Chen Tian and Chen Mei looked at the young man before them. He bore a striking resemblance to Lin Xue, but he was merely a youth, with only a hint of the same divine aura. Lin Dong spoke, "Tell me how you entered the Lin family. Sneaking in is one thing, but you even tried to damage property! Do you know this teapot is an antique? It's worth hundreds of millions. If you broke it, could you afford to pay for it?"
Chen Mei was about to speak when Chen Tian interjected, "Then what do you think is the reason we are here?"
"This!"
Lin Dong was stunned. That was right! How had they gotten in? The manor was completely sealed off, with security and guards on high alert. Unless they were members of the Lin family, it was impossible to get in.
"Cough, cough, cough! Dong'er, these are honored guests, do not be disrespectful. Cough!"
An aged voice rang out. Lin Dong replied, "Understood, Grandfather. I'm sorry, I was too impulsive. I apologize to you."
He then bowed before Chen Tian, who waved his hand, indicating it was fine. Chen Tian then looked at Lin Moran and was shocked. Lin Moran's hair was completely white, his face was etched with wrinkles, his skin looked as if it had no substance, and his skeletal frame seemed as if it would shatter at a touch.
Chen Tian asked, "Old man Lin, how did you become like this?"
"Cough, cough! Master Chen, this is a long story, but my life is coming to an end. I called you here mainly because I want you to attend a meeting."
Upon hearing the word "meeting," Lin Dong exclaimed, "Grandfather, what are you saying? Him? Do you think he's qualified? That's the highest secret of the Lin family!"
"Dong'er, do not be disrespectful. Master Chen is a Martial God. What meeting or occasion can he not attend? Cough, cough."
Lin Moran rebuked him angrily. Lin Dong looked at Chen Tian and said, "Him, a Martial God? What a joke! He's at most my age, and at best at the Dark Strength realm. I don't believe it, Grandfather, please reconsider! This concerns the very survival of the Lin family!"
"Cough, cough! Dong'er, you... cough, cough! This unfilial child. Since when have you stopped believing my words?"
"Grandfather, it's not that I don't believe him, he's truly too young. Do you expect me to believe it? Even if he attends the meeting, do you think Father would agree?"
Lin Moran said, "I will speak to your father. You may leave now!"
"Grandfather!"
"Retire!"
Seeing that his grandfather was unyielding, Lin Dong decided not to argue further. Just as Lin Dong was about to leave, Chen Tian spoke, "Don't go yet. You say I'm not qualified, so I'll show you my qualifications."
His eyes then emitted starlight, and in an instant, the surrounding room transformed into the universe. Lin Xue, Lin Moran, and Lin Dong watched in shock as if they were standing amidst the cosmos.
Lin Dong rubbed his eyes, seeing the realistic scene. He realized he was not dreaming nor was it an illusion. A sense of disorientation washed over them, and the three were returned to the room.
However, a feeling of discomfort lingered. Chen Tian asked, "Now, do I have the qualifications?"
Lin Dong nodded, speechless. The skill he had just displayed was something no Martial God could achieve. He had never heard of a Martial God possessing such abilities. This was beyond the realm of a martial artist.
Lin Dong then said, "You are a Martial Artist of the Spiritual Person realm. I apologize for my earlier rudeness. I hope you will be magnanimous and forgive me."
Chen Tian said nothing, then looked at Lin Moran and asked, "Old man Lin, I can heal your body, but that's not why you called me here today, is it?"
"Master Chen, let's attend the meeting first. This time, we truly might need your help."
Lin Moran showed no concern for his own body and looked at Chen Tian with a plea. Chen Tian understood that the other party had a request.
Chen Tian then asked Chen Mei to wait in the lobby while he followed Lin Moran into the inner chambers.
Somewhere on Earth, in a dark room devoid of light, a chewing sound could be heard. A voice boomed throughout the house, "The assassination team failed. There was an anomaly. You two, quickly eliminate the target."
"Incompetent. Humans are only fit to be my food. Understood. We'll go after we finish eating."
The voice then fell silent, and the rapid chewing sound resumed. Soon after, it disappeared. Two beams of light shot out from the house and vanished.
Meanwhile, under Lin Moran's guidance, Chen Tian arrived outside a chamber door. Lin Moran said, "Lin Xue, wait here. We will be out shortly."
"Okay, Grandfather!"
Lin Moran then opened the grand door, and Chen Tian entered. The door closed behind him. Lin Xue did not know what meeting her grandfather was referring to, but she knew to obey him. Especially seeing her grandfather in his current state, Lin Xue felt a pang of sadness. Her grandfather did not have much time left; she would cherish the remaining moments.
Inside the room, Chen Tian saw seven or eight people engaged in discussion. A layout of the manor was displayed on a screen.
Upon Lin Moran's arrival, the discussions ceased. A young man approached Lin Moran and said, "Father, why are you here instead of resting?"
"Cough, cough! I came to introduce you to a friend. This is Chen Tian. He might be of some help. His cultivation is Martial God realm."
"What?"
"Old man Lin, you can't be joking! A Martial God this young? I don't believe it. This isn't some personal favoritism, is it?"
"Old man Lin, you never told us you knew any Martial Gods. Don't try to fool us."
"Besides, what is this place? This is the highest council. Old man Lin, whether he's a Martial God or not, I won't say, but what is his status? Does he have the right to be here?"
Lin Shangxue also spoke, "Yes, Father. He's not from our clan, he doesn't have the right to be here. This is a Lin family secret. We can't let outsiders know. The consequences of any leak would be unimaginable."
Chen Tian looked at their disbelieving faces and said, "Now, do I have the qualifications?"
As Chen Tian finished speaking, the surroundings instantly transformed into a starry sky. Everyone seemed to be standing on a bridge formed by the Milky Way. Chen Tian calmly stated, "Now, do I have the qualifications?"
Everyone fell silent. Such an ability was impossible even for a Martial God. Only cultivators or martial artists of the Spiritual Person realm and above could achieve it.
After they returned to reality, an elder spoke, "May I ask if you are a cultivator or a martial artist?"
Chen Tian replied, "I suppose you could call me a martial artist."
Everyone took a deep breath. Lin Shangxue then said, "Father, with this, the safety of the Lin family might truly be secured this time."
Lin Shangxue then bowed to Chen Tian and said, "Greetings, Senior Spiritual Person!"
The others followed suit, kneeling in unison. Chen Tian asked, "There's no need. What exactly has happened that has made you all so anxious?"