The younger generation of the various families had not yet returned to Liangshui City from the outskirts, but news of the gathering had already found its way back to the city through various channels.

In the Fang Mansion, sandalwood incense swirled through Songtao Pavilion, but it couldn’t dispel the sudden, oppressive gloom that had descended.

...

Fang Lingyuan sat in the main seat, holding a recently delivered express report. His knuckles unconsciously tapped a dull rhythm on the armrest of the zitan wood chair. TAP, TAP.

On his usually unreadable face, his brows were now knitted tightly, as if weighed down by an invisible storm cloud.

His gaze swept across the paper, each word a cold stone dropping into the lake of his heart.

Standing below, Elder Fang Yuan’s graying eyebrows were nearly twisted into a knot. He watched the Patriarch’s expression intently, the air in the Quiet Chamber seemingly frozen.

"Lin Ao... has demonstrated the Late Stage Bone Refining Limit Realm and Perfection Realm Breaking Army Spear Technique."

After a moment, Fang Lingyuan finally spoke, his voice low and tinged with a palpable gravity.

"He defeated Yue Lingtian, He Qingyan, Sun Qing, and our own Fang Hong in succession, becoming the recognized number one of the younger generation!"

"What...?"

Elder Fang Yuan sucked in a sharp breath, his face filled with shock. It was a long moment before he spoke, his voice trembling with astonishment.

"The Late Stage Bone Refining Limit, and Perfection Realm Breaking Army Spear Technique?... That boy from the Lin Family, he hid his strength far too well. I’m afraid the Lin Family is about to completely dominate the younger generation in terms of prestige."

A flicker of worry crossed his eyes as he contemplated the consequences of this news.

...

The atmosphere grew heavy. Fang Lingyuan’s gaze continued downward, landing on the second half of the report.

His tightly furrowed brow relaxed ever so slightly.

Elder Yuan, who had been closely watching Fang Lingyuan’s expression, immediately noticed the change and leaned forward to look.

Fang Lingyuan’s tapping fingers stilled. He gently pushed the secret report toward Fang Yuan, his tone softening slightly.

"You should read the rest."

Fang Yuan quickly took it, his eyes scanning it hastily.

He saw the lines describing how "Fang Han revealed an impressive Body Technique to easily defeat Lin Hu" and that "Fang Han’s Talent was judged the greatest of Liangshui’s younger generation."

The tension on his face finally melted away like a thawing river of ice, replaced by a smile of sincere joy and relief.

"Excellent! What a boy!"

Fang Yuan’s voice was filled with unrestrained joy.

"He defeated Lin Hu again, and even more decisively than last time! And he displayed an impressive Body Technique on the stage, too. That boy’s... progress is so fast, it’s simply beyond imagination!"

He looked up at Fang Lingyuan, a brilliant light rekindled in his eyes.

"Patriarch, although Lin Ao can be called the number one of the younger generation, that is only for now."

"Given time, once Fang Han has matured, it’s still unknown who will be stronger!"

Fang Lingyuan nodded slightly. The gloom on his face gradually dissipated, replaced by deep contemplation and a hint of relief.

He slowly leaned back into his chair, his gaze growing distant.

"Lin Ao may have won the present, and his fame is unrivaled for the moment."

"But Fang Han is not far behind. As long as he continues to grow, he will naturally be able to catch up to, and even surpass, Lin Ao."

He paused, his tone turning resolute.

"Fang Han has won the Fang Family great face this time. He must be rewarded. Elder Fang Yuan, I want you to personally deliver his reward later!"

"I understand!"

Fang Yuan accepted the order with a solemn expression.

「Meanwhile, deep within the Lin Mansion.」

"Hahaha! Excellent! Excellent! The heavens have blessed my Lin Family!"

Patriarch Lin Yaotian of the Lin Family’s booming laughter echoed through the council hall.

He was also holding an express report, his face flushed and showing unconcealed ecstasy and pride.

"Ao’er defeated the other four prodigies, claiming the top spot among Liangshui’s younger generation and greatly boosting our Lin Family’s prestige! Pass down my order: we will hold a grand banquet tonight to celebrate Ao’er’s success!"

"Ao’er has truly made a stunning debut this time, completely cementing his leading position among the younger generation. I can only imagine the looks on the faces of those old fools from the Yue, He, Sun, and Fang Families right now!"

Elder Lin Shan, seated below, took the express report to read. He then stroked his beard and smiled, his face full of smug satisfaction and his eyes glinting.

However, as his eyes swept to the end of the report, his smile faded considerably.

Lin Yaotian noticed his change in expression and suspiciously took the report back from him, looking at the latter half.

Afterward, the ecstasy on his face also diminished quite a bit.

"Lin Hu was actually defeated by that Qilin’er from the Fang Family again."

"Everyone says the Fang Family’s Qilin’er, Fang Han, possesses terrifying Talent, the greatest among Liangshui’s younger generation. His fame is even... even faintly threatening to overshadow Lin Ao’s."

Lin Yaotian’s voice turned somewhat gloomy.

This piece of intelligence about Fang Han was like a fish bone stuck in his throat, souring his good mood considerably.

Of course, all in all, he was still in a decent mood. After all, his family’s Lin Ao was now the undisputed number one of Liangshui City’s younger generation.

Unlike the relatively good moods in the Fang and Lin Families, the core chambers of Liangshui City’s other three great families were currently shrouded in a solemn, even oppressive, atmosphere.

In the Yue Family, Patriarch Yue Xiong listened to the Elder’s report and remained silent for a long time.

He suddenly slammed a fist on the stone table beside him. Under a terrifying, crushing force, the hard stone table disintegrated into dust.

His face was ashen as he squeezed the words out through clenched teeth.

"The Lin Family produced a Lin Ao, who defeated the other four prodigies, including Lingtian, and became the recognized number one of the younger generation."

"The Fang Family produced a Fang Han, who at seventeen has already reached the Middle Stage of Bone Refining plus Swordsmanship Perfection, becoming recognized as the one with the strongest Talent in the younger generation."

"And what does my Yue Family have? If this continues, I’m afraid Liangshui City will become the domain of the Fang and Lin Families."

His words were filled with resentment and fear.

In the He Family, Patriarch He Wen’s face was as dark as still water. The two Iron Galls he was rolling in his hand spun faster and faster, emitting a grating sound that frayed the nerves.

After hearing the news, he slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, his gaze was profound.

"Lin Ao is showing his full strength and his Momentum is unstoppable. No one in the younger generation can challenge him."

"What’s even more terrifying is that Fang Han from the Fang Family... His potential is even more frightening than Lin Ao’s."

"In the future, I fear the younger generation of my He Family will be suppressed by these two."

His tone was filled with deep worry and caution.

In the Sun Family’s council hall, the atmosphere was just as oppressive.

Patriarch Sun Mang of the Sun Family had a fiery temper, but he was uncharacteristically quiet at this moment. He didn’t erupt, but his face was terrifyingly dark, like a ferocious beast suppressing its rage.

He paced back and forth, each step heavy. After a long while, he finally stopped and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"The Lin Family produced a fierce dragon, and the Fang Family produced a Qilin’er... Why doesn’t my Sun Family have such good fortune?"

His eyes held both envy and deep apprehension.

Besides the five great families, the smaller families, martial arts schools, and other powers beneath them in the city also received the news.

They perceived that the Fang and Lin Families had worthy successors, guaranteeing their future prosperity, while the Yue, He, and Sun Families were suffering from a gap in talent and clearly falling behind. Certain ideas began to quietly take root.