Lin Hai and his two sons landed on the peak of Changbai Mountain's Heavenly Lake. Lin Hai took out a jade token with a nine-tailed fox imprint, summoning a spatial gate and entering it with Lin Shanhe.
"It's just a teleportation gate, it can directly send us to the Qingqiu Fox Tribe," Lin Hai said to Lin Shanhe as they walked.
"Second brother, you're here. What's up with this kid?" a handsome man in a blue robe stepped forward to greet them.
"Liufeng, don't mention it. Let's go, we'll see the Ancestor and Ancestress first."
Lin Hai turned to Lin Zhan and Lin Shanhe and said, "This is Qingqiu Liufeng, the crown prince of the Qingqiu Fox Tribe. He is a descendant of our Ancestress's full sibling and is of the same generation as me."
Lin Shanhe quickly performed a junior's salute to Qingqiu Liufeng: "Shanhe pays respects to Uncle Liufeng."
Lin Zhan, held by Lin Hai, cupped his hands and said, "This warrior Liufeng, please forgive Zhan'er for being injured and unable to perform a full salute."
Qingqiu Liufeng presented Lin Zhan with a string of prayer beads emitting a green light and chuckled, "Your injury is quite peculiar. These Green Wood Prayer Beads have the effect of calming the mind. You're a ruthless one to dare to strengthen even that area. Take these beads."
"Zhan'er thanks Grandfather Liufeng." Lin Zhan could tell from the quality of the prayer beads that they were a treasure. Besides, what could a prospective king's gift be like?
"Hurry up and lead the way. You're bringing up something you shouldn't be," Lin Hai said to Qingqiu Liufeng with a dark expression. He couldn't help it; his grandson had embarrassed him.
Qingqiu Liufeng led them to a quiet courtyard nestled in the mountains. A man in a black robe, appearing ordinary, and an exceptionally beautiful woman were tending to the exotic flowers and fruits in the courtyard.
Seeing Lin Hai and the others, the man said, "Little Hai, Liufeng, you're here."
This seemingly ordinary couple was the Lin family's Ancestor, the last Human King of China's Shang Dynasty: Di Xin, and his beloved concubine, the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, Su Daji.
Lin Hai led Lin Shanhe and his son to kneel, saying, "Descendants pay respects to the Ancestor and Ancestress."
"Rise, let me have a good look," Di Xin said kindly, while a gentle power lifted the three members of the Lin family.
"Shanhe, do you still resent the Ancestor for not helping you when you were severely injured?"
"The Ancestor's intentions were profound. Forgive my ignorance, but I only understood the Ancestor's purpose later."
"Hahaha, good child, it's good that you understand." Di Xin then turned his gaze to Lin Zhan.
"Hahahahaha, how did our family's Dragon injured like this? I heard you've always been scheming to trick others, how did you end up tricking yourself this time?" Looking at Lin Zhan, who was leaning on crutches, with his legs spread awkwardly, and thick bandages around his thighs, Di Xin couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"The child is like this, and you still have the heart to laugh," Daji pinched Di Xin, but couldn't help but laugh herself.
"Ancestor, Ancestress, your grandson has been wronged," Lin Zhan pouted, complaining.
"Oh, you feel wronged? I heard from Little Hai that you kidnapped the heirs and prospective kings of several special zones. You must have raked in a fortune. Why not show some filial piety to your Ancestor?" Di Xin looked at his remaining descendant, his mood much improved.
"Ancestor, your grandson has indeed prepared gifts to show filial piety to the Ancestor and Ancestress." Saying this, he took out various fine wines, sweet wines, exquisite Western pastries, candies, and chocolates that he had confiscated from the British Dragon Knights.
"Ancestor and Ancestress, these are all things your grandson 'snatched' from that lizard knight... (⊙o⊙)... um, that lizard knight gave them to your grandson. Although they may not be of great use to you, they are novel and interesting, perfect for you to try and relieve some boredom."
"Hahaha, my dear concubine, look how filial our Zhan'er is. Good child, go and fetch my battle armor from my youth and give it to Zhan'er." Which elder doesn't like a filial child?
"Alright, wear it now, it's perfect for Zhan'er." Daji rose, took out a black full-body battle armor, and presented it to Lin Zhan.
"Thank you, Ancestor, thank you, Ancestress," Lin Zhan said excitedly.
"Alright, let's talk business. Little Hai, upon your return, march to Fusang and kill all the foreign races and those who betrayed humanity. Display their heads publicly. I will arrange for the hidden kings in the royal court to cooperate with you," Di Xin said with murderous intent.
"As for Zhan'er, he will follow this campaign to learn well. Upon his return, I will arrange for Zhan'er to enter the star battlefield to participate in the Asura hunting grounds and the battles against the myriad races. Are you willing, Zhan'er?" Di Xin asked Lin Zhan.
"Please rest assured, Ancestor. Zhan'er will not disgrace the prestige of our human race. Moreover, in the Dragon Taming Secret Realm, Zhan'er has already experienced battles in the hunting grounds," Lin Zhan said with a serious expression.
"Good, good. You are truly a son of China. In fact, Ancestor Yan also requested your participation in this. Both the Lin family's Overlord Saber and the Imperial Dragon Clan's Dragon Taming Art require extensive combat," Di Xin said, very pleased to see Lin Zhan's fearlessness in battle.
"Ancestor, marching to Fusang will surely involve myriad races. If we intend to fight a war of extermination, won't it trigger a king-level war prematurely?" Lin Hai pondered for a moment.
"It matters not. I intend to trigger a king-level war prematurely. The great era is approaching. Even figures like Ancestor Yan are beginning to awaken. Some old guys from the myriad races should also be awakening and observing the overall situation. It's just the right time to trigger a king-level war and display the strength of the human race," Di Xin said, exuding overwhelming power.
"Understood, Ancestor. This time, I have already cleared out the remnants of the myriad races left on Earth," Lin Hai nodded.
"Business is concluded. Shall we discuss family matters? Shanhe, don't you feel we have too few people in our family? Our great Shang Dynasty now only has these few left. Doesn't it feel too desolate?" Di Xin said to Lin Shanhe with a smile.
"(⊙o⊙)... Ancestor, then let Zhan'er marry early." Lin Shanhe was dumbfounded.
"You are only in your mid-forties. Not only as a Lord-level warrior, but even for an ordinary person, you are still young. Little Hai and Little Shan are also not old."
"My dear concubine, I recall that girl Qingqiu Liuxin seems to have quite an affection for Little Hai. Family propagation still relies on everyone, doesn't it? I think you all should work harder." Di Xin spoke like an elder urging marriage.
Lin Zhan looked at his second grandfather, who looked like an old man, with a dumbfounded expression. He thought, This guy, my second grandfather, is going to have a late bloom.
"Ancestor, I feel I must make an effort for family propagation," Lin Zhan shamelessly volunteered.
"You can forget it. Don't even think about it for the next two years, or Ancestor Yan will castrate you."
Di Xin looked at Lin Hai and Lin Shanhe, who remained silent, and said displeasedly, "Seeing you like this, Little Hai can be put aside for now. You should focus on persuading Shanhe."
Di Xin waved his hand, and the three members of the Lin family withdrew.
The courtyard became quiet again. Di Xin looked at the beautiful Daji and said, "My dear concubine, I feel I am still very young."