Chapter 298

Chapter 298: Post-War Rewards

The rumors about Zhou Luo became more and more true.

After all, what seemed impossible to Qi Refinement cultivators might have been just a trivial matter for those big shots.

This reason also well explained why he, with a Ninth Grade, had succeeded in Foundation Establishment so quickly.

Regardless of whether this was the reason, Zhou Luo’s successful Foundation Establishment was an indisputable fact.

The most exaggerated thing was that this guy actually killed the family head of the Lu Family in full public view after succeeding in Foundation Establishment.

The other party had just advanced to the Foundation Establishment realm and was easily killed just like that.

The key point was that the Lu Family was helpless about this.

They even began to withdraw their forces, returning the previously seized spiritual mines to the Lin Family.

Anyone with clear eyes could see that now the Lin Family had two Foundation Establishment cultivators, while the Lu Family had lost one, and with the internal turmoil of the Wang Family gradually calming down as well.

The situation had reversed, with the Lu Family becoming the one cowering now, and even the Zhang Family hid along with them.

However, for three consecutive days, the Lin Family was completely silent.

Zhou Garden.

Zhou Luo chose to bury Zhou Chang An next to the cultivation plot in the backyard.

This was the place where he was born and raised, his homeland, so he deserved to be buried here after death.

After another five days, the solemn atmosphere in Zhou Garden faded a bit, and the garden was filled with the laughter of children playing.

Meanwhile, the entire Lin Family fell into an eerie atmosphere.

Everyone avoided mentioning the previous victory, and no one mentioned Zhou Luo’s Foundation Establishment, as if the events in front of Maple Leaf City a few days ago had never happened.

In the main hall of the core area, the Lin Family Ancestor sat upright on the throne above, his aged face showing no emotion.

Family head Lin Tian Xiong and elder Lin Xuanfeng knelt prostrate on the ground, their posture respectful.

"About Zhou Luo, what do you think we should reward him?"

The Lin Family Ancestor looked at their appearance and asked indifferently.

The reason why the family hadn’t mentioned this matter all this time was that he, this Ancestor, hadn’t spoken yet.

The main reason for not speaking was that he couldn’t figure out Zhou Luo and didn’t know what he wanted.

Since Zhou Luo didn’t speak up, he, as the Lin Family Ancestor, wasn’t very clear about the family’s situation, so he summoned these two.

Family head Lin Tian Xiong replied: "Ancestor, how about we give him some cultivation resources?"

This time, Zhou Luo had accomplished great merit and succeeded in Foundation Establishment, so no reward would be excessive.

But he was already an elder; if we give him more power, then that would be the position of family head.

This was naturally impermissible for Lin Tian Xiong, who preferred to stabilize the other party with resources.

Lin Xuanfeng at his side didn’t agree; he had started paying attention to the other party from the earlier spiritual mine incident and knew that Zhou Luo wouldn’t be satisfied so easily.

After Lin Tian Xiong finished speaking, Lin Xuanfeng followed closely: "Ancestor, I think we can allocate him another spiritual mine."

Spiritual mines, as such strategic resources, all belong to the family.

Because the value it produced annually was immeasurable.

Currently, the Lin Family had a total of four spiritual mines; if one were allocated, the family’s annual income would greatly decrease.

This surprised Lin Tian Xiong, who stood nearby.

With this spiritual mine, the opposing party’s power might develop more rapidly and likely become the next Great Elder.

This was not what he wanted to see.

But he also knew it was an unstoppable trend that could not be resisted.

The Lin Family Ancestor, seated high on his throne, watched quietly and did not respond.

"Tell me about what he has done over recent years."

After a long while, he slowly said.

Lin Tian Xiong and Lin Xuanfeng exchanged a glance, and finally Lin Xuanfeng began to recount.

It ranged from how the other party self-taught and revealed talent in alchemy at the start, to being accepted as a disciple by Lin Zhi Shou, then proceeding to the spiritual mines, and bringing glory to the Lin Family at the Immortal Sect and so on.

Initially, the Lin Family Ancestor did not speak much, as he had already heard about most of this.

But when he learned that the other party had now gathered the former Great Elder’s faction members within the family, a hint of surprise showed in his eyes.

"It’s unexpected that this child has made some accomplishments in the Lin Family," the Lin Family Ancestor sighed.

Regarding the factional struggle between the main branch and the Great Elder, he had not intended to interfere; in his view, as long as things did not get out of hand, competition was necessary for the family to grow stronger.

Later, after the Great Elder’s failure in Foundation Establishment, he thought the factional fight would stop altogether.

Now, it appeared that the conflict was far from over, especially since the other party was now a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Lin Tian Xiong lowered his head, with a complex expression, unknown what he pondered.

"Enough, you need not concern yourselves with this affair."

In the end, the Lin Family Ancestor said calmly, sending them away.

Once they had departed, he sat on the throne in thought.

…

On this day, Zhou Luo had just emerged from Lin Qing Han’s room when he was informed that Second Elder Lin Guang Xuan had come seeking an audience.

Zhou Luo entered the main hall, where the other party was already waiting.

Seeing the arrival, Second Elder Lin Guang Xuan hastily stood and bowed, "Senior Zhou."

There was no choice; he was at Qi Refinement, and facing a Foundation Establishment cultivator demanded the respectful title senior; otherwise, it showed disrespect.

"Did you come regarding family matters?" Zhou Luo asked indifferently.

Lin Guang Xuan gave an awkward laugh and replied respectfully, "Senior Zhou, since you have now succeeded in Foundation Establishment, you should rightfully take over as the family head."

A slight flicker passed through Zhou Luo’s eyes, "Is this how you all think?"

Lin Guang Xuan raised his head, expression serious, and earnestly stated, "Yes."

Originally, the Great Elder’s final words instructed them to support the other party; now that he had accomplished Foundation Establishment and had the strength to become the family head in his stead, he deserved to be the new head.

Moreover, his intervention to avert the Lin Family’s destruction cemented their faith in the Great Elder’s earlier predictions.

As for his outsider status, they paid no mind.

"I understand; now leave, and hasten to reclaim those lost spiritual mines," Zhou Luo stated coolly.

Lin Guang Xuan felt joy within and promptly withdrew.

These words clearly meant that the opposing party aimed to exploit the chance for his followers to seize the temporarily unclaimed spiritual mines and begin expanding his influence.

After Lin Guang Xuan left, Zhou Chang Le was summoned to the main hall.

"Father."

Zhou Chang Le bowed respectfully.

"Do you know why the Qinyuan Sect has stood idle during this conflict?" Zhou Luo queried.

By the Qinyuan Sect’s typical rules, long-life families could dispute and battle openly; to profit steadily from their interests, the sect never allowed such clashes to grow too fierce.

But this time, with the Lin Family nearly destroyed, the Qinyuan Sect not intervening surely had a reason.

He had to uncover that reason, or at least discern the Qinyuan Sect’s stance, to decide whether annexing the Lu Family was wise.

Zhou Chang Le paused silently, then answered awkwardly, "Master sent us back without revealing anything."

"When I messaged him later, he did not say anything either."

"Then return to the Qinyuan Sect to test the waters; check if they react should I target the Lu Family," Zhou Luo instructed.

On hearing these words, Zhou Chang Le stiffened, then gave a firm nod, "Rest assured, Father, I will clarify this."

"Hmm, go now," Zhou Luo waved.

After Zhou Chang Le left, he exited the main hall and gazed up at the clear sky.

Taking charge of the Lin Family had long been his aim.

But this undertaking was far from concluded.