The crowd dispersed, and Lin Xiao, along with Ling Hu, Xiao Mao, and Mei Tianmo, were escorted to the guest quarters.
Once inside the room, Lin Xiao took out the black jade bottle, opened the cap, and poured out the pill inside, preparing to heal his injuries.
Upon seeing the smooth, red pill, Lin Xiao was startled, his eyes lighting up, “A fifth-grade intermediate pill, Salmon Scale Pill!”
The Salmon Scale Pill was made primarily from the scales of a salmon, a rare beast with a bull’s body, snake’s tail, and wings. Its scales held immense medicinal power.
When refined into a pill, it could aid in breaking through cultivation realms without any side effects.
This fifth-grade intermediate Salmon Scale Pill could help a mid-tier Martial Venerable break through one cultivation realm.
With his cultivation at the fourth level of Martial Venerable, Lin Xiao could use this pill to attempt a breakthrough.
He hadn’t expected Zi Huang to possess such a rare pill, nor to be so generous as to give it to him so casually.
“Truly worthy of a Martial Emperor!” Lin Xiao marvelled inwardly, feeling a surge of gratitude. For their first meeting, Zi Huang had bestowed such a grand gift, a tremendous favour.
He could also guess why the Salmon Scale Pill’s bottle was black.
Such a precious pill, capable of directly enabling a mid-tier Martial Venerable to break through, given so casually to him, would likely stir discontent among the Zi Clan if they knew.
Though they wouldn’t dare oppose Zi Huang, they would surely have their opinions, especially since he was an outsider.
“What’s a Salmon Scale Pill? What does it do?” Xiao Mao asked curiously from the side. “It’s a pill made from scales that can help me break through one Martial Venerable realm,” Lin Xiao said, already excited. “Xiao Mao, Ling Hu, Mei’er, don’t worry about me. My injuries aren’t severe, and this is the Zi Clan’s territory, so there shouldn’t be any issues. You can return to your rooms. I’m going to refine the Salmon Scale Pill and attempt a breakthrough.”
“Hey, I didn’t expect Zi Huang to be so generous, giving away a pill like that,” Ling Hu said, surprised and chuckling.
Mei Tianmo, standing nearby, was also slightly taken aback, saying, “As expected of a Martial Emperor, casually producing a pill that can directly enable a Martial Venerable breakthrough.”
She then thought to herself, “Once Zi Jinchen gives me those items, I should be able to break through a realm too, right?”
“That old man is really wealthy. One day, we should ask him for some benefits too,” Xiao Mao muttered enviously, then added, “I’ve got some small business to attend to, so I won’t guard you this time.”
“Don’t cause trouble,” Lin Xiao said.
“Don’t worry, I just want to discuss something with Sister Mei’er,” Xiao Mao said with an “innocent” smile.
Lin Xiao nodded. With Mei Tianmo around, Xiao Mao wouldn’t likely cause chaos in the Zi Clan.
Soon, Ling Hu, Xiao Mao, and Mei Tianmo left the room. Lin Xiao sat cross-legged, swallowed the Salmon Scale Pill, and began refining it.
As he refined the pill, he channelled its medicinal power to heal the injuries on his legs.
Meanwhile, in the Zi Clan’s grand hall.
Zi Huang sat on a wooden chair in the main hall, his gaze sweeping over the gathered elders, and he spoke slowly, “How did the news of Zi Ling possessing the Substitute Holy Spirit Vein reach the Ling Sword Sect?”
The group’s expressions grew serious, many glancing directly at Zi Gong.
Seeing no one respond, Zi Huang spoke again, “The matter of Zi Ling’s Substitute Holy Spirit Vein is known only to those present, correct?”
“Clan Leader!” At that moment, a seventh-level Martial Lord elder hurriedly stood, then knelt before the hall, trembling with fear. “Clan Leader, it was my doing. For the long-term development of the clan, I sought to form a marriage alliance with the Ling Sword Sect and connect with Jian Tianjiao, so I secretly passed the information to them.”
Zi Ling frowned, as did the Fourth Elder and others.
“Do you know the crime of leaking clan secrets?” Zi Huang demanded from the main seat, his tone carrying a trace of anger, his authority filling the room.
“I know, but I believed a marriage alliance with the Ling Sword Sect would benefit the clan. I accept my punishment, please judge me, Zi Huang!” the seventh-level Martial Lord elder said.
“You think yourself noble and self-sacrificing, but have you considered that this is merely a foolish notion? One misstep could plunge the entire clan into ruin!” Zi Huang said gravely. “A clan that isn’t united, driven by selfish motives, will eventually decline and perish!”
“You may think the Zi Clan is vast, resource-rich, and deeply rooted, but once a crisis hits, collapse can happen in an instant.”
“Don’t think I’m exaggerating. Without me, how long do you think the Zi Clan could last?”
“And who can guarantee I’ll always be here to protect the Zi Clan?”
“You don’t strive to break through to Martial Emperor, nor do you focus on nurturing the next generation’s talents. Instead, you waste energy fighting for personal gain, tearing each other apart. If one day I meet with an accident or my lifespan ends, how will the Zi Clan survive?”
Zi Huang continued, “And that accident could very well be the Ling Sword Sect you’ve invited!”
The elders’ hearts trembled. They hadn’t considered the severity of the situation. If it truly came to that, even Zi Huang could be at risk.
If Zi Huang fell, they all knew the Jin Clan’s forces would come charging in.
With the Jin Emperor’s intervention, the Zi Clan would be annihilated.
Everyone understood that Zi Huang’s words weren’t just for the seventh-level Martial Lord elder but for all the elders present.
“I was wrong!” the seventh elder kowtowed heavily.
“For your consideration of the clan, cripple your cultivation and retire to live out your days,” Zi Huang said indifferently.
“Thank you, Clan Leader, for your mercy!”
The seventh-level Martial Lord elder channelled his power, striking his dantian with a finger. With a “pfft,” blood spurted, his dantian shattered, and his cultivation was destroyed.
Merely losing his cultivation was already the best outcome.
“I also warn everyone here. If anyone acts recklessly and endangers the clan again, even if it costs the Zi Clan dearly, I won’t show mercy!” Zi Huang’s gaze swept over Zi Gong and the others, his tone resolute.
Zi Gong and the others’ hearts trembled.
Zi Huang’s words were clearly a warning to them.
If they stepped out of line, even if it weakened the Zi Clan, he would eliminate them.
Unlike typical clans where elder councils or united elders could challenge the clan leader, a Martial Emperor’s power far surpassed a Martial Lord’s. Even all the elders combined were no match for a Martial Emperor.
A Martial Emperor could easily eliminate anyone. Though Zi Huang usually stayed out of clan affairs, his authority was unshakable, making him the foundation of the Zi Clan’s existence.
Zi Huang’s words were the Zi Clan’s doctrine.
Their internal struggles were mere squabbles, which Zi Huang could overlook, but if they went too far, he wouldn’t hesitate to intervene.
Clearly, this time, Zi Huang was truly enraged, issuing a warning.
“Zi Ling stays, everyone else, leave,” Zi Huang said, waving his hand. The group nodded and quickly departed. After they left, Zi Ling complained somewhat discontentedly, “Great-Grandfather, this wasn’t just Elder Zi Wei’s doing.”
