Chapter 158: Supreme Elder
Chapter 158: Supreme Elder
"You... you... you are Lin Yan?! You became a Gu Immortal?!"
Huang Ming was utterly shocked, his words coming out in a stammer.
The Family Elders beside him were equally dumbfounded. They stared blankly at the young figure in the sky, their expressions dazed as if they were dreaming.
They had always known Lin Yan possessed extraordinary talent and had obtained unusual opportunities. In their eyes, becoming a Rank 5 Gu Master at such a young age was already an astonishing achievement.
As for Immortal Ascension, that was one of the greatest barriers in cultivation. Countless geniuses exhausted their entire lives without ever crossing it. Even with Lin Yan’s talent, they had believed he would need decades of accumulation before having a chance to take that final step.
Yet after only a few years away from the Family, he had already returned. And not as a Rank 5 expert, but as a Gu Immortal.
The legendary existence they had looked up to all their lives was now standing before them. For a moment, Huang Ming and the others felt as though everything before their eyes was unreal.
Seeing the dazed expressions of the Family Elders, Lin Yan chuckled lightly and turned toward Shan Shayuan.
"Uncle, how has the Family been during these years?"
His words finally pulled Shan Shayuan out of his shock. Looking at his nephew before him, his emotions became extremely complicated.
Shan Shayuan sighed and smiled. "The Family is doing well. We’re still digesting the gains from Ember Passage Ridge and strengthening our foundation. Nothing major has happened. The one who has truly changed is you."
His gaze was filled with unconcealed pride. "You have become the first Gu Immortal in Huang Family history. From this day onward, the Huang Family finally has its own immortal."
Hearing this, Huang Ming finally recovered from his shock. His expression immediately became solemn. Without the slightest hesitation, he bowed deeply toward Lin Yan.
"Greetings, Supreme Elder!"
The surrounding Family Elders immediately followed. Their voices merged together and echoed across the skies above Sandwell Oasis.
Lin Yan was slightly surprised. He had not expected Huang Ming to react so quickly. Waving his hand, he said, "All of you are my seniors and elders. There is no need to be so formal."
Hearing this, everyone became even happier. What reassured them most was not merely that the Huang Family had finally produced a Gu Immortal, but that Lin Yan still regarded himself as a member of the Family.
The tense atmosphere immediately relaxed, and many elders could not hide the smiles on their faces. The future that had once seemed distant now appeared within reach.
A short while later, everyone gathered in the meeting hall at the center of Flame Lake. Without hesitation, Lin Yan took the main seat.
Lin Yan’s gaze slowly swept across the Huang Family’s high-ranking members seated below. Familiar faces entered his sight one after another.
Throughout his years of cultivation, the Huang Family had invested considerable resources in him. Now that he had become a Gu Immortal, it was only natural to repay the Family for that support.
Moreover, these Gu Masters possessed considerable value. Managing a blessed land was never a task that could be handled by a single person. From caring for plants and beasts to maintaining resource points, countless matters required constant attention.
Even Fang Yuan in the original novel, despite possessing overwhelming strength in his later years, still required a large number of Gu Immortal subordinates to help manage the countless resource points within his immortal aperture.
The Huang Family happened to possess experience in this area. Over the years, they had established ecological gardens, cultivated Gu materials, and maintained large populations of Gu worms. Although the scale could not compare to a blessed land, the management experience accumulated through generations was still valuable.
While Lin Yan was considering these matters, Huang Ming cautiously spoke up from below.
"Supreme Elder, now that you have become a Gu Immortal, should we announce the news to the outside world? We could hold a grand celebration feast and invite the surrounding forces to attend."
As he spoke, his eyes could not conceal his anticipation.
For centuries, the Huang Family had dreamed of producing a Gu Immortal. Now that this wish had finally been fulfilled, Huang Ming naturally wanted to announce it to the world and elevate the Family’s prestige.
Hearing this, Lin Yan immediately understood Huang Ming’s intentions. Announcing the birth of a Gu Immortal was not merely a matter of reputation. More importantly, it would allow the Huang Family to expand its influence and claim a greater share of nearby resources. If handled properly, they might even become the dominant force among the surrounding oases.
However, Lin Yan shook his head. He had no intention of rushing into expansion.
The Huang Family’s location was simply too sensitive. Nearby stood the Mo Family, a force backed by Gu Immortals. The moment news of his ascension spread, the Mo Family would inevitably send representatives to discuss territories, spheres of influence, and future relations.
On the surface, they would speak of alliances and mutual support. In reality, they would seek to draw the Huang Family into their sphere of influence.
Such arrangements were commonplace throughout the Gu World.
Even the Central Continent followed this pattern.
There was no helping it. Forces that possessed only one or two Gu Immortals occupied an awkward position in the Gu World. To mortal forces, they were already towering existences capable of dominating entire regions. Yet in the eyes of true super forces, they remained insignificant.
A genuine super force required far more than a single Gu Immortal. At a minimum, it needed multiple Rank 7 Gu Immortals and an Immortal Gu House to suppress its territory. The stronger super forces even had Rank 8 experts overseeing them.
Compared to such behemoths, the current Huang Family was nothing worth mentioning.
Lin Yan naturally understood this reality. If he rashly expanded the Family’s territory and influence, he would only attract the attention of stronger forces. By then, the Huang Family would become a weakness that others could exploit, forcing him into the righteous path’s structure before he had accumulated sufficient strength.
That was not the future he wanted. His path would be decided by himself alone.