Lin Feng, the young master of the Lin Clan, stood at the center of the grand hall, his heart heavy with the weight of his impending exile. Around him, the elders of the clan sat in their high seats, their faces full of disdain and disappointment. The air was thick with whispers from the younger generation, many of whom barely hid their contempt. His brother, **Lin Hao**, the son of Lin Tianyun’s first wife, stood near the front, a faint smirk curling at the edges of his lips. Unlike Lin Feng, Lin Hao was revered for his extraordinary talent, having already reached the **Golden Core Realm**—a talent worthy of the title of young master.

Yet, the title had belonged to Lin Feng for one reason: his mother, **Lin Qingxue**. As the daughter of a once-powerful patriarch from the prestigious **Qing Clan**, her status had earned Lin Feng the young master’s position despite his poor spiritual roots. But those days were now over.

Lin Feng had been born with **weak spiritual roots**, the lowest possible rank, and despite his tireless efforts, he had only reached the **Foundation Building Realm Mid Tier**, a mere second step in the long ladder of cultivation. The Foundation Building Realm was considered too low for someone meant to lead a clan. The elders, who had been pressuring his father for years to strip him of his title, finally saw their wish granted today.

"Lin Feng," a cold voice echoed through the hall. It was his father, **Lin Tianyun**, the patriarch of the Lin Clan. His voice held none of the warmth a father should possess for his son. "Your spiritual roots are too weak, and your cultivation too shallow. You have disgraced the position of young master and brought shame upon the clan. You are hereby banished from the Lin Clan."

The declaration hung in the air like a death sentence.

The elders nodded approvingly, their stern expressions softening as they glanced at Lin Hao. **Elder Meng**, one of the oldest and most influential members of the clan, smiled faintly as if to say, “Finally, the rightful heir.”

Lin Feng remained silent. He had always known this day would come. Ever since his mother’s influence in the clan had faded—when her father had stepped down as the Qing Clan's patriarch—he had been living on borrowed time. His mother's political power had been the only shield protecting him from the ambition of his father's first wife and her son.

"Father," Lin Feng began, his voice steady, but there was a tremor of sorrow beneath it. "I accept your decision."

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As his words fell, his mother, Lin Qingxue, rushed forward from the side, her eyes filled with unshed tears. “Feng’er, you mustn’t—”

“Mother,” Lin Feng interrupted gently, his eyes soft as they met hers. "This is not your fault. I was always too weak."

Lin Qingxue looked as though her heart was breaking. She knew better than anyone the true circumstances of Lin Feng's exile. This wasn't just about his cultivation. The political winds in the clan had shifted, and Lin Tianyun had to ensure the family's survival, even if it meant discarding his own blood. With her father no longer holding power, Lin Qingxue's position was vulnerable, and Lin Feng’s enemies took full advantage.

Unable to say more, she pressed a small bag into his hands. “Take this, Feng’er. It’s all I can give you.”

Inside the bag were cultivation resources: a few healing pills, some basic cultivation techniques, and a handful of spiritual stones. It was all she could offer him under the watchful eyes of the clan elders.

Lin Feng nodded and clasped his mother’s hands one last time before stepping away. His father watched him go, face impassive, while Lin Hao looked on with a victorious gleam in his eyes.

As Lin Feng passed through the large doors of the Lin Clan’s ancestral hall, leaving behind the only home he had ever known, the murmurs of the crowd faded into the distance. He had always felt like an outsider in his own family, and now, that feeling was a reality.

He walked out of **White Cloud Town**, his birthplace, without looking back.

---

Hours later, with the sun setting behind the distant mountains, Lin Feng found himself deep within the **Blackwood Forest**, a dense and dangerous place known for its savage beasts. He had ventured here countless times as a child, hunting weak beasts with the other young members of the clan. But now, it was different. He was alone, banished, and without a clear path forward. The bag his mother gave him wouldn’t sustain him forever. He would need to rely on his own strength to survive.

The thought sent a wave of bitterness through him. Foundation Building Realm Mid Tier. He had struggled for years to reach that stage, but it was nothing compared to the prodigious talents of his peers. Lin Hao had already broken into the Golden Core Realm, a milestone Lin Feng could only dream of at his current level.

But dreams wouldn’t fill his stomach, and Lin Feng knew he needed food. His senses heightened as he scanned the forest, seeking any sign of movement.

Soon, he spotted a low-level **Ironclaw Boar** not far from where he stood. It was a common beast in Blackwood Forest, not particularly dangerous but large enough to provide him with a decent meal.

Without hesitation, Lin Feng raised his hand and summoned a small flame from his limited **Fire Arts Technique**, a spell he had barely mastered. He aimed carefully, sending the fireball flying toward the boar’s flank. The beast roared in pain but didn’t fall. Angered, it charged toward Lin Feng with its sharp tusks gleaming.

Lin Feng narrowly avoided its attack, his reflexes sharpened from years of training. Although he lacked the raw power of his peers, he still possessed a certain level of skill. With a swift strike from his blade, Lin Feng managed to pierce the boar’s side, sending it collapsing to the ground.

Breathing heavily, Lin Feng cleaned his blade and sat beside the fallen beast. As he prepared to skin it, his mind wandered back to the Lin Clan. The memories, the rejection, the humiliation—it all seemed so distant now. He wasn’t sure what his future held, but one thing was certain: he would never return to the Lin Clan as the weak young master they had cast aside.

Tomorrow, he would begin anew.

**End of Chapter 1**.