60: The festival took an unexpected turn, the stars bear witness.

Three days later, at the Lin Family Ancestral Land, Star Square. This massive square, paved with solid blocks of "Starfall Black Steel," was now filled with fluttering banners and the buzzing clamor of voices. Standing around the square were nine Star Pillars, each a hundred zhang tall, their surfaces carved with the legacies and achievements of generations of Lin Family powerhouses in runes that shimmered with a faint silver glow under the sunlight.

Today was the Lin Family's once-in-a-century Star Festival Ceremony.

Not only had all Lin Family Disciples from abroad returned, but there were also representatives sent to observe the ceremony from various friendly powers within the Human Realm, making the scene grand in the extreme. On the high platform at the north side of the square, Clan Leader Lin Zhantian sat in the center, flanked by the various Elders, Guest Elders, and distinguished guests from the Great Xia Dynasty, the Heavenly Sword Sect, the Medicine King Valley, and other powers.

Lin Fan stood at the very front of the Disciples' formation on the east side of the square, wearing a white ceremonial robe embroidered with star patterns and a jade belt around his waist, his Aura deep and settled. After three days of meditation, he had not only completely consolidated his Condensing Spirit Realm Great Perfection cultivation, but his compatibility with the Eternal Indestructible Body and the star pagoda had also progressed further. Faint starlight circulated around his body, making him stand out among the many Disciples like a crane among chickens.

Countless gazes fell upon him—some with awe, some with envy, and some with subtle jealousy and coldness.

"The auspicious hour has arrived!" the Master of Ceremonies Elder's voice rang out across the field.

The ceremony proceeded according to ancient protocols: paying homage to the star ancestors, offering the three sacrifices and five grains, and reciting the sacrificial text. The atmosphere was solemn and dignified, and no one dared to make a sound.

Lin Fan stood silently with his head bowed, but his mind was not on the ceremony. His Delusion-Breaking Divine Pupils were quietly active as his gaze swept over the high platform.

His father, the Clan Leader, looked calm, but a deep solemnity was hidden in the depths of his eyes. Grand Elder Lin Yuan sat in the first seat on the right, his face gaunt, eyes closed as if resting, seemingly indifferent to everything. However, Lin Fan keenly noticed that the old man's seemingly relaxed fingers were tapping the armrest with extremely minute movements—the opening stance of a secret signal finger technique of the Lin Family!

"As expected, he can't hold back anymore," Lin Fan sneered inwardly.

The ceremony reached its midpoint, entering the "Awarding Disciples" segment. The Master of Ceremonies Elder held a jade register and loudly read out the names and achievements of those who had performed exceptionally during the Meteor Star Ancient Domain trial, and those called stepped forward to receive their rewards.

"Lin Feng, for scouting the Black Wind Gorge and slaying the Tier 3 Yao Beast 'Shadow Leopard,' is awarded one Low Grade Spiritual Artifact 'Wind-Chasing Sword' and five hundred Spirit Stones!"

"Lin Xue, for collecting three 'Thousand-Year Star Spirit Grass' plants in the northeast of the Ancient Domain, is awarded one bottle of Tier 3 Medicinal Pill 'Star Condensing Pill' and eight hundred Spirit Stones!"

...Name after name rang out, and the Disciples stepped forward in turn, taking their rewards from the deacons and retreating with faces full of joy.

Finally, the Master of Ceremonies Elder's voice paused slightly before he raised it: "Lin Fan!"

The entire field suddenly fell silent.

"For completing the Grade A mission 'Investigating the Abnormalities of the Falling Star Abyss' in the Meteor Star Ancient Domain, and for defeating six members of hostile forces who infiltrated the Ancient Domain, protecting the peace of the ancestral land, his merits are outstanding!" the Master of Ceremonies Elder declared loudly. "By decision of the Council of Elders, he is awarded—"

"Wait a moment," an old but exceptionally clear voice interrupted the reading.

Everyone turned their heads at once.

The one who spoke was none other than Grand Elder Lin Yuan. He slowly opened his eyes, and those seemingly cloudy old eyes were now flashing with sharp light, showing no trace of senility.

"Does the Grand Elder have any guidance?" Lin Zhantian asked calmly, his expression unchanged.

"I wouldn't dare offer guidance," Lin Yuan stood up, his gaunt figure appearing somewhat stooped under his wide Elder's robe, but an invisible pressure quietly began to spread. "It's just that regarding the merit of 'defeating six members of hostile forces,' this old man has some doubts and would like to seek verification from my nephew Lin Fan in front of everyone."

Here it comes!

Lin Fan sneered in his heart but respectfully bowed. "Grand Elder, please ask."

"According to what I know, those six individuals were all at the Early Stage or Late Stage of the Condensing Spirit Realm and coordinated perfectly," Lin Yuan's voice was steady but every word was clear. "And you, according to reports, were only at the Early Stage of the Condensing Spirit Realm before entering the Ancient Domain. Might I ask, nephew, how did you defeat all six of them while being outnumbered?"

As his words fell, a faint murmur of discussion rose across the square. Indeed, this battle record sounded too far-fetched. Challenging someone at a higher level was already the mark of a Genius, but winning against six while outnumbered? It was simply unheard of!

Many observing guests also showed looks of interest, clearly having doubts as well.

Lin Fan was well-prepared and replied composedly, "In response to the Grand Elder, the Cultivation Technique I practice is special and my Physical Body is powerful, so I was fortunate enough to win."

"Oh? What Cultivation Technique allows one to possess such combat power at the Early Stage of the Condensing Spirit Realm?" Lin Yuan pressed on. "Could you demonstrate it for us to open our eyes? It would also prevent anyone from suspecting that a Disciple of our Lin Family is making false reports and deceiving the clan!"

The last sentence carried a chilling intent.

On the high platform, several Elders close to the Grand Elder also spoke up: "The Grand Elder is right. Such a record indeed requires verification."

"Our Lin Family is clear about rewards and punishments. If it is true, there should be a heavy reward; if it is false, there must be severe punishment!"

"Lin Fan, please demonstrate!"

The pressure instantly concentrated on Lin Fan.

Lin Zhantian frowned slightly and was about to speak, but Lin Fan had already taken a step forward and said loudly, "Since the Grand Elder and the other Elders have doubts, I shall naturally prove it."

His gaze swept across the square, finally landing on Lin Yuan's face. "I wonder how the Grand Elder wishes for me to prove it?"

A flash of triumph appeared in Lin Yuan's eyes. "Simple. I have a Named Disciple named 'Lin Yan' whose cultivation is exactly at the Late Stage of the Condensing Spirit Realm. If you can last a hundred moves against him without being defeated, it will count as you having the combat power to challenge those at higher levels. How about it?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a burly figure leaped out from the Disciples' formation and landed heavily in the center of the square. It was a nine-foot-tall bald young man with bulging muscles and bronze-colored skin, his Aura wild and violent, clearly following the Body Cultivator path.

"Lin Yan, I ask for Junior Brother Lin Fan's guidance!" His voice was like a booming bell.

The crowd erupted. Late Stage against Great Perfection? It seemed Lin Fan had the advantage, but everyone knew that Lin Yan was a Body Cultivator Genius secretly trained by the Grand Elder's faction, and his true combat power was enough to rival an ordinary Peak Condensing Spirit Realm! Lin Fan had just broken through to Great Perfection, so his Realm might not be stable. This battle was dangerous!

This was clearly using the name of "verification" to suppress him!

A cold light flashed in Lin Zhantian's eyes, and he was about to stop it, but Lin Fan let out a light laugh. "A hundred moves? There's no need."

He walked slowly to the center of the square and stood opposite Lin Yan. "Within ten moves, if I cannot win, I will consider this battle a loss. I will not take a single cent of any rewards and will voluntarily enter the 'Cliff of Reflection' for three years of confinement."

"What?!"

"Arrogant!"

"Ten moves? Is he crazy!"

Exclamations rose from everywhere. Even the guests on the high platform looked surprised.

Lin Yan laughed out of extreme anger. "Good! Quite the Lin Fan! Then let this Senior Brother see what ability you have in those ten moves!"

"Please." Lin Fan put one hand behind his back and only extended his right hand.

"You're looking for death!" Lin Yan roared, and a bronze light erupted from his body as he charged out like a cannonball! Wherever he passed, the hard Starfall Black Steel ground was actually cracked by his footsteps!

"Bronze Statue Technique! Lin Yan has already practiced this Body Refining technique to Major Achievement!"

"The force of this collision must be ten thousand jin!"

Amidst the exclamations, Lin Yan had already slammed into Lin Fan with a terrifying wind pressure! He struck with both fists, the wind from his punches tearing the air and making a piercing shriek!

Facing this horrifying strike, Lin Fan did not retreat or dodge, and he didn't even use any Martial Skill. He simply and plainly raised his right hand, fingers spread, to meet those bronze fists.

BOOM!!! A dull impact that made hearts stop exploded!

A shockwave erupted from the center of the two, kicking up a cloud of dust. Disciples standing close were shaken and forced back several steps.

The dust settled slightly.

Everyone's eyes widened.

In the center of the square, Lin Fan still stood in his original spot, not having retreated a single step. His right hand was firmly gripping the wrists of Lin Yan's fists. Those fists, capable of splitting mountains and cracking stones, were actually locked tight by his single hand, unable to move forward an inch!

Lin Yan was filled with horror; he felt as if his fists had struck an ancient immutable divine mountain. The counter-shock force made his arms go numb, and his bones were groaning!

"First move," Lin Fan said calmly, and lightly twisted his right hand.

Crack! The cringe-inducing sound of bones breaking was clearly heard throughout the square!

"Ah!" Lin Yan screamed as his arms were twisted at a bizarre angle, and his entire body was lifted into the air by an irresistible force!

Lin Fan let go, turned his palm into a fist, and struck Lin Yan's chest.

Second move.

Thud! Lin Yan flew back like a tattered sack, traveling dozens of zhang through the air before slamming heavily into the base of a Star Pillar at the edge of the square! Dust filled the air as he struggled for a few moments, but in the end, he could not get up and fell unconscious.

The entire square was deathly silent.

Two moves. In just two moves, the Late Stage Condensing Spirit Realm Body Cultivator Genius was utterly defeated!

On the high platform, Lin Yuan's face was so dark it seemed it could drip water. The Elders beside him were also dumbstruck.

Lin Fan withdrew his hand, brushed off some non-existent dust, and turned to the high platform, his voice calm: "Grand Elder, is this proof sufficient?"

Lin Yuan's chest heaved as he stared intently at Lin Fan. After a long while, he squeezed out a few words from between his teeth: "It is enough."

"In that case, let the awarding continue," Lin Zhantian spoke at the right moment, his voice carrying a subtle hint of a smile.

The Master of Ceremonies Elder quickly continued: "Lin Fan is awarded one High Grade Spiritual Artifact 'Starlight Sword,' three Tier 3 Medicinal Pills 'Star Barrier-Breaking Pill,' and five thousand Spirit Stones! Additionally, he is granted special permission to enter the second floor of the Family's secret treasury, the 'Star Pavilion,' to choose one Cultivation Technique or treasure!"

The rewards were so generous they made people's eyes turn red with envy, but no one dared to question them again.

Lin Fan bowed in thanks and was about to retreat.

"Wait," Lin Yuan's voice rang out again, this time with a desperate coldness.

"Nephew Lin Fan's strength is extraordinary; this old man is impressed. However—" He slowly stood up, his gaze like a knife. "There is one more thing this old man is unclear about. What were the identities of those six infiltrators? And who sent them? Since you were able to capture and interrogate them that day, you must have found out something, right?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere suddenly became tense!

Everyone could hear the deeper meaning—the Grand Elder was forcing Lin Fan to show his cards!

Lin Fan's eyes narrowed slightly. This old fox was indeed unwilling to give up and was making one last gamble.

"Indeed," Lin Fan admitted frankly. "I did find out some things and left some evidence."

He reached into his robe and pulled out an object.

It was that shadow recording stone.

Lin Yuan's pupils suddenly contracted!

"Inside this object is a record of the appearance and voice of the person who masterminded it that day." Lin Fan held the shadow recording stone high, his voice echoing through the square. "I originally intended to hand this over to the Law Enforcement Hall privately, but since the Grand Elder has asked publicly today..." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the pale-faced Fourth Elder and the various people on the high platform with different expressions.

"Then I ask everyone to bear witness!" With that, he injected his True Qi.

The shadow recording stone emitted a brilliant light, and a clear image was projected into the air!

In the image, Fourth Elder's face, voice, and his ruthless orders were all vividly displayed!

"Be sure to kill him, leave no one alive..."

"Make it look like a Yao Beast attack..."

"Once it's done, there will be a heavy reward..."

Every word was like a heavy hammer smashing into the silent square.

The projection ended.

Countless gazes shot simultaneously toward Fourth Elder in the Law Enforcement Hall's seating area!

Fourth Elder's face was ashen, his whole body was trembling, and his lips quivered, but he couldn't make a sound. He looked toward his father, Lin Yuan, as if for help.

Lin Yuan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, they were filled with indifference.

"You wretch!" He suddenly slammed his palm onto the armrest, and the hard Obsidian Wood armrest shattered instantly!

"Fourth Elder! As a Law Enforcement Elder, you dared to collude with outsiders to harm a Prodigy of the clan! What is your crime!" Lin Yuan shouted sternly, appearing to be at the Peak of his anger.

Fourth Elder felt as if he had been struck by lightning, looking at his father in disbelief.

"Where is the Law Enforcement Hall!" Lin Yuan roared. "Take this rebellious son away! Strip him of his cultivation and throw him into the Black Prison. After the ceremony ends, he will be severely punished according to clan rules!"

The Law Enforcement Hall Disciples looked at each other, but under Lin Yuan's cold gaze, they finally stepped forward and dragged the limp Fourth Elder away.

The entire process was so fast that people couldn't react in time.

Upholding justice by punishing his own kin? No, this was sacrificing a pawn to save the king!

Lin Fan sneered in his heart. Lin Yuan's move appeared fair and strict, but in reality, it was cutting off his tail to survive, pushing all the guilt onto Fourth Elder alone to save himself and the entire faction.

On the high platform, Lin Zhantian gave Lin Yuan a deep look but did not stop him. The time to completely break ties had not yet come.

"I apologize for the embarrassment," Lin Yuan said, cupping his hands toward the guests, his face full of sorrow. "It is a misfortune for my Family to have such a disgrace. I have failed in my discipline and will voluntarily be fined three years' salary and reflect behind closed doors for a month."

The storm seemed to have been forcibly suppressed.

The awarding continued, but the atmosphere was completely different. Undercurrents surged beneath the calm surface, and everyone knew that the Lin Family's internal strife had been brought into the open.

Lin Fan put away the shadow recording stone and retreated to his position. He could feel the gazes from those in the Grand Elder's faction, which were filled with deep-seated hatred.

But he didn't care. This was only the beginning.

At the end of the ceremony, just as the Master of Ceremonies Elder was about to announce its conclusion, a commotion suddenly came from the edge of the square.

A magnificent carriage procession slowly entered the square under countless astonished gazes. The carriage was pulled by nine Dragon-Horned Horses with scales on their backs, the carriage body was inlaid with precious jade, and on the hanging banners was embroidered a brilliant sun and a majestic palace—the Great Xia Dynasty's Imperial Emblem!

The carriage stopped, and the curtain was lifted.

First, two teams of gold-armored guards stepped down, their Auras stern. Then, a slender hand as white as jade reached out and lightly rested on an attendant's arm.

In the next moment, a figure of peerless grace appeared before everyone's eyes.

She wore a moon-white palace dress with a trailing hem embroidered with exquisite star and cloud patterns. Her dark hair was like a waterfall, tied up with a simple white jade hairpin, revealing a swan-like slender neck. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, and her eyes like autumn waters; her face was exceptionally beautiful, yet it carried an innate nobility and aloofness.

Just by standing there, she seemed to take away all the light between heaven and earth.

Countless people held their breath.

Even Lin Zhantian and the Elders on the high platform stood up one after another.

The Master of Ceremonies Elder was stunned for a moment before hurriedly shouting, "Her Highness Grand Princess Xia Qingyue of the Great Xia Dynasty has arrived to observe the ceremony!"

Xia Qingyue nodded slightly, her calm gaze sweeping across the field, finally landing on the white-robed figure at the front of the Disciples' formation.

Their eyes met.

Lin Fan's heart stirred slightly. Under his Delusion-Breaking Divine Pupils, he saw not only a world-toppling face, but also an Imperial Dao Sword Qi that was condensed to the extreme and hidden within her, as well as a flash of inquiry and curiosity deep within those cold eyes.

"Interesting," a very faint curve appeared at the corner of Lin Fan's mouth.

Xia Qingyue withdrew her gaze and walked toward the high platform with light steps. Wherever she passed, the crowd automatically parted in total silence.

The ceremony, due to the arrival of this unexpected guest, entered a conclusion that no one had anticipated. And Lin Fan knew that the arrival of this Divine Maiden of Great Xia was definitely not as simple as just "observing the ceremony."

A new storm might already be quietly brewing on this starlight-shining square.