335: Chapter 288 335: Chapter 288 The Luo Family’s senior ancestor did not appear, for after last night’s gathering, he returned to seclusion.
The previously lively chatter from below quieted down when Family Head Luo Sheng appeared on the stage, as they all settled down, waiting for him to speak.
At this time, three Elders of the Luo Family also showed up, standing behind the Young Family Head.
Family Head Luo Sheng stated the important purpose of this meeting and mentioned that there were requests made.
He spoke further on the family’s prosperity relying on everyone’s effort and expressed a desire to provide resources.
He directed those who wanted to contribute to move to the side, list their donations, and write down their names.
The members of the Luo Family started to take action, some striving to grow stronger, others desiring Supreme Elixirs.
From the previous day, they had learned that the family would collect some resources—or even better, more resources—which would make it easier to obtain Supreme Elixirs.
The family would also offer partial support and would send Luo Yaxuan to purchase Supreme Elixirs again.
Those who were cultivating and had either Storage Bags or rings typically stored their most important resources on their person.
Hiding them anywhere else was not as secure as keeping them on oneself.
Already, several tables had been set up for collecting resources and recording names, making a list of the resources.
But the process was not proceeding swiftly, since the grand ranks of Luo Family Members were too numerous.
After filling out their lists and handing over resources, some returned to their shifts, while those they replaced came to the square to submit their resources—such exchanges repeated several times.
It was not until the crowd had nearly finished that Luo Yaxuan had the opportunity to speak, reassuring everyone that if he could indeed buy Supreme Elixirs, he would do his best to procure them for everyone.
During the grand meeting of the Luo Family, Luo Yaxuan and the Luo Family Members were filled with excited anticipation.
Meanwhile, in another family, the Lai Family, Lai Jianlin had also acquired a significant number of Supreme Elixirs and kept six of them hidden on his person.
Lai Jianlin and Luo Yaxuan, who were close friends, shared similar ideas and efforts.
Lai Jianlin had been in seclusion for half a month, and he had not yet emerged.
Family Head Lai, along with three Elders, as well as the Lai Family’s senior ancestor and his wife, and even his own wife, all had their Cultivation enhanced from the Supreme Elixirs they had consumed.
Family Head Lai had always been dissatisfied with their standing as a second-tier family.
Lacking the strength of a first-tier family and reliant on the Luo Family, their desire to grow stronger was innate, but they were hampered by a lack of resources.
They had considered numerous times to eliminate other first-tier families, to seize their position and ascend to a first-tier status.
However, this ambition had not been realized for a long time, as their rivals were not to be underestimated, cunning and slippery as they were.
Especially the Huang Family, which was particularly insidious, had wronged all the members of first-tier families at some point.
Having improved his Cultivation, Family Head Lai gained more confidence in the family’s strength and had an intensified yearning to become a first-tier family.
After the senior ancestor increased his Cultivation, he became reluctant to enter seclusion again, wanting more Supreme Elixirs.
Thus, the senior ancestor approached his son and summoned the three Elders, and they were constantly discussing and secretly planning together.
Madam Lai and the Old Madam, as wealthy individuals who had advanced in Cultivation, were waiting for their husbands to join them and share their joyous emotions.
They were also eagerly awaiting Lai Jianlin’s emergence from seclusion.
Unfortunately, while they waited, the men of the house did not return, and Lai Jianlin remained in seclusion.
As the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law waited together, they shared their Cultivation Techniques and Spells, and also exchanged experiences from their recent advancements.
In the main hall of the Lai Family, the senior ancestor and the current Family Head and Elders were gathered, always scheming on how to obtain more Supreme Elixirs with the least amount of resources.
For their last purchase of Supreme Elixirs, they had already expended some resources.
Being a second-tier family, they could not compete with the Luo Family.
They wanted to buy more Supreme Elixirs and were open to bartering, but what kind of goods would interest the seller enough to facilitate a trade?
They knew the supreme Alchemist Jiang Tang was able to auction off so many Supreme Elixirs, yet exchanging them with the Lai Family was not because Jiang Tang was foolish.
It was merely that he looked upon Lai Jianlin’s face and wished to befriend them.
The history and background of Jiang Tang, the supreme Alchemist, were known to many.
A common man from a civilian family, who had joined the Immortal Sect and turned his Mixed Spiritual Roots into supreme Spiritual Roots in just three short years, then within a little over a month, gained opportunities others couldn’t even imagine.
It was also said that Jiang Tang had been an Alchemist before encountering hardship, had even competed with others, and was stronger than the young disciples of the Medicine Sect.
Someone had coveted the Spiritual Fire he possessed, which led to murder and theft.
Little did they know, this act of murder and theft caused the heir of the Huang Family to suffer a hefty loss; not only did he die, but it also allowed Jiang Tang to become a Supreme Alchemist amidst this disaster.
Becoming a master among masters during this calamity, the people of the Huang Family must have been infuriated to the point of spitting blood.
The cunning members of the Huang Family turned into a laughingstock this time, becoming the talk of the town in Immortal Lord City, with everyone knowing the joke the Huang Family People had made of themselves.
The eldest heir of the Huang Family had died – whether he could become a Ghost Cultivator after death, nobody knew.
The eldest heir of the Huang Family who had died was never seen again by anyone.
The people of the Huang Family did not reveal where the eldest heir had gone after his death.
In any case, he had never reappeared in Immortal Lord City, turning the Huang Family into the biggest joke of the city, yet no one dared to laugh in their presence.
The people of the Lai Family also received the news that Patriarch Huang and the Elder had gone to Immortal Venerable City, as had the Jiang Family Head and Elder.
They had gone, and it had been half a month with no return; nobody knew if they had obtained the Supreme Elixirs, but no one dared to offend these two families.
The secret plotting by Family Head Lai and the elders was based on one reason: now they just needed Supreme Elixirs.
With the Supreme Elixirs, their family members would grow stronger and naturally, they would become a first-class family.
It wasn’t necessary to make the first move in a fight; sometimes, those who strike first can end up suffering.
Although the Lai Family was a second-tier family, there were smaller families coveting their position.
The stronger the family, the more resources they could obtain; when resources were divided every few years, they were allocated based on the family’s strength.
People from other families hoped to gain more in the next resource distribution.
“Now, we can only take out all the resources we have and exchange them for as many Supreme Elixirs as possible.”
Everyone agreed with Family Head Lai’s proposal, so they summoned all their personnel to contribute their important resources for registration.
Hearing that the Family Head and Elder had consumed Supreme Elixirs and could enhance their cultivation, many people wanted Supreme Elixirs for themselves, but it was difficult for the family to distribute such treasures.
Normally, distributing advanced pills was already the most powerful support they offered.
The large assembly held by the Lai Family Members went very smoothly; everyone’s resources were unified, waiting for Lai Jianlin to finish his retreat to go purchase the Supreme Elixirs.
After half a month of cultivation, Lai Jianlin had advanced from the Mid Foundation Establishment stage and, having consumed a Supreme Elixir, entered the initial phase of the Golden Core stage.
With the cultivation of the initial Golden Core stage, he felt it was not enough.
To not be bullied by the powerful or need protection from others, becoming even stronger was inevitable.
Fortunately, after consuming two more Supreme Elixirs and striving for more than a day, his cultivation of the past ten days burst forth, propelling him to the Mid Golden Core stage.
The strengthening of his soul allowed him to use Divine Sense to kill or protect people.
Lai Jianlin had never killed anyone; he had subordinates in his family, was lowkey among Immortals, and was gentle in demeanor, never having a confrontation with anyone.
He was also generous and never incurred enmity.
However, he encountered a terrorist during a sparring match who injured and imprisoned him in a Water Prison.
That terrorist committed suicide.
Then, in that incident in Immortal Venerable City, the terrorists sought to kill them, the disciples, and in self-defense, they fought back and killed the terrorists.
Lai Jianlin could be considered a gentleman among men, as well as talent cultivated by a family, acting with kindness.
In the Cultivation World, those who kill innocently, always meet dire fates.
Lai Jianlin believes justice will always stand tall and dignified; it was his very character that prompted his master to take him as a disciple.
Lai Jianlin focused on enhancing his cultivation; at this moment, he had no other thoughts and did not consider returning to the Immortal Sect so soon, as his family needed him now.
With two Supreme Elixirs still on hand, Lai Jianlin selfishly wouldn’t give them to others.
Supreme Elixirs were hard to come by, and even to kin, one couldn’t be so extravagant as to gift them freely.
Everything must come with a price.
After solidifying his cultivation, he also learned and perfected the new Spells and Cultivation Techniques passed to him by his master.
Moreover, having attained the Golden Core Stage, it was essential to learn Spells and Cultivation Techniques suitable for that level.