18: Penalties

Lin Yukai broke out in a cold sweat, fell from his chair, and slumped to the ground, completely losing the demeanor of a Qi Refinement Stage Great Perfection Cultivator.

"No, o(＞﹏＜)o no! I know I was wrong, Big Brother..."

"Yongmao, Third Uncle knows he was wrong, please intercede for your Third Uncle..."

Lin Yongmao showed no reaction, his facial expression unchanged. How could he intercede for such a person?

"Fourth Brother, you..."

"Third Brother, you're too dishonorable. Since you did something like this and tried to kill your own nephew, I will no longer acknowledge you as my brother."

"A strong fortress cannot be easily broken from the outside, but if someone inside destroys it, then no matter how strong it is, it's useless."

Lin Yucheng's words were insightful, not at all like something a rough man would say.

"Good, well said!"

"I, in the name of the Clan Chief, announce: Lin Yukai abused his power and harmed his fellow clansmen. His crime warrants execution. However, considering his past contributions to the Family, all his Cultivation is to be abolished, and he shall guard the Family Ancestral Hall.

As for Lin Li and Lin Qi, they are to be exiled to the Mortal towns and completely removed from the Family's Family tree.

Remember, never mention that you are a Lin Family member again, or you will be directly executed."

The three of them showed expressions of despair.

For a Cultivator, wasn't this judgment a death sentence?

But if they had known today, why did they act as they did?

...

Lin Yongmao let out a light breath of turbid Qi. He had returned to Thousand-Pinnacle Cliff from the Family's deliberation hall.

One of the enemies lurking in the shadows had been eliminated, and his threat to him had diminished by a few points.

Most of his relatives within the Family were still good to him, such as Second Uncle Lin Yumo and Aunt Lin Yulian.

Although Lin Yukai ultimately didn't expose Lin Yongrong, he had already learned his lesson and would no longer threaten him from now on.

As for Lin Yongrong, it wouldn't be so easy to get rid of him.

He was, after all, the son of Big Uncle Lin Yuheng, who was the Lin Family Clan Head. Not only would there be no Opportunity to act within the Family, but even if there was direct evidence to expose his crimes, the Clan Chief would probably protect him.

This matter still needed to be considered in the long term.

...

Lin Family Ancestral Hall.

As a renowned Cultivation Family in the Qingyang Mountain Range, the Lin Family had already been passed down to the sixth generation.

The Family was considered prosperous, and the Ancestral Hall was filled with the spirit tablets of ancestors from all generations.

The Ancestral Hall was filled with the smoke of incense, and originally had dedicated guardians. Now, this glorious task was transferred to Lin Yukai's hands.

Just a few hours ago, he was abolished of all his Cultivation by Lin Family Clan Head Lin Yuheng.

For Lin Yukai, this was more painful than death.

Lin Yukai's talent was not high; he only cultivated to the Qi Refining Stage Seventh Level in his middle age, which made him, who had always been strong-willed, feel unwilling.

Fortunately, he was also a person with Opportunity. He obtained a secret tome from the ruins of an ancient Cultivator's Immortal Cave that allowed him to rapidly increase his Cultivation by burning his life Origin.

It was precisely by relying on this secret tome that he successfully advanced to Qi Refinement Stage Great Perfection Cultivation.

However, compared to fellow Cultivators of his generation, his hair had already turned completely white, and his face was aged.

Moreover, he had completely lost the possibility of advancing to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

He didn't regret it, because by relying on his Qi Refinement Stage Great Perfection Cultivation, he successfully became the captain of the Lin Family Guard Team, and from then on, he could hold his head high.

He was on good terms with Lin Yongrong, partly because Lin Yongrong was his nephew.

Another reason was that the position of Lin Family Clan Head would sooner or later be passed to Lin Yongrong.

Currying favor with the future Clan Chief was a very valuable investment for him.

At this moment, Lin Yukai slumped on the ground of the Ancestral Hall like a dead fish. Having just had all his Cultivation abolished, he found it difficult to even stand up.

A young figure slowly walked into the Ancestral Hall, first devoutly lit a stick of incense, and then his gaze shifted to Lin Yukai, who was slumped on the ground.

"Third Uncle, let me help you up..."

Lin Yukai said with a bitter smile, "Yongrong, if I were you, I would definitely not come to the Ancestral Hall right now. You're too conspicuous, and everyone will speculate that you wanted to get rid of Lin Yongmao."

Who else could this young, slightly heroic figure be but Lin Yongrong?

Lin Yongrong helped Lin Yukai up, and he said in a low voice, "Third Uncle, you've already helped me enough. Your current state is entirely my fault. If I were to abandon you out of fear of being implicated, then you'd be underestimating me too much."

Lin Yukai sighed softly, then said, "It's truly a pity that Lin Yongmao wasn't eliminated by me. We still underestimated him, or rather, underestimated the people around him."

"Third Uncle, you don't need to worry anymore. I will handle this matter later. Once I become the Lin Family Clan Head, I will certainly not let Lin Yongmao remain in the Lin Family."

Lin Yongrong also felt a bit helpless. It seemed he had exhausted his methods, yet he couldn't harm Lin Yongmao in the slightest.

He had never thought of asking his father for help. Lin Yuheng was an upright person, and as the Clan Chief, he was impartial and would absolutely not side with him.

Moreover, by coming to visit Third Uncle Lin Yukai today, he had already prepared himself to face his father's wrath.

Fortunately, there was no conclusive evidence pointing to him yet. Lin Yukai, even after having all his Cultivation abolished, did not expose him.

"Once I become the Lin Family Clan Head, I will definitely arrange a good place for you, Third Uncle."

Lin Yukai showed a satisfied expression, thinking that he had indeed judged people correctly. He immediately took out his Storage Pouch and solemnly handed it to Lin Yongrong.

"Yongrong, all the Cultivation resources I've accumulated in my life are now entrusted to you. I hope you can achieve Foundation Establishment soon and become the Lin Family Clan Head."

As long as Lin Yongrong successfully achieved Foundation Establishment, he could become the Lin Family Clan Head, and Lin Yuheng would retire.

And once Lin Yongrong became the Lin Family Clan Head, his good days would come.

Lin Yongrong exchanged a few more pleasantries with Lin Yukai, then left the Lin Family Ancestral Hall with a reluctant expression.

Lin Yongrong turned his back, preparing to leave, his facial expression already changed, a faint smile playing on the corners of his mouth.

"The goal has been achieved."

He had just quietly used his Divine Sense to probe Lin Yukai's Storage Pouch, and there were indeed many Cultivation resources inside.

Spirit Stones, Medicinal Pills, Cultivation Techniques, Materials...

It seemed Lin Yukai had gained a lot of benefits from his position as the captain of the guard team.

There was also a dark red Jade Slip in the corner, emitting a faint evil aura.

This should be the secret technique that allowed Third Uncle to rapidly increase his Cultivation in a short period of time.

If he were to Cultivate this secret technique as well, then killing Lin Yongmao would be as easy as turning his hand over.

He didn't want to wait that long. If he were to Cultivate conventionally, it would probably take more than ten years to advance to Qi Refinement Stage Great Perfection, and the Foundation Establishment Pill needed for a Foundation Establishment Breakthrough was not that easy to obtain.

If he waited for more than ten years, Lin Yongmao might have already achieved Foundation Establishment, and would he still put him in his eyes then?

He could not, and would not, allow such a situation to occur.