Lin Ran offered a wry smile.
"These are too precious, Brother Xu."
Xu Sheng chuckled heartily.
"Didn't I tell you? I'm giving these to you as my contribution to the school and the nation."
"I'm not like those who curry favor. We're just classmates."
"Even if you don't accept my good intentions, I'll make sure the entire Jiangdong Xu family becomes your steadfast support!"
As Lin Ran listened to Xu Sheng's words and opened his mouth to reply, a cold sneer suddenly came from the side.
"Oh? My foolish brother, can you represent the entire Jiangdong Xu family?"
"Do you really think that the successor to the Internal Family Patriarch of the Jiangdong Xu family will be you?"
Xu Sheng's expression darkened at the remark. He turned to face the newcomer.
"Brother Zheng, what do you mean by that?"
Lin Ran followed Xu Sheng's gaze and saw a conspicuous bald man standing out from the crowd.
Xu Sheng's own elder brother, Xu Zheng?
Lin Ran suddenly understood.
After refusing Xu Sheng's invitation earlier, Lin Ran had researched the prominent family, the Jiangdong Xu family, upon returning.
The Jiangdong Xu family was indeed different from many prominent families. They were divided into an Internal Family and an External Family.
Their patriarchs were also divided into an Internal Family Patriarch and an External Family Patriarch.
The Internal Family Patriarch position was hereditary, ensuring the purity of bloodlines.
The External Family Patriarch was selected from recruited talents, with the most capable taking the position.
Generally, the External Family Patriarch was promoted by the Internal Family Patriarch, having a close relationship with them and possessing exceptional abilities.
This was why Xu Sheng had approached him before.
Clearly, he was already preparing for the succession struggle.
Currently, there were four individuals with inheritance rights in the Jiangdong Xu family.
They were the eldest, Xu Rong, the second, Xu Zheng, the third, Xu Sheng, and the fourth, Xu Liang.
The eldest, Xu Rong, was approaching thirty. While formidable in combat, he lacked intellect, so his chances were considered minimal.
The second, Xu Zheng, was more intelligent and possessed decent cultivation. However, he was arrogant, overbearing, and ruthless in his methods. Even within the Xu family, he had few admirers.
The fourth, Xu Liang, was clearly a strategist. His cultivation talent was limited, and he was quite young, making his prospects seem slim.
Only the third, Xu Sheng, possessed exceptional talent, a sunny disposition, bravery, steadfastness, and magnanimity, exuding the aura of a leader. He was the most popular candidate within the family.
Xu Zheng did not answer Xu Sheng's question. Instead, he met Lin Ran's gaze and looked back.
"Is this your new advisor? He looks quite capable..."
"Oh, I remember now! Isn't he also one of this year's special recruits at Yan University? The top scorer who broke records by a large margin!"
"With such talent assisting you, why worry about grand undertakings!"
"Well done, brother. You're becoming more capable by the day!"
Sensing Xu Zheng's unfriendly gaze and sarcastic tone, Lin Ran felt a surge of displeasure.
Currently a third-year student at Yan University, how could this second-in-line family heir be so arrogant?
If not for the halo of his prominent family, someone like this would have been killed countless times over.
Lin Ran paid him no mind. After storing the two items Xu Sheng had given him into his Soul Ring, he cupped his fists towards Xu Sheng.
"Brother Xu, thank you for your generosity!"
"I have matters to attend to, so I must take my leave!"
With that, Lin Ran prepared to enter the entrance of the Black Dragon Abyss.
To his surprise, Xu Zheng, like an annoying piece of flypaper, flashed in front of him, blocking his path.
"Young brother Lin, please stay. I have a favor to ask!"
Accompanying him was a large group of followers, all blocking Lin Ran's way.
Xu Sheng's expression changed. With a wave of his hand, the men behind him also moved to stand behind Lin Ran.
"Xu Zheng, what do you want?"
"Are you planning to fight in the fortified stronghold?"
In all the fortified strongholds of the forbidden lands, fighting among humans was strictly prohibited.
Any signs of conflict would be immediately suppressed by the stationed military, and severe penalties would be imposed.
In the face of the military, even a prominent family like the Xu family had to yield.
The two groups now stood facing each other, tension palpable, clearly on the verge of conflict.
Xu Zheng let out a sinister grin and said with a chilling voice,
"Of course, I wouldn't violate the stronghold's rules. I have official business with young brother Lin."
"Young brother Lin, could you do your big brother a favor and introduce me to that young lady, Luo Qingyan?"
"I've been coveting that girl's beauty for a long time..."
Hearing Xu Zheng's words, Lin Ran's eyes immediately narrowed. His Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan activated instantly.
Xu Zheng, noticing the change in Lin Ran's eye color, was startled. He grabbed a subordinate to shield him and retreated several steps.
As a student of Yan University, he couldn't possibly be unaware of the sensation Lin Ran had caused recently.
This person was a monstrous genius whose strength could not be measured by ordinary means.
In that instant, the terrifying killing intent emanating from Lin Ran made him instinctively feel as if black flames were about to erupt from him.
However, Lin Ran was not so reckless as to engage in combat within the fortified stronghold.
Furthermore, analyzing the energy currents through his Sharingan, he deduced that Xu Zheng might be a fourth-tier awakened being.
Even with his confidence, Lin Ran was not so arrogant as to try and kill a fourth-tier awakened being amidst a large group of followers.
So Lin Ran smiled and said,
"Xu Zheng, is it..."
"I advise you to try not to close your eyes when you sleep at night..."
"Otherwise, one day your head might just fly off!"
With that, Lin Ran pushed aside Xu Zheng and his entourage and entered the entrance of the Black Dragon Abyss.
Xu Zheng finally recovered from his shock.
It was strange. He, a fourth-tier awakened being, had his spirit quelled by a first-tier awakened being.
Just now, Xu Zheng had no doubt that Lin Ran, with his black and red pupils, had the potential to kill him...
Even though he didn't know what killing techniques were hidden beneath those abnormal pupils.
But this unique sense of danger inherent in awakened beings did not deceive him. He trusted his judgment, honed by years of experience in forbidden lands.
That strange feeling was akin to facing a seventh-tier Earth Dragon beast, sending chills down his spine.
This Xu Sheng had truly brought him a lot of trouble!
If in another year or two, Lin Ran fully matured and stood shoulder to shoulder with Xu Sheng...
Glancing at the half-smiling Xu Sheng beside him, Xu Zheng's face darkened. He waved his hand and said,
"Let's go!"
With that, he led his followers away from the Black Dragon Abyss fortified stronghold.
The old man's condition was worsening, and he had to make plans accordingly!