Lin Feng's return to the Azure Dragon Clan wasn't the triumphant homecoming he might have envisioned. Undercurrents of resentment rippled through the crowds assembled to witness his arrival. Success, it seemed, bred envy as easily as admiration."He struts like a peacock, that upstart," sneered a voice Lin Feng instantly recognized. Lin Hu, his former sparring partner, stood amidst a group of sneering youths, their numbers hovering in the middling range – a constant reminder of his own initial weakness.Petty rivals. Lin Feng had almost forgotten about them, distracted by the wider world he'd glimpsed in the trade city. Now, their scorn was a welcome annoyance, a fresh fuel to stoke his system's potential."Perhaps he stumbled upon a dragon's hoard," another scoffed, "Bought his powers with gold instead of earning them.""Or it was a demon's pact!" a third proclaimed dramatically, earning nervous glances from a few onlookers.Lin Feng allowed a predatory smile to spread across his face. Demons, pacts, hidden treasures... they painted a far more intriguing picture than the truth of his relentless strategizing. Let them weave their tales; fear and awe were valuable tools to wield.He inclined his head towards the cluster of rivals, his gaze settling on Lin Hu. "It seems my efforts have left you deeply disappointed, cousin. Perhaps a friendly spar would ease your troubled hearts?"His offer was met with a mix of startled looks and calculating gleams. They craved a chance to humble him, to prove his rise a mere fluke. And Lin Feng intended to give them exactly what they desired – a crushing defeat they would never forget.Over the next few days, Lin Feng turned the training grounds into his stage. Each challenge, each display of escalating power against increasingly desperate opponents garnered an audience. Yet, his victories weren't solely about brute force. A cutting remark here, a subtle favor granted to another rival to incite discord amongst his enemies - Lin Feng manipulated the game on multiple levels.News of his prowess spread, reaching Yuexin in her secluded chambers. A satisfied smile touched her lips as she dismissed her worried maid. Her brother wasn't merely surviving; he was thriving amidst the vipers, his ruthlessness blossoming in ways that mirrored her own twisted desires. It was time to fan the flames.A "chance" encounter with a disgruntled elder, whispered insinuations about Lin Hu's connections with known troublemakers, a forged missive hinting at a plot to sabotage Lin Feng's next match...Yuexin wove her schemes from the shadows, paving the way for her brother's ascension while relishing the chaos he ignited.Amongst the spectators, one pair of eyes followed Lin Feng with a different intensity. Mei Lin, a disciple known for her gentle spirit and middling power, couldn't reconcile the brutal young man on display with the one who'd helped her retrieve a cherished book from a precarious ledge weeks ago. A spark of protectiveness ignited within her, a counterpoint to the fear and excitement rippling through the crowd.Word of Lin Feng's dominance, and the whispers orchestrated by Yuexin, reached the elders. Intrigue replaced their initial scorn. They summoned him, a test thinly veiled as a reward for his success in the trade city. In the council chamber's oppressive gloom, they offered greater resources, access to forbidden techniques...all contingent upon besting a "final challenge."Lin Xiao, a disciple from a minor branch of the clan, stepped forward. His favorability score was surprisingly high, fueled by a relentless drive to exceed expectations. A worthy tool, Lin Feng decided. This wasn't a mere test; it was an orchestrated spectacle to cement his superiority.The bathhouse incident was a stroke of twisted genius. Lin Feng, stripped of his outward finery during the ritual cleansing, appeared momentarily vulnerable. Gasps rippled through the assembled crowd, especially from the female disciples drawn by curiosity and the promise of a glimpse behind his usual aloof façade. Even a few disapproving elders couldn't resist a furtive peek.His physique, honed by countless training sessions, was on full display. Yet, it was the raw power coiling beneath his skin, the system-revealed favorability scores hovering above each awestruck individual, that painted the true picture of his dominance.He played the scene like a master puppeteer. A well-timed stumble, a feigned blush as a young maiden averted her gaze, a subtly suggestive comment that turned an elder's disapproval into a begrudging chuckle. With each laugh, each whispered assessment, Lin Feng felt his control solidify.The challenge against Lin Xiao was a mere formality. Lin Feng dominated the fight, yet pulled his final strike, feigning a moment's exhaustion that made his victory appear hard-won. It fueled the crowd's excitement, and more importantly, sowed a seed of doubt in the minds of the elders. His power was undeniable, but his ambition...that remained a delightful, dangerous mystery.Later, alone in his newly acquired chambers, Lin Feng reveled in the system's triumphant chimes. Favors gained, his position secured, and the first few enticing members of his harem gravitated into his orbit. Yet, a single scene lingered in his mind: Mei Lin, her gaze filled not with lust or awe, but with a protectiveness that sparked an unfamiliar warmth within him. Power, he realized, came in many forms…and he intended to possess them all.