After the Elder Council meeting finally ended, the Head Elder remained seated in the main hall, her expression calm on the surface while her thoughts continued turning over everything that had been discussed.
The elders had eventually dispersed, each returning to their respective duties, but the weight of the decision had remained behind.
She had already reached a conclusion.
As the newest Golden Core cultivator of the Lin Family, she now possessed considerably greater authority within the family, and the other two Golden Core Ancestors had already entrusted her with the authority to make crucial decisions on behalf of the family while they remained in seclusion.
They had entered seclusion precisely because they wished to consolidate their cultivation, and unless something truly serious occurred, she could not afford to disturb them.
The situation had not yet reached the point where she could justify interrupting two Golden Core Ancestors.
But perhaps it would soon.
The Head Elder slowly exhaled.
The elders had made valid arguments.
The Purple Extremity Dan Sect was powerful, and its influence among cultivation families was extraordinary, but the Lin Family did not possess the sort of high-level alchemist that would make the sect value them particularly highly.
The Dao Reaching Sect was different.
Their founding ancestor had once been an Inner Sect Disciple of the Dao Reaching Sect.
Although that connection had become extremely distant over the generations, it still existed.
More importantly, the Dao Reaching Sect had always been relatively restrained in its dealings with surrounding cultivation families, unlike the increasingly aggressive Seven Star Palace.
If the Lin Family wanted an ally rather than a master, the Dao Reaching Sect was probably the better choice.
The Head Elder's fingers lightly tapped against the armrest.
"Then the Dao Reaching Sect it is."
Her voice was quiet, but there was determination within it.
The moment she made that decision, she felt a faint weight lift from her heart.
Unfortunately, she had not yet had the opportunity to contact the Dao Reaching Sect.
There were still many things that needed to be arranged, and before making such an important alliance, she needed to know exactly what the other side was willing to offer and what the Lin Family would have to give in return.
Just as she was pondering this, footsteps came from outside.
The Head Elder raised her head.
The door opened, and a young woman walked into the hall.
The moment she entered, the Head Elder's expression softened.
"Master."
The young woman respectfully cupped her hands.
It was Lin Yan.
Nine years had changed her considerably.
Her appearance had already possessed a certain beauty when she was younger, but after stepping onto the path of cultivation and continuously nourishing her body with spiritual energy, that beauty had become increasingly refined. Her features were delicate, her skin carried a faint lustre, and her long black hair flowed naturally behind her back, giving her an appearance that was no longer that of the young girl who had once followed behind the elders of the family.
More importantly, there was now a calmness in her eyes.
It was the composure of someone who had spent years cultivating and fighting.
The Head Elder looked at her for a moment before smiling.
"Your aura has become much more stable."
Lin Yan nodded.
"Yes, Master."
The Head Elder's divine sense swept over her body.
The Xuan Gang within Lin Yan's body circulated smoothly, its power restrained beneath the surface, like a river flowing beneath a frozen lake.
There was no longer any obvious obstruction.
The bottleneck that had stood before her for so long had already begun to loosen.
The Head Elder's smile deepened.
"You're finally ready."
Lin Yan's eyes brightened.
"Purple Palace?"
"Yes."
The Head Elder nodded.
"You have accumulated enough, your foundation is stable, and your spirit has reached the required level. If you continue forcing yourself to accumulate without attempting the breakthrough, it will no longer benefit you."
Lin Yan's hands tightened slightly.
She had waited for this day for a long time.
Purple Palace.
It was one of the great thresholds of immortal cultivation.
Before this realm, cultivators were still considered relatively ordinary within the true cultivation world. Once they entered Purple Palace, however, their status would undergo a fundamental transformation.
They would possess a stronger spiritual sense, greater control over their magic power, a more powerful foundation and, most importantly, a much greater chance of eventually reaching Golden Core.
The Head Elder reached into her storage ring.
A storage bag appeared in her hand.
She tossed it gently towards Lin Yan.
Lin Yan caught it instinctively.
"This is for your breakthrough."
Lin Yan immediately opened the storage bag with her divine sense.
Her expression changed slightly.
Inside were several bottles of carefully prepared pills, along with several Heaven and Earth Spiritual Treasures.
Some of the treasures contained rich spiritual energy, while others possessed special properties designed to stabilise the mind and strengthen the foundation.
There were even resources specifically prepared to assist a cultivator in overcoming a bottleneck.
Lin Yan's expression became serious.
"Master, these..."
"Take them."
The Head Elder interrupted her.
"You have accumulated enough over the years. The family has resources precisely so that they can be used when one of our people reaches an important threshold."
Lin Yan hesitated for a moment before putting the storage bag away.
"Thank you, Master."
The Head Elder nodded.
"Once you are ready, enter seclusion. Don't rush the breakthrough simply because you have the resources. Use them according to your condition, and if your foundation feels unstable at any point, stop immediately."
"I understand."
Lin Yan smiled.
Then, as though remembering something, she said, "Master, there is another matter."
The Head Elder's expression became slightly more serious.
"What happened?"
Lin Yan thought for a moment before answering.
"Recently, I led several of the younger members of the family outside the city to hunt some Yao beasts."
The Head Elder nodded.
This was normal.
The younger generation needed experience.
Cultivators could not spend their entire lives cultivating within formations and secluded chambers. If they never experienced combat, even a powerful cultivation base could become difficult to use effectively when facing a genuine life-and-death battle.
Lin Yan continued.
"We encountered some trouble during the journey."
"What kind?"
"People."
The Head Elder's eyes narrowed.
Lin Yan's expression became solemn.
"We had already finished hunting the Yao beasts and were preparing to return when we were attacked by several cultivators dressed entirely in black."
"How strong?"
"Most of them weren't particularly powerful."
Lin Yan paused.
"But they weren't ordinary rogue cultivators either."
The Head Elder's fingers stopped tapping against the armrest.
"What did you discover?"
"One of them had something on his body."
Lin Yan's eyes became cold.
"A Seven Star insignia."
Silence.
The hall suddenly seemed much quieter.
The Head Elder's expression changed almost imperceptibly.
"Are you certain?"
"I am."
Lin Yan nodded.
"I personally saw it."
Her voice was firm.
"It was hidden beneath his clothing, but when we fought, part of his robe was torn. The insignia was exposed."
The Head Elder slowly leaned back.
A Seven Star insignia.
There were many sects and forces in the Eastern Region, but there were not many who would dare openly display such an emblem.
Seven stars arranged in that particular pattern.
There was no mistaking it.
Seven Star Palace.
The Head Elder's heart sank.
Until now, the Lin Family had always assumed that the Seven Star Palace's actions against surrounding families were part of a broader strategy.
They had sabotaged rising families from the shadows, interfered with promising disciples, stolen resources, created conflicts between families and quietly eliminated people who might threaten their future interests.
The Lin Family had even suspected that some of the seemingly unrelated incidents they had encountered over the years had been connected to the Seven Star Palace.
But they had never possessed conclusive evidence.
And more importantly, the Seven Star Palace had always maintained a certain degree of restraint.
They acted in the shadows.
They left room for others to pretend they knew nothing.
That had now changed.
Lin Yan and the younger generation had encountered Seven Star Palace cultivators in broad daylight.
They had not even bothered to completely conceal their identity.
The Head Elder felt fury rise within her chest.
"So they've decided to make a move against us."
Her voice was low.
Lin Yan did not answer.
She could feel the change in her master's aura.
The Head Elder's Golden Core cultivation did not erupt, but the spiritual pressure surrounding her body became slightly heavier, causing the atmosphere within the hall to grow tense.
The Seven Star Palace had finally shifted its attention towards the Lin Family.
That meant the previous period of hidden confrontation was over.
The Lin Family was no longer merely observing the storm.
It had entered the storm.
The Head Elder closed her eyes for several breaths.
She had just made her decision to approach the Dao Reaching Sect.
Now she understood that she could not afford to delay.
The Seven Star Palace had already begun moving.
If the Lin Family waited until the enemy's blade was at their throat before seeking an ally, it would already be too late.
She opened her eyes.
"Lin Yan."
"Yes, Master?"
"Return to the Qian Family residence."
Lin Yan was slightly surprised.
"Now?"
"Yes."
The Head Elder's expression was firm.
"Tell everyone not to leave the city without informing me. Until this matter is resolved, the younger generation must not act independently."
Lin Yan nodded.
"I understand."
She turned to leave.
"Wait."
Lin Yan stopped.
The Head Elder looked at her.
"And your Purple Palace breakthrough?"
"I'll begin preparations immediately."
"Good."
The Head Elder's expression softened again.
"Don't let this matter disturb your heart. The Seven Star Palace is the enemy of the Lin Family, not your personal enemy. Your task is to become stronger."
Lin Yan nodded.
"Yes, Master."
She turned and walked out of the hall.
The doors slowly closed behind her.
The Head Elder remained alone.
For several moments, she simply stared at the empty doorway.
Then her gaze fell upon the communication talisman lying beside her.
The decision had already been made.
There was no reason to hesitate any longer.
She picked up the communication talisman, infused it with her Golden Core spiritual energy, and a faint light immediately began circulating across its surface.
The Head Elder's eyes became cold.
If the Seven Star Palace wanted to force the Lin Family to choose a side, then they had succeeded.
But the side she chose would not be the Seven Star Palace.
Her spiritual energy entered the communication talisman, and a message travelled through the distant formation connecting the cultivation forces of the Eastern Region.
The message was simple.
The Lin Family wishes to establish an alliance with the Dao Reaching Sect.