The Imperial Palace, the Hall of a Thousand Mechanisms.
The Hall of a Thousand Mechanisms was where the Emperor of the Tianwu Kingdom handled state affairs. At this moment, the current Emperor was discussing matters with the various elders.
"What are the elders' views on today's events?"
While ostensibly asking about today's events, he was actually inquiring about the Ling family.
"Your Majesty, the Eldest Miss Ling's actions today were likely to make the Wei family wary, preventing them from easily attacking the Ling family. Therefore, how to view today's events depends on how Your Majesty views the Five Great Clans."
At this point, the Grand Elder paused.
The Emperor gestured for him to continue.
"Currently, the strength of the Five Great Clans has surpassed that of the royal family. If Your Majesty wishes to weaken their strength, the Ling family can be utilized."
"Your Majesty, there are two methods to weaken the strength of the Five Great Clans: one is to weaken them, but this would be equivalent to weakening the strength of the Tianwu Kingdom. This method is not feasible; only the second method can be used."
"Strengthen oneself."
If one cannot weaken the opponent, one can only strengthen oneself.
"Yes. Befriending an alchemist has more advantages than disadvantages, especially since alchemists are extremely rare in the Tianwu Kingdom."
"However, befriending the Ling family would mean offending the Wei family. Offending the Wei family at this time would be detrimental to the royal family..."
The Emperor did not finish his sentence.
"Your Majesty, on the first day of the Eldest Miss Ling's return, she crippled the legs of the Yuan family patriarch. The imperial physicians who treated him said that the Yuan family patriarch's legs were burned to ashes by beast fire and could not be recovered. Combined with the Eldest Miss Ling's actions at the Alchemist Guild today, it is clear that the Eldest Miss Ling intends to avenge the Ling family. If she truly seeks revenge, the Wei family is the mastermind!"
"Your Majesty, today the Second Master Ling and the Eldest Young Master visited the various families. The secret guards have reported that more than half of the families are willing to help the Ling family. Coupled with the Eldest Miss Ling's visit to the major guilds today, all the major guilds, except for the Beast Tamer Guild, are willing to help the Ling family."
"Your Majesty, judging by the actions of the Flowing Cloud Pavilion, it seems they are also standing with the Ling family."
"So many forces are standing with the Ling family?" the Emperor exclaimed in surprise.
"Your Majesty, as it stands, it is far more than that. The incident at the Alchemist Guild today will soon spread across the continent. If the royal family has a poor relationship with the Eldest Miss Ling, then..."
The latter part of the statement was somewhat treasonous, and this elder dared not speak it.
The Emperor's body trembled slightly.
If their relationship with the Eldest Miss Ling was too poor, it was possible that their nation could be destroyed.
Thinking of this, the Emperor shook his head violently, telling himself not to think about it.
"So, in conclusion, do all the elders mean to befriend the Ling family?"
"Yes. Currently, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages."
"But I fear the Ling family might become the next Wei family."
"Forgive my bluntness, Your Majesty, but your worries are unnecessary. Let alone the fact that the royal family was not involved in that incident ten years ago. Not to mention that the royal family has not suppressed the Ling family in the past decade, so the Eldest Miss Ling will not target the royal family. Moreover, the Ling family patriarch is an extremely loyal person. As long as the royal family does not target the Ling family, the Ling family patriarch will not betray the royal family."
"Furthermore, the Wei family acts with arrogance and has already shown signs of wanting to surpass the royal family. However, even when the Ling family was at its peak, they never had the intention of disrespecting the royal family, let alone the fact that the Ling family patriarch is a grateful person."
"But the strongest person in the Tianwu Kingdom is the Wei family's Old Ancestor."
"Your Majesty, how long do you think it will take for the Ling family patriarch to reach the level of the Wei family's Old Ancestor with the help of an alchemist who can refine top-grade pills?"
"Your Majesty, as far as I know, the Ling family patriarch was already a ninth-tier spirit practitioner ten years ago. Although he has been searching for his granddaughter these past few years, delaying his cultivation, even if he hasn't advanced, he wouldn't have regressed, would he?"
"Moreover, Your Majesty, based on the current situation, the Eldest Miss Ling is a fourth-grade alchemist."
He emphasized the word 'currently'.
The Emperor was startled.
Yes, it was only 'currently', and it was still their speculation.
"Your Majesty, according to reports from the Wei family's spies, the Wei family's Old Ancestor's lifespan is nearing its end."
Another potent dose!
"What if other countries invade?"
If other countries invaded, the Tianwu Kingdom would not have the ability to resist.
"Your Majesty, there are more people in this world who wish to become stronger."
Those who wish to become stronger would never easily offend someone whose background is unknown.
After all, intelligent people know that what is exposed is not the real strength; the true trump cards are only used in times of genuine crisis.
Since the Eldest Miss Ling could expose the top-grade pills, she must have even greater trump cards.
Beast fire, powerful fire control techniques, top-grade pills, and trump cards they were unaware of.
If such a person were offended, he would regret it immensely.
The more the Emperor thought about it, the more alarmed he became, and the more he felt that befriending the Eldest Miss Ling was an urgent matter.
The Emperor tried his best to calm himself down.
A quarter of an hour later, the Emperor's heart had calmed down. All his concerns were dispelled, and he could make a decision. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Just as Li Shu had guessed, he had also reached the same conclusion, but he had too many concerns, and this decision was not one he could make alone, which was why he had summoned the elders to discuss it.
Now that all the elders agreed, he could make the decision.
"Since all the elders agree, then for the banquet three days from now, let's send an invitation to the Ling family. I will personally write the invitation for the Eldest Miss Ling, and the Crown Prince and the Eldest Princess will personally deliver it, so as to show our sincerity."
The elders all nodded in agreement.
*
In the rear hall of the Yuan family, they were also deliberating.
"Let's halt any plans against the Ling family for now. If we act at this time, the Yuan family will become a target."
"Grand Elder, then my father's legs were burned for nothing!" Yuan Chengfeng, the second young master of the Yuan family, said angrily.
"Then what do you want?! Do you want to be hated by the entire continent by dealing with the Ling family at this time? Idiot!"
The Grand Elder was clearly furious, even resorting to verbally abusing a direct descendant disciple.
Yuan Chengmo, the eldest young master of the Yuan family, looked at the chaotic hall and couldn't help but pound the table, saying hatefully, "No one expected Ling Luoyi to pull this off."
The Yuan family had intended to target the Ling family in the coming days. Their plans were all set, only awaiting the opportune moment.
Who would have thought that instead of waiting for the opportune moment, they would receive such news?
"She did it on purpose!" Yuan Chengfeng couldn't hold back and roared.
"Of course, she did it on purpose," Yuan Chengmo said slowly. "On the first day, she burned Father's legs with a valid reason, throwing us into disarray, and we couldn't directly confront her. On the second day, after we had made our plans, she deliberately stayed indoors. On the third day, this news spread. Truly, a formidable Eldest Miss Ling."
"Eldest Brother, can we really do nothing?"
"Not necessarily."
"What do you mean?"
"The Ling family patriarch and his two sons are still outside. They should receive the news soon. In any case, the plan here will continue."
"Eldest Young Master!" The Grand Elder tried to stop him.
"Grand Elder, as long as they die outside the city, we can find a reason to explain it away. At that time, the Ling family will have no evidence and cannot do anything to us."
The Grand Elder looked at the sinister Yuan Chengmo, feeling that his idea was somewhat naive.
The Grand Elder sighed, looking at the people in the hall. These were all candidates for the next family patriarch.
The distinction between direct and collateral descendants in the Yuan family was not severe, but it was impossible to let a collateral descendant become the family patriarch.
Yuan Zhan had fifteen sons, but only six were direct descendants. However, the eldest young master was self-willed, and the second young master was impulsive and easily angered, making them not the best candidates for the family patriarch.
Although the third young master was exceptionally intelligent, he was physically impaired, and no family patriarch was crippled, so it was impossible.
The ninth young master lacked talent and diligence, making him incapable of managing the entire family.
The eleventh young master's spiritual root was damaged, and his cultivation could no longer progress in this life, making him ineligible to be the family patriarch.
The fifteenth young master had good talent, but he was too young. If he became the family patriarch, he would not be able to command respect.
If a successor could not be chosen from the patriarch's direct line, then the patriarch's brother would have to be considered.
However, had it reached this point already?