The elders returned to their respective courtyards, and Ling Huayu led the three brothers to the reception hall, where only busy maids were present.
Ling Huayu looked at the empty reception hall and asked, confused, "Second brother, where are the children? Weren't they usually here early? Why aren't they here now?"
Ling Xuan and Ling Yan were also somewhat disappointed, having expected to see their wives and children in the reception hall, only to find no one there.
"They've been busy cultivating recently, so they only arrive just before mealtime."
There was still a quarter of an hour left. If it were in the past, they would probably be walking slowly on the way.
But now, they all waited until the cultivation tower closed before coming out, still reluctant to leave.
"Father, third brother, fourth brother, if you're hungry, we can eat first. There's no need to wait for them."
"Second brother, it doesn't matter if we wait a little. We're all old enough."
Ling Huayu had spoken, and Ling Qi dared not disobey.
Thus, the four of them sat and waited.
Nearly a quarter of an hour later, the four finally saw someone rushing in.
"Brothers and sisters, I'm first!" a vibrant voice exclaimed.
Ling Luozhi ran in and discovered three people she didn't recognize sitting in the reception hall.
She walked to Ling Qi's side, looked at the three people curiously, and whispered to Ling Qi, "Daddy, who are they? Are they guests? They look so much like Daddy."
Ling Luozhi was only nine years old, and Ling Huayu and the other two had left ten years ago, so it was normal for Ling Luozhi not to have seen them and not to recognize them.
Ling Qi dotingly stroked Ling Luozhi's head and said, "Zhi'er, they are not guests. This is Grandpa, and these two who look so much like Daddy are Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle."
"Second brother, who is this?"
"Father, third brother, fourth brother, this is my youngest daughter, Zhi'er. Zhi'er, greet them."
Ling Luozhi obediently greeted them, "Hello Grandpa, hello Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle."
The little girl's sweet voice was irresistible to these three who had been away for years and missed home dearly.
At this moment, everyone else also entered.
Looking at the people in the reception hall, the younger ones who didn't recognize them looked on curiously, while those who remembered them rushed forward after recognizing them.
"Daddy!"
"Father!"
Seeing the children acting spoiled, the three wives also brought their children to their respective husbands' sides, letting the children get acquainted with their fathers.
Ling Xuan and Ling Yan looked at the children and couldn't help but shed tears.
Especially Ling Yan, who felt deeply sorry for Yao Yuxin. When he left, Yao Yuxin was pregnant and needed him the most, yet she still let him go out to find people.
They had spent the last ten years searching for people, enduring hardships. When they saw other families reunited, they missed their own families even more.
For a moment, the reception hall was filled with joyous sounds.
Ling Huayu saw Ling Luochen and Song Qingyun still standing outside and said, "You must be Chen'er, come over."
Upon hearing Ling Huayu's words, the three brothers and three wives also said, "Chen'er, come over."
Ling Luochen and Song Qingyun stepped forward and bowed.
"Grandfather, Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle."
"Hello Maternal Grandfather, hello Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle. I am Qingyun."
"Yun'er, you're here too."
"Eldest cousin asked me to come to the Ling family to cultivate, so I'm staying here." Speaking of Ling Luoyi, Song Qingyun looked around and asked, "Hasn't Eldest cousin arrived yet?"
Ling Huayu also looked around and asked, "Luo'er isn't here, and Fu'er isn't here either. Why aren't the sisters here?"
"Father, Luo'er probably doesn't know how to interact with you yet. She's been keeping to herself since she returned this month. As for Fu'er, your daughter-in-law hasn't seen her for half a month either."
"Third Aunt, you don't need to worry. Fu'er is fine. She's been cultivating in Eldest Sister's courtyard recently," Ling Luoqian said.
"Cultivating! I remember she couldn't cultivate. Qian'er, don't lie to Third Uncle."
"Third Uncle, I'm telling the truth. Fu'er's spiritual roots have grown. Eldest Sister said to have her reach the first level of Spirit Apprentice before the genius selection, so she's been cultivating for the past half month."
"Second Sister, can Third Sister really cultivate?" Ling Luoran asked.
"It's true." Seeing that no one believed her, Ling Luoqian recounted the events of that day. After all, Grandfather was back, so there was no need to fear anyone with ill intentions.
"Then, that commotion the other day was caused by you all." Ling Qi recalled the ongoing rumors about transcending tribulations in the Falling Sunset Forest and said.
"Yes."
"Second brother, you'll tell me everything later." Ling Huayu said with a serious expression.
The matter of Fu'er regrowing her spiritual roots couldn't be kept secret for long. He needed to arrange the Ling family's affairs as soon as possible.
"Yes, Father."
Ling Qi also knew the seriousness of the matter. If not handled properly, the Ling family could be destroyed in an instant.
The children also knew they couldn't be rowdy and ate their meals obediently.
Because they all had matters on their minds, they had no appetite and finished eating in a quarter of an hour.
The children went to the cultivation tower, while the elders and the elders held discussions in the back hall.
Ling Qi recounted all the events that had happened in the Ling family over the past month, including the hidden families and other continents that Ling Luoyi had mentioned.
"This girl hasn't given us much choice," Ling Huayu sighed and said.
"Indeed." Ling Qi also sighed.
Everyone else was lost in thought, and the back hall fell silent for a moment.
"Father, what should we do now?"
"We can only follow Luo'er's suggestion and go into seclusion for now. Otherwise, if the news of Fu'er being able to cultivate gets out, the Ling family will be in great trouble."
"Father, then do we need to choose a location?"
"Uncle Liang, go and call Luo'er over," Ling Huayu said after a moment of thought.
"Yes, Patriarch."
"Since Luo'er has this idea, she probably has already chosen a place."
Everyone in the back hall was anxious, but Ling Luoyi, who was here, was very relaxed.
Ling Luoyi lay in the rocking chair under the tree, holding a book and reading with great interest. Various fruits were placed on the tea table next to her, and she would occasionally pick one up and put it in her mouth.
When Uncle Liang arrived, this was the scene he saw.
Upon seeing Uncle Liang, Lan Yue quickly went forward and asked, "Steward Liang, why are you here?"
"The Patriarch sent me to invite the Eldest Miss to the back hall for discussions."
"Steward Liang, please wait a moment. I'll go and inform Miss."
Lan Yue walked to Ling Luoyi's side and respectfully said, "Miss, Steward Liang is here and says the Patriarch is asking you to go to the back hall for discussions."
"I understand." Ling Luoyi put down her book and stood up.
Qingyin Pavilion was not far from the back hall, and Ling Luoyi arrived quickly.
After paying her respects, Ling Luoyi asked, "Grandfather, is there something you need me for?"
"Luo'er, you mentioned earlier that you wanted to build the Ling family into a hidden family. Do you have a location?"
Ling Luoyi did not answer. She took out a talisman and said, "Everyone, stand up."
Everyone looked at the talisman in Ling Luoyi's hand and understood.
The next moment, everyone in the back hall, including Uncle Liang, disappeared.
When they opened their eyes, they found themselves at the city gate, but there were no people in the city.
"Luo'er, where is this?"
"Grandfather, this is a complete small world. Although its area is only one-tenth of the Ancient Spirit Continent, it has everything. The rules are the same as the Ancient Spirit Continent, but the spiritual energy concentration here is higher than on the Ancient Spirit Continent. Grandfather can look around and see if this can become the hidden dwelling place for the Ling family."
Ling Huayu and the others looked around. The houses were well-equipped, the roads were accessible in all directions, the scenery was beautiful, the sunlight was warm, and a gentle breeze brushed their faces.
They couldn't help but nod. This was indeed a very suitable place for seclusion.