"I wonder what's so special about East Ling City that you and Ling You both refuse to leave."
In the reception hall of the East Ling City Clan Academy, an old man in a white robe looked at Ling Yang, who sat at the same table as him, and let out a cold laugh.
"Even the clan's repeated orders for you to return to the Ling Realm have been ignored."
"Could it be that you're planning to rebel?"
The accusation was severe. Even the arrogant-looking youth standing behind the old man couldn't help but change his expression.
But Ling Yang, the person the old man had accused, showed little reaction.
He simply picked up the teacup before him, blew on it, and took an unhurried sip.
His dismissive attitude made the old man frown. He slapped the table and said,
"Ling Yang, have you gone mute?"
"Elder Ling Yuan, haven't you already pinned that accusation on me?"
Only then did Ling Yang set down his teacup and reply leisurely.
"Didn't you say I was planning to rebel? What else do you want me to say?"
"Do you want me to explain in detail how I'm preparing to rebel?"
"You!"
A trace of anger flashed across Ling Yuan's face, and he was about to lose his temper.
But before he could finish speaking, a voice tinged with mockery rang through the reception hall.
"Well, well, isn't this Elder Ling Yuan, one of the Ling Realm's Law Enforcement Elders?"
"To think you'd visit a little place like our East Ling City. What an honor! You've truly brought glory to our humble city."
As the voice rang out, Ling You and Ling Xi appeared in the hall.
Ling Xi followed obediently behind Ling You, finding the scene rather amusing.
Who would've thought his teacher, a man of such standing, could speak in such a sarcastic way?
"Ling You, you're getting more and more unruly."
Ling Yuan's already unpleasant expression darkened further after Ling You finished speaking.
"First, you deliberately arrived late today, showing disregard for the authority of a Law Enforcement Elder."
"And despite the clan repeatedly ordering you to return to the Ling Realm, you've paid no heed."
"Is this how a member of the Ling Clan should behave?"
The position of Law Enforcement Elder was established within the Ling Clan primarily to uphold its rules.
It was an extremely powerful position.
"Ling Yuan, enough with the nonsense."
Ling You snorted, his face taking on a shameless, roguish look.
"I'm a dying man. Can't I enjoy a few carefree days?"
"Do I have to stay in the Ling Realm and brew medicine for you lot and every one of your relatives until I die?"
"I wouldn't be afraid even if you took this matter to the clan leader."
Ling Yuan was left speechless by Ling You's words. His old face flushed red, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.
To some extent, a man who was close to death was invincible.
The number of Ninth-grade Alchemists on the entire continent could be counted on both hands.
Among the Ancient Races, aside from the Yao Clan and the Soul Clan, not one of the others had a Ninth-grade Alchemist.
In a sense, an Eighth-grade Alchemist already represented the Ling Clan's highest level of alchemy.
Although Ling Yuan knew that Ling You had little time left, as a Law Enforcement Elder, he still didn't dare offend him too much.
"Elder Ling Yuan, what exactly did the clan send you here for?"
Ling Yang sighed. Though he disliked Ling Yuan intensely, he still brought the conversation back to the matter at hand.
"The clan sent me to bring you back to the Ling Realm."
As soon as Ling Yuan finished speaking, Ling You immediately shook his head.
"I'm not going back."
"There's little point in my returning to the Ling Realm. I'd rather stay in the Ling Domain and help the Ling Clan discover some promising talents."
Ling Yang also refused.
Ling Yuan hadn't expected the two of them to show him so little respect and refuse so flatly.
Although Ling Yuan was a Law Enforcement Elder, strength ruled on the Dou Qi Continent.
The three of them were about evenly matched in strength, so Ling Yuan truly had no way to deal with them.
"Ling Yuan, don't try to use the clan's orders to pressure us."
Seeing Ling Yuan's displeased expression, Ling You chuckled.
"If the clan really wanted to force us back, it wouldn't have sent someone like you to come find us."
"What do you mean by that?"
Ling Yuan's expression shifted, and the aura of a Dou Venerate erupted from him in an instant.
"Not bad. It seems you've made some progress over the years."
Ling You raised an eyebrow. An aura even stronger than Ling Yuan's burst forth from him.
The auras of two Dou Venerates swept through the entire reception hall in an instant. The very space seemed unable to bear the pressure, cracking with a series of sharp snaps.
Ling Yang's expression remained unchanged, but Ling Xi and the youth Ling Yuan had brought both staggered under the clash.
"So strong. Is this the might of a Dou Venerate?"
Ling Xi swayed twice, but with the Devouring Ancestral Symbol protecting him, he quickly steadied himself.
As for the youth Ling Yuan had brought, he was knocked straight to the floor by the collision of their auras.
"That's enough. Why show off in front of the youngsters?"
Ling Yang's gaze swept over Ling Xi, and he was secretly astonished.
Though they'd only been apart for half a year, even he could no longer see through Ling Xi's strength.
And he was a Dou Venerate!
"Hmph!"
The two men snorted at the same time, then reined in their auras.
"That old geezer Ling You is almost dead. Who would've thought he'd break through to a higher level instead?"
Ling Yuan felt even more wary of Ling You.
He glanced at the junior behind him, who was scrambling to his feet, and his expression darkened further.
"If you came here today just to ask us to return to the Ling Realm, you can leave now."
Ling You smacked his lips, stood up, and started to leave.
"Wait!"
Ling Yuan hurriedly called out when he saw this.
"What is it? Is there something else?"
Ling You frowned slightly, pretending to be displeased as he asked.
"The clan said you don't have to return to the Ling Realm if you don't want to. But to keep your Alchemy Skill from being lost, they specially selected a disciple for you."
As he spoke, Ling Yuan pointed to the youth beside him.
"Ling Yi, come and pay your respects to Elder Ling You."
The youth looked a little older than Ling Xi. The arrogance he'd worn earlier had been thoroughly swept away by the clash between the two Dou Venerates.
At Ling Yuan's words, he hurried over to Ling You and bowed.
"Ling Yi pays his respects to Elder Ling You."
"He's the strongest member of the Ling Realm's younger generation in terms of soul power, and his Dou Qi is suited to becoming an Alchemist."
Ling You furrowed his brow. Before he could speak, Ling Yuan took a letter from his Nakai Ring.
"Someone asked me to give you this letter. You can read it before you decide what to say."
Ling You beckoned, and the letter flew into his hand. His brow didn't relax; if anything, it furrowed more deeply.
His eyes swept over the page, but his expression barely changed.
"I understand what the clan means. But I already have a disciple."
He put the letter away, then suddenly smiled and pointed at Ling Xi.
"Xi'er, come and pay your respects to Elder Ling Yuan."
Before you continue