357: Am I not pretty enough?

Lin Xue'er, Lin Anqi, Lin Yiyi, and Lin Yuanshuang, the four sisters of the Lin Family, rushed to Bone Fiend City immediately after receiving the news that the Eldest Son had achieved Foundation Establishment.

Other members of the Lin Family, including his fathers-in-law Lin Tianxiong and Lin Tianyue, as well as Lin Ruhai and his brother-in-law Lin Junjie, also dropped what they were doing and rushed toward Bone Fiend City.

The reception hall of the Liu Mansion.

Ancestor Qingyun arrived leading the entire Family; they were all restless, filled with both anticipation and a hint of worry.

The Lin Family had enjoyed immense glory following Liu Xuan over the years, but while more and more of Liu Xuan's Concubines were becoming Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the Lin sisters were all still merely Qi Refining Cultivators.

The Lin Family's only Foundation Establishment Ancestor, Ancestor Qingyun, had only a few years left to live. Once he passed away, the Lin Family's status would inevitably suffer a severe blow.

The Xiao Family where Xiao Ran belonged, the Zi Family of Zi Lan and Zi Ling, the Heavenly Sword Sect forces behind Yue Li... their internal competitors were growing stronger by the day.

While everyone was lost in thought, Liu Xuan walked in from outside. Before he could even greet them, Ancestor Qingyun asked urgently:

"Little Xuan, tell me honestly, is the news of the Eldest Son breaking through to become a Foundation Establishment Cultivator true?"

A room full of people stared expectantly at Liu Xuan. They knew in their hearts that it was likely true, but they still wanted to hear Liu Xuan confirm it with his own ears.

"Of course it's true!" Liu Xuan walked to Lin Qingyun's side and smiled. "The eldest broke through three days ago and is currently consolidating his cultivation. I expect he will be able to emerge from seclusion and pay his respects to you in person in a few days."

"That's wonderful!"

"That's wonderful!!"

"I knew all along that the Eldest Son was no ordinary child! A Foundation Establishment Ancestor under the age of forty—our Lin Family is going to produce a Golden Core True Person!!"

"Congratulations, Sister Xueer!"

"Congratulations, Sister Xueer!"

Listening to her sisters' congratulations, Lin Xue'er felt a bit dazed. She remembered the scene years ago when she and Liu Xuan had taken the Eldest Son to test his Spiritual Roots.

When she learned her son had no Spiritual Roots, she felt as if the sky had collapsed. At that time, Liu Xuan comforted them, saying that even without Spiritual Roots, one could still defy the heavens and change one's fate by practicing the Martial Dao. She had always thought that was just to comfort her and their son, never expecting... To the side, Lin Yuanshuang's eyes were full of bitterness. Back then, she had looked down on Lin Xue'er for her Martial Artist background and also looked down on Liu Xuan for failing even the outer sect examination.

She had been willing to abandon her Family status to go out on adventures just to prove she was stronger than Liu Xuan, to make the Old Ancestor regret, and to make everyone in the Family regret!

But what about now? She was still struggling in the Qi Refinement Stage, while Liu Xuan's son had already become a Foundation Establishment Ancestor!

Was it really that easy to break through to become a Foundation Establishment Ancestor?! Ever since returning to the Liu Family, she felt that the once high-and-mighty, unreachable status of a Foundation Establishment Ancestor seemed to have become worthless. How could just anyone break through?

Lin Anqi and Lin Yiyi appeared much more natural. Although they were somewhat envious of the Eldest Son achieving Foundation Establishment, they felt no jealousy.

Lin Anqi's son, Fourth Brother Dao Cheng, had a cultivation level second only to the Eldest Son and was not far from Qi Refining Perfection. Barring any accidents, he would also be able to reach Foundation Establishment.

Lin Yiyi's son, Dao Xing, who was ranked forty-second, had also received a third-rank pill reward this time. His cultivation had caught up from behind, ranking him ninth among all the children, and his future was also boundless.

"Everyone, there's no need to be overexcited. This is just the beginning; the good days are yet to come!"

Liu Xuan chatted with Lin Qingyun for a while and then had Da Shuang and Xiao Shuang take charge of settling them in.

The group of fathers-in-law and mothers-in-law were now very restrained and polite when speaking to Liu Xuan. Liu Xuan didn't like staying for long, so after exchanging a few pleasantries, he used an excuse to leave... Seven days later.

The Eldest Son emerged from seclusion. He wore a black daoist robe, his build was robust, and his aura was as majestic as a mountain. Just standing there quietly, he exerted a powerful sense of pressure.

"Dao Yuan pays his respects to Father and Mother."

"Greetings, Old Ancestor!"

"Greetings to all my uncles and aunts!"

Feeling the pressure emanating from the Eldest Son personally, everyone was deeply moved.

Many of them had watched this child grow up. Back then, they only thought his Martial Dao talent was decent and that he ate a bit much, but who could have imagined he would become a Foundation Establishment Ancestor so quickly!

A Foundation Establishment Ancestor under the age of forty with talent even higher than Liu Xuan's—they had never even heard of such a Genius. Perhaps they only existed in a Nascent Soul Sect like the Heavenly Sword Sect.

"Mother!" The Eldest Son came to Lin Xue'er's side. "Father said back then that even without a Spiritual Root, one could defy the heavens and change one's fate. I have done it!"

"Xiao Yuan..." Lin Xue'er's eyes rimmed with red. Due to her obsession with children who had Spiritual Roots, she hadn't given the Eldest Son much help back then. After Ling Meng was born, she had even been somewhat partial... The Eldest Son didn't mind such trivial matters and smiled. "Mother, my achievement of Foundation Establishment proves that a Martial Dao Foundation Establishment is not an impossible dream. You must also Cultivate hard; I wish you success in your Breakthrough in advance!"

Lin Xue'er blinked hard to keep her tears from falling, then regained her composure and said crossly:

"How can Foundation Establishment be so easy to achieve? Mother will be content just watching you break through!"

Lin Xue'er didn't chat with her son for long and told him to hurry to the banquet so the Family could celebrate properly... Half a month later.

The Eldest Son's Foundation Establishment Grand Ceremony was held in Bone Fiend City, taking the opportunity to expand the Liu Family's reputation.

The Liu Family's most important industry now was business, and reputation was very important; otherwise, people would be unwilling to cooperate with you.

Therefore, this ceremony was made exceptionally grand. People from the Beast Taming Sect in many nearby third-rank Spiritual Vein cities received invitations.

With an invitation from a Third-Rank Alchemist and Personal Disciple of True Lord Haoran, many people were willing to give him this Face. Even without business cooperation, establishing a connection was still good.

The Liu Family's Beast Pills were high quality and affordable, and their black crow flying boats and Yuan Magnetic Flying Boats were extremely cost-effective. They also dabbled in Talismans and Formations, especially some obscure Talismans and Formation Plates that couldn't be bought anywhere else.

The Guanghui Tower, managed by the Liu Merchant Alliance, was doing a roaring trade. Many people from the surrounding areas came to Bone Fiend City to purchase goods, and many also wanted to use this as a way to get in touch with the Liu Family.

Liu Xuan left the mundane affairs of socializing and handling guests to his wives, Concubines, and children. Now that the children were grown, it was a good time to give them some experience... The Pill Refining Tower.

Liu Xuan accompanied An Yunxi as they watched the bustle below, with only the two Big Black Bears snoring away in the corner beside them.

"Since Senior Sister likes watching the excitement, how about I accompany you down there to see?"

An Yunxi slowly shook her head. "I prefer watching from a distance. It would actually be less interesting to be right in the middle of it."

"That makes sense!" Liu Xuan nodded in agreement. "I also feel that going down there wouldn't be very interesting."

"Has Eldest Senior Sister left?" Liu Xuan asked.

"Yes."

"My sister had things to do, so she left a few days ago."

An Yunmiao was not An Yunxi; Liu Xuan knew she wouldn't stay by his side forever.

"Liu Xuan!"

"I heard you recently took ten more Concubines?"

Liu Xuan was wondering where An Yunmiao had gone and if there was a way to get her to return when he suddenly saw An Yunxi looking at him with a conflicted expression, her small Face showing three parts confusion and three parts pitifulness.

"Uh... yes!"

"Why do you ask, Senior Sister?"

An Yunxi stared at Liu Xuan for a while before summoning the courage to ask, "You have always been so proactive with other women, so why are you always keeping me at arm's length?"

"Is it because I'm not pretty enough?"

An Yunxi sounded more and more aggrieved as she spoke, and her eyes grew red!