I established the Eternal Immortal Clan by taming beasts.

The atmosphere in the reception room was icy and frozen.

Li Guanhai stood awkwardly, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

He revealed everything he knew.

From Lu Jun's background to his conduct within the clan.

Then, let's look at the background and consequences of the farce that took place at today's banquet.

He even reported the strangeness of his subsequent inability to find Lu Xiao, word for word.

After speaking, he bowed deeply, his voice trembling slightly with suppressed emotion:

"These are all my speculations. I swear to God, this matter has nothing to do with my Li family! Although Lu Jun is a vassal of the Li family, I had no prior knowledge of his actions today..."

Lin Che sat in the head seat, his fingers gently stroking the armrest, his face revealing no emotion.

He listened quietly, without interrupting, without asking any questions, and without even a flicker of emotion in his eyes.

That silence made Li Guanhai feel increasingly uncertain.

After a long silence, Lin Che finally spoke:

"Alright, I understand. I'll investigate this matter. You can go back now."

This matter may be the work of the Shadow Hall, and Lin Che must be careful.

The Li family should not get too involved.

He has already notified Liu Fang, the spy he planted in the Shadow Hall!

Upon hearing this, Li Guanhai felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly bowed, saying, "Thank you, Master, for not holding a grudge against the Li family! I will now take my leave."

He turned around, took two steps, but suddenly stopped.

After a moment's hesitation, he turned back, his expression even more respectful, even carrying a hint of cautious anticipation:

"I... have a favor to ask."

Lin Che narrowed his eyes slightly.

This old guy actually dares to make demands?

The atmosphere in the reception room instantly froze.

A faint but powerful aura emanated from Lin Che, sending a chill down Li Guanhai's spine.

He quickly explained, afraid that if he hesitated even a moment, he would be misunderstood:

"Please calm down, sir! I have no improper intentions whatsoever!"

However... I have a granddaughter named Li Jin, who is seventeen years old this year.

Whether in terms of talent or appearance, she is considered top-tier in Chuyang City.

"I dare to suggest that she be married into the Lin family, which would also strengthen the relationship between our two families. I urge you, Master, to consider this matter!"

He spoke quickly and urgently, and after finishing, he lowered his head, not daring to look Lin Che in the eye again.

Lin Che remained silent for a moment.

"I understand. I will consider it. I will give you an answer in a few days."

His tone remained calm, but the oppressive aura had quietly dissipated.

Li Guanhai felt relieved and bowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you for considering my Li family, Master Lin! I will take my leave now and not disturb your cultivation any longer!"

He took two steps back before turning and leaving.

The guest elder in charge of receiving him escorted him out of the reception room and all the way to the entrance of the clan's territory.

Li Guanhai glanced back at the magnificent building, let out a long breath, and then rode away in his escape light.

Lin Che had disappeared from the reception room.

……

In the western part of the Shattered Star Lake tribe's territory lies a secluded mountain forest.

Lin Che's figure appeared out of thin air.

He scanned his surroundings with his divine sense and, after confirming that there was nothing unusual, raised his hand to activate a jade tablet.

A seemingly ordinary thicket of bushes suddenly swayed slightly, revealing a secret passage leading underground.

Lin Che stepped inside.

The passage was short, and at the end was a simply furnished secret room.

The four walls are engraved with array patterns that prevent divine sense from probing, and a moonstone is inlaid at the top for illumination, the light of which is soft and cool.

This is where Lin Che met with the undercover agent Liu Fang.

He personally set up the formation, and only Liu Fang had the authority to enter it, besides him.

At this moment, Liu Fang was already waiting inside.

Upon seeing Lin Che enter, she immediately stood up, bowed respectfully, and spoke with a hint of awe:

"Greetings, Your Excellency."

Lin Che did not respond.

He walked straight past Liu Fang and sat down on the stone chair at the head of the secret room.

After sitting down, he finally spoke:

"Do you know about Lu Jun?"

Liu Fang was slightly taken aback, then replied, "I know, Your Excellency..."

Before she could finish speaking, her pupils suddenly contracted.

A sharp pain surged forth from the depths of my soul without warning, as if a thousand steel needles were piercing my brain at the same time!

Liu Fang's body stiffened instantly, then she collapsed to the ground, curled up in a ball, and trembled violently!

"ah--!"

A heart-wrenching scream echoed through the secret room.

The Three-Phase Spirit Control Contract within her body activated at this moment.

The excruciating pain that pierced her very soul made Liu Fang wish she were dead.

Her fingernails dug so hard into the cracks in the stone that her knuckles turned white from the force, the veins on her forehead bulged, and cold sweat instantly soaked through her clothes.

Lin Che sat at the head of the table, watching this scene with an expressionless face.

"Since Shadow Hall had a plan, why didn't they inform me first?"

His voice was eerily calm: "What, you've grown wings?"

"No... I dare not!" Liu Fang raised her head with difficulty, her face full of pain and fear.

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty! I only learned of the higher-ups' plan after the operation failed!"

Lin Che's eyes narrowed slightly.

The squinting gesture sent a deeper wave of fear through Liu Fang's heart.

"What, you mean this is my problem?"

"ah--!"

The moment he finished speaking, the pain in his soul intensified suddenly!

Liu Fang screamed and rolled on the ground, her forehead hitting the ground with a dull thud.

"I dare not! This matter was not investigated thoroughly enough by your subordinate! It was a dereliction of duty! I beg Your Excellency to spare my life!"

Lin Che looked at her, his gaze as cold as frost.

"Remember, I'm giving you resources and spirit stones, not so you can just sit around doing nothing."

As soon as she finished speaking, the excruciating pain that had been tormenting Liu Fang finally subsided.

Liu Fang collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, her whole body soaked in cold sweat, looking as if she had just been pulled out of the water.

She huddled there, too afraid to move.

Only now did she truly realize that the person in front of her was never a kind soul.

She was not informed of this action plan and therefore did not investigate it.

Because the Shadow Hall hadn't made any major moves in recent years, she gradually lowered her guard and her awe of the Lin family head diminished.

She was so focused on her own cultivation that she completely forgot the true purpose of Lin Che giving her the resources.

It's not for her to enjoy a life of luxury, but for her to do things.

She struggled to her feet, knelt before Lin Che, her voice hoarse and trembling:

"I know I was wrong, and it will never happen again. Please, Your Majesty, give me another chance!"

Lin Che glanced at her, took out a pill from his pocket, and casually tossed it on the ground.

The pill rolled twice and stopped in front of Liu Fang, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance. It was a spiritual pill for treating injuries to the soul.

"This is the first and the last time."

Liu Fang felt as if she had been granted a pardon, and repeatedly kowtowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

She picked up the pill and swallowed it, and the lingering feeling of weakness in her soul gradually dissipated.

"Alright, tell me."

Lin Che's voice returned to calm: "So what exactly is your plan this time?"

Liu Fang took a deep breath, composed herself, and began to tell her story.

"The core of this plan is indeed Lu Jun, but he is not a formal member of the Shadow Hall."

Lin Che's brows twitched slightly.

"His father is!"

Liu Fang's voice carried a hint of complexity: "Or rather, his father died long ago. The current Lu Xiao is an imposter from the Shadow Hall. The real Lu Xiao was replaced several years ago."

A knowing glint flashed in Lin Che's eyes.

"All of Lu Jun's reactions today were guided by a secret technique. That technique can amplify the emotions in his heart, turning what was originally just a vague dissatisfaction into an uncontrollable impulse."

"His rush towards the high platform to provoke Young Master Lin may seem like youthful impetuosity, but it was actually the result of being secretly manipulated."

"As for that pill..."

Liu Fang paused.

"That's the 'Blood Fiend Pill' specially made by the Shadow Hall. It can forcibly raise a cultivator's cultivation level by one major realm in a short period of time. The price is damage to the meridians and a shaken foundation afterward, but as a one-time consumable, it's enough."

Lin Che nodded, signaling her to continue.

"The Shadow Hall's plan allowed Lu Jun to temporarily gain Foundation Establishment stage strength through pills, and in the battle... he injured Young Master Lin."

She glanced at Lin Che, and seeing that he wasn't angry, she continued:

"Then, they will start with the doctors. Among the doctors invited by the Lin family to today's banquet, there are members of the Shadow Hall. Once Young Master Lin is injured, that doctor will approach him under the guise of treatment, and then... use a secret method to replace him."

"replace?"

"Yes, the Shadow Hall's goal is to use this method to send spies into the core of the Lin family."

After listening, Lin Che remained silent for a moment.

As expected, this is the same tactic that Shadow Hall usually uses.

However, isn't this Shadow Hall a bit too overbearing?

Do they really think Lin Che wouldn't dare to deal with them?

Or do you think you've hidden yourself perfectly and can act with impunity?

Lin Che sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm.

"Alright, you can leave now."

Liu Fang felt as if she had been granted a pardon and quickly kowtowed, "Yes!"

She got up, stepped back to the door, and couldn't help but look back at Lin Che one last time.

His cold, stern face remained expressionless.

A chill ran through her, and she dared not linger any longer, quickly leaving.

Lin Che was the only one left in the secret room.

……