「The Qin Family.」

Even though it was late at night, the residence was still brightly lit.

"Has Lin Mu not arrived yet?" Qin Hongbo asked.

Someone immediately replied, "We haven't been able to contact him yet."

Qin Hongbo's expression darkened. "What about Qin Luoli?"

The person spoke again, "The Eldest Miss said she is unwell and unable to attend this family council."

The family council was the highest-level family meeting of the Qin Family; all high-ranking members were required to attend. However, Qin Luoli, the president of Qin Corporation, was absent, which left many people feeling quite dissatisfied.

"This is absolutely outrageous!" Qin Hongshu was furious. "I think Qin Luoli is completely ignoring our family rules, and so is Lin Mu! Don't they realize this is a matter of life and death for our Qin Family?"

Everyone instinctively glanced at the gold-embossed challenge letter on the central table, their hearts heavy. It was a challenge from Daoist Master Yunxu of Celestial Master Mansion, the True Immortal of Thunder Law! It felt like a time bomb, ready to explode at any moment. And now, with Lin Mu missing and Qin Luoli making excuses, were they really supposed to be the ones to go and face Daoist Master Yunxu?

"Regardless, Lin Mu started this, and he must be the one to resolve it!" Qin Hongshu said with a grave voice. "Does anyone have any objections?"

"Of course, I have no objections," one person chimed in.

Qin Hongshu immediately added, "Lin Mu made this mess, so he should be the one to clean it up!"

"Exactly!"

"Didn't Lin Mu claim to be some Martial Arts Grandmaster with divine healing skills? I'd like to see how he gets out of this one!"

Yet, another person voiced their concern, "What I'm worried about now is that if the outside world learns about this, they might retaliate against our Qin Corporation."

Upon hearing this, the mood in the room immediately sank. This was something everyone was aware of, but having it stated so bluntly left them at a loss.

Qin Hongshu spoke bluntly, "What does this have to do with our Qin Family? It's all Lin Mu's own doing. When he gets here, we'll just have him apologize to Daoist Master Yunxu and then sever ties with him. Who knows, our Qin Family might even forge a connection with Daoist Master Yunxu as a result."

"Second Master's words make sense."

"That's exactly what we should do."

The crowd nodded in agreement, some even looking faintly excited.

"A bunch of idiots!"

Just then, a furious, elderly rebuke came from outside. Everyone looked up, startled.

"Old Madam, why have you come?"

The newcomer was none other than the most eminent individual in the Qin Family, the Old Madam. Qin Hongbo immediately stood up to welcome her, moving to offer his support.

"Hmph, let go!" The Old Madam pushed Qin Hongbo's hand away, her anger unabated. "How did the Qin Family end up raising a bunch of creatures worse than pigs and dogs!"

Qin Hongshu asked anxiously, "Old Madam, what is this about...?"

CRACK!

The Old Madam struck Qin Hongshu with her cane. "Especially you," she roared, pointing at him. "With such a vicious heart, turning on your own kin—you are a disgrace to this family!"

Qin Hongshu's face turned pale. He fell to his knees with a thud, pleading, "Old Madam, I've been wronged!"

He truly felt he had been wronged. How is pushing Lin Mu out considered turning on our own kin?

Burning with anger, the Old Madam retorted, "You've been wronged? Since Lin Mu married into our Qin Family, he is one of us. Yet you want to cast him out for the sake of an outsider. If that isn't turning on your own, what is?"

Qin Hongshu protested loudly, "But that person is the True Immortal of Thunder Law from Celestial Master Mansion! Our Qin Family can't fight him."

The others immediately knelt. "Old Madam, the Second Master is right! We're just an ordinary family; how can we fight against such immortal beings?"

The Old Madam sneered. "A bunch of shortsighted fools."

"So what if Yun Xu is powerful? You think that Lin Mu boy is weak?" Her face was filled with disdain as she continued, "Have you not considered Lin Mu's age against Daoist Master Yunxu's? A Martial Arts Grandmaster and Master of the Three Rivers before the age of thirty! Are you fools blinder than this old woman? Can you not see what an accomplishment that is?"

The crowd was stunned but remained unconvinced. Even if Lin Mu's achievements were grand and his future potential was immense, he was still no match for Daoist Master Yunxu. That man was an immortal being from the Celestial Master Mansion.

The Old Madam spoke coldly, "All you see is Yunxu challenging the Lin Mu boy as a disaster for the Qin Family. But don't you realize that if the boy weren't strong enough, would Yunxu have resorted to such a formal challenge?

"For an ordinary person, the Celestial Master Mansion would have sent just anyone. Yunxu didn't need to come personally. The fact that he is here proves that the Lin Mu boy is strong enough—at least strong enough to fight him."

Looking at this younger generation of her family, the Old Madam's eyes filled with disappointment.

"But you idiots fail to see that point," she lamented bitterly. "Do you really think that by pushing him out, the Qin Family can rest easy? What a joke!"

"The Qin Family has stood in River City for many years, weathering countless storms. If we had to exchange the lives of our family members for survival every time, our family would have long since turned to dust, its integrity lost!"

At this point, the Old Madam's tone grew heavy, her words ringing out with power, "What has the Qin Family relied on all these years? It is our unyielding spirit and our pride that never bows, not currying favor with the powerful or kneeling and begging for mercy like cowards!

"If the Lin Mu boy survives this, it will be a once-in-a-century opportunity for our Qin Family. If his skills are inferior and he is killed by Yunxu, that is simply the risk one takes in these contests. The Celestial Master Mansion wouldn't stoop to attacking us over it."

The Old Madam shakily stood up and walked toward the door.

"All of you think about it carefully. Don't you dare throw away such a great opportunity!"

Qin Hongbo and the others exchanged glances, shock apparent in their eyes. The Old Madam intended to protect Lin Mu.

「Inside a tomb on Tiger's Lair Mountain.」

Lin Mu's eyes snapped open, a sharp gleam shooting out more than three inches.

"Who would have thought this Spirit Vein would increase my strength so much," Lin Mu said, a hint of joy on his face.

Spirit Veins had always been nurtured by the essence of heaven and earth, making them ideal for cultivation. Although this one was not large, it was exceedingly rare on Earth. Otherwise, General Huang Weihu of Tiger's Lair Mountain wouldn't have been able to cultivate into a Zombie more than two hundred years after his death. The Dwarf must have learned of the Spirit Vein here from somewhere, which was why he used this place to refine Zombies.

Unfortunately for him, it all ended up benefiting Lin Mu.

Now, having cultivated with the Spirit Vein, his strength had increased dramatically. Previously, Lin Mu was only at the fourth level of Qi Cultivation. Now, his power had nearly doubled, pushing him directly to the seventh level. Although only two levels separated the fourth and seventh levels of Qi Cultivation, they were worlds apart.

The twelve levels of Qi Cultivation were divided into distinct phases every three levels. The first to third levels were the initial phase, the fourth to sixth were the middle phase, and the seventh to ninth were the late phase. The tenth was completion, the eleventh was the peak, and the twelfth... was the stuff of legend.

At the tenth or eleventh level of Qi Cultivation, most cultivators began to refine their Qi into essence in preparation for Foundation Establishment. Only a few exceptionally talented geniuses would strive for the supreme Heavenly Dao, the legendary twelfth level. Every cultivator who achieved Foundation Establishment at the twelfth level of Qi Refining was one embraced by the Great Dao, a person of extraordinary willpower.

As the only cultivator currently on Earth, Lin Mu also aspired to contend for that supreme pinnacle of the Great Dao.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.