Lin Xun fell silent.
He should have been very happy to find out about his background, but after learning that his father had been killed, his mother had disappeared, and his grandfather and other immediate family members had died, he didn’t feel the slightest hint of joy.
On the contrary, an overweening hatred filled his heart!
The tremendous Lin Clan had fallen to infighting because of their desire for power and benefits. Many forces of the Forbidden City even took the opportunity to attack the Lin Clan. Lin Xun didn’t know whom he should direct his hatred.
Hate his own clansmen for their incompetence?
Hate the rich and powerful families who took advantage of the situation to take a slice of the Lin Clan’s wealth?
Or should he hate everyone?
Lamentable!
Lin Xun thought of the old man’s lamentable cry, and a wave of sadness rushed to his heart. Internal trouble, external chaos, and deterioration were how the Lin Family ended!
Lin Xun took a deep breath and asked, “Elder, is the Chi Family one of the culprits who took the Lin Family’s wealth? Is that why they wanted to stop me from going to the Forbidden City?”“Your speculation isn’t bad. The aristocratic clans who took part in seizing the Lin Family’s wealth indeed wouldn’t want to see you return to the Forbidden City.”
“Because you are the son of Lin Wenjing and Luo Qingxun, and your grandfather was the former head of the Lin Clan, so you are the one most qualified to become the successor of the Lin Family and take over the family.”
Lin Xun’s expression remained calm, and his jet-black eyes were devoid of emotions. “They shouldn’t be afraid of my identity. After all, it should be very easy for them to kill me.”
The old man’s eyes flashed a hint of admiration. He had never thought that Lin Xun would remain so calm and could identify the problem so quickly.
Not everyone could do that.
“Yes, some people don’t want you to return to the Forbidden City, but some people do. For example, the Chi Clan fears some forces that want you to return.”
The old man’s sentence was awkward sounding, but Lin Xun understood it right away.
Ultimately, everything seemed to be related to him, but in truth, it was a competition between two different forces!
The Chi Clan was one of the forces against his return to the Forbidden City.
Who were the ones that hoped to see him return?
The old man quickly revealed the answer, “Someone from the imperial family.”
The imperial family!
Lin Xun trembled inwardly. How could this matter concern the imperial family?
The imperial family wasn’t just a title. It represented a supreme status and authority in the empire!
”As for who it is, I can’t tell you just yet.”
The old man’s expression had become a little strange as he explained, “You only need to know that you only have the opportunity to return to the Forbidden City because of an influential person in the imperial family.”
Lin Xun was completely taken aback and his mind went numb. “Why won’t you tell me?”
A helpless smile curved around the old man’s lips. “Because even Miss and I aren’t sure who the influential person in the imperial family is.”
After a thought, the old man continued, “Perhaps, when the time is right, the influential person will tell you everything.”
Lin Xun’s heart pounded. Even the Black Glory Sacred Hall can’t find out who the influential person is. That person has to be very mysterious.
“I’ve told you almost everything I know. You will have to find out the rest by yourself. After all, the storm started because of you. Only you will be able to come closer to the truth,” said the old man, feeling a weight off his chest.
Lin Xun took a deep breath and gave a cupped fist salute, “Elder, thank you.”
From the moment he left Donglin City, the old man had arranged for him to cultivate in Blood Kill Camp. Then, under the care of Xue Jin, he achieved first place in the provincial examination in Haze City.
Even on his journey to Forbidden City, the old man and the Black Glory Sacred Hall provided him with a lot of information and help.
Now, the old man even told him about his background and the past. Lin Xun was full of gratitude for the old man.
He knew that he couldn’t easily find out the truth if he investigated himself!
“Look, the Forbidden City is in the distance!”
The old man suddenly straightened his back and peered into the distance.
Lin Xun snapped out of his rambling thoughts and lifted his head. His eyes went wide with shock and his pupils shrank.
He saw an ancient city looming in the distance, an endless mass of skyscrapers towering above the clouds.
Billowing violet qi floated over the city and the setting sun bathed the entire city in a sacred and stunning, golden glow. It looked so magnificent and grand that it looked like it had existed since ancient times!
The majestic spectacle would astonish anyone.
The old man and Lin Xun slowly descended. When they looked at the Forbidden City again, the scenery was different.
The outline of the city resembled a mountain range. The vermilion walls and golden roof tiles contrasted with each other beautifully. Even the city gate was very grand, standing hundreds of feet tall.
Deeper in the city were mountain peaks suspended in mid-air and all clad in a dazzling and gorgeous divine light.
All sorts of the ancient buildings stood on the mountain peaks. They all had a different style—some simple, some ancient, some beautiful, and some grand.
From a glance, there seemed to be close to one hundred mountain peaks floating in the air!
It was really hard to imagine how there would be so many mountain peaks suspended in a city. Moreover, each one was covered with rows upon rows of buildings and resembled cities in the sky!
Lin Xun learned that the suspended mountain peaks were owned by the seven high clans and many middle-class aristocratic clans in the Forbidden City.
The world called them the Mountains of Aristocratic Clans!
Only the aristocratic clans could occupy one of the mountain peaks and develop it into a place for their clan.
This was a privilege of the aristocratic clans, and it showed their monstrous power and status.
However, there were a total of seventy-two mountains. In other words, only the strongest among the aristocratic clans could occupy a mountain peak.
For example, the seven high clans and several powerful middle-class aristocratic clans with strong foundations occupied the current available mountains. Let alone the lower-class aristocratic clans, not even ordinary middle-class aristocratic clans were able to own one of the mountains.
It was already dark when they arrived at the gate of the Forbidden City.
A black carriage was parked at the gate as though it was waiting for someone.
The old man led Lin Xun over to the carriage and the driver handed him a sealed envelope.
“Wow, what speed!”
There were two letters in the envelope. The old man couldn’t help but gasp in surprise when he read the first. He smiled and said to Lin Xun, “Chi Cangfeng has been locked up, and he isn’t allowed to leave the Chi Family for three years.”
Lin Xun nodded. He knew that Chi Cangfeng had broken the agreement among the influential figures by attacking him despite being at the Spirit Sea Stage. As a result, he had to suffer punishment.
However, in Lin Xun’s view, it wasn’t so much a punishment but a warning as he was just locked in his own Chi Clan.
The old man opened the second letter, but he fell into contemplation as he read it.
Lin Xun couldn’t help but ask, “Senior, is it related to me?”
The old man nodded, his eyes flashing a strange light. “You guessed right, this letter is for you.”
He handed the letter to Lin Xun. The letter was written on the extremely rare, golden jade paper and was marked with the blazing Violet Glory Flower symbol.
The imperial family!
When Lin Xun saw this symbol, he couldn’t help trembling. The coins of the empire were all engraved with three completely different patterns on the front.
An azure deer raising its head and stepping into the air represented the Imperial Qinglu Academy.
An exuberant sacred sword represented the empire’s military.
And the cluster of Violet Glory Flower blazing like flames represented the imperial family!
Lin Xun immediately knew the letter was from the imperial family.
Only two sentences were written in the letter. “When you enter the Forbidden City, you can turn the world upside down, but if you want to see me, you must first take on the responsibility of being the successor of the Lin Family! Otherwise, leave the Forbidden City immediately and I guarantee you will never have to worry again!”
Lin Xun clenched his hands as he stared at the quirky handwriting. He knew that the sender was an influential figure of the imperial family!
The letter was a test for him. If he entered the Forbidden City, he had to take on the responsibility of being the successor of the Lin Family!
If he didn’t enter the Forbidden City, he could exchange it for a lifetime of no worry, but he would have to give up on revenge!
Lin Xun was the one to decide whether to enter or not.
The old man silently stared at Lin Xun as if waiting for his decision.
Unexpectedly, Lin Xun didn’t need to think about it. He shredded the letter and said calmly, “I have already come here. No one can make me leave now!”
A corner of his lips curled upwards. “Of course, I also want to see why the influential figure says that I can turn the Forbidden City upside down.”
The old man knew that Lin Xun had already made a choice, so he couldn't help saying, “Actually, if I didn’t have this letter, I would have asked you about your plans in the Forbidden City, but obviously, there is no need for me to ask that anymore.”
“Elder, you and the influential figure in the Forbidden City...”
The old man seemed to know what Lin Xun was going to ask. “Neither an enemy nor a friend.”
Lin Xun fell into deep thoughts.
In the dark night, the carriage steered into the Forbidden City.
That night, the Forbidden City was very calm.
But many top forces knew that the child of the Lin Family didn’t die and had returned to the Forbidden City that night.
Some people were nervous, some people frowned, and some people thought little of it. After all, despite how powerful the Lin Family was in the past, it had already deteriorated and fallen apart.
Moreover, how many waves could a teenager stir up in the Forbidden City?