Chapter 36: The Family Gathering Begins, the Lin Family is Mocked by All

Ten days later.

Huaqing Prefecture.

Today, Huaqing Prefecture was truly bustling with extraordinary activity. On the asphalt roads, which were ten zhang wide, convoys were constantly coming and going.

The citizens of Huaqing Prefecture, lined up on both sides, were filled with curiosity.

Today was the once-every-five-years Clan Grand Assembly of Huaqing Prefecture!

And at every Clan Grand Assembly, interesting things always happened.

For instance, a small clan might produce a peerless genius who is then scouted by a major sect in the prefecture and rises to greatness overnight; or a small clan might suddenly reveal a deeply hidden ancestor in the Three-Tong Divine Realm, directly elevating the clan to star-level status.

Even more extreme, one clan might hold a long-standing grudge against another, leading to a massive brawl during the assembly!

Furthermore, some clans might even face extinction during the Clan Grand Assembly!

"The Sun family from Great Dragon City has arrived!"

Watching a convoy of dozens of people slowly approach, many citizens within Huaqing Prefecture cried out in surprise.

Although the Sun family of Great Dragon City was not a local power of Huaqing Prefecture, they possessed considerable prestige even within the prefecture itself.

This was primarily because the Sun family was a one-star clan, and it was said they were not far from becoming a two-star clan.

The leader of the Sun family this time was Sun Qianlong.

Sun Qianlong was in the late stage of the Form-Shaping Realm, a top-tier expert within the entirety of Huaqing Prefecture.

"How is Sun He doing?"

Aboard the first carriage, Sun Qianlong wore a yellow robe, exuding immense nobility.

"Patriarch, since Elder Sun He returned from the Hundred Hidden Pass, he has been acting crazed and erratic every day. Alas, even after inviting Alchemist Zhou from Huaqing Prefecture to examine him, it has been to no avail," a middle-aged man riding a horse alongside the first carriage said with a long sigh.

Sun Qianlong's expression darkened. Originally, including Sun He, their Sun family had the qualifications to break into the two-star clan tier today. Now that Sun He had gone mad, their dream of becoming a two-star clan had naturally shattered.

"Investigate this thoroughly! Find out exactly who turned Sun He into this state. I will personally skin him alive and pull out his tendons!"

Sun Qianlong's voice was cold, suppressing the fury in his heart.

"Yes, Patriarch. We already have some leads..." the middle-aged man replied with a slight nod.

"Look, quickly! That is the Sword-Worshipping Sect from Great Dragon City!"

Suddenly, someone else pointed and shouted at a pair of riders.

The crowd followed the direction of the pointing. It was the Sword-Worshipping Sect, the number one sect of Great Dragon City. It was said that the background behind this sect was also quite formidable.

"That must be the Yang family from Great River City."

"That's the Luo family from Cloud-Exiting City."

"And that is..."

Gossip is human instinct; many people were chattering away on both sides.

Naturally, these clans entered with their heads held high.

Those who could make such a grand entrance were, at the very least, clans possessing experts in the Great Yuan Dan Realm.

While the Great Yuan Dan Realm was not considered top-tier combat power in Huaqing Prefecture, it was still considered first-rate expertise.

Even the elders of the three major families of Huaqing Prefecture were only at the Great Yuan Dan Realm.

"Eh? Why is the leader of that clan only in the Minor Yuan Dan Realm?"

Suddenly, someone voiced a question.

The crowd followed their gaze to see a group of people carrying the Lin family banner walking into the prefecture.

"A clan in the Minor Yuan Dan Realm can be this ostentatious!?"

"Ho, even a Minor Yuan Dan Realm expert dares to be this arrogant. Aren't they afraid of running into a real hard nut to crack!"

"What a clown..."

The crowd mocked them one after another.

"I remember now! This Lin family is the one whose patriarch fought two managers of the Spirit Martial Sect single-handedly!" someone suddenly exclaimed.

"What..."

The crowd was filled with surprise and shock.

So it was that Lin family.

The heroic feat of the Lin family patriarch, Lin Xuan, fighting two managers of the Spirit Martial Sect—killing one and wounding the other—had already echoed throughout the entire Huaqing Prefecture.

While Lin Xuan's combat strength was certainly astonishing, his audacity was even more admirable.

Those were managers of the Spirit Martial Sect, yet Lin Xuan actually killed one on the spot!

Even though a life-and-death pact had been made, for any other family, even if they had defeated a manager of the Spirit Martial Sect, they would likely have had to offer apologies to compensate.

But this Lin family patriarch acted like a reckless youth, showing no mercy whatsoever!

By killing someone from the Spirit Martial Sect, Patriarch Lin had truly invited trouble!

"Heh, if you ask me, after this Clan Grand Assembly, the Lin family will likely be wiped out," someone said mockingly, unable to stand it.

"True, true. Brother Mo is right. To dare murder a manager of the Spirit Martial Sect, that Lin patriarch must have eaten a bear's heart and a leopard's gall."

"I heard that the Spirit Martial Sect manager killed by the Lin patriarch was the son of Elder Ba Li. That Elder Ba Li is no simple character; he certainly won't let the Lin family off."

"Ho, it looks like there will be more good drama at this assembly."

"Just wait and see. This Lin family won't survive half a month."

"You think too highly of them, brother. I bet the Lin family won't last seven days."

"I'll take that bet. Two hundred essence stones. I bet three days!"

"..."

The crowd discussed fervently, and basically, no one was optimistic about the Lin family.

In the Eastern Province, the one entity one could least afford to offend was the Spirit Martial Sect. The Spirit Martial Sect was one of the five great sects of the Great Wilderness and the head of all giants in the Eastern Province!

Who would dare to pull the tiger's whiskers!?

Listening to the mockery and schadenfreude of those around them, the members of the Lin family were all filled with indignation.

"Father, they are going too far. Third Uncle killed that Ba Tong because a life-and-death pact was signed. It was only right!" Lin Yang said with a hint of anger, riding a Dawuan horse.

At the very front of the Lin family were four people: Lin Wen and Lin Wu were slightly ahead, while Lin Yang and Yuan Ying trailed half a position behind.

Indeed, Yuan Ying and Lin Yang were now betrothed, waiting only for Lin Xuan's return to preside over the wedding.

"Brother Yang, you are wrong. This world is inherently predatory. Although the Patriarch's killing of Ba Tong was justified, the Spirit Martial Sect *is* the rule in the Eastern Province," Yuan Ying said with a slight sigh.

She felt as if she had a bit of a jinx about her. Why was it that as soon as she arrived at the Lin family, they ran into such massive trouble?

That was the Spirit Martial Sect. Even the Cui family of Huaqing Prefecture was a behemoth to her, let alone the Eastern Province giant, the Spirit Martial Sect.

Lin Wen did not sigh; he simply said calmly, "Have faith in your Patriarch. As long as the Patriarch does not fall, our Lin family will not fall!"

Lin Wen's words provided a small boost of morale to the group.

The three generations following behind the Lin family were also filled with righteous indignation.

"Hmph, nothing but a bunch of people who look down on others!"

The first to speak was Lin Chang'an. The current Lin Chang'an was completely incomparable to the man he once was.

"When Third Grandfather returns, they will all shut their mouths obediently."

The other members of the three generations held unconditional trust in their current Patriarch.

The Patriarch's strength had been deeply etched into the hearts of every member of the Lin family.

Riding a fast horse, Lin Fan said nothing, merely meeting the world with a calm gaze.

"Brother Lin Fan, has Third Father not returned yet?" Lin Xue'er asked, blinking her eyes.

"Heh, Father will definitely return today. My old man loves to arrive exactly on schedule," Lin Fan said with a curl of his lip.