Chapter 2400 - War of Words
The first course of action was to move Tianming, as the other side had already been alerted. The few days before the discovery had actually been the most dangerous period.
“Fortunately, we didn’t run everywhere because we got two and a half million merit points.” Feiling still felt lingering fear. She remembered trying to convince Tianming to bring her to the Myriadsword Emporium for some shopping.
“Fortunately, you were too lovely. I had to indulge in pleasure, thus keeping my life…” Tianming said.
“Annoying!” Feiling angrily pinched his arm. How could he be so loud when so many seniors were around!
“We’re leaving once you’re all packed.” Five seniors would escort him to the council hall in an ether-cla.s.s astrals.h.i.+p. On the way there, the enemy wouldn’t dare to make a move.
Tianming used to lack the qualification to enter the council hall, but now was a special time.
“There’s a few empty halls in the back of the council hall. Take up temporary residence there, but take care not to be too noisy and disturb the seniors’ rest. The reformists come there often so don’t give them opportunities,” Lin Changkong instructed.
“Understood, Uncle Changkong.” Tianming nodded.
“It’s fine, I’ll watch them. They won’t be allowed to take a single step out,” Dongshen Yue said.
“Don’t go to the Caeli Vault or the Swordsoul Purgatory for the next month. If you really need to go out, let me know first,” Lin Xiao said.
“You’re too long-winded!” Dongshen Yue glared.
“Brother Tiger’s just worried,” Lin Xiong laughed.
“Go handle your matters,” Dongshen Yue urged.
Lin Xiao and the rest looked at each other, delegating tasks before leaving. “Let’s go.”
“Grandfather!” Tianming shouted toward them.
“What?”
“All of you take a bug each, so I can immediately tell you if something happens. It’s faster than a transmission stone.”
“Alright.” They each picked up one Yin Chen. Even with all their experience, they were still curious about it.
“Also, Tianxi may not act against you, but that alien monster might. You’re all in his way. Be careful and don’t be alone,” Tianming said.
“Us?” The four hadn’t considered that.
“Feng’er’s right. We should be prepared as well.”
“In our own territory, huh…. Prepare to use astrals.h.i.+ps at any time!” Lin Changkong said.
“Yes.”
After they left, Tianming and the rest settled down. Dongshen Yue took him aside and pulled his ear. “Be a little more quiet here and treat them all equally!”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Tianming was sweating. It was the council hall, how could he have the mood to play around there?
“Although you can’t go to the Caeli Vault, you all still have to cultivate. Don’t slack off—becoming an astral G.o.d is your biggest goal now,” Dongshen Yue instructed.
Fortunately, Xiaoxiao was still slowly munching her way through her bee-headed people caeli, while Tianming had enough resources to tide him over. The council hall’s formation was secure, so Dongshen Yue rested in the front while Tianming cultivated with the rest in the back. He had a feeling his coming days would be monotonous.
“My original plan was to go for astral G.o.d in the Caeli Vault, then to the Swordsoul Purgatory to train the Grandvoid Compendium and Xiaozhi Sword Art. Finally, I would go to the Myriadsword Emporium to spend my money. But my plans went poof.”
The guidance from the bee-headed people was surely worse than what was offered by reges mundi caeli that were at the Foundation level.
“Can’t rush cultivation in the end. You have to learn to endure solitude,” Xiaoxiao said.
“You don’t deserve to say that. Shoo!” Xiaoxiao only needed to eat, so it didn’t matter where she was.
The three ladies quickly settled down, enjoying each others’ company while Tianming could only wait for Yin Chen to give him news.
……
After half a day, Lin Xiao and the rest managed to complete their next steps.
First, Tianxi was invited to the Lin Clan as a guest and the news was spread far and wide. Second, they announced that Lin Jianxing’s body had been possessed by an alien monster and was currently hidden in the Infinitum Swordsea. Third, Lin Jie, Lin Yun, and the rest were asked to urgently convene at the council hall!
They had done the first and second steps before the third. They were done by the time Lin Jie and the rest arrived.
“We didn’t announce Tianxi and the alien monster working together to a.s.sa.s.sinate me so that we don’t shed all pretense of cordiality with the ebons and both sides have room to step back. If Tianxi still tries forcing things, Grandpa and the rest will just stop holding back. The invitation is a chance for the ebons to de-escalate. I do hope they take it,” Tianming mused. As he expected, the news of the alien monster had shaken the entire Infinitum Swordsea before spreading to the rest of Ebonia. It was an unimaginable concept, but Lin Xiao and the rest had announced it with the prestige of the council hall backing them.
They also enforced martial law in the clan, activating tens of thousands of formations and making the Infinitum Swordsea enter a battle-ready state. Even though it involved Lin Yun’s grandson, it had all been done without any of Lin Jie or the rest’s input.
The seven reformists naturally hurried to the council hall, where Lin Xiao and his group of eight were waiting for them.
The Firmament had already set out for Gladeus by then, as well.
Fierce arguments broke out in the council hall. Tianming could hear it clearly from his hall. Lin Yun was the loudest, not believing the accusation.
“Find Lin Jianxing if you doubt it. A careful inspection will easily reveal what he is now. Let me also remind you that everyone saw his heptastar organs being destroyed and he died in public view,” Lin Changkong sternly said.
“Then how did I not notice it after interacting with him so many times after he returned?” Lin Yun was furious.
“That’s what I should be asking you! How did you not notice?” Lin Xiong mocked.
“Uncle Lin Yun, just try finding him. Won’t it be obvious if you can’t find him?” Lin Changkong said.
“And what if you all killed him before spreading your lies? Wouldn’t it make sense for us seven council members to be kept in the dark?” Lin Yun’s eyes were so wide they seemed on the verge of popping out.
“It was urgent. The rules were adhered to, and eight people agreed with the motion,” Lin Xiao said. That was enough to shut Lin Yun up.
“Uncle Sun, we understand your love for your grandson. But he’s already pa.s.sed on, while a monster from the ancestral world is now toying with his corpse. If you really want your grandson to find peace, you need to calm down. That monster wishes for a rain of blood within the Infinitum Swordsea. He’s our mutual enemy,” Lin Chongyao, the first branch master, gently said.
Lin Yun clenched his fists and coldly snorted before sitting down on a wooden chair.
Lin Jie was silent for a while before looking at Lin Xiao. “Second Patriarch, I want to know how you managed to eavesdrop on them. Tianxi and an alien monster aren’t existences who would easily make missteps. If these are baseless accusations that you used to make such large decisions, I think there’s a problem.”
“It’s a special ability I spent years developing as a trump card. I can’t give you the details, but I’ll use my ident.i.ty as a council hall member to guarantee it,” Lin Xiao said, obviously not willing to expose Yin Chen to Lin Jie.
“The second patriarch’s ability? Your ident.i.ty as a council hall member as a guarantee?” Lin Jie mulled over the words. “And what if it all turns out to be your fanciful imagination?”
“Simple: I’ll show myself out again.” Lin Xiao smiled.