Chapter 59: That’s your uncle!
They walked slowly and finally arrived at the main hall of the Lin Family courtyard.
Gu Ningxin and Lin Mo sat facing each other.
“Mo’er, how was your day at the sect?”
“Have you been cultivating diligently?”
“Have you been eating properly?”
“Have you been resting well?”
…
A string of questions left Lin Mo unsure of where to begin answering.
However, Gu Ningxin’s concern for him was genuine.
“I’m doing very well,” Lin Mo said softly.
“It’s good that you’re doing well,” Gu Ningxin smiled slightly, her eyes full of affection.
Gu Ningxin was a mortal, in her early forties.
Even though Lin Zhan had given her youth-preserving pills, she still looked older than female cultivators of the same age.
“I brought you in so hastily just now, I haven’t had a proper look at you yet.”
Gu Ningxin walked around Lin Mo in a circle, observing him carefully, and exclaimed, “You’ve certainly grown up and started dressing yourself up.”
She knew her child had always been frugal and didn’t care much for dressing up.
But compared to the simple white robes from a few years ago when he returned, Gu Ningxin preferred Lin Mo to be better dressed.
She nudged Lin Mo’s arm lightly with her elbow and chuckled, “Mo’er, you must have many young ladies around you now, right?”
“That girl from the Chu Clan is indeed excellent. Now that she’s joined the Ice Palace, she’s soaring to new heights.”
“Be careful, don’t get caught being ambiguous with other girls!”
“A man…”
As she spoke, Gu Ningxin gave a knowing look.
“Mother, let’s talk about important matters first,” Lin Mo said, smiling wryly. He never expected his mother to have such a playful and cute side.
“Tomorrow is Grandfather’s 500th birthday. Why don’t I see Father and the elders of the clan?”
“Recently, some noble families have discovered the Demon Beast Secret Realm. In a while, the major families in the vicinity will select their leading disciples to venture into the secret realm for training. They are all in the conference hall discussing matters within the clan.” Gu Ningxin explained.
Although the secret realm was fraught with dangers, it often came with many special opportunities and inheritances.
If someone obtained an inheritance there, they could soar to great heights with an immeasurable future.
It was only natural for the Lin Family to place such importance on it.
“Mo’er, why do you look so uninterested?”
Generally, secret realms had age and cultivation level restrictions.
Most secret realms had an age limit of under twenty years old.
Lin Mo naturally knew this and said with a smile, “It’s an opportunity for the younger generation. How could I possibly participate?”
“You’re used to being the senior disciple on Azure Bamboo Peak, aren’t you? You’re also part of the younger generation!” Gu Ningxin lightly tapped Lin Mo’s forehead.
“This time, the secret realm’s limit is set at under thirty years old, and only cultivators who haven’t surpassed the Core Formation stage can enter.”
Lin Mo was somewhat surprised. Were they being that lenient?
But the difficulty of this secret realm was also extraordinary.
“After the meeting ends, I’ll have your father request a spot for you to enter the secret realm.”
“We’ll see,” Lin Mo said with a faint smile.
“How can we ‘see’!” Gu Ningxin tapped Lin Mo’s forehead again. “You are also a member of the Lin Family. You’re my only child, and I’m counting on you to soar to new heights in the secret realm, so I can enjoy a good life by your side.”
Gu Ningxin clearly meant this in jest.
Lin Mo, of course, understood and teased, “Whether I go to the secret realm or not, I can still provide you with such a life, Mother.”
What parents in the world didn’t wish for themselves to live well and want their children to be by their side?
Gu Ningxin’s heart ached slightly as she thought about the reason Lin Mo had voluntarily joined the Azure Spirit Sect, but she still smiled. “Indeed. The greatest fortune of my life was meeting your father and giving birth to such an outstanding child as you.”
Just then, Lin Qingqing entered with a man.
“Cousin, when did you return?” The man first greeted Gu Ningxin, then walked up to Lin Mo with a look of joy, patting his shoulder. “It’s been a few years, you’ve become even more handsome!”
This was Lin Mo’s cousin, Lin Changqiang, who was twenty years older than him and from a collateral branch five generations removed.
“Qingqing, still not greeting your uncle!”
Lin Qingqing walked up to Lin Mo, her face blushing slightly, but she still followed her father’s words and greeted him, “Hello, Little Uncle!”
Lin Mo vaguely recalled the family relationships.
The father of his cousin Lin Changqiang here was born relatively late.
Lin Mo still had several cousins who were over a hundred years old.
This made him sigh, truly worthy of being the cultivation world, it’s quite chaotic.
After greeting him, Lin Qingqing secretly watched Lin Mo from behind Lin Changqiang.
Lin Mo naturally noticed this, but he didn’t mind. Instead, he asked Lin Changqiang with confusion, “Cousin Changqiang, why aren’t you participating in the Lin Family meeting?”
“My seniority and aptitude are nowhere near enough!” Lin Changqiang smiled helplessly. “Only my father’s generation and a few brothers in the Core Formation stage can participate in this meeting.”
His aptitude was only Triple Spirit Root, and he hadn’t received much from the Lin Family’s resources since birth.
Now in his forties, his cultivation was still at the late Foundation stage.
“Thanks to the Qi Nurturing Pill that cousin Lin Mo brought back a few years ago, I was able to break through to the late Foundation stage in the past two years,” Lin Changqiang said gratefully, but then looked at Lin Mo with confusion.
“Cousin, I can’t see through you now. Have you already reached Core Formation?”
Lin Mo nodded. “I just broke through a while ago!”
Lin Changqiang exclaimed, “Golden Core at twenty-five years old, as expected of Uncle Lin Zhan’s child. I’m sure Grandfather will be overjoyed to hear this news.”
Gu Ningxin, who was a mortal, couldn’t sense Lin Mo’s cultivation level.
Upon hearing this, she too looked overjoyed.
At this moment, conversations could be heard from outside the door:
“Lin Tian, didn’t I hear that your grandfather asked you to go to White Emperor City a few days ago to buy a gift for your great-grandfather?”
“Don’t mention it, I had my eyes on a very good quality Crucible, but some brat outbid me and bought it.”
“You didn’t use your Lin Family’s name?”
“Speaking of which, it makes me angry. Didn’t I declare my identity? The kid’s price went up even higher when he heard I was from the Lin Family.”
“What? There’s someone who doesn’t take our Lin Family seriously?”
“Indeed. If I ever see that brat again, I’ll break his legs.”
Lin Tian was truly exasperated.
His grandfather had asked him to go to the Treasure Pavilion auction to buy a gift for his great-grandfather, which would then be used to secure a spot in the Demon Beast Secret Realm.
Failing to complete the task led to him being severely reprimanded by his father and grandfather.
At this moment, he also harbored deep hatred for the brat who bought the Star Fire Purple Copper Crucible.
As he set foot in the main hall, he noticed Lin Mo sitting inside, drinking tea.
He initially thought he was seeing things and rubbed his eyes.
Upon realizing he wasn’t mistaken, a rush of anger surged to his head, and he couldn’t even think about why Lin Mo would be at the Lin Family’s residence.
He pointed at Lin Mo and shouted, “Brothers, it’s him! Watch me break his legs.”
Lin Mo also recognized Lin Tian, who was rolling up his sleeves and charging at him.
Before Lin Mo could make a move, Lin Changqiang had already kicked Lin Tian. “You little punk, you’ve grown bold enough to attack your uncle?”
Lin Tian, rolling on the ground awkwardly, looked utterly bewildered. “What? Uncle?”
…
