Visitors from the Ling Realm (Seeking Recommendations, Seeking Collections!)

"I don't know what kind of magic East Ling City has, to keep both you and Ling You rooted here, refusing to leave."

Inside the reception hall of the East Ling City Clan Academy, an old man in a white robe sat at the same table as Ling Yang, letting out a cold sneer.

"You've even ignored the clan's repeated orders to return to the Ling Realm."

"What, are you planning to rebel?"

His words carried heavy weight, enough to make even the arrogant young man behind him shift his expression.

But as the one being addressed, Ling Yang's face showed little change.

He simply picked up the teacup before him, blew on it, and took a slow, deliberate sip.

This blatant disregard made the old man frown, and he slammed the table.

"Ling Yang, have you gone mute?"

"Elder Ling Yuan, haven't you already pinned that hat on me?"

Hearing this, Ling Yang finally set down his teacup and spoke leisurely.

"Didn't you say I'm rebelling? What more do you want me to say?"

"Or should I lay out in detail how I plan to stage this rebellion?"

"You!"

A flash of anger crossed Ling Yuan's face, and he was about to lash out.

But before he could finish his words, a slightly mocking voice rang through the hall.

"Oh my, isn't this Elder Ling Yuan, one of the Law Enforcement Elders of the Ling Realm?"

"Fancy gracing our little East Ling City with your presence—truly an honor that lights up this humble place."

As the voice trailed off, Ling You and Ling Xi appeared in the hall.

Ling Xi followed obediently behind Ling You, inwardly amused.

Even someone of her teacher's stature could speak with such sarcasm.

"Ling You, you've grown more and more unruly."

Ling Yuan's already sour expression darkened further after Ling You's words.

"Not only did you deliberately arrive late today, disregarding my authority as a Law Enforcement Elder,"

"but you've also turned a deaf ear to the clan's repeated summons to return to the Ling Realm."

"Is this the conduct befitting a member of the Ling Clan?"

The Law Enforcement Elder was a position within the Ling Clan, tasked primarily with upholding clan rules.

It was, without question, a position of great power.

"Ling Yuan, spare me the nonsense."

Ling You snorted, a roguish look spreading across his face.

"I'm a man with not much time left—can't I enjoy a few easy days?"

"Do I have to spend my last days in the Ling Realm, refining pills for you lot and your endless relatives until I drop dead?"

"Even if you took this to the Clan Leader, I wouldn't bat an eye."

Ling Yuan was left speechless by Ling You's retort, his old face flushing red as he struggled to find a comeback.

For a man on the brink of death, in a sense, he was untouchable.

Across the entire continent, Ninth-grade Alchemists could be counted on two hands.

Among the Ancient Races, aside from the Yao Clan and the Soul Clan, not a single one had a Ninth-grade Alchemist.

An Eighth-grade Alchemist, to some extent, already represented the Ling Clan's highest level of alchemy.

Though Ling Yuan knew Ling You's lifespan was short, as a Law Enforcement Elder, he didn't dare push him too far.

"Elder Ling Yuan, what exactly did the clan send you here for?"

Ling Yang sighed. Though he too found Ling Yuan insufferable, he steered the conversation back on track.

"The clan sent me to bring you both back to the Ling Realm."

No sooner had Ling Yuan spoken than Ling You immediately shook his head.

"I'm not going back."

"There's little point in me returning to the Ling Realm. I'd rather stay in the Ling Domain and scout out some talented individuals for the clan."

Ling Yang also refused in turn.

Ling Yuan hadn't expected both of them to reject him so bluntly, without giving him any face.

Though Ling Yuan was a Law Enforcement Elder, the Dou Qi Continent revered strength above all.

The three of them were roughly equal in power, so Ling Yuan had no real way to force them.

"Ling Yuan, don't try to pressure us with clan orders."

Seeing Ling Yuan's displeased expression, Ling You let out a light laugh.

"If the clan truly wanted to force us back, they wouldn't have sent someone like you to find us."

"What do you mean by that?"

Ling Yuan's expression shifted, and the aura of a Dou Venerate erupted in an instant.

"Not bad, it seems you've made some progress over the years."

Raising an eyebrow, Ling You unleashed an aura that surpassed Ling Yuan's.

The two Dou Venerate auras swept through the entire reception hall in an instant, even causing the space itself to emit an unbearable cracking sound.

Ling Yang's expression remained unchanged, but Ling Xi and the youth brought by Ling Yuan both staggered under the pressure of this 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 collapsed to the ground directly under the collision of these two auras.

"That's enough. Why show off in front of the younger generation?"

Ling Yang's gaze swept over Ling Xi, and he felt a secret shock within.

In just over half a year without seeing him, even he could no longer see through Ling Xi's strength.

And he was a Dou Venerate!

"Hmph!"

Both snorted at the same time, then withdrew their auras.

"That old bastard Ling You is nearly dead, yet he's actually broken through to a higher realm instead."

Ling Yuan's wariness of Ling You grew even more.

Glancing back at the junior scrambling to his feet, his expression turned even uglier.

"If you came to find me today just to make me return to the Ling Realm, you can leave now."

Ling You smacked his lips, stood up, and made to leave.

"Wait!"

Ling Yuan quickly spoke up.

"What, something else?"

Ling You frowned slightly, feigning displeasure.

"The clan says 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've specially selected a disciple for you."

As he spoke, Ling Yuan pointed to the youth beside him.

"Ling Yi, come pay your respects to Elder Ling You."

The youth looked a bit older than Ling Xi, and his originally somewhat arrogant demeanor had been completely shattered by the clash of the two Dou Venerate auras.

Hearing Ling Yuan's words, he quickly stepped forward and bowed to Ling You.

"Ling Yi pays respects to Elder Ling You."

"This is the clansman from the younger generation in the Ling Realm with the most suitable Dou Qi attribute for becoming an Alchemist and the strongest Soul Power."

Ling You frowned slightly, but before he could speak, Ling Yuan took a letter from his Nakai Ring.

"Someone asked me to give you this letter. Say what you will after you've read it."

Ling You reached out and summoned the letter, his brow not relaxing but furrowing even deeper.

His eyes swept over the paper, but his expression showed no extra change.

"I understand the clan's intent, but I already have a disciple."

Putting the letter away, Ling You suddenly smiled and pointed at Ling Xi.

"Xi'er, come meet Elder Ling Yuan."