Unleashing power

"Agility?" Lin Tian's brows knitted in confusion, struggling to grasp the significance of such a trait. The cat's response left him perplexed, and a tinge of fear crept into his thoughts, envisioning a grim fate for the other fallen demonic beasts he had encountered thus far.

Observing the pitiable sight of the defeated spirits behind him, the cat's throat tightened with unease, a wave of terror washing over it.

Breaking the silence, Lin Tian pressed further. "In the hierarchy of spirit beasts, we have the ordinary, the mutated, the super, and the Saint Level. Beyond them lie the immortal beasts and divine beasts!"

Affirming Lin Tian's words, the cat spirit beast, born with a Holy-ranked status, possessed a wealth of inherited memories. With unwavering conviction, it voiced its agreement, "My lord, your words resonate with undeniable truth."

A soft chuckle escaped Lin Tian's lips as he surveyed his surroundings, his gaze sweeping across the expansive tower. His curiosity unabated, he posed another question. "But from whence does the power within this tower originate?"

Acquiescing to Lin Tian's authority, the cat spirit beast began unraveling the secrets hidden within the tower's walls. Every detail was divulged, leaving no stone unturned.

Gradually, Lin Tian gleaned the truth: the revered Ancestor of the Lin Family, a revered figure from a bygone era, had devotedly crafted the Trial Tower. Painstakingly, he orchestrated the refinement process, capturing formidable spirit beasts and situating them on each floor. At the tower's pinnacle, celestial stones adorned the apex, their radiance sustaining the tower's formidable formation power.

The reason Lin Tian had sensed the cat spirit beast's presence instantly became evident. With a swift motion, he carved out a groove in the tower's wall, revealing the radiant immortal stone concealed within.

In an instant, it seemed as though the power within the tower dissipated, leaving only the Sacred Level spirit beast before him. Unbeknownst to it, Lin Tian had already taken care of the other spirit beasts within the tower, and this particular creature was the sole survivor. Recognizing its value, Lin Tian smiled and extended an offer, "Join me and follow my lead."

"Thank you, Lord Xie!" The cat demonic beast exhaled a sigh of relief, grateful for its salvation. Lin Tian then retrieved a jade pendant, intending to absorb the immortal stone's energy. However, he soon realized that his current cultivation level only allowed for the absorption of spiritual energy, rendering the jade pendant ineffective against the immortality energy. Helpless, Lin Tian stored the precious immortal stone away.

After all, immortal stones were exceedingly rare in their small world, and it would be unwise to waste such a valuable resource.

A mischievous smile played upon Lin Tian's lips as he observed the cat spirit beast before him. "Do you truly wish to know?" he asked, feigning curiosity.

The cat spirit beast's eyes quivered like mandarin ducks. "I-I was merely curious, my lord," it stammered.

Lin Tian's laughter took on an eerie quality as he unleashed a strange force from his body. Under its influence, the cat spirit beast's entire being grew feeble, as if its cultivation level were on the brink of collapse.

This sudden turn of events instilled deep fear within the cat spirit beast. "Master, please, spare me from such a fate! I beg you!" it pleaded, terror lacing its voice.

At that moment, Lin Tian ceased his exertion of power, allowing the cat spirit beast's qi to swiftly recover. With a warm smile, he explained, "This technique is known as the beast trapping technique."

"Beast trapping technique?" the cat spirit beast echoed in awe.

"Yes, it is a method to deal with demons and beasts. However, for weak creatures like yourself, all I need to do is circulate my energy for a short while, and the cultivation level within your body will vanish into thin air, eventually leading to your withering and demise."

The cat spirit beast's throat went dry with fear. "M-Mighty Lord, you truly possess extraordinary abilities," it stammered.

"If you follow me faithfully, you won't suffer any losses. Even if you advance to the ranks of Immortal or Divine experts in the future, it will be a mere triviality," Lin Tian assured, his confidence shining through. He then proceeded to descend the stairs, motioning for the cat spirit beast to follow.

Although the cat spirit beast remained ignorant of Lin Tian's origins, his words stirred a fiery passion within its being. It shouted with unwavering enthusiasm, "Yes, Master!"

Below the pagoda, a crowd had already gathered, eagerly awaiting Lin Tian's arrival.

Among them, Lin Tian's expression soured, his displeasure apparent. Conversely, Lin Yao's face brimmed with joy. It wasn't until the doors swung open and Lin Tian emerged that a chorus of voices erupted, "Welcome, New Patriarch!"

The collective celebration filled the air, and as Lin Tian gazed at the cheering crowd, a quiet amusement danced in his heart. "These people are truly something," he mused.

Even Lin Yao stepped forward, wearing a smile of congratulation. "Congratulations on becoming the new Patriarch!" he exclaimed warmly.

"Being a patriarch is not my passion. I'd prefer if you continue playing the role in front of me," Lin Tian's words reverberated through the crowd, leaving everyone stunned.

Lin Yao hesitated, uttering, "But these are the teachings passed down by our ancestors."

"Ancestral teachings are stagnant, while humanity thrives. Besides, once I assume the role of patriarch, I can easily pass it on to the next worthy successor, can't I?" Lin Tian's words rendered Lin Yao speechless, caught off guard by the unexpected perspective.

The followers behind Lin Tian immediately called out to Lin Yao, seeking clarification. Lin Wang wore a displeased expression, but swiftly regained composure. With a calm demeanor, he proposed, "Patriarch, since you still hold the title, why not choose a disciple and participate in the tournament?"

"The Hegemonical Competition?" Lin Yao furrowed his brows, his memory momentarily failing him. Lin Wang chuckled and responded, "In three days, the decade-long tournament will commence in Tianyang City. The winner will gain control over the eastern street of the city!"

Lin Yao realized he had almost forgotten about the upcoming event. He glanced at the crowd, only to discover that there were few individuals capable of participating. Their expressions grew solemn as they inquired, "Could Lin Yan and Lin Shan be contenders?"

Regret filled Lin Wang's voice as he responded, feigning innocence, "I apologize, but my grandson and Lin Shan have already joined the Tianyang Sect under the guidance of the Purple Cloud Taoist. They are currently unavailable to participate in this event."

Lin Yao understood that the competition would exclusively feature Qi Refining cultivators, and presently, Lin Yan and Lin Shan stood as the strongest cultivators within the Lin Family at that level.

However, the situation had changed drastically. As for the remaining candidates, they all fell below the seventh level of Qi Refining. It was certain that they would be outmatched by members of other clans.

"If that's the case, I'll give up. It doesn't matter to me," Lin Wang nonchalantly remarked, but his eyes darted towards Lin Tian.

In truth, everyone was aware that Lin Wang desired for Lin Tian to participate. He even added, "From what I know, apart from the reward of controlling a street, the City Lord's Mansion has also included an additional piece of thousand-year profound iron. It's a valuable resource for weapon forging."

The mention of the thousand-year profound iron stirred interest among the listeners. It was considered a priceless treasure within Tianyang City.

"Thousand-year profound iron? Is it from a million years or a hundred thousand years?" Lin Tian suddenly inquired.

Many assumed that Lin Tian had once again demonstrated his foolishness, but no one dared to openly ridicule him. They could only endure in silence. Lin Wang chuckled bitterly and responded, "Thousand-year profound iron is already incredibly rare. How could it be worth a hundred thousand years or a million years? That's impossible."

However, Lin Yao patiently explained to Lin Tian, "Thousand-year profound iron is already an extremely scarce and invaluable resource within the city."

Upon hearing this, Lin Tian let out a sigh. "Well, let's make do then."

"Make do?" No one could comprehend the meaning behind Lin Tian's words. Little did they know that he had once been a Master Refiner, capable of crafting whatever he desired without lacking any materials.

As everyone assumed that Lin Tian had once again exhibited his foolishness, they refrained from openly mocking him. Instead, they endured his words silently, while Lin Wang let out a bitter laugh. "Thousand-year profound iron is already exceedingly rare. Do you truly believe it's worth a hundred thousand years or even a million years? That's simply impossible."

However, Lin Yao patiently elaborated to Lin Tian, "Thousand-year profound iron holds immense value and is considered priceless within the city."

Upon hearing this, Lin Tian released a sigh. "Well, then let's make do."

"Make do?" No one comprehended the true meaning behind Lin Tian's words. Unbeknownst to them, he had once been a Master Refiner, able to fashion anything he desired without lacking any ingredients.

However, when he contemplated the limitations of this small world and the scarcity of resources, Lin Tian reluctantly added, "I will participate, but henceforth, all the thousand-year profound iron obtained will be mine."

His statement left everyone baffled. They were unaware that Lin Tian's words stemmed from his expertise as a former Master Refiner, possessing the knowledge of refining without scarcity.