As the giant bell resounded, Jiang Yun and Li Guanyi were immediately horrified to realize that the True Qi they had unleashed was being crushed by that terrifying power at that moment, and they fled back into their bodies in a sorry state.
The three Feather Robe Master were even worse off; the Divine Ability Feather Robe that had appeared around them dimmed, looking like they were about to collapse and dissipate.
"Who?!"
Everyone present was horrified, shocked by the sudden sense of oppression.
As a loud laugh echoed through the divine abbot's arena, a golden light condensed within the arena, eventually transforming into an old man with a rugged and domineering face and a robust physique. He made no attempt to conceal his strength, and an aura of pressure belonging to Nether Spirit Master swept out like a tidal wave.
" Nether Spirit Master?!"
Whether it was Jiang Yun, Li Guanyi, Shi Tong of the Red Sand Hall, or Shen Tai of the Mountain Moving Hall, they all stared in astonishment at the unfamiliar, robust old man before them.
Lu Jin stared blankly at the vaguely familiar old man in front of him.
At this moment, the burly old man's lightning-like gaze shot straight at Lu Jin, and then his loud laughter, like the tolling of a bell, rang out again, echoing throughout the entire dojo.
"Haha, father-in-law, it's been so many years! How have you been?"
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.
All eyes turned to Lu Jin in utter astonishment. Father-in-law?!
This suddenly appearing Nether Spirit Master is actually Lu Jin's father-in-law?!
Lu Jin has such connections and networks?!
Master Shi Tong of the Red Sand Hall looked utterly astonished. "Old Lu, if you had told me you had such a background, how could I have dared to compete with your Thunderfire Hall before?"
Lu Jin was also jolted awake by the way the other person addressed him. Looking at the rugged old man in front of him, he was overjoyed. It turned out that this was Zhong Ying's father, Zhong Taiyue, the master of the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall Zhong Taiyue Hall.
He wasn't surprised that the other person's appearance could save the Thunderfire Hall from its predicament, but rather that the other person was actually here.
He understood perfectly what this implied.
It seems that Lu Ming and his family's trip to the prefectural city this time resolved all the past conflicts between the two families, which is what truly makes him feel gratified.
"So it's my father-in-law. I've been impolite not to greet you properly." A smile appeared on Lu Jin's aged face as he clasped his hands in greeting.
Zhong Taiyue looked at Lu Jin, stepped forward, reached out and grasped Lu Jin's thin arm, and smiled with a complicated expression, "I hope you won't take some of the dirty things from back then to heart, father-in-law. If you have any grievances, you can blame me."
"We're family, why are you saying all this? I told Zhong Ying to take A-Ming and the others home years ago, but she's stubborn and has been putting it off until now," Lu Jin said casually.
"Yes, she inherited my stubbornness. Sigh, it's all because of this wicked nature that I almost lost a precious grandson," Zhong Taiyue sighed, looking heartbroken.
Lu Jin understood immediately upon hearing this, and was overjoyed. It turned out that Lu Ming's talent had been discovered.
This grandson of his own had actually managed to subdue his domineering and powerful maternal grandfather.
"Grandpa, we're back!"
At this moment, a familiar voice came from outside the divine passage. Many eyes turned to it and saw Lu Qingyan and Lu Ming's family hurrying over. The crowd immediately parted to let them take the center position.
Zhong Taiyue had arrived earlier to prevent a conflict from breaking out, so they lagged behind a few steps.
"Good, it's good that you're back." Lu Jin's gaze was fixed on his grandson, his aged face full of gentleness as he nodded repeatedly.
While their family was enjoying a harmonious reunion, the members of the Five Halls Association had an unpredictable expression. The imposing aura they had just displayed had completely vanished. They, too, hadn't expected the Thunderfire Hall to have such a background.
A genuine Nether Spirit Master, he is a top-tier expert in the entire Fengyang Prefecture.
Lu Ming looked at the five Divine Ability Master from the Five Halls Association, his eyes turning slightly cold, and said, "So, you're the ones who came to the Thunderfire Hall to cause trouble?"
Zhong Taiyue turned around, staring at Jiang Yun and Li Guanyi with unfriendly eyes, and said, "Who wanted to offer some pointers just now?"
Jiang Yun looked at Zhong Taiyue, whose physique was as imposing as a mountain king, his expression shifting. He forced himself to remain calm and said, "Master Lu, these are all grudges between the Divine Ability Hall. It is truly against the rules for you to bring in outsiders to settle them."
Upon hearing this, Lu Ming smiled and said, "My maternal grandfather is the head of the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall in Fengyang Prefecture. How can he not be considered a member of the Divine Ability Hall?"
This statement once again drew many shocked glances.
This Nether Spirit Master is actually the Grand Master of the Fourth-Tier Divine Ability Hall, the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall?!
The five Divine Ability Master from the Five Halls Association looked at each other in bewilderment. As they were all from the same Divine Ability Hall in Fengyang Prefecture, they had naturally heard of the great name of the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall, but they never expected to meet the head of this Fourth-Tier Divine Ability Hall here.
The two museum owners, Shi Tong and Shen Tai, felt a sense of awe and reverence.
Jiang Yun's expression stiffened, and he forced a dry laugh, "So it's Elder Zhong himself! We've long heard of your esteemed name, but we never expected to have the honor of meeting you today."
"Haha, it was a misunderstanding, really. We're new here and just wanted to see if we could settle down in Qingyuan Market and open a branch. Since the local Divine Ability Hall isn't happy about it, we have nothing more to say. Farewell!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around decisively and left.
"Etc!"
However, Zhong Taiyue's amused laughter caused them to freeze instantly.
"Is there anything else, Master Zhong?" Jiang Yun asked, his face tightening.
"You've made a mess of things, coming and going as you please? Is there such a cheap thing in the world?" Zhong Taiyue's face gradually turned fierce, his eyes glaring at the five people like a lion, his aura terrifying.
He clearly didn't intend to let these people off so easily. After all, if they hadn't arrived in time, the Thunderfire Hall would have paid a heavy price. And since these Five Halls Association chose to rise to power by stepping on the Thunderfire Hall, they should naturally be prepared to suffer the consequences.
"What does Master Zhong want?" Jiang Yun asked, forcing a smile.
Zhong Taiyue's gaze swept over the five people, and whenever his gaze swept over them, a Divine Ability Master would tense up. In front of a Nether Spirit Master, they really had little power to resist.
"Each of you leave behind 100,000 Heavenly Gold Sand as a small apology to the Thunderfire Hall," Zhong Taiyue said calmly at the end.
Jiang Yun and his four companions exchanged glances, hesitated for a few moments, then gritted their teeth, each took out a cloth bag, placed it on the stone platform beside them, and dared not linger for a moment longer before turning around and slinking away.
Zhong Taiyue did not stop him further. Instead, he brought over five cloth bags, handed them to Lu Jin, and said with a smile, "Father-in-law, I'll make the decision myself. Don't say I'm overstepping my bounds."
Lu Jin laughed and said, "Not at all. Letting them go so easily would have made them too comfortable. It wouldn't be appropriate to kill them, after all, this is Fangcheng, and we still have to follow the rules."
He accepted the 500,000 Heavenly Gold Sand, set aside 200,000 taels, and handed them to Shi Tong and Shen Tai.
Shi Tong and Shen Tai quickly shook their heads in refusal.
"This wasn't just a one-off effort from the Thunderfire Hall; Red Sand Hall and Mountain Moving Hall also contributed. You should accept this compensation," Lu Jin said solemnly.
Seeing that Lu Jin had gone this far, Shi Tong and Shen Tai had no choice but to accept, clasping their hands and saying, "Elder Master Lu is fair. Qingyuan Market is not what it used to be. From now on, please feel free to give us any orders."
It's clear that after this incident, the two Third-Tier Divine Ability Hall in Qingyuan Market Ward, Red Sand Hall and Mountain Moving Hall, have already considered making Thunderfire Hall their leader. After all, Lu Jin is the only True Qi Master among the supernatural Divine Ability Hall in Qingyuan Market, and now that they have a Nether Spirit Master as a relative by marriage, who can compete with them for the top hall position?
The last one who competed with them for the top spot should have his grave overgrown with weeds by now.
"You're too kind, both of you."
Lu Jin clasped his hands in a fist salute, then smiled and instructed Lu Jinglei to see the guest out.
The divine passage was bustling with activity. Disciples from the Red Sand Hall and the Mountain Moving Hall began to leave, while the disciples from the Thunderfire Hall were excited. After all, they had gained a lot of face from today's Thunderfire Hall.
Many curious eyes turned to Zhong Taiyue; they were in Qingyuan Market, but had never met Nether Spirit Master before.
"Father-in-law, please come quickly to the inner courtyard."
Lu Jin, with a warm smile on her face, led the way.
Zhong Taiyue, naturally, followed suit with a smile.
A potential crisis was easily resolved with the appearance of the Nether Spirit Master Zhong Taiyue.