Chapter 978: The Journey Begins

"Elder, he... he..." The disciples of Heaven and Earth Sect were dumbfounded. What was going on? The elder was a True Immortal realm expert, how could he lose to a youth?

Qing Yangzi stood there, his expression calm, but with a sense of utter despair.

His old face stung, slapped resoundingly.

With his strength at the early True Immortal realm, he had been defeated by a youth at the high Ancient Realm.

If word got out, how much face would he lose?

Not to mention, with the streets empty and countless witnesses, he had lost so thoroughly.

The onlooking commoners burst into exclamations.

"The sect elder actually lost to the young master of the Lin family. This is too explosive."

"What level of strength does the Lin family young master have? How can he be so strong?"

"That move just now was too domineering. Both hands turned into swords, directly pressed against the sect elder's forehead."

"It seems the Lin family is about to rise. With such strength, who in Ascending Dragon City would dare oppose the Lin family?"

"I heard that the heads of the other seven families all went to the Lin family yesterday to propose marriage. Though I don't know the specific outcome, clearly they wanted to form an alliance."

"I heard the Lin family young master rejected them all. After all, he is to become a disciple of a major sect. Then the women he encounters will be those peerless beauties, how could these family daughters compare?"

...

"Elder, he..."

Qing Yangzi waved his hand. Though somewhat embarrassing, losing was losing, nothing more to say. But more than that, he felt excitement.

As the elder in charge of selecting disciples for the sect, he had taken in countless disciples over decades. Once, Qing Yangzi had discovered a Lie Qingtian, but that man, opportunistic, used Heaven and Earth Sect as a stepping stone to enter the Cang Huang Sect, then the first among the nine great orthodox sects.

Making Heaven and Earth Sect a laughingstock among the sects.

If this disciple discovered in Ascending Dragon City was, in Qing Yangzi's view, no less than that Lie Qingtian, perhaps even superior.

"This child is an unparalleled genius, surpassing that Lie Qingtian. For me to discover him now is a blessing earned over several lifetimes." Qing Yangzi said excitedly.

Hearing the elder's high praise, the many disciples were also stunned.

Even more formidable than Lie Qingtian? What did that mean?

It was beyond their imagination.

The Lin family!

Lin Fan was surrounded by the crowd.

"My son, you are truly amazing. I can hardly believe I fathered such a remarkable child. Tell me, are you really my son?" Lin Haoming said, gesticulating excitedly, as if about to fly.

Lin Fan felt somewhat helpless, wanting to say, "I am indeed not your son."

But he thought better of it.

Even if he said it, no one would believe him.

And this man had treated him well enough; let him have something to be proud of.

"Tomorrow I will leave the Lin family. You all..." Regardless, he had lived here for eleven years. Leaving suddenly naturally required comforting everyone.

But before Lin Fan could finish, Lin Haoming interrupted.

"My son, you are a divine dragon in the sky. Ascending Dragon City is unworthy of you. Once you enter the sect, work hard and strive to bring back seventeen or eighteen fairy maidens. That would bring glory to our ancestors."

"Don't worry. With me here, the Lin family can hold up. Just come back to visit often." Lin Haoming said excitedly.

Well, that was pointless.

"Brother, Lan'er will miss you so much." Lin Lan'er threw herself into Lin Fan's arms.

Lin Fan patted her head, "I'll come back to see you often."

"Little brother, keep it up." Lin Hanyu and Lin Feixue encouraged.

Lin Shi was also extremely reluctant, but she knew that the Lin family producing such a genius was a blessing for the entire family.

If they kept him tied to this small Ascending Dragon City, the ancestors underground would probably curse them to death.

"En, rest assured, I will return." Lin Fan said.

...

This battle, Lin Fan overpowered the sect elder, leaving the heads of the seven families dumbfounded.

They had thought the Lin family young master's cultivation was impressive, but now they realized it was not just impressive—it was heaven-defying.

That was a sect elder, and a True Immortal realm elder at that.

With the young master so formidable, what would he become after entering the sect?

Deep regret.

If they had known earlier, even if they had to kneel, they would have made the young master accept their daughters, even if only in name.

But now, it was too late.

Such a great opportunity slipping through their fingers was a profound regret.

...

The next day!

The Lin family was decorated with lanterns and colored banners, as if celebrating a joyous occasion. At the gate, a band played music.

Everyone in the Lin family, from the patriarch to the servants, and even the livestock, joined the farewell ceremony.

Countless commoners gathered, also to see the Lin family young master.

He was the most outstanding genius in Ascending Dragon City's history.

Lin Fan stood in the courtyard, looking up at the void.

At that moment, a war vessel floated in the void.

The war vessel was not large, but it was imposing, clearly an extraordinary item.

Qing Yangzi stood on the war vessel, looking down at Lin Fan, his eyes shining with admiration.

This was the unparalleled genius he had discovered, the most glorious moment of his career.

As long as no accidents happened.

In the future, this boy would surely become a peerless powerhouse shaking the world.

And he, Qing Yangzi, would be recorded in history as the discoverer of a peerless powerhouse.

Thinking of this, Qing Yangzi felt a little excited.

Lin Fan looked at the surrounding crowd, finally nodded, and rose into the air.

"Young master, remember to come back and see us!" the servants shouted.

"Brother, think of me."

"Little brother, bon voyage."

"My son, work hard! Make sure to bring back seventeen or eighteen wives!"

The onlooking commoners also cheered.

When he reached the war vessel, Lin Fan nodded to Qing Yangzi and the others, then looked down, overlooking the entire Ascending Dragon City.

Qing Yangzi came to his side, "Don't worry. I have imprinted the mark of Heaven and Earth Sect into this land. From now on, any sect will know this is Heaven and Earth Sect's territory. Nothing will happen."

"And if something does happen?" Lin Fan asked calmly.

"Then they will face the boundless wrath of Heaven and Earth Sect. The sect cares deeply about the families of its disciples and will never let them come to harm." Qing Yangzi said.

"En, let's go. I'd like to see what Heaven and Earth Sect is really like."

Lin Fan looked ahead at the boundless sky and earth. The true journey was only just beginning.