Who is the Grand Steward?
This is a figure of real power, overseeing all affairs of a clan. For most clan members, they may never interact with the clan leader in their lifetime; the Grand Steward is their sky, controlling their fate. If he says go left, you dare not go right; if he says go right, you dare not go left. The Grand Steward can elevate you to the heights, granting you the clan’s offerings and preferential treatment, or he can cast you into the abyss, forcing you to sell your blood and sweat in the clan’s sweat factory, with no chance of ever turning your life around.
Seeing Feng Lin dare to openly defy the Grand Steward, Feng Lang was stunned.
This kid truly doesn’t know his place—he’s practically asking for trouble.
To offend even the Grand Steward—Feng Lang suddenly felt that the kid’s earlier clashes with him were nothing, mere child’s play.
He had to admit, this guy had guts!
Feng Lang was utterly shocked.
But Feng Lin stood his ground, facing off against the Grand Steward from a distance, his expression calm, showing no sign of backing down.
Perhaps the Grand Steward was like heaven to other Feng clan members, but to him, it was nothing special.
He was about to be exiled to the clan’s sweat factory anyway, his fate already at rock bottom. What difference did offending the Grand Steward make? How much worse could it get?
If not now, when?
Feng Lin had long made up his mind.
Fight—he had to fight, and fight to the end.
A miserable fate loomed before him; if he didn’t fight now, he’d never have a way out.
Feng Lin’s “I refuse” was resolute, each word landing with weight.
The atmosphere instantly became suffocatingly oppressive, making it hard to breathe.
The Grand Steward’s face immediately darkened, uglier than ugly, his fury boiling inside.
Holding most of the clan’s power, second only to the clan leader, he was practically the one who could cover the sky with one hand.
When had he ever been defied like this?
And by a low-ranking clan member—this was rebellion!
If he didn’t teach this kid a lesson today, where was the clan’s discipline? Where was his authority as Grand Steward?
His hawk-like, sinister eyes locked onto Feng Lin, sharp as blades, as if they could slice him into a thousand pieces.
A strange aura rose in the air, heavy as a mountain, cold as ice, pressing down on everyone’s hearts.
Feng Lin stood there, his face showing strain, clearly feeling the weight of this oppressive force, like a small mountain bearing down on his spine, trying to force him to bend, kneel, and submit without resistance.
No!
He glared back, stubbornly straightening his back, adopting a defiant “dead pig not afraid of boiling water” attitude, refusing to let his spine bend even a fraction. He stood like a pine tree on a cliff, weathered by countless storms and frost, unyielding to the death, unbending to the end.
“What a tough guy!” Even Feng Lang, who had previously dismissed Feng Lin, now secretly admired him.
The invisible clash between the two was so intense that even he, as an onlooker, couldn’t help but shiver repeatedly.
The Grand Steward was a full-fledged interstellar cultivator, yet this low-ranking clan member faced such authority with such pride, standing firm.
To go head-to-head with the Grand Steward like this—regardless of his strength, his courage alone deserved respect!
“No way!” Seeing that his aura couldn’t overwhelm Feng Lin, the Grand Steward finally broke his silence, speaking darkly.
Feng Lang’s eyes flickered at this.
As a direct descendant of the clan, he was no stranger to the Grand Steward.
Though the Grand Steward’s face was calm, inside he must be seething with rage; otherwise, the usually cold-hearted man wouldn’t have used such emotionally charged words.
So decisive, leaving no room for negotiation.
This kid was in for it!
“Why not?” Feng Lin didn’t back down in the face of the Grand Steward’s verdict-like declaration.
“The clan raised you all; everyone has their duties. As a low-ranking clan member who failed to get into university, going to the clan factory to contribute is your duty and your destiny. Remember, the clan doesn’t support idlers. If everyone acted like you, ignoring clan rules and refusing to fulfill their obligations, wouldn’t chaos reign? Where would the clan’s discipline be?” The Grand Steward’s reprimands were harsh and severe.
“So failing to get into high school means I have to serve the clan?” Feng Lin showed no panic, a confident smile spreading across his face as he countered, “What if I can get into university?”
“What! Get into university? Your life force is only 0.4—you’re just dreaming…” The Grand Steward didn’t hide his sarcasm, but then trailed off.
Feng Lin tapped a button, pulling up his previous exam records from school.
The life force score of 1.5 was prominently displayed—this was a transcript from Earth Middle School, accessible from the school database at any time, fully public.
The data was solid, impossible to fake.
Like a resounding slap to the face, the Grand Steward was left speechless, his face burning hot. But the more this happened, the more disgusted he became with Feng Lin.
Clan discipline was not to be violated.
He was the enforcer of that discipline, and Feng Lin, relying on a small achievement, wanted to overturn the clan’s centuries-old order—what a delusion!
“Life force 1.5? What can that do?” He averted his gaze from Feng Lin’s transcript, his face full of disdain. “Earth Middle School is just a trash school in Huaxia City. Your life force isn’t even top-tier there. How much strength do you have to get into a good university? If you end up in some no-name college on Earth, graduation means unemployment, and you’ll still be a burden to the clan! With such a meager life force, you want to be exempted from clan duties? Impossible! Remember, our clan has plenty of young interstellar cultivators with life force over 10. What use is 1.5?”
Every word dripped with contempt, dismissing Feng Lin’s exam results and even his school as worthless.
This was utterly unacceptable to Feng Lin. He suppressed a massive surge of anger. He had originally planned to reveal the truth—that his life force had already reached 2.3—but now he saw no point.
Feng Lin finally understood.
The Grand Steward simply looked down on him.
The Feng clan had deep foundations; only interstellar cultivators could earn the Grand Steward’s respect.
No matter how much he said now, it was useless—it would only invite more mockery and ridicule.
“Young man, don’t reach for what’s beyond your grasp. Unless you can get into an interstellar university, there’s no chance of being exempted from clan duties. Your talent and strength are far from enough for the clan to make an exception. You have only one choice now: obediently follow the clan’s arrangements and go to the clan factory for your internship. Otherwise, you’ll lose even your job, be completely cast out by the clan, and become a worthless drifter in society!” The Grand Steward’s words carried a heavy warning, more like a threat.
I’d be glad to be cast out!
Feng Lin dismissed the Grand Steward’s so-called warning with contempt.
If he had to go to the clan factory, he’d rather leave right now!
But unless absolutely necessary, he didn’t want to flee like a beaten dog.
Get into an interstellar university?
Feng Lin didn’t waste effort on pointless thoughts, but he wouldn’t give up either.
Fight—he had to fight!
Fight to the end, never surrender!
Feng Lin refused to let others dictate his fate. He said in a low voice, “Grand Steward, I will never go to the clan factory for an internship. How about this—let’s make a deal?”
“What deal?” The Grand Steward asked instinctively, but immediately regretted it.
Feng Lin’s eyes dropped, his gaze deep and unfathomable.
This was his last resort!
Though he knew the chances of success were slim, the Grand Steward was too cold, giving him no opportunity. Feng Lin had to try his best.
Unless absolutely necessary, he couldn’t betray the clan.
The outside world was brutally harsh, with chaotic order.
He himself didn’t mind, but his parents and younger siblings were ordinary people. If they rushed out recklessly, their fate would likely be very grim…
Having inherited this body, Feng Lin also bore its karma.
He couldn’t be so selfish as to abandon this life’s family and leave alone.
So he had to give it his all.
“We can make a deal: let me focus entirely on preparing for the college entrance exam. If I fail, I’ll obediently return to the clan, harbor no more delusions, and serve the clan faithfully. If I succeed, I ask for nothing except that the clan lift its restrictions on my family, allowing me to freely pursue the path of cultivation! The clan would also gain a true genius capable of entering an interstellar university—a win-win with no loss. Why not?”
At this point, Feng Lin paused, his gaze sharp as a sword, piercing forward.
“So, Grand Steward, what do you say?”