5: Young people, times have changed.

Night fell, and the Lin Family Estate was brightly lit.

Luxury cars, each with a hefty price tag, quietly drove in and parked in the plaza in front of the main house.

The Lin Family's Foundation was in Anqing City. Lin Qian's four sons—Lin Zhengchu, Lin Zhengxin, Lin Zhengye, and Lin Wuwu—each managed different industries under the Lin Group, having long since branched out and lived separately.

At the entrance of the Estate, the four brothers who arrived first gathered, their expressions varied.

"Big Brother, what exactly does Dad mean this time?" It was the third brother, Lin Zhengye, who spoke. He oversaw the Group's investment business and was most sensitive to the 30-billion expenditure from a while ago.

Lin Zhengchu, the eldest son, nearing sixty, bore some resemblance to Lin Qian, but with more of a businessman's shrewdness and less of the pioneering spirit. He shook his head, "When has Dad's decision ever needed an explanation from us?"

"But three billion of that was used to buy a bunch of unwanted barren mountains. And those medicinal herbs, the warehouse can't even hold them all." The fourth brother, Lin Wuwu, couldn't help but complain, "The Group's liquid capital was suddenly drained by thirty percent. Several of my projects are waiting for funds to start."

"Alright, both of you, say less." Lin Zhengchu interrupted them, "Dad told us to come back, so shut your mouths. If you have any questions, ask him yourselves later."

Even so, a thought they dared not voice lingered in their minds.

Was the old man truly getting old and starting to become muddled?

The Lin Family's current success was entirely due to Lin Qian's foresight. But this reverence began to waver in the face of the absurd 30-billion investment.

Lin Family descendants, male or female, were educated from a young age by Lin Qian with the most rigorous standards.

"You can be inactive, but you cannot be brainless."

This was a phrase Lin Qian often repeated. It was precisely because of this that not a single good-for-nothing wastrel had emerged from the Lin Family.

This strictness also led his sons, upon reaching adulthood, to unanimously choose to move out of the Estate. Living with this legendary father was too much pressure.

In the study, Lin Qian and Lin Yunshi waited quietly.

He listened to the sound of engines from outside the window, as if he could penetrate the walls and see the undisguised doubts on his sons' faces.

"Let's go, everyone's here."

In the Lin Family dining room, a huge round table was packed with five generations.

Lin Qian sat at the head of the table, with Lin Yunshi at his side.

When Lin Qian appeared, the previously somewhat noisy discussions in the dining room abruptly ceased. Everyone's gaze converged on him, filled with reverence and also with inquiry.

They all noticed the change in Lin Qian.

His hair was blacker, his back was straighter, and his entire being exuded a vitality they had never seen before.

This intensified their unease.

"Eat."

Lin Qian uttered two words and was the first to pick up his chopsticks.

Only then did the others dare to start eating.

The meal was eaten in utter silence. Everyone found the food tasteless, secretly observing the composed old man at the head of the table from the corner of their eyes.

Finally, Lin Qian put down his chopsticks.

The crisp sound made everyone's heart skip a beat.

"I called everyone back today because there is an important matter to announce."

Lin Qian's tone was calm, without discernible emotion.

"This matter concerns the future survival of our Lin Family."

A single sentence made the air in the entire dining room solidify.

Survival?

The four Lin Zhengchu brothers exchanged glances, filled with surprise and doubt. The Lin Group was at its zenith, with abundant assets and no debt. Where would a survival crisis come from?

"Dad, is there something wrong with the company?" Lin Zhengchu asked cautiously.

Lin Qian did not answer him but looked at Lin Yunshi.

"Yunshi."

"Grandfather."

"After dinner, perform something for everyone."

Everyone was even more puzzled.

After dinner, the group was led by Lin Qian to the backyard of the Estate.

In the backyard, there was a bluestone, taller than a person, used for landscape decoration.

"Use that," Lin Qian pointed to the bluestone.

Under the bewildered gaze of all her Family members, Lin Yunshi slowly walked to the bluestone.

She took a deep breath and assumed a strange starting stance.

The next second, she moved.

A punch was thrown, without any whistling wind, utterly unremarkable.

The moment her fist connected with the bluestone, there was no expected loud bang.

"Thud."

A dull thud.

Under the horrified gaze of everyone in the Lin Family, that hard bluestone, starting from the point of impact, instantly developed spiderweb-like cracks that spread across its entire body.

Then, with a crash, it shattered into pieces of varying sizes on the ground.

The entire backyard was deadly silent.

Lin Zhengchu's mouth was slightly agape, completely unaware that the cigar in his hand had fallen to the ground.

The younger members of the Lin Family rubbed their eyes, unable to believe what they had just seen.

Was this magic?

No, this was not magic.

They could feel that the moment Lin Yunshi threw that punch, the surrounding air became viscous for a moment.

It was a power beyond their comprehension, yet it truly happened.

"Now, does anyone still think what I said earlier was alarmist?"

Lin Qian's calm words broke the deadly silence.

His gaze swept over every Family member, and from their stiff faces, he saw what he wanted.

Subversion and fear.

"This is Martial Dao."

"What Yunshi displayed is merely the power of someone who has just stepped into the threshold of Martial Dao."

Lin Qian's voice was not loud, but it struck heavily in everyone's hearts.

"One year from now, the Spiritual Qi on this planet beneath our feet will completely erupt. At that time, everyone will be able to Cultivate, and Martial Dao will flourish. And the money and status we currently rely on will become worthless."

He paused, then posed an even more critical question.

"When everyone can possess, or even surpass, Yunshi's power, what will become of our Lin Family?"

No one could answer.

The previous doubts about Lin Qian's 30-billion expenditure now turned into bone-chilling dread.

It turned out that the old man saw a future they didn't even dare to imagine.

"Dad, what should we do then?" Lin Zhengchu's voice carried a hint of an imperceptible tremor.

"From today onwards, all core Lin Family members will move back to the Estate to live."

Lin Qian issued an indisputable command.

"All of you must begin Cultivating Martial Dao."

"Yunshi will be your teacher. She, by Opportunity, apprenticed herself to a reclusive Martial Dao master and received a true Legacy. This is our Lin Family's only head start."

This explanation was something he and Lin Yunshi had discussed long ago.

The secret of his Rebirth was their biggest trump card and must never be exposed.

He wanted to transform the Lin Family into a true Martial Dao Family.

Even if, three years later, they truly couldn't resist the city-destroying catastrophe, these Cultivated descendants would be the embers through which the Family could continue.

Having said all this, Lin Qian no longer paid attention to the crowd and turned to leave.

He left the task of explanation and reassurance to Lin Yunshi.

He needed to establish authority for his granddaughter, and also needed to make these pampered Family members truly understand that times had changed.

As soon as Lin Qian left, the suppressed atmosphere in the backyard instantly ignited.

Everyone surged forward, surrounding Lin Yunshi.

"Yunshi, what exactly is going on?"

"When did you get a master? How come we didn't know?"

"Cultivate? Can we, at our age, also Cultivate?"

"Aunt, how did you deliver that punch?"

Faces, some excited, some fearful, some bewildered, surrounded Lin Yunshi.

She looked at these relatives who had perished in the disaster in her previous life, feeling their current confusion, and silently clenched her fists.

In this life, she would personally teach them how to control their own destiny in this coming chaotic era.

Lin Yunshi raised her head, meeting dozens of interwoven gazes.

"Everyone, don't rush, ask one by one."

Her voice was not loud, but it carried a strange calming power that quieted the noisy scene somewhat.