Chapter 30: The Lin Family Annual Gathering
A thousand miles of snow fell upon the Lin Family, immediately drawing the attention of many Lin Family members.
"It's Lin Feng back. I wonder what his cultivation level is now."
"Heh, what does it matter if he's back? He'll only embarrass himself at the annual gathering. The eldest master's son and daughter are incredibly powerful now. Lin Feng might be strong, but at most he's only at the Seventh Layer of Qi Martial Realm. How could he possibly be a match?"
"True enough. Although this waste defeated Lin Yun last time, Lin Yun can't compare to the family's talented disciples. If I were him, I'd just hide in the sect and not come out."
Many people whispered among themselves, most of them secretly mocking Lin Feng. After all, Lin Feng was the young master of the Lin Family, yet he was nothing but a 'waste.'
At this moment, Lin Feng had already returned to the courtyard where he lived. The courtyard was small but very clean, occupied only by Lin Feng and his father, Lin Hai.
"Father." Lin Feng arrived at Lin Hai's room and saw his father painting, so he called out.
"Xiao Feng, you're back." Lin Hai looked up, put away the painting, and a hint of gentle smile appeared between his brows.
"Mm. There are still seven days until the annual gathering, so I deliberately came back to participate." Lin Feng glanced at the painting Lin Hai had put away. In his memory, Lin Hai loved tranquility, which seemed related to his hobby of painting. He disliked being disturbed, but Lin Feng had never actually seen Lin Hai's paintings.
"Xiao Feng, don't participate in this year's gathering. Let them do as they please." Lin Hai shook his head with a smile.
"Father, why is that?"
"Heh, this year's gathering, they're all targeting us father and son. I don't care about them, but Xiao Feng, you should be careful." Lin Hai sighed. The Lin Family had long since changed and was no longer peaceful. His two biological brothers, some cousins, and even a few elders had already begun plotting, probably planning to force him to abdicate at this year's gathering.
"Don't worry, Father. I don't care." Lin Feng shook his head. Now that he was at the Ninth Layer of Qi Martial Realm, even if those people wanted to strike hard at him during the gathering, they would need the strength to do so.
"Oh?" Lin Hai looked at his son in surprise. Seeing Lin Feng's confident gaze, he couldn't help but laugh: "Haha, I've been underestimating my own son. Fine, let's us father and son see how they plan to make trouble. If they want to take my position, they'll have to show some real skill."
"But Xiao Feng, be careful during the gathering. I've heard that Lin Qian has already broken through to the Spirit Martial Realm."
"It's not just hearsay. She really has broken through to the Spirit Martial Realm. But if she wants to hurt me, it won't be that easy." A cold glint flashed in Lin Feng's eyes. Lin Qian had actually brought people to the Cloud Sea Sect to demand his capture, and when she left, she threatened to settle things at the annual gathering. Now that the gathering had arrived, he wanted to see how Lin Qian planned to make him pay.
"Father, I'm going to go cultivate. Wake me on the day of the gathering." Lin Feng took his leave. Although his cultivation was already considerable, Lin Qian, who possessed the Ice and Fire Dual Source Martial Soul, was not someone to be trifled with. It would be better for him to raise his cultivation a bit more.
At that moment, outside the Lin Family estate, three Flame Horses arrived with a gust of wind. On the middle Flame Horse sat Lin Qian, dressed in a fiery phoenix-tail long robe that made her appear extremely noble. Combined with her cold and aloof temperament, she seemed untouchable, high above everyone else.
"Eldest Miss." The Lin Family gate guards called out respectfully, far more courteously than they ever treated Lin Feng. They didn't even dare to meet Lin Qian's gaze. Just her aura alone made them feel inferior.
Lin Qian didn't even glance at them. She rode the Flame Horse directly into the Lin Family estate, as proud as a princess. The two people beside her, wearing the attire of the Hao Yue Sect, followed closely behind.
"The eldest miss is truly different now. Her temperament and beauty surpass the past. There's no doubt she's the number one person in our Lin Family." A guard remarked with emotion after Lin Qian had left.
"Of course. A Spirit Martial Realm expert is incredibly formidable. The eldest miss is only sixteen, with limitless potential. She's far beyond that waste of a young master. Even the eldest miss's friends are extraordinary—elite disciples of the Hao Yue Sect." Another guard chimed in. In their eyes, Lin Feng didn't even qualify to be compared to Lin Qian. One was the bright moon in the sky, the other a firefly on the ground. They couldn't compete, and Lin Feng was destined to only look up to her.
The arrival of Lin Qian and the two Hao Yue Sect disciples immediately stirred up a storm within the Lin Family, far more sensational than Lin Feng's return. Surrounded by admirers, some elders and Lin Family members had already gone to the courtyard where Lin Ba Dao's family lived to pay their respects. Lin Qian's future was boundless, far beyond what the mere Lin Family could contain.
Thus, many in the Lin Family were willing to do Lin Ba Dao a favor by helping him ascend to the position of family head. That way, when Lin Qian gained power and the Lin Family basked in her glory, those who had helped Lin Ba Dao rise would also reap the benefits.
Compared to the bustle over there, Lin Feng's residence seemed rather desolate. However, Lin Qian had not forgotten Lin Feng. Her eyes seemed to pierce through the layers of walls, landing on the courtyard where Lin Feng lived. A cold glint flashed and vanished.
"This time, I'll make you pay." Lin Qian's heart was filled with icy resolve.
Two days later, Lin Ba Dao's eldest son, Lin Hong, also returned. Lin Hong had been training at the Snow Shadow Mountain Villa. Although the Snow Shadow Mountain Villa was not a sect, its strength was in no way inferior to the Cloud Sea Sect. It was extremely famous in the Snow Moon Kingdom, and moreover, the Snow Shadow Mountain Villa only accepted disciples with Ice Martial Souls.
This time, Lin Hong had also greatly increased his cultivation, reaching the peak of the Ninth Layer of Qi Martial Realm, only one step away from entering the Spirit Martial Realm. This caused a stir throughout the Lin Family. It seemed that the Lin Family had already become Lin Ba Dao's domain.
Besides Lin Hong, some elders and collateral descendants of the Lin Family also returned one after another, making the Lin Family, with the annual gathering approaching, completely lively.
Especially Lin Ba Dao's residence, which was bustling with visitors, as if Lin Ba Dao were the true family head.
As for the residence of the real Lin Family master, Lin Hai, it was completely ignored, extremely quiet.
Finally, the day of the annual gathering arrived. Everyone in the Lin Family felt a slight excitement. Another year had passed. They wondered how the younger generation of the Lin Family had progressed in their cultivation, which level their own children belonged to, and whether any exceptionally talented descendants would stand out. Today, everything would be revealed.
For the higher-ups of the Lin Family, today was destined to be an extraordinary day. Three months ago, some had already tried to force Lin Hai to step down, but Lin Hai had suppressed everyone with his authority. Today, they were even more prepared, and moreover, those Lin Family members who had been away had all returned.
Lin Feng walked out of his room, looked up at the rising sun, and stretched.
For Lin Feng, today didn't feel any different. He didn't care about the position of Lin Family head at all. What he pursued was the supreme martial path. Only by possessing great strength could one have a voice. The position of family head was nothing but an empty title. If you were strong enough to be invincible, even if you weren't the family head, who would dare to defy your words?
Lin Feng also knew that his father didn't care much about these things either. Lin Hai was not someone obsessed with power. Otherwise, he wouldn't have lived such a simple and quiet life. If there were no major events in the Lin Family, he rarely even showed his face. This had allowed others to seize the opportunity, constantly weakening his influence.
"Xiao Feng, finished cultivating?" Lin Hai walked over. He had originally planned to wake Lin Feng.
"Mm." Lin Feng nodded.
"Let's go." The two of them walked together toward the martial arts arena where the annual gathering was being held.
The martial arts arena was packed with people. Everyone had already arrived. The moment Lin Feng and Lin Hai stepped into the arena, countless gazes fell upon them, each carrying a different meaning.
"Lin Feng." Several cold stares landed on Lin Feng. The owners of these stares were Lin Qian, Lin Yu, and the Lin Feng who had been crippled by Lin Feng—Lin Heng and Lin Yun. Of course, there was also Lin Feng's third uncle, Lin Hao Ran. Both of his sons had suffered at Lin Feng's hands: Lin Yun had been humiliated, and Lin Heng had had his cultivation crippled. If there was anyone in the Lin Family who hated Lin Feng and his father the most, it was undoubtedly him.
Moreover, Lin Hao Ran had even concealed the fact that Lin Feng had crippled Lin Heng, not letting anyone know. First, he and Lin Heng couldn't bear the shame. Second, he didn't want to see Lin Feng and his father gloat.
PS: There are now three brothers on the fan list. Thank you. At least it looks a bit better now. But I still got scolded half to death by the editor for only having three fans. He said he wanted to... well, I'm such an innocent person, who would engage in that sort of thing with him!
Today is Sunday. Before the book goes on sale, I'll update twice a day. From today until next Sunday, for every five new names that appear on the fan list (just appearing on the fan list counts), Xiao Hen will add an extra chapter on Sunday. For ten new names, two extra chapters, and so on. Giving myself a bit of motivation. I hope my brothers will support me. Don't worry about tiring me out. I'm not into that sort of thing!
Fastest update, no pop-up ads for reading.