Chapter 13 The pitted youngster
"It's okay mother. I'm fine. We were just busy these days and didn't have time to relax. That's all, " the daughter immediately tried to comfort her mother while allowing her mother to look at her carefully.
The other people there also looked carefully at them. It is clear to them that the two have had a hard time. And they know the two were facing the same problem.
The two were posted to different place outside. But their positions were still within the same star territory and the position were relatively close.
The area they were in, was one of the Lin Clan's most important area of operation. In that area there were dozens of local bases, spanning several Sol System.
This gives them the advantage of being able to support and help one another should the need arises.
And they could also request help from nearby Lin Clan's bases.
However, the issue they faced this time no longer the simple issue of managing local influence nor resources. It concerns core strategic planning of the whole Lin Clan's future.
"How was it? Does the problem could be solved?" Sir Frank who had been remaining silent all this time asked.
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Relatively speaking, Sir Frank has a much higher position to any of them. In terms of disciple generation, he was in the same generation as the old ancestor, Lin Gaoming, who was standing beside the grandfather.
Lin Gaoming was his Junior Apprentice brother.
Sir Frank only came back to Earth when his master gives him duties or when there's a spirit beast that had grown up and need to forge Beast Contract.
They called him Sir Frank because he has reach Exalted Venerable rank among Spiritual Cultivators. He helps his master to watch over and tame the spirit beasts. With his strong spiritual and mental strength, he can easily communicate with the spirit beasts under the care of the beast courtyard.
However, to those who are familiar with him, he prefers to be known and called as Uncle Frank.
This is because he feels that his age is still young and calling him grandfather makes him look too old while calling him Sir seems too formal.
If truth be told, the teenager should have called him Great Granduncle!
The young man who takes care of the beast courtyard, Lin Zheng, is his grandnephew.
This is because Lin Zheng is the grandson of Lin Gaoming. But under normal situation, Lin Zheng would call him Master because he had become one of his grandfather's disciples. Among cultivators, master and disciple relationship is more significant that blood relationship.
On the other hand, Lin Gaoming not only was several years younger compared to Sir Frank, but his aptitude was also not magnificent. Coupled with the fact that he regularly returns back to Earth, even with Lin Clan's resources as his support, he was still in middle stage of Shedding Mortality Realm.
His age would be reaching 254 soon. As a Venerable Body Physique cultivator, given his age and aptitude, his achievement could be said as general at most.
Previously he was planning to start his retreat and begin attacking the late stage of Shedding Mortality Realm. But had to interrupt his plan after receiving a duty from the Lin Clan's elders. The duty was to manage the next several years general situation.
And after he was busy for just several days, he received news from his master that he and Sir Frank needs to return to Earth to handle a few matters. One of them was preparing his great grandson's coming-of-age ceremony.
Yes, that teenager was his great grandson.
Coinciding with his duty details that he received, he knows the clan higher levels had put great importance to the current young generation, especially this great grandson of his.
The two who had just come back were also his great grandchildren. However due to the great distance between his place and the place the two were sent, they rarely met.
"Uncle Frank. This time the problem might be slightly troublesome and difficult. Until now we still couldn't find a stable source for the Clear Fire Lotus."
This time it was the brother who answered. His appearance and weariness on his expression clearly showed how helpless he is to solve the problem.
"Well try your best. The output of Clear Fire Lotus from our own several garden might not be enough to secure and stabilize our position in the next Pathfinder Ceremony," Sir Frank said.
It seems that they could only try their best to find alternative solution and leave the rest to destiny.
"Yes. It's our, these old men's mistakes for not being careful and losing our own several Clear Fire Lotus plantations. So, we don't want to put too much trouble on the younger generation," Lin Gaoming said.
"Anyway, try your best. The clan elders had mentioned that the next Pathfinder Ceremony is beginning soon. We need sufficient supply of Clear Fire Lotus to improve our Clan's overall strength," Sir Frank continues to encourage.
"And... sigh."
Here, Sir Frank stopped his words. He had a troubling look on his face.
At this point all people beside the Lin Gaoming looked to Sir Frank, wanting to know some further news and stories. Afterall they as younger generations, the news channels were eventually limited.
"The Lin Clan's Partriach and elders had received notification from the Founding Ancestor. He was told that the other side already give an ultimatum. We're running out of time." It was the Lin Gaoming who helped Sir Frank to explain.
"This next Pathfinder Ceremony cannot be like those of former ones. The inheritors must safely ascend to their position as soon as possible. And to do this our role as caretaker is important."
"Moreover, when the ceremony begins, the various inheritance palaces should receive the Gold Level Jurisdiction clearance," this time it was Sir Frank who continued Lin Gaoming words.
"Gold Level Jurisdiction?" now even the old grandfather was surprised to hear his father's and Sir Frank's words.
He still remembered that decades ago, Lin Gaoming had once told him that the Pathfinder Ceremony had been held countless times.
And since the founding of the Lin Clan, the later generations have only had the opportunity to attend ceremonies with Broze Level Jurisdiction clearance.
It was said that during Founding Ancestor's time, he had participated the ceremony too. At that time the various palaces were given Silver Level Jurisdiction.
These jurisdictions were the level of authority the various inheritance palaces were allowed to be activate.
For inheritor candidates the purpose of participating in the ceremony was to successfully ascend and inherit the various palaces
However, for most other cultivators, participation in the ceremony was to gain resources. And the most direct viewing impact of these jurisdictions was that it reflects resources distribution. Higher jurisdiction meant richer resources.
The last Silver level ceremony had allowed Lin Clan to be established, prosper and proliferate the whole star territory. The clan had even started to expand its influence on nearby star territory.
Thus, one can imagine how much resources the participants of the Gold level ceremony may receive. This way Lin Clan may easily gain foothold in other star territory, or even the whole star region!
Everyone presents were surprised to hear the news while the two younger generation were confused.
Seeing the excited faces of the people, the two oldest people immediately pour cold water on them.
"Don't imagine any ambitious thing. Especially any stupid idea like expanding influence. The Gold level ceremony is a disaster and Lin Clan might even need to contract its influence because of this."
"Since receiving the news, various sect and clans are now in panic. Even the Dragon Clan from neighboring star territory had send an elder to come and discuss with the patriarch."