Cultivation Begins with Daily Intelligence Reports

25: Proposing a marriage allianceA dull thud rang out. It wasn’t deafening, yet it seemed to strike at the heart of everyone present!

A powerful pressure belonging to a Qi Refining Sixth Layer Cultivator erupted like an invisible tide, instantly filling the courtyard in front of the ancestral hall.

The candlelight in the ancestral hall behind them flickered violently. Clan members with weaker cultivation turned pale, feeling their breath catch in their throats.

The interior of the ancestral hall became so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. All eyes focused with reverence on this man, the actual helmsman of the Lin Family.

One must know that even the Lin Family Head had grown up under the watchful eye of the Grand Elder.

The Grand Elder scanned the area, taking in everyone’s reactions before slowly speaking. His voice was aged and raspy, yet it carried an unquestionable authority:

“I have summoned the entire clan today to announce two major matters concerning the rise, fall, and survival of our Lin Family.” He paused, his cloudy gaze sweeping over the nervous faces:

“The first matter is that after repeated consultations and careful deliberation by the Elder Council, our Lin Family will officially establish a covenant of mutual assistance with the Reed Liu Family. From now on, we shall share weal and woe!”

“The Reed Liu Family?” Low exclamations and whispers broke out among the crowd.

The name of the Reed Liu Family was known to every Lin Family Cultivator present.

They occupied a rich stretch of riverbank wetlands less than five li away from the Lin Family settlement. For generations, they had passed down unique legacies for cultivating spiritual reeds and raising spiritual fish and shrimp.

Their Family wealth was far greater than that of the Lin Family, whose foundation relied mainly on barren mountain spiritual fields. Even more intimidating was that the Liu Family had three genuine Qi Refining Seventh Layer experts overseeing them!

Their strength firmly suppressed the Lin Family, which only had the Grand Elder at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer and a few others at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer.

Hearing that they were forming an alliance with the stronger Liu Family, the tense atmosphere in the ancestral hall visibly relaxed, and many people showed expressions of joy.

Being able to ally with a powerful neighboring clan like the Liu Family, exchange resources, and gain protection was undoubtedly a great thing for the struggling Lin Family.

After a brief commotion, everyone nodded in agreement; no one raised an objection. After all, the benefits of the alliance were obvious.

Being able to learn some spells for planting reeds and raising spiritual fish and shrimp would be very beneficial to the Lin Family.

Seeing that no one opposed, the Grand Elder’s wrinkled face remained calm. He continued in that level but unquestionable tone:

“Since there are no objections, this covenant is hereby established. A covenant is valued for its stability, and friendship for its longevity. To demonstrate our Lin Family’s sincerity and deepen the Bloodline ties between our two families, after discussions with the Liu Family, the Elder Council has decided...”

He paused deliberately, his gaze becoming deep:

“...to select three virtuous women of appropriate age and decent Aptitude from among our female Cultivators to marry into the Liu Family as wives, forming a marital bond to eternally solidify the foundation of our covenant!”

As soon as the Grand Elder finished speaking, a deathly silence fell over the ancestral hall. It was as if time had frozen at that moment.

The joy on everyone’s faces froze, replaced by bewilderment and confusion, followed by unbelievable shock!

Marrying off daughters? Selecting three clan women to be sent over? What kind of equal alliance was this? This was clearly the Lin Family admitting they were inferior, a humiliating act of sending clan members for peace.

After a brief, dead silence, with a ’boom,’ the ancestral hall erupted like a boiling pot!

“What? A marriage alliance?”

“What kind of mutual assistance is this? This is clearly selling our daughters for glory!”

“What benefits did the Liu Family give? To think we have to send away three girls? This is too much!”

“Our Lin Family hasn’t fallen so low that we need to rely on sacrificing our daughters just to survive!”

Voices of doubt, angry rebukes, and cries of grief and indignation surged like a tide, instantly flooding the entire ancestral hall!

In particular, parents with daughters of marriageable age were trembling with rage, their faces turning ashen.

Lin Jingyu’s eyes instantly turned cold, and his fists clenched quietly within his sleeves. This so-called ’covenant’ reeked of injustice and subservience from the very beginning!

How much validity could a covenant bought with one’s own clansmen actually have?

“Presumptuous! Silence!”

Facing the surging public sentiment, the Grand Elder suddenly gave a sharp shout! The sound exploded like a clap of thunder, containing the majestic spiritual power of a Qi Refining Sixth Layer Cultivator!

A bone-chilling pressure descended once more like a physical cold wave, even heavier than before! This time, it wasn’t just the clan members with weak cultivation who felt difficulty breathing and their blood churning.

Even Qi Refining Fourth Layer Cultivators felt a tightness in their chests, as if an invisible hand were clutching their throats.

All the clamor, questions, and roars were cut short by this powerful pressure, coming to an abrupt halt as if their necks had been snapped!

Only heavy, suppressed breathing remained in the ancestral hall.

The Grand Elder’s cold gaze was like a steel blade scraping bone as it slowly swept across the faces below—faces filled with anger, fear, or humiliation.

His aged voice carried a high-and-mighty indifference and an unquestionable hardness:

“The matter of the marriage alliance is a strategy decided upon by the Elder Council after careful consideration. This is an announcement, not a discussion! You only need to follow orders and quickly select three suitable candidates!”

His tone was resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.

He had pushed for this matter single-handedly. The benefits promised privately by the Liu Family were enough to greatly increase the strength of his branch, perhaps even allowing him to take a shot at the Late Stage Qi Refining realm.

As for the wishes and sacrifices of the clansmen? In his eyes, they were merely the necessary price to pay for greater interests. What was wrong with letting them suffer a little to achieve the Family’s future?

They were all just short-sighted fools.

If letting everyone in the clan die would allow him to advance to the Foundation Establishment Stage,

He would certainly agree without the slightest hesitation.

As long as he was strong enough, it didn’t matter whether the Family existed or not.

Beside him, Third Elder Lin Chengyuan, his face still slightly pale, lowered his eyelids slightly and glanced at the angry Lin Jingyu.

A disdainful sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.

This time, your so-called most beloved sister, whom you have always protected and cherished, will be selected as one of those sent to the Liu Family for the marriage alliance.

Let’s see if you can still be so arrogant then.

In the end, you’ll still have to be like a lapdog, wagging your tail and kneeling before me to beg.

However, this time, I won’t be mindful of Family ties.

Not only will I take control of the underground secret chamber in Lin Jingyu’s home, but I will also send this brat to Hell to join his parents.

As for Lin Jingxia, there’s no need to take action myself, is there?

Life in the Liu Family won’t be comfortable.

She certainly won’t be marrying into the direct line; it will only be to some old bachelor who couldn’t find a Dao Companion.

She’ll be treated as nothing more than a breeding tool.

Once my grandson Jingxie brings back the Foundation Establishment Legacy, coupled with the nourishment of the Spiritual Qi from the precious land, the Late Stage Qi Refining realm will be within reach in three to five years.

When that time comes, with Jingxie’s support, neither the Family Head nor the Grand Elder will be worth a glance!

The final wielder of power in the Lin Family will be none other than he, Lin Chengyuan.

He would be the one to laugh last and become the winner!