Lin Hao stood in front of the bronze mirror.
He stared at his reflection for several seconds.
The old man who had been lying on this bed moments ago was gone.
In his place stood a young man who looked to be in his late twenties.
His black hair fell naturally around his face, his features were sharp and refined, and his tall, well-built body carried an indescribable presence.
Even Lin Hao had to admit it.
He looked good.
Very good.
He touched his face.
“Is this really me?”
[Of course, Host.]
The system’s voice immediately sounded proud.
[The system would never give its host an ordinary appearance.]
Lin Hao rolled his eyes.
“I wasn’t asking you.”
[I know.
I simply felt the need to remind you.]
Lin Hao ignored it.
He looked at the mirror again.
There was only one problem.
“If I walk outside looking like this, nobody is going to recognize me.”
[That is highly likely.]
Lin Hao sighed.
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
[You could introduce yourself.]
“To my own family?”
[Yes.]
Lin Hao rubbed his forehead.
“This is going to be troublesome.”
Just then—
Knock.
Knock.
Lin Hao turned toward the door.
“Who is it?”
A familiar voice came from outside.
“Ancestor?
It’s me, Lin Wei.”
Lin Hao’s expression relaxed.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Lin Wei, the current Family Head of the Lin Clan, stepped inside.
He took one step.
Then stopped.
His eyes widened.
Lin Hao looked at him.
Lin Wei looked at Lin Hao.
Neither said a word.
A few seconds passed.
Then Lin Wei slowly took a step backward.
“I’m sorry.”
Lin Hao raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“I think I entered the wrong room.”
Lin Hao stared at him.
“You didn’t.”
Lin Wei looked around the room.
He looked at the bed.
The wooden table.
The bronze mirror.
Everything was exactly where it should be.
He looked back at Lin Hao.
“But this is the ancestor’s room.”
“Correct.”
Lin Wei pointed at him.
“Then where is the ancestor?”
Lin Hao’s expression became strange.
“I’m standing right in front of you.”
Silence.
Lin Wei stared at him.
Then he slowly shook his head.
“No.”
Lin Hao blinked.
“No?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re young.”
Lin Hao looked down at himself.
“I can see that.”
“And handsome.”
Lin Hao paused.
The system immediately spoke inside his mind.
[Host, finally!
Someone has recognized your magnificence.]
Lin Hao’s mouth twitched.
“System, be quiet.”
Lin Wei looked confused.
“Ancestor?”
“Not you.”
Lin Wei became even more confused.
“Then who are you talking to?”
Lin Hao coughed.
“Forget it.”
Lin Wei took another cautious step backward.
“Young man, I don’t know how you entered the ancestor’s room, but please leave before the family elders discover you.”
Lin Hao stared at him.
“Young man?”
“Yes.”
“You’re asking me to leave my own room?”
Lin Wei nodded.
“Yes.”
Lin Hao couldn’t help laughing.
“This is ridiculous.”
Lin Wei became serious.
“What’s ridiculous?”
Lin Hao pointed at him.
“You don’t recognize me.”
“Of course I don’t.”
“Fine.”
Lin Hao folded his arms.
“Lin Wei.”
Lin Wei froze.
“How do you know my name?”
Lin Hao smiled.
“You really don’t recognize me?”
Lin Wei stared at him suspiciously.
“How would you know my name?”
Lin Hao walked closer.
“Do you remember the three Copper Coins you borrowed from me when you were young?”
Lin Wei’s expression changed.
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“You said you would return them the next day.”
Lin Wei’s eyes widened.
“You never returned them.”
Lin Wei’s mouth opened.
No words came out.
Lin Hao continued.
“You still owe me those three Copper Coins.”
Lin Wei stared at him as though he had just seen a ghost.
“That…”
He swallowed.
“That happened more than thirty years ago.”
“Correct.”
“How could you know that?”
Lin Hao smiled.
“Because I was there.”
Lin Wei’s face became pale.
Lin Hao wasn’t finished.
“You also broke your father’s favorite clay cup when you were eight.”
Lin Wei’s eyes widened further.
“You blamed it on your younger brother.”
Lin Wei’s mouth dropped open.
“And when your father found out, you hid behind my chair.”
Lin Wei’s entire body froze.
Lin Hao smiled.
“You cried for almost an hour.”
“I did not!”
“You did.”
“I was eight!”
“You still cried.”
Lin Wei looked completely defeated.
Lin Hao added casually:
“And you still hide your spare Copper Coins beneath the third floorboard in your room.”
Lin Wei’s face went blank.
He stared at Lin Hao.
Then he pointed at him with a trembling finger.
“Ancestor?”
Lin Hao smiled.
“Finally.”
Lin Wei’s eyes widened.
“Ancestor?!”
He immediately rushed forward and tried to kneel.
Lin Hao quickly grabbed his arm.
“Get up.”
“But—”
“Get up.”
Lin Wei stood again.
He continued staring at Lin Hao.
“Ancestor…”
“Yes.”
“It’s really you?”
“Yes.”
“You’re really our ancestor?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not some young cultivator who disguised himself as the ancestor?”
Lin Hao sighed.
“If I were some young cultivator, why would I know about your three Copper Coins?”
Lin Wei became silent.
Then he nodded seriously.
“That’s a good point.”
Lin Hao shook his head.
This Family Head really was something else.
Lin Wei looked him up and down.
“Ancestor…”
“What?”
“You’re really young.”
“I know.”
“And handsome.”
“I know.”
Lin Hao paused.
“Wait.”
Lin Wei smiled.
“You’re very handsome.”
The system immediately appeared in Lin Hao’s mind.
[Host, did you hear that?]
Lin Hao ignored it.
[He said you’re handsome.]
“System.”
[Yes?]
“Don’t.”
[I haven’t said anything.]
“You were about to.”
[I was merely preparing to compliment you further.]
Lin Hao sighed.
Lin Wei looked confused again.
“Ancestor, are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Lin Wei nodded slowly.
Then he suddenly asked:
“How did this happen?”
Lin Hao’s expression became calm.
“I received an opportunity.”
“An opportunity?”
“Yes.”
“What kind?”
Lin Hao thought for a moment.
“One that restored my body to its prime.”
Lin Wei’s eyes widened.
“So you’re no longer dying?”
Lin Hao smiled.
“Not anytime soon.”
Lin Wei’s face immediately lit up.
“That’s wonderful!”
For the first time since entering the room, the shock disappeared from his expression.
He looked genuinely happy.
“Our ancestor isn’t dying anymore.”
Lin Hao smiled.
“Of course not.”
Lin Wei suddenly looked worried again.
“But…”
“What?”
“Does this mean you’re going to start cultivating again?”
Lin Hao raised an eyebrow.
“Why?”
“You were the only person in our clan who could cultivate.”
Lin Wei smiled.
“When you were young, you were the only one who successfully reached the Body Refining Realm.”
Lin Hao remembered what Lin Wei had told him earlier.
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That was the highest cultivation anyone in the Lin Clan had ever reached.
And they had considered him a genius.
Lin Hao couldn’t help smiling.
“I might cultivate again.”
Lin Wei’s expression became excited.
“Really?”
“Perhaps.”
“That’s amazing!”
Lin Wei looked as though he had suddenly forgotten everything else.
“Our ancestor is young again, and he can cultivate again!”
Lin Hao laughed.
“Don’t get too excited.”
Lin Wei nodded.
Then his stomach growled.
Loudly.
The room became silent.
Lin Wei’s face turned red.
Lin Hao stared at him.
Lin Wei looked away.
“I haven’t eaten yet.”
Lin Hao’s smile disappeared.
“Why?”
Lin Wei hesitated.
“The clan’s food supply is running low.”
Lin Hao’s expression became serious.
“How low?”
Lin Wei sighed.
“We have enough grain for roughly twelve days.”
Lin Hao’s eyes narrowed.
“Twelve days?”
“Yes.”
“As the Family Head, you’ve been dealing with this yourself?”
Lin Wei gave a bitter smile.
“Who else would?”
Lin Hao remained silent.
He remembered the system’s Beginner Clan Mission.
[Improve the living conditions of the Lin Clan]
He had initially thought it was simply a convenient starting mission.
Now he understood.
This wasn’t some grand cultivation family waiting for him to lead them to glory.
These were ordinary people.
They were struggling to put food on the table.
And the Family Head had been doing everything he could to keep the clan running.
Lin Hao looked at Lin Wei.
“Don’t worry.”
Lin Wei looked at him.
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Ancestor?”
“From today onward, nobody in the Lin Clan will have to worry about going hungry.”
Lin Wei stared at him.
Then his eyes became slightly red.
“Thank you, Ancestor.”
Lin Hao waved his hand.
“You don’t need to thank me.”
He looked toward the door.
“This is my family.”
Lin Wei smiled.
“Then…”
He hesitated.
“Should I call the elders?”
Lin Hao shook his head.
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because I think if everyone sees me looking like this at once, half of them might faint.”
Lin Wei burst out laughing.
“That’s probably true.”
Lin Hao smiled.
“Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“I’ll meet everyone tomorrow.”
Lin Wei nodded.
“Understood.”
He walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
Lin Hao looked at him.
“What?”
Lin Wei turned around.
“Ancestor.”
“Yes?”
“You really do look much younger.”
Lin Hao smiled.
“I know.”
“And very handsome.”
“I know.”
Lin Wei laughed.
Then he walked out.
The door closed.
Lin Hao shook his head.
“That man really likes repeating himself.”
The system immediately spoke.
[He’s simply appreciating your magnificence.]
Lin Hao sighed.
“You’re both annoying.”
A golden screen appeared before him.
[Beginner Clan Mission]
Mission: Improve the living conditions of the Lin Clan
Progress: 10%
Lin Hao looked at the screen.
Then he smiled.
“Let’s see what you can do.”
The system immediately responded with its usual confidence.
[Host, you have infinite Family Points.]
[There is nothing you cannot afford.]
Lin Hao’s eyes narrowed.
“Then tomorrow…”
He looked toward the door.
“We’ll start with food.”
The system’s voice became excited.
[The great clan-building journey officially begins!]
Lin Hao smiled.
“One step at a time.”
Cultivation Reference
Mortal World: Body Refining Realm, Qi Gathering Realm, Foundation Establishment Realm, Core Formation Realm, Nascent Soul Realm, Soul Transformation Realm, Void Refining Realm, Body Integration Realm, Tribulation Transcendence Realm, Mahayana Realm.
All Mortal World realms have Levels 1–9.
Lin Hao: Strongest existence in the entire world, surpassing the Mortal, Immortal, and Divine Realms.