Lan Tianxiong had just managed to quell the rising emotions of the crowd.
Someone else then said, "Now that you mention it, I remember hearing from someone that they encountered Ling Fan at the Myriad Merchants Guild. Do you know how much money he spent that day? Over a million!"
"I didn't believe it at first, but this makes perfect sense. Ling Fan must have sold out family secrets; otherwise, where would he get the money?"
As soon as this person spoke, it immediately confirmed everyone's suspicions. For a moment, the entire Lan family's assembly hall felt like a bomb about to detonate.
"No wonder!"
"More than ten days ago, Ling Fan brought back a whole cartload of things. We didn't pay much attention then, but thinking about it now, those must have been the valuable items he bought from the Myriad Merchants Guild."
"Is this true?"
"Absolutely true. Many people saw it at the time, no mistake!"
If the words of the first two people were merely hearsay and speculation.
Then what the latter person said had irrefutable evidence.
These numerous clues, when connected, all pointed instantly to Ling Fan.
"Well done, Ling Fan, you ungrateful good-for-nothing son-in-law!"
"He deserves to die! I've always said this Ling fellow would eventually drag our Lan family into an abyss of eternal damnation."
"Alas, it makes me so angry! The Patriarch kindly took you in and even married Xueyi to a cripple like you, only to raise a viper in your bosom."
"I knew why he was so frequent at the weapons workshop. So that was his plan! Not only is he useless, but he's also thoroughly wicked."
"Where is Ling Fan? Why aren't we bringing him out to be punished? What are we waiting for!"
Some of the Lan family elders shouted in anger.
Lan Tianxiong's expression changed completely.
He hadn't believed Ling Fan would do such a thing, but now that all the clues pointed to Ling Fan, he couldn't help but believe it.
The Ling Fan of the past was merely unlearned and dissolute.
He was still within the scope of Lan Tianxiong's tolerance.
However, if Ling Fan had truly betrayed the Lan family and leaked top secrets this time, then he would not be able to protect him.
Lan Xueyi's face was also deathly pale, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.
This top-tier set was her proudest creation, consuming countless hours of her effort and focus.
Now that it had been stolen by the Jin family, she was the most heartbroken.
She never imagined that the person betraying the Lan family could be Ling Fan, her husband!
This was an unbearable blow to her.
Lan Junjie, with his impatient and fiery temper, looked even more furious, as if he wanted to kill someone!
"I'll go and drag him here right now! If it's true, I'll be the first to deal with him!"
Lan Junjie roared and rushed out.
...
Ling Fan's residence.
Various precious materials and medicinal herbs were scattered on the ground, their essence already depleted.
Ling Fan sat cross-legged in the center, his aura growing increasingly unfathomable.
Wisps of cyan-gold true qi and wisps of emerald-green true qi intertwined, showing a tendency to merge.
The sharp cyan-gold metal-element true qi contrasted with the supple and vibrant emerald-green true qi.
If anyone were present, their eyes would surely fall out in astonishment.
In this world, how could anyone refine attribute true qi at the Meridian Opening realm, let alone two types?
Although he hadn't officially entered the Qi Refining realm, Ling Fan, who practiced the Earth-tier cultivation technique "Five Elements Meridian Opening Art," was even more powerful and terrifying than someone in the true Qi Refining realm.
Ling Fan suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them.
After more than ten days of arduous cultivation, and having spent a fortune of over a million taels on cultivation resources, he had finally successfully opened all twelve water-attribute meridians.
He was now more than twice as strong as he was when he first opened his metal-attribute meridians.
Just then, there was a forceful banging on the door.
Before Ling Fan could even open it, the door was kicked open with brute force.
Lan Junjie rushed in, his face contorted with rage.
When his gaze fell upon the ground, his eyes instantly narrowed, and his anger intensified.
Although the essence of the materials had been lost, it was clear at a glance that they were rare and valuable.
This further confirmed everyone's suspicions.
Lan Junjie no longer doubted; he was almost certain that Ling Fan had sold out the Lan family's secrets.
Ling Fan was the traitor who deserved to die.
"Come with me to the assembly hall!"
Lan Junjie suppressed his anger, his voice a low growl, and reached out to grab Ling Fan.
Ling Fan calmly dodged his grasp, frowning slightly, and asked, "I can walk myself. What happened?"
"Hmph, you'll know when you get there! No one can help you this time."
When Ling Fan followed Lan Junjie into the Lan family's assembly hall.
All eyes were fixed on him as if they wanted to devour him alive.
Lan Tianxiong suddenly looked ten years older.
His gaze towards Ling Fan was filled with anger, disappointment, and self-reproach.
"I am also responsible. If I hadn't indulged him so much, how could this catastrophic disaster have occurred today?"
Lan Tianxiong closed his eyes, his heart filled with grief.
Lan Xueyi looked at Ling Fan, feeling an overwhelming sense of injustice. Her gaze trembled, and tears seemed to well up in her beautiful eyes as she stubbornly held them back.
She was wearing a simple, plain dress today, without any makeup, like a pure and transcendent orchid blooming in a secluded valley, lost in self-pity.
The grievances, disappointments, and torments of the past years had reached their peak today, upon learning that Ling Fan had betrayed the Lan family!
All of it transformed into despair and anger towards Ling Fan.
How could he be so utterly contemptible!
The Lan family had treated him so well, yet he had pushed the Lan family into an abyss.
She had still held a sliver of hope for him, never giving up on him, even when he committed the outrageous act of burning down a brothel on their wedding night. She had quietly used her dowry and her most precious jade bracelet to compensate for his wrongdoing.
But today, all of that had turned into the sharpest thorns, piercing her heart completely.
She felt that all her past efforts and waiting were worthless!
Meaningless.
From now on, it would be like this. She would completely sever ties with this man.
She secretly made up her mind.
"Ling Fan, you beast, why don't you kneel down and accept your death!"
The Great Elder of the Lan family roared like thunder.
"Kneel!"
"Kneel!"
...
A group of Lan family high-ranking and middle-ranking members shouted angrily.
As the saying goes, the tongues of many can melt metal.
The accusations of many can melt even the hardest iron.
Moreover, so many important figures of the Lan family were simultaneously targeting Ling Fan.
Such a scene would make even someone with excellent self-control, even a Xuan Gang realm expert, change their expression.
However, Ling Fan's expression remained unchanged. He merely swept his gaze over everyone with a hint of confusion.
Finally, he looked at Lan Tianxiong, his father-in-law, and asked, "Father-in-law, what is going on?"
"You still have the audacity to ask!"
A Lan family elder pointed at Ling Fan and cursed furiously, "You ungrateful wretch, asking what you know! You tell me yourself, did you collude with the Jin family and sell the secrets of the set to them!"
"Don't even think about denying it, we have solid evidence! Our Lan family is now being pushed to the brink by the Jin family, all thanks to you. You are truly an ungrateful viper!"
Others spat curses. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Lan Tianxiong felt his heart bleeding.
He had long regarded Ling Fan as half a son, but Ling Fan's actions were like cutting flesh from his heart!
"Is this really true, Xiao Fan!"
He asked with a trembling voice, his wrinkles deepening on his face.
Ling Fan, being extremely intelligent.
From these few words, and from the reactions of those around him, he quickly grasped the general situation.