The floor of the Ling Yuan family's ancestral hall is made up of black stone, and the ceiling is held up by a total of 12 pillars. Carved onto each pillar is one of the 12 zodiacs.
Situated at the far back of the hall, on top of an elevated platform made up of nine steps, a throne—crafted from dark wood, resides there.
Placed onto the throne is a spirit tablet with the name "Ling Yuan Zi" etched onto it.
Running from the elevated platform to the ends of the hall is a golden rug, and to the sides of this rug are exquisitely crafted chairs.
These seats are reserved mainly for the various bloodline branches' heads, and at this time, all of them are occupied.
Standing behind these seats are the noteworthy clansmen of the various bloodline branches, and among the more distinguished individuals in these crowds—
"…!"
Xia Chen Hai's complexion turns pale.
The moment he returned to the Ling Yuan family's estate, he had taken some medicinal pills to mend his injuries, so that he would be able to make a report to the other elders.
(The seal on my storage pouch was removed? Th-This is…-? This is far too fast…!)
Noticing Xia Chen Hai's unusual complexion, one of the elders asks—
"Is something the matter, Elder Xia?"
The one who had asked this is named Qīng Wǔfēng, and he is the head of the Qing family bloodline branch.
Attire wise, Qing Wufeng is dressed in black robes over a white layer. The outer robe is decorated with white mountain patterns.
Turning to the white-haired and blue-eyed Qing Wufeng, who isn't exactly pleased to find out that Qing Ming Yang had been injured, Xia Chen Hai answers—
"The seal on my storage pouch, it was just broken…"
Answering as such, Xia Chen Hai thought—
(Ai, not like there was anything of value in that pouch. Although that egg was somewhat odd, I don't think it was anything extraordinary.)
As Xia Chen Hai thought of this, discussions broke out from the sidelines.
Xia Chen Hai's cultivation base is in the Immortal realm; specifically, he is what the Everlasting Spirit Realm would consider to be an Earth Immortal, an Immortal realm practitioner, who possesses one to three essences.
And for a seal created by him to be broken so quickly—
"…Seems like this situation is much more severe than what we had originally expected."
Muttering this is a man with red hair and red eyes. His name is Xià Liè Yáng, the head of the Xia family bloodline branch.
Attire wise, Xia Lie Yang is dressed in black robes over a red layer.
Outside of the Ling Yuan family, Xia Lie Yang is better known by his Daoist name, Lie Yang Zi.
Five decades ago, Xia Lie Yang had been the one to conduct a test on the Leng Bing Realm by sending a Nascent Soul realm clone into it. That same clone was later killed by Zhou Chen.
"…"
With his purpose of providing an explanation fulfilled, Xia Chen Hai takes a few steps back, and rejoins his clansmen of the same bloodline branch to stand behind Xia Lie Yang.
"Everyone, we can only send in two Immortal realm practitioners to deal with this supposed foreign realm deity, hence—who do we pick?"
The one to raise this topic is Lín Jìng Yún, who is the father of Lin Yu Heng, and is currently serving as a stand-in for Lin Han—who is the actual head of the Lin family bloodline branch.
Attire wise, Lin Jing Yun is dressed in purple robes over a white layer with a dark red sash. Due to his emotions being unstable his robes would flutter about wildly.
"Elder Lin, compose yourself. I kno-"
"Move on."
Instead of wasting his time with these old fogeys, Lin Jing Yun is much more interested in checking in on the status of his wounded son.
"I agree with Elder Lin's wants to discuss who to send in."
"Hahaha, I'll be blunt to voluntary myself for the task."
"I wouldn't mind being the second person to head in."
Rather quickly, discussions broke out—focused on this topic.
Everyone present knows that if they are given this opportunity to enter the Leng Bing Realm, they may conduct a miniature harvest. The spoils gained from this would serve to strengthen their individual bloodline branches greatly.
"Why should your branch get to have a go at this?"
"I say, we settle this with a small contest!"
"We don't have the time for that, you old brute!"
As the discussions turn heated—
"Silence!"
"…"
"…"
At the command of an elderly figure—who is dressed in gold-colored robes over a white layer and black sash, all turns quiet.
"…"
The name of this gold-eyed elder is Sū Qiān Máng; and he is one of the few Quasi-Heaven Manifestation realm practitioners within the Everlasting Spirit Realm.
"Instead of sending two Immortal realm practitioners, I say—we send in one."
"But-"
"Naturally, we shall have them be accompanied by the clansmen of the various bloodline branches. The elder who shall be leading this group, they must swear a Dao oath to not take part in the harvesting process. They are only there to kill this supposed deity."
Hearing Su Qian Mang's reasonable suggestions, not a single person said another word, until—
"Elder Su, may I be the one to lead this group?"
The one to request this is Xia Lie Yang, who continues to add—
"Five decades ago, I was also the one to have tested the current Leng Bing Realm's strength."
"Lie Yang Zi, you mean to say that because you have first-hand experience, you can gauge the realm's current strength better, is that it?"
"Are you sure you're not just attempting to exploit a good opportunity?"
Seeing everyone breaking off into a tension-filled discussion again, Su Qian Mang inwardly shakes his head.
If these bloodline branches continue to hold blades to each other's throats like this, the future of the Ling Yuan family—it may as well be nonexistent.