Only then did Old Man Ye breathe a sigh of relief. Looking at Ye Qin Chu, he said, “Although the clan has few people now, the number of cultivators will gradually increase in the future.”
“We should also establish some rules. Third, you have studied for many years, so I’ll leave this matter to you.”
Ye Qin Chu nodded and immediately said with a smile, “Rest assured, Father. I will establish the clan rules within three days.”
Old Man Ye nodded, only then remembering something else. His face suddenly turned livid as he said, “The Lin Family has truly gone too far.”
Hearing this, everyone revealed a trace of doubt.
Ye Qin Xin could not help feeling puzzled. She then spoke up and asked, “Father, could your injury have been caused by the Lin Family?”
“That Lin Family Ancestor deliberately held back some of his means. Otherwise, how could we have been injured by the poisonous fog?”
Old Man Ye took a deep breath and informed everyone of the cause and effect of the matter.
It turned out that during this battle, not only had the Lin Clan’s Late Qi Refining Ancestor come out of seclusion, but all three Qi Refining Mid-stage Elders had also been mobilized.
In addition, they had invited the other six Qi Refining Mid-stage cultivators of the Star Lake Seven Islands, including Old Man Ye.
When the Combat began, everything went quite smoothly. They quickly surrounded and killed seven or eight Early Qi Refining Purple Scaled Snakes, along with two Mid Qi Refining Purple Scaled Demonic Snakes.
However, the Late Qi Refining Purple Scaled Demonic Snake fought like a trapped beast. Facing everyone’s siege, it did not hesitate to detonate its venom sac and fight desperately.
Originally, with the Lin Clan Ancestor blocking the front, they could have surrounded and killed the Purple Scaled Demonic Snake without paying too great a Price.
Yet at this critical moment, when the severely injured Purple Scaled Demonic Snake made a desperate final attack, the Lin Clan Ancestor was afraid of being injured and actually avoided the battle.
Seeing an opportunity, the Purple Scaled Demonic Snake attacked the weak point, resulting in three Mid Qi Refining cultivators, including Old Man Ye, being injured by the poisonous fog.
Later, the Lin Family Ancestor killed the Purple Scaled Demonic Snake. By Reason, according to their prior agreement, he should have given Old Man Ye and the others one Spirit Stone each.
However, the Lin Clan claimed that they did not have enough Spirit Stones on hand and agreed to deliver the Spirit Stones three months later.
“Bang—”
Hearing this, Ye Qinyang angrily slammed the table and could not help roaring, “The Lin Clan’s annual income is more than ten times ours! How could they be unable to produce a few Spirit Stones?”
“Father, they are deliberately waiting for you to die.”
“This Old Man naturally understood.”
Old Man Ye also revealed a gloomy expression, with unwillingness and hatred showing in his eyes.
If they had received the agreed-upon Spirit Stone, they could have purchased Detoxification Pills and would not have had to drag their Injuries back to await death.
As for Ye Linyuan, he remained exceptionally calm, as though he had already expected this.
He understood the ways of these great clans too well. The greatest rule of the Cultivation World was the Fist: big fish ate small fish, the strong bullied the weak, and Big bully small. In his Previous Life, he had long since become accustomed to such things.
To the Lin Family, once Old Man Ye—the clan’s pillar—died, they could simply pocket this Spirit Stone.
After all, the remaining Early Qi Refining cultivators of the Ye Clan could not pose any Threat to the Lin Clan.
After Old Man Ye’s death, they could use the opportunity to swallow up the Ye Clan, or secretly sell the Ye Family’s Spirit Vein to wealthy Qi Refining Rogue Cultivators.
It could be said that once Old Man Ye passed away, the entire Ye Clan would become meat on their chopping block, and they could dispose of it With Ease.
Ye Linyuan had reason to suspect that the poisoning of Old Man Ye and the other two this time was very likely a Scheme deliberately arranged by the Lin Family Ancestor.
After all, the three people poisoned this time were all Sixth Level of Qi Refining cultivators, the ones most likely to pose a Threat to the Lin Clan.
Moreover, this possibility was not low. Based on Ye Linyuan’s understanding of the cruelty of the Cultivation World, he estimated that there was at least an eighty percent chance.
“Three major threats dead, three Spirit Stones saved, more than a dozen Purple Scaled Demonic Snakes killed, and a High-grade Spirit Eye obtained. What a vicious Scheme by the Lin Family.”
Ye Linyuan Murmured in heart, unable to help feeling somewhat disgusted.
After this great battle, with the occupied High-grade Spirit Eye included, the Lin Family’s Harvest would certainly be no less than one hundred Spirit Stones.
Yet despite obtaining such a great Harvest, they were unwilling to give even three Spirit Stones, and had even Schemed to kill three Mid Qi Refining cultivators, including Old Man Ye. Their Means were far too vicious.
Of course, although the Lin Clan had taken every advantage by doing this, it would also bring them a tremendous Hidden danger.
Cultivators had character, and Clans had family traditions. With the Lin Clan’s family tradition so corrupt, whenever they wished to ask others for Assistance In The Future, they would inevitably be refused.
Moreover, once they declined, the Lin Family would certainly be attacked by Everyone, like a collapsing wall, and might be completely destroyed in a single breath.
Ye Linyuan had lived for nearly eight hundred years in his Previous Life and had witnessed the rise and fall of forces in the Mortal Realm, including many vicious Clans like the Lin Clan.
Such Clans shared one common trait: they had to maintain their peak Strength or Advance To Become an even more Powerful force. Otherwise, the moment they weakened even slightly, they would be completely destroyed, with no opportunity to Make a comeback.
Instead, those who conducted themselves with somewhat greater gentleness had fewer enemies in comparison. When they declined, they could often rely on the Connections and goodwill left behind by their Clan to ensure its survival, leaving them a chance to Make a comeback In The Future.
“Father, we cannot let this matter end like this.”
After understanding the Cause and Effect, Ye Qin Xin could not help trembling with anger.
Old Man Ye also nodded, but gave a Helpless bitter smile and said, “The Lin Family has already done what it did. At this point, relying solely on This Old Man’s Strength, I may not be able to reclaim that Spirit Stone.”
“Moreover, I have already investigated clearly. The additional ten Broken Spirit Stones in Taxes this year were merely an excuse the Lin Family deliberately used to force This Old Man to Make a move.”
Ye Linyuan Pondered slightly, then Spoke, “Relying Solely On your strength, you may not be able to get it back.”
“But if the Injuries of the two Mid Qi Refining cultivators from the Zhang and Qian Clans Recover, and the three of you demand it together, reclaiming the Spirit Stone should not be difficult.”
“That makes sense.”
Old Man Ye nodded. Zhang Daoyang of the Zhang Clan, Qian Boran of the Qian Clan, and Ye Tianke—he himself—all three were Mid Qi Refining Perfection cultivators at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining.
With the three of them joining forces, they would have the Strength to fight the Late Qi Refining Lin Family Ancestor. The Lin Clan certainly would not turn against them over a mere three Spirit Stones.
Understanding this, Old Man Ye stroked his beard and said, “If the three of us join forces, we can indeed fight the Lin Family.”
Ye Qin Chu, who looked like a scholar, waved his folding fan and then Spoke, “The Lin Family’s vicious Means this time will inevitably make the remaining three Clans Dread them.”
“We can contact them and pressure the Lin Family together. I imagine these three Clans certainly will not refuse our proposal.”
“Good idea.”
Old Man Ye nodded, then exchanged glances with Ye Linyuan.
Ye Linyuan understood and Spoke, “Everyone, Uncles and Elder Brothers, wait here for a moment. I’ll be right back.”
Soon after, he made another trip to the Cave Spirit Vein and brought back two Snake Saliva Flowers, handing them to Old Man Ye.