The sun had barely risen over Flame City, casting thin gold across the cobbled courtyards, when Lin Dong rose with a head full of questions and an uneasy heart.
As soon as he arrived at the hall, he was surprised to find that, in addition to Lin Zhentian and Lin Xiao, even Lin Ken, Lin Mang, Lin Qingtan, Lin Qingxia, and almost all the core important figures of the Lin Family were present.
Moreover, from the dusty faces of Lin Ken, Lin Mang, and others, Lin Zhentian must have summoned them overnight.
Such a big show, just to take the initiative to welcome that so-called Young Clan Leader?
Just then, Lin Xiao suddenly patted Lin Dong's shoulder. Lin Dong turned his head to look, and heard Lin Xiao say.
"Dong'er, later, you stand by your grandfather's side with me, understand?"
Lin Xiao had just finished speaking when he saw a guard running in quickly and reporting to Lin Zhentian.
"Clan Leader, they are almost here!"
"Let's go, follow me to the gate to greet them!"
Lin Zhentian's face also showed a bit of excitement upon hearing this. Although Lin Dong was a little puzzled, seeing his grandfather's expression, he had no choice but to follow behind him.
Just as he walked to the front of the manor gate, Lin Dong saw a huge team of dozens of people approaching.
Within that huge team, Lin Dong could sense the aura of many Core Formation Realm experts, and Old Man Tao, whom he had met the previous evening, was standing at the front of the team at this moment. Beside him were three people with similar strength to him.
Not only Old Man Tao, but also the four youths he had met yesterday were standing at the front.
Suddenly, Lin Dong's pupils shrank, staring at the young man walking at the very front, and a dignified look flashed in his heart.
That young man, dressed in coarse white clothes, looked unremarkable. At least, when Lin Dong first observed him, he had subconsciously ignored him.
However, when Lin Dong's gaze locked onto that young man, he realized that he could not sense the other party's aura at all, as if he did not exist in this world.
But upon careful sensing, he found out that the aura of that person was everywhere in this world.
That was when Lin Dong's breath hitched. As it was too ordinary to notice, because he was too extraordinary to comprehend.
Just as Lin Dong was in a daze, he suddenly felt his arm being pulled. Lin Dong turned his head to look, only to see his father Lin Xiao glance at him before walking forward directly.
At this time, Lin Dong noticed that his grandfather Lin Zhentian had already taken the initiative to go out to meet them, and immediately followed Lin Zhentian and Lin Xiao's footsteps.
"Lin Zhentian of the Flame City branch family, pays respects to the Young Clan Leader!"
"You're too kind!"
Facing Lin Zhentian's enthusiasm, Lin Xuan was not surprised. To use an inappropriate example, he was equivalent to an ancient crown prince on tour.
After simply cupping his fist in response, Lin Xuan also turned his gaze to Lin Xiao, who was beside him. Lin Xiao, seeing this, quickly saluted.
"Lin Xiao of the branch family thanks the Young Clan Leader for saving my life during the clan gathering. Had you not intervened, I would have been crippled for life."
"No need, back then, as the chief judge of the clan gathering, maintaining clan rules was my duty. Whether it is the main family or the branch family, we are all members of the Lin Clan. How can there be any reason to kill each other at the clan gathering?"
Lin Xuan shook his head. The reason he took action back then was not because the other party was called Lin Xiao and had a son called Lin Dong, but because Lin Langtian had gone too far.
Lin Dong, who was on the side, had a look of astonishment flash in his eyes after hearing Lin Xiao and Lin Xuan's words.
Lin Dong did not expect that this so-called Young Clan Leader in front of him was actually the person who saved his father back then, and judging from his tone, he did not seem to be on the same side as Lin Langtian.
Just as Lin Dong was thinking, he suddenly felt a gaze looking at him. Lin Dong also raised his head to meet it, and saw a pair of very calm eyes, sizing him up.
However, within this calmness, Lin Dong felt as if everything about him had been seen through by the other party, with no secrets left.
Lin Dong could feel that the other party's gaze lingered on the mysterious stone talisman within his body for quite some time.
This feeling made Lin Dong's heart hang in suspense, his entire being tensed up, and even his breathing became somewhat disordered due to excessive nervousness.
In the next moment, a large hand silently landed on Lin Dong's shoulder, and the next second, his emotions were instantly calmed down.
Looking at the somewhat nervous Lin Dong, Lin Xuan also restrained his curiosity, smiling as he patted the other's shoulder, and said.
"Your opportunity is quite good, but unfortunately, it's not my opportunity!"
As a swordsman, once one embarks on the path of the sword, one must never betray it. Although the Ancestral Stone is good, to Lin Xuan, even if he obtained it, it would be like chicken ribs, useless to eat, and a pity to discard.
Since this is the case, it is better to leave it to those who need it. As for who needs it, that depends on the opportunities of others.
And upon hearing Lin Xuan's words, Lin Dong was shocked. Lin Xuan's words were undoubtedly telling him that he had seen the mysterious stone talisman within his body?
"I hope you won't bury it!"
After patting Lin Dong's shoulder, Lin Xuan also glanced meaningfully at the location of the Ancestral Stone within Lin Dong's body, and then, he also took the initiative to step inside.
Watching Lin Xuan's back, the stormy waves in Lin Dong's heart slowly calmed down. Although the mysterious stone talisman had been seen through, fortunately, the Young Clan Leader did not seem to have any ideas about the mysterious stone talisman.
However, just as Lin Dong followed, walking beside Lin Xiao, and heading towards the manor, Little Marten's voice rang in Lin Dong's mind.
"Damn, where did this monster come from? This Marten hid so deeply, yet this monster dug me out? This is really spooky!"
"What? Little Marten, do you mean, the Young Clan Leader also discovered you?"
Hearing Little Marten's words, Lin Dong's heart trembled. Although the origin of the mysterious stone talisman seemed extremely extraordinary, compared to the mysterious stone talisman, Lin Dong valued more, and was more worried about, the Little Marten who answered every question, rather than the mysterious stone talisman that could not respond to him.
"Of course he did! That guy's a freak! Your Great Yan Dynasty shouldn't even have monsters like that!"
Little Marten's complaints only worsened Lin Dong's anxiety. While the mysterious stone talisman had always felt enigmatic, the existence of the being inside, Little Marten, was Lin Dong's truest secret.
If even that was no longer hidden.
"That bastard stared straight at me like I was on display! I always thought this tortoise shell talisman was my insurance, but if freaks like him are around, this shell's got cracks!"
Lin Dong swallowed hard. The mysterious Young Clan Leader had seen everything and had simply walked away.