Chapter 491

Chapter 491: Golden Folk, Great Ancestor of All Ages

“???”

Yan Yunyu’s words left the entire Yan family stunned. The phrase “impossible” spilled from many lips like a reflex.

Even the Elder of the Second Clan wore a look of utter disbelief. He barely managed to hold back those three words, though his voice trembled as he addressed Yan Yunyu: “Yunyu, I know Mu Lin’s talents. I’d believe he could climb to divinity someday. But he only reached Earth Immortal status recently. To become a True God so quickly… how?”

The Elder’s skepticism was plain—and not unfounded.

Even with Mu Lin’s gifts, becoming a True God through normal cultivation would take years. A decade-long journey made sense. This sudden leap meant only one thing: he’d inherited another’s power.

Yan Yunyu didn’t deny it.

“Normal cultivation couldn’t achieve this. But a dying Deity chose to pass their divine position. Mu brother’s talent and strength let him claim it.”

“What?!”

“Divine inheritance?!”

“Damn! Why didn’t that happen to me?!”

Hearing the divine position was gifted, not earned, the Yan family’s doubts vanished—replaced by bitter envy. Even the Elder of the Second Clan and the watching Head of the Yan family felt their hearts twist with jealousy.

The allure of divinity was simply too great.

Yan Yunyu snorted at their covetous stares.

“Why didn’t it go to you? Because you’re trash. You couldn’t even get invited. The Celestial Spirit tribe’s Goddess of Life summoned hundreds of unparalleled geniuses. Among humans, only Mu brother and the human prince received invitations. You can’t beat the Northern Wasteland Geniuses—why would any Deity want you?”

“Even if you’d gone, you’d have been slaughtered like fodder in the Divine Kingdom. Remember: Mu brother didn’t become extraordinary because of the divine position. He earned the position because he was already extraordinary.”

“In fact, he understands divinity better than that goddess ever did. She held her position for millennia but couldn’t stop corruption. Mu brother saved her life weeks after inheriting it!”

Yan Yunyu’s scathing words filled the Yan family courtyard, branding every relative as worthless. Yet none dared retort.

Ancient customs dictated a woman’s status hinged on her father or husband. Since Mu Lin’s arrival in the North Wilderness—where he’d single-handedly shifted the region’s balance of power—he’d become untouchable to Southern realms factions. As his woman, Yan Yunyu’s standing mirrored his rising value.

Now a True God’s consort, her position soared beyond reproach. The Yan family could only scramble to please her, hoping scraps from her blessings might elevate them.

And so it was.

Yan Yunyu returned to her family this time with the aim of bringing them under her control, ensuring better service to Mu Lin.

She adopted a carrot-and-stick approach. Her earlier belittlement and mockery—making the Yan family regret their past choices—had been the stick.

But she knew loyalty couldn’t be forced through oppression alone. Now came the carrot.

She was certain the carrot in her possession would make the Yan family kneel.

…

At the thought of what Mu Lin had given her, reverence flashed across Yan Yunyu’s face.

Like a devout holy maiden, she declared to the crowd: “Do you know? Brother Mu is destined to become humanity’s eternal Great Ancestor of All Ages.”

“Uh…”

The grand titles made the Yan family members shift uncomfortably. They longed to retort—this was excessive boasting. The human race had multiple True Lords, and Mu Lin wasn’t the first pathbreaker nor the most influential. Even True Lord Tianwu, pioneer of Martial Arts, was only called the Martial Ancestor, not the Great Ancestor.

Yet they dared not speak. Mu Lin was a True God. While other True Lords might dispute his claim to such titles, the Yan family couldn’t—nor would they risk echoing words that might offend other powerful figures.

As they squirmed in silence, Yan Yunyu smiled.

“Think I’m exaggerating?”

“Cough! No, of course not! We merely—”

Before the Elder of the Second Clan could fumble through an answer, Yan Yunyu continued: “Your skepticism is understandable. Even I once thought Brother Mu was just another ordinary True Lord.”

“…”

This left them more speechless. Since when did “ordinary” describe any True Lord?

Unperturbed, Yan Yunyu pressed on: “But Brother Mu showed me his true power. He entrusted me with this—the Fruit of Evolution.”

She produced an apple-like fruit. Though small and unremarkable to cultivators like the Elder of the Second Clan, the ordinary family members nearby trembled—their bodies screaming with primal hunger for it. Powerless, they could only stare hungrily from afar.

The Elder frowned. “What does this Fruit of Evolution do?”

“It begins humanity’s glorious evolution.” Yan Yunyu clasped her hands reverently. “Brother Mu says we’re flawed—mere Black Iron Humans. And remember, only those with Spiritual Roots qualify as Black Iron. The rest aren’t even that.”

“As our Goddess of Life, he selflessly seeks to elevate all humans. This fruit grants Spiritual Roots to ordinary people, letting them cultivate.”

“…”

Every Yan family member’s pupils shrank. Enabling cultivation for all? This could upend their world. More cultivators meant fiercer competition—was this blessing or curse?

Yan Yunyu’s voice cut through their turmoil: “Black Iron is just the start. Above it lies Silver Folk—those with Level 1 Spiritual Roots and special talents. In Brother Mu’s eyes, only such individuals deserve the Silver title.”

“Hiss—”

The crowd erupted. They weren’t fools. A Silver Fruit could elevate their ordinary Spiritual Roots to Level 1—a rarity in their world. Seeing Yan Yunyu’s confidence, they guessed she had many such fruits. Every eye burned crimson—youths, stewards, even elders.

“Level 1 Spiritual Roots with special talents? With that, I’d never be stuck at this cultivation level!”

“The Fruit of Evolution is heaven-sent!”

“The Goddess of Life truly is humanity’s eternal ancestor! Who dares disagree?”

Yan Yunyu observed their frenzy. The Silver Fruit alone could sway 99% of the family—but she wanted complete submission.

Smiling, she raised the stakes: “Silver isn’t the peak. Brother Mu researches the Golden Fruit to create Golden Folk—born with Heavenly Spiritual Roots, divine bodies, early-stage Refining the Evil power, immunity to illness, slowed aging, boundless vitality, and eight-century lifespans. And that’s just their baseline…”

“BOOM!”

Before she finished, figures stampeded toward her. Clan elders and the patriarch himself abandoned decorum. Divine bodies! Heavenly Spiritual Roots! Even if they didn’t need these fruits, their children and grandchildren certainly would!