Down-and-out Genius!

At this moment, the atmosphere in the Lin Family's main hall was suffocatingly oppressive.

"Still no news? What did the Wang Family say?"

Lin Tiannan, seated in the host's position, wore a face full of worry.

Half his hair had already turned white.

"The Wang Family... the Wang Family said they'd take that batch of spirit herbs, but they want the price cut by thirty percent."

One of the elders reported the grim situation bitterly: "Moreover, they hinted that if that... that burden isn't dealt with, there won't be any business dealings in the future."

The so-called "burden" naturally referred to the former genius.

Now the family's black hole—Lin Qingxue.

"Bastard!"

Lin Tiannan slammed his hand on the table: "That's my own daughter! Are you saying I should throw her into the sea to feed the demon beasts?"

"Family Head, watch your words."

An old man with a sinister face spoke coldly: "The family can't make ends meet. Every month, just buying the Crimson Sun Pills to suppress her cold poison costs us thirty percent of the family's income."

"If this continues, we'll all starve together. In my opinion, why not..."

"Why not what?"

"Why not marry her off."

The sinister old man let out a cold smile: "I hear there are Evil Cultivators in the Outer Sea who practice dual cultivation techniques. They love female cultivators with special spiritual roots like hers. Even if she's crippled, she could still fetch a good price..."

"How dare you!"

Lin Tiannan trembled with rage, pointing at the old man as he prepared to curse.

Just then.

Boom—!!!

A terrifying pressure, like a mountain crashing down, descended from the sky.

In an instant, it enveloped the entire Lin Family estate.

All the teacups in the hall shattered at once, and several stewards with low cultivation were crushed to the ground, unable to move.

"A... a Golden Core True Person?!"

Lin Tiannan's face turned pale as he stared in terror toward the door.

This pressure was definitely from a Great Cultivator at the Golden Core Stage!

And more than one!

Had the Lin Family's enemies come knocking?

Was heaven destroying the Lin Family?

Before they could react, a thunderous voice boomed across the Lin Family estate:

"Zhang Yunshan, Family Head of the Zhang Family of the Southern Domain, along with my son Zhang Chen, has come specially to visit Family Head Lin!"

The Zhang Family?

That overlord of the East Mountain Islands?

Lin Tiannan and the elders exchanged glances, all seeing the fear in each other's eyes.

Why would a behemoth like the Zhang Family suddenly descend on their small territory?

Were they here to annex them?

"Quick! Go out and welcome them!"

Lin Tiannan, not bothering to straighten his robes, scrambled out of the hall.

When he reached the courtyard, he saw the massive Cloud Piercing Boat hovering in midair, blotting out the sun.

Several streaks of light descended, revealing figures of extraordinary presence.

At the lead was a man in a Purple Gold Robe with a Square Face, exuding authority without anger.

He was Zhang Yunshan, a Mid Golden Core cultivator.

Behind him followed a white-clothed youth with a handsome face and a gentle demeanor. Though his cultivation was only at the Third Layer of Qi Refining, he stood calmly and unhurriedly beside a Golden Core cultivator.

"I had no idea the Family Head of Zhang was gracing us with his presence. I failed to welcome you from afar—a capital offense!"

Lin Tiannan, along with the entire clan, young and old, bowed deeply, cold sweat dripping down his forehead.

Zhang Yunshan swept his gaze over the trembling crowd and reined in some of his pressure.

He forced a somewhat amiable smile onto his face.

"Family Head Lin need not stand on ceremony. This Seat has not come today on official business, but rather to discuss a matter of joy with the Lin Family."

"A... a matter of joy?"

Lin Tiannan was stunned.

"I have heard that the Lin Family has a daughter, Lin Qingxue—gentle, virtuous, talented, and beautiful."

Zhang Yunshan waved his hand, and the attendants behind him immediately carried forward a dozen large chests tied with red silk, setting them heavily on the ground with a series of dull thuds.

The chest lids opened, and the dazzling gleam of treasures instantly blinded the eyes of the crowd.

High-grade Spirit Stones, bottles of Pills, coldly gleaming magical artifacts, and several stalks of Thousand-Year Spirit Grass exuding a rich Medicinal Fragrance...

"These are the Betrothal Gifts."

Zhang Yunshan pointed at the treasures and declared in a clear voice: "I wish to seek, on behalf of my son Zhang Chen, the hand of your daughter Lin Qingxue as his Main Wife. I ask Family Head Lin, what say you?"

Silence. A deathly silence.

The expressions of the Lin Family members were a spectacle to behold.

Some had their mouths wide open, as if they could fit an egg inside; others rubbed their eyes vigorously, suspecting they were seeing things.

Still others pinched themselves, wincing in pain.

Seeking to marry Lin Qingxue?

That waste?

That bottomless pit burning money every single day?

Had the Zhang Family gone mad?

Lin Tiannan stood frozen on the spot, his mind buzzing.

He had imagined the Zhang Family coming to kill, coming to annex.

He had even imagined them coming to borrow money...

But he had never imagined them coming to deliver money.

"F-Family Head Zhang... you... you aren't joking, are you?"

Lin Tiannan stammered, "My daughter... my daughter suffers from a severe illness, her cultivation has regressed, she is no longer the genius she once was..."

"What I value is the person, not her cultivation."

Zhang Chen, who had not spoken until now, stepped forward and said with a smile: "I have long admired Miss Qingxue. I care nothing for her physical condition."

"As long as she is willing, once she enters my Zhang Family's gates, I will devote the Entire Clan's resources to curing her illness."

These words struck like a thunderbolt, slamming fiercely into the hearts of the Lin Family members.

Especially that sinister Elder who had earlier suggested selling Lin Qingxue to the Evil Cultivator—his eyes were now nearly bulging out of his head.

That chest of Spirit Stones alone was worth more than the Lin Family's total income for ten years!

"This..."

Lin Tiannan still hesitated.

Though he wished for his daughter to find a good home, this was too unreal, stirring an instinctive suspicion of a scheme.