The first course of action was to move Tianming, as the other side had already been alerted. The few days before the discovery had actually been the most dangerous period.
âFortunately, we didnât run everywhere because we got two and a half million merit points.â Feiling still felt lingering fear. She remembered trying to convince Tianming to bring her to the Myriadsword Emporium for some shopping.
âFortunately, you were too lovely. I had to indulge in pleasure, thus keeping my lifeâ¦â Tianming said.
âAnnoying!â Feiling angrily pinched his arm. How could he be so loud when so many seniors were around!
âWeâre leaving once youâre all packed.â Five seniors would escort him to the council hall in an ether-class astralship. On the way there, the enemy wouldnât dare to make a move.
Tianming used to lack the qualification to enter the council hall, but now was a special time.
âThereâs a few empty halls in the back of the council hall. Take up temporary residence there, but take care not to be too noisy and disturb the seniorsâ rest. The reformists come there often so donât give them opportunities,â Lin Changkong instructed.
âUnderstood, Uncle Changkong.â Tianming nodded.
âItâs fine, Iâll watch them. They wonât be allowed to take a single step out,â Dongshen Yue said.
âDonât go to the Caeli Vault or the Swordsoul Purgatory for the next month. If you really need to go out, let me know first,â Lin Xiao said.
âYouâre too long-winded!â Dongshen Yue glared.
âBrother Tigerâs just worried,â Lin Xiong laughed.
âGo handle your matters,â Dongshen Yue urged.
Lin Xiao and the rest looked at each other, delegating tasks before leaving. âLetâs go.â
âGrandfather!â Tianming shouted toward them.
âWhat?â
âAll of you take a bug each, so I can immediately tell you if something happens. Itâs faster than a transmission stone.â
âAlright.â They each picked up one Yin Chen. Even with all their experience, they were still curious about it.
âAlso, Tianxi may not act against you, but that alien monster might. Youâre all in his way. Be careful and donât be alone,â Tianming said.
âUs?â The four hadnât considered that.
âFengâerâs right. We should be prepared as well.â
âIn our own territory, huhâ¦. Prepare to use astralships at any time!â Lin Changkong said.
âYes.â
After they left, Tianming and the rest settled down. Dongshen Yue took him aside and pulled his ear. âBe a little more quiet here and treat them all equally!â
âYes, yes, yes!â Tianming was sweating. It was the council hall, how could he have the mood to play around there?
âAlthough you canât go to the Caeli Vault, you all still have to cultivate. Donât slack offâbecoming an astral god is your biggest goal now,â Dongshen Yue instructed.
Fortunately, Xiaoxiao was still slowly munching her way through her bee-headed people caeli, while Tianming had enough resources to tide him over. The council hallâs formation was secure, so Dongshen Yue rested in the front while Tianming cultivated with the rest in the back. He had a feeling his coming days would be monotonous.
âMy original plan was to go for astral god in the Caeli Vault, then to the Swordsoul Purgatory to train the Grandvoid Compendium and Xiaozhi Sword Art. Finally, I would go to the Myriadsword Emporium to spend my money. But my plans went poof.â
The guidance from the bee-headed people was surely worse than what was offered by reges mundi caeli that were at the Foundation level.
âCanât rush cultivation in the end. You have to learn to endure solitude,â Xiaoxiao said.
âYou donât deserve to say that. Shoo!â Xiaoxiao only needed to eat, so it didnât matter where she was.
The three ladies quickly settled down, enjoying each othersâ company while Tianming could only wait for Yin Chen to give him news.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
â¦â¦
After half a day, Lin Xiao and the rest managed to complete their next steps.
First, Tianxi was invited to the Lin Clan as a guest and the news was spread far and wide. Second, they announced that Lin Jianxingâs body had been possessed by an alien monster and was currently hidden in the Infinitum Swordsea. Third, Lin Jie, Lin Yun, and the rest were asked to urgently convene at the council hall!
They had done the first and second steps before the third. They were done by the time Lin Jie and the rest arrived.
âWe didnât announce Tianxi and the alien monster working together to assassinate me so that we donât shed all pretense of cordiality with the ebons and both sides have room to step back. If Tianxi still tries forcing things, Grandpa and the rest will just stop holding back. The invitation is a chance for the ebons to de-escalate. I do hope they take it,â Tianming mused. As he expected, the news of the alien monster had shaken the entire Infinitum Swordsea before spreading to the rest of Ebonia. It was an unimaginable concept, but Lin Xiao and the rest had announced it with the prestige of the council hall backing them.
They also enforced martial law in the clan, activating tens of thousands of formations and making the Infinitum Swordsea enter a battle-ready state. Even though it involved Lin Yunâs grandson, it had all been done without any of Lin Jie or the restâs input.
The seven reformists naturally hurried to the council hall, where Lin Xiao and his group of eight were waiting for them.
The Firmament had already set out for Gladeus by then, as well.
Fierce arguments broke out in the council hall. Tianming could hear it clearly from his hall. Lin Yun was the loudest, not believing the accusation.
âFind Lin Jianxing if you doubt it. A careful inspection will easily reveal what he is now. Let me also remind you that everyone saw his heptastar organs being destroyed and he died in public view,â Lin Changkong sternly said.
âThen how did I not notice it after interacting with him so many times after he returned?â Lin Yun was furious.
âThatâs what I should be asking you! How did you not notice?â Lin Xiong mocked.
âUncle Lin Yun, just try finding him. Wonât it be obvious if you canât find him?â Lin Changkong said.
âAnd what if you all killed him before spreading your lies? Wouldnât it make sense for us seven council members to be kept in the dark?â Lin Yunâs eyes were so wide they seemed on the verge of popping out.
âIt was urgent. The rules were adhered to, and eight people agreed with the motion,â Lin Xiao said. That was enough to shut Lin Yun up.
âUncle Sun, we understand your love for your grandson. But heâs already passed on, while a monster from the ancestral world is now toying with his corpse. If you really want your grandson to find peace, you need to calm down. That monster wishes for a rain of blood within the Infinitum Swordsea. Heâs our mutual enemy,â Lin Chongyao, the first branch master, gently said.
Lin Yun clenched his fists and coldly snorted before sitting down on a wooden chair.
Lin Jie was silent for a while before looking at Lin Xiao. âSecond Patriarch, I want to know how you managed to eavesdrop on them. Tianxi and an alien monster arenât existences who would easily make missteps. If these are baseless accusations that you used to make such large decisions, I think thereâs a problem.â
âItâs a special ability I spent years developing as a trump card. I canât give you the details, but Iâll use my identity as a council hall member to guarantee it,â Lin Xiao said, obviously not willing to expose Yin Chen to Lin Jie.
âThe second patriarchâs ability? Your identity as a council hall member as a guarantee?â Lin Jie mulled over the words. âAnd what if it all turns out to be your fanciful imagination?â
âSimple: Iâll show myself out again.â Lin Xiao smiled.