasts in elaborate cages awaiting wealthy buyers, alchemists performing street demonstrations of their skills to attract customers.

  "The Lin residence is in the Eastern Quarter," Lin Feng explained as they turned onto a broader avenue lined with more elegant establishments. "It serves as both a way station for clan members traveling in this region and a base for our business interests in the city."

  The Eastern Quarter was noticeably more refined than the areas they had passed through. Buildings here were constructed with finer materials, many incorporating spiritual woods and stones that radiated subtle energy. Cultivators of higher status strolled the streets, their attire and bearing marking them as disciples of prominent sects or members of established clans.

  The Lin residence proved to be a modest but elegant compound surrounded by a high wall. Despite its understated appearance, Lin Tian's enhanced senses detected powerful formations woven into its structure—protections far beyond what a supposedly minor clan should maintain.

  A steward greeted them at the gate, bowing deeply to Lin Tian. "Young Master Lin, we received word of your arrival. Please, everything has been prepared."

  Inside, the compound revealed itself to be larger than its exterior suggested, with several courtyards connected by covered walkways. Servants moved efficiently about their duties, all displaying at least basic cultivation training.

  "You'll rest here tonight," Lin Feng said, leading Lin Tian to a well-appointed chamber overlooking a garden of rare spirit plants. "Tomorrow, we'll complete our journey to the main compound."

  Lin Tian spent the evening reviewing materials in his quarters, comparing them to his original memories and noting discrepancies. The official histories described the Lin clan as respectable but unremarkable, specialists in precise control techniques but lacking the raw power that distinguished the major clans. Yet the protection formations around this "modest" residence told a different story.

  As night deepened, Lin Tian's enhanced senses had finally settled, no longer causing the constant headaches that had plagued him since his awakening. He decided to sleep, knowing they would complete their journey to the main Lin compound in the morning.

  Some distance from the Lin residence, a group of hooded figures gathered in a secluded courtyard. Their leader, a broad-shouldered man with a scar running across his left cheek, studied a rough map by moonlight.

  "Are you certain about this information, Bang Ou?" one of his companions asked nervously. "The Lin clan is not to be trifled with."

  Bang Ou snorted dismissively. "The Lin clan is a collection of weaklings who hide behind precision techniques to compensate for their lack of true power." He jabbed a finger at the map. "And according to our source, the Third Young Master is here tonight."

  "But the patriarch—"

  "Is still at the Celestial Dragon Sect, negotiating with the Grand Elder," Bang Ou cut in. "This is our opportunity. The Gu family has paid handsomely for this task, and I don't intend to disappoint them."

  The six cultivators moved silently through Verdant Spring City's darkened streets, their Qi carefully suppressed to avoid detection. When they reached the Lin residence, Bang Ou signaled for a halt.

  "Something's wrong," he muttered, studying the compound's walls. "Where are the guards? The formations are active, but I can't sense any notable Qi presences."

  One of his men shifted uneasily. "Could it be a trap?"

  Bang Ou's eyes narrowed. "Our information indicated the Lin patriarch already took his son in for protection. So where is that protection? Was our intel false?"

  "Perhaps they're simply sleeping," suggested another.

  "No, I can't sense any notable Qi presences at all," Bang Ou insisted. "Not even the Third Young Master's, weak as it might be."

  "The Gu family allied with us specifically to eliminate the Lin boy," a slender woman reminded him. "They were quite insistent on his death before he reaches the main compound."

  Bang Ou nodded grimly. "Whatever the case, if he's unguarded, all the better for us. We move now."

  With practiced coordination, the group scaled the compound wall, expertly avoiding the trigger points of the defensive formations. They landed silently in a secluded garden and moved toward the guest quarters where Lin Tian was supposedly resting.

  As they approached the courtyard outside Lin Tian's chambers, the sliding door to the veranda suddenly opened. A figure in white robes emerged, casually sipping from a cup. The moonlight revealed it to be Lin Feng, apparently enjoying a late-night drink.

  The assassins froze, holding their breath as Lin Feng gazed directly at their hiding spot. For a moment, absolute silence reigned in the garden.

  Then, without any sign of alarm, Lin Feng simply turned and walked back inside, sliding the door closed behind him.

  The assassins exchanged confused glances.

  "Did he not see us?" whispered one.

  Bang Ou's expression darkened with suspicion. "He looked right at us..."

  "He must have been scared and pretended not to notice," another suggested with a sneer. "These Lin clan servants are known for their cowardice."

  "This is even better than we hoped," the female assassin said. "Just one attendant, and a frightened one at that."

  As the group prepared to move forward, Bang Ou placed a restraining hand on the woman's arm. "Something feels wrong. That man..."

  "What about him? He's just a servant."

  Bang Ou's frown deepened. "There was something in his eyes—"

  "We don't have time for your paranoia," hissed another assassin, already moving toward the chambers. "The longer we delay, the greater the risk of discovery."

  The group advanced across the moonlit courtyard, weapons drawn and formations ready. They had nearly reached the veranda when the door slid open once more.

  Lin Feng stepped out again, still holding his cup. This time, his gaze swept deliberately over each of them before a small smile touched his lips.

  "I was just making sure the Young Master was sleeping," he said conversationally, his voice carrying clearly in the night air. "This is so much better."

  Bang Ou immediately dropped into a defensive stance. "Who are you?" he demanded.

  Lin Feng took another sip from his cup, his movements unhurried. "Me? I'm nobody important. Just a servant attending to his master."

  The first assassin lunged forward—and vanished. There was no sound, no visible movement from Lin Feng, yet the attacker simply ceased to exist in the space between one heartbeat and the next.

  Panic erupted. The assassins' carefully planned assault dissolved into chaos. One by one, they disappeared—not through any visible technique, but simply ceasing to exist between heartbeats.

  Bang Ou watched in growing horror, his confidence fracturing with each companion's inexplicable disappearance. "Impossible," he gasped, his defensive Qi flaring desperately.

  The ground beneath his feet began to crack under the pressure of Lin Feng's released spiritual energy.

  The remaining assassins backed away, their earlier bravado replaced by a primal terror. Bang Ou's mind reeled. This was no ordinary servant. Everything they knew about the Lin clan—about Lin Tian—was fundamentally wrong.

  "He took down a Peak Realm cultivator like it was nothing," one of the assassins whispered, his voice trembling. The realization sank in slowly: the man before them was at least Supreme Peak level, far beyond anything their intelligence had suggested.

  Bang Ou's thoughts raced. The Gu clan's information, their carefully planned attack—it all crumbled in an instant. This "servant" radiated a power that made their most skilled cultivators seem like mere children.

  "Who are you? Who are you really?" Bang Ou demanded, though his voice now carried more desperation than threat.

  Lin Feng's smile never wavered. "Just a servant," he said, each word a knife's edge. "Now, shall we finish this quickly?"

  The blue-purple Qi surrounding Lin Feng expanded, crystallizing the very air. Bang Ou felt every fiber of his being screaming to flee, to escape this monster disguised as a simple attendant.

  But it was too late.

  In that moment, Bang Ou understood the fatal mistake they had made. The Lin clan was not what they appeared to be. And Lin Tian—who was truly guarded by this terrifying individual—was far safer than they could have ever imagined.

  The night erupted into silent, absolute destruction.