6: The enemy is at the gates

Inside the Shen Family mansion.

Lin Tianhong Shen Qiming grabbed Shen Yuanmo's shoulders, his face flushed with excitement. He repeated the word "Good" three times, tears shimmering in his fierce eyes.

"Heaven blesses our Shen Family! Yuan Mo, you are the Qilin son of our Shen Family!"

"In a single night, you broke through two stages in a row, reaching Qi Refining Great Perfection! With such talent, why should I worry about the Shen Family not prospering!"

Shen Qifa Shen Qifa and the other clan Elders also showed expressions of wild joy. Those clansmen who had been advocating for selling off Family property in the Council Hall just a few days ago now looked at Shen Yuanmo with nothing but awe and relief.

Hope!

They saw a living, tangible hope!

Just as this heart-stirring atmosphere reached its peak, a shrill toll of a bell pierced the tranquility of the Shen Family estate.

Dang! Dang! Dang!

This was the Family's highest-level alarm!

In front of the Council Hall, the smiles on everyone's faces froze.

"What's going on?" Shen Qiming's expression shifted.

Before his voice had even faded, a guard clansman came scrambling in, his face covered in blood and his breathing ragged.

"Lin Tianhong! It's bad! The... the Lin Family is attacking!"

"Lin Tianhong personally led the team and has completely surrounded our mansion!"

Boom!

This news was like a basin of ice water poured over their heads, instantly extinguishing the fire of hope that had just been ignited.

Shen Qiming and the group of Elders immediately rushed toward the Watchtower at the mansion's entrance.

Looking down from the Watchtower, they saw a dense black mass of Cultivators standing outside the Shen Family mansion.

The leader, dressed in a brocade robe with a sinister face, was the Lin Lin Tianhong, Lin Tianhong.

Behind him followed dozens of Lin Family elites, each with a fierce aura, the lowest of them being at the Mid-stage Qi Refining.

Especially conspicuous were the three deep-breathing Cultivators standing beside Lin Tianhong. They were not members of the Lin Family but Guest Elders hired with a heavy price, all of them powerhouses at the ninth level of Qi Refining.

The Lin Family had come out in full force!

The Shen Family mansion's protective Formation had already been activated, a pale blue curtain of light enveloping the entire estate.

Lin Tianhong did not immediately order an attack. He stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at Shen Qiming on the Watchtower, a playful expression of a cat catching a mouse on his face.

He circulated his full magic power and shouted loudly, his voice echoing through half of Linjiang City.

"Brother Shen! I heard that the Shen Family Old Ancestor has fully recovered from his injuries and his cultivation has even improved. This is a monumental joy for our Linjiang City!"

"I, Lin, am untalented, but I have prepared a modest gift to come and congratulate you! I ask Old Ancestor Shen to show himself, so that we juniors may admire the Old Ancestor's style!"

As soon as these words were spoken, not only did the expressions of the Shen Family members change drastically, but even the various forces of Linjiang City watching from a distance were in an uproar.

"What? That Shen Family Old Ancestor isn't dead and his injuries are healed?"

"No wonder the Lin Family made such a big move; this is the final probe!"

"Brilliant! Truly brilliant! This move by Lin Tianhong is an Open Scheme! If Shen Zongdao doesn't come out, it proves the rumors are false and the Lin Family can act without worry. If he does come out, whether it's true or false can be seen at a glance!"

On the Watchtower, Lin Tianhong Shen Qiming trembled with rage, his teeth nearly shattering from clenching them so hard.

"Lin Tianhong! You old thief! What a poisonous scheme!"

He knew better than anyone that Old Ancestor Shen Zongdao was already at death's door, currently lying on the Ice Bed in the Ancestral Hall clinging to his last breath. How could he possibly show himself?

But if he didn't show himself, it would be equivalent to telling everyone that the Shen Family's greatest reliance was gone.

At that time, this pack of Lin Family wolves would pounce without hesitation and tear the Shen Family to shreds.

A dilemma, a dead end!

Within the Family, the morale that had just coalesced collapsed instantly, falling back into panic and despair.

"Lin Tianhong, what should we do?"

"The Old Ancestor... it's impossible for him to come out!"

Seeing that there was no response from within the Shen Family mansion for a long time, the mockery on Lin Tianhong's face grew even thicker.

He intentionally raised his voice so that all the onlookers could hear clearly.

"What? Is Brother Shen looking down on the congratulatory gift I brought?"

"Or is it that the Shen Family has declined so much that you've even forgotten the etiquette of hosting guests? If I remember correctly, those shops of yours in the east of the city could barely even afford last month's rent? Truly pathetic!"

"Since Old Ancestor Shen refuses to show himself, then I, Lin, will just have to... go in and invite him personally!"

These words were filled with humiliation.

"This is too much!"

A young Shen Family clansman's eyes were bloodshot. Unable to endure such humiliation, he gripped his sword and prepared to rush down the Watchtower.

"Come back!"

Shen Qifa Shen Qifa grabbed him firmly, his old face full of grief and indignation, tears shimmering in his clouded eyes.

"If you go out now, you're just throwing your life away!"

"Are we just going to be cowards like this!" the young clansman roared.

In the Lin Family camp, those three Guest Elders also began to laugh mockingly.

"Hehe, what's the point of a Family existing if even their Foundation Establishment Old Ancestor has to hide away?"

"Exactly, occupying that Rank 2 Spiritual Vein in the eastern district of Linjiang City is a complete waste! In my opinion, such a Family should have been removed from the Immortal Dynasty long ago and reduced to Slave Status!"

"The shame of Linjiang, truly worthy of the name!"

Vicious words one after another dismantled the Shen Family's final psychological defenses.

Despair, anger, humiliation.

Just as everyone was being suffocated by this heavy pressure.

Shen Yuanmo pushed through the crowd and stepped to the very front of the Watchtower, one step at a time.

He looked calmly at the arrogant Lin Tianhong outside the mansion, his face without a trace of panic.

Outside the mansion, Lin Tianhong also noticed this young man who had stepped forward.

"Oh? Shen Qiming, is this that son of yours who is claimed to be the hope of the Family? Qi Refining Great Perfection? Not bad, not bad. Unfortunately, today he will be buried with my son Lin Xuan!"

Shen Yuanmo ignored his shouting and simply said calmly.

"Lin Tianhong Lin is thoughtful. My ancestor is indeed in seclusion, breaking through to Mid-stage Foundation Establishment. It is a critical moment, so it is inconvenient for him to receive guests."

As soon as he said this, not only was Lin Tianhong stunned, but even the Shen Family's own people were dazed.

Breaking through to Mid-stage Foundation Establishment?

What nonsense is the Young Lord talking?

Lin Tianhong immediately burst into a wild laugh: "Hahaha! Breaking through to Mid-stage Foundation Establishment? You brat, do you think I am a three-year-old child? I know the situation of that old fellow Shen Zongdao better than you! Stop trying to stall for time!"

Shen Yuanmo's expression remained unchanged.

Instead of showing weakness, he met all the questioning gazes and announced loudly.

"If Lin Tianhong Lin doesn't believe it, it doesn't matter."

"I, Shen Yuanmo, today as the Young Lord of the Shen Family, hereby invite Lin Tianhong Lin and all our fellow Daoists in Linjiang City."

"In one month, come to my Shen Family to attend the Promotion Ceremony for our newly promoted Foundation Establishment Elder!"

As his voice fell, there was a deathly silence.

Even the sound of the wind stopped.

Everyone looked at Shen Yuanmo with expressions as if they were looking at a madman.

Newly promoted Foundation Establishment Elder?

One month?

This was nothing short of a fantasy!

Shen Qiming, Shen Qifa, and the others felt their minds go completely blank. They didn't understand at all why Shen Yuanmo would make such a wild claim.

Isn't this pushing the Shen Family even deeper into the fire?

The wild laughter on Lin Tianhong's face also solidified. He narrowed his eyes and stared fixedly at Shen Yuanmo, seemingly trying to find a flaw in his face.

But Shen Yuanmo's face was as calm as a pool of deep water.

After a long time, Lin Tianhong's cold sneer broke the silence.

"Good! What a 'New Foundation Establishment Celebration'! What a Stalling Tactic!"

He believed this was just a desperate, nonsensical Stalling Tactic by Shen Yuanmo in a moment of crisis.

"Brat, do you think saying a few mad words can scare off my Lin Family?"

Lin Tianhong suddenly waved his hand, pointing at the thin protective shield of the Shen Family mansion, his killing intent fully revealed.

"In that case, let me first test how much longer this broken Formation of your Shen Family can hold out!"

"Tear down this turtle shell for me!"