As Ling Chenyuan and Ling Fengyun were engaged in a heated confrontation, Ling Tian, the subject of their dispute and the actual culprit, was completely unaware of the situation.
In Ling Clan(Training Grounds)*
In the vast training grounds, Ling Tian stood tall, his chiseled physique glistening under the morning sun.
His eyes were focused and determined, burning with an unyielding resolve as he gripped his long broadsword with unwavering strength.
For the last six months, Ling Tian had been training tirelessly, attempting to break through to the fourth layer of the Body-Tempering Realm.
However, no matter how hard he tried, he remained stuck at the third layer, unable to make any progress.
His fellow clan members had mocked and taunted him, whispering behind his back.
They called him a "failure" and a "waste of space."
They said that he would never amount to anything, even giving him the derogatory nickname
"Trash Tian".
However, Ling Tian refused to let their ridicule get the better of him.
He did not care what others thought about him or ridiculed and mocked him or called him trash as he had long become numb to this.
It was just that he could not bear the thought of letting his father down, of seeing the regret, sorrow, and disappointment in his eyes.
With each strike of his, Ling Tian felt the weight of his father's disappointment pressing down on him like a heavy burden.
His heart ached with regret as he thought of how he had let down the man who had always been his greatest supporter.
For months, he had pushed himself to the brink of exhaustion, determined to break through the barrier that held him back.
But as he looked back at the weeks of struggle, he couldn't shake the feeling that it had all been for nothing.
Ling Tian felt a sense of despair creeping in.
He had been training so hard for so long, and yet he still hadn't made any progress.
He was starting to wonder if he could ever break through to the next level.
Ling Tian's thoughts were interrupted by a sweet and melodious voice. He turned around and saw a young girl standing a few feet away from him.
She was about fourteen years old, with long, flowing jet-black hair that cascaded down her back in a silken cascade of moonlit ebony.
Her bright, sparkling eyes seemed to twinkle like stars in the sky, reflecting the warmth and kindness of her soul.
Her delicate features were exquisitely sculpted, lending a beauty that was both captivating and alluring.
As Ling Tian's gaze lingered upon her, he couldn't help but marvel at the girl's striking beauty.
She was Ling Mei, one of the four beauties of Chang'an City. She was also the only person in the entire clan, aside from his father, who truly cared about him.
Despite her breathtaking beauty, Ling Mei was humble and kind, a rarity among the four beauties.
Ling Tian couldn't help but feel grateful for her presence in his life
He had always treated her like a little sister, and she had always been there for him.
Ling Tian was so lost in his thoughts and emotions that he didn't catch Ling Mei's words at first.
It was only when she repeated herself with a sense of urgency that his attention snapped back to the present.
Focused entirely on the young girl before him, he inquired,
"What did you say, Mei'er?"
With a touch of urgency, Ling Mei repeated.
"Brother Tian, you must come quickly! Uncle Ling Chenyuan and Grand Elder Ling Feng Yun are on the brink of a fight!"
Ling Tian's heart skipped a beat.
His father, Ling Chenyuan, was the clan leader, and Ling Feng Yun, the Grand Elder, was among the most powerful martial practitioners in the clan.
If they were going to fight, it could only mean trouble.
Without a second thought, Ling Tian sprang to his feet and raced towards the stable, Ling Mei following closely behind him.
They picked a horse and rode towards the Moonlit Forest.
As Ling Mei and Ling Tian rode towards the forest on the back of the horse, Ling Mei recounted the recent events that had taken place.
Ling Tian listened intently as she spoke, his mind racing as he tried to piece together the situation.
From Ling Mei's account, it appeared that Ling Feng Yun had not actually engaged in physical combat with Ling Tian's father.
Rather, the two had engaged in a heated verbal exchange, exchanging barbs and insults.
"I knew that Ling Feng Yun wouldn't be foolish enough to challenge my father to a duel," Ling Tian commented with a hint of mockery in his eyes.
"I totally agree with you, Big Brother Tian," Ling Mei said with a smile.
"Yes, uncle is the best. He's unbeatable, and Ling Feng Yun is no match for him."
Ling Tian chuckled at Ling Mei's playful tone, but his amusement gave way to a hint of disdain as he spoke of Ling Feng Yun.
"You're right, mei-er," he said with a grin.
"That old bastard doesn't stand a chance against my father. He's nothing but a coward who hides behind his words and schemes."
Ling Tian knew all too well that Ling Feng Yun was not foolish enough to engage in a battle he could not win.
During their last fight, Ling Feng Yun had only lasted ten rounds with Ling Chenyuan.
However, Ling Tian had a nagging feeling that his father had held back during that fight.
Perhaps it was out of respect for Ling Feng Yun's status as the clan grand elder.
After all, it would not do for him to lose so easily and become the laughingstock of the entire clan and city.
Ling Tian knew that such a defeat would only increase the animosity and hatred in Ling Feng Yun's heart.
And he knew very well that his father would not want this outcome.
But, as Ling Tian thought back to what Ling Mei had told him, he realized that the real culprit behind this confrontation was him.
It seemed that Ling Feng Yun had noticed his absence and had found this to be the perfect opportunity to humiliate him, question his position as the clan's young master, and try to diminish his father's authority in the family.
Ling Chenyuan had visited him yesterday and asked him not to participate in the hunting contest because, with his current cultivation of the third layer of the body-tampering realm, it was too dangerous.
There would be many High-Level Tier 1 common beasts in the contest area of the body-tampering realm cultivators. If he were to encounter a 6th-level common beast, there would still be a chance for him to escape quickly and survive.
But if he were to encounter a 7th, 8th, or 9th-level common beast, it would be a different story altogether.
Ling Tian's earlier disdain for Ling Feng Yun now felt hollow.
Previously, Ling Mei had also told him that when Ling Feng Yun failed to get the desired results, he had threatened to leave the clan.
Ling Tian's mind raced as he considered the consequences of Ling Feng Yun's actions.
He knew all too well the delicate balance of power in the City, And how even a little mishap could have disastrous consequences.
"If Ling Feng Yun one of the two level-9 martial Masters in the clan were to leave, it would weaken us considerably," Ling Tian said his voice cold. "
The other clans would see this as an opportunity to strike and eliminate the Ling clan, and we cannot afford to give them that advantage.
The Ling clan could not afford to lose one of their strongest warriors.
As Ling Tian rode alongside Ling Mei on his horse, his gaze was fixed on the path ahead, but his mind was consumed with a mixture of anger and disappointment towards Ling Feng Yun.
Throughout their relationship, Ling Tian had never truly respected the old man, nor had Ling Feng Yun ever earned his respect.
Ling Tian had long been aware of Ling Feng Yun's insatiable desire for power and the position of clan head, yet he had always regarded him as an elder and a member of the clan.
However, when Ling Tian found out that Ling Feng Yun was willing to betray the clan for his own gain, all the respect he had for him disappeared.
Ling Tian couldn't understand how someone who had been given everything by the clan, including their power and status, could turn against them.
The more Ling Tian thought about it, the more he realized how low Ling Feng Yun was willing to stoop to achieve his own goals.
The clan meant everything to Ling Tian.
It was the reason Ling Feng Yun had become so powerful.
Without the resources and support of the clan, he would have been just another lone cultivator struggling to survive.
And yet, Ling Feng Yun, who had been given everything by the clan, was willing to turn his back on it and risk destroying everything they had built.
Ling Tian gritted his teeth as seething anger bubbled up inside him.
"Truly a bastard," he muttered through clenched teeth, his voice dripping with contempt and disgust for Ling Feng Yun's actions.
Ling Mei gazed at Ling Tian with a grave expression etched onto her delicate features.
"But how can we ever be certain that our so-called 'friends' are truly loyal to us?" she queried.
"One day, they may be by our side, and the next, they could stab us in the back."
Ling Tian pondered her words for a moment and replied with a sigh.
"We can never truly know who our allies are, little Mei," he replied, his voice quiet and composed.
"However, what we can do is keep our enemies close.
By doing so, we can learn their weaknesses and anticipate their moves before they strike.
" As the famous old saying goes,
"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."