Everyone standing here was a clan member in the Blood Exchange Realm.
A majestic voice suddenly boomed across the square, and the thousands of people gathered there instantly fell deathly silent.
The majestic voice rang out with solemn gravity, echoing across the entire plaza:
"O, esteemed ancestors of the Lin Family, we, your humble descendants, present offerings of clear wine and modest fare to your sacred spirits."
As the words faded, the clan members of all five branches bowed in unison.
"The Lin Family has stood for over two thousand four hundred years, weathering many rises and falls. Our ancestors built this house with sword and spear, passing down a legacy of loyalty, courage, and integrity. Future generations must remember: The Lin bloodline must never be severed. The Lin pride must never be broken. The Lin spirit must never be shaken."
Lin Yan stood among the ranks of the Blood Exchange Realm, his head bowed as he listened.
He could feel the breathing of his clansmen grow heavy around him. Thousands of people worshipping a common ancestor, thousands of bloodlines tracing back to a single source—in that moment, the sense of belonging and glory born from their shared blood became palpable.
Lin Yan believed that no matter what private schemes his clansmen harbored, in this moment, they all shared a single thought: ’Strengthen the family!’
"Today is the eve of the new year, a time to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. May the spirits of our ancestors in heaven bless the children of the Lin Family, that our Martial Arts may flourish and our clan’s fortune endure."
Three bows and nine kowtows.
Thousands of people prostrated themselves as one, the sound of their robes sweeping the ground as uniform as a receding tide.
After the ancestral worship ceremony came the clan banquet.
The Lin Family servants quickly set up over a hundred tables in the plaza before the ancestral hall, stretching from the foot of the hall’s steps to the far end of the square.
As dusk fell, hundreds of lanterns were lit in unison, bathing the entire plaza in light as bright as day.
The foremost seats were reserved for the elders. The five clan elders sat in the center, flanked by members of the Shou Generation from each branch. Behind them were the seats for the Ming Generation.
But for the younger clan members, two tables to the right of the front row drew the most attention.
At the first table sat only nine people.
The ten strongest of the Ming Generation—or rather, nine of them. Everyone except Lin Mingya was present.
Lin Yan’s gaze swept over the table. He saw Brother Song leaning back in his chair, chatting idly with the person beside him. Across from Brother Song, another young man shot him occasional, dark glances.
Lin Mingxi sat at the far edge of the table, dressed in frost-white martial attire, her hair held up by a simple wooden pin. She spoke to no one.
Lin Mingchen and Lin Mingchi of the Second Branch sat in the middle. One was gentle and smiling, the other silent as stone.
"When will I get to sit at that table..."
A young man from the Third Branch murmured beside Lin Yan.
"Forget about that table," someone nearby said, dashing his hopes. "You should be thinking about the other one."
"Like hell. The other one’s the newcomers’ table. It’s only for those who’ve reached the Blood Exchange Realm within the last two years. I’m long past that mark."
The young man beside Lin Yan swore, then turned to him. "Lin Yan, you need to work hard. Try to get a seat at the newcomers’ table at next year’s clan banquet."
"You give me too much credit, Brother Mingqi."
"You’ve mastered the Four-Phase Condensing Gang Sword, and you have a whole year. As long as you break through to the Blood Exchange Second Transformation, getting into the top three might be tough, but making the top ten is a safe bet."
"Mingqi’s right. You still have a chance, Lin Yan. Don’t slack off. Our Third Branch is small, and we don’t have a single person in the top ten newcomers right now. Try to get a seat at that table next year and bring some glory to our branch."
Another young man at the table added his encouragement. Everyone seated here was a Blood Exchange Realm member from the Third Branch, but most had already passed the two-year mark for newcomers.
The Third Branch was small; only two members, including Lin Yan, had broken through to the Blood Exchange Realm this year. The other’s skills were average, with no hope of challenging for a spot among the top ten newcomers.
"I’ll do my best."
Hearing them all cheering him on, Lin Yan felt it wouldn’t be right to feign any more modesty.
「The sixth day of the first month.」
Lin Yan finally found a suitable mission at the Task Hall.
Guard the East River Waters. Reward: five hundred Contribution Points per month.
The East River was the largest river in Shandong Dao, spanning its eastern and western territories. It was a bustling artery for merchant ships, and the majority of trade, especially between prefectures, relied on this waterway.
However, this waterway, thousands of miles long, had also become a gathering place for countless water bandits.
The five-thousand-mile stretch of the East River Waters concealed over a hundred water bandit gangs of varying sizes. With its deep waters and mountainous terrain, these bandits were impossible to completely eradicate.
Many Martial Artists would even sneak into the river, make a quick score, and disappear.
To keep this channel open, the top powers in each prefecture dispatched men to guard the section of the waterway within their territory. In Qing State Prefecture, the Lin Family and three other great families were each responsible for a section, guaranteeing safe passage for merchant vessels.
For Lin Yan, choosing the East River mission wasn’t just about the five hundred Contribution Points; it was an opportunity to obtain Martial Arts Fruits from the water bandits.
He instructed a servant that if Miss Bai came looking for him, she could send a letter to him at the East River. Then, Lin Yan packed a few changes of clothes, strapped on his Abyssal Sword, and left the Lin Mansion, heading for the East River.

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