Chapter 55: Family Communication, Lin Ran's Cultivation!
"Buzz!"
"Buzz!"
"Buzz!"
…
Realizing what was about to happen, thirteen Peak Foundation Establishment cultivators rose into the air, guarding the directions in the sky above Renhuai County, enveloping the colorful cocoon in the center. If there were any potential leaks, it would undoubtedly be in the direction Lin Zhongba was situated.
Hardly any Foundation Establishment cultivator dared to get too close to him. Below, while most of the other cultivators were here merely for the spectacle, they couldn't help but harbor the idea of picking up some gains. The atmosphere grew heavier imperceptibly.
At the Hongshan Mountain direction, a young Lin family cultivator in the Seventh Layer of Qi Condensation observed the situation, a little puzzled. "Isn't the Rainbow Maiden at the Golden Core Realm when she's born? Why are these Foundation Establishment cultivators daring to surround her so openly?"
"Indeed, Rainbow Maiden is at the Golden Core Realm, but when the spirits of heaven and earth are born, it's also when she's at her most vulnerable. She may possess the power of Golden Core, but the actual power she can wield might not be as strong as a late Foundation Establishment cultivator.
"To completely control this power, a newly born spirit of heaven and earth might need anywhere from a month to half a year. In this time frame, there's enough room to apply some control measures. Or maybe, do what needs to be done before she recovers, then dispose of her."
Suddenly, Lin Zhongba's voice echoed beside the young Lin family cultivator. Lin Wanxin was startled, as he was merely murmuring his doubts and hadn't expected anyone to offer an explanation.
"Thank you, senior, for clarifying!"
Lin Wanxin slightly bowed to Lin Zhongba.
"Crack! Crack!"
Also at this moment, cracks appeared in the sky above, and the colorful cocoon trembled. In an instant, countless cracks began to appear.
"Buzz!"
Lin Zhongba and Lin Ran both felt the fluctuations and almost simultaneously took out the family tokens. Two identical messages were projected in front of them:
[Grand Ancestor's Order: At any cost, bring Rainbow Maiden back!]
The two were already the center of attention, and the contents of the messages didn't leave much to the imagination. In an instant, almost every cultivator in Hongshan County saw the message.
The atmosphere became subtly tense.
Lin Ji, Lin Hongtu, and other members of the Lin family from Hongshan Mountain saw this and their expressions changed slightly.
Lin Zhongba's displayed strength was far too formidable! With such a clear expression of intent now, it was highly likely that he would become the target of everyone's attention.
"It seems we can't keep a low profile any longer," Lin Ran said with a hint of resignation.
After speaking, Lin Ran took a step forward, standing side by side with Lin Zhongba.
"Boom!"
A powerful aura erupted from Lin Ran. Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage, Foundation Establishment Late-Stage, Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Peak!
…
The Sword Concealment technique faded, and Lin Ran unexpectedly displayed the same level of cultivation as Lin Zhongba. The onlookers were left slightly stunned, their faces a mix of shock and disbelief as they gazed at Lin Ran.
The other party's life force seemed far too youthful, and many could guess that Lin Ran's age was no more than twenty. Some even thought she might be as young as sixteen or seventeen.
A Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Peak at the age of sixteen or seventeen was like witnessing a myth!
"Is this a joke? How is this even possible?"
"Where did these two guys come from? Why are they both so exceptional?"
"Damn it, could they be disciples of a Fifth Rank Soul Formation power coming to make fun of us?"
"How are we supposed to compete with this?"
The cultivators of Hongshan County erupted into chaos after a brief moment of silence. Various comments and opinions filled the air. Even the members of the Lin family from Hongshan Mountain were no different.
In the sky above, Lin Ji, Lin Shimin, and Lin Qing stared at Lin Ran as if she was a monster.
They had spent half a month with Lin Ran, thinking that they had already accepted her talent at Foundation Establishment Initial Stage. But now, she had hidden such a significant secret from them. The three of them had always believed that Lin Ran was just an innocent, newly-joined member of the family, still in the dark about many things.
Seeing this, Lin Ran smiled with a touch of embarrassment. She had indeed concealed this from them for quite a while, which didn't feel quite right.
However, the family had told her that when walking in the cultivation world, it was necessary to avoid drawing too much attention. In addition, not only did they, but perhaps only Grand Ancestor and Father knew her true cultivation level.
Others had always assumed that only two people in the family, Lin Xunxian and Grandpa had reached the Foundation Establishment Late-Stage.
But they had forgotten, who was Lin Ran?
She was the most favored among the Lin family member by Grand Ancestor, and she had been by the lake in the back of the mountain for so long that Grand Ancestor occasionally used some Moonlight Power on her during cultivation.
With the support of her Grand Ancestor, Lin Ran's cultivation naturally advanced rapidly. With his special treatment, there was no way she would fall behind Lin Xunxian and Lin Zhongba.
Moreover, even Lin Ran herself wasn't sure if she was the only one in the family hiding a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage cultivation.
It couldn't be helped. At some point, the family had started a strange trend, where almost every family member liked to conceal their cultivation level. Perhaps only Grand Ancestor truly understood the situation of every member in the family.
"Sister Qing'er, I didn't mean to deceive you guys. It's a necessity when traveling the world of cultivation," Lin Ran explained apologetically.
Lin Qing'er realized it and nodded with a smile. "Yes, you should indeed keep your cultivation level hidden; otherwise, our journey might have taken a different turn."
Lin Ji and Lin Shimin also nodded in agreement.
A Foundation Establishment Late-Stage at sixteen or seventeen years of age, if not concealed, could indeed lead to unexpected situations. Moreover, Lin Ran hiding her cultivation was her own business; every cultivator had their own means of survival, and they had no right to comment on it.