Lin Feng strode out of the arena, his head held high, despite his bruises from the duel with Lin Wei. The crowd's cheers faded, but he didn't need their praise; he had enough ego to fuel a small kingdom.
"Brother," Lin Wei called from behind, "you fought well."
Lin Feng glanced back, forcing a faint smile. "Thank you, Brother. But you're the real star here. After all, my flames can only light up so much."
Lin Wei, ever the honorable heir, nodded in solemn appreciation. "A star must shine for the family," he said, like he was quoting some inspirational speech their father might deliver. Lin Feng hid a smirk—he could practically see golden threads wrapping his brother like a gift box, one he'd only unwrap when the time was right.
As Lin Wei turned away, Lin Feng let his smile drop. "Shine all you want," he muttered under his breath, "just don't burn too close to my flame."
It wasn't long before an elder's retainer appeared, guiding Lin Feng through the winding corridors of the Starfall estate toward the Hall of Stars. Reserved for the family's most esteemed rituals, the Hall of Stars was a vast chamber filled with luminous carvings depicting the ancestors. Here, legends were shaped, and heirs transformed into true cultivators under the family's guiding stars—or, as Lin Feng saw it, a shadowy maze of power dynamics and expectation.
As he entered, his father, the Starfall Family Head, waited with the six Senior Elders and four Unit Commanders, each standing under an imposing statue of a past family immortal. The sheer power radiating from the gathered figures made the air hum with a near-audible intensity.
The Family Head gave a slow, approving nod, gesturing to the Senior Elders standing at the edge of the hall, each surrounded by the glow of their Path's elemental essence. At the head was Elder Starbreaker, a towering figure whose Star Path had made him nearly untouchable. Beside him was Elder Mooncradle, a graceful woman enveloped in silver Lunar Path energy.
Lin Wei, Lin Yang, and Lin Feng were instructed to kneel before the Elders, and one by one, they were introduced to their potential mentors. Lin Wei, as the golden heir, was first, naturally. Elder Starbreaker extended a hand, and Lin Wei stepped forward confidently, a symbol of unearned destiny if Lin Feng had ever seen one.
"Lin Wei, son of the Starfall family, the ancestors shine on you brightly. I would be honored to make you my disciple, if you would accept," Elder Starbreaker declared, his voice echoing through the hall.
Lin Wei clasped his hands in respect, bowing deeply. "It would be my honor, Elder Starbreaker."
Next was Lin Yang, who was called to stand before Elder Mooncradle. Her Lunar Path's aura cast an ethereal glow around her, and she regarded Lin Yang with interest. "You are bold, and your Time Path complements the moon's cycle," she said, her voice soft but unwavering. "If you wish, I will teach you to bend time's threads as if they were phases of the moon itself."
Lin Yang's eyes held a glint of excitement, though his response was careful, polite. "I would be grateful for your guidance, Elder Mooncradle."
Lin Feng's turn was next. He felt the familiar weight of the family's scrutiny, each gaze assessing the "third son," the seemingly unremarkable flame bearer in a family of celestial phenomena. His mind buzzed with possibilities and contingencies as he stepped forward.
His options weren't exactly promising. Elder Stormfront, whose Path of Wind was flashy yet inconsistent, would expect endless respect and deference, two things Lin Feng was disinclined to give. Then there was Elder Ironfist, whose Earth Path made him formidable but slower than Lin Feng preferred. The final option was Elder Blazeheart, a Fire Path cultivator himself, known for his ferocious approach to cultivation.
Lin Feng settled before Elder Blazeheart, whose intense gaze matched his own. Blazeheart's aura was akin to a roaring inferno, and he was infamous for his brutal training methods. Rumor had it he once forced a disciples to meditate in the heart of a volcano. Still, a Fire Path elder was an ideal fit for Lin Feng's dragon flames and—perhaps more importantly—a mentor who wouldn't smother his potential.
"Lin Feng," Blazeheart began, his eyes burning like embers. "Your flame is bold, but it lacks discipline. Raw power can be a double-edged sword if wielded improperly. Do you have the resolve to shape it?"
Lin Feng's lips curved into a faint smile. "Discipline, Elder Blazeheart, is something I've never lacked."
The elder's mouth twisted into something between a grin and a sneer. "Then prove it. My disciples endure training that would break even the strongest cultivators." His voice dropped to a dangerous murmur. "You won't receive any preferential treatment."
Lin Feng nodded, unbothered. If I needed preferential treatment, I'd be following my brothers like a faithful hound. He bowed deeply. "I look forward to learning the depths of the Fire Path under your guidance, Elder Blazeheart."
The elder laughed, a sound more akin to a growl. "Bold words. We'll see if your fire can handle the heat."
With the apprenticeships established, the Family Head stepped forward. "Lin Wei, Lin Yang, Lin Feng—you have each taken your first steps on a path that will demand every part of your spirit, body, and mind. Your mentors will prepare you, mold you, and, if necessary, break you to ensure your success."
Lin Feng held back an eye roll. This speech had an uncanny resemblance to something he'd heard at a corporate team-building retreat back in his first life. "Struggle makes you stronger," "Iron sharpens iron," and so on. But here, at least, it was true.
The Family Head turned his gaze on Lin Feng. "Third Son, Blazeheart will test you beyond your limits, and I expect nothing less than excellence."
Lin Feng suppressed a smirk. If you expect anything more than that, Father, you're in for a surprise.
The ceremony concluded, and the new disciples were dismissed. Elder Blazeheart led Lin Feng down a series of winding paths through the family grounds, finally arriving at a remote training hall surrounded by volcanic rocks and open pits of simmering lava. A sign outside read: "Warning: Only enter if you're willing to be cooked."
Blazeheart turned to him with a wicked grin. "This is your new training ground, boy. You'll become acquainted with every inch of it."
Lin Feng took in the pits of lava with an approving glance. "I will do my best to meet your expectations master" he said dryly.
"Take a seat. We start now."
Lin Feng's internal alarms went off, but he complied. Blazeheart watched him for a moment before striking a match. "First exercise is simple. Control your dragon flames enough to ignite this match and nothing else."
Lin Feng's eyebrow arched. "Is that all?"
Without missing a beat, Blazeheart tossed the match into a nearby lava pit. "Thought you might ask that." He conjured a new match and threw it in front of Lin Feng. "Catch it without your hands."
Lin Feng stared at the tiny matchstick now floating over bubbling lava. His flames flared as he extended a tendril of heat, trying to summon the fire without reducing the match to ashes.
After several tries—and nearly singeing his hair in the process—he finally caught the match, flicking it back toward Blazeheart. "Satisfied?"
Blazeheart gave a nod, a faint spark of approval in his eyes. "Good. Now do it blindfolded."
This man is really enjoying himself, Lin Feng thought, grabbing the cloth Blazeheart tossed at him. As he tied it around his eyes, his mind buzzed with irritation—and resolve. Blazeheart's methods were ridiculous, but Lin Feng recognized the underlying point: control. It would be impossible to master Dragon Fire if he couldn't wield it with surgical precision. Besides, he'd endured far worse to get where he was now.
After nearly an hour of "match catching," Blazeheart finally called a break, clapping him on the back with enough force to make Lin Feng stumble. "You're not as pathetic as I thought, my good disciple."
Lin Feng managed a weary grin. "High praise."
Blazeheart laughed. "You've got a lot to learn. But perhaps that arrogance of yours has a purpose after all."
Lin Feng laughed as well, though his mirth was laced with dark irony. Oh, it definitely has a purpose, old man. And soon enough, you'll find out exactly how far it can take me.
As Blazeheart explained the next exercise, Lin Feng's gaze drifted to the horizon, his mind racing with plans. Blazeheart was temporary, he was soon going to enter the academy located on entirely different continent he was also useful source of knowledge. But his ambitions stretched far beyond the elder's reach. Every move he made here was another step closer to the peak.