Chapter 136: The Ancestor of the Mo Clan (First Installment)

"What?!"

Lin Fan was struck with astonishment. He never expected the very first words from the Ancestor of the Mo Family to shock him so deeply.

He had never spoken of his affairs at the Tiandu Gate in the Heavenly Martial Domain to anyone except Yi Yuan—and Yi Yuan was now dead. Could it be that the Yi family had leaked his information? This was the only conclusion Lin Fan could reach; he simply could not imagine any other possibility.

"You need not be alarmed, nor do you need to wonder how your identity was revealed."

The Mo Ancestor shook his head with a faint smile, then withdrew a token from his robes.

"This is... the Five Dragon Token?!"

Lin Fan’s face was etched with disbelief. Before him lay the very symbol of a true disciple of the Tiandu Gate. It bore a trace of the Mo Ancestor’s aura, and since disciple tokens of the Tiandu Gate resonated with one another, allowing wearers to identify their peers, this was how the Mo Ancestor had discovered Lin Fan’s true origin.

"The Five Dragon Token can only be possessed by a true disciple recognized by the Tiandu Gate. Otherwise, even if an outsider were to slay such a disciple, they could never obtain it. Which means..."

Lin Fan pondered, casting a glance at the Mo Ancestor, his suspicions already forming.

"Greetings, Senior Brother."

Lin Fan bowed respectfully. The identity of the Mo Ancestor was now clear: he was one of the true disciples of the Tiandu Gate, though it was unclear from how many generations ago.

"I left the Tiandu Gate many years ago; this title of 'true disciple' is now nothing more than a memory."

The Mo Ancestor waved a hand, signaling Lin Fan to dispense with the formalities. A look of nostalgia crossed his face, followed by a sigh; clearly, there was a story behind it all.

"Senior Brother, what brought you millions of miles away from the Tiandu Gate to the Ancient Buddha Domain?"

Seeing the longing in the Mo Ancestor’s eyes, Lin Fan continued to address him as "Senior Brother." Meeting a fellow sect member in a foreign land was always a deeply touching experience.

"That is a long story, dating back over two hundred years. It is not worth mentioning. Junior Brother Lin, I wish to ask: among the great clans of the Tiandu Gate today, does the Mo Family still exist?"

A look of anticipation, tinged with a faint flush, appeared on the Mo Ancestor's face. Though he appeared detached from the Tiandu Gate, it was his home, and as one grows older, one inevitably yearns for their roots.

"Senior Brother..."

Lin Fan hesitated. He was well-versed in the eight great clans of the Tiandu Gate, but the Mo Family was not among them.

"I understand now. Everything changes. The Mo Family, once one of the eight great clans, has become a thing of the past after two hundred years."

The Mo Ancestor sighed, as if drained of all strength, yet his face also held a hint of relief. The burden of two hundred years of concern had finally been lifted. Regardless of the outcome, perhaps fading into obscurity was the best ending for the Mo family.

"There is no eternal power. What are the eight great clans? In the end, they are but cannon fodder. Before the passage of time, who dares claim to be undefeated? Who dares speak of immortality?"

The Mo Ancestor’s eyes grew brighter, and a formidable aura surged outward, though he quickly reigned it in.

"Indeed, he has reached the Void-Breaking Realm. To break through illusions and find one’s true heart—only now can the Mo Ancestor truly be considered a master of the Void-Breaking stage."

Lin Fan’s eyes flickered. His suspicion was confirmed: the Mo Ancestor had taken that final step. Having shed his inner demons, he had advanced even further within the Void-Breaking Realm. The realm was divided into six layers and eighteen tiers; Lin Fan could only wonder how far the Mo Ancestor had progressed.

"Senior Brother is right. There is no such thing as eternity in this world."

Lin Fan agreed wholeheartedly. Whether it was the Imperial Consort or the Spear of Judgment, they had once been glorious, but they could no longer replicate the splendor of the ancient era. The Imperial Consort had fallen, and even upon her resurrection, she was plagued by misfortune; the Spear of Judgment was now too timid to even strike, having lost its invincibility.

"Eternity... I wonder if the legends of the palaces of the gods in the Nine Heavens—what we call Heaven or the Divine Kingdom—are true. If they are, I wonder if those gods are truly eternal."

The Mo Ancestor offered a self-deprecating smile, his eyes dimming.

"The gods?" Lin Fan frowned. It was the first time he had heard of such legends.

"It is merely a rumor; whether it is true or not, do not dwell on it." The Mo Ancestor shook his head and continued, "My birth name is Mo Liuguang. I was the heir to the Mo family of the Tiandu Gate. I left for certain reasons over two hundred years ago. I see you are preparing to face the Tribulation of Heaven and Man, are you not?"

The Mo Ancestor’s insight was keen; he had immediately discerned Lin Fan’s state, as the fluctuations in the latter's aura could not be hidden from him.

"Senior Brother is correct. I have been searching for a way to overcome the Tribulation of Heaven and Man."

Lin Fan offered a bitter smile. This was the problem that had plagued him for so long. If he did not emerge from his current state soon, the danger would be immense, and time was not on his side.

"Since you have arrived here, it is no longer a major issue. The Mo family may not be grand, but we possess some Tribulation-Crossing Pills. You can use them to trigger your tribulation and take that next step."

The Mo Ancestor smiled. Having already entered the Void-Breaking Realm, the pills were of little use to him, and to those truly committed to the path of cultivation, such pills were merely catalysts. Nonetheless, their value remained undeniable.

"Many thanks, Senior Brother. But I suspect there was another reason you wished to see me initially."

Lin Fan looked at the Mo Ancestor meaningfully. While their shared sect connection might be a coincidence, the Mo Ancestor’s interest in him was surely more complex.

"I do not deny it. I can tell you that the Mo family is about to make a major move: we are declaring war on the Yi family. Initially, I only wanted to meet you because of their kill order against you, but it seems that was a wise decision."

The Mo Ancestor spoke with a smile, making no attempt to hide his intentions. Yet, his words were filled with the scent of blood and impending slaughter.

"It really is the Yi family."

Lin Fan’s expression showed clarity. Everything was exactly as he had suspected. It seemed the Yi family was truly on the verge of collapse. The Mo Ancestor was a Void-Breaking powerhouse, and the current Yi family possessed no one of that caliber. They relied on forbidden artifacts, but against a master of this level, even those would be useless, mere scraps of metal not worth mentioning.

"If you have any requirements, Senior Brother, do not hesitate to ask. If it is within my power, I will not refuse."

Lin Fan said little else. The Mo family certainly wanted something from him, though he did not yet know what it was. But as long as he remained here, the truth would eventually come to light.