Rise of The Demon General

"Mother, you come earlier than expected," Amon said.

Madam Lin had come to visit him on the same weekly basis, just as how he did with Hei Pho. Amon had secretly used the same air-borne drug as Hei Pho had used on her every visit, keeping the Madam infertile so that his position as her adopted son was not threatened.

"Is it wrong for a mother to come to see her son when she feels like it?" Madam Lin asked.

"Of course not," Amon replied. "You have misunderstood my question. I simply mean that I would have cleaned up and presented myself better if I know mother is coming."

He was bareback and full of sweat at the moment after a full morning of martial art practice.

"That's fine. You have seen me naked and sweaty. It's only fair that I get to see the same."

This slutty hag, Amon said in his mind. But on the outside, he chuckled and said, "it's normal for a mother to see her son's body, you only need to ask."

Madam Lin simply smiled at his response.

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of mother's visit? I will go clean up and have the maids prepare some refreshments so we can have a chat in the garden," Amon said.

"You do indeed need a bath. Also, wear your best clothes. We are going to see someone," Madam Lin replied.

"See someone? Who?"

"My father. The master of this clan."

*

Amon followed Madam Lin to the biggest building which was seen outside the Lin estate. The entrance to this main building was decorated with impressively wide and grand stairs. It was similar to the entrance stairs of the grand eastern palace of his past world.

Amon had heard a bit about this Lin clan's master. His name was Lin Weida. He was a Spirit stage Martial Realm cultivator. He was a bit over 400 years old, which was considered old because a spirit stage cultivator's lifespan was around 500 years old. Though he still had more than a normal person's natural years to live, it also could be said that he had entered the last hundred years of his life. That's why he had been eager to break through to the Lord stage of the Martial Realm, which was the next level. Breaking through to the Lord stage would grant him another 300 years of lifespan to live.

Since Amon's arrival, Lin Weida had been in seclusion trying to break through to the next level. 'Has he succeeded?' Amon Wondered.

On top of the stairs were numerous open doors that opened up into a magnificent large hall. Amon and Madam Lin entered this hall and was greeted by a scene where lots of people were standing uniformly on the left and right side of the hall. The middle part itself was marked by a yellow carpet that extended onto the deepest part of the hall. At the end of this carpeted walkway were an elevated platform and a throne. Someone was sitting on that throne.

'Heh,' Amon chuckled inside his mind. Another person with a ruler syndrome. He remembered that he deposed a lot of such self-made rulers in his past life and then sat on their thrones just for the fun of it.

He went past a lot of men and women who lined up on both sides. Amon couldn't help but admire the size of this clan. Were they all of the Lin bloodline? But considering that the man on the throne was four hundred years old, he had plenty of time to produce lots of offspring.

He only recognized a few from the crowd, Lin Fong who stood rather to the front near the throne, Lin Zuyi who stood a bit behind, then Lin Guo and Lin Dong who stood further back. So he deduced the one standing closer to the throne should be the direct bloodline of Lin Weida while those further back were those assimilated into the Lin clan through various means, like him.

He could sense many unapproving eyes landing on him. He held himself from sneering at those sights.

Madam Lin stopped after arriving at around ten meters from the throne, she made a respectful bow and said, "Lin Xi pays respect to father."

Amon copied her and said, "Lin Mo pays respect to grandfather."

There were several murmurs heard. Amon maintained his bowing position as he saw from the corner of his eyes that Madam Lin also remained bowing. He could feel an invisible pressure bore down on him. He did not doubt that it came from the head of the Lin Clan who was sitting on the throne not far ahead. To be able to exude such pressure, if Amon did not have a calm mind, he might have cowered.

Amon stood his ground and maintained his firm posture. The pressure was not bearing down on him physically, but mentally. He might not be able to resist the pressure if it was done physically since the difference in power was too large. But mentally, there was nothing that could make him cringe. Still, the mental pressure was great. He did read from books that as cultivator increased their cultivation, their mind became more powerful as well.

After a long moment of silence, a deep and heavy voice was heard. "Hm, I don't appreciate being called grandfather when I have yet to approve such an adoption. But seeing you can stay on your feet despite my gaze, I will let that slide. Now rise."

Amon rose his head and looked at the man on the throne. Despite being 400 years old, the man's face was smooth and youthful, yet it also gave people the sense of meeting an aged elder when one laid eyes on him. Amon couldn't help but marvel at the wonders of cultivation again.

"You are indeed an interesting little kid," Lin Weida said as he observed Amon. "I see no anxiety in your eyes despite my aura, even your heartbeats were beating regularly. I might be able to see now why Lin Xi chose to adopt you before consulting with me first."

Lin Fong, who had disapproved of Amon's adoption, immediately gave his objection when he heard his father gave Amon such a high evaluation, "Father, you give him too much credit. He is just…"

"I am still speaking, boy!" Lin Weida's voice thundered out. Almost everyone winced when they heard the voice. Amon felt his ears ringing and a sharp pain coursed through his mind, but he bit down and maintained his posture.

"I… I'm sorry, father…" Lin Fong said apologetically.

Lin Weida lifted his hand in his direction, indicating that he should not make any further noise. The clan master's eyes never left Amon. Amon himself didn't avert his gaze away from the clan master.

"Impressive," Lin Weida said. "But such a talented individual can be a boon to the clan or the bane. Until I decide which one you are, you will remain an outsider. Outside of what your adopted mother can spare, no resources of this clan will be spent on you. Do you feel unhappy about this?"

"I think it is fair. I'm happy enough to be given a place to stay in this clan," Amon replied.

"Hm, a good answer, or a political one. Considering your age, I am more inclined to believe that it is your honest thought, but one never knows. It is, however, truly impressive that you have reached the intermediate Mortal stage at your age."

A few gasps from the crowd.

As expected, Amon thought. Since the clan master was a Martial realm expert, he could sense Amon's cultivation. He noticed that many of the front row, who he suspected as the direct bloodlines of the clan, also did not give any reaction. Most probably because they were already aware since they themselves were Martial realm experts as well.

Lin Weida turned to Madam Lin, "Did you give him any cultivation pill or resources to boost his cultivation?"

"Father, I did not."

Lin Weida returned his gaze to Amon, "what cultivation art do you practice?"

"Drown Heart Pulsating Art," Amon said honestly. "It was a legacy from the Hei clan."

A voice from the crowd uttered, "It is just a cultivation art from a lowly clan, how can it help you improve so fast? Are you taking us for fools? You must be lying!"

Lin Weida made a wave. A scream was heard from the direction where the voice was heard just now.

"Take the fool out," Lin Weida said without looking over in that direction. He then said to Amon, "Practice it for me to see."

"As you wish," Amon said without hesitation. He sat cross-legged and started performing his cultivation art as he did normally.

After a while, he heard Lin Weida's voice, "Stop!"

Lin Weida maintained his sharp stare at Amon as he said, "Although the art does indeed has some peculiarity and your mastery over the art was exceptional, I still do not see how you can manage to reach your current stage without any cultivation pills…"