Family Reunion

"At this time of family reunions, bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new."

"We extend our greetings to people of all ethnic groups throughout the country."

"A message to our compatriots overseas, to all the Children of Zhendan around the world."

Happy Chinese New Year!

On New Year's Eve's Eve, several well-known hosts greeted the people of the whole country on a magnificent and festive stage, and the Spring Festival Gala with distinctive Zhendan characteristics also began.

Outside, the sounds of firecrackers rose and fell, making many foreigners who were new to Zhendan feel uneasy. Inside, the families were filled with laughter and joy.

At this moment, Luo Jun was sitting on the sofa in Old Yuan's house, surrounded by various relatives of his Master.

At the age of 100, Old Yuan has more than just one daughter, Dean Su. In addition, he has many nephews and nieces. With so many grandchildren and relatives, the originally spacious villa now feels somewhat crowded.

Having spent several Lunar New Years alone, Luo Jun, despite his many experiences, couldn't help but feel somewhat flustered when suddenly faced with this situation.

Of course, Old Yuan couldn't say that Luo Jun was his direct disciple; he could only say that Luo Jun was a distant relative, of the same generation as Su Manchen.

This is quite remarkable. Among Old Yuan's children, Dean Su is over sixty years old and the youngest. Her older brothers and sisters have all passed away. Luo Jun is of the same generation as her, and the dozens of people in that room are all his juniors.

Therefore, when Luo Jun first arrived, everyone kept their distance from him to some extent. However, after a New Year's Eve dinner, they grew closer to each other, and the younger generation began to act "disrespectfully."

"So, you're related to Grandmother Su?" a middle-aged man in his fifties asked. His name was Yuan Sizhe, and he was Old Yuan's grandson.

"Yes..." Luo Jun nodded. The so-called Grandmother Su was Dean Su's mother, not Old Yuan's first wife. Old Yuan's first wife had died during an exploration of another world. Old Yuan later met Su Manchen's mother, married her, and had Su Manchen. However, they divorced for various reasons, and the young Su Manchen left with her mother, changing her surname to Su and severing ties with Old Yuan. It wasn't until many years later, when she too entered the extraordinary world and became the dean, that she reunited with Old Yuan through work...

The process of the two recognizing each other is enough to make a multi-episode family drama, so I won't go into details here. In short, after all these years, Dean Su has tentatively accepted this biological father, and their relationship is not as distant as it used to be. However, because of his childhood experiences, he still feels somewhat awkward getting along with Old Yuan, and even during the Chinese New Year, he is unwilling to come to the house, at most making a phone call or sending a text message.

"That's rare..." Yuan Sizhe stroked his chin. "Grandmother Su's relatives all see Grandpa as an enemy..."

"Oh, I'm just a distant relative... we're practically unrelated by blood, and we haven't been in touch for years," Luo Jun said, reciting the self-introduction he'd prepared with Old Yuan. "If it weren't for my admission to the Ningdong Academy this time, which led to an investigation into my family background, Old Yuan wouldn't have known we were even remotely related..."

"Wow, back in the day, I took the exam for several years, but I never passed. I got scolded by my grandfather a lot..." Yuan Sizhe sighed endlessly as he recalled the past.

"That's because you're too stupid," said a woman in her forties standing nearby. "I passed the exam in just one year!" Her name was Yuan Sijia, the granddaughter of Old Yuan and the cousin of Yuan Sizhe.

"What's the point of you getting in? You'll just end up doing clerical work after graduation," Yuan Sizhe said with a sneer. "At least I was an explorer for several years."

"Can't I ask for stability?" Yuan Sijia retorted. "Besides, don't bring up those years you spent as an explorer. You were almost killed by the Polluter, and it was your uncle who went to the [Martial World] to save you!"

"Speaking of which, how are Little Luo's grades this year? What class will he be in next semester?" A man in his thirties asked from the other side. His name was Yuan Wei'en, and he was the great-grandson of Old Yuan.

The final exams at the Ningdong Academy are actually the placement exams for the next semester. Based on the grades and performance, students will be assigned to different classes for the following semester.

"I'll be in Class A next semester," Luo Jun answered honestly.

"Wow, a top student!"

"That's amazing!"

"I heard you've only been using Vitality for less than a year, right?"

"This is another rising star."

A chorus of praise arose from the crowd. A young woman of about twenty-five or twenty-six years old said, "I was also in Class A back then, why didn't you praise me like this..." Her name was Yuan Weiyi, and she was Yuan Wei'en's younger sister.

"You?" Yuan Wei'en curled his lip and said, "Don't you even think about how many resources your parents invested in raising you? They went to great lengths to get you to the fourth level of the Foundation Establishment Realm before you even entered school. If you still can't get into Class A, you should apologize to your great-grandfather!"

Hearing him say that, the whole family burst into laughter.

"If you ask me, the most successful person in our family over the past twenty years has to be Xiao Min," Yuan Sizhe said with a smile.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Hearing him say that, the others echoed, all turning their attention to a little girl wearing glasses who was reading a book in the corner.

Noticing everyone's gaze, the girl looked up, glanced around somewhat blankly, then lowered her head again, burying herself in the sea of knowledge.

This girl's name is Yuan Lingmin. She is only sixteen years old and is the great-granddaughter of Old Yuan. However, judging from her dazed and confused appearance, she doesn't seem to fit the name "Lingmin" at all.

However, Luo Jun dared not underestimate her because of this. Cultivators generally have no problems with their eyesight, and the glasses they wear, unless it's out of interest, are usually valuable tools; some are used to amplify their abilities, while others may be used to conceal their power.

The girl looked gentle and quiet, and her aura wasn't particularly strong, but Luo Jun's keen perception allowed him to sense an extraordinary aura emanating from her.

"Speaking of which, Xiao Min will be a senior in high school next year, right? If you ask me, she shouldn't waste her time in high school. She should just apply to the Explorer Academy this year."

"That won't do," Xiao Min's parents said. "While explorers value strength, what's even more important is their dedication to the Main World. Immersing themselves in the world of Cultivators too early, without interacting with ordinary people, will also lead to a lack of belonging to this world. Many Polluter have wavered because of this."

As she spoke, Xiao Min's mother stepped forward and patted her daughter's head. "I do hope that she can have more contact with those ordinary classmates, experience their lives, and understand their joys and sorrows... This is precisely what Xiao Min lacks."

These words resonated deeply with Luo Jun. Most Cultivators have always strived to elevate their cultivation level, trying their best to transcend ordinary people. But here, these descendants of Old Yuan still take pride in being ordinary people; they are genuinely fighting for ordinary people and for this world.

"Hey, stop talking nonsense!" Just then, Old Yuan's voice came. "The Spring Festival Gala has already started, have you all forgotten what you're supposed to be doing?"

Everyone looked over and saw that the huge dining table had been moved into the living room, with a cutting board and rolling pin placed on it.

"It's time to make dumplings again..." A few young people were a little impatient, seemingly not very interested in this annual event, while the elders urged the children to help out.

With such a large Lineage, there were naturally many dumplings to eat during the New Year's Eve celebration. Everyone gathered around the table, divided the work, and began skillfully wrapping dumplings while the Spring Festival Gala played in the background.

As a guest, Luo Jun naturally felt embarrassed to just sit there and came over to help. He had lived with his grandfather since childhood, so making dumplings was a piece of cake for him. With his current overflowing talent, he took on the responsibility of rolling out the dough all by himself. Standing in the middle of the table, he wielded the rolling pin with incredible speed, sending dumpling wrappers flying everywhere. He single-handedly served the entire family, young and old.

Just as everyone was enjoying a happy and harmonious time with their family, Old Yuan's expression suddenly changed: "Why now?" "What's wrong, Grandpa?" Yuan Sizhe asked curiously.

Old Yuan waved his hand. "It's nothing, I just received a notification about the Chaos Mission... Honestly, I was hoping for a peaceful New Year."

"Chaos Mission... I wonder what it entails." Yuan Weiyi frowned and said, "I wonder if we'll even make it in time for dumplings..."

"It's not that easy." Old Yuan chuckled and scolded, "Chaos Mission takes at least a few hours, and could last for several days. It might even take up the whole New Year... I should have tried to get on a mission before the New Year. Oh well, there's no use complaining now. You guys continue making dumplings, I'll go do some preparations."

"Great-grandfather..." Old Yuan had just taken off his apron when he heard Yuan Lingmin call him. Old Yuan was very fond of this exceptionally talented great-granddaughter, Old Man looked over with a smile, "What is it, Xiao Min?"

Yuan Lingmin pushed up her glasses, tilted her head to look at Old Yuan, and suddenly said, "You're going to die!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Jun, who was rolling out the dough, nearly had his rolling pin fly out of his hand...

This girl speaks so recklessly! When he was a child, during Chinese New Year, let alone talking about illness or death, even mentioning the word "medicine" would get him a scolding from his grandfather. This Yuan Lingmin not only dares to say that, but she even points her finger at him and says her great-grandfather is going to die? Wouldn't she get beaten up and thrown out by the adults in the Lineage?

Luo Jun looked around nervously, only to find that no one was scolding her; instead, everyone looked serious.

"Xiao Min, are you telling the truth?" Yuan Sijia asked as she walked over.

Yuan Lingmin nodded and pointed at Old Yuan, saying, "That's right, a very heavy aura of death, a sign of near-death experience."

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Everyone looked worried upon hearing this, even Old Yuan frowned. "Since when did this begin?"

"Just now, when you said you received the Chaos Mission..."

"How is that possible!" Yuan Sijia exclaimed in surprise, "Grandpa has a death-avoidance treasure, how could he show Death Omen?"

"Even Noble Phantasms aren't omnipotent..." Old Yuan nodded. "It seems this mission won't be simple."

Luo Jun roughly understood this time; clearly, Yuan Lingmin's words were not unfounded, and she could obviously see something.

"Xiao Min is Insight Faction, and a highly Insight Faction at that." Yuan Wei'en, noticing Luo Jun's curiosity, explained, "The Insight Faction's practice has two directions: one real and one illusory. The ultimate goal of the real direction is the Eye of Truth, which can see through all pretense and lies, leaving no one able to hide, and can even see into people's hearts. Song Yi from your school is a top practitioner of the Eye of Truth."

"The other, more abstract direction, at its extreme, is called the Heavenly Eye, also known as the Eye of Destiny. Cultivating this direction, while not as powerful as the Eye of Truth in seeing through disguises, allows one to see the hidden information behind things, perceive the threads of destiny, and even predict the future."

"Xiao Min has an extremely strong talent for seeing things from the Heavenly Eye, and what she does best is see the way others Death Omen. Although this ability is not yet fully developed and she can't use it at will most of the time, when it's accurate, it's always right!"

Hearing Yuan Wei'en's words, Luo Jun also frowned. "So, does that mean Old Yuan's mission is likely to end badly? Is there no way to break the deadlock?"

"Of course," Yuan Wei'en added. "The Heavenly Eye can only see the current trajectory of fate. If the current conditions change, it is possible to change fate."

Before the words were even finished, Yuan Sizhe stepped forward. "Alright, I'll go accompany Grandpa on his mission! I also have a Follow Card, which allows me to follow those who have already received the Chaos Mission summons and participate in missions together."

As he spoke, he actually took out a card that faintly glowed with blue light; it should be a Rare-level Noble Phantasm.

"No." Yuan Lingmin shook her head. "Grandfather's Death Omen has not lessened at all... Moreover, when you took out the Follow Card, your Death Omen also appeared... a Death Omen with no chance of survival."

"What?" Yuan Sizhe was stunned. "You mean I died even more completely than Grandpa?"

"Don't go and make things worse with your half-baked knowledge." An Old Woman in her sixties walked over and said, "Let me go with Grandpa."

The Old Woman's name is Yuan Sining, and she is Old Yuan's granddaughter.

"Second sister, are you going?" Yuan Sizhe asked. "Your injury from last time hasn't fully healed yet, has it?"

"He's fine now." Yuan Sining shook her head. "My ability is supportive; it can protect Grandpa." As she spoke, she snatched the Follow Card from Yuan Sizhe and looked at Xiao Min.

Yuan Lingmin shook her head. "Grandpa's Death Omen is slightly less severe, but Second Aunt is definitely going to die!"

"Stop arguing, all of you." At this moment, a Bearded Man Old Man in his seventies stepped forward. "I'll go."

Yuan Sijie, the eldest grandson of Old Yuan and also the grandfather of Yuan Lingmin, is the most accomplished Senior in the Yuan Family besides Old Yuan.

"But brother, you just participated in a mission a few days ago, right? You can't use the Follow Card then."

Yuan Sijie waved his hand and took out another card. "It's okay, I have Refresh Card, which can refresh the task progress within the cycle and allow me to do the task again." As he spoke, he took the Follow Card from Yuan Sining's hand.

Xiao Min shook her head again. "Great-grandfather's Death Omen hardly diminished, but Grandpa, yours Death Omen extremely severe..."

"So dangerous?" Everyone was taken aback when they heard this.

"Alright, alright," Old Yuan waved his hand, "It's just a near-death experience, I've been through it before... There's still a glimmer of hope, don't worry, I'll be back for the New Year."

"No, how can we let Grandpa (Great-Grandpa) risk his life? I want to go with him!" Everyone volunteered, and in the midst of the argument, Yuan Sijie's hand suddenly went empty; two cards had disappeared.

"Who took my card?" Yuan Sijie roared. Just then, Luo Jun stood beside Old Yuan, holding the Refresh Card and the Follow Card: "Let me go."

"You?!" Everyone was surprised that this young, distant relative would actually step forward.

"How can this be? You're a guest, and only a student. How can we let you..." Just as everyone was about to dissuade him, Luo Jun smiled slightly, channeled his energy, and used up both cards.

"You... you're being ridiculous!" Old Yuan was shocked upon seeing this. "How dare you, you brat, make decisions on your own!"

The others also became angry. "Does anyone else have Follow Card? Hand it over right now!!"

Just as everyone was in chaos, Yuan Lingmin suddenly spoke up.

"The Death Omen has been greatly reduced!"

(End of this chapter)