Chapter 119 The Ancestor’s Questions

Chapter 119: Chapter 119 The Ancestor’s Questions

Lin Hao took another sip of tea and looked at the ten youngsters sitting before him.

"All right, tell me what happened. Start from the beginning."

Lin Chen glanced at his companions before speaking.

"Ancestor, when we arrived at the Primordial Sealing Ruin, the place was already crowded with cultivators from countless forces. There were independent cultivators, disciples from Holy Lands, and successors from the Forbidden Families and Forbidden Sects. Everyone was waiting for the ruin to open."

Lin Hao nodded casually.

"Go on."

"When the entrance finally opened, everyone rushed inside. We explored the ruin and found many resources before the trials began. There were spiritual herbs, spiritual medicines, pills, and various treasures left behind by the ancient cultivators."

Lin Qing took out a storage ring and placed it on the table.

"The ten of us collected quite a few things. We brought them back for the clan."

The others nodded and began taking out their own storage rings.

Lin Hao glanced at the items, then shook his head.

"Keep them."

The youngsters paused.

"Ancestor, these resources might be useful to you," Lin Chen said.

"I have more resources than I can use. Why would I take yours?" Lin Hao said with a smile. "Keep whatever is useful to you. If you have more than you need, share the excess with the clan members. There’s no reason to hand everything over to me."

Lin Mo chuckled.

"I knew the Ancestor would say that."

Lin Zhen grinned.

"You said the same thing when we were discussing what to bring back."

"Because I know him," Lin Mo replied.

Lin Hao raised an eyebrow.

"What? Have you started predicting my answers now?"

"No, Ancestor. I simply know you well enough not to waste my breath."

The youngsters laughed.

Lin Hao waved a hand.

"All right, all right. Put everything away and continue your story."

Lin Chen stored his ring again and resumed.

"At first, everything went smoothly. We explored the ruin, collected resources, and met the successors of the major forces. We thought the exploration would carry on normally until we reached the central inheritance."

He paused.

"Then, without warning, everyone was transported to another place."

Lin Hao’s teacup stopped just short of his lips.

"Transported?"

"Yes, Ancestor," Lin Qing answered. "We were suddenly taken to an enormous platform. Then an ancient voice appeared and announced that we had to complete five trials to continue toward the inheritance."

Lin Hao set down his teacup.

Five trials?

He immediately called out to the system in his mind.

System, you never mentioned anything about these trials.

The system answered after a brief pause.

I’m sorry, Host. It slipped my mind.

Lin Hao’s face stayed calm, but the corner of his mouth twitched.

It slipped your mind?

Yes, Host.

What if something had happened to my youngsters? What if one of them had been seriously hurt because I didn’t know what they were going to face?

The system replied quickly.

Host, please rest assured. Their safety was never in danger. The trials were designed to test them, and the arrangements would not have let anything happen to them beyond the established consequences.

Lin Hao narrowed his eyes.

You could have told me that before they went in.

That is true, Host. I apologize for the oversight.

Lin Hao took another sip of tea without answering.

He wasn’t satisfied.

He had no intention of letting it pass so easily, but there was little point arguing with the system while his youngsters were still telling their story.

Besides, they had come back safe.

For now, that was what mattered.

"Ancestor?" Lin Chen called.

Lin Hao looked up.

"Is something wrong?"

"No. Continue."

The youngsters glanced at each other but didn’t ask.

Lin Qing took over.

"The first trial was an endurance test. We had to run along an ancient road for three days while being chased by the Primordial Devouring Beast. Anyone who stopped to collect certain treasures could be eliminated, and anyone who couldn’t continue was sent outside with their cultivation reduced by one minor level."

"And the others?"

"The second tested whether we could survive increasingly dangerous conditions. The third tested our combat ability. The fourth was about comprehending the inheritances of ancient experts. The fifth was the final challenge before the inheritances were given out."

Lin Chen explained the main points, and the others added whatever he had missed.

They described the dangerous formations, the restrictions placed on the participants, and how the trials had grown harder and harder.

Lin Hao listened quietly.

He didn’t interrupt with unnecessary questions.

When something needed clarifying, he asked briefly and let them go on.

He hadn’t known about the five trials beforehand.

But he was pleased they had finished them, and even more pleased with what they had brought back.

When Lin Chen reached the final trial, Lin Hao glanced at the ten youngsters.

"So, you all obtained inheritances?"

"Yes, Ancestor!" Lin Zhen answered at once.

"Each of us received one that suited us," Lin Qing added. "It was hard, but the rewards were worth it."

Lin Hao smiled.

"Good. Make proper use of them. And if any of you get too proud, I’ll personally remind you how many realms you still have above you."

"Yes, Ancestor!"

The ten answered together.

Lin Hao nodded.

He had no intention of rushing them.

They had already come a long way, and the inheritances would give them plenty to work on.

Lin Cangyuan, who had stayed nearby throughout the report, nodded as well.

"The experience should benefit them greatly. They faced dangers that ordinary cultivators of their age would rarely meet."

Lin Hao glanced at him.

"That’s true. But I would have preferred to know about the trials before they went in."

Lin Cangyuan paused.

He understood what the Ancestor meant.

But neither he nor the youngsters had known the ruin would suddenly send everyone into a series of trials.

"Next time we find an ancient ruin, we’ll be ready for the unexpected," he said.

"Good. We can’t predict everything. But we can learn from it."

The conversation went on a while longer as the ten filled in the rest of their journey.

Eventually, Lin Chen brought up the warning about the great Calamity.

"The ancient voice also told us about the demons that have been sealed away since the Primordial Era. It said a great Calamity was coming, and that the ancient seals are connected to the Primordial Sealing Ruin."

Lin Hao’s face didn’t change.

He already knew the demons would be coming soon.

The warning was serious, but it wasn’t a surprise.

He simply listened as Lin Chen explained what the leaders of the various forces had discussed after the trial ended.

"They plan to consult the Divination Pavilion to find out whether the seals are weakening," Lin Chen finished.

Lin Hao nodded.

"Let them investigate. If the seals really are weakening, they should understand the situation before deciding what to do."

He didn’t dwell on it.

The clan still had preparations to make.

And there was no reason to start a panic.

He looked around at the youngsters.

"You’ve been away a long time. Go and rest if you need to. Or enter the Time Tower and keep cultivating. Don’t neglect your training just because you’ve come home."

"Yes, Ancestor!"

The youngsters rose from their seats.

Before they could leave, Lin Mo stood up with a determined look.

"I’m going to the Time Tower."

Lin Zhen looked at him in surprise.

"You’ve only just returned. Aren’t you going to rest first?"

"Rest?" Lin Mo snorted. "The triplets are already at Peak Body Integration Realm. If I keep wasting time, they’ll leave me even farther behind."

Lin Xin grinned.

"What’s wrong, Brother Lin Mo? Are you jealous?"

"Jealous of you?" Lin Mo scoffed. "Don’t flatter yourself. I simply don’t intend to let the younger generation surpass me."

Lin Wan’er covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

"That sounds exactly like jealousy."

Lin Shiyu nodded solemnly.

"Definitely jealousy."

Lin Mo clicked his tongue.

"You three are becoming more annoying by the day."

"Thank you for the compliment!" Lin Xin replied cheerfully.

Lin Mo shook his head and headed off toward the Time Tower.

The others laughed as they watched him go.

Lin Hao smiled faintly.

"All right, stop teasing him. Let him cultivate if he wants to. The rest of you can decide for yourselves."

The youngsters bowed and left the hall.

Some meant to rest.

Others wanted to study their inheritances more closely, or follow Lin Mo to the Time Tower.

Soon, only Lin Hao and Lin Cangyuan remained.

Lin Hao put down his teacup and turned to the elder.

"Elder Cangyuan, gather all the clan elders. I want everyone to assemble in the clan hall."

Lin Cangyuan cupped his fists at once.

"Understood, Ancestor. I’ll arrange it right away."

He turned and left to carry out the order.

Lin Hao leaned back in his seat, his face returning to its usual carefree calm.

The youngsters were home safe, and the clan had gained several valuable inheritances.

Now it was time to discuss the clan’s next steps.

End of Chapter 119