C10 A True Legend

"Stand up."

Ling Chen's gaze remained unfazed as Yang Tianci suddenly knelt before him, betraying no surprise as though he had anticipated this moment. He simply uttered three words with serene composure.

"Yes."

Yang Tianci responded, rising to his feet with reverence.

Stealing a glance at Ling Chen, Yang Tianci's heart surged with tumultuous emotions.

Five centuries earlier, the Yang family's forebear, Yang Shanhe, vanished after founding the family. His parting words to his descendants were, "In five hundred years, a noble individual will arrive at the Yang family. This person will be a once-celestial warrior, bearing the latter four forms of the Cloudstrider sword... You must treat him with utmost respect, as you would our ancestor, and as an honored guest!"

"His presence will ensure the enduring peace of the Yang family through the ages..."

"Strive to fulfill his every request!"

With those words, Yang Shanhe departed from the Yang family.

As time marched on, the five-hundredth anniversary of the ancestor's departure arrived.

Just when the Yang family members were on the verge of forgetting this edict, Ling Chen made his unexpected entrance.

"I never thought the ancestor's prediction would come true."

"But the ancestor mentioned he was once a formidable warrior; how can he appear so youthful?"

Yang Tianci pondered with astonishment.

"What's on your mind?" Ling Chen asked abruptly, his tone icy.

"Nothing," Yang Tianci quickly replied, lifting his head only to lock eyes with Ling Chen.

Yet, that mere look sent chills down Yang Tianci's spine, instilling an involuntary fear deep within him.

His eyes, profound as the sea and undisturbed by any storm, had an effect on Yang Tianci that not even the presence of the old ancestor had elicited.

Unable to sustain the gaze, Yang Tianci promptly averted his eyes.

"How did Yang Shanhe know I would come to the Yang family after five hundred years?" Ling Chen inquired, his smile tinged with irony.

"Ancestor, I am just as unaware," Yang Tianci replied, shaking his head with a wry smile. "When the Ancestor left, he simply instructed us to await your arrival, revealing nothing more."

"Is that so?" Ling Chen nodded, accepting the response.

He knew Yang Tianci wouldn't lie.

Nor would the other dare to.

Yet, Ling Chen's curiosity was piqued.

He had never mentioned his rebirth to anyone, so how did Yang Shanhe know he would arrive at the Yang family five centuries later? Could his rebirth have been more than mere chance?

A sense of foreboding thickened in Ling Chen's mind.

Eventually, Ling Chen exhaled deeply, putting the thoughts aside.

"Alright, doesn't that young upstart Yang Shanhe have anything to say to me?" Ling Chen asked with a hint of nonchalance.

At these words, Yang Tianci couldn't suppress a wry smile.

He, the venerable ancestor of the Yang family, reduced to "young upstart" in Ling Chen's terms.

Imagine the astonishment if word got out.

"Ancestor, there was a letter left behind," Yang Tianci said, producing a yellowed letter that he had always carried close, never daring to part with it.

Ling Chen's demeanor unchanged, he accepted and unfolded the letter.

"My dear foster father,"

"All is well with me. Four thousand years ago, your eldest son retreated into the mountains with his wife. Known now as the Medical Sage, he draws countless seekers annually. Yet, he remains true to your teachings, vowing to heal only the righteous and to never stray from the healer's path..."

Ling Chen's face broke into a gratified smile.

Of the four children he had taken in, the eldest was the least concerned with fame or fortune, and his medical expertise had been fully absorbed by him...

Thankfully, the child had not let him down.

"The second son founded the Alchemy Guild five millennia ago and now resides in the Central Region, the Guild's headquarters. He has risen to the rank of president, a man second to none. But he's so engulfed in his duties that even my attempts to visit him there are often in vain..."

Ling Chen nodded silently.

The second son's gift for alchemy was indeed the most remarkable among the siblings. His founding of the Alchemy Guild was something Ling Chen had anticipated.

"The youngest has devoted himself to cultivation for thousands of years, much like his eldest brother, roaming the lands far and wide. Yet his legend persists in the martial world. Rumor has it he has ascended to the rank of Almighty, a peerless figure across the Heavensfall Continent, now known as the Cloud Sovereign..."

"Yi'er is the least accomplished of us all. He has not managed to honor our foster father's legacy, only establishing a modest Yang family. Yet I have never dared to forget my foster father's teachings. Night and day, I replay his words in my dreams, heeding his guidance. For thousands of years, I have never once strayed from his path."

"Now that I have encountered my second brother in the Central Region, I will visit our foster father again if time permits."

"My sons all long to see you."

...

As Ling Chen perused the contents of the envelope, a look of reminiscence washed over his face.

He was transported back nine thousand years.

Before him stood not the Yang family...

But a dilapidated little wooden hut.

With a wooden stick in hand, he chased after four mischievous children, spanking them until they howled in protest.

Now, those four children had all grown up.

One had become the era's Medical Sage...

One had become the Cloud Sovereign...

One had become the strongest in the Alchemy Guild...

One had founded the foremost family...

"You no longer need my protection as you once did," Ling Chen mused, taking a deep breath filled with emotion, his eyes beginning to well up with tears.

Yang Tianci stood silently to the side, careful not to interrupt.

After a short pause, Ling Chen reached into his robe and laid something on the table.

"These are the final four techniques of the Cloudstrider sword."

At these words, Yang Tianci's body shook, and his eyes shone with wild joy.

The final techniques of the Cloudstrider!

The Yang family had waited five hundred years for this moment!

Despite their efforts over the centuries, the Cloudstrider's complexities had eluded even their brightest minds, leaving them unable to decipher even a single technique!

Now, with the reappearance of these techniques, Yang Tianci's excitement was palpable.

"Thank you, Ancestor!" Yang Tianci exclaimed with joy.

"Mm." Ling Chen remained composed, speaking evenly, "Additionally, do not speak of my affairs with Yang Shanhe to anyone. No matter who asks, keep it to yourself. Understood?"

Ling Chen fixed his gaze on Yang Tianci, his eyes emitting a piercing chill.

The individual visibly shuddered, nodding immediately without the slightest hesitation.

Ling Chen's gaze was even more daunting than that of the revered Ancestor!

"By the way, I met your grandson today," Ling Chen said as he stood, his tone laced with a hint of amusement. "Quite the proud young man, Yang Xiao, isn't it?"

"Yes," Yang Tianci confirmed with a series of eager nods. "I had no idea the Ancestor had already met him. If he has caused any inconvenience, I will have him apologize to you at once!"

"Hey, I never said he was a problem. What's the rush?" Ling Chen chided gently. "Besides, he's going to be my classmate. How would you have me face others at the academy if you do this?"

"Academy?" Yang Tianci blurted out, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Ancestor, you're attending the Empire Academy?"

"Is there an issue with that?" Ling Chen asked, a smile playing on his lips.

"No, not at all," Yang Tianci stammered, his mind reeling with the peculiar turn of events. The Ancestor, worshipped by Yang Shanhe as a deity, was actually going to school? Who would believe such a tale? Yang Shanhe would surely be astounded beyond words if he were to find out.

"Nevertheless, Ancestor, there's no need for concern. Regarding the Empire Academy, the Yang family holds shares there," Yang Tianci said with a smile. "When the academy was founded, I invested in a 70% stake, making me quite the shareholder. Should you have any requests, please feel free to ask."

"I do have a request, but it's not about the academy," Ling Chen stated.

"Please, Ancestor, go ahead."

"I wish to take the Cloudstrider," Ling Chen declared, his eyes narrowing with determination.

He was in need of a weapon that suited him, and the Cloudstrider seemed to be an excellent choice.

"Very well, Ancestor, please come with me," Yang Tianci responded, nodding.

He didn't question Ling Chen's motives for wanting the Cloudstrider, nor did he dare to inquire further. As someone even Yang Shanhe wouldn't dare to question, Yang Tianci certainly didn't have the audacity. If Ling Chen desired it, what harm would there be in offering up the entire Yang family to him?

The two made their way through the corridors of the Yang family estate and entered a storage room.

At the far end of the room, Yang Tianci triggered some hidden mechanism. A series of thuds echoed through the space, and a burst of blue light emanated from the wall, revealing a secret door.

Behind it lay an exquisite sword.

Yang Tianci retrieved it and handed it to Ling Chen, "The Cloudstrider sword has been with my Yang family for millennia. Now that it's in the hands of our ancestor, it has found its rightful place."

"Fine sword," Ling Chen remarked, feeling its weight.

The blade was impeccably sharp, perfectly balanced in length. Every inch was crafted to the highest standard.

A torrent of spiritual power erupted from the sword, as if rebelling against Ling Chen, causing it to shake violently.

"Be still," Ling Chen commanded.

At his words, the Cloudstrider, which had been shaking fiercely, immediately calmed and became docile.

"I'll accept this sword," Ling Chen said, stowing the Cloudstrider in his storage bag. "It's getting late; I should head back. I'll come by for a visit when time permits."

"Won't the ancestor stay the night?" Yang Tianci inquired. "The Guild of Warriors has ample space, and many rooms are available. I can have the servants prepare dishes to the ancestor's liking right away."

"No, perhaps another time," Ling Chen declined.

With that, he turned and departed.

Yang Tianci remained silent, respectfully escorting him to the entrance and watching as he left.

Only when Ling Chen's silhouette had vanished into the distance did Yang Tianci breathe a sigh of relief, realizing his back was soaked with sweat.

"It's hard to believe that after all these years, the figure our ancestor longed to see has finally emerged," Yang Tianci murmured, a touch of melancholy in his voice.

"Master, who is that man?" a guard asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Him?" Yang Tianci's eyebrows arched slightly.

He was reminded of a question he had posed to Yang Shanhe five hundred years prior.

Yang Shanhe had offered little explanation, leaving him with these words:

"He is a true legend."