Family Rivalry!

"Open it!"

At Wang Teng's command, the black cloth was suddenly pulled away.

The entire venue fell silent.

There in the chest was a potted old pine, most of it already withered away, with just a few yellow leaves trembling on the verge of falling.

Several black vines, like poisonous snakes, were coiled around the dead pine's roots.

A nauseating stench of decay filled the air.

"This is..."

"Ghost-faced Withered Pine?!"

Someone recognized it and sucked in a sharp breath.

This plant grew in places of extreme yin and was especially effective at suppressing vitality. To keep it in one's home was an ominous sign, symbolizing that one's descendants would be cut off and the family would fall into decline.

To present this as a gift at a Full Moon Banquet—this wasn't a congratulatory gift at all. It was a blatant attempt to trample the Zhang Family's dignity into the dirt and, while they were at it, disgust the Zhang Family Old Ancestor to death.

"Wang Teng! You're courting death!"

The Zhang Family's young disciples could no longer hold back.

One after another, they drew their Magic Artifacts and prepared to charge.

"Hold it!"

An old, feeble voice came from deep within the hall.

With two maids supporting him, Zhang Tianzheng emerged, trembling with every step.

His complexion was even worse than it had been when he emerged from seclusion that day. His lips were purplish, and he had to gasp for breath three times with every step, as if he might collapse at any moment.

"Old Ancestor!"

The clansmen were overcome with grief and indignation.

Zhang Tianzheng waved a hand, signaling for them to stand down.

His gaze fell on the Ghost-faced Withered Pine, and suddenly he began coughing violently.

He even coughed up a trace of black blood.

"Good... what a good gift..."

Zhang Tianzheng gave a weak smile. "The Wang Family Head was thoughtful. You're reminding this old man that time waits for no one."

Seeing the Zhang Family Old Ancestor looking like he was already halfway into his grave, the wariness in Wang Teng's eyes instantly faded by more than half.

In its place came even more brazen contempt.

So this was the so-called Nascent Soul Old Ancestor?

It seemed the rumors were true. This old ghost really was at the end of his rope!

"Greetings, Senior Zhang!"

Wang Teng let out a cold laugh. His gaze passed over the Old Ancestor and landed directly on Zhang Chen, filled with provocation and disdain.

"Actually, aside from this potted pine, I have a few more things I'd like to say."

With his hands behind his back, Wang Teng surveyed the crowd, his voice rising a few notches. "Everyone knows that the Cultivation World respects the strong. The Zhang Family is old where they're old, and young where they're young. As for the generation in between..."

He pointed at Zhang Chen and clicked his tongue twice. "Young Master Zhang may have married a beautiful wife, but unfortunately, he's a notorious good-for-nothing. And your wife is a sickly thing with completely shattered meridians."

"Children born of a useless man and a sickly woman may look like they have Spiritual Energy now, but they'll probably never amount to anything."

"So I propose this!"

Wang Teng revealed his true intentions and spoke loudly. "To keep the Spirit Vein resources of the East Mountain Islands from going to waste, the Zhang Family should voluntarily hand over the Grade 2 High-grade Spirit Ore near Green Snail Island, and let a more capable family manage it!"

"This is for everyone's benefit, and it'll also let the Zhang Family build up some good karma, in case that withered pine really does prove prophetic!"

Boom!

His words sent the whole venue into an uproar.

This was outright robbery!

And he was doing it in front of everyone, trying to sever the Zhang Family's very roots!

"Bullshit!"

"Wang Teng, I'll fight you to the death!"

The Zhang Family's hot-blooded men glared with bloodshot eyes, Spiritual Power surging around them. They were on the verge of losing control.

Wang Teng, however, wasn't the least bit afraid. He watched them coldly.

He'd be delighted if the Zhang Family made the first move.

Then the Wang Family would have an excuse.

Just as the situation was about to explode—

A clear, cold shout, like a spring bubbling forth, suddenly rang out over the plaza.

"Who says the Zhang Family has no one?!"

Her voice instantly drowned out the commotion.

Everyone turned toward the hall entrance without thinking.

The doors slowly swung open.

A graceful figure holding two swaddled infants stepped out into the midday sun.

It was Lin Qingxue.

Today, she wore an Ice-blue magic robe that shimmered with flowing light.

It was no ordinary garment, but the dowry the Lin Family had given her years ago. Before, she had been unable to wear it after losing her cultivation. Now, with it flowing around her, its spiritual radiance made her seem like Guanghan Fairy from the highest heavens.

With every step she took, a thin layer of frost formed on the ground beneath her feet.

The pressure of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator poured forth without the slightest restraint.

It even carried a biting chill far more intense than that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, sweeping across the entire venue in an instant.

"Th-this is Lin Qingxue?!"

"Wasn't she supposed to have shattered meridians and become a cripple?!"

"That aura... Foundation Establishment Early Stage peak?! No, she's even stronger than an ordinary Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator!"

The guests who had been waiting for a joke to unfold now stared with bulging eyes.

Their jaws hit the floor.

The arrogance on Wang Teng's face froze in an instant.

How was this possible?!

Hadn't everyone said she was a sickly woman being kept alive by medicine? How had she suddenly become a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator?

And with such vigorous vitality and such pure Spiritual Power, how could she look the least bit injured?

Lin Qingxue ignored the astonished gazes around her.

She walked straight up and stopped ten paces from Wang Teng.

She glanced coldly at the Ghost-faced Withered Pine and casually swept out a hand.

Crack!

A streak of ice-blue Sword Qi appeared from thin air.

In an instant, it cleaved the withered pine and its flowerpot into dust.