Teng Huayuan, Ancestor of the Teng Family, Makes His Decision

"I had long heard that the Heng Yue Sect's prodigious disciple had suddenly fallen in the Extraterrestrial Battlefield a century ago. I never expected him to still be alive. It seems the rumors were unreliable after all."

The first to speak was an elderly man dressed in splendid robes. His silver-white hair was meticulously combed, and the exquisite crown upon his head lent him even greater majesty.

This man was none other than Teng Huayuan, ancestor of the Teng Family in the Zhao Kingdom, a cultivator at the early Nascent Soul Stage.

The other elderly men were also Nascent Soul Stage cultivators from the Zhao Kingdom. However, they were already thousands of years old, a far cry from the young Lin Che before them.

Pu Nanzi, the Xuan Dao Sect's leader, shrugged as he stared at Lin Che, who sat in his chair sipping tea. He had originally intended to swallow up the Heng Yue Sect, but he had never expected Lin Che, who had vanished a century ago, to return.

This was clearly beyond his expectations.

Lin Che held his teacup in one hand and leaned back against the chair. One finger lightly tapped the tabletop, the movement gentle and utterly silent.

The Nascent Soul Stage experts present all frowned at Lin Che's attitude. They were the Nascent Soul Stage ancestors of major factions, yet they did not even have seats of their own. Was this not going too far?

The seats in the Heng Yue Sect's main hall had already been occupied by Huang Long Zhenren and the others, so there was naturally no place for these old men. The expressions of the Nascent Soul cultivators turned rather ugly.

Lin Che took in everyone's gazes without reacting. Instead, he increased the force of his finger, tapping the tabletop again and again, gradually speeding up.

In an instant, the Nascent Soul cultivators in the hall felt their hearts tremble. For no apparent reason, they found it difficult to breathe. Their faces flushed red, and bloodshot veins surfaced in their eyes.

All the Nascent Soul Stage experts of the Zhao Kingdom, including Pu Nanzi and the other two, were terrified the instant Lin Che's finger struck the table. Their Nascent Souls nearly collapsed.

They had no doubt that if he continued tapping the table with such force for a while longer, their Nascent Souls would be unable to withstand the immense pressure and would explode on their own.

What terrifying spiritual power. This man has actually reached the Nascent Soul Transformation stage... How is that possible? He is only a hundred years old, yet he possesses such a realm!

Teng Huayuan was horrified. He could not believe that Lin Che before him possessed Nascent Soul Transformation stage cultivation. Was this the prodigy who had shaken the entire Vermillion Bird Star a century ago?!

Ye Zizai, sect master of the Corpse Yin Sect, was equally terrified. "So this is Lin Che, the prodigy who shook the Vermillion Bird Star a century ago? With such strength, the entire Zhao Kingdom is likely as fragile as ants before him."

Seeing this, Lin Che gradually slowed the tapping of his finger. The expressions of the Nascent Soul Stage experts improved somewhat, but their Nascent Souls still felt as though they could shatter at any moment.

"We pay our respects to Senior!"

Led by Pu Nanzi, the cultivators immediately knelt and kowtowed once more. In their eyes, Spirit Severing Stage cultivators were already invincible. As for Nascent Soul Transformation cultivators beyond Spirit Severing, they could destroy the entire Zhao Kingdom.

Lin Che calmly took a sip of tea before slowly saying, "Fellow Daoists, did you not come here to learn of my cultivation realm?"

Sweating profusely, Pu Nanzi replied, "In reply to Senior, we are all cultivators of the Zhao Kingdom. Senior's great name has long thundered in our ears. Upon learning of your return, we came personally to the Heng Yue Sect to celebrate for you. We harbor no other intentions."

The other cultivators gave the same answer, terrified that Lin Che would casually slap them to death on the spot.

The cultivation world had always been a place of deceit and where the strong devoured the weak. Only those with hard enough fists could survive. As for the weak, if they wished to remain alive in the cultivation world, they could only seek to please the strong and prolong their miserable existence.

At that moment, Li Muwan personally poured Lin Che another cup of tea and silently watched what was happening. She had once believed that Senior Brother Lin Che was merely at the Core Formation realm.

She had never expected that he had long since reached the Nascent Soul Transformation stage, a realm capable of shaking the entire Vermillion Bird Star. Was this Senior Brother's true talent and strength?

Lin Che took a sip of tea, his gaze sweeping across the crowd as he slowly said, "From this day onward, the Heng Yue Sect will no longer offer tribute to the Four-Grade Cultivation Nation. All other sects must also hand over thirty percent of the resources they obtain to the Heng Yue Sect."

The moment those words were spoken, every Nascent Soul Stage ancestor present froze.

Thirty percent of their resources...

For sects and clans, that was absolutely an unimaginable expense. They also had to offer magical treasures and medicinal pills to the Four-Grade Cultivation Nation in exchange for protection. If they had to provide resources to the Heng Yue Sect as well, how could their sects continue developing in the future?

Seeing the cultivators sweat profusely as they hesitated, Lin Che lost patience. If this had been in the Ancient God's Land, these people would likely have long since been reduced to scattered souls.

"Since Fellow Daoists are unwilling, then the only sect left within the Zhao Kingdom will be the Heng Yue Sect."

He was not discussing the matter with them. He was warning them. The cultivation world had always revered strength; whoever dared defy him could have their sect destroyed with a single thought.

Just like the Heng Yue Sect in the original story, without the support of a Nascent Soul Stage ancestor, its final fate had been for its people to scatter when the tree fell.

At that moment, Teng Huayuan, ancestor of the Teng Family, immediately rolled his eyes and hurriedly rose to his feet. He cupped his hands toward Lin Che in salute. "Please calm your anger, Senior."

Teng Huayuan's gaze settled once more on the other cultivators as he said coldly, "I believe you Fellow Daoists should think carefully. Thirty percent of our resources will not destroy our clans and sects. Moreover, Senior Lin Che is a Nascent Soul Transformation Expert. As long as he remains here for a hundred years, our Zhao Kingdom can advance into a Fifth-Grade Cultivation Nation."

"If the Zhao Kingdom advances into a Fifth-Grade Cultivation Nation, our cultivation resources will surely undergo a qualitative leap. By then, what we contribute will naturally flow back to the major sects. Why should we worry that the disciples of our Zhao Kingdom's sects will lack cultivation resources?"

Upon hearing Teng Huayuan's words, the cultivators in the hall all fell into deep thought. Even Lin Che could not help looking toward Teng Huayuan.

Although Teng Huayuan was ruthless and vicious, he understood the situation and considered the greater good. He knew what mattered most.

Teng Huayuan turned back around and once again bowed respectfully to Lin Che. "Senior Lin Che, my Teng Family is the foremost cultivation clan of the Zhao Kingdom and possesses countless resources. This junior is willing to offer fifty percent of our resources to the Heng Yue Sect."

"Hehehe, Family Head Teng truly knows how to read the times." Lin Che nodded with a faint smile. "Since that is the case, I will grant you a fortunate opportunity. If you can break through to the late Nascent Soul Stage in the future, I will personally guide you in Soul Transformation."

The moment those words were spoken, the Nascent Soul ancestors of every sect turned livid. They even regretted not declaring their loyalty outright. Now, all the opportunities had fallen into the hands of that old dog Teng Huayuan.

Teng Huayuan was even more excited. He knelt on the ground and clasped his hands in salute. "Thank you, Senior Lin Che. My Teng clan will certainly not fail your expectations and will remain forever loyal to you!"