"Master Xiao is too kind. I was just a bit lucky," Lin Chen said with a humble smile after hearing Xiao Jianguo's praise.
To him, the heads of the ten great families of the capital were all present. It was impossible for all of them to genuinely wish him well, unlike Old Master Long. With him offering so many elixirs, even though these people appeared to be smiling, he had no way of knowing how many of them actually wished him dead.
"Alas, Young Friend Lin, you are too modest," Xiao Jianguo sighed deeply, looking at Xiao Yun beside him. "If I had a grandson like you, I could die with a smile." He blamed himself for lacking this fate. Even if he had personally brought Xiao Yun to Lin Chen's door, he couldn't have turned such a genius into his grandson-in-law.
But now? Old Master Long, who was supposed to succumb to illness from overwork, was not only fine but had also gained immense benefits. Xiao Jianguo, being a Nascent Soul stage cultivator himself and familiar with Old Master Long, knew very well that Old Master Long's strength was growing stronger day by day. The gap between them was already widening. Although both were in the Nascent Soul realm, if they were to fight, he knew he would never be Old Master Long's match. Xiao Jianguo was very self-aware of this.
"Old Master, you are too kind." Lin Chen didn't say much in response to Xiao Jianguo's flattery. Although Xiao Jianguo's attitude towards him was good and he had even wanted to arrange a marriage alliance, Lin Chen didn't have much affection for him. When his four-grade alchemist abilities were exposed, it only took a few hours for people from the Ghost Spirit Sect to arrive. Judging by Old Master Long's attitude, it was Xiao Jianguo who had leaked his information to the Ghost Spirit Sect back then. Because of this, Lin Chen had maintained a certain distance from the Xiao family.
"Young Friend Lin, I am the head of the Song family in the capital, Song Changwei. This is my son, Song Ziyang." Song Changwei sighed and introduced himself to Lin Chen. "Alas, to see Young Friend Lin's current achievements and then look at you, it's a world of difference!" The envy and jealousy in his eyes were felt by everyone present.
"Thank you, Grandpa Song, for your praise. I am also just lucky." Lin Chen smiled and greeted them as he received compliments from these family heads.
For the next few minutes, it was almost entirely filled with introductions to the dignitaries present, making Lin Chen, who disliked socializing, feel bored. Fortunately, these were all astute individuals. Seeing that Lin Chen disliked socializing, they shifted their attention to Lin Xianfeng. They had all investigated Lin Chen and knew that Lin Xianfeng had been expelled from the Lin family. Most of them also knew that someone like Lin Xianfeng would not be content with mediocrity, especially now that he had a son like Lin Chen to support him. Ultimately, the rise of Lin Xianfeng and Lin Yuelong was foreseeable. With Lin Chen's current alchemy skills, they had to find ways to maintain a good relationship with the Lin Xianfeng and Lin Yuelong brothers. Only by doing so, when Lin Xianfeng eventually rose to prominence, would they not incur his hostility.
It was almost impossible to make a move against Lin Chen now, given that Yang Tianfeng, who was beside him, was a genuine expert at the second-grade Nascent Soul stage. Who in the entire capital was Yang Tianfeng's match?
"Breakthrough! A breakthrough!"
However, just as a group of people were engaged in pleasant conversation, Long Hongyuan rushed into the banquet hall, his expression filled with excitement.
"Hmm? Hongyuan, why are you so agitated?" Old Master Long reprimanded Long Hongyuan with some displeasure. "Such a commotion! With so many guests around, your impetuous behavior is unbecoming."
"No, Grandpa, it's my eldest aunt! After consuming the elixir, my eldest aunt immediately broke through!" Long Hongyuan explained what had just happened without further comment after being rebuked by Old Master Long. "And she's a second-grade Nascent Soul stage expert!"
"What? Second-grade Nascent Soul? Is that true?" Old Master Long's eyes lit up upon hearing Long Hongyuan's words. My goodness, it was one thing to break through, but to reach the second-grade Nascent Soul stage directly was too much of a pleasant surprise!
"Grandpa, even if I had ten thousand guts, I wouldn't dare to lie to you about this!" Long Hongyuan, unsure how to explain further, added, "My eldest aunt is currently consolidating her cultivation and should emerge from seclusion soon. If you don't believe me, you can go and see for yourself later!" It was understandable that Old Master Long might doubt him. A cultivation that was about to fall to the ordinary Foundation Establishment stage had suddenly recovered and reached the second-grade Nascent Soul realm; this was indeed an overwhelmingly delightful turn of events!
In that case, the Long family would truly possess two Nascent Soul stage experts. With an extraordinary expert like Lu Yuyan, who would dare to oppose the Long family in the future?
"Good, good, good! Wonderful!" Old Master Long exclaimed, his entire being stirred with emotion. "Esteemed guests, my Long family is celebrating triple happiness today. You must all stay and celebrate with me tonight!" He then instructed, "Hongyuan, go immediately and retrieve the good wine I've hidden for over seventy years. I must have a good drink with all the family heads today!" Hearing Long Hongyuan's report, Old Master Long was visibly excited. It was clear he knew that with Long Hongyuan's character, he would never dare to deceive him about such a matter.
"Yes, Grandpa!" Long Hongyuan nodded excitedly upon receiving Old Master Long's order. With the rise of a powerful figure like Lu Yuyan, the Long family's status would undoubtedly soar. At such a time, he would naturally be even more proud.
"Congratulations, Old Master Long!"
"Indeed, Old Master Long, it's truly wonderful to have such a niece-in-law!" The other family heads also stood up and offered their congratulations to Old Master Long. The situation had reached a point where there was no turning back. The best course of action now was to maintain a good relationship with the Long family. If they truly angered the Long family, with their current strength, anyone would likely find themselves in a very difficult situation.