Family Annual Meeting

"Uh, Grandpa Liu. So you know how to joke too!" Lin Ming said in surprise. But this also showed that Grandpa Liu truly regarded Lin Ming as family. Only when getting along with family and being in a good mood would an elder tease a junior like this. As for jokes between peers and lousy friends, they usually involved pretending to be the other person's elder, like: I'm your dad, call me Dad.

"You're the only Kid who dares speak to me like this. Alright! I've received this Dou Technique and your insights. Grandpa Liu will help you apply for the family's reward," Grandpa Liu said.

Hearing Grandpa Liu mention a reward, Lin Ming thought for a moment and said, "Grandpa Liu, I want to study at the family's Alchemy Hall for a while. I want to familiarize myself with Medicinal Materials in advance and observe the Alchemists' methods, laying a foundation for refining medicine myself in the future. Of course, even if Xiao Ming doesn't have the Fire-Wood Dual Attribute and can't become an Alchemist, at least I'll have tried and won't have any regrets. Do you think this reward can be requested from the family?" Lin Ming wanted to familiarize himself with all sorts of Medicinal Materials now, understand each material's properties and processing methods, and learn the techniques of other Alchemists. Once he laid this foundation, it would greatly benefit him whether he refined medicine or created new pills in the future. After all, if he didn't even understand what Medicinal Materials did, yet still wanted to create new pills... Lin Ming only had one thing to say: go Wash Up and sleep. You could have anything in your dreams.

Lin Ming wasn't like Xiao Yan, who had a Portable Device with him—point at whatever he didn't understand, and Old Yao would come out to explain it. Lin Ming truly envied that. However, he had never considered snatching Old Yao away. First, he wasn't even ten yet. Going alone to Wutan City, which would take a month even on horseback, was unrealistic. If he hired someone to escort him, should he find someone he knew or someone he didn't? Someone he knew would ask why he was going somewhere so far away, and Lin Ming would have no answer. But he trusted strangers even less. If anything happened on the road, he would be dead for sure.

After all, Lin Ming was still just a child, and his strength was only Dou Qi Stage Seven. He wouldn't even have anywhere to run. Even taking Ten Thousand steps back, if he did reach Wutan City, getting close to Xiao Yan and taking the ring would be a problem. Did he think Xiao Yan's father, Xiao Zhan, was just sitting around eating for free? Besides, who knew whether Old Yao was still asleep? If he woke up and decided Lin Ming had ill intentions, then killed him outright, Lin Ming's journey through Dou Qi Continent would end before it had even truly begun. And that was highly possible. Old Yao had been betrayed by the Disciple he had raised since childhood, so he was now extremely cautious about everything. If Lin Ming went over to snatch the ring so openly and still wanted to become his Disciple, he would simply be courting death again. Moreover, Old Yao was an important person being sought by Soul Hall, and was trouble himself. Lin Ming still wanted to develop quietly for a few more years. So Old Yao could stay with Xiao Yan and help Lin Ming draw some of the fire.

Returning to what Lin Ming had just said, when Grandpa Liu heard his first sentence, his brows had begun to furrow. The chance of having Fire-Wood Dual Attribute Dou Qi was simply too low. Grandpa Liu feared that Lin Ming would become too invested now, only to suffer a blow and become disheartened if he did not possess the fire-wood attributes. Only after hearing Lin Ming's later words did his brow relax. He then said, "Don't let it affect your cultivation. Xiao Ming, you need to reach Dou Qi Stage Seven as soon as possible and strive to break through to Dou Zhe before you turn fifteen." After speaking, he sensed Lin Ming's cultivation.

"Dou Qi Stage Seven?" Grandpa Liu exclaimed in surprise. He had been too focused on examining Lin Ming's Dou Technique earlier and had not sensed Lin Ming's cultivation. The moment he did, he immediately cried out.

"Hahaha! Wonderful! You've reached Dou Qi Stage Seven before even turning ten. You're the first person in the Mite'er Family's history to do so. Since you've already broken through to Dou Qi Stage Seven, I suppose you've already made your own plans. Grandpa Liu won't interfere with your decision anymore. Leave your wish to study at the Alchemy Hall to Grandpa Liu. Just don't let your cultivation fall behind. Strive to break through to Dou Zhe by thirteen," Grandpa Liu said to Lin Ming after a burst of laughter.

"Don't worry, Grandpa Liu. Xiao Ming won't neglect his cultivation. I'll only spend half the day studying medicinal theory and such every day. The other half and the evenings will be devoted to cultivating Dou Qi," Lin Ming quickly said.

Hearing Lin Ming's arrangements, Grandpa Liu became even more satisfied. With such talent and such diligence, what elder wouldn't love a junior like this?

Then Lin Ming also took out the Blade Skill Startling Swan Saber Technique and said, "Grandpa Liu, Xiao Ming has also mastered the Startling Swan Saber Technique, so I'll return it to you as well."

"You've mastered the Startling Swan Saber Technique too? Haha, Xiao Ming! You've given Grandpa Liu far too many surprises this time. You mastered two Profound Tier Dou Techniques in half a year and even broke through from Dou Qi Stage Six to Dou Qi Stage Seven. You truly are a heaven-sent genius," Grandpa Liu said with gratification.

"Xiao Ming, since you have such talent, you should compete for resources as well. Attend this year's Family Annual Meeting with Grandpa Liu in a little over a month. You'll be ten after the Year-end, so it's time for you to show your face in the family. Displaying your potential will earn you better cultivation resources. Alchemists are all an arrogant bunch. If you go there like this, you won't learn much. Only by displaying your terrifying potential and making the family take you seriously can you intimidate the family's Alchemists. That way, you'll be able to learn more," Grandpa Liu analyzed for Lin Ming. Everyone in the family wanted more and better resources. If you didn't display your potential and fight for them, who would bother with you? After all, the cake was only so big. If you took more, someone else would inevitably get less.

"Yes, Grandpa Liu. Xiao Ming will attend the Family Annual Meeting with you then," Lin Ming replied. Before his parents died, Lin Ming had attended the annual meeting with them. But after their deaths, he no longer enjoyed lively occasions and never attended again. The family felt that he was merely a child, and his absence made no difference, so they did not concern themselves with it. But since Grandpa Liu had said so this year, and after considering it, attending suited Lin Ming's own interests. Naturally, he would go.

After chatting idly with Grandpa Liu for a while longer, Lin Ming bid him farewell. On his way home, Looking at the Imperial City as the Year-end approached and its festive atmosphere grew especially strong, Lin Ming decided to take Ya Fei out for some fun. With the Year-end drawing near, the Medicine Refinement Hall was especially busy, so Grandpa Liu said Lin Ming's studies there would begin after the New Year. Since Lin Ming would have little time to accompany Ya Fei once he began studying at the Medicine Refinement Hall, he discussed it with her in advance. Over the next month or so, aside from his regular cultivation, Lin Ming spent his time taking Ya Fei out to have fun everywhere.

A month passed amidst cultivation and playing with Ya Fei. Today was the annual meeting. Lin Ming rose early, washed up, and changed into a handsome outfit. Since he had decided to attend the family's annual meeting, he could not dress shabbily. Lin Ming certainly did not lack the money to buy clothes. Looking at his reflection in the mirror, with his delicate features and fair complexion, although he was still young, one could already tell that he would be exceptionally handsome when he grew up. After straightening his clothes again, Lin Ming smiled at his reflection and headed out.

After meeting up with Grandpa Liu, Lin Ming followed him into the family compound. Looking at the magnificent decorations, Lin Ming felt little change in his heart. After all, he had come here several times when his parents were still alive. Although he had not visited for several years, there had not been much change.

As they walked inward with Grandpa Liu, people occasionally greeted him. Grandpa Liu merely nodded to some, while only replying briefly to a few. When others asked who the child Grandpa Liu had brought with him was, he simply said that Lin Ming was his grandson, then led him to the front amid their astonished stares. Everyone knew that Elder Liu of the Scripture Pavilion had never married and had no descendants. How had such a grown grandson suddenly appeared? They were immensely curious, since everyone had a gossipy side. Some had even begun imagining that Elder Liu had messed around when he was young and abandoned someone after getting her pregnant. One woman had borne him a son, and his son had later borne a grandson. But an accident in the past two years had befallen their household, leaving only this child alive. At death's door, they had told the child about his origins. The child had later come to acknowledge Elder Liu as kin. Unable to bear it, Elder Liu had taken the child in and recognized him as family. That was why he had brought him to the Family Annual Meeting this time.

If Lin Ming knew that these people had already concocted such melodramatic gossip in their minds, he would only want to say that they could publish books in his Previous Life.

Grandpa Liu led Lin Ming before a white-haired old man. Looking at him, Lin Ming knew that he was Mittel Tengshan, the Great Elder of the Mite'er Family and one of the Jia Ma Empire's ten greatest Experts. Lin Ming followed Grandpa Liu in greeting him as Great Elder.

"Old Liu, you're here. Sit," Mittel Tengshan said, pointing at a nearby chair. Then he glanced at Lin Ming and asked, "Old Liu, whose child is this little fellow? Why haven't I seen him before?"

Old Liu replied, "He's Old Lin's grandson, Lin Ming." Then Grandpa Liu said to Lin Ming, "Xiao Ming, come greet the Great Elder."

"Yes, Grandpa Liu," Lin Ming replied. He stepped forward two paces until he stood before the Great Elder, clasped his hands, bowed, and said, "This junior, Lin Ming, greets the Great Elder."

"The Lin Family's orphan... You've grown so much. The family has failed your Lin Family," he said. As he spoke, even this Dou King Expert revealed a sorrowful expression. But it vanished in an instant, and he continued, "Good child, stand up. Let me take a good look at you."

Lin Ming immediately straightened up.

"Not bad. You look so much like your father," the Great Elder said with a nod.

"Dou Qi Stage Seven?" The surprised cry came from this Dou King Expert's mouth, instantly drawing the attention of everyone nearby. Grandpa Liu picked up his teacup and began drinking tea, the corners of his mouth lifting.

"Yes, Great Elder. This junior broke through to Dou Qi Stage Seven a month ago," Lin Ming replied.

"Xiao Ming, how old are you this year?" the Great Elder asked. Though he could estimate Lin Ming's age, without checking his bone age, it was difficult to determine a difference of one or two years at this stage.

"Replying to the Great Elder, after the Year-end, this junior will be ten," Lin Ming answered respectfully.

"Not even ten yet—Dou Qi Stage Seven at nine years old. Hahahaha! God bless the Mite'er Family! Old Lin, you left the family a treasure!"