It was the beginning of a new day, and intense excitement took hold of the Albedo Clan. All the cultivators who were exploring the continent were ordered to return immediately. Gradually, everyone returned before being summoned to gather in the center of the clan. A spacious hall, which previously accommodated only half of the residents, was now filled with all the clan's personnel.
In the center of the hall, there stood an imposing throne where the Family Chief sat. As clan members returned to their homes, they received the shocking news. Lian Albedo, a mere candidate to become the next patriarch, surprised everyone by single-handedly defeating almost all the advisers and the patriarch in an epic battle that shook the heavens. The stories circulating about the fight and Lian's power were so exaggerated to the clan members' ears that they seemed like a big joke.
The marks of this intense battle could be seen in the ruins of the clan's arena. Many members witnessed the wreckage with their own eyes, shocked by the magnitude of the destruction. The dense aura of death and resentment present at the scene seemed to haunt them.
Three months had passed since that battle. Upon their return, members were strictly forbidden from leaving the clan or disclosing any information about what had happened. Now, everyone was gathered in the hall, silently observing as three mysterious figures approached the throne.
About a thousand people were in the grand hall, with only a small portion of these cultivators being young ones who had begun cultivation a few years ago, and almost all of them were young women.
The majority of the remaining members were considered pathetic in Lian's eyes. They roamed the continent in search of fortune and treasures, as they had no hope of advancing in their cultivation.
Within the clan, there were around fifty elderly cultivators who were the grandparents or parents of most of those present. They knew their days were numbered and expected to live only a few more decades.
When the returning members understood the desperate situation they were in, a feeling of profound despair overcame them. It was only a matter of time until the news spread to other clans, which would attack like hungry hyenas, completely destroying the clan and looting all its resources.
Lian, Riria, and Lemir approached the throne. With confident steps, Lian slowly walked to the seat, sitting with natural elegance. His eyes closed gently as if he immersed himself in a state of deep contemplation.
While Lian sat on the throne, a calm and powerful aura seemed to emanate from him, enveloping everyone in the room. Each person present felt a wave of calmness and confidence as if they were in the presence of a born leader, someone who had always been the king ruling above all. The atmosphere around Lian was serene and natural, akin to the tranquility of the ocean on a starry night.
Driven by this imposing presence, all the young cultivators and even the elders, who had witnessed Lian's greatness during the battle, humbly knelt on the ground, their heads bowed in reverence.
It was just a small number of people kneeling, though, as everyone else looked at it and felt that those actions were exaggerated. A fifteen-year-old who had been cultivating for only two years was not worthy of their worship.
While only a small group of people remained kneeling, the rest observed the scene with a mix of surprise and skepticism. To them, the actions of those who prostrated themselves seemed exaggerated, as Lian didn't seem worthy of such adoration.
After a few minutes of tense silence, Lian suddenly opened his eyes. The impact was immediate. A deafening roar echoed through the hall as a powerful force erupted from the young man like a mountain collapsing onto everyone present.
It wasn't a direct attack, but merely the opening of Lian's eyes. However, that manifestation was overwhelming. His eyes shone intensely in a burning red, seeming capable of consuming an entire world. Flames seemed ready to burst from his pupils, turning everything to ashes in an instant.
Those who were standing tried to maintain their composure, but their souls and bodies trembled incessantly. The Qi in their bodies seemed to not circulate correctly, while their hearts beat violently in their chests. Lian's overwhelming presence was overpowering, filling them with inexplicable dread.
The onlookers remained fixated on Lian, unable to look away or even move. Suddenly, an invisible force descended upon them with a thud, forcing them to kneel on the ground.
"Initially, my desire was simply to kill and completely destroy this clan," Lian proclaimed with a firm and impetuous voice. "However, my extremely kind companion convinced me to give you all a chance. As a result, those who had eyes were able to survive. Now, I will grant you all only one opportunity, as I promised her."
"From today onward, I will be the patriarch and leader of this humble clan," he continued, his voice filled with imposing authority. "I will reshape all the existing rules, and those who are dissatisfied may leave now without suffering any consequences."
Lian's voice resonated with a dominant presence, unlike anything seen in someone of his age. It was mature and dignified, as if it did not belong to a young cultivator but to a god who had lived for countless years. All the mortal beings present felt compelled to prostrate themselves before him, acknowledging his supreme authority.
Lian waited a few minutes, calmly observing everyone present. The situation of those cultivators was even worse than he had imagined. Their cultivation foundations were fragile and unstable, bordering on despair.
"As you can imagine, the clan is about to be completely devoured by other clans in the very near future," Lian began, directing his gaze at the group of elders who had bowed to him from the start.
"I can offer you, old ones who are practically waiting for your deaths, the opportunity to protect the future of the clan. However, the cost will be quite high."
The nearly fifty or so old cultivators stared into Lian's eyes attentively. They felt as if countless hurricanes pressed against their chests while their aging hearts pulsed with courage and determination. Satisfied with their reactions, Lian continued.
"I will forcefully strengthen your cultivation bases and power. You will be able to easily surpass the power the previous patriarch possessed, thus ensuring the protection of your descendants for some time. I estimate you will have another ten years of life if luck is on your side."
They listened intently to every word, unable to hide the shock that overwhelmed them. The notion of a power capable of surpassing the old patriarch was simply unimaginable. At first, they considered the idea ridiculous and impossible, but in the next instant, they felt the divine aura emanating from Lian.
As they remembered the unbelievable power Lian had demonstrated during that battle, a single desire dominated their hearts: to save the clan and build an even more promising future for their future generations. They quickly bowed their heads even lower before Lian and shouted with all their might, willingly accepting the sacrifices they were about to face.
Lian observed them with satisfaction and reached out his hand toward them. Hundreds of black runes appeared in the air, leaving the cultivators astonished. As they tried to fix their gaze on the runes, their hearts almost stopped beating. It was as if a bloodthirsty demon from hell was staring back at them.
Some of those present spat blood while others trembled, shocked by the power emanating from the runes. They quickly gathered around the fifty old cultivators and moved, violently penetrating their bodies.
Screams echoed throughout the hall, torturing the ears of those present. Hours dragged on, but each minute felt like an eternity for the old cultivators. Those witnessing the scene felt their hearts tighten as they heard the incessant screams. Black blood stains splattered the surroundings while black runes ominously glowed in their eyes.
After a long period, the screams finally ceased. Suddenly, a torrent of overwhelming Qi burst through the hall, carrying with it a powerful and, at the same time, bloody and sinister aura. A shiver ran down the spines of everyone present, but the astonishment was even greater. They immediately recognized that powerful aura—it was the same as the patriarch emitted, the mark of a cultivator in the Meridian Transformation Realm!
Minutes passed, but the pressure everyone felt only got higher. Some realized that the Qi was becoming increasingly intense. Suddenly, a thunderous boom resounded through the hall, causing everyone to shrink back.
The thunderous boom echoed from the bodies of the old cultivators. Qi, several times more powerful, burst forth like a hurricane, pressing down on everyone like a divine hammer. Some of the more experienced ones understood, with great fear, the significance of this power. It was the power emanating from a core, something reserved only for the legendary cultivators that existed within the largest and most powerful clans on the continent.
All fifty old ones broke through multiple realms and reached the legendary Core Formation realm. In this realm, each of them could take on ten people with the same power as the former patriarch and easily defeat them.
Even the younger cultivators, who didn't fully grasp the meaning of this power, felt in their souls and bodies how formidable these elders had become. They could barely breathe properly in their presence. The clan was truly going through an unprecedented change.