232: Running out of fuel

Qingyuan Immortal City, Core Area.

Because it was built on a Spiritual Vein, the entire area is essentially a large mountain.

In front of an Immortal Cave somewhere in the mountain, the several high-ranking members of the Lin Family who had left were guarding with worried expressions, while only the Second Elder Lin Guangxuan entered alone.

Inside the Immortal Cave, the lights were bright. Palm-sized luminous pearls were embedded in the rocks, emitting brilliant light.

In the depths of the Immortal Cave, the Spiritual Qi was dense, and a Dao platform carved from jade was placed there.

On the Dao platform sat an old man in a white Dao robe, with graying hair and an aged face.

It was precisely the Lin Family's Grand Elder.

At this moment, he was completely devoid of his former vigor; instead, his wrinkled face showed a touch of sorrow, and his originally kind and benevolent appearance now seemed somewhat desolate and lonely.

His somewhat cloudy eyes stared at the tortoise shells and animal bones used for divination before him.

Lin Guangxuan hurried to the front of the Immortal Cave. Seeing the Grand Elder safe and sound, he breathed a sigh of relief.

He bowed respectfully, his posture humble and reverent.

"How is the Family?" The Grand Elder raised his eyes and asked leisurely.

"Grand Elder, things are not very good..." Lin Guangxuan recounted everything that had happened over the years to him.

When Zhou Luo had just been promoted to Sixth Elder, the Grand Elder had still been paying attention to the Family's changes.

Just five years ago, the Grand Elder suddenly announced that he was about to Breakthrough, and then he never contacted the Family again.

It wasn't until a few days ago that he suddenly crushed the spiritual object used for communication, causing Lin Guangxuan to rush over with a large group of people.

They knew very well that if the Grand Elder succeeded in Foundation Establishment, he would simply descend directly upon the Family, not do this.

So they had been worried all the way, and now seeing that he seemed to be out of Life's danger, the stone hanging in their hearts finally dropped.

After listening, the Grand Elder remained silent.

Time slowly passed. After an unknown period, the Grand Elder slowly said, "I failed my Breakthrough."

Lin Guangxuan's heart sank. He bowed even lower, becoming more respectful: "Grand Elder's good fortune is boundless. Fortunately, there is no Life threat, and there will be another chance for Foundation Establishment in the future."

The Grand Elder, however, shook his head: "I am already the same age as Zhishou. I merely used the excuse of seclusion to live for more than ten years longer. I will certainly have no chance for Foundation Establishment in the future."

"Grand Elder..." Lin Guangxuan looked up, his expression complex.

If he gave up, then their faction would probably never rise again.

The Grand Elder sighed: "My days are numbered, so I used my Lifespan to divine a hexagram."

As soon as these words came out, Lin Guangxuan's body trembled as if struck by lightning. He looked at him in disbelief.

Initially, when he saw his appearance, he thought nothing was wrong, but now, as he looked at him carefully, he realized that the Grand Elder already showed signs of impending death.

This meant that his Life was nearing its end. Unless he succeeded in Foundation Establishment, he would follow in Lin Zhishou's footsteps.

"Grand Elder, what was the hexagram?"

Lin Guangxuan knew that saying anything else was meaningless. Since he was already dying, he should ask about the crucial matter.

Hearing this, a hint of dimness flashed in the Grand Elder's eyes. He looked up at the bright rock wall, a sorrowful expression on his face.

"I saw the Lin Family's ruin, with its Old Ancestor dying and his Dao disappearing."

That pale, powerless, yet desperate tone was like a bolt from the blue striking Lin Guangxuan's head.

He looked stunned, his eyes wide, standing there like a wooden stake, his heart churning with stormy waves.

The Lin Family was going to be destroyed?

Lin Guangxuan never expected the hexagram to be like this. In his heart, he didn't believe it, but looking at the Grand Elder's expression, he knew it must be true.

Because he used his Lifespan for divination.

Divination was an art, and the Grand Elder happened to know this art, and what he used was the most profound form of Lifespan divination.

It was equivalent to paying the price of Life to deduce the future.

Diviners often needed to sacrifice all their Lifespan, and in return, the results of this divination were usually very accurate.

"Grand Elder... how could this be?" Lin Guangxuan's face showed despair, his mind wavering, even a little unsteady on his feet.

The Old Ancestor dying and his Dao disappearing, the Family's destruction.

Was this the future outcome of the Lin Family?

The Grand Elder withdrew his gaze, his face firm, and he said word by word: "I saw the flames of destruction growing in the hands of the Main Family, until they caught fire and overturned the entire Lin Family..."

Lin Guangxuan thought of the struggle between the Lin Family and the Lu Family in recent years, gritting his teeth, his hands involuntarily clenching: "But once you die, we won't be able to stop the Main Family."

"No, we can stop it." The Grand Elder suddenly said with conviction.

His complexion showed a hint of rosiness, just like Lin Zhishou back then, experiencing a final burst of energy before death.

He used all his strength to say: "Help Zhou Luo overthrow the Main Family."

These eight short words, at this moment, seemed incredibly powerful. The voice echoed within the Immortal Cave, making people tremble.

Lin Guangxuan was greatly shocked. His voice trembled as he said, "Grand Elder, what did you say?"

The Grand Elder did not explain, only continued: "To bring down the Main Family, it can only be him."

"Only an outsider would truly want to bring down the other party. No one with the surname Lin could do it."

"Our faction no longer has anyone capable of taking on such a task..."

At this moment, the Grand Elder seemed to have returned to his Peak state.

His gaze was firm, his tone decisive.

He knew very well that if he let people from his own faction do it, regardless of whether they had the strength, after his death, they certainly wouldn't truly want to destroy the Main Family.

Because they were all Lin Family members; everyone shared the same Bloodline.

When they lost their backing, siding with the Main Family would be the best choice.

That's why the Grand Elder spoke Zhou Luo's name.

Lin Guangxuan understood his meaning, but he didn't understand why this person had to be Zhou Luo, so he asked: "Grand Elder, can Zhou Luo really do it?"

Over these ten years, Zhou Luo, the Sixth Elder, seemed to have disappeared. He lived a reclusive Life every day, rarely showing his face in the Family.

Even some Family members didn't know of his existence.

He felt it was unrealistic to ask such a person to carry the banner of overthrowing the Main Family.

After saying that string of words, the Grand Elder's aura weakened again, and he explained.

"I have observed him for a long time. Although he is low-key and humble, he secretly harbors ambition, but he knows how to conceal his abilities. He is truly a wolf cub. He is the perfect candidate..."

"But he is an outsider after all. What if he usurps the Family and the Lin Family is gone?" Lin Guangxuan still couldn't help but say.

The Grand Elder looked at him, his eyes growing cloudier.

"That's better than complete annihilation. Even if the Lin Family becomes the Zhou Family, the Lin Family will still be the main body, and will have the merit of following the Dragon."

"Moreover, Zhou Luo's descendants also have my Lin Family's Bloodline, and they will certainly treat my Lin Family members well in the future."

Lin Guangxuan looked at him with a complex expression, his face showing hesitation.

The Grand Elder stared intently at him, his voice gradually growing impassioned.

"Remember what I said: if you want the Lin Family not to be destroyed, you can only choose him!"