29: A man can bend and stretch

The voice of the Family Head, Lin Lingshan, came through again, carrying a suppressed, monstrous rage:

"The Grand Elder holds great power, and the Elder Council, with the exception of the Second Elder, is entirely under his control. If you resist him now, you will only be killed, and it will be completely useless."

"I am at a critical juncture in my breakthrough, and that Qi Refining Seventh Layer Realm... is already within reach."

His words exuded a sense of desperate, unwavering confidence and disdain.

Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

Enough to crush all opposition.

"You must endure, play along, and agree to this matter for now."

"The day I succeed and come out of seclusion will be the time to set things right and cleanse the filth."

"This is my oath in the name of the ancestors of the Family. If I break this oath, may I die, may my Dao dissipate, may my Divine Soul fall into the Nine Nethers forever, and may I suffer eternal damnation."

The oath, like the tolling of a great bell, carried a power that pierced through the Divine Soul and was branded into Lin Jingyu's heart.

This was a glimmer of hope in a desperate situation. It was a promise of revenge.

Hope, like a cold spring, instantly extinguished the raging fire in Lin Jingyu's heart.

The Family Head was attempting to break through to a higher Realm, and he needed time.

His resistance now would only lead to his immediate death, and it would not change his sister's fate at all; it was meaningless.

Only by staying alive was there hope for a comeback.

The strong taste of blood in his mouth reminded him of his situation. Time seemed to stretch out.

In the end, the raging fire in Lin Jingyu's eyes slowly receded like a tide, settling into a bottomless, cold pool.

All his anger, unwillingness, and humiliation were forcibly suppressed and transformed into cold calculation.

He struggled to pull the corners of his mouth into a smile, and his voice, while submissive, carried a hint of flattery:

"Grand Elder, you are wise and martial, with great foresight. Planning for the future of our Family is a blessing for the Family."

"I, Lin Jingyu, was young and ignorant, and I offended my Elder... I know I was wrong..."

"I fully support your decision, and I ask the Grand Elder to forgive my offense of disrespect."

From extreme rage, he instantly turned to submissive flattery.

Lin Jingyu felt no hesitation at all; a real man knows when to bend and when to stretch, and as long as he could achieve his goal, this was nothing.

If there was no other choice, then he would fight to the death.

Now that he had a better plan, he naturally had to change his strategy.

As his voice fell, the whole hall was shocked.

The fierce youth, who had just been like an unsheathed sword, unyielding and unbreakable, had actually... bowed his head and given in?

This abrupt change left everyone stunned.

The ancestral hall fell into a strange silence.

Sighs sounded softly among the crowd, but no one blamed him.

Facing the Grand Elder's death threat, which was enough to crush everything, this was the "wise" choice.

The cruel smile at the corner of Lin Chengyuan's mouth instantly widened, almost reaching his ears.

His eyes were filled with undisguised triumph and mockery.

As expected. In the face of absolute power, any pride or vows were bullshit.

This kid was afraid after all. He was a coward. He had surrendered in the face of death.

He felt immense pleasure in his heart, as if he could already see the pathetic sight of Lin Jingyu kneeling and begging for mercy.

The cold killing intent in the Grand Elder's eyes quietly faded by more than half.

The pressure, tight as a bowstring, also receded a little.

He was very satisfied with Lin Jingyu's change.

His aged voice sounded with a hint of condescending indifference:

"Those who know the times are the wise ones."

"Since you know you were wrong, and considering your youth and ignorance, and your eagerness to protect your sister, it is understandable..."

"Your offense of confronting an Elder this time will be recorded for now, and we shall see how you behave in the future."

The cold pressure receded like a tide, and the stagnant air in the ancestral hall finally began to flow.

Lin Lingkuang had just caught his breath from the pressure, and his bones ached all over.

Hearing Lin Jingyu's "submission," his eyes instantly became bloodshot and crimson again.

He was like a violent Vicious Beast that had been completely enraged, staring fixedly at Lin Jingyu.

A monstrous rage at being betrayed and fooled rushed straight to his head.

His throat moved, and it looked like he was about to roar out regardless of the consequences.

Just at this moment.

Lin Jingyu gathered the last bit of his strength and meager spiritual energy.

He compressed his voice into a thin but clear line and sent it precisely into Lin Lingkuang's ears:

"Family Head. Seclusion, Qi Refining Seventh Layer!"

These few short words were like a thunderclap from the Nine Heavens, exploding in Lin Lingkuang's chaotic mind.

The rage that was about to erupt was like being doused with a basin of ice water.

Lin Lingkuang's burly body stiffened suddenly, the blood color in his eyes faded rapidly, replaced by extreme shock and instant realization.

It was not betrayal. It was enduring humiliation to carry a heavy burden. It was waiting for that earth-shattering thunderous strike.

Immense ecstasy and lingering fear intertwined, making him break out in a cold sweat instantly.

He reacted extremely quickly.

The rage on his face instantly turned into "shame" and "panic," imitating Lin Jingyu's appearance.

His burly body knelt on one knee with a "thud," his voice loud but filled with "remorse":

"Grand Elder, please forgive me. Ling Kuang... Ling Kuang was blinded by greed. I was confused for a moment. I offended my Elder, and I am willing to accept punishment."

He lowered his head, hiding the turbulent emotions in his eyes.

The Grand Elder snorted and swept his gaze over this "repentant" brute.

"Hmph, reckless and brainless. Since it is your first offense, it will be recorded as well."

"If there is a next time, I will definitely punish you severely."

The crisis seemed to be temporarily averted, but the atmosphere in the ancestral hall was even more oppressive and heavy.

Lin Jingyu stumbled, every step unusually difficult, yet he walked with abnormal determination toward his sister who was kneeling on the ground.

He reached out his blood-stained and slightly trembling hand, his movements unbelievably gentle.

He carefully wiped the crisscrossing tear stains and dust from his sister's face.

The warmth and bloodstains from his fingertips left faint red marks on Lin Jingxia's cold, tender face.

"Don't be afraid..." His voice was hoarse and low, but contained the firmness of a rock.

"Stand up. Your brother is here."

"Remember, brother... will always protect you."

These gentle words carried the weight of a thousand jun.

Lin Jingxia felt the unusually firm support coming from her brother's arm.

Looking at her brother's pale, blood-stained, yet still gentle face.

The overwhelming despair and coldness in her heart were replaced by a warm current and an indescribable trust.

She nodded forcefully and heavily, gripping her brother's arm tightly, as if it were the only anchor in her life.

With his strength, she trembled and stood up again.

"Good. What a deep bond between siblings. It is truly touching."

The Third Elder, Lin Chengyuan, clapped and laughed, breaking the heavy atmosphere.

But the laughter was sharp and harsh, full of undisguised mockery and triumph.

"Since Lin Jingxia is so understanding of the big picture and volunteers to 'share the burden' for the Family, then this first quota is settled."

His gaze was like a viper, sweeping over the other few shivering, pale-faced young girls, and their parents who were ashen-faced with hollow eyes.

His tone was as casual as if he were picking fish and meat on a chopping board:

"As for the other two..."

He paused deliberately, enjoying the fear of others.

"Lin Qiao'er and Little Miss, their Aptitude is passable, and their age is also suitable."

"Being able to 'contribute' to the Family is a blessing they have cultivated over several lifetimes."

Lin Qiao'er and Little Miss, who were named, felt as if all their strength had been drained away.

Their vision went black, and they collapsed directly to the ground, emitting suppressed, animal-like whimpers.

Their parents' bodies shook violently, their lips trembling, and they let out hoarse, mournful cries in their throats.

But under the intense gaze of the Grand Elder's cold and ruthless eyes, they couldn't even make a sound of protest.

Despair, like the deepest cold pool, completely drowned them.

In the ancestral hall, the candles flickered.

The fate of the three girls, like a candle in the wind, had been forcibly set.

The general situation seemed to be settled.