Lin Feng tapped his own temple with a finger. "This is a transaction. City Lord Su provides resources, backing, and a platform. I provide talent and results. He gains political capital; the Lin Clan gains strength and security. It is a symbiotic relationship."
A faint, knowing glint appeared in his gaze. "And it is not as if I am walking into this blindly, with no cards of my own to play."
He did not elaborate on what those "cards" were. It could be his own hidden strength, the support of his mysterious master, or something else entirely. But the implication was clear. Lin Feng was confident in his ability to navigate this political landscape and maintain his own agency.
Lin Yun listened intently, the gears in his mind turning. His initial, simplistic view of the situation was being forcibly expanded. He had expressed his concern because, from his perspective, his brother was walking into the den of a powerful predator with no guarantee of safety. But now he understood that Lin Feng was not a lamb; he was a wolf in his own right, entering a negotiation.
He nodded slowly, the worry on his face gradually replaced by a look of dawning comprehension.
"I see," he said quietly. "It's not about being a pawn. It's about... leveraging each other. Using his platform to build our own stage."
He had been thinking like an individual. His brother was thinking like the heir of a clan. The scales were different.
Seeing the understanding dawn on his youngest grandson's face and the confident resolve in his eldest, Patriarch Lin Zhen could no longer contain his satisfaction. A hearty, booming laugh escaped his lips, filling the side hall.
"Hahaha! Good! Excellent!" Lin Zhen laughed, stroking his beard with immense pleasure. "To see such brotherly concern and such clear-headed understanding warms this old man's heart! Feng'er, you have the vision and the bearing of a true leader. And Yun'er, for you to show such insight and care for your elder brother... it seems our Lin Clan's younger generation is truly flourishing!"
Seeing that the moment was right, and that all the core decision-makers of the clan were present, Patriarch Lin Zhen decided it was time to unveil another piece of good news.
His expression grew more serious, shifting from a doting grandfather to the strategic leader of the clan. He cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.
"Now that the immediate crises have passed," Lin Zhen began, his voice taking on a formal tone, "there is another matter of great importance to discuss. It concerns the future of our clan's foundation—our alchemy business."
All eyes were on him. Lin Canghai, the current patriarch, leaned forward, his interest piqued. The clan's pill business was their lifeblood, and it had been under siege for years.
Lin Zhen's gaze swept over the assembled family, lingering for a moment on Lin Feng, who gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod. The old patriarch had agreed to keep Lin Yun's involvement a secret for now, to protect him from undue attention and potential danger.
"A few days ago," Lin Zhen announced, "Feng'er brought to me two new pill recipes that he... acquired through his connections."
He deliberately credited Lin Feng, following their unspoken agreement. Lin Feng remained stoic, accepting the attribution without a flicker of emotion. Lin Yun, sitting beside him, felt a surge of gratitude towards his elder brother. This was a form of protection, shielding him while still allowing his contribution to benefit the clan.
Lin Canghai's eyes widened in surprise. "New recipes? Feng'er, you didn't mention this."
"They required verification, Father," Lin Feng replied smoothly. "I did not wish to raise hopes prematurely."
Lin Zhen continued, his voice gaining a note of excitement he could not fully suppress. "These are not just any recipes. They are optimized versions of our two most foundational pills. the Qi Gathering Pill and the Body Tempering Pill."
A murmur of interest ran through the elders present. Foundational pills were the backbone of their business, sold in massive quantities to low-level cultivators and major forces for training their disciples.
"Let me show you," Lin Zhen said. He produced two jade bottles from his spatial ring, the very ones Lin Yun had given to Lin Feng. He carefully poured out one pill from each.
The first was a milky-white Qi Gathering Pill. But unlike the standard pills which were somewhat dull and often had minor impurities, this one was flawless. Its surface was smooth and shimmered with a gentle inner light.
A rich, pure spiritual aroma wafted from it, causing everyone present to feel the spiritual energy in the air grow slightly more active.
The second was a pale brown Body Tempering Pill. It was larger and denser than the standard version, with a solid, earthy spiritual aura that promised robust physical enhancement.
"Look closely," Lin Zhen instructed, holding up the Qi Gathering Pill. "Notice the purity. There are no visible impurities. The spiritual essence is concentrated to a degree I have never seen in a standard-grade pill. I would estimate its efficacy to be at least thirty percent higher than the pills we currently produce."
He then gestured to the Body Tempering Pill. "And this one. The energy is purer, more easily absorbed by the body. It will temper the physique more thoroughly and with less wasted energy. Its efficacy is, conservatively, fifty percent higher than our current product."
A stunned silence filled the room. Then, it broke into a chorus of excited exclamations.
"Fifty percent? Impossible!" one of the senior alchemy elders blurted out, his eyes glued to the pills.
"Such purity... the refinement process must be incredibly precise," another murmured, his fingers itching to examine them.
Lin Canghai stood up, his face a mixture of shock and burgeoning elation. He walked over and took the pills from his father, channeling a wisp of his spiritual sense into them. His eyes snapped open, gleaming with undisguised excitement.
"He's right," Lin Canghai announced, his voice trembling slightly. "The energy composition... it's far superior. The Qi Gathering Pill feels almost like a low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill! And the Body Tempering Pill... its energy is so gentle yet so potent. It would cause far less strain on the user's body while delivering far better results."