50 Resources And Talent

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An hour later, the three of them were in Lin Li's house.

Lin Zheng recovered from his injuries in no time thanks to healing pills. He cautiously glanced at Lin Li who was feeding food to her son.

"Han'er, never trust others blindly," Lin Li said after she has done feeding her child,"Even if they are your relatives don't trust them."

"But what about uncle?" Zhen Han looked at her in confusion,"It was you who said to always follow his words."

Lin Li's face was twitching in embarrassment. She finally understood why her son religiously followed his uncle advise.

It was all due to her words!

Two years ago, when they arrived at the Lin clan, she was busy with clan duties so she allowed her brother to take care of Zhen Han. To do so she asked her son to always follow his uncle's words.

Back then she never thought her brother will teach him such things. How was she supposed to know he will impart knowledge on 'greatness of whores' or 'dao of shamelessness'?

The incident at the capital has made her realize just how important she was from her son's perspective. To honor her wish, he has unconsciously changed the laws of the world.

After all, she has always been with him from his birth. For him, she was his center of the universe. Plus her husband unknowingly taught her son that his mother is always right. These things made a deep impact on his mind. Of course, as he would grow up his way of thinking would change. He will no longer be obstructed by her ways.

"You have to be independent in your thoughts," Lin Li looked at her son and said,"Don't believe everything what others even if it is me."

Zhen Han was startled by her words.

"All your decisions have to be made by you," Lin Li continued,"You can listen to others advice and suggestions but the judge has to be on you. Don't get brainwashed by others way of thinking."

"Uncle said the same thing," Zhen Han said after a minute.

"Yeah, he loves you," Lin Li grudgingly said. She knew her brother was doing for Zhen Han's good but she didn't like his style. She didn't want her son to be a shameless fellow like her brother.

Alas, she doesn't know that it was already too late. A thought has already planted inside her son's head. It will take time but he was already destined to become the number one shameless scoundrel in the world...

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The news of Zhen Han forming his spiritual veins in three hours was passed throughout Skyrise Empire. Of course, the truth was he has formed his veins in seconds but the top echelons of Lin clan have hidden the truth.

If the true details from the Awakening ceremony were revealed, then every clan in the empire would target Lin clan. This was why only partial details were leaked to prevent any situation.

Even then the empire was shocked since rarely has anyone formed veins in three hours.

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In the throne room of Vermilion Empire, the emperor was seated on his throne. Below the dais, the ministers were discussing the news from Skyrise Empire.

Skyrise Empire was strong but now it was without an emperor. With Skyrise Emperor dead and the capital destroyed, the empire was in a deep state of chaos.

The nine great clans were struggling among themselves to capture the throne after they wiped out the imperial family.

Vermilion Empire and the other surrounding empires also wanted to grab the throne of Skyrise Empire. Every empire wishes to expand its territory and that is especially true when a resource-rich territory is out for grabs.

But the empires knew the risk was far too high for them to make the first move.

If an empire makes the first move then they will have to fight the local nine clans. Not to mention, the other empires will take advantage of the battle.

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

No empire wanted to become 'mantis' here. This was why the status quo has remained from last two years.

But in secret, the neighboring empires have made a partnership with the local clans. The local clans knew they needed the help from foreign empires if they wish to become the next royal clan. In exchange, they have to give resources to the helping empire.

Vermilion Empire has made a pact with Lin clan days ago. Currently, the ministers were discussing the pact with a frown.

"We are giving too many benefits to Lin clan," the prime minister said.

"True," Minister of Revenue agreed,"I don't understand how can Qin Auir make such a bad deal for us."

"We gave him such a big responsibility but he disappointed us," the Minister of Justice continued,"Could he have been bribed?"

The other ministers also have similar suspicions. But they didn't dare say their suspicions aloud since he was a member of the royal family.

"He only followed my order," Vermilion Emperor said.

What?!

The entire court looked at the emperor in shock.

"Your majesty, what do you mean?" the prime minister asked.

"I meant what I just said," Vermilion Emperor continued in a lazy tone," I ordered him to agree with Lin clan's demand in exchange for a marriage alliance."

Marriage alliance?!

The ministers looked at each other in dismay. The empress and the concubines were seated in the gallery. They were shocked by the words as well.

They knew it better than anyone else what a marriage alliance meant! An alliance where a member of the royal family has to marry a member of Lin clan.

Who is going to marry whom?

"Qin Yue will marry Zhen Han," Vermilion Empire explained a moment later. His voice was clear that there was no room for argument.

Qin Yue?! The youngest daughter of the emperor?!

Everyone looked at the emperor in disbelief. She was born to a concubine but her talent was unrivaled.

How can the emperor marry her just like that to a nobody?

The empress and most of the concubines were laughing inside. They eyed a concubine in particular who has been in good graces of the emperor after giving birth to a talented genius but it seems, she has fallen from grace.

"Lord husband, please..." A woman who appeared to be in her forties begged. She was the mother of Qin Yue so she was extremely worried about the decision.

"Wang Shui, how dare you speak against our husband!" The empress chided her, "Are you saying our husband will take a wrong decision?!"

"I...don't," Wang Shui didn't know how to express herself without offending her husband.

"Enough," Vermilion Emperor gazed at his women in contempt,"This involves the future of our empire but here you are bricking among yourself."

"We didn't mean this," the empress was horrified by the angry eyes of her husband.

"No need to lie," The emperor then gazed at Wang Shui, "Shui'er, you truly think I will push our daughter in a sea of fire?"

"Of course not," Wang Shui hurriedly replied.

"The kid I have chosen for our daughter is far more talented than the so-called genius of our empire," The emperor said.

What?!

No one thought the emperor was speaking randomly. He has no need to lie or brag given his authority in the empire. For him to give such high elevation definitely meant that the boy was extremely talented.

"That kid is two years younger than Yue'er, but such age difference doesn't matter among the mortals much less us cultivators," the emperor looked at the ministers and said," Yue'er is seven years old now so we will hold the engagement when she is ten."

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Scripture Tower, Lin Clan.

Lin Xinu looked down at the scrolls on the table. As the patriarch of the clan, he has the authority to bring them out from the hidden sections.

These scrolls were the lifeline of the clan for they contained the best mystique techniques and top cultivation methods.

Every cultivator required a cultivation method in order to advance in cultivation level. The method contained the techniques to guide the energy inside and also how to use the innate attributes perfectly.

"This kid is giving me a headache," Lin Xinu thought as he eyed Zhen Han who was sitting in a corner in the lotus position. There was a scroll on his lap from which the magical symbols were floating towards his glabella. Just before reaching the glabella, they stopped as if there was a barrier in between.

"Failure this time as well," Lin Xinu bitterly thought.

From the last three days, Zhen Han has tried to find a suitable cultivation method for himself but failed. The magical symbols from the scrolls were not able to enter his soul sea at all.

Lin Xinu knew this implied that the kid's body was resisting the methods. This would only happen if the cultivation methods weren't matching his attributes.

"How am I supposed to know his attributes?" Lin Xinu gritted his teeth when he thought of this. He could still remember how the attribute crystal ball cracked by the touch of Zhen Han. He has spent 1 million high-grade spirit stones to purchase the item but it couldn't survive the touch of this kid.

What made him truly angry was how the kid called him corrupted for using 'defective' product. The kid has even stated that the corruption of the senior generation would lead to the downfall of the clan.

"I have to think of the positive side," Lin Xinu tried to calm himself. The marriage alliance has given the clan many benefits so a small sacrifice was fine.

"Patriarch, this scroll is useless as well," Zhen Han opened his eyes and said,"Our clan is truly full of waste items."

"Waste?!" Lin Xinu's breathing chaotic. The scroll contained a cultivation method found in a ruin of a powerful ancient civilization.

The clan paid a heavy price to retrieve it but now the kid is calling it waste?!

Lin Xinu decided to leave the hall. He was worried he would lose control if he listened to the kid's words any longer.

Zhen Han rose up from the floor. He placed the scroll back on the table and picked another scroll to check another cultivation method.

-----

A week later.

"Grandmaster Red Fox?" Lin Xinu muttered in a voice transmission jade. This was a high-cost transmission jade by which one can converse even millions of miles away.

"Yes," a voice from the jade replied,"He is from Heavens Mystery Sect and he will be coming to the capital two weeks later."

Heavens Mystery Sect was a sect but its influence was no less than any empire. It governed an area equal to Skyrise Empire and Vermilion Empire.

If anything, its powers were greater than Skyrise Empire since the sect system forbid the clans from gaining any real power. Of course, the sect system has its own drawbacks but allover Sects were more united then the empires.

"The capital is destroyed though," Lin Xinu said. All traces of civilization were destroyed especially in the first two zones of the capital.

"I think Grandmaster Red Fox wish to discover the secrets behind Celestial Punishment, the gray sword, and the tree," the voice from the transmission jade said.

"Is this even possible?!" Lin Xinu asked in disbelief. The nine clans have tried to find what truly occurred in the capital but to no success.

"I don't know," the voice replied, "but it would be good if you can join us. We clans have to show that we are united against foreign powers."

"Chu Tianshi, of course, I will join you all," Lin Xinu said.

"Good," Chu Tianshi's voice came from the jade.

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In a garden.

The younger generation of Lin clan and Zhen Han were sitting on the ground. In front of them was a small platform where an elder was sitting. The elder was none other than Lin Zumo who was present in the Awakening ceremony of Zhen Han.

"The path of cultivation is filled with obstacles," Lin Zumo spoke in a profound tone,"But the obstacles make us stronger when we overcome them. So never be afraid of the obstacles."

Lin Zumo looked at each member of the younger generation before continuing," Alchemy, Talisman, Artifact, Array and Beast Taming are the general tools we cultivators use to overcome the obstacles. If you can become a master in any of these fields then no one can stop you from becoming a powerful cultivator."

The younger generation nodded their head in understanding.

"Which field you should pick depends on two things," Lin Zumo slowly said," the first is the resources you have. If you lack financial support in any of the fields then you can never succeed."

Lin Zumo looked at the younger generation with a smile and said,"Thankfully all of you have no lack of resources so you satisfy the first requirement. But the second requirement is what truly matters for you all."

The younger generation muttered among themselves as they wondered what was the second requirement.

"Talent," Lin Zumo answered with a heavy voice,"Even if you have resources but lack talent then you can never succeed in any of the fields. Sadly hard work can never compensate for the talent in cultivation."

The talent was mainly reflected in the formation of spirt veins and the attributes. Like if a person has superior wood attribute then he would have great success in alchemy.

Many of the younger generations were excited for they had superior talent. They have a haughty expression on their face as they looked at their fellow companions.

"Don't think talent mean sure shot success," Lin Zumo gave a cold snort before continuing,"You have to work hard even if you are the most talented genius in the world. There is no success without efforts."

The elder said this but in his heart, he bitterly added: "Unless you are a monster like Zhen Han. Then there is no need for hard work at all."