The Secret of Ling Yan

Duke Fu Ling Feng, who had just left, turned and walked towards a three-story pavilion in the backyard of Duke Fu's Mansion.

Entering the pavilion, Ling Feng went up to the third floor. Inside, a young man with long black hair cascading over his shoulders and a handsome face was reading a book.

He was wearing a long robe, predominantly white with purple stripes adorning his shoulders, back, and chest down to his calves, resembling a Taoist robe. He exuded an approachable aura, appearing extremely easygoing.

Upon seeing Ling Feng ascend, the young man glanced at him before returning his gaze to his book. Though his face was young, his eyes seemed to have witnessed all the world's affairs, weathered by time.

Looking into his eyes, it was as if he could see through people's hearts.

Ling Feng stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Grandfather."

"What is it, this haste?"

Although Ling Feng appeared calm, his hurried steps and the worry in his eyes, along with a hint of panic, did not escape the young man's notice.

"Grandfather, look."

Ling Feng handed the letter from Flying Eagle to the young man.

The young man took the letter, scanned it, narrowed his eyes, and after a long silence, sighed deeply before forcing a nonchalant smile:

"What is meant to come will come. Didn't we already anticipate this thirty years ago?"

Despite the young man's composed demeanor, his trembling hands betrayed his inner turmoil.

Just then, Ling Ying also came upstairs and bowed to the young man.

"Greetings, Old Ancestor. The master of the house has been confined to the side room, and the Heir is personally guarding him."

"The person?" the young man asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.

"Grandfather, this letter was delivered by a guard captain who had been hidden in the mansion for nearly twenty years. He revealed himself to deliver it. His name is Flying Eagle. I haven't harmed him; he's currently held in my courtyard, and Chen'er is personally guarding him."

"To expose a hidden operative of such depth for this, why?"

"This grandson also does not understand."

"It matters not. We will know tonight. Since they've arranged to come to Duke Fu's Mansion tonight, and specifically requested to see me, Ling Yan, we shall find out then. I've had all the sentries around me withdrawn for tonight. Do not startle our guests."

Ling Yan, the current Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert who held the entire Duke Fu's Mansion together.

Yes, the translated meaning of the letter was roughly: Ling Yan, I know the current situation of Duke Fu's Mansion. Wait for me, I'll come to see you tonight for a face-to-face talk.

"However, judging by this, it doesn't seem like people from Dagan! If they knew I, Ling Yan, was crippled, they probably wouldn't come like this."

"This grandson thought the same."

This pillar of Duke Fu's Mansion, the renowned Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert, had personally declared himself crippled.

Thirty years ago, a divine relic had appeared. Ling Yan was severely injured within it, damaging his foundation to the point where he could no longer even use True Qi.

Although his realm remained at the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, he knew that if he forcefully channeled his energy, he would perish without a burial place.

And no one knew about his injury.

That expedition to the relic had resulted in heavy losses for all parties, leaving them with their own troubles, the Imperial Clan included.

Upon his return thirty years ago, he knew he was crippled, but what about this vast Ling family?

When he broke through to the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, the Old Ancestor, before his death, had entrusted the Ling family to his care.

Ling Yan did not fear death, but how could this thousand-year-old Ling family be ruined in his hands?

From then on, he lived in seclusion. Fortunately, Duke Fu's Mansion and his Celestial Phenomenon Realm might still held sway.

Moreover, he had this divine weapon-grade treasure armor to conceal him. There hadn't been any major wars in recent decades, so he didn't need to fight. In this way, Duke Fu's Mansion had managed for another thirty years.

Ling Yan was well aware that if the various powers of Dagan knew of his condition, Duke Fu's Mansion would become mere fish on a chopping block.

Even the Imperial Clan would be the same, no, perhaps even more terrifying!

Why could the Four Great Dukes' Mansions hold such high positions and remain unshakeable? It was because each of their families had a Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert. To put it bluntly, the so-called high and mighty Four Great Dukes' Mansions were merely the Imperial Clan's front men.

Celestial Phenomenon Realm experts were at the pinnacle of influence, bordering on entering the mortal world, and the Imperial Clan did not have many of them.

Throughout the world, even excluding the top powers, there were still several Celestial Phenomenon Realm experts.

Although, under the constraints of various factions, Celestial Realm experts normally could not participate in warfare.

But there were exceptions, so the role of the Four Great Dukes' Mansions was to handle and resolve these matters when the Imperial Clan did not wish to act.

The Imperial Clan remained aloof, even needing only to observe without revealing their true strength, and yet the matters could be resolved.

Just like the Battle of Cangshui over a hundred years ago and the Battle of Yunzhou eighty years ago, the experts from the Four Great Dukes' Mansions moved in unison.

The Imperial Clan merely dispatched one Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert and two Ascension Realm experts to accompany them, like overseers.

Although the outcomes of the wars were one defeat and one victory, they had indeed done their best. Xiang Tiange, whether in strategy or martial prowess, was truly not someone easily dealt with.

The Imperial Clan needed people on the outside, strong individuals to handle minor affairs.

This was why the Four Great Dukes' Mansions occupied a significant position in the imperial court.

And the Imperial Clan allowed them to grow stronger. The stronger, the better.

If you were a Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert, if you were useful, I could grant you some privileges.

Everything here is built upon the foundation of Celestial Phenomenon Realm experts.

If the Duke Fu's Mansion lacks Celestial Phenomenon Realm experts, it becomes useless and no longer deserves such special honors.

The ultimate outcome would be to become a pawn, treated like meat, a sacrifice in the Imperial Clan's next scheme.

With the Duke Fu's Mansion's vast interests, it would stir up trouble, drawing various parties into the game.

Then, it would once again trick the martial world, carrying out another purge of various forces and the martial world, to determine the greatest beneficiary, who would then rise like the Duke's Mansion.

After being squeezed dry of its last bit of utility, it would be discarded – that would be the Duke's Mansion's fate.

This world has never lacked geniuses, nor ambition; it repeats in a cycle.

The Dagan's millennia of history has seen no shortage of fallen Duke's Mansions.

Even in his case, Ling Yan's situation, if it got out, the Duke Fu's Mansion's subordinate forces would act, without needing any other parties to intervene.

Their allegiance was built upon the Duke Fu's Mansion's prestige and his Celestial Phenomenon Realm strength. Without the Celestial Phenomenon Realm strength...

Those subordinate forces that had pledged allegiance would transform into wolves and pounce.

"You are Ascension Realm, and I am Ascension Realm. Why should I submit to you?"

Even the Duke Fu's Mansion's so-called vast network of connections is the same.

Everything is discussed and negotiated on the basis of equal standing.

This is the Duke Fu's Mansion's current predicament.

"It's nothing. Everything will be clear tonight. Bring that Flying Eagle here, and you may leave.

I will wait here tonight and see what kind of guest it is. Perhaps it's an old acquaintance?"

Ling Yan had fought against both Great Yan and Great Feng. Most of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm experts from all sides knew him.

Or rather, once you reach this circle, it's hard not to know.

"Grandfather (Old Ancestor), we will stay here with you."

Ling Yan looked up at Ling Feng and Ling Ying before him, his eyes filled with a smile, the corners of his mouth also curving upwards.

"Good, together."

One was his grandson, and the other was a prodigy from a collateral branch of the Ling family. Both were prodigies.

If there were even more heavenly treasures containing the laws of heaven and earth, both of them would have a chance to enter the Celestial Phenomenon Realm.

But even if more heavenly treasures appeared, he, Ling Yan, would no longer have the strength to fight for them for his descendants.

Although only Ling Feng and Ling Ying knew about his injuries in the Duke Fu's Mansion, no one else did.

But Ling Yan knew very well that it wasn't the two before him who leaked his information.

Recalling Ling Feng's elder brother who died in the past, Ling Yan regretted going to that ruin thirty years ago every day.

If he hadn't been so greedy, how could this situation have come about?