1: Uninvited guest, the fiancée comes to visit?

“You said… Liu Ruyan came? And brought people from the Chiyan Sect?”

Within the small county town named Pingnan County.

Inside a not-so-luxurious courtyard,

A middle-aged man’s somewhat astonished voice rang out.

He was dressed rather plainly, his Face was a bit pale, and beneath a striking head of greying hair, his brows were tightly furrowed.

The middle-aged man’s name was Lin Tianhua, the current Family Head of the Lin Family.

At this moment, his gaze was heavy as he looked at his burly, rugged-looking second brother, Lin Tianxia, and murmured:

“Our Lin Yan has been in trouble for so many days, and she hasn’t come to see him once. Now, she suddenly arrives, and even brings people from the Chiyan Sect…”

As he spoke, Lin Tianhua vaguely sensed something was amiss.

It was simply too abnormal.

Although, this Liu Ruyan and his son, Lin Yan Lin Yan, had a marriage pact.

They even cultivated together within the Chiyan Sect, practically existing like a pair of immortal companions.

However, ever since the Lin Family declined due to that incident,

Liu Ruyan gradually distanced herself from Lin Yan.

Even, not long ago, during the Sect Grand Competition of the Chiyan Sect, where Lin Yan was located,

When Lin Yan was ambushed, causing his meridians to be severed and almost rendering him a cripple,

Liu Ruyan was not seen coming to visit him once.

Even the Chiyan Sect, which had always been high and mighty, at least put on some Face.

They sent people to visit Lin Yan and brought someSolace (condolence gifts).

However, after those fellows confirmed that Lin Yan had become a cripple, they went back and expelled Lin Yan from the Sect…

And now, this Liu Ruyan and the people from the Chiyan Sect suddenly came to visit…

Isn’t that suspicious?

Perhaps… they came for something.

For example, the marriage contract that is currently the only thing restricting Liu Ruyan and binding the Liu Family and the Lin Family together!

Aside from this, Lin Tianhua truly couldn’t understand what else could make Liu Ruyan voluntarily step into the Lin Family’s gates.

Thinking of this, Lin Tianhua quickly asked his second brother, Lin Tianxia: “Who are the people from the Chiyan Sect who came?”

“Who else could it be? Liu Xiangnan, of course. Oh, and there’s also a young man I haven’t seen before; I’m not sure about his background,” Lin Tianhua replied.

As soon as these words were spoken, Lin Tianhua’s guess was almost certainly confirmed.

Liu Xiangnan, although an Elder within the Chiyan Sect,

Essentially, he still belonged to the Liu Family, with Liu Family blood flowing in his veins.

This time, he was probably here to support Liu Ruyan.

Thinking of this, Lin Tianhua couldn’t help but sigh.

“A time of trouble…”

Although he couldn’t be certain about his inner guess, it was likely close to the truth.

After all, the Lin Family’s current state was getting worse by the day.

It was normal for these people to want to distance themselves, one by one.

What’s more, one is currently one of the three great families in a large city like Tianji City.

The other can now only huddle and struggle for survival in a small county town like Pingnan County.

It’s just… if things were truly as Lin Tianhua thought, then the Liu Family would be too disheartening.

After all, the Liu Family was able to rise in the first place by relying on the Lin Family, that big tree.

When the Lin Family was still glorious, it was also located in Tianji City.

At that time, the Liu Family was an obscure Family in Tianji City.

It was only because the Old Ancestor of the Liu Family had a good relationship with the previous generation of the Lin Family.

Therefore, they received the protection of the Lin Family at that time, who helped them resolve many enemies, troubles, and so on.

And they also provided a lot of financial support.

Slowly, the Liu Family began to rise, and after experiencing a fortuitous encounter, they even produced several Innate masters within the Family.

They instantly became a great Family in Tianji City.

Together with the Lin Family, the Wang Family, and the Li Family at that time, they were known as the Four Great Families of Tianji City.

It could be said that along the Dao of the Liu Family’s rise, the shadow of the Lin Family was almost everywhere.

Perhaps it was precisely for this reason that the Old Ancestor of the Liu Family decided at that time.

To further their relationship with the Lin Family by arranging a childhood engagement.

To promote the relationship between the two families and make it more intimate.

And the subjects of this pre-arranged marriage were Lin Yan and Liu Ruyan, who were not yet born at the time.

It was just unexpected that with the passage of time,

Now, the Lin Family has begun to decline, while the Liu Family is still thriving.

And ever since that incident, the Lin Family has fallen even deeper into the abyss.

They couldn’t even stay in Tianji City.

They could only return to their ancestral land in Tiannan County to linger on.

Lin Tianhua was not a foolish person; he knew that with the Lin Family’s decline to this extent,

Many people would rush to distance themselves, and some would even kick them while they were down.

He was mentally prepared for all of this.

However, only the Liu Family, a Family that had once received the Lin Family’s favor, doing such a thing, made it difficult for him to accept.

“I hope… they aren’t what I think they are.” Looking towards the direction of the reception hall.

Lin Tianhua’s expression was somewhat complex.

“Let the butler help with the reception. Today is the Ancestor Worship Day; nothing can be delayed,” Lin Tianhua said.

Lin Tianxia nodded silently.

“Then let’s go. Most of the Family members are waiting in the Ancestral Hall.”

...

...

Lin Family Ancestral Hall.

At this moment, all the various branches of the Lin Family, totaling over fifty people, had already knelt in order within the Ancestral Hall.

Lin Tianhua was at the very front, carefully placing the first tablet.

[Divine Seat of the Lin Clan Ancestors.]

Unlike the other tablets, this first tablet had no name on it.

Just like his legend.

From the birth of the Lin Family until now, it is only known that this person is the origin of the Lin Family. What was his name?

What did he do? Where was he? Was he alive or dead?

All of this is unknown.

He was incredibly mysterious; after coming here and leaving the Legacy seed, he vanished without a trace.

His legend only circulated through the Family’s ancestral teachings.

Furthermore, an ancestral teaching was left, designating today as the Ancestor Worship Day every year.

Unless it was a death seclusion or some extremely special circumstance,

All members of the Lin Family, young and old, must return here to worship.

Lin Tianhua carefully returned the tablet to its place.

Immediately after, he lit incense and placed it in the bronze censer.

Then, he led the rest of the Lin Family to kneel in unison and kowtow together!

For the Lin Family, remembering their Ancestors could inspire future generations to strive for self-improvement.

Although the Ancestors had passed away, they believed that their Souls still existed.

Sincere prayers could avert misfortune and also bestow blessings upon their descendants.

Although everyone knew that such a thing was impossible, it at least provided some psychological comfort.

However, what they didn’t know was that.

The wisps of green smoke slowly rising from the bronze censer were drifting towards the sky.

Until they reached nothingness.

[Ding!]

[Your descendants are devoutly worshipping. Their Family, which has reached its end, prays for the Ancestor’s protection.]

[Detecting the host’s descendants’ devout worship, the Family Template System is activated!]

[Newbie gift package issued.]

[Congratulations, Host, you have obtained the Red Extreme Quality Template — Emperor Yan Xiao Yan’s Template!]

A crisp ding-dong sound awakened the sleeping Soul.

In this void, a pair of eyes that seemed to contain countless stars.

Slowly opened…