What monstrous talent was this!

[Server-wide cultivation realm rankings]

[First place]: Lin An, realm: Black Iron Second Grade (can be hidden)

[Second place]: None

[Third place]: None

...

(Note: Rankings are settled once a month. Players ranked in the top 100 will receive additional rewards.)

Lin An sat all alone on the rankings.

But Lin An had expected this. He was more interested in the rewards from the monthly ranking settlement.

"I remember that besides attribute points, first place also gets a chance at a prize draw. Divine abilities, treasures, all sorts of rare items are up for grabs."

"And right now, I'm the only person on the entire server..."

Wasn't that basically getting rewards for free?

And even when the other players arrived a year later, their realms definitely wouldn't catch up to his.

"When those players arrive and see my realm on the rankings, they'll probably be dumbfounded."

Lin An couldn't help smiling. He was starting to look forward to the scene when the players arrived.

Then Lin An got out of bed, washed up, tidied himself, and headed to the living room.

"You're here. Sit down and have breakfast first."

Lin Xiao, who was drinking porridge, looked up, then froze.

"Wait, your realm... Black Iron Second Grade?"

Lin Xiao looked shocked. "You successfully cultivated the technique in just one night?"

"Yes, Father."

Lin An smiled and nodded. "It was pretty easy to cultivate."

He hadn't intended to hide it, nor could he.

Hearing Lin An's words, Lin Xiao suddenly felt that this little brat was asking for a beating.

Back then, it had taken him a full three months just to reach the introductory level of the technique.

His father had even praised his outstanding talent, and he had been happy about it for a long time.

But compared to his own son now, his talent wasn't worth a damn.

"That's not right either. Even if you reached the introductory level, you couldn't possibly break through to Black Iron Second Grade overnight."

As Lin Xiao spoke, a startling thought suddenly arose in his mind. He instantly appeared before Lin An and gripped his wrist. "Circulate your technique. Let me see."

Lin An didn't resist and did as instructed.

As the technique circulated, Lin Xiao's pupils kept widening, and towering waves surged through his heart.

"Technique proficiency. You actually became proficient in the technique overnight."

Even Lin Xiao's breathing grew rapid. It had taken him three months to reach the introductory level, and over a year to become proficient.

Yet now, his own son had become proficient overnight. What monstrous talent was this?

"Maybe cultivation is this easy because I'm an Awakened One," Lin An said. Being an Awakened One was an excuse for anything unreasonable.

Rather than denying this, Lin Xiao wholeheartedly agreed.

"That's it. It must be because you're an Awakened One."

"Our ancestor was an Awakened One too. That was why he became the only person to cultivate this technique to perfection."

"Later, our other Lin Family ancestors also speculated that this technique was best suited to Awakened Ones. Unfortunately, they could never verify it. Now we can be certain."

Lin Xiao released Lin An's wrist, his eyes filled with mirth.

He patted Lin An's shoulder and laughed heartily. "Good, good, good! Our Lin Family has a worthy successor!"

Lin Xiao was overjoyed. This was his son.

Lin An smiled faintly. He knew his newfound father had accepted the talent he had displayed.

From now on, no matter how quickly his strength improved, his father wouldn't be surprised or suspicious. Instead, he would consider it only natural.

The two then sat down and began eating breakfast.

Lin Xiao hadn't expected such wonderful news first thing in the morning. He had already eaten his fill, but his good mood led him to eat another serving.

After breakfast, Lin Xiao planned to take Lin An to have a look at the garrison camp.

Just then, a middle-aged man hurried in.

It was Qian Yang, the steward of the city lord's residence.

"Old Qian, what is it?" Lin Xiao asked.

"City Lord, the heads of the Zhao Family, Zhang Clan, and Wang Clan are here. Each has prepared three cartloads of resources, saying they've come to thank you and the young lord for your kindness yesterday," Qian Yang said.

Hearing this, Lin Xiao smiled and turned to Lin An. "See? We killed their people, and they still have to come thank us."

"They're probably using their thanks as a pretext to submit to the city lord's residence and declare their loyalty," Lin An said.

Lin Xiao gave him an approving look. "Exactly. I paid them no attention before, and they've grown bolder over the years."

"Though yesterday's main purpose was to clear out the Sin Beasts, I also intended to give them a warning. It certainly frightened them. Now that they have such a convenient excuse, they naturally won't miss it."

Lin An nodded, knowing that his father had warned the three families mainly to pave the way for him. Otherwise, with his father's strength, there was no need to resort to such methods.

"Will you meet them, Father?" Lin An asked.

"No. They never came to pay their respects before, but now that they're scared, they come running to my door. They really think they're something."

Lin Xiao turned to Qian Yang as he spoke. "Accept the gifts. Handle the rest yourself."

"Rest assured, City Lord. I know what to say." Qian Yang nodded, then bowed to Lin An before withdrawing.

Not long after Qian Yang left, Ji Yuan arrived as well. "City Lord, Young City Lord, all three hundred personal guards are assembled."

"How are your injuries?" Lin Xiao asked.

"They're no hindrance. I can still kill enemies."

Ji Yuan had received military punishment yesterday, taking a hundred strokes of the rod, but he was a Silver Ninth Grade expert, after all. It hadn't been enough to injure his muscles or bones.

"Then let's set out," Lin Xiao said with a nod.

The party then headed toward the garrison camp in a grand procession.

Meanwhile, outside the city lord's residence, the heads of the three great families were waiting expectantly. But after a long wait, they saw Qian Yang emerge from the residence.

"Steward Qian, might the city lord have time to see us now?" Zhao Tong stepped forward and asked. The Wang and Zhang clan heads hurried to follow.

"Family heads, the city lord is busy with official duties. He is currently taking the young city lord to inspect the garrison camp and has no time to receive you," Qian Yang said impassively.

"I see."

Hearing that they wouldn't be able to meet Lin Xiao, Zhao Tong and the other two looked disappointed.

"The city lord attends to countless affairs every day. It was presumptuous of us to call without first submitting visiting cards."

"Indeed. The city lord's inspection of the camp is also for our safety. Our business is not urgent."

The three forced smiles as they spoke.

"Although the city lord has no time to receive you, he understands your intentions."

"The city lord said to leave your gifts of thanks. He also hopes that your three families will continue contributing to Shenglin City's development," Qian Yang continued.

Zhao Tong and the other two exchanged glances, feeling somewhat reassured.

Their greatest worry was that Lin Xiao would uproot all three families so that Lin An could securely control Shenglin City in the future.

But now that Lin Xiao had accepted their gifts, it meant he was willing to give them another chance.

As long as they behaved themselves from now on, they could continue living securely in Shenglin City.

"Please tell the city lord that we would never dare forget his kindness. We will continue taking the lead in Shenglin City's development," the three said in turn.

Qian Yang nodded, then waved his hand, and the servants behind him pulled the nine cartloads of gifts into the residence.