The arrival of Zhong Taiyue delighted the Lu Clan. Lu Jin even took out his treasured wine, something he rarely did. He usually didn't like drinking, and his only hobby was smoking his old cigarettes. But today, in order to keep his father-in-law entertained, he made an exception.
The small family dinner had a few people, but the atmosphere was exceptionally warm and cozy.
As the two heads of the Lu Clan and Zhong Clan, when they clinked their glasses and drank heartily at the table, it meant that all the past conflicts and grudges between the two families had vanished with the wine.
Zhong Ying couldn't help but tear up as she watched this scene.
This day must have been something she had dreamed of.
When the two old men were enjoying their drinks, Lu Ming asked, "Grandpa, how's things going at Qingyuan Market lately?"
Lu Jin clinked glasses with Zhong Taiyue, then said helplessly, " Qingyuan Market is now a melting pot of all sorts of forces. Of the twenty-eight wards in Fengyang Prefecture, more than twenty have already come here. However, these are still considered minor figures. I've heard that soon, top-tier forces from neighboring prefectures around Fengyang Prefecture will also arrive, including many Fourth-Tier Divine Ability Hall and some families of similar strength."
He glanced at Zhong Taiyue and chuckled, "I'm afraid the other Fourth-Tier Divine Ability Hall in Fengyang Prefecture will also be there."
Zhong Taiyue nodded and said, "If that Sacred Ruins is real, all those old guys in the prefectural city will definitely come running. Heh, I came to Qingyuan Market first to check out the situation. I can't afford to miss such a grand event, for fear that someone might get a stroke of luck, break through the Grandmaster Divine Ability's barrier, become Grandmaster, and completely change the landscape of Fengyang Prefecture."
Currently, there are no Divine Ability Grandmaster among the Fourth-Tier Divine Ability Hall in Fengyang Prefecture. Therefore, if any of them breaks this pattern of having no Grandmaster, then the other Fourth-Tier Divine Ability Hall will have no choice but to submit.
At that time, offering sacrifices was unavoidable.
Moreover, this is still considered a good outcome. The real fear is that the other party is domineering and forceful, not satisfied with merely offering tribute, but demanding that all the Fourth-Tier Divine Ability Hall become its subordinate halls. In that case, there would undoubtedly be another father figure above them, which would make the Fourth-Tier Divine Ability Hall, who are used to being local overlords, extremely uncomfortable.
Therefore, Zhong Taiyue and his group also paid great attention to the Sacred Ruins in Qingyuan Market.
"It seems the news of the Sacred Ruins has spread far and wide." Lu Ming's expression turned serious, and a hint of worry flashed in his eyes.
Lu Jin silently finished his wine, glanced at Lu Ming, and suddenly whispered, " A-Ming, the worst is about to happen."
The expressions of Lu Ming, Lu Qingyan, and Lu Jinglei all changed drastically at this moment, and then their looks turned ugly.
They certainly understood what Lu Jin meant by those words.
Could it be that this day is really coming?!
The cheerful atmosphere at the dinner table, which had just been lively, instantly froze.
Zhong Ying silently picked up the bewildered Lu Mengmeng, then turned and went into the house.
"What's going on?" Zhong Taiyue noticed the change in atmosphere and asked in surprise.
The group was silent for a moment, then Lu Jin said with a smile, "It's just some family troubles, I'm so sorry to have troubled you, father-in-law."
"Tell me about it. We're family, even if the blood is broken, we're still connected. No matter how big the trouble is, Lu Ming is my grandson, and I can't stand idly by," Zhong Taiyue said calmly.
Lu Jin remained silent.
"Qingyan, you speak." Zhong Taiyue looked at Lu Qingyan and commanded in a firm tone.
Lu Qingyan had no choice but to agree, and then recounted in detail the events involving Zhang Yue and the Great Golden Crow Hall.
" The Great Golden Crow Hall?"
Upon hearing this name, even Zhong Taiyue's expression became unusually solemn, clearly indicating that he was no stranger to this renowned Fifth-Tier Divine Ability Hall that was famous throughout the entire Great Luo Domain.
He never imagined that a mere Third-Tier Divine Ability Hall could have such a grudge against such a behemoth.
This is truly a calamity struck by heaven for the Thunderfire Hall.
After all, who could have imagined that a prodigy, nurtured with all one's heart and resources, would ultimately become a major threat to the survival of the Thunderfire Hall?
"That ungrateful bastard will die sooner or later!" Zhong Taiyue was furious, his eyes filled with chilling killing intent. He also ran Divine Ability Hall, so he naturally understood how infuriating it was to encounter such a heartless ingrate.
Then he turned his gaze to Lu Jin and asked in a deep voice, "Does my father-in-law mean that the news about the Sacred Ruins in Qingyuan Market has already reached the ears of the Great Golden Crow Hall? They are so far away from Fengyang Prefecture, they might not come, right?"
"It's intelligence from Li Yan. It seems that a Divine Ability Grandmaster from the Great Golden Crow Hall is already heading towards Qingyuan Market," Lu Jin said slowly.
Lu Ming was startled. Was it information from Auntie Li? The credibility of the information had indeed increased. After all, the Li Clan had a deep network of connections, and with the connections of Jingyi's father's family, it was reasonable for them to know some information in advance.
" Divine Ability Grandmaster... The Great Golden Crow Hall boasts three Divine Ability Grandmaster. With such a foundation, it would be considered top-tier even among the Fifth-Tier Divine Ability Hall in the Great Luo Domain. However, such figures, even if they come to Qingyuan Market, are most likely here for the Sacred Ruins. They shouldn't stoop so low as to attack the Thunderfire Hall, right?" Zhong Taiyue said.
"If that's the case, then that would be for the best."
Lu Jin lit his cigarette, and as the smoke rose, his voice deepened. "But I dare not gamble."
Zhong Taiyue understood what he meant. For a Third-Tier Divine Ability Hall, Divine Ability Grandmaster was far too powerful. So powerful that when the opponent arrived, he only needed to reach out and strike, and the entire Thunderfire Hall would be reduced to ruins. Everyone in the hall, whether master or disciple, would turn to dust in an instant.
Even so, no one would dare to criticize that Divine Ability Grandmaster powers, for the Grandmaster's authority surpasses everything.
Even a master like Zhong Taiyue, Nether Spirit Master, would probably not last more than a few rounds against a true Divine Ability Grandmaster.
Lu Jin dared not risk his entire family's lives and fortunes to gamble on whether that Divine Ability Grandmaster would remember their Third-Tier Divine Ability Hall.
"So I think, during this time, my dear father-in-law, you should take Zhong Ying and the two children and stay outside the Thunderfire Hall. If the Thunderfire Hall really faces a catastrophic disaster, I only ask that you take these two children away from Qingyuan Market. Perhaps then, in the prefectural city, the Divine Ability Grandmaster will not be too unscrupulous." Lu Jin said to Zhong Taiyue with a pleading expression.
Lu Ming remained silent. In the past six months or so, their Thunderfire Hall had been thriving and developing better and better. He had been somewhat proud of this, but now it seemed that his pride was rather ridiculous.
The Divine Ability Grandmaster of the Great Golden Crow Hall had only set off for Qingyuan Market, and didn't even know if he knew about the Thunderfire Hall, a mere Third-Tier Divine Ability Hall. Meanwhile, the Lu Clan was already in a pitiful state of despair.
At this moment, Lu Ming's desire to improve his strength reached its peak.
Zhong Taiyue's face was ashen. He said, "What's there to be afraid of? So what if he's Divine Ability Grandmaster? If he really wants to disregard his status and attack, then I'll show him that even a rabbit will bite when cornered. I'd like to see if I can manage to punch a few holes in Divine Ability Grandmaster with all this supernatural power!"
Zhong Taiyue did not back down because Thunderfire Hall had such an enemy. He had worked hard in Fengyang Prefecture for decades and built up the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall business. He did not rely on weakness and retreat when facing a powerful enemy.
Lu Ming also spoke up, saying, "Grandpa, it's either face it together or die together. Hiding and living a life of ignominy Non-Self what I want."
"Besides... it's not really that dire. Tomorrow I'll go to the neighborhood office and look for Lord Zhou Xuan."
Lu Jin naturally understood what he meant by looking for Zhou Xuan, so she gave a wry smile and finally nodded.
"You're right. If this is truly an inescapable calamity for the Lu Clan, then it's fate, and there's no point in trying to avoid it."
"Come on, drink!"
He stopped dwelling on it and instead raised his wine bowl, clashing it violently with Zhong Taiyue's.
Lu Ming watched the two old men drinking heartily, his gaze drifting towards the ward office. He wondered if the prince had arrived yet...