26: Chapter 26 Rewarding Merit and Achievement, The Ultimate Promise

At the bottom of the deep waters of Yunmeng Marsh, the subterranean river roared like a furious dragon, stirring up whirlpools.

In this isolated and profound cave, a faint glow outlined the heavy, blue-black texture on the rock walls... This was a black water iron crystal vein, enough to make any small Foundation Establishment clan go mad and catch the eye of a great Golden Core Sect.

The pillar of the Linghu Lin Clan, the Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator Patriarch Lin Zhenhai, was currently holding Lin Ze's shoulders.

"Ze'er, do you know what you have brought back for the Family?"

Lin Zhenhai's voice resonated through the cave.

"This is not just a mineral vein; this is the backbone that will allow our Lin Clan to undergo a complete transformation."

"This is the eternal foundation for my Lin Family to stand tall in Yunmeng Marsh for thousands of years without falling."

Lin Ze stood within the profound waters. Though his green robes were tattered, his aura was as steady as a rock.

Facing The Old Patriarch's Spiritual Pressure, which was enough to suffocate a Late Stage Qi Refinement Cultivator, his expression remained clear, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Your grandson is sheltered by the Family; with this meager body, I dare not forget my roots."

Lin Ze bowed slightly, his voice steady, yet every word carried weight.

"Reed Island's current success is entirely thanks to the trust of my Great-Grandfather and Seventh Great-Uncle back then."

"Though this fortune is a gift from heaven, only by holding it in the Lin Family's hands can your grandson sleep soundly."

"Good."

"What a fine 'dare not forget my roots'."

Lin Zhenhai threw his head back and laughed, the sound causing the surrounding undercurrents to explode wildly.

He looked at the youth before him; the cultivation of the fourth level of Qi Refinement seemed so dazzling at this moment.

"Zhenyuan!"

Lin Zhenhai suddenly turned his head to look at Seventh Uncle Lin Zhenyuan, the transmitter of techniques, who was following closely behind.

"The merit Ze'er has achieved this time is the greatest singular contribution since the founding of our Lin Clan!"

"According to clan rules, what reward should be given?"

Seventh Uncle Lin Zhenyuan calmed his agitated emotions, stroking his beard in contemplation.

In the gaze he directed at Lin Ze, besides his original appreciation for talent, there was now a deep sense of awe.

"Clan Chief, for Ze'er's contribution, no reward can be considered too generous."

The Seventh Uncle spoke solemnly, emphasizing every word.

"According to the law, it should be recorded as a Clan Special Merit."

"From now on, he no longer needs to hand over eighty percent of all production on Reed Island. He only needs to pay seventy percent for the Ancestral Hall's sacrifices; the remaining thirty percent will all be Ze'er's private assets!"

A thirty percent cut!

This meant that the spirit fish industry Lin Ze had painstakingly built would completely become his private treasury.

The Old Patriarch stared at Lin Ze with the gaze of an elder looking at a successor, and the burning intensity of a desperate gambler looking at his final trump card.

"Ze'er, you said just now that you wanted the lordship over the hundred-mile radius of Reed Island?"

"Yes."

Lin Ze raised his head, his gaze direct.

"Your grandson wishes to build an impregnable domain on Reed Island."

"Whether it be those five hundred Mortals or the thousand acres of underwater spirit fields, your grandson wishes to control them personally."

"Except for a Family mobilization, this place will not heed summons or transfers."

This request, which bordered on "secession and independence," would have likely caused Lin Zhenhai to strike anyone else dead on the spot.

But now, he felt no anger whatsoever.

"I grant it!"

Lin Zhenhai waved his sleeve, full of high spirits.

"From this day forth, Reed Island is upgraded to a Level One Top-Secret Forbidden Zone of the Family."

"To the outside world, you are still that mediocre Spirit Fisherman."

"Internally, you are the Lord of Reed Island."

"The Family will deploy the most loyal Personal Guard battalion to help you keep this secret."

"They shall be responsible only to me and to you!"

Lin Ze's heart stirred slightly; this was not just giving him territory, but also a secret armed force entirely at his disposal.

But this was not what made his heart race the most.

Lin Zhenhai took a step forward, his entire aura suddenly becoming restrained, yet carrying an unquestionable truth of heaven and earth.

"Ze'er, listen well."

The Old Patriarch's voice became low and solemn, as if passing on some sacred flame.

"With your four-element Mixed Spiritual Root of Water, Wood, and Earth, if you were to cultivate normally, reaching the Perfection of Qi Refinement in this lifetime would be a blessing from the heavens."

"But today, you have given the Family a future, so I shall promise you longevity!"

Lin Zhenhai slammed his dragon-head cane down, and a surge of True Essence unique to the Foundation Establishment Stage sealed the entire cave.

"In the name of the thirteenth Patriarch of the Lin Clan, I hereby swear a clan oath..."

"As long as you, Lin Ze, break through to the Late Stage of Qi Refinement (eighth level),"

"No matter the cost, even if I have to sacrifice these old bones, the Family will definitely find a foundation establishment pill for you!"

foundation establishment pill.

These three words were like a clap of thunder, exploding in Lin Ze's ears.

In that cruel cultivation world, Qi Refinement Cultivators were as numerous as carp crossing a river, but those who could leap over the dragon gate were one in ten thousand.

The reason, besides Aptitude, was the foundation establishment pill monopolized by large Sects.

The appearance of every foundation establishment pill was accompanied by a bloodbath.

For a small Family like the Lin Clan, even bankrupting themselves might not guarantee one.

This was the ultimate temptation that could drive countless level nine Qi Refinement eccentrics mad and into servitude.

"Great-Grandfather..."

For the first time, Lin Ze's voice sounded a bit hoarse.

"Your grandson will certainly not fail the Family's high expectations!"

Lin Ze knelt on both knees and performed the most solemn Family ritual.

Originally, he had only treated the Lin Family as a shelter from the wind and rain, and land reclamation as an excuse to grind experience.

But now, Lin Ze felt a sense of responsibility and a security he had never felt before.

"Good, stand up."

Lin Zhenhai laughed heartily and helped Lin Ze up.

"Ze'er, you stay in this subterranean river to cultivate for a few days. I will personally set up the 'Heaven-Stealing and Day-Changing Array' here."

"During this time, you should also properly hone your fourth level Qi Refinement cultivation."

Lin Ze nodded.

Half an hour later.

Lin Zhenhai and Seventh Uncle began to get busy around the mineral vein.

One by one, Spirit Stones and Formation Flags were struck into the rock walls by The Old Patriarch.

Lin Ze sat quietly on a piece of Profound Water Iron Ore.

He opened his panel and looked at the data on it.

Name: Lin Ze

[Cultivation: Qi Refinement Fourth Level (Early Stage)]

[Cultivation Technique: Azure Wave Art (Limit Break: Heavy Water Vortex)]

[Arts: Fish Rearing Technique (Major Achievement), Spirit Net Technique (Major Achievement), Water Purification Art (Major Achievement)]

His gaze moved to the notification column:

[Family Reputation: At Its Zenith (Gained strategic-level resource support from the entire clan)]

[Hidden Trait: Chosen Lord (Absolute controller of Reed Island)]

A curve formed at the corner of Lin Ze's mouth.

Outside Reed Island at this time, the wind and snow were still bleak.

But at this moment, Lin Ze seemed to see that in the near future, a sword light would rise from this desolate reed marsh.

"A foundation establishment pill..."

Lin Ze gently rubbed the wound on his left arm that had already begun to scab.

That was the seed called "ambition," quietly breaking through the soil beneath this ten-thousand-foot abyss.