The next day, Shenlong left the Qin Clan's ancestral home. His father, though visibly saddened by his departure, understood that this journey was something Shenlong needed to undertake alone. There was no ceremony, no fanfare. Only a few of the clan's elders watched him leave, some with pity in their eyes, others with curiosity, but none dared speak to him.
"Let them watch," Shenlong thought, his back straight and head held high. "I'll return one day, but not as the person they remember."
As he walked through the gates and into the bustling streets of the city beyond, Shenlong could feel the weight of the pendant against his chest. The legacy it held was like a guiding light, beckoning him toward his next destination. But where to start? He knew the answer lay beyond the confines of his clan, in the larger world where sects and academies dominated the cultivation landscape.
There was one place that came to mind immediately—the Heavenly Dragon Sect. It was one of the most prestigious sects in the region, known for its powerful cultivation techniques and its brutal entrance exams. Only the most talented and determined could hope to gain entry.
"They won't be able to call me trash there," Shenlong thought with determination. "I'll show them what I'm capable of."