Chapter 62 Foundation Establishment Banquet

"Oh?" A flicker of interest passed through Lin Mocheng's eyes. "Might I inquire as to the purpose of your visit?"

Eldrin (Person Name) presented an invitation with a faint smile. "2 of my Chen Clan elders have recently achieved Foundation Establishment. This being a joyous occasion, our clan has decided to host a banquet for all prominent families across Yu County."

"My purpose in coming here is to invite a few fellow Daoists of the Lin family to the banquet."

"Additionally, we wish to revisit the distribution of tax revenues from Yuyang Market."

"What?"

Lin Baixi, who was standing nearby, abruptly changed expression and rose to his feet.

He quickly caught himself and sat back down, his expression rigid as he said, "The Chen family has produced 3 Foundation Establishment cultivators in a row. This is truly cause for celebration."

Eldrin sensed the atmosphere turning tense and promptly rose to his feet. "Esteemed guests," he said, "since the invitations have been delivered, I must take my leave to dispatch messages to the various great clans. I shall not impose further."

Lin Mocheng offered a genial smile and nodded gently. "I beg your pardon for not seeing you out," he said.

After bidding farewell to the 2, Eldrin turned and left the grand hall.

Watching him depart on his sword, Lin Baixi rose with a frosty expression and said to Lin Mocheng, "Shall we keep him here?"

A flicker of killing intent flashed through Lin Mocheng's eyes, but after a moment of internal struggle, he ultimately shook his head.

"They came openly to deliver the invitation. If we kill him, our reputation built over hundreds of years will be utterly destroyed. How could we ever show our faces in Yu County again?"

"Moreover, according to the news from Celestial Ruins Mountain (Location), that old scoundrel Chen Changxuan (Person Name) is no longer the man he once was. If he seeks revenge, we simply cannot withstand it."

The Lin Clan Patriarch spoke with a darkened expression, "The Beast Tide will strike in 30 years. Our Yu County borders the 100-1000-li Untamed Wilds—our 6 great clans must stand united."

"Alas!" Lin Baixi's expression turned icy, a trace of unwillingness coloring his tone. "Had I known then what I know now, I should never have sold the Crimson Flame Qi (Spiritual Root) spirit blade to the Zuo Family."

Lin Mocheng’s expression remained frosty as he spoke coldly, “I sold the Crimson Flame Qi (Spiritual Root) Spirit Blade to the Zuo Family in hopes they would uncover the flaws in the Chen Family’s Blazing Sun Transcendence Art. My intention was for them to severely injure—or even covertly eliminate—that old scoundrel of the Chen Family.”

"Who would have thought the Zuo family would be so useless? Not only did they fail to slay that old scoundrel, but they both lost their lives instead."

Lin Baixi shook his head and said helplessly, "The Zuo Family's Mingyuan Daoze Art can indeed counter the fire-attribute Lieyang Lingxu Art to some extent. However, with the Zuo Family's 2 cultivators being inadequately skilled, they ended up completely suppressed by the Chen Family instead."

"There's no point in discussing this now." Lin Mocheng said with a grim expression, "The Chen Family remains our greatest threat. Should an opportunity arise in the future, we'll secretly weaken their forces."

The Lin Family Head ultimately rejected Lin Baixi's proposal, unwilling to risk the family's reputation being tarnished by keeping Eldrin (Person Name).

Soaring on his sword away from the main peak of the Lin Family, Eldrin drew a sharp breath, only then realizing his back was drenched in cold sweat.

The 6 great clans of Yu County were considered a single entity. Though conflicts arose among them, they ultimately stood united to protect their shared interests when facing external threats.

But just now, he had keenly sensed a trace of killing intent, which completely took him by surprise.

Although the Chen Clan harbored some resentment toward the Lin Immortal Clan over the matter of the Crimson Flame Qi (Spiritual Root) spirit blade, they had refrained from acting out of consideration for their shared ties. Yet no 1 expected that Lin Baixi (Person Name) would actually conceive a murderous intent toward him.

"It was my oversight."

"Such a mistake must never be repeated henceforth."

Eldrin thought with lingering fear in his heart, much like the Chen family's Verdant Chariot Mountain, the Lin family's ancestral grounds had been cultivated for over a 100 years and were already densely woven with all manner of formations.

Once the formation in such a place is activated, even 2 or 3 cultivators at the Foundation Establishment, Late Stage would likely find it impossible to escape alive.

If the other party had truly been shameless enough to disregard their clan’s reputation and kill him, he would have been trapped in that situation by now.

Of course, the Lin Family wouldn't dare to actually go that far. Should they resort to such methods, it's likely no 1 would ever dare to conduct business with them again, and the other great clans of Yu County would find it difficult to tolerate such behavior.

Moreover, Chen Changxuan’s current combat prowess was truly terrifying. His strength was at least equivalent to that of 3 Foundation Establishment, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm) cultivators. It was likely that even if the Lin family’s 7 Foundation Establishment cultivators joined forces, they might still be no match for him.

Once both sides completely shed all pretense of cordiality and resorted to violence, the Lin Family would likely be forced to retreat and defend their main ancestral peak. Venturing beyond its protection would carry the imminent risk of falling.

Various concerns held the Lin family back from taking action, yet Eldrin learned a valuable lesson from this.

He resolved that unless he was absolutely certain of success, he would never again venture into the ancestral formation of another clan.

With this thought in mind, Eldrin visited the other 4 families next. He no longer entered their main peaks, merely delivering the invitations outside their territories. After exchanging a few brief pleasantries, he departed.

“…”

In the blink of an eye, 3 months had passed.

Chapter 1 The Verdant Chariot Mountains stretched across the land like a slumbering primordial beast, its peaks piercing the clouds where spiritual energy swirled in visible currents. Here, the air itself seemed to vibrate with latent power, a sacred ground for countless cultivators seeking immortality. A youth of 16 summers knelt by a crystalline stream, his coarse hemp robes starkly out of place in these mystical surroundings. Lin Ye's knuckles turned white as he clutched a shimmering stone—his last remaining spirit stone. "Foundation Establishment... just 1 step away," he whispered, his voice trembling with equal parts hope and desperation. Suddenly, the earth trembled. A thunderous roar echoed through the valley as a massive boulder tore through the canopy, crashing mere feet from where Lin Ye knelt. Dust and debris filled the air, choking his breath. From the settling dust emerged 3 figures clad in exquisite silk robes embroidered with celestial patterns. The leader, a handsome youth with sharp eyebrows and piercing eyes, flicked dust from his sleeve with practiced elegance. "Looking for this, trash?" The youth tossed a glittering object in his palm—a spatial ring carved with ancient runes. "Your family's so-called treasure couldn't even buy me a decent meal." Lin Ye's blood ran cold. "Chu Feng! That ring contains everything my clan has accumulated over 3 generations!" Chu Feng's laughter cut through the mountain breeze like shards of ice. "30 1000 spirit stones? A mere pittance. Consider it payment for daring to court my younger sister." Behind him, the 2 followers snickered. "Young Master, should we teach this countryside bumpkin some manners?" A cold gleam flashed in Chu Feng's eyes. "Break his legs. Let him reflect on the consequences of overreaching." The 2 cultivators stepped forward, their auras erupting simultaneously. 1 summoned crackling lightning around his fists while the other's hands blurred, leaving afterimages in the air. Lin Ye's mind raced. He had just broken through to the 9th level of Qi Condensation—no match for these 2 Foundation Establishment experts. But surrender wasn't in his nature. Not after surviving countless hardships to reach this point. As the attackers lunged, Lin Ye's body moved on instinct. He dropped into a low stance, the movement seemingly slow yet perfectly timed. His right hand traced an arc through the air as he channeled his remaining spiritual energy. "Still resisting?" The lightning-wielder sneered, striking with blinding speed. But Lin Ye's palm met the attack not with force, but with subtle redirection. He flowed around the lightning strike like water, his fingers brushing against the attacker's wrist. A strange resonance occurred—the violent lightning energy shuddered, then reversed course. "Ah!" The cultivator screamed as his own lightning rebounded, sending him flying backward. The second attacker hesitated for a split second, and that was all Lin Ye needed. His foot swept upward, kicking a cloud of dust into the man's face while his other hand struck a precise point on the opponent's chest. The remaining cultivator collapsed, gasping for air. Chu Feng's mocking smile vanished. "Impossible! That technique... the Heavenly Reverse Scripture! It was destroyed millennia ago!" Lin Ye stood panting, his body trembling from exertion. The simple movement had drained nearly all his spiritual energy. He didn't understand what Chu Feng meant about some scripture—he'd only used the most basic redirecting technique his father had taught him years ago. A murderous aura erupted from Chu Feng. "Can't let you live now." Crimson energy swirled around him, forming the phantom of a blazing phoenix. The temperature skyrocketed, causing the nearby stream to boil. This was no ordinary Foundation Establishment pressure—this was the aura of someone at the Golden Core threshold! Lin Ye's heart sank. Against such power, even his newfound technique would be useless. He prepared to meet his end, his thoughts turning to his ailing mother waiting back home... Just as Chu Feng was about to strike, a clear voice cut through the tension. "Using the Vermilion Bird's Cry technique to bully a Qi Condensation cultivator? The Chu family has truly fallen far." A woman descended from the sky, her white robes fluttering though no wind blew. She seemed to exist between moments, her feet never quite touching the ground. In her hand, she held a simple flute that seemed to absorb the surrounding light. Chu Feng's face paled. "Elder of the Silent Moon Sect! This... this is a private matter—" The woman merely glanced at him, and Chu Feng staggered back as if struck. Blood trickled from his nose. "Leave." Her single word carried the weight of mountains. Without another word, Chu Feng and his followers scrambled away, vanishing into the forest. The woman turned to Lin Ye, her gaze piercing. "That movement you used... who taught you?" Lin Ye met her eyes, his mind still reeling from the sudden reversal. "My father, before he disappeared." A strange light shone in the woman's eyes. "Come to the Silent Moon Sect in 3 days. Your father... and I have unfinished business." She vanished, leaving behind only the scent of plum blossoms and a single jade token floating where she'd stood. Lin Ye caught the token, his hands trembling. The Silent Moon Sect—1 of the 3 great cultivation sects that ordinary people could only dream of approaching! He looked toward the distant peaks where the sect made its home, then back at the boiling stream and shattered ground where he'd nearly died. His path forward was clear, but danger undoubtedly lay ahead. Clutching the jade token, Lin Ye made a silent vow. He would uncover the secrets of his technique, find his father, and make sure no 1 could ever look down on him again. The mountains seemed to whisper in agreement, their ancient slopes bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. Somewhere in the distance, a phoenix cried.

Joyous events lift the spirits, and today Verdant Chariot Mountain (Location) was bustling with extraordinary liveliness.

The family had produced 3 Foundation Establishment cultivators in succession, filling every clansman with beaming smiles and radiant pride.

The Third Elder, accompanied by his clansmen, greeted the families arriving from across Yu County with beaming smiles, thoroughly engrossed in the bustling activity.

The banquet was a grand affair. In addition to the 5 Great Families (Organization), the Chen Family had also invited over a 100 minor immortal clans from Yu County, while renowned rogue cultivators were likewise included on their guest list.

Over 2 100 cultivators attended the banquet, among whom Foundation Establishment cultivators alone numbered 20-3. Nearly all the Foundation Establishment cultivators in Yu Prefecture had gathered.

To entertain these guests, the family brought out many treasured first-grade spirit peaches and other spiritual delicacies. They even prepared some Cangqing Spirit Fish and Purple-Striped Wild Goose (Demon Beast) as exquisite dishes for the visitors.

The cultivators attending the banquet did not come empty-handed; most brought some gifts, such as elixirs, spiritual herbs, magical instruments, and so on, generally of modest value.

Only the 5 Great Families (Organization) incurred some expenses, with the gifts from the Mu Family (Organization) and Meng Family (Organization) being the most precious.

For hundreds of years, the Mu family had operated the Xuangming Pavilion's spirit herb business in Yu County, building their reputation on trust. Though immensely wealthy and influential, they adhered to the principle of harmony fostering prosperity. They sent over a bottle of second-tier elixirs.

The Meng Clan made the most generous gesture. Since Chen Changxuan's mother was a cultivator from the Meng Clan, and the Meng Clan head was the old patriarch's cousin, they gifted a second-grade natural treasure—the Blue-Veined Steel.

At the banquet, Eldrin sat at a table with several Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Patriarch Meng Xinghe of the Meng family gazed at Eldrin with gleaming eyes, his face brimming with delight as he said, "Relying on my bond with your esteemed father Changxuan, might this old man address you as Nephew Chen?"

Eldrin smiled faintly and gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.

In Yu County, the Chen and Meng clans, both families of Foundation Establishment cultivators, were as close as brothers, having maintained marital ties for many years.

In previous years when the Chen family faced difficult times, the Meng family repeatedly lent them tens of thousands of spirit stones to help them overcome their crises.

Slightly intoxicated from the spiritual wine, Meng Xinghe patted Eldrin (Person Name) on the shoulder with heightened enthusiasm and laughed heartily.

"Nephew Chen, I see you possess remarkable talent at such a young age, yet remain unbetrothed to this day."

"Our Meng family has a daughter named Meng Wanxing (Person Name). Though she cannot compare to you, she is considered quite talented."

He said with a tipsy chuckle, his tone hovering between jest and sincerity, "Why don't I play matchmaker for you 2?"