Why Qin Feng wants this valley is because he killed the plump Maitreya, avenging the fallen cultivators, thus making this place rightfully his. He doesn't intend to merely keep running the inn; with such beautiful surroundings and a climate that remains spring-like year-round, it's perfect for taking the girls on seasonal retreats. Lin Fenglei said with some difficulty, "I can't decide this on my own. Though this place has always been Maitreya's private property, he's been responsible for so many cultivator colleagues' deaths—once he's gone, it will become a shared asset of the cultivation community. Especially the relatives of the victims, who all have rightful claims to it!" The old man says this because he himself also wishes to claim ownership of the valley. The environment of this valley is far superior to that of the Lin family—especially since Master Pu has stored many excellent wines here, which only become accessible once the valley is truly yours. "But I'm the one who killed Master Pu, and it was I who uncovered his misconduct in running a backroom operation. Shouldn't the valley itself be awarded to me as a reward?" Qin, the young lord, insisted. The elder shook his head and said, "Actually, I can't make this decision on my own. How about this—I'll consult with a few respected colleagues of mine. If they agree, then this valley will be yours!" Qin couldn't miss the clear implication that the elder was merely going through the motions. He knew well that the elder wasn't truly committed to offering the valley. If not, why not simply take it himself? The matter of the mist was known only to him—by simply adjusting the mechanisms, would the others still be able to enter? Only he knew the routes and pathways in and out. With that, the valley would be his own. He didn't display his thoughts on his face, but instead spoke with respectful demeanor, "This matter, I'll fully entrust to the elder. I'll certainly offer my thanks once it's settled!" The elder, pretending to be cheerful, replied, "We're all family—what's the point of talking about rewards or compensation? I'll do my best to see this through!" A group of people went off in different directions to relay the news and soon departed the valley. Lin Fenglei suggested, "Qin Feng, Wei Wei, let's go back—we all at home are waiting for you!" Just as they stepped out of the mist, Qin Feng suddenly said, "Elder, I left my things inside. Please wait for me for just five minutes—I'll be right back!" "By now, you're all grown up—how can you still be so forgetful?" Lin, the beautiful woman, gave him a withering glance. "Shall I go in with you?" "No, thank you. I'll be out soon. Just wait for me a moment," he said, and then plunged straight into the mist. Lin Fenglei said with a touch of frustration, "Wei, do you think Qin Feng is reliable? Honestly, how much real value can he bring to our Lin family? I think he's too clever—perhaps a bit hard to manage!" Lin Meiren huffed, "I don't know about manageability, but I'm certain he's absolutely reliable!" Lin Fenglei hesitated, then turned his head away, gazing at the clouds in the distance. He was thinking: Now not only is Qin Feng difficult to handle, but your temper has grown too—thankfully, your mother still holds influence in the Lin family; otherwise, you'd have to face your daughter's growing resistance. Qin Feng hurried to the kitchen, pushed aside the stone mill, activated the mechanism, and then swiftly followed the path indicated on the diagram, exiting the valley. Upon emerging, his first sight was Lin Fenglei's impatient expression: "You said five minutes, right? How come it's taken so long—nearly ten now!" "Qin Dashi smiled and said, 'The route was unfamiliar, so we wasted quite a bit of time getting here. By the way, Grandfather, has the poison in Er-Shu's body been cleared up yet?' The old man's face darkened. 'Not yet. The toxin is particularly intense—heavy and persistent. We've tried nearly every method available, but we still can't eliminate it completely. Xiao Feng, you've truly put the second brother through hell!' 'Grandfather, that's not quite fair,' Lin Nümei protested, defending her brother. 'Back then, it was Er-Shu himself who volunteered to take on the challenge—no one forced him. And even after losing twice, he kept charging forward, head held high. How could anyone blame anyone else?' 'How can you say that? That's your second uncle, not some fool!' The old man glared at his granddaughter, clearly displeased. 'Keep up with me. Don't slack off on the way. We must reach home as quickly as possible!' With that, he mounted his flying sword and ascended into the sky. The two followed closely behind. Qin Daxiao immediately formed an impression—based solely on the elder’s demeanor, it was clear that this visit to the Lin family would not go smoothly. Then, as the saying goes, "If the Buddha blocks the way, we'll kill the Buddha; if the immortal blocks the way, we'll eliminate the immortal. Who's afraid of whom? I’m not someone easy to intimidate." "It's no wonder the old man has been eyeing the valley all along—living in a beautiful, well-located place is naturally far more refreshing than settling in a less favorable one. The elder ahead emits a roar reminiscent of a tiger's cry, and the stone directly in front of him part ways, revealing a clearly man-made passage. 'This path can only be walked, not flown—it's one of the Lin family's traditions,' Lin Beauty explains as she takes his hand, and together they step down from their flying swords. Lin Fenglei walks ahead without even turning his head. It truly seems the old man is only ever concerned with profit—Qin Feng just recently defeated the plump Maitreya and solved the mystery of dozens of missing cultivators. By all rights, Lin Fenglei should be proud of having found such a promising match for his granddaughter, yet he shows not a single sign of pride. Several family members stand at the end of the passage, smiling warmly to welcome the family head's arrival." One of them glanced disdainfully at the two behind, mocking, "Such a grand reception—he has to have the headmaster personally escort him! Does he really think he's just a side dish?" His voice was just right, and the two behind heard it clearly. Qin Feng asked, "Wivi, who is this person?" Lin Beauty replied, "By seniority, he should be called Uncle Fifth. A master of the Void Stage, consistently ranking in the top three on Lin Family's list of elite practitioners!" "A Void Stage cultivator—really impressive," said Qin, adopting the same mocking tone. "Lin Family truly has hidden talents. Their Void Stage masters can all secure top-three spots. Wivi, tell me, where would I, at the peak of the Perfected Stage, rank among you?" "Not even in the top ten," Lin Beauty said, adding, "Among the third generation of Lin Family, no one has ever made it into the top twenty."