52: Banquet, visit from the City Lord's Mansion

From a distance, Lin Yongmao’s expression changed slightly, the brush in his hand fell, and his fists unconsciously clenched.

He recognized this representative from Qinglan Sect.

His predecessor and he had a deep conflict, even to the point of being mortal enemies, which was why Lin Yongmao had such a physical reaction.

The representative sent by Qinglan Sect was a short, ugly young man.

His eye sockets were deep, his nose was flat, and his hair was sparse; he was unsettling to look at.

However, he wore a white robe, on which was engraved the exclusive emblem of an Inner Sect Disciple of Qinglan Sect, displaying his extraordinary status.

In Qingyang, as long as you wore the attire of a Qinglan Sect Disciple, even an Outer Sect Disciple, others would look upon you with respect.

This person was Wang Bufan, an Inner Sect Disciple of Qinglan Sect.

His predecessor and Wang Bufan met by chance, and because his predecessor was too handsome, he was beaten to death by Wang Bufan.

Wang Bufan looked up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, appearing arrogant, and threw out three Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, saying haughtily:

“The Sect Master sent me to congratulate the Lin Family; this is the congratulatory gift.”

Three Mid-Grade Spirit Stones could be considered quite valuable. However, compared to the resources Lin Yuheng used to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill at Qinglan Sect, this was truly a drop in the bucket.

One must know that the Lin Family alone contributed five thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, which was equivalent to fifty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.

“Since the congratulatory gift has been delivered, I will take my leave.”

Wang Bufan did not intend to stay longer; he had always been arrogant and did not put the various Cultivation Families in his eyes.

Wang Bufan’s actions also hinted at Qinglan Sect’s attitude.

It could also be seen from the congratulatory gift that choosing Mid-Grade Spirit Stones as a gift both fulfilled superficial etiquette and prevented the Lin Family from converting them into specific Cultivation resources, such as purchasing Foundation Establishment Pills.

Qinglan Sect’s approach to the Lin Family and other affiliated Families was to “hoard their treasures,” restricting access to key resources like Foundation Establishment Pills.

This indicated that Qinglan Sect was not offering friendly support to the Lin Family but rather maintaining a distant and wary attitude.

Qinglan Sect’s underlying intention to “restrict the Lin Family’s growth” was already very clear.

This action was actually a hint to the Lin Family not to make trouble for themselves.

Wang Bufan left after showing off his power.

Lin Yongmao breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he didn’t encounter him directly, otherwise, he wasn’t sure if he could control his anger.

Lin Yuheng crushed the teacup in his hand: “This is too outrageous.”

Han Mi, who had been chatting and laughing with Lin Yuheng, also had a gloomy expression now: “A mere Qi Refinement Stage Cultivator dares to face us with such an attitude. This Qinglan Sect is truly bullying us too much.”

In the Immortal Realm, seniority and cultivation represented status, but Qinglan Sect acted contrary to this.

The other Cultivation Families were naturally very angry; Qinglan Sect’s attitude towards the Lin Family was also their attitude towards them.

“The Zhu Family Head has arrived—”

“The Zhu Family sends a congratulatory gift: a Qi Condensation Pill Pill Formula.”

The Zhu Family had Alchemists and was the only one among the four great Families known for Alchemy, with at least four First-Tier Alchemists in their Family.

This time, the Zhu Family actually sent a grand gift, a Pill Formula.

Although this Pill Formula was a First-Tier Pill Formula, its value was immense, especially given that the Lin Family wanted to venture into other Hundred Arts of Cultivation.

Lin Yongmao also saw that milky-white Jade Slip and couldn’t help but be greatly shaken.

To become an Alchemist, one needed not only an Alchemy Legacy but also a Pill Formula.

Pill Formulas were the most suitable recipes for Alchemy summarized by predecessors, detailing which Spirit Medicines to use, how to combine them, how to control the heat, every step was extremely important.

…

Lin Family Grand Hall, Council Chamber.

Lin Yuheng and Lin Yucheng sat side by side in the main seats, and various congratulatory speeches continued. Even Lin Yucheng, with his extensive experience, couldn’t help but feel a bit lightheaded.

Of course, this was the effect he created on the surface, but in reality, he exposed the hidden injuries in his Meridians.

The Cultivators attending the banquet then realized that Lin Yucheng was not as glorious as he appeared on the surface, and the hidden injuries in his Meridians would prevent him from fully utilizing his Foundation Establishment Stage strength.

Most of the Lin Family Cultivators adopted this method, showing weakness to others and hiding their strength as much as possible.

Even though he had already found a way to repair the damage to his Meridians, he did not plan to reveal it, but rather to make people lower their guard against him.

After most of the Family forces had arrived, Lin Yuheng lightly coughed, and the Cultivators who were chatting among themselves completely quieted down.

Lin Yuheng: “Thank you all for gracing my Lin Family with your presence. Please forgive any lack of hospitality.”

Han Mi chuckled: “Congratulations to the Lin Family for having two Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators in one Family. We will need the Lin Family’s support in the future!”

Lin Yuheng: “Father-in-law, you jest!”

Lin Yuheng’s wife was Han Yuxiu, and Han Yuxiu was also Han Mi’s daughter, so naturally, like Lin Yucheng, Han Mi was also Lin Yuheng’s father-in-law.

The Cultivators sent by other Families also offered congratulations one after another, but secretly, there was a mix of envy and jealousy.

Lin Yongrong stood in a corner of the Grand Hall, secretly observing everyone, noting down their characteristics and cultivation levels one by one.

This was also what the Ash Python had instructed him to do.

There was a voice in Lin Yongrong’s Sea of Consciousness: “The person you want to kill is that Lin Yongmao, right! Now is a good opportunity; act after these Family Cultivators leave.”

Lin Yongrong hesitated for a moment and communicated with the Soul-Seizing Ash Python through his consciousness: “Senior, but this is the Family Council Chamber. Acting here will arouse everyone’s suspicion…”

Soul-Seizing Ash Python: “No matter! Later, this Venerable One will act and directly erase him with Divine Sense. A mere Qi Refinement Stage Cultivator, this Venerable One can make him die invisibly with a single thought. Unless… unless his Divine Sense level reaches the Foundation Establishment Stage, otherwise, he will have no chance of survival.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Yongrong finally felt completely at ease.

To be honest, Lin Yongmao had always been a thorn in his side, like a splinter in his flesh.

Although the two were cousins, they had been at odds since childhood, possibly due to the conflict between their mothers, which had also extended to them.

Especially after Lin Yongmao replaced him as a Utility Disciple of Qinglan Sect, their conflict was completely ignited.

Fortunately, now that the Soul-Seizing Ash Python had spoken, and this was a Third-Tier Yao Beast, Lin Yongmao was doomed!

Inside the Lin Family Grand Hall, there was a scene of peace and prosperity, with Cultivators from various Families chatting with each other. They were either sharing valuable information or inquiring about the situation of their Family’s Disciples.

Just then, Lin Jing at the entrance called out again:

“A representative from the City Lord’s Mansion has arrived—”

“The City Lord of Qingyang City sends a congratulatory gift: one Seven Treasures Chicken.”

The one who arrived was a handsome young man. He claimed to be the son of the City Lord of Qingyang City, holding an exquisite golden cage in his hand, in which there was a brightly feathered hen that was dozing off.