Chapter 77

Chapter 77: Family Meeting

On the flying boat, a Pill Master suddenly thought of something and looked at his companion, saying, "It seems we didn’t take back the antidotes we refined."

Previously, they had refined over a hundred antidotes, used over twenty of them, and still over ninety remained in Zhou Luo’s hands.

The other two Pill Masters also looked at each other in confusion.

Well then, over ninety antidotes all went to the other party.

If those were sold out, they could fetch at least a hundred spiritual stones.

"Forget it, forget it. With his potential, he could become a second level Pill Master. Let’s just consider it as building good relations," one Pill Master said.

Previously, they had only heard about Zhou Luo’s talent and were somewhat dismissive, but after seeing him this time, they truly admired him.

Ahead, Lin Xuanfeng, who was standing with his hands behind his back, heard these words, and his cold eyes flickered slightly.

It seemed this little son-in-law was more interesting than he imagined.

If everything was planned by himself, then his mind and abilities were quite good. If recruited later on, he could perhaps be nurtured properly.

Thinking of this, he looked down at the mountains, rivers, and vegetation below, slightly closed his eyes, and ceased to bother with Zhou Luo’s affairs.

Because next, there were more important matters awaiting him.

In the core area of the Lin Family, there was a dignified and mysterious building. It was only one story, but its entire body was enveloped in bright spiritual light. The walls paved with blue bricks were imprinted with various complex patterns, with lightly flowing spiritual energy within, emanating an inexplicable aura of power.

Above the door of the building, there was a plaque forged of redwood, inscribed with the characters for "Meeting Hall".

It was said that these three characters were penned by the Foundation Establishment ancestor, imbued with supreme power, and ordinary Qi Refinement cultivators dared not look directly at them.

On the four walls inside the great hall, portraits of successive family heads were hung. The one at the very center was naturally the ancestor of the Lin Family. He appeared kindly and wore a slight smile; even being just an ordinary portrait, no one dared to gaze upon him directly.

Before the portraits, there was a huge oval meeting table, carved from millennium profound jade stone, engraved with obscure and difficult-to-understand runes that could isolate all things, ensuring the privacy during discussions.

Beside the meeting table, there were ten positions in total. The first three seats on the left and right each had a gilded Throne, while the next two were relatively ordinary rosewood chairs.

And directly ahead, the throne symbolizing the family head, it was forged from spiritual wood, with cloud patterns and red maple leaves symbolizing the Lin Family carved on its surface, refined and ornate.

Embedded into the back of the chair were several medium-quality spiritual stones, shining dazzlingly.

At this moment, six people had already sat down at the entire meeting table.

According to tradition, the left was respected, the right inferior.

So the Great Elder sat at the left first seat, facing opposite was the Second Elder in a blue robe, with the other elders seated below in descending order.

The Sixth Elder Lin Zhi Shou, who was still attending the Spiritual Pill Conference, and the Fourth Elder Lin Tianfang, who was at the spiritual mine, had not come.

So only seven family elders had arrived and were present.

Currently, they had gathered here naturally to discuss the incident that had just occurred at the spiritual mine.

Seated at the left first seat, the Great Elder leaned back on his chair, still appearing kindly and benevolent, showing no emotional disturbance over losing a disciple.

Before long, family head Lin Tian Xiong stepped out from the side in splendid robes and brocade. His face, imposing without anger, radiated confidence and strength, making people hesitant to approach casually.

Behind him, Elder Jiu Lin Xuanfeng silently arrived and took his seat.

This caused the portly, middle-aged man opposite to give him a deep glance.

Lin Tian Xiong scanned the eight people present, his commanding voice resonating slowly. "Since everyone is here, Elder Jiu will recount the events that occurred."

Apart from the Great Elder, all shifted their gaze toward Lin Tianfang.

Expression calm, Lin Tianfang steadily recounted the events at the spiritual mine.

Learning the specifics, their reactions varied. Some looked surprised; others remained impassive; a few couldn’t help but glance at the Great Elder.

As head of the formation arts path, every family formation master belonged to the Great Elder’s faction. Now, one had perished on a spiritual vein controlled by the main family—this threatened to unleash a bloodstorm.

"Are we certain Zhou Luo is responsible?" The middle-aged man beside Lin Xuanfeng asked gravely.

His name was Lin Guangping. He was the family’s Seventh Elder and hall master of the Law Enforcement Hall.

Compared with Lin Xuanfeng’s Law Enforcement Hall, which focused on internal discipline, the Law Enforcement Hall governed external matters: maintaining Maple Leaf City’s peace and warding off invaders. Authority-wise, his position surpassed that of Lin Xuanfeng.

Though Lin Xuanfeng had detailed the incident, the Great Elder’s faction could not guarantee the account’s veracity.

Who knew if he’d framed Zhou Luo deliberately, seeking to shame them? After all, given Zhou Luo’s skills, slaying a high-tier formation master seemed improbable.

Facing the inquiry, Lin Xuanfeng produced a booklet from his robes. "Zhou Luo’s statement is recorded here."

He tossed the booklet onto the table. As its pages parted, Zhou Luo’s image materialized amid a flash of spirit light.

Within the glow, Zhou Luo wore a pained expression as he narrated events, repeatedly emphasizing it had been an accident and regretting the outcome.

His words caused the Great Elder’s faction to visibly darken. If Zhou Luo truly was at fault, none knew how to address it without inviting disaster, leaving them to discretely observe the Great Elder.

The Great Elder himself remained unperturbed, refusing even to look toward the booklet.

"Humph! He murdered an important figure of the family. Why wasn’t he apprehended immediately for punishment?"

The speaker sat on Lin Guangping’s left: an old man in grey robes. His hoary beard quivered as he blared sternly, his fury palpable.

He was Lin Yan—Fifth Elder in charge of the artisanship and equipment forging path. Aligned with the main family, he was notoriously hot-tempered.

"Fifth Elder, while Zhou Luo did cause the death, his intent was saving a life," interjected Eighth Elder from the opposite side of the table.

"Saving a life? This was a high-tier formation master! Our family dedicated immense resources and effort cultivating him! To die unknown like this… Shouldn’t that dishonorable son-in-law be punished?" Lin Yan snapped sharply.

At this, Fifth Elder Lin Yan fell silent, but Third Elder spoke with deliberate ease. "Punishment is necessary. But since he saved others, merit surely outweighs fault."

"Agreed. Today’s gathering serves to deliberate Zhou Luo’s punishment," declared Head of Family Lin Tian Xiong from his central position. His voice was firm and steady. He turned next to Lin Xuanfeng. "Law Enforcement Hall’s master. Your assessment?"

Lin Xuanfeng responded, "By family rules, Zhou Luo must atone with death. Yet his actions had cause, and others were saved. Thus, leniency is justified. That is why he hasn’t been detained."

Several elders looked shocked. This stance astonished both factions—the family head’s supporters and the Great Elder’s.

All knew Zhou Luo had married the Great Elder’s granddaughter. Logic placed him within the Great Elder’s faction. Lin Xuanfeng, however, belonged to the main family group. Why then speak in Zhou Luo’s defense?