Rebirth of the Heavenly Beast Tamer

Chapter 30: The Interrogation and Dark Secrets

The flickering light of the sanctuary's torches illuminated the tense silence in the inner chamber where the captured intruder sat, bound by golden chains. Lin Tian, surrounded by his family and the loyal disciples, stood in the center of the room. His eyes, cold as ever, locked onto the cloaked figure who had dared to breach the sacred grounds of the Heavenly Beast Sect.

The cloaked figure, a tall man with sharp, angular features, stared defiantly at Lin Tian, his face partially obscured by the hood of his black robe. His hands were shackled, his spirit sealed by Lin Tian's formation. Yet despite the chains, there was no trace of fear in his eyes, only contempt.

Lin Tian stepped forward, his voice low but commanding. "Tell me who sent you. You were foolish to think you could breach the sanctuary of the Heavenly Beast Sect."

The cloaked man remained silent, his lips pressed tightly together.

Lin Tian's expression hardened. "You can keep your silence, but it will be your downfall."

He waved his hand, and a shimmering formation appeared in the air before them—a mystical array activated by his spiritual energy. It was the Advanced Interrogation Array, an array capable of extracting the truth through a mix of spiritual force and mystical energy. The array was designed to break even the most hardened wills.

Yue Ling stood behind him, her eyes narrowed in concentration. "Tian'er, this won't be easy. We need to be careful."

Lin Tian nodded, taking a deep breath. "I'll handle it. But we need answers, and fast."

He raised his hand, directing his spiritual energy into the array. The formation sparked to life, and the air around them shimmered. The cloaked figure flinched as invisible chains of energy wrapped around his mind, pressing against his consciousness.

Ding! System Notification:

Interrogation Initiated: Breaking the will of the intruder. Success rate: 85%.

Warning: The target is a trained cultivator of the Nascent Soul Realm. Caution advised.

The cloaked figure gritted his teeth, but his body tensed as the formation intensified. Lin Tian's focus remained unshaken as he pushed more energy into the array, forcing the intruder's mind to open.

"Speak!" Lin Tian commanded, his voice stern. "Who sent you, and why did you attack our sect?"

For a moment, there was only silence. Then, the figure's voice came out in a rasping growl.

"We were sent by the Black Lotus Sect. You've been marked, Lin Tian."

The name of the sect sent a ripple of surprise through Lin Tian's mind. The Black Lotus Sect was notorious for its ruthless methods and had a history of targeting weaker sects to absorb their resources. Their rise in power had been swift, and they had been making waves in the cultivation world for years. But Lin Tian had never thought they would target him personally.

The cloaked figure continued, his words forced out as if each one pained him. "The Black Lotus Sect believes you are a threat. Your... unique abilities... will disrupt the balance of power. They will stop at nothing to bring you down, Lin Tian."

"Unique abilities?" Lin Tian's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

The cloaked figure's eyes flickered with hesitation, but the interrogation array pressed deeper. Finally, he spoke.

"Your hidden realm... The one inside your body... They know about it. They believe it's a source of immense power that could make you unstoppable."

Lin Tian's heart skipped a beat. His hidden realm—the mysterious space inside him where he stored beasts, magical land, and now even his family—had been kept a secret for so long. How did the Black Lotus Sect discover it? And how could they know of its potential?

"I've never told anyone about my realm," Lin Tian muttered, mostly to himself. "How could they know?"

The intruder let out a pained laugh, his eyes glinting with malicious glee. "The Black Lotus Sect has eyes everywhere, boy. Even in places you would never imagine. They know everything about you, your bloodline, your beasts, your hidden realm."

Lin Tian's fists clenched, and the Golden Flame Phoenix on his shoulder flared with golden light in response to his rising anger.

"How do we stop them?" Lin Tian demanded.

The intruder smirked weakly. "There's no stopping them. Their power is already in motion. You'll never be able to protect your sect. The Black Lotus Sect is coming for you."

At that moment, the interrogation array flashed one final time, and the intruder's consciousness collapsed under the pressure. His body went limp, and he slumped forward, unconscious.

Ding! Interrogation Complete:

Result: Information regarding the Black Lotus Sect confirmed. Their goal is to eliminate Lin Tian and seize control of his hidden realm.

Rewards: Knowledge of Black Lotus Sect's movements. New Quest unlocked: Prepare for the Black Lotus Sect's Invasion.

Lin Tian stepped back, a deep sense of unease settling over him. The Black Lotus Sect was not to be underestimated. They were a shadow in the cultivation world, a force operating in secrecy, and now they had made him their target.

"Father…" Lin Rou's voice broke through his thoughts, and he turned to face her. She was pale, her expression conflicted. "What now?"

Lin Tian exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. "Now we prepare."

He turned to his family, his gaze firm. "The Black Lotus Sect wants to take my realm and use it for their own gain. They will stop at nothing to destroy us, but they will learn that the Heavenly Beast Sect is not so easily defeated."

Yue Ling stepped forward, her eyes glowing with resolve. "We'll stand by you, Tian'er. No matter what it takes, we will protect this sect."

Lin Tian nodded, a rare smile gracing his lips. "I know. And we will grow stronger. We'll make sure they regret ever setting their sights on us."

Preparation for War

With the information they had gathered from the intruder, Lin Tian and his family quickly set to work preparing for the coming storm.

The disciples were trained in defensive formations and battle strategies, while Lin Tian personally oversaw the strengthening of the sanctuary's barriers. With his hidden realm growing ever more powerful, he began integrating new magical lands and rare beasts into the sect's defenses.

The Golden Flame Phoenix was not the only creature Lin Tian had summoned from his hidden realm. With the help of his beast companions, he had acquired several mythical beasts, each with their own strengths. The Phoenix, with its flames capable of burning through any defense, would be the backbone of their offense, while the other beasts would act as protectors and scouts.

But Lin Tian knew that they could not simply rely on strength alone. The Black Lotus Sect was devious, and he needed more than brute force to secure their victory.

He spent hours every day researching ancient texts, seeking any information that could give him the upper hand. His goal was clear: defeat the Black Lotus Sect before they could carry out their plans.

In the meantime, Lin Tian received unexpected news.

Ding! System Notification:

New Quest Unlocked: Hidden Bloodline Awakening.

Objective: Discover the hidden potential of Lin Tian's bloodline and unlock a powerful skill to combat the Black Lotus Sect.

Reward: Bloodline Skill: Phoenix Rebirth.

Lin Tian's heart raced. His bloodline… could it be that his true power was still locked away within him?

Without hesitation, he set out to unlock the secret of his bloodline, knowing that the key to defeating the Black Lotus Sect might lie within him all along.