Ling Chenyuan and Ling Feng Yun and their heated argument. Ling Chenyuan was adamant that his son, Ling Tian, would not be put in harm's way, while Ling Feng Yun was determined to leave the clan if his demands were not met.
"You might have your own vision for the clan's future," Chenyuan continued, his eyes blazing with fierce determination,
"but I won't allow you to put my son in any harm's way for the sake of your selfish desires."
"Very well," Feng Yun spat, his voice filled with venom, "If that's how it's going to be, then I have no choice but to leave the clan." With a sudden burst of maniacal laughter, he added,
"But mark my words, Ling Chenyuan, your stubbornness will be your downfall."
The crowd of cultivators who had gathered to witness the argument was stunned. Ling Feng Yun was one of the most powerful and respected members of the clan, and his departure would be a major blow.
Suddenly, a voice rang out. "Grand Elder Ling Feng Yun is leaving the clan?!"
Everyone turned to look at the source of the voice. It was a young disciple, his face filled with disbelief.
"How could this be happening?" he asked. "What will happen to us now?
The older cultivators were equally concerned. "This is a dark day for our clan," one of them said gravely. "Ling Feng Yun is one of our most powerful and respected members. Without his support, we will surely struggle to maintain our position."
As the realization sank in, a sense of unease and uncertainty began to grip the crowd. What would happen to their beloved clan now that one of its pillars was leaving? What would become of their future?
The crowd looked on with bated breath, their eyes fixed on Ling Feng Yun, waiting for an explanation, waiting for some sign of hope.
However, Ling Feng Yun had barely taken a few steps away when he was interrupted by a familiar voice, a voice that he recognized all too well. It belonged to none other than Ling Tian, Ling Chenyuan's son.
Ling Tian looked down at Ling Feng Yun with an air of superiority and power, making Ling Feng Yun grit his teeth in anger. Ling Feng Yun took a step forward but stopped when he saw Ling Chenyuan's stern gaze fixed on him.
The onlookers were dumbfounded. They never expected Ling Tian to show such courage.
Even Ling Chenyuan was surprised. He did not expect his son to make an appearance, let alone show such boldness. He could see a fierce look of determination and calm in Ling Tian's eyes as he stared at Ling Feng Yun.
As Ling Tian continued to circle around Ling Feng Yun, his eyes fixed on him, gasps and murmurs echoed through the forest. Everyone was trying to make sense of what they were witnessing.
"Grand Elder, I don't want to know your selfish reasons for wanting to leave," Tian said in a calm and measured voice, "but I do know that the clan needs you. You are one of the strongest cultivators we have, and your departure would weaken our foundation."
Ling Feng Yun laughed and retorted, "Oh, then, are you going to persuade me? Then you should know that it is useless. I have already made my decision."
Before Ling Feng Yun could continue, his words were cut short by Tian. "Who said I am trying to persuade you? I just want to make you understand how bad of a decision you have made.
If you were to leave the clan, then you would be labeled as a traitor, and everywhere you go, you would be seen as such."
Ling Feng Yun snorted, insisting that with his cultivation, the other three clans would welcome him with open arms. But Tian's sarcastic laughter cut through the air, leaving Feng Yun feeling humiliated and enraged.
"Ah, sorry for that," Tian said. "It's just that I don't know if you are stupid or if you think the other three clans are stupid. Ha...ha...ha."
The insult stung Ling Feng Yun, but in the presence of Ling Chenyuan, he dared not react. Instead, he gritted his teeth and asked coldly, "What do you mean?"
Ling Tian replied with a mocking expression, "What do I mean? Ha...ha...everyone here now knows your greed for power and that you are not satisfied with the position of Grand Elder,
which is second to the Clan Head. I don't think they will give you even the Grand Elder position as it would arouse their people's dissatisfaction.
I don't even think they will accept you, a man who can betray his clan and flesh and blood relatives.
How could they accept you? It would be the same as having a sword hanging over their head, and I don't think any sane person would want that."
Ling Feng Yun's face twisted with anger as he listened to Ling Tian's words. "You dare accuse me of greed for power? You, who have always relied on your father's name to get ahead? You are nothing but a spoiled brat, Ling Tian."
Despite his indignation, Ling Feng Yun couldn't deny that Ling Tian's words had struck a nerve, and deep down, he knew that Ling Tian was right.
He had been so full of himself, so convinced of his own cultivation and worth, that his desire for power had clouded his judgment.
He could feel his previous determination and arrogance starting to crumble. Despite this inner turmoil, Ling Feng Yun couldn't bring himself to admit his doubts openly.
Instead, he seethed silently, his eyes fixed on Ling Tian with a fierce intensity.
He refused to give the young man the satisfaction of seeing him falter, even as the weight of Ling Tian's words continued to press down on him.
Even though Ling Feng Yun tried to look calm, he couldn't hide the doubt and fear that was creeping in. He struggled to keep his emotions in check as Ling Tian's words lingered in his mind.
Ling Tian observed Ling Feng Yun's reaction closely and relished in the moment.
He knew his words had hit the mark, and Ling Feng Yun was beginning to show signs of doubt and uncertainty. This was precisely what Ling Tian had aimed for - to break through Ling Feng Yun's arrogance and make him face the truth.
Ling Chenyuan and the crowd also noticed the change in Ling Feng Yun's behavior and were left speechless.
The crowd had never expected that this "trash" of the clan had such a way with words. He was able to make the Grand Elder question his own decision and arrogance.
Nonetheless, they were happy as it seemed that the Grand Elder might change his decision.
On the other hand, Ling Chenyuan couldn't help but feel a little regret. Yes, regret. His son had strong determination, was calm and collected, and could skillfully handle difficult situations like this.
But his poor talent in cultivation was a curse for him.
In this world, where martial arts reigned supreme, one's talent in martial arts was valued above all else.
No matter how intelligent or skilled someone was, if they didn't possess the talent for martial arts, they would never be able to achieve greatness.
As Ling Chenyuan thought about this, a deep sorrow washed over him. He knew that his son's talent in martial arts would always be a weakness, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of injustice about it.
He had always believed that hard work and determination could overcome any obstacle, but in this world, talent was everything.
It was a bitter pill to swallow, but Ling Chenyuan knew that his son had to accept it, even though he still hoped for a brighter future.
Ling Tian dismounted the dragon horse with Ling Mei, and as he stepped forward, his gaze locked onto Ling Feng Yun. "Is that all you have to say, Ling Feng Yun?" he asked coolly, his hand clasped behind his back.
"Ling Feng Yun, I think you now know that only Ling Clan is the only thing you can rely on,"
Ling Tian continued, his expression turning cold. "After all, this clan is the very reason you have reached your current cultivation.
If you were to be a cultivator alone, you would have been long dead in the wilderness with no one even burying you as your corpse rotted and eaten by wild beasts. Hahaha... not so good an ending, right?"
The tension in the air was palpable as Ling Tian stood before the Grand Elder, his gaze sweeping over the crowd in silence.
Finally, his piercing eyes came to rest on the Grand Elder, Ling Feng Yun. He took a deep breath and spoke in a clear and commanding voice.
"Grand Elder, Then what is your decision?" Ling Tian asked with a hint of disdain. "Do you really want to leave the clan and be labeled as a traitor?"
"You should be aware that if you choose this path, your name will be erased from the family records, as we cannot allow a traitor to tarnish the reputation of our clan."
The rest of the clan held their breath, waiting for Ling Feng Yun's response. It was clear to everyone that this was a critical moment in the history of their clan. Ling Feng Yun stood silently, his face unreadable, and the tension only grew.
Ling Tian's words hung in the air, the weight of their meaning almost suffocating.
Suddenly, Ling Feng Yun swept his gaze over everyone in the crowd, stopping for a moment at Ling Chenyuan, and then again at Ling Tian as he stared deeply into the young man's eyes.
Despite Ling Tian's youth and lack of experience, Ling Feng Yun couldn't help but feel deep respect and admiration for him.
Ling Tian had already shown remarkable intellect and quick thinking for his age, causing the Grand Elder to question his own decision and the way he had handled the situation with a calm and composed demeanor like a young prodigy.
However, despite his admiration for Ling Tian's abilities, Ling Feng Yun couldn't help but feel that it was a pity that such a fine young man did not possess the necessary talent for cultivation.
Activating his sacred mark at the age of 15 clearly indicated that his potential was limited.
As much as Ling Feng Yun admired Ling Tian's intellect and character, he still could not approve of him due to the fact that one's talent in martial arts was of utmost importance, with all other factors being secondary.
Finally, Ling Feng Yun broke the suffocating silence as he questioned Ling Tian mockingly. "What about you, are you going to run away like a coward and not participate in the hunting contest?"