Chapter 352 - 237: Returning to the Xu Family, Pushing for Clan Annihilation

Chapter 352: Chapter 237: Returning to the Xu Family, Pushing for Clan Annihilation

A faint hint of joy and admiration, as if she shared in the honor, appeared in Tantai Feiyue’s cool eyes. She sent a quiet voice transmission, her tone carrying a barely perceptible warmth:

"The story of what you’ve done has spread widely throughout the clan, Brother Lin. That includes helping me and Hanji reach Foundation Establishment and assisting Chief Xu with his breakthrough in the Tier Two Alchemy Dao. Nothing was hidden from the clansfolk... Everyone remembers the kindness you’ve shown us."

Hearing this, Lin Changheng’s gaze swept over the excited and sincere faces below. As he listened to the unending waves of cheers, his own heart was stirred.

’My arrival this time was completely unannounced. This couldn’t have been rehearsed or pre-arranged. It must be spontaneous, a genuine expression of their feelings.’

His initial motive for helping the Xu Family had been more about transactions and accumulating resources, but feeling this pure and fervent gratitude now, he felt the trip had been well worth it.

He turned his head slightly and said to the three of them, "It was all mutually beneficial. The Xu Family has given me my due reward. Still, to be treated with such sincerity... I suppose you could call this a fortunate connection."

Hearing his honest words, the three of them nodded.

...

Instead of first heading to Tantai Feiyue’s courtyard to rest and enjoy a private reunion, Lin Changheng went straight to the meeting hall with the other three.

He had, after all, stated that he had important news to share.

The Xu Family’s highest decision-making body had once been an "iron triangle" composed of Patriarch Xu Xuhe, Foundation Establishment Cultivator Xu Xujun, and Tier Two Alchemist Xu Qianyan. Now, with the addition of the newly ascended Foundation Establishment Cultivator Xu Hanji, it had become a four-person council.

This was the council that decided the Xu Clan’s most critical internal affairs and future direction.

"Alchemist Lin! Hahaha, it’s been too long."

Patriarch Xu strode forward, looking utterly delighted. He was in much better shape than the last time Lin had seen him, when he’d looked completely drained.

Though his hair was white, his face had a healthy, ruddy glow, a sign of his good condition.

’It must be a combination of Xu Hanji’s breakthrough, the sharing of his burdens, and the Elixirs supplied by Xu Qianyan that brought him back from the brink.’

"Patriarch, I’m afraid I’m here to impose on you again," Lin Changheng said with a teasing smile.

"Nonsense, what are you talking about?" Patriarch Xu said with a laugh. "The Xu Family will always be a home to you, Alchemist Lin. You can come and go as you please. Of that, there is no doubt."

Lin Changheng nodded with a smile. After a bit more pleasantries, Patriarch Xu’s expression suddenly turned grave as he brought something up, causing Lin Changheng to start. "What?"

Patriarch Xu repeated, "Elder Mo’s condition has taken a turn for the worse. I’m afraid his life is fading. Even Elixirs are no longer effective in sustaining him. He doesn’t have much time left..."

"By my count, he’s already over a hundred and thirty years old. And though his old, hidden injuries have mostly healed, still..."

Lin Changheng froze. The Ink Master had been the one who guided him in his Skills, providing him with the fundamental means to establish himself in the Cultivation Realm. After leaving the Purple River Marketplace, Lin Changheng was no longer his apprentice, but he still visited frequently and always treated him with the respect due a master.

Furthermore, his connection to Mo Zhaoli made their bond that much closer.

Every time he had visited the Xu Family in the past, he had made a point to visit Elder Mo for tea and a chat.

How could he not be shocked to hear this news now?

Lin Changheng considered this for a moment before firing off a series of questions. "Has a Physician been consulted on this? Has a message been sent to the [Purple Extreme Sect] to inform Zhao Li?"

"Our clan’s Physician has already seen him. We even invited a Tier Two Doctor from a friendly Immortal Race to examine him. This was their conclusion," Xu Qianyan was the one to answer, clearly pained by his old friend’s condition.

"Furthermore, a letter has already been sent to the [Purple Extreme Sect]. By our calculations, it should have arrived by now; we used the [Purple Extreme Sect]’s own special channels," Patriarch Xu added with a nod, clearly indicating they had done everything in their power.

"I see. It’s late today. I’ll go visit the Ink Master tomorrow."

A faint sorrow for an old acquaintance about to pass away clouded Lin Changheng’s heart.

He then quickly moved on to the main reason for his visit: the death of the Qiu Family Ancestor.

"What?!"

Instantly, the four senior leaders and Tantai Feiyue were all struck dumb with astonishment.

The healthy glow on Patriarch Xu’s face hadn’t even faded yet, but it was now replaced by an expression of pure shock. He leaned forward instinctively, his voice cracking with urgency, "Alchemist Lin, are you serious? That damned Old Ghost Qiu... he’s really dead?!"

Xu Xujun shot to his feet, his face a mask of disbelief mixed with a barely hidden, ecstatic joy. His words tumbled out in a rush, "That bastard was at the Peak of Early Stage Foundation Establishment! His Cultivation Techniques weren’t weak, and he was naturally cunning and suspicious. Even if he were outmatched, he should have been able to escape with his life... Is this... is this absolutely true?"

Tantai Feiyue’s beautiful eyes were wide as well, her hand covering her lips. Her gaze, fixed on Brother Lin, was filled with shock and a desire to know more. She knew just how troublesome the Qiu Family Ancestor was; the Xu Family had fought him for years without gaining any ground, and now he had suddenly fallen!

She was shocked, but she had no doubt in Lin Changheng. She already believed him.

Xu Hanji chose to believe as well, a clear look of relief washing over his face—the relief of seeing an enemy vanquished and a deep-seated grudge avenged.

Faced with their collective shock, Lin Changheng’s expression remained placid, as if he were discussing a triviality. He gave a slight nod, his tone casual but imbued with an undeniable force:

"It’s absolutely true. On my return journey, I happened upon him. He was fleeing, grievously wounded and on his last breath after a battle with someone else. I simply finished him off, which I suppose counts as eliminating a threat for the Xu Family."

He spoke with deliberate understatement, simplifying the entire process down to "simply finished him off," without the slightest mention of the inherent dangers and calculations.

However, those four words—"simply finished him off"—were like a clap of thunder in the ears of the Xu Family members!

’Grievously wounded and fleeing... on his last breath...’

Having heard this description, the Xu Family members, who had dealt with Lin Changheng many times before, believed the outcome. The process, however? They didn’t believe a single word of it.

This, combined with Xu Xujun’s earlier speculation about Lin Changheng having broken through to the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment, served as corroborating evidence.

Each piece of information supported the other, confirming both theories.

’It all made perfect sense. If Lin Changheng hadn’t broken through to the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment, it would have been completely out of character for someone so prudent to make a move. After all, he had refused their request to help ambush the man last time.’

Therefore, the conclusion was clear.

One: Alchemist Lin had definitely broken through to the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment. Two: Old Ghost Qiu must have been deliberately hunted down and killed by Alchemist Lin—a clear case of a stronger cultivator eliminating a weaker one.

This group, who had known Lin Changheng for a long time, instantly pieced together the truth.

Thus, when Lin Changheng took out a token he had seized from the Qiu Family Ancestor as proof, none of them even needed a second look.

They immediately began to strategize, planning the final clan war against the Qiu Family. They had to be swift and decisive, aiming to completely annihilate the Qiu clan, seize all of their resources, and absorb them!

Lin Changheng could see the excitement and exhilaration in their eyes. The war between the two clans, which had dragged on for so long, was finally coming to an end.

Besides, they had been coveting the Qiu Family’s Tier Two Spiritual Land and Dao Field for a very long time.

The Qiu Family had been like an unkillable cockroach—beaten down, but never exterminated.

Now, their chance had finally come!

They thanked Lin Changheng once again for his help and promised to present him with a grand gift once the matter was concluded.

To this, Lin Changheng simply smiled, not refusing the offer.

It was what he deserved.

...

Afterward, Lin Changheng didn’t participate further in their war council, leaving directly with Tantai Feiyue.

The two of them returned to Tantai Feiyue’s pavilion. As the heavy wooden door slowly swung shut, it sealed off the noise and chaos of the outside world.

All thoughts of the meeting hall faded away. Within the pavilion, only a familiar, faint, sweet fragrance remained, along with the unspoken yet quietly growing affection between them.

Alone together, the atmosphere shifted in an instant.

The cool self-possession Tantai Feiyue had maintained in front of others now melted away. As she looked at Lin Changheng, her eyes couldn’t help but ripple with a gentle warmth, like the soft lapping of water.

She raised a hand to pour Lin Changheng a cup of warm Spirit Tea. Her movements were as fluid and natural as always, yet they seemed a touch more gentle than usual.

"You’ve had a difficult journey, Brother Lin."

She said softly, her voice warmer than usual.

Lin Changheng accepted the teacup, his eyes on her profile, which looked all the more beautiful in the moonlight. The faint sorrow he felt over the Ink Master’s plight seemed to dissipate slightly in the face of this tranquil tenderness.

"It was nothing." He smiled, his gaze resting on her, appraisingly. "It seems your Cultivation has progressed again."

Tantai Feiyue nodded gently and sat down beside him, an easy intimacy flowing between them:

"It’s all thanks to the Elixirs and guidance you left behind, Brother Lin. Cultivation is difficult, but I’m still making steady progress. It’s just not as fast as my progress in the Talisman Dao."