Chapter 15: Gathering of Geniuses
Chapter 15: Gathering of Geniuses
Upon reaching the imperial city, Lin Langtian settled at the Lin family's residence for a short stay of about half a month. During this time, he worked on stabilizing his half-step Condensed Energy Realm, preparing for the breakthrough to the full Condensed Energy Realm. However, his peaceful days of cultivation came to an abrupt halt on the tenth day when he received a notification from the Lin family's residence steward: Ling Qingzhu would soon arrive in the imperial city.
In the days leading up to her arrival, the city grew abuzz as disciples from renowned sects throughout the Great Flame Empire began arriving one by one, igniting a wave of excitement. Although Ling Qingzhu's arrival was meant to be discreet, the city was hardly lacking in curiosity. With whispers from informed sources, many guessed the reason for these prominent arrivals, turning the arrival of the disciple from a supreme sect into the hottest topic in the imperial city.
When the day came, Lin Langtian left with only Lin Ke'er and Lin Chen in his company as they headed to the palace. The welcoming ceremony was set to take place deep within the royal palace, an area strictly controlled and accessible only to the representatives of esteemed powers, each permitted a limited number of guests.
Upon arriving, Lin Langtian saw that many had already gathered. He led Lin Ke'er and Lin Chen to a spot, taking a seat among the numerous attendees.
Only then did he have a chance to observe the surroundings. The welcome ceremony was set in an enormous, opulent hall, meticulously decorated by the royal family. Its grandeur clearly reflected the effort made to welcome Ling Qingzhu. After taking in the hall, Lin Langtian scanned the other guests; from their auras, it was clear that none of these young talents were simple figures. Still, he recognized only a few of them—unsurprising, given that while he might be the foremost talent of the Lin family, the Great Flame Empire spanned many regions, each with its own outstanding figures.
Among the groups, he knew that the four great clans, the royal family, and the three dominant sects were the strongest, commanding the most influence in the empire. Though the gathered talents didn't interest him much, his arrival, however, stirred a buzz among those present.
"Lin Langtian—the top talent of the Lin family—is here," came a murmur nearby.
"I heard he recently advanced to the Condensed Form Realm. To achieve that at his age… He's going to be a strong contender in the upcoming selection in a few years."
"Indeed. Only the royal family and perhaps the Wang Clan have talents to rival him."
As whispers echoed around him, Lin Langtian maintained a calm expression, though Lin Ke'er and Lin Chen couldn't help but stand a little taller with pride. After all, Lin Langtian was the pride of the Lin family.
"Brother Langtian! I hear you've recently advanced to an Elder of Law—you've surpassed the rest of us in no time," a voice called as the rush of a breeze heralded two figures stepping onto the platform nearby.
Lin Langtian's gaze turned toward the sound, noting the strong auras radiating from the newcomers. On the left was a young man dressed in blue, his handsome features bordering on the ethereal. He carried a deep blue fan, waving it with an aristocratic elegance. To his right stood a man in a golden robe, hair flowing loosely around his face, radiating pride and the sharpness of a spear.
"It's Qin Shi, the talent of the Qin Clan!" someone exclaimed.
"And the other one—Wang Yan from the Wang Clan!"
Seeing the two, the crowd erupted again. The four great clans commanded the highest prestige within the Great Flame Empire, and now three of the clans' most talented figures were present—a rare sight.
"Qin Shi, Wang Yan," Lin Langtian greeted indifferently, lifting an eyebrow. "Here to join the excitement as well?"
He wasn't overly interested in the two. Although the Qin Clan stood alongside the Lin Clan as one of the four great clans, it had been declining in influence in recent years. As for Wang Yan, while he had ability, he was overshadowed by his elder brother Wang Zhong within the Wang Clan.
Qin Shi merely smiled, elegantly waving his fan. "The royal family has gone to great lengths to honor a disciple of a supreme sect. Of course, we wouldn't miss it."
"Humph," Wang Yan cut in bluntly, "our elders just want us to suck up to these disciples from the supreme sects."
Qin Shi managed a wry smile, subtly nodding in agreement. It was true, though bluntly phrased.
As the group made small talk, the great hall continued to fill with talented young figures from across the empire. Lin Langtian took a few moments to study the crowd, acknowledging that the gathering truly showcased the empire's finest. Yet he felt confident; his natural talent, combined with his encounters and cultivation, had placed him in a position where few could match him.
Of the entire crowd, only two caught his eye.
Du Yun from the Heavenly Net Sect.
And Man Shan from the Barbarian King Sect.
In Lin Langtian's past life, these two had claimed two of the five available spots in the empire's selection trial, a testament to their remarkable abilities.
Noticing Lin Langtian's gaze, Du Yun offered a polite nod and smile, though there was a hint of caution in his eyes. Man Shan, on the other hand, was straightforward in his response—meeting Lin Langtian's gaze with fierce battle intent that suggested he would have challenged him right then if the setting were different.
Suddenly, a crisp chime resonated across the hall, signaling the start of the ceremony. The heavy sound of metal clanked as rows of armored royal guards filled the perimeter, sealing the area.
The attendees grew quiet, all eyes turning to the entrance. They knew the next figure to arrive would be none other than the ruler of the Great Flame Empire.
A massive retinue entered the hall, led by a man whose hair was streaked black and white—a middle-aged figure wearing royal robes that radiated power. Though he seemed close in age to Lin Fan, the clan leader of the Lin family, this man's presence cast a shadow over everyone else.
After all, this was Mo Jingtian, the ruler of the Great Flame Empire.
(End of Chapter)