Villain: My fate is in my own hands, not in the heavens.

Xie Zheng understood his initial suspicion and didn't delve any deeper into it.

Anyway, he's got it on him. He's not stupid. If he really encounters some lucky one, what can he do?

Take Ye Chen for example. Despite being favored by Heaven, he was still completely manipulated by him.

Even his beloved goddess, Su Qingge, broke up with him and became his own.

As for Ye Chen's last reliance, that master named Yan Ji, she will fall into his hands sooner or later.

Xie Zheng couldn't help but smile, feeling a sense of complete control, as he walked briskly down to the lower level of the airship.

The smile was faint, yet it was more vibrant than his usual sinister and scheming demeanor, causing Su Qingge behind him to pause in surprise.

The lower level was ten times more lively than the upper level. Young talents from the Eastern Wilderness crowded together, either chatting animatedly or setting up their stances on the spot.

They were arguing back and forth, each trying to prove their point, and the noise was so loud it almost lifted the top of the flying boat off its roof.

Su Qingge quickly followed, blinking her flawless eyes, her tone tinged with curiosity: "Young Master seems to be in a good mood today, which is quite rare."

In her eyes, Xie Zheng was always deep and unfathomable, full of mischievous ideas, and teasing her was a common occurrence for him.

He's a truly wicked guy; I've never seen him smile so unabashedly before.

Xie Zheng didn't even turn his head, his tone casual yet undeniably assertive: "Of course. By the way, tell me, on the map of Zhongzhou, which forces are worth taking a closer look at?"

During this period, he noticed that Su Qingge's luck points were rising rapidly, almost reaching 400, and his luck points were also rising accordingly.

He pondered this matter for half the night, and finally blamed Su Qingge. This girl probably has quite a few untold secrets.

How could an ordinary person's luck suddenly increase for no reason? However, Xie Zheng didn't plan to ask. Anyway, it wouldn't interfere with his work. Everyone has things they keep to themselves.

Su Qingge nodded immediately, a hint of understanding flashing in her eyes.

She had already collected information about Zhongzhou, just waiting for Xie Zheng to ask.

"The Central Continent is divided into eight major regions, the most prosperous being the Central Heavenly Region, where the Dao Discussion Conference invited by the Third Prince of the Great Xia Dynasty was held..."

Before she could finish speaking, a figure quickly approached, smiling broadly as he tried to smooth things over: "Young master, please don't take it to heart. That Dao Discussion Conference is just a gathering for lower-level geniuses to fill in the numbers. It has nothing to do with your status. Just take it as a joke."

It was Chu Xuan who rushed over to pay his respects and happened to hear the second half of the sentence, so he hurriedly responded.

Those young talents who were chatting and competing in the distance all looked distressed upon hearing this.

That was an opportunity they had been longing for, hoping to make a name for themselves through it, but Xie Zheng treated it like a joke.

Xie Zheng scoffed, his tone full of disdain: "A Daoist debate? I don't have time for that."

Su Qingge blinked: "Young Master, is there another important matter for you to attend to in Zhongzhou?"

"Otherwise what?" Xie Zheng glanced at her sideways, his cunning laced with a touch of idiocy.

"Watching a bunch of lower-realm prodigies flatter each other and put on airs? That's too degrading. I'm just taking what belongs to me and harvesting some more luck-related leeks while I'm at it."

Su Qingge suppressed a laugh and didn't dare to reply.

She knew that Xie Zheng would never do anything that didn't benefit him.

Chu Xuan smiled along, not daring to even breathe loudly, secretly relieved that he hadn't mentioned wanting to go to the Dao Discussion Conference.

Just as Xie Zheng's flying boat was rushing towards Zhongzhou, an unusual restlessness was palpable in the ancient Lin family's ancestral land in the Central Heaven Domain.

The Lin family has stood in the Central Heaven Domain for tens of thousands of years, and its ability to firmly hold the top position among the ancient clans is all thanks to their ancestor from 30,000 years ago.

The ancestors broke through the void and successfully ascended to the upper realm, becoming a legend passed down through generations in Zhongzhou.

It is precisely because of this relationship that even dynasties and holy lands with longer histories have to give the Lin family some leeway.

At this moment, in the deepest part of the Lin family's ancestral hall, the candlelight flickered, the light was dim, but it was anything but quiet.

A group of elderly people with gray hair and rich clothes crowded into the ancestral hall, looking at each other with solemn expressions, full of doubts.

Among them was the current head of the Lin family. He frowned and asked the person next to him in a low voice, "What exactly happened? Why did the First Elder suddenly summon us all here?"

"Who knows!" An elder next to him stroked his beard, looking bewildered. "The Grand Elder has been in seclusion for almost ten thousand years. I thought he had long since passed away. His sudden appearance today, and the fact that he summoned us all here, means something big must have happened."

This group of people were all high-ranking members of the Lin family, each with profound cultivation. They were all powerful figures in Zhongzhou, capable of causing a stir. Yet, at this moment, they looked like headless flies, their faces full of confusion.

They simply couldn't understand what could be so important as to alarm the Grand Elder, who had been in seclusion for ten thousand years.

"Could it be that the Grand Elder has broken through in cultivation and is about to ascend?" someone whispered, a hint of anticipation flashing in their eyes.

Upon hearing this, everyone else's eyes lit up.

If the Grand Elder can ascend to immortality, the Lin family's status will rise to another level!

Just then, on the prayer mat in front of the ancestral hall, the white-haired, youthful-looking, and vigorous old man slowly opened his eyes.

It was the Lin family's eldest elder. The moment he opened his eyes, the ancestral hall fell silent. Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on him.

"Greetings, Grand Elder!" the crowd bowed in unison, their voices filled with reverence.

"I wonder what instructions the Grand Elder has given us?" The patriarch stepped forward and asked respectfully.

The elder didn't speak immediately. His expression was strange, his lips trembled uncontrollably, and his eyes were full of excitement. It took him a long time to force himself to calm down, and his voice trembled as he said, "Today... I sensed the aura of my ancestor."

There was a moment of silence in the ancestral hall; no one reacted.

The Grand Elder took a deep breath, raised his voice, and said, word by word, "Our ancestor may be returning!"

With a loud "boom," the ancestral hall instantly erupted into chaos!

"What?! Elder, say that again? Our ancestor is returning?"

"Impossible! Our ancestor ascended to the upper realm 30,000 years ago, how could he possibly return? Ascension is difficult enough, but descending to the lower realm is even more difficult than climbing to heaven!"

Everyone jumped up in shock, their faces filled with disbelief.

The solemnity from moments before had vanished completely, replaced by shock and ecstasy. Had they heard correctly? Their legendary ancestor was returning?

"Elder, you're not mistaken, are you? This is no small matter!" One elder's voice trembled with excitement.

The Grand Elder nodded emphatically, his excitement barely concealed: "My senses are absolutely correct; it is indeed the aura of our ancestor, without a doubt!"

Upon hearing this, everyone went completely insane!

"Excellent! Absolutely excellent! With our ancestor's return, the Lin family will surely rise to even greater heights, and dominating the Central Plains will not be a dream!"

"Hahaha! This must be spread far and wide, so that all forces know that my Lin family ancestor has returned! At that time, won't the Great Xia Dynasty and the Garuda Holy Land obediently come to pay homage?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Notify all clansmen to prepare immediately and welcome our ancestor back! Our Lin family will surely create new glories!"

The ancestral hall was noisy, filled with cheers and chatter from the crowd. Everyone's face was flushed with excitement.

The elder looked at this scene with satisfaction, stroking his beard and grinning from ear to ear.

Our ancestor has returned! Good days are coming for the Lin family!

Meanwhile, Xie Zheng, far away on the flying boat, was leaning against the railing listening to Su Qingge talk about the power in Zhongzhou when he suddenly sneezed for no apparent reason.

He frowned, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: "Who's talking about me behind my back?"

Su Qingge suppressed a laugh: "Perhaps it's one of the clansmen, or perhaps Young Master Chu Xuan is thinking about you."

Xie Zheng scoffed, his tone arrogant and cunning: "There are plenty of people who have their eyes on me, but those who dare to talk behind my back will not have a good ending."

As he spoke, he curled the corners of his mouth again, thinking to himself that no matter who it was, as long as they dared to block his way, even if they were so-called ancestors of ancient clans, he would deal with them without hesitation.