Chapter 311

Chapter 311: Foundation Establishment Banquet

Zhou Luo could not back down, yet he equally understood.

Since this matter involved another Immortal Sect behind the scenes, he had to be cautious.

Therefore, upon realizing the background opposing him, he planned to set Feng City aside for now.

After all, the Lin Family was currently strapped for manpower. Deploying people to control Feng City would truly be a strain, and they would inevitably invite covetous glances from the Xue Family afterward.

Simply yielding it temporarily was a good option.

Once he could expand his influence within the Qingyuan Sect through his children, he could properly plan again later.

As for this time, Zhou Luo sensed Xue Ding Shan’s apprehension, so he maintained a forceful stance throughout the negotiation.

Outwardly, the main hall was eerily quiet. The head of the Wang Family and the elder of the Li Family realized the two men were likely discussing something crucial and remained tacitly silent.

After a quarter of an hour.

The two men reached an agreement.

The Xue Family would cede fifty percent of Feng City’s annual profits to the Lin Family every year, for one hundred years.

After one hundred years, Feng City would belong entirely to the Xue Family.

This fifty percent profit was substantial. Moreover, Feng City was a large cultivation city; its annual profits were calculated in tens of millions of spiritual stones.

The Lin Family would directly garner fifty percent for free, which was very profitable.

After all, if they stationed personnel in Feng City for management, the associated expenses and tribute paid to the Immortal Sect might consume thirty to forty percent of the profits, leaving the family with only about fifty to sixty percent in the end.

Furthermore, to prevent the Xue Family from playing something up their sleeve, Zhou Luo specifically emphasized he would establish a dedicated office in Feng City to oversee its affairs.

In a sense, it was equivalent to the Xue Family becoming a vassal of the Lin Family.

The Xue Family agreed for several reasons: firstly, because Zhou Luo was uncompromising and didn’t yield an inch; secondly, they didn’t want the matter to escalate too much; and thirdly, this cooperation would only last a hundred years.

After a century, the Xue Family would become the true masters of Feng City.

For a long-life family, a century really wasn’t a very long time.

However, what the Xue Family didn’t know was that Zhou Luo had set the term at one hundred years precisely because he planned to take direct action against Feng City once the century elapsed.

By that time, many of his children would undoubtedly hold positions within the Qingyuan Sect, and his family would have gradually grown stronger.

Once he had the capital, he would find ways to scheme to take Feng City back.

For now, it was merely letting the Xue Family temporarily serve as workers for the Lin Family.

Having reached cooperation, although Xue Ding Shan wasn’t in the best mood, he still politely saw Zhou Luo out.

Zhou Luo then informed Lin Guang Xuan of the matter and instructed him to remain behind with the hundred cultivators.

Lin Guang Xuan’s expression was complex; he stated he was advanced in years and feared he was unfit for the task.

He clearly understood that if he stayed in Feng City, he might never return to the family for the rest of his life.

Zhou Luo, however, earnestly insisted that only with an experienced family elder like him overseeing things could he feel assured.

Of course, this was just an excuse.

He was clearing obstacles for his wife.

Although the people from the previous Great Elder’s faction had submitted to Zhou Luo, overall, Lin Guang Xuan was still in charge.

Now that Lin Guang Xuan had stayed in Feng City, others would naturally gradually come under Lin Xi’s command in the future.

Lin Guang Xuan could not refuse and had to stay.

The Wang Family head and the Li Family elder also took the opportunity to bid farewell to Zhou Luo, intending to inform their families of this matter.

Zhou Luo alone returned to the family.

He traveled extremely fast, and in less than five days, he had already returned to the family and informed Lin Xi of this matter.

After pondering, Lin Xi felt this outcome might be the best and readily agreed.

…

Half a year after annexing the Lu Family, Zhou Luo finally prepared to hold a Foundation Establishment banquet.

Most cultivators held a banquet after successfully establishing Foundation Establishment to share joy with others and let those around them gain a touch of good luck.

Generally, such a small Foundation Establishment celebration only invited close acquaintances.

However, Zhou Luo was of extraordinary status and now controlled the long-life families, so if he held a small celebration, it would definitely be grand and special.

The better the banquet was, the more it represented the Lin Family’s strength.

Especially after the great battle, the Lin Family urgently needed a joyful event to wash away the post-war traumas that had formed.

So under Zhou Luo’s arrangements, the family began to widely issue invitations, inviting cultivators from all directions to gather in Maple Leaf City.

For a time, Maple Leaf City became extremely lively, with countless cultivators wanting a share of the auspiciousness, and it would be even better if they could befriend Zhou Luo.

Family head’s mansion.

Now, after Zhou Luo’s renovation, it had become a large mansion, ancient in style and very imposing.

"Family head and Great Elder, things are basically all arranged," Xu Changsheng said, walking over with a smile.

Now, his severed arm had recovered with Zhou Luo’s aid, and he became the family Sixth Elder, in charge of formation matters.

This Foundation Establishment banquet was jointly handled by Xu Changsheng and the Tenth Elder Lin Ze, and it was now almost ready.

"Mmm," Zhou Luo nodded.

After the family lost four elders, Zhou Luo smoothly installed his close associates into positions.

Among them, Xu Changsheng became the Sixth Elder, Lin Xin became the Fourth Elder, and Yao Wu became the Seventh Elder as a Gu Master.

Although he and Lin Xin were only a couple in name, in major matters, she clearly understood her choices and alignment.

With these three elders added, plus himself as the family Great Elder, the Elder Council directly became solely under Lin Xi’s control.

Moreover, this was just the start; slowly, he would replace all Lin Family leaders with his own people.

In less than a hundred years, the Lin Family would exist in name only, with everyone managed by the Zhou family.

Five days later.

The Foundation Establishment banquet was held smoothly, with major forces gathering in Maple Leaf City’s central square.

Wang Lang also came from Immortal City.

Since news of Zhou Luo’s Foundation Establishment had spread, Yao Yuan Pavilion’s business surged again, and now he was considering opening a branch.

He planned to discuss this properly today.

On the square, pairs of red tables and chairs were set up, and everyone sat down in order by status.

At the very front sat Zhou Luo’s wives and children, representatives of the long-life families, and some city lords.

Cities in the Qinyuan Domain were large, most under Qinyuan Sect’s control.

These city lords’ arrival signaled the Immortal Sect’s attitude toward him.

Soon after, Zhou Luo and Lin Xi walked toward the high platform from the side, drawing all attention.

Everyone watched eagerly, showing respect to this couple, especially Zhou Luo, that young Foundation Establishment strong person.

Lin Xi gave an opening speech as usual, adding that the family would still need everyone’s full support.

Zhou Luo also said a few words.

After brief remarks, the banquet officially began.

Zhou Luo, taking his main wife Lin Xi, started moving among the guests, chatting warmly with them.

At that moment, he seemed to sense something and suddenly looked up.

He saw a seven-colored auspicious cloud floating from afar, shining with dazzling spiritual light, spreading a grand aura.

As the cloud drew closer, other guests present also sensed it and looked up one after another.

They only saw a dense spiritual light, feeling sharp pain in their eyes and not daring to look straight.

Zhou Luo narrowed his eyes; he sensed a surging, mighty aura atop it.

That aura was not weaker than his own.