Chapter 235

Chapter 235: Funeral

After Lin Guang Xuan left, Zhou Luo sat firmly on his seat in silence for a long time.

If before this, he could still have remained dormant.

But since the Great Elder had been confirmed dead, he could not afford to sit idly by.

After all, over the years, the matter of the Great Elder’s faction depending on him had been seen by the main family.

Still, even if he stood against the main family, they would definitely not make a move against him.

Because he had children who had joined the Immortal Sect.

Even if the main family didn’t fear him, they had to weigh the power of the Immortal Sect.

At that time, provoking them for no reason would only bring harm to the Lin Family.

It was precisely because of these children that Zhou Luo felt so confident accepting the support of the Great Elder’s faction.

But what about next?

The main family wouldn’t target him, but it didn’t mean they wouldn’t attack others.

That’s why Lin Guang Xuan had been so worried.

He thought at length and recalled that his cultivation had reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement.

Perhaps he could no longer keep a low profile.

While he had this strength, he might leverage the power of the Great Elder’s faction to challenge the main family.

Back when he obtained the system, he had resolved to build his own long-life families.

Now, having accumulated nearly thirty years, he had sufficient power.

He might even seize control of the Lin Family from the main family and create a new Zhou family.

Thinking this, Zhou Luo summoned Xu Changsheng.

"Master," Xu Changsheng saluted.

"How is Chang Ping doing?" Zhou Luo asked.

Zhou Chang Ping was his second son, now twenty-five years old, but lacking spiritual roots, he had been sent to the secular world.

Although these children could not return to Zhou Garden, he had never neglected them for over twenty years.

"Last month, when Young Master Chang Ping delivered the message home, he mentioned having taken control of some industries in Jiang City," Xu Changsheng responded.

Zhou Chang Ping could have stayed in Maple Leaf City, but Zhou Luo had arranged for him to be in Jiang City.

Not just him; several sons without spiritual roots had also been sent there.

As the saying went, the mountain was high and the emperor far away.

The secular businesses in Maple Leaf City were tightly controlled by the main family; to gain an advantage, he had to start from Jiang City.

Moreover, the person currently in charge of Jiang City was none other than Lin Xin.

Zhou Luo nodded slightly and dismissed him.

He walked out of the side hall and came to the backyard.

That small patch of land from the past had already transformed into a fertile spiritual soil, measuring precisely three zhang in length, and it was fully planted with the spiritual plants brought back from the Illusionary Forest initially.

After becoming an elder, the Zhou Garden underwent several expansions subsequently.

It had already evolved from an ordinary manor into the largest estate of the Lin Family, even surpassing the main household in size.

This was partly due to the larger population of the Zhou Garden, and partly because of his own pair of children.

Since their joining an Immortal Sect and smooth acceptance as disciples by a Golden Core master.

The entire Lin Family’s attitude toward Zhou Luo changed drastically.

Previously, family head Lin Tian Xiong had treated him as nothing and paid him no attention.

These days, he was constantly showered with various benefits and privileges, out of fear that he might be displeased, and even turned a blind eye to how the Great Elder faction attached themselves to him.

Ultimately, they hoped to rely on Zhou Luo to bind Zhou Chang Le and Zhou Shiling to the family.

With a glance at that pile of spiritual plants imbued with Illusionary Power, Zhou Luo moved to another formation.

There, only a small patch of land existed.

On that land, three stalks of Dragon Blood Grass grew conspicuously, one of which had clearly entered the mature stage and even emitted a light, fragrant scent.

Compared to those spiritual plants outside, this Dragon Blood Grass was his greatest gain.

Currently, he had reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement, and attaining perfection was expected within these few years.

Thus, planning for the Foundation Establishment Dan had to be scheduled urgently.

Precisely for this reason, he chose to conclude his Closed-Door Training and cease withdrawing from the world.

It was unknown whether it was bad luck or not, but over those more than twenty years of Closed-Door Training, with so many such draws, he hadn’t obtained the Jade Spirit Mushroom even once.

The refining of the Foundation Establishment Dan required three main ingredients and thirty-one auxiliary herbs.

Among them, the three main ingredients were Dragon Blood Grass, Sky Spiritual Fruit, and Jade Spirit Mushroom.

Now Zhou Luo possessed three stalks of Dragon Blood Grass; the Sky Spiritual Fruit had been acquired long ago when he killed Liu Fu Chen; only the Jade Spirit Mushroom was still missing.

Over the years, he had asked Xu Changsheng to make inquiries, but there had been no developments all along.

He had even covertly instructed the Second Elder to dispatch people to search for it in the Qinyuan Immortal City.

However, even within this Immortal City, the Jade Spirit Mushroom could not be found.

Not that it was unavailable, but even when it appeared, it was snatched away instantly.

Allegedly, it had once been sold at a market in the Longfeng Mountain range, though its authenticity was unknown.

Could he really need to journey to the Longfeng Mountain range?

Gazing at the three swaying stalks of Dragon Blood Grass, Zhou Luo pondered silently to himself.

…

Five days later, the main household announced a major event.

The family’s Great Elder experienced failure in Foundation Establishment and had already perished.

The incident instantly caused a massive uproar throughout the Lin Family.

For decades, rumors regarding the Great Elder had never ceased.

After truly confirming the other party’s failure in Foundation Establishment, everyone inevitably felt a trace of sorrow.

Once this major event spread out, the funeral of the Great Elder promptly began being organized on the very next day.

The main family seemed highly proactive about it.

They were eager to let the matter settle down swiftly, to expedite subsequent plans.

The funeral was conducted with great enthusiasm, with all members under the Great Elder’s lineage present, including those affiliated with his faction, disciples of the main family, and so forth.

The family head, Lin Tian Xiong, watched the grand funeral coldly, expressionless.

At that moment, Zhou Luo arrived, instantly capturing everyone’s attention.

He was the Sixth Elder of the family and should rightfully attend this funeral.

On this day, Zhou Luo wore a simple white robe and arrived solemnly before the memorial altar, offering incense and paying deep respects, fulfilling all the proper courtesies thoroughly.

This scene greatly comforted Lin Guang Xuan and his group.

Previously, they had worried that he might not come at all, or even if he did, he might only be putting on a superficial show.

But witnessing his extremely serious demeanor suggested he might be willing to help these people of theirs.

Not far away, Lin Tian Xiong and Lin Xuanfeng also observed it; they exchanged glances, their eyes bearing a hint of apprehension.

Zhou Luo’s growth speed was simply too rapid, not merely due to his cultivation, but also because of the forces surrounding him.

Before, he could disregard these forces, but now it was impossible.

Because Zhou Luo was clearly aiming to take over these forces.

This was what Lin Tian Xiong could not accept.

He had already resolved to initiate an internal purge after this funeral, but this attitude of Zhou Luo was manifestly intended to obstruct him.

At this thought, he involuntarily glanced at the pair of children behind Zhou Luo, and his lips curled with another trace of bitterness.

If Zhou Luo insisted on protecting these people, would he still be able to act?

If it were Zhou Luo alone, he undoubtedly would have taken action without any hesitation.

But now it differed; his pair of children were not just Immortal Sect disciples, but behind them also stood a Golden Core master.

Moreover, a few days prior, he had heard about the incident where the other party knelt to Zhou Luo; what a fine spectacle of filial piety and paternal affection!

This also indicated that targeting Zhou Luo would undoubtedly provoke displeasure from Zhou Luo’s children.

Thinking of this, Lin Tian Xiong heaved a deep sigh.

His heart was pervaded by an inescapable sense of powerlessness.

This Lin Family might truly change its surname.

Unknown how much longer he could endure…