The Greater the Storm, the Pricier the Fish

After recovering somewhat, Lin Changge cupped his hands and bowed to Lin Xiye, his face full of respect.

"Thank you, Ancestor."

"This is what happened..."

Lin Changge reported everything about the silver vein to Lin Xiye, leaving nothing out.

"Ancestor, the estimated yield of this silver vein will reach two hundred billion taels of silver."

"But the bad news is that word of the silver vein has already spread everywhere..."

"Within two or three days at most, survey teams from the various powers will arrive in Clear Spring Town."

"The greatest trouble is Blood Wolf Hall!"

"If Blood Wolf Hall learns how much silver the vein can yield, I'm afraid our Lin Household won't get a single tael. Blood Wolf Hall may even seize our territory around Clear Spring Town..."

At this point, Lin Changge felt utterly helpless.

To the Lin Household as it stood, Blood Wolf Hall was a colossal beast.

Even if the Lin Household staked the lives of its entire clan, it was in no position to contend with Blood Wolf Hall.

"Mm, I understand..."

After learning about the silver vein, Lin Xiye remained serene and unruffled, though he had begun to consider a course of action.

Give up the silver vein? Of course that was impossible!

If they could extract two hundred billion taels of silver, then in ten years at most... the Lin Household's overall strength could increase at least a hundredfold!

After all, two hundred billion taels of silver was worth as much as the accumulated foundation of forty Zhao Households!

With that windfall in hand, the Lin Household could do so much...

Of course, swallowing this windfall that had fallen from the heavens came with considerable risk!

But as the famous saying went: the greater the storm, the pricier the fish!!

If he feared this and that, what was the point of cultivating immortality? What was the point of proving his Dao?

Besides, Lin Xiye wasn't without trump cards!!

As long as he used the Immortal-Appraising Treasure Mirror to upgrade and enhance the two Five Thunder Talisman Treasures once more, bringing them fully to the level of Foundation Establishment Talisman Treasures... even if he faced Blood Wolf Hall's four Spirit Nourishing cultivators, Lin Xiye could still suppress them!

Besides, even if Blood Wolf Hall wanted to seize the silver vein, it wouldn't send all four Spirit Nourishing cultivators at once! After all, it needed experts to guard its headquarters too...

Lin Xiye organized his thoughts and quickly devised a plan!

First, he had to visit a cultivation market as soon as possible and sell the hundred-year-old Spirit Tempering Grass in his possession, which still had seven sprigs and leaves, as quickly as he could.

Then he would use the Spirit Stone fragments he received to buy more low-grade medicinal treasures, upgrade and enhance them with the Immortal-Appraising Treasure Mirror, and turn around and sell them again... earning as many Spirit Stone fragments as possible!

Lin Xiye planned to hurry and raise his cultivation to the Spirit Nourishing Realm first, then upgrade and enhance the two Five Thunder Talisman Treasures!

In short... he had to be fully prepared!!

Two hundred billion taels of silver was far too important to the Lin Household! It was worth taking some risks!

Lin Xiye was going to such lengths, even risking himself for the lineage, to make the Lin Household more prosperous and flourishing!

The stronger the Lin Household became, the more resources it could naturally offer Lin Xiye!

Once the Lin Household gradually got on the right track, with all its members able to carry out their respective duties and people gradually emerging who could hold their own... Lin Xiye, the Ancestor, could stand behind the scenes at ease, enjoying the offerings of the whole clan while guiding the lineage's continued development...

By then, Lin Xiye could rely on the lineage's offerings to keep advancing himself... while the entire lineage could grow ever stronger under his protection!

With that thought, Lin Xiye leisurely sat down in a wooden chair and looked at Lin Changge. He spoke in an even voice.

"If survey teams from other powers arrive at the silver vein, try to stall them for as long as you can."

"If you really can't, pretend to yield the silver vein to those powers."

"I need to go out for a while..."

"When I return, everything will be settled."

"That silver vein will belong to our Lin Household forever. No one can take it away."

"Not even Blood Wolf Hall!"

Hearing his Ancestor's decision, Lin Changge was taken aback.

A trace of concern then appeared on his face.

"Ancestor..."

"Although that silver vein is worth a staggering amount, given our Lin Household's strength, if we provoke Blood Wolf Hall... the consequences will be unimaginable."

It was no wonder Lin Changge lacked confidence.

Blood Wolf Hall's fearsome reputation was such that even the Song Household in its former heyday had to give it a wide berth!!

"What are you afraid of?"

"I'm here to handle everything."

"All right, you may leave now..."

"As for the silver vein, just do as I instructed..."

In his grand preceptor's chair, Lin Xiye waved a hand, signaling Lin Changge to leave.

Though Lin Changge was still anxious and uneasy, he could hardly say anything more...

After all, the Ancestor had made his decision, and he couldn't stop him.

As for the rest, he could only put his faith in his Ancestor...

Besides, Lin Changge himself... had considerable designs on that silver vein!!

Although, as patriarch, he should seek stability in all things and, even if he couldn't lead the lineage to its peak, at least ensure its continuation...

The Lin Household had undergone more than one major upheaval in the past six months.

In the end, with the Ancestor there, every upheaval had been resolved, and the Lin Household had even succeeded in leaving Qiao Town and establishing itself in Zichuan City!!

Perhaps this time... under the Ancestor's protection, the Lin Household could weather the storm once again!

Both hopeful and apprehensive, Lin Changge left the courtyard and returned to the Lin Household's main hall.

"Someone!"

"Go notify the elders and stewards who are still at the clan residence..."

"Tell them all to come to a meeting!"

Having just returned to the main hall after two days and nights on the move, Lin Changge did not rest. Instead, he immediately began summoning the Lin Household's senior members in Zichuan City to discuss the silver vein.

Naturally, he would not disobey his Ancestor's instructions.

He was summoning the Lin Household's senior members to deliberate so they could prepare for the worst!!

If matters ultimately spun out of control, he, as patriarch, had to safeguard the Lin Household's legacy and foundations.

While an exhausted Lin Changge summoned the Lin Household's senior members for a meeting...

Lin Xiye turned into a series of afterimages and quietly left Zichuan City...

He sped along, moving like a ghost through mountains and countless ravines, heading toward Qiao Town!

After the Lin Household established itself in Zichuan City, most of its members still lived in Qiao Town.

Only the younger generation and the clan's senior members had moved to Zichuan City.

Most of the Lin Household's elders were already accustomed to life in Qiao Town.

In their eyes, though Zichuan City was prosperous, it was not, after all, the place where their fallen leaves would return to their roots.

No matter where they were, deep in most people's hearts lay an attachment to their homeland...