Chapter 84: 84. Nascent soul [2]
Lin Xuan paid little attention to the insults.
Instead, he immediately understood why the Shangguan family had sent someone.
Without another word, the messenger took out a scroll and tossed it toward Lin Xuan.
Lin Xuan caught it with one hand.
"Take that and read it yourself. You are also to present yourself at the Shangguan family gates in five days."
Lin Xuan unrolled the scroll and gave it a brief glance before calmly rolling it back up.
A faint apologetic smile appeared on his face.
"I’m afraid I won’t be able to."
The messenger frowned.
"I already have an important clan meeting scheduled for that day. I won’t be able to make it."
The room fell deathly silent.
The messenger stared at Lin Xuan in disbelief, as though he had just heard the greatest joke in his life.
Then his expression twisted with rage.
"The Shangguan family comes first!"
His voice exploded throughout the reception hall.
"Remember your place, you lowly piece of shit!"
Lin Xuan gave an awkward smile.
"Ah... but I really don’t think I can make it."
He held up the scroll apologetically.
"Couldn’t the Shangguan family adjust the date?"
The messenger froze.
"...Adjust the date?"
For a brief moment, he simply stared at Lin Xuan.
Then his face contorted with fury.
"Are you seriously saying that right now?"
His aura surged as he strode forward.
"You insignificant ant! Who do you think you are? The Shangguan family changes its schedule for no one!"
He raised his hand and swung it toward Lin Xuan’s face.
Smack!
The crisp sound echoed throughout the reception hall.
A bright red handprint immediately appeared across Lin Xuan’s cheek.
The messenger sneered.
"You’ll do well to remember this slap from now on. This is to make up for the lack of discipline your parents failed to—"
Before he could finish speaking, a flash appeared.
It was so fast that he couldn’t even perceive that Lin Xuan had moved.
His voice came to an abrupt halt and in that split of a second, his head separated cleanly from his shoulders and flew across the reception hall.
Only then did the headless body remain standing for a brief instant before collapsing heavily onto the floor.
Thud.
Blood erupted from the severed neck, staining the polished stone floor a deep crimson.
Lin Xuan blinked.
"...Ah."
He looked down at the helm of his robes with visible disappointment.
"My clothes got stained with blood."
Shaking his head, Lin Xuan turned around and walked out of the reception hall.
The guards standing outside immediately bowed.
"Patriarch."
Lin Xuan nodded before speaking in a calm tone.
"Make sure no-one enters the reception hall until I give further orders."
"Understood!"
The guards immediately cupped their fists, not daring to ask another question.
Only after walking a short distance away did the familiar mechanical voice echo inside his mind once more.
[Congratulations.]
[I merely asked you to reject the summons.]
[Instead, you proved that you are a true dragon.]
[By slaying the messenger, you have severed every path of retreat.]
Lin Xuan’s lips twitched.
"...Was that a compliment?"
The system continued as though it had not heard him.
[Reward: Realm Breakthrough Pills ×10.]
A faint smile appeared on Lin Xuan’s face.
Ten Realm Breakthrough Pills.
That reward alone made it all worthwhile.
Before he could finish celebrating, another notification appeared.
[Bonus Reward Granted.]
[For exceeding the quest requirements, you have been rewarded with the Soul Technique: Divine Soul Manifestation Art.]
A look of astonishment flashed across his face.
"A... soul technique?"
Techniques involving the soul were extraordinarily rare.
Yet the system had just rewarded him with one before he had even crossed that threshold.
Just as the notification faded, a faint ripple appeared in the space before Lin Xuan and a book materialized and dropped into his waiting hands.
Lin Xuan merely glanced at the title before closing the book and with a flick of his wrist, the manual disappeared into his spatial ring.
His expression gradually became solemn.
Since the Shangguan family’s messenger had died within the Lin family estate, there was no longer any room for reconciliation.
Soon enough, the Shangguan family would learn of the incident and when that happened, all hell would break loose.
Lin Xuan let out a slow breath.
"Since that’s the case, then there’s no reason to hesitate anymore."
He had originally intended to spend some more time learning about the nascent soul realm from Lin Zhaoyue before attempting the breakthrough.
Now, however, time was no longer on his side.
He had to become stronger, as quickly as possible.
Even so, there was still one matter he needed to settle before entering secluded cultivation.
The cooperation with the Zhao family.
If he suddenly disappeared into seclusion without informing anyone, the monthly exchange of herbs and pills would instantly fall into disorder.
The alliance had only just been established.
He had no intention of allowing it to fall apart because of poor communication.
Thinking of this, Lin Xuan changed direction and walked toward Lin Zhaoyue’s courtyard.
If anyone in the Lin family could handle the arrangements in his absence, it was his daughter.
Besides, she was also the only person capable of maintaining the relationship with the Zhao family.
Of the eight hundred and fifty Pure Quality Qi Refinement Pills he had refined, eight hundred were currently in Lin Zhaoyue’s possession.
After gifting ten pills to the Zhao family as a gesture of goodwill, only forty remained in his own hands.
The Zhao family knew nothing about the true arrangement.
In their eyes, the pills would continue to be delivered by the mysterious alchemy master through the Lin family.
If that supply were to suddenly stop, the trust he had just built would quickly crumble.
That was the last thing Lin Xuan wanted.
At the same time, within the Zhao family’s reception hall, Lin Zhaoyue felt a faint vibration from her spatial ring.
Her expression remained composed as she quietly extended her spiritual sense.
The communication jade talisman inside was reacting and she immediately knew who the sender was.
Looking up, she saw Zhao Luhao and Su Qinglan still engrossed in their discussion regarding future cooperation between the two clans.
Lin Zhaoyue gently rose to her feet.
"Senior Zhao, elder Su."
She gave the two elders a graceful bow.
"My apologies, but I have received an urgent message. If you would excuse me for a moment."
Her voice remained gentle and impeccably polite, leaving neither of the two men with any reason to refuse.
"Of course."
Zhao Luhao smiled warmly.
"Young Miss, please don’t mind us."
Su Qinglan nodded as well.
"We’ll continue discussing the details while you’re away."
Lin Zhaoyue inclined her head once more in thanks before quietly taking her leave from the reception hall.
The doors slowly closed behind her.
Only after she had left did Zhao Luhao let out a small chuckle.
"I still can’t believe she managed to sit there quietly for three straight hours."
His tone was filled with genuine admiration.
Su Qinglan smiled awkwardly.
"Now that you mention it..."
She rubbed her forehead in embarrassment.
"I originally brought the Young Miss here so she could look around the Zhao family estate."
Heaving a helpless sigh, she shook her head.
"Instead, I made her sit through two old people discussing cooperation for three straight hours."
The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she became.
Any eleven-year-old would have long since grown restless or started complaining.
Yet throughout the entire discussion, Lin Zhaoyue had remained quietly seated, never interrupting once.
Su Qinglan could not help but smile bitterly.
"At times... I even forget she’s still a child."
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