Jintai Prefectural City's towering walls rose majestically.
The Lin Family estate stood in the central district.
The Vermilion Gate stood open, two large red lanterns hanging before it. Several guards in fitted martial attire stood on either side, their expressions solemn.
Inside Lin Residence, everything bustled with activity as servants hurried to and fro, each attending to their duties.
Some carried exquisite tableware toward the main hall, some hurried to the kitchens with fresh ingredients, and others wiped down tables and chairs in the courtyard and arranged flowers.
Tonight, the Lin Family would host Yang Jing, the Profound Truth Sect's newly risen Heavenly Prodigy. The Head of the Lin Family had personally ordered it, and no one at Lin Residence dared show the slightest negligence as they worked together on the final preparations.
Many young members of the Lin Family, both men and women, gathered in small groups throughout the gardens and corridors, quietly discussing tonight's guest of honor.
"Have you heard? Yang Jing, the guest we're hosting tonight, tied for first in the Profound Truth Sect's Fu Mountain Grand Competition. He fought a top genius like Chu Yunhai to a draw!"
"That's not all! My father said Yang Jing has only been in the sect for a little over six months, yet he's already advanced all Three True Arts to the Qi-Devouring Realm. Even among the Five Great Schools, his talent is first-rate!"
"That's incredible! Even with our lineage's resources behind us, reaching the Qi-Devouring Realm is terribly difficult for us Lin Family disciples. To accomplish so much at his age-he's practically a legend!"
For these ordinary Lin Family disciples, even with a great lineage behind them and no need to worry about cultivation resources, the Martial Path was inherently difficult. The Qi-Devouring Realm was a threshold many would