CHAPTER 42: A CRUCIAL CHOICE - I

As the sun began to dip below the horizon of the Tianzun region, the faint rustling of footsteps woke Lucian from his light slumber.

’Hmm? Are they here?’ He quickly rubbed his eyes clean and stood up straight.

In a heartbeat, the main gate opened. Standing at the gate was a tall, muscular man, dressed in moderate robes adorned with a mix of white and blue hues. His hair was long, tied behind the back of his head, and flowed down his back. Every strand of his hair had turned white with time, shining pearly white as they complemented his appearance.

His face, however, unlike his aged hair, looked anything but old. Over the curves of his smooth skin, a small beard and mustache mixed in to prove his age. His eyes glowed bright cerulean as his hardened physique stood within the shadows like an unshakable pillar.

Noticing a small kid standing before the gate, the man’s face suddenly lit up. "Tian’er," he walked over to his child excitedly, "how is it? Are you excited?" He brushed his hand affectionately over Lucian’s, or rather, Feng Tian’s head.

Now taking the situation into consideration, Lucian had two ways to respond. One was to let out his feelings and confront the man once and for all, telling him about how stupid and cringe he looks from his point of view. Second was something Lucian personally hated and abhorred. To act like a kid and reluctantly agree to put his ego and self-respect at risk.

Of course, Lucian wasn’t the type to be bothered to do something he disliked. Thus, he chose the path that he preferred and, without waiting any longer, spoke.

"Yes, Father, I’m very excited!" His eyes sparkled with fake lustrous shine as he clenched his fists closer to his face. With all his might, Lucian had devoted himself to acting like a 5-year-old.

"That is great! Wait for me, I’ll quickly go call your mother and sister, then we’ll start the ceremony." Almost immediately, the man pounced back and closed the door behind him to prohibit Feng Tian from looking outside. Then, he rushed towards the bedroom, letting the loud muffled noises be heard.

Lucian, on the other hand, stared at the door in indifference. Even without seeing outside, he could tell that there was a good crowd outside considering the ban over the Feng clan had lifted for the first time in a millennium.

Since the time the other 6 clans obliterated what was known to be the Feng clan, an irrefutable ban was placed on the clan to prohibit any of its future generations from learning cultivation for a millennium. In a world such as this, it naturally turned out to be the most brutal ban for a clan as high and mighty as the Feng.

Knowing of the ban, the other smaller families, which had been suppressed by the Fengs, began to bully the next generations.

Without any sort of backing or the strength that could protect their lives, the Fengs were tortured in common eyes and brought to their knees multiple times.

For a clan that had been humiliated as such, the crowd outside made even less sense than if there were none to be.

’Although every record and technique of our clan was indeed destroyed, it is also true that the Fengs are but a lineage of immortals. And not just one, but tens of thousands of immortals. Even if it sounds tame, the fact that I’m a Feng bloodline’s young one is nothing less than waving a bone to loyal dogs.’ Lucian narrowed his eyes and shifted his back towards the wall.

Ever since the Feng clan’s destruction, countless families—big and small alike—made moves towards the family in a fake affection. They wanted the two families to be tied with a motive of marriage. A marriage that only sought to create an infant. An infant carrying the Feng’s blood.

Why? Because of the Immortal lineage. Even if the official records and techniques had been burnt, they believed that the true mystery must be hiding within their bloodline.

What they wanted to steal wasn’t something as simple as techniques, but an entire bloodline, which would allow their families to reach the top just like the Feng.

The other 6 rival clans—they weren’t any different, for even they sought the techniques of the once most powerful clan.

Even as of now, Lucian could easily imagine the horrors that might be inflicted on him just for the sake of proving their myths regarding his blood if he were to choose the wrong master.

’I’ll either be forced to sleep with all kinds of women and reproduce as many children as I can, or worse, I’ll be immediately cut opened and be studied by scholars. The first doesn’t sound so bad but both options only lead to my death. I’ll have to choose some crooked-tooth old man who can die in a day or two. That way I’ll be free to go where I want while staying true to the system’s rules.’ Unknowingly, Lucian nodded his head only to be disturbed by his father.

The approaching footsteps of his parents made him open his eyes and look towards the hall. The father and mother were both looking towards Feng Tian with bittersweet expressions.

Their first and eldest son was being sent away from the house for a long time into the harsh world of cultivators; naturally, they were worried about his safety. But they couldn’t stop the first chance given to the Feng towards greatness in a millennium over their little selfishness.

Smiling, the father asked gently. "Are you ready?"

Staring towards them for a minute, Lucian smiled innocently and nodded in agreement. "Yes, Father!"

The parents moved towards the gates and stood side by side, blocking the view outside. They opened the gates, and with a calm, steady voice, they announced. "All the elders, masters, and seniors that have gathered here today," the father said, cupping his hands and bowing slightly, while the mother simply bowed as she was holding onto Feng Tian’s sister.

"We, Feng Liang and Feng Yue, are exhilarated to announce that our son and the eldest of the next generation of the Feng Clan has just turned the age of 5. In accordance with the ban placed on our bloodline, this will be our Feng clan’s first ceremony in millennia. As such, many family customs have been forgotten. If we, or our child, do anything wrong, we wish that you’ll forgive us with a big heart such as yours." Hearing their unified request, a couple sounds of agreement came from the crowd.

"Whoever becomes our son’s master, please take good care of him, for he is a bright child with a good heart. Now please allow us to initiate the coming-of-age ceremony for our son, Feng Tian."