Chapter 7: Family Crisis
The history of the Yulan branch of the Azure Dragon clan was far too brief, merely a few thousand years. Compared to the ancient history of the Four Divine Beasts family, those few thousand years were nothing more than a single drop of water in a vast ocean.
A short history also meant weak strength!
Within this great canyon of the Celestial Sacrifice Mountain Range, they were looked down upon and bullied by other branches of the Azure Dragon clan. This was a common occurrence. Fortunately, the family had a strict decree—members of the same clan were not permitted to kill one another.
This was a strict decree, and no one dared to violate it.
Because of this, although the Yulan branch lived somewhat disgracefully here, at least they were not in danger of losing their lives. Baruch and the others could only endure, as any resistance would invite humiliation.
When strength was insufficient, there was no choice!
But now, a junior member of the family they had just welcomed, a junior who had arrived from the Yulan Continent, had effortlessly toyed with an upper-level god and several middle-level gods.
Baruch, Ryan, and the entire group looked at Linley in disbelief.
"Linley?" Baruch spoke, stunned.
Linley looked at Baruch and smiled. "Patriarch, let's go back quickly. I still don't know where I'll be staying."
"Right, right." Baruch snapped out of his shock. Although he didn't understand why Linley was so powerful, he wouldn't ask about it now. He immediately smiled and said, "Let's go. We're heading back."
The other members of the Yulan branch all looked at Linley with astonishment. This junior was far too strong!
"What are you all staring at?" Bebe's voice rang out. "What? Haven't you had enough of my boss's lesson just now? Do you want another round?"
Linley turned his head to look.
Asru and the others looked at Linley with terror in their eyes, unable to believe that everything that had just happened was real.
"Asru," Linley spoke. "You and I are both of the Azure Dragon clan, both of the Radin family! Since we are all members of the same family, fighting amongst ourselves will only make us a laughingstock if word gets out."
Asru stood there, dazed.
"The Yulan branch is also part of the Radin family," Linley said with a faint smile. "I am from the Yulan branch, and also from the Radin family. I don't want to see you causing trouble for us again. If something like that happens, I won't hesitate... to teach you a proper lesson."
O'Brien, Hiss, Tarosa, and the others were all standing by, smiling.
They all knew Linley's strength well. After the chaotic battle on Lulu Island, Linley's power had been fully revealed.
"Let's go." Linley took Delia's hand and walked with Baruch, Ryan, and the other family members toward the Yulan branch's residence. Only Asru and his group remained behind.
"Asru, sir, this..." One of the men beside Asru had a face full of confusion and anger.
Asru's expression was gloomy.
"Unexpected. The Yulan branch has produced an expert," Asru said in a low voice.
"But he's a middle-level god," someone immediately said.
Asru shook his head. "Impossible. The gravitational space was so powerful it was terrifying. Under that kind of 'gravity,' he could have easily killed us all. To have cultivated 'Gravitational Space' to such a level, he must be an extremely powerful upper-level god."
"How powerful?" the middle-level gods behind him asked, completely bewildered.
"A Six-Star Fiend, or even a Seven-Star Fiend," Asru said darkly.
The middle-level gods were completely dumbfounded. They usually had to show respect when meeting an upper-level god. An ordinary upper-level god was around the strength of a Four-Star Fiend. Reaching the level of a Six-Star or Seven-Star Fiend meant one was among the family's high-ranking members.
"But we saw he was a middle-level god," one of the blue-haired youths quickly said.
Asru turned his head, gave him a contemptuous look, and then walked away without another word to the middle-level god.
"Did I say something wrong?" the blue-haired youth asked, still confused.
"Hiding his aura, pretending—can't you figure that out?" another middle-level god sneered. "Let's go. Who knows how this Yulan branch, with its short history, managed to produce such a strong expert."
Muttering to themselves, the middle-level gods also left.
Linley understood very well. Even within a large family's branch, brothers from the same parents might compete for status. If you were weak, you were looked down upon. If you were weak, you were bullied.
This was perfectly normal.
"The high-ranking members of the Radin family don't interfere with this. First, it's hard to manage. Second, they probably enjoy it this way," Linley thought. He understood that being looked down upon for being weak would give the weaker branches a sense of humiliation, spurring them to work harder.
Perhaps it would even produce some strong experts.
After all, the family had a rule: no killing of fellow clan members in conflicts. With that rule, there was no fear of damaging the family's overall strength.
"With conflict, with hierarchy, with levels, there is progress," Linley sighed inwardly.
Unfortunately, his own Yulan branch had become the weakest. A weak foundation and a short history—there was nothing to be done about it.
"Linley. On the other side of this grassland is the Yulan branch's residence," Baruch said, pointing ahead. Linley followed his gaze. At the end of the low grassland stood rows of two-story buildings, including several larger halls and dwellings.
When Linley and the others crossed the grassland, they saw a crowd of men and women coming to greet them, including two children.
"Patriarch!"
The group hurried over.
"Haha, quickly prepare a feast to celebrate Linley's arrival," Baruch announced loudly with a laugh.
"Patriarch, who is Linley?" No one in the crowd recognized Linley. Linley, in turn, carefully observed the people before him. Each one gave him a familiar feeling in his heart—they were all from the same family, sharing the same bloodline. "Our Baruch family has few members on the Yulan Continent, but here in the Infernal Realm, it's much livelier."
Those who could survive in the Infernal Realm had eternal life, so naturally, their numbers grew.
"Who is Linley?" Baruch laughed. "He is a member of our Yulan branch."
"He came from the Yulan Continent," Ryan added. "Take a good look. This is Linley. Don't mistake him in the future." As he spoke, he put his arm around Linley's shoulder.
Immediately, the crowd turned their attention to Linley, and a commotion broke out.
"From the Yulan Continent?"
"He actually came from the Yulan Continent! Hey, Linley, how is our Baruch family doing now?"
"Linley, do you know 'Posette'? He's my son!"
Everyone was excitedly firing questions. In the Four Divine Beasts family of the Infernal Realm, they were the weakest branch. But on the Yulan Continent, they were the mighty Dragonblood Warrior family that roamed the land.
Suffering humiliation here naturally made them long for the glory they had on the Yulan Continent.
They also missed the Yulan Continent deeply.
"If you all ask at once, how can Linley answer?" Baruch said with a cold snort. "Don't block the way here. Go prepare the feast. Our entire Yulan branch will dine together today. During the feast, you can ask him all your questions. There's no hurry."
"I'll go arrange the feast," a brown-haired woman said with a smile, also giving Linley a friendly look.
Not just her, but everyone else in the family smiled at Linley as well. A fellow clan member from the Yulan Continent was more than welcome!
The family feast brought together the entire Yulan branch. Several hundred people gathered in the main hall. Fortunately, the hall was very large, so everyone could sit. The atmosphere throughout the feast was lively.
After all, only a few dozen of these hundreds of people had come from the Yulan Continent. The rest had been born in the Infernal Realm.
They were all very curious about the root of the Yulan branch—the Yulan Continent.
And Baruch, Ryan, and the others who had come from the Yulan Continent were also concerned about the family's descendants. The feast almost turned into a storytelling session for Linley, Hiss, and the others. Hiss and O'Brien kept recounting various events from the Yulan Continent.
At the same time, they told the story of Linley's rise on the Yulan Continent.
A master sculptor, a Saint-level magus, a Dragonblood Warrior...
Linley's story made many of the family members living in the Infernal Realm envious. Although they had some strength now, within the Four Divine Beasts family, they were still at the very bottom. How could they compare to Linley's glory?
The feast ended, and night fell. The family members finally parted ways with Linley.
Ryan then led Linley and his group to their lodgings.
"Linley, these three buildings are your quarters. Arrange them as you see fit," Ryan said warmly.
"Alright, I won't trouble you further. We'll handle it ourselves," Linley replied with a smile.
Ryan smiled and left. Linley, Delia, Bebe, O'Brien... the whole group finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"The feast is finally over," O'Brien said with a sigh and a smile. "Since coming to the Infernal Realm, I've never talked so much in one go. Linley, your clansmen are certainly curious about the Yulan Continent."
"Most of them have never been to the Yulan Continent, so naturally, they're curious."
Linley smiled. "Alright, everyone, go get some rest. Choose any building you like." In the end, Linley, Delia, and Bebe took one building; Olyvia, O'Brien, Hiss, and Tarosa took another; and Dylin and his two sons took the third.
Night. Silent.
Linley and Delia lay in each other's arms on the bed, both with smiles on their faces.
"Linley, are you happy now?" Delia whispered.
"Yes." Linley recalled the scenes from the feast, the various clansmen asking him all kinds of questions, and couldn't help but smile. "Being with these clansmen, I feel like I've returned to a big family. It's really good! If my father could have seen them, he would have been very happy and satisfied."
Linley still remembered his father, who had spent his entire life trying to revive the family.
His dying wish was to retrieve Patriarch Baruch's weapon.
"Mm, your father would be happy to know that," Delia said. "If your father knew what you've accomplished over the years, he would be very proud." Delia rested her head against Linley's chest.
Linley held Delia close.
"I'm starting to miss Sasha and Taylor now," Delia said.
Linley thought of his son and daughter. He wondered how his children were doing on the Yulan Continent.
"Delia," Linley suddenly said.
"What is it?" Delia looked up.
"Let's try to have another one. Who knows, maybe it'll work this time," Linley said teasingly. Delia was momentarily stunned, then blushed as she looked at Linley. Linley grinned, lowered his head, and kissed Delia...
Early morning. Linley got up and stood in front of his house.
"The morning air is nice." Linley looked at the mist swirling through the canyon. The distant buildings were faintly visible, and in the sky, he could see the winding 'Dragon Path.' With his eyesight, he could even make out the patrolling soldiers on the path.
"This is the Four Divine Beasts family!"
Linley sighed inwardly.
Suddenly sensing something, Linley looked into the distance. Sure enough, a figure was approaching. It was the patriarch of the Yulan branch, 'Baruch.' Baruch had a broad smile on his face. "Linley!"
"Patriarch." Linley quickly went to greet him.
"Come, let's find a place. I have something to discuss with you," Baruch said.
"Right here is fine," Linley replied.
Baruch looked around and nodded. "Alright. There's no one else here, so we don't have to worry about being overheard."
Linley was a little surprised. From Baruch's tone, it seemed this conversation was quite important. Linley led Baruch into his house and to the study in the living room.
Linley and Baruch sat down next to each other.
"Patriarch, go ahead and say what you need to," Linley said.
Baruch looked at Linley, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Linley. First, tell me. Are you a middle-level god or an upper-level god?"