A technologically powerful nation: The national treasure is actually myself.

"Do you have any further ideas?"

Inside the main hall, the breathing of all the Zhao family elders became heavy with Lin Yang's words.

The glint in Zhao Yuan's eyes was almost overflowing.

Go a step further?
How could he not want to?!
I never dared to imagine this before!
But now, Lin Yang's words seemed to be sending him some kind of signal.

Zhao Yuan became extremely excited and almost blurted out, "Guest Elder Lin, just tell us what to do! Our entire Zhao family will follow your orders!"

Lin Yang's cultivation is almost at the peak of the Yuanhe Realm!
This level of skill is unmatched within Xiwu City!
Not to mention that Lin Yang is also skilled at fighting opponents of higher levels!

Zhao Yuan's throat tightened with excitement; he knew that the Zhao family was about to experience an unprecedented stroke of good fortune.

The others also stared at Lin Yang, their eyes flashing with anticipation, all expressing their willingness to obey Lin Yang's commands.

Seeing this, Lin Yang smiled and said, "In that case, I think the Zhao family should become one of the five major families of Xiwu City. What do you all think?"

Boom.

Zhao Yuan, Zhao Xiongshan, and the others all experienced a buzzing in their minds.

Although Zhao Hu had mentioned to them when he returned that Lin Yang had said the five major families were not invincible, they had already vaguely guessed that Lin Yang might have some ideas.

But when they actually heard those words, they still felt a chill run down their spines!
A thrilling tremor!

My family has become one of the five great families?!
If it were someone else, or if Lin Yang weren't at near-peak cultivation, they would definitely just take it as a joke.

But Lin Yang's current cultivation level gave his words weight!

Zhao Yuan felt a chill run down his spine and repeatedly said, "Lin...Guest Elder, are you really planning to help us join the ranks of the five great families??"

With Lin Yang's current cultivation level, Zhao Yuan had no doubt that as long as Lin Yang really wanted to do it, he would definitely succeed.

But he still found it a bit hard to believe.

Lin Yang smiled faintly: "Fellow Daoist Zhao, I do have this idea, but ultimately it is up to you to decide. After all, I can't say for sure when I might leave, so whether or not to become one of the five great families is something you need to think about carefully."

Zhao Yuan was taken aback: "Guest Elder Lin, you...are you leaving?"

"Yes."

Lin Yang nodded, not hiding anything, and said directly:

"This time I want to break through to the Dao Without Leaks Realm. After I reach the Dao Without Leaks Realm, I may leave Xiwu City."

"Therefore, I still need to make some interests clear to you. I can help the Zhao family join the ranks of the top five families now, but if I leave in the future, the Zhao family may be in trouble."

"So it depends on whether you're willing to take this gamble."

Zhao Yuan and the others were taken aback, and then fell silent, clearly considering what to do.

Lin Yang didn't urge them, and quietly watched Zhao Yuan and the others wait for them to make their choice.

The Zhao family had been a great help to him, so he treated them sincerely and informed them of any potential problems in advance.

Because after he successfully breaks through to the Dao of Perfection, he will focus on cultivating the Dao of Time.

If he specializes in the Way of Time, he is unlikely to stay in one place.

Only by personally experiencing and feeling the changes of the world can one gain a deeper understanding of the way of time.

Leaving Xiwu City at that time is inevitable.

Everyone in Xiwu City knew that he was merely a guest retainer of the Zhao family, not a member of the Zhao family clan.

To put it bluntly, a guest advisor is just an outsider who can leave at any time. Usually, most families hire guest advisors based on mutual benefit.

If he leaves Xiwu City for too long and does not return, other families will take action against the Zhao family.

Because he was not a member of the Zhao family, he had no blood ties, unlike those family patriarchs who, even if they traveled far away, were still awe-inspiring as long as they were alive.

When he first left, other families might have been wary of his presence and refrained from attacking the Zhao family, but as time went on, that wariness would disappear.

Therefore, the Zhao family is likely to face trouble at that time.

He was also unable to make any promises or guarantees to the Zhao family that he would be able to rush back to help them if they encountered any trouble.

Therefore, while it is certainly advantageous for the Zhao family to become one of the five major families, they must also bear the risks they will face in the future.

Therefore, Lin Yang did not require the Zhao family to do so.

Although he lacks resources, if the Zhao family doesn't want to take the risk, he has plenty of ways to acquire resources with his current cultivation level.

The reason I still say this is because I want to help the Zhao family out of consideration for our relationship over the years.

Because he definitely won't leave Xiwu City anytime soon.

If Zhao Yuan's cultivation can also break through during this period, or if the Zhao family produces one or two more Yuanhe Realm cultivators, then their future will be secure.

Now, it remains to be seen whether the Zhao family wants to enjoy the limelight or play it safe.

Zhao Yuan, Zhao Xiongshan, and the others did not think about it for long.

Zhao Yuan said with a firm gaze:

"Guest Elder Lin, I've made up my mind. I'll take this gamble and become one of the five great families!"

"Oh? Fellow Daoist Zhao has made up his mind?" Lin Yang asked to confirm.

"Well, I've thought about it!"

Zhao Yuan nodded, took a deep breath, and said:
"Now that we have become one of the five great families with your help, Lin Keqing, we may face troubles in the future."

"But the resources and territories of the five major families are too tempting, far exceeding our current resources by more than ten times!"

"Even if I can only have it for a few years, it's worth it!"

"In particular, having joined the ranks of the five great families, with ample resources, I may well be able to advance further. Even if you, Guest Elder Lin, leave, we can still protect ourselves. At worst, we'll just have to relinquish our position among the five great families and revert to being a first-rate family."

"If we miss this opportunity now, we may avoid some crises in the future, but we will lose more now."

"Furthermore, if the status quo continues, I am not confident that I can make a breakthrough. If you, Guest Elder Lin, leave, our Zhao family may be relegated to a second-rate family."

"It's more worthwhile to take a gamble now!"

Zhao Yuan's gaze was intense.

He can still figure out the math.

Having joined one of the top five families and with ample resources, he was confident he could forcefully break through to the next realm.

Even if Lin Yang leaves after breaking through to the next realm, giving up the position of one of the five major families will still allow them to maintain their status as a first-class family.

However, if they don't fight now and continue to maintain the status quo out of fear of potential future crises, the Zhao family will still be reduced to its original state once Lin Yang leaves.

The Zhao family's current status as a first-class family is also thanks to Lin Yang.

Putting Lin Yang aside, the Zhao family is still no different from before; they are just a second-rate family.

Since the Zhao family will face the risk of falling back down once Lin Yang leaves, and they will have to face that situation anyway, it is obviously more worthwhile to take a gamble now.

Zhao Yuan's words represented the will of the Zhao family.

Seeing that he had indeed made up his mind, Lin Yang said no more:

"Since Fellow Daoist Zhao has already made up his mind, then let's do it this way."

"Currently, the five major families in Xiwu City are still the Shen family, the Liu family, the Chen family, the Mu family, and the He family. Among them, the Shen family and the Mu family are the strongest, and the other three are next." "Fellow Daoist Zhao, select one of these five families that has been most ruthless towards the Zhao family in recent years and send them a message, asking them to give up all their resources and territory within half a month. At the same time, reveal my current cultivation level so that they know that if they are sensible, they can withdraw peacefully; if they do not cooperate, then I will come to their door to collect it directly."

Lin Yang's words were calm, but Zhao Yuan and the others heard them with a different kind of feeling.

That's absolutely awesome!
Send a direct notification to ask the other party to give way!

What an impressive sight!

Zhao Yuan and the others sighed inwardly, but they did not think that Lin Yang was being arrogant.

Because with Lin Yang's current cultivation level, he is qualified to do so in Xiwu City.

After a pause, Zhao Yuan said, "Then let's go with the Liu family. Some of their businesses overlap with ours, and we compete quite a bit. Although there haven't been any major conflicts, there has been constant open and covert struggle. Over the years, we have suffered considerable losses because of the Liu family, and they have been intentionally suppressing us."

"Then let's go with the Liu family," Lin Yang said casually.

“Alright, I’ll go to the Liu family now. But I don’t think they’ll agree easily. I’m afraid the Liu family’s Yuanhe Realm cultivators will have to fight you before they’ll give up,” Zhao Yuan said.

"Let him be, just pass on the message," Lin Yang said.

Zhao Yuan nodded: "Understood, I'll go right now."

After saying that, Zhao Yuan turned and left.

Clearly, he was also quite impatient.

Zhao Xiongshan and the others remained in the main hall to await news, feeling somewhat restless.

There was both excitement about becoming one of the five major families and awe of Lin Yang.

Previously, they were able to face Lin Yang relatively calmly.

That's because Zhao Yuan is also in the mid-stage of the Yuanhe Realm.

But now Lin Yang's strength is unparalleled in Xiwu City. Even if he were to make the five major families step down, it would be just a matter of a word. This made them unable to remain calm and composed, and they became somewhat restrained.

Even Zhao Hu is no exception now.

Even when Lin Yang broke through to the Yuanhe Realm, he could still be on friendly terms with Lin Yang without much pressure, but now he really feels the pressure.

Lin Yang naturally saw all of this, but he didn't say anything.

In the cultivation world, strength is paramount.

When the gap in strength between two sides reaches a certain level, it is indeed difficult for the weaker party to have the mindset and confidence to treat the stronger party as an equal.

Even if he were to tell the Zhao family members not to feel pressured, it wouldn't have much effect.

It's impossible to go back to the way things were before.

The saying "the higher you climb, the colder it gets" perfectly illustrates this point.

……

Zhao Yuan was very efficient.

Within a short time, the entire Xiwu City knew that Lin Yang's cultivation was now close to the peak of the Yuanhe Realm.

Furthermore, they were targeting the Liu family, aiming to force them to abdicate.

This news was like a thunderbolt, causing an uproar throughout the entire Xiwu City!
Everyone was shocked!

On the one hand, the five major families of Xiwu City have not changed for many years.

On the other hand, it's also because Lin Yang's cultivation level improved at an incredibly fast pace.

From the end of the invasion of the ancient ruins, when Lin Yang helped the Zhao family advance to become a first-class family, the cultivation level Lin Yang displayed at that time was only at the breakthrough of the Yuanhe Realm.

But we're already close to our peak.

This is naturally awe-inspiring.

In an instant, all eyes in Xiwu City were focused on the Zhao family, waiting to see what would happen.

After all, the Liu family is one of the five oldest and most prestigious families. It certainly won't be easy to get the Liu family to step down.

Everyone was looking forward to a good show.

.........

Inside the Liu family residence.

"Zhao Yuan, you think you can make my Liu family abdicate just because of Lin Yang's words? Hah, what a boastful tone!"

Liu Yi, a clan elder of the Liu family in the late stage of the Yuanhe Realm, looked at Zhao Yuan with nothing but coldness.

Zhao Yuan said calmly, "Liu Yi, I'm just passing on a message. Guest Elder Lin said that if you're not willing to step down, he can fight you. However, in that case, you might have to pay some unnecessary price."

"Heh, then let's have a battle. I want to see just how capable your clan's guest elder is! He's only just broken through and he's already so arrogant. Isn't that a bit too conceited? Does he really think he's invincible?" Liu Yi said coldly.

Zhao Yuan remained calm: "Very well, I will pass on the message to Guest Elder Lin. Let's have a battle outside the East City."

After saying that, Zhao Yuan didn't linger and went straight back to the Zhao family.

Seeing this, another elder of the Liu family, Liu Shan, slammed his fist on the table and roared, "This is outrageous! That old bastard Zhao Yuan, relying on that guest elder, dares to plot to seize the position of my Liu family!"

Liu Yi's eyes were cold:

"I saw that Lin Yang when he helped the Zhao family deal with other first-class families. He is indeed extraordinary. He was able to suppress a mid-stage Yuanhe Realm cultivator even when he was in the early stage of the Yuanhe Realm. That's why the Zhao family has its current status."

"If Zhao Yuan isn't exaggerating, and Lin Yang is currently nearing his peak cultivation level, then he's probably truly unmatched in the city."

Liu Shan frowned, seemingly sensing the hidden meaning in Liu Yi's words, and couldn't help but ask, "So what do you mean?"

Liu Yi slowly said, "Even if you and I join forces, we probably are no match for that Lin Yang. I only said I wanted to fight because I didn't want to show weakness and wanted to buy some time."

"Hmm? You think Lin Yang is invincible? If the two of us join forces, can't we teach a guy who just broke through to the late stage a lesson?" Liu Shan's tone was somewhat dissatisfied, thinking that Liu Yi was too cowardly.

Liu Yi didn't look at him, but instead looked in the direction of the Zhao family, and said calmly:
"Let the tribesmen gather as many resources as possible, and then cede the resource-rich territories. If nothing unexpected happens, we have no chance of winning this battle."

Liu Shan was taken aback: "We haven't even fought yet, how come you're already boosting the enemy's morale?"

Liu Yi shook his head and sighed softly: "You weren't in Xiwu City at the time, so you didn't see Lin Yang's methods. I know you're not convinced, but do as I say for now."

Liu Shan wanted to say something more, but Liu Yi stopped him: "I'm stalling for time to take away as many resources as possible. We can talk about it later."

After saying that, he ignored Liu Shan and walked straight out of the Liu family's main hall, quickly issuing a series of instructions.

Then, they headed towards the east gate of Xiwu City.

At the same time, news of Liu Yi's impending battle with Lin Yang spread like wildfire.

A large crowd of onlookers had already gathered at the east gate of Xiwu City.

Clearly, this news was deliberately spread by Zhao Yuan.

Upon seeing Liu Yi arrive, everyone immediately made way for him.

Liu Yi calmly walked out of the city.

Outside the city, Lin Yang was already waiting.

Clearly, Lin Yang had known all along that he wouldn't willingly relinquish his position directly. (End of Chapter)