NOVPUBThe next morning.
After a night’s journey, Lin Tianming successfully returned to Green Bamboo Mountain.
At this time, the overnight downpour had just cleared, and the pure sunlight once again spread across the land.
In a grand hall on the mountainside of the main peak within the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, this place was the family’s Guest-Receiving Palace for hosting visitors.
At this moment, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua sat at the higher seats in the hall, with Lin Tianming, who had returned to the clan overnight, sitting below them.
Opposite him, Li Huafeng and Shen Yu sat side by side, sipping tea while sizing up Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua.
As for Lin Shikang, it was Li Huafeng’s first time meeting him, but he had long heard of Lin Shikang’s great reputation. In the southern region of the Wei Kingdom, Lin Shikang’s name resonated like thunder.
Twenty years ago, the Lin Family gained fame through a battle, with Lin Shikang being the key to the victory. Although it is unknown by what means he slew Jin Zhiying, it is certain that Lin Shikang was at least at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment.
With such cultivation strength, he is definitely a top-notch powerhouse in the southern Cultivation World of the Wei Kingdom, and a well-known figure.
Seeing Lin Shikang’s calm-as-water expression, and feeling that barely discernible powerful aura, Li Huafeng was even more convinced of his speculation.
"Absolutely at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, and very likely has already reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm!"
"This Lin Family seems quite extraordinary. It looks like I should be a bit more polite to avoid unpleasantness," thought Li Huafeng silently.
Shifting his thoughts, Li Huafeng took another look at Lin Tianming and seemed slightly surprised by his appearance.
It made sense, after all, since Lin Tianming had refused his invitation to travel together and had rushed back to the clan through the rain at night, disregarding fatigue.
Ultimately, he arrived at Green Bamboo Mountain around the same time as Li Huafeng and also sat in on this meeting.
Clearly, Lin Tianming held a high position in the Lin Family, or he would not have been given such priority, let alone be here.
At this time, Lin Shihua glanced at Li Huafeng and Shen Yu, then spoke, "I am Lin Shihua, serving as the Lin Family Patriarch. The person beside me is my third brother, Lin Shikang, and opposite Li, is my younger relative, Lin Tianming."
"Hehe... Lin and I have already met before," said Li Huafeng with a smile.
"Oh? Li has had an encounter with my young relative?" Lin Shihua appeared puzzled. Lin Tianming had returned in haste and had not yet reported back to Lin Shikang and himself, so some surprise was to be expected.
Seeing this, Lin Tianming smilingly recounted the chance meeting they had earlier. 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝒐𝒎
"Twelfth Grandpa, your nephew had an encounter with Li at the edge of Golden Horn Mountain. I had patrol duties in Qianchuan Market, so I couldn’t travel back to the clan with him," he explained.
Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded, showing a surprised expression.
"No wonder... Today Li and Fairy Shen’s sudden visit brings glory to our humble clan."
"Hehe..." chuckled Li Huafeng.
"Chief Lin is being too modest. My junior sister and I came to visit your noble house indeed with important matters to discuss."
"Regarding the beast tide, I imagine everyone here knows something about it, and our visit to your house is to convey the Sect’s summons for your house to join the effort against the beast tide’s onslaught."
"Summoning the Lin Family?"
Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua’s expressions changed abruptly, thinking it was as they had expected.
Throughout the beast tide’s outbreak, there had been several council meetings within the family’s higher echelons, and the possibility of a summons had been speculated.
It was unexpected that the summons would come so swiftly; after all, only a little over two months had passed since the beast tide began, and it had already progressed to the point of requiring summons?
"It’s utterly inconceivable!" exclaimed Lin Tianming and the others, silently marveling in their hearts.
Regaining his composure, Lin Shikang then asked, "Li, has the beast tide attacked your Sect? Or does your Sect need to temporarily avoid the brunt of the Demonic Beasts’ onslaught?"
"Yes... With your Sect’s strength, wouldn’t handling the Demonic Beasts be troublesome?"
Faced with Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua’s questions, Li Huafeng waved his hands and began to explain the Zhenyang Sect’s overall plan, including the number of Cultivators being summoned and the various reward mechanisms.
A pot of tea later, Lin Tianming and the others were informed of the reasons and details behind the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom’s Recruitment Order, and subsequently, they too fell into deep thought.
Clearly, the Zhenyang Sect and the other Great Sects were not incapable of resisting the beast tide. The launch of the Recruitment Order was to minimize their own losses, to avoid the Sects being greatly weakened afterwards.
As for the summons’ rewards, although they were very appealing, at the moment, the various major clans and powers were not certain that they could secure their own safety, let alone have the extra capacity to heed the call of the Three Great Sects.
Although the Lin Family was currently stable, and the intensity of the Demonic Beasts’ attacks had weakened, no one could predict the subsequent developments.
If they were to heed the call and send clansmen to the front lines to participate in the battle, the overall strength of the family would be affected, as those clansmen sent must be with a cultivation of at least the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment. Besides Lin Shikang, only Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming met these requirements from the Lin Family.
However, if they refuse the call, they might offend the Zhenyang Sect. Although the Zhenyang Sect might not be able to act against the Lin Family at the moment, once the beast tide’s assault passes, they will inevitably target the Lin Family.
And whether the Lin Family had any Golden Core Cultivators, with businesses in Qianchuan Market and Luoyun Pavilion bringing in wealth, if they were targeted, there would indeed be no way to respond.
From a holistic viewpoint, the Lin Family, whether in terms of overall strength or influence, was leagues apart in comparison.
