53: Psychological attack, fatal threat

Lin Yuheng was overjoyed, not expecting that the City Lord’s Mansion would also send someone to attend their Lin Family’s banquet.

This was not only extremely rare but also an opportunity for their Lin Family to gain prestige.

Han Mi clicked his tongue in wonder, “This Seven Treasures Chicken is a good thing! As long as it’s fed properly, it will lay a Seven Treasures Spiritual Egg every so often, which is very useful for children who haven’t yet undergone Spiritual Root Awakening. Regular consumption can increase the probability of successfully Awakening a Spiritual Root, and there’s even a chance of Awakening rare Spiritual Roots and Physiques.”

Lin Yucheng also said, “The price of this Seven Treasures Chicken is immeasurable!”

As soon as the young man in green robes entered the Lin Family’s main hall, he immediately became the center of attention.

Now, the Young City Lord attending the Lin Family’s banquet seemed to represent the intentions of Yang City’s Loose Cultivators.

Lin Yongmao also exchanged glances with the young man in green robes; they were of similar age, but their temperaments were completely different.

Lin Yongmao had a steady demeanor, possessing a maturity far beyond his peers.

The young man in green robes, on the other hand, was full of youthful vigor, his eyes shining brightly.

He walked into the main hall, cupped his fists, and bowed to the Cultivators present, “I am Chen Sichen. I represent my father in congratulating the Lin Family on gaining another Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator.”

Lin Yuheng: “Young City Lord, please take the main seat. Seeing your nephew’s demeanor, it truly lives up to the saying, ‘Heroes emerge from youth’!”

Chen Sichen was indeed astonishing; at such a young age, he was already at the tenth level of the Qi Refinement Stage.

In some large Immortal Realm domains, this might not be much, but in Yang City, he was unrivaled.

Even in the Qinglan Sect, it would be difficult to find such a promising talent.

After Chen Sichen took his seat, he remained silent, appearing to be in deep contemplation.

The youthful vigor had completely receded, giving him an unfathomable aura.

The banquet continued. Xu Wannian, the Xu Family Patriarch, seized the lively atmosphere to ask, “Brother Lin, could you tell me where you obtained the Foundation Establishment Pill for your Foundation Establishment?”

Although the Xu Family was a Cultivation Family, it had never had a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator overseeing it, preventing it from joining the ranks of the Four Great Families.

But if he had a Foundation Establishment Pill, then Xu Wannian would have a chance to achieve Foundation Establishment.

Lin Yucheng had no intention of hiding it: “Our Lin Family expended a large amount of resources to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill from the Qinglan Sect.”

Zhu Shou, the Zhu Family Patriarch, said indifferently, “Only the Qinglan Sect has a Second-Order Alchemist. This Foundation Establishment Pill is a Second-Order Medicinal Pill, and without a Second-Order Alchemist, it’s impossible to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill.”

What Zhu Shou didn’t say was that even if his Zhu Family produced a Second-Order Alchemist, they probably wouldn’t be able to stay in the Zhu Family and would be “invited” to the Qinglan Sect.

Furthermore, refining a Foundation Establishment Pill requires a Foundation Establishment Pill Formula. Although their Family had a Second-Order Alchemist Legacy, they didn’t have the corresponding Pill Formula!

Chen Sichen listened very carefully. As a tenth-level Qi Refinement Stage Cultivator, he was also nearing the time when he would need a Foundation Establishment Pill, afraid of missing any crucial information.

Han Mi sighed, “If there were other ways to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill, we could be less constrained by the Qinglan Sect.”

This was the sentiment of many Family forces, but only the Han Family Patriarch, Han Mi, voiced it. Indeed, Old Master Han had the highest seniority present, giving him ample confidence.

Chen Sichen hesitated for a long time before slowly speaking, “Actually, the problem of the Foundation Establishment Pill Formula isn’t difficult to solve. The key is that cultivating a Second-Order Alchemist is too difficult.”

From Chen Sichen’s words, it seemed he had a way to obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill Formula.

But how difficult it was to cultivate a Second-Order Alchemist! How many resources would it take to produce a Second-Order Alchemist?

And merely having resources wasn’t enough; one also needed sufficient talent.

The Family Patriarchs present were all thinking about how to cultivate a Second-Order Alchemist.

The banquet lasted for more than half a day before the many Cultivators slowly departed.

Finally, with most people gone, Lin Yongrong’s heart began to pound with nervousness. He had hidden in the shadows, afraid of being noticed.

A grayish gas surged from his body, then transformed into a long snake-like form.

The single-line snake traversed half the main hall, its target precisely Lin Yongmao.

Not many people present reacted in time: Lin Yucheng, Lin Yuheng, and Han Mi, who had not yet left.

“This is—a mental attack!!!”

Before their words were fully spoken, the single-line snake was already about to enter Lin Yongmao’s glabella.

Lin Yongmao saw the grayish-brown long snake, formless yet tangible. A sense of crisis surged into his heart, making his chest feel tight.

He had no knowledge of any form of mental attack or defense and could only concentrate to resist. In that instant, the grayish-brown long snake had already entered his Sea of Consciousness.

Immediately, Lin Yongmao’s head split with pain. He collapsed to the ground, suffering, blood seeping from all seven orifices.

“Yongmao!”

Lin Yucheng had already let out a sorrowful scream, thinking his son was doomed.

How could a Qi Refinement Stage Cultivator resist a mental attack that only a Golden Core Stage Cultivator could unleash?

Lin Yongmao’s Sea of Consciousness was in Chaos. The grayish-brown long snake entered his Sea of Consciousness, intending to wreak havoc. Even a slight movement would render Lin Yongmao idiotic, if not dead.

The human Sea of Consciousness was simply too fragile, especially that of a low-level Cultivator.

Just then, a bronze hoe stained with rust flew out from the depths of his Sea of Consciousness. With a gentle wave, it instantly dispersed the long snake.

The bronze hoe automatically protected its master!

The bronze hoe, which Lin Yongmao had almost forgotten, reappeared. He had thought it was completely dormant in his Sea of Consciousness, but unexpectedly, it played a huge role at the critical moment.

Meanwhile, in the shadows of the main hall.

Lin Yongrong grunted, his head feeling as if struck by a heavy hammer, and his body nearly fell to the ground.

But he quickly recovered his composure and secretly asked, “Senior, are you alright!”

The Soul-Seizing Ash Python was somewhat weak: “No major problem, but this Venerable One’s mental attack was actually met with a backlash. How is this possible?”

One must know that the Soul-Seizing Ash Python itself was a Third-Order Yao Beast, and a mental-type Third-Order Yao Beast at that. How could it suffer a backlash from a mere Qi Refinement Stage Cultivator?

Unfortunately, that wisp of Divine Thought had been completely dispersed, and it didn’t even know what caused it.

“This Venerable One must recuperate for some time. For now, you are on your own.”

With that, all of the Soul-Seizing Ash Python’s aura completely concealed itself.

Lin Yongrong was very anxious, but he had no other choice. Helplessly, he pretended to be concerned and went to check on Lin Yongmao, just like the other Family members.

On Lin Yongmao’s side, he was already slumped on the ground, looking dazed and foolish, the bloodstains at the corners of his mouth and eyes not yet dry, forming long streaks.

“Yongmao…”

Lin Yucheng gently shook Lin Yongmao’s body, his heart filled with extreme sorrow.

Seeing his son’s lifeless eyes, he began to blame himself for why he had to take the initiative to host such a banquet.