Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 495 Recognizing one's ancestors is acceptable, but the lineage must be preserved.

Chi Meng looked at Lan Fenghuang expressionlessly: "Conditions."

Lan Fenghuang's fingers clenched slightly, but she still finished speaking:

"After the Holy Temple acknowledges its ancestry, it does not seek the resources of the Gu God Temple, nor the Gu worms of the Gu God Temple, but only one thing—its name is recorded in the ancestral genealogy of the Gu God Temple."

Chi Meng looked at Lan Fenghuang with a blank expression, but her eyes changed.

It's not that it's become gentler, it's that it's become more serious, like it's re-examining the Blue Phoenix.

"According to the rules of the Gu God Temple, recognizing one's ancestors and returning to one's clan is not just about entering the family genealogy."

Blue Phoenix was stunned for a moment.

Chi Meng's voice was as calm as if she were reading an official document:

"After being included in the family genealogy, the Gu God Temple will send experts to oversee the family for a period of one hundred years."

They will provide high-grade Gu worms and regularly send people to the temple to guide Gu cultivation; these are standard provisions for tracing one's ancestral lineage.

Lan Fenghuang's lips were trembling, and tears were welling up in her eyes.

Chi Meng continued, her tone completely unchanged:

"Chi Wunai was a member of the Chi clan of the Wu generation. He was expelled for violating clan rules."

Now, three thousand years have passed. The previous temple master left a will regarding what happened back then: if any descendants of the Chi clan can break through the protective formation, then—”

Chi Meng paused, glanced at Lin Chen, and continued:

"Then they will be allowed to re-enter the family genealogy; this is both a favor and a reward!"

Blue Phoenix's tears fell.

She wiped and wiped with the back of her hand, but couldn't get it clean, so she simply stopped wiping and just kept crying.

Lan Fenghuang glanced back at Lin Chen, and there was so much in that glance.

Gratitude, joy, an indescribable mix of emotions.

Lin Chen nodded to her.

Lan Fenghuang turned around and bowed deeply to Chi Meng.

Chi Meng accepted the bow without expression.

The atmosphere in the main hall suddenly felt less cold.

The expressions of the seven elders also relaxed slightly; some twitched their lips, and some softened their eyes for a moment.

But soon, everyone's eyes turned to Chi Meng.

Chi Meng looked at Lin Chen:

There are no other conditions for recognizing one's ancestors and returning to one's roots.

If you agree to my conditions, the temple can be recognized as a ancestral temple, and your name can be recorded in the ancestral genealogy of the Gu God Temple.

The experts of the Gu God Palace, the Gu worms of the Gu God Palace, and the instructors of the Gu God Palace—all of them will be present.

On the contrary, our Chi clan will perish together, and will not be forced by power!

Lin Chen sighed inwardly. He didn't want to agree, but he had no better option.

This woman was neither afraid of death nor of him.

You can't kill them, you can't hit them, and they won't listen to your scolding.

If we were to refuse her outright, Lan Fenghuang's lifelong dream would never be fulfilled.

Lin Chen nodded helplessly, trying to cheer himself up with optimism:

Treat it as a romantic encounter. As for leaving a seed, that's his choice. Anyway, the deed is done, whether or not a seed is left is none of his business.

Blue Phoenix's tears fell again.

This time, she couldn't hold back and burst into tears, laughing and crying at the same time, her voice trembling.

"Thank you, my husband... thank you..."

Yan Ruyu's lips curved slightly, but she didn't say anything. However, her expression clearly said, "I knew this would happen."

Lingbo remained expressionless, but the fingertips of her hand, which was placed at her side, twitched slightly.

Chi Meng watched Lan Fenghuang cry expressionlessly, without any reaction, as if she were watching something that had nothing to do with her.

Then, with a flick of his black robe, he turned and walked towards the rear hall, leaving behind a single sentence that echoed throughout the hall:

"You can go to the ancestral hall tonight to offer incense. Your name will be entered into the family genealogy, which will take three days."

Lan Fenghuang wiped away her tears and nodded vigorously.

Chi Meng spoke again, this time to Lin Chen, her voice still as cold as ever:

"I'll be waiting for you in my bedchamber tonight."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure disappeared from the main hall.

The seven elders also withdrew silently.

Only Lin Chen and his men remained in the main hall.

Yan Ruyu was the first to laugh, her laughter so loud it made her body tremble, the hem of her white dress swayed, and her white hair bounced gently on her shoulders.

"I've never seen anything like this before in my life."

When a girl pursues a man, she at least sends flowers, writes a poem, or dances!

This guy, on the other hand, went straight to "I'll be waiting for you tonight," like issuing a challenge.

Lin Chen glared at her: "Shut up."

Yan Ruyu laughed even harder, bending over with joy.

Lan Fenghuang wiped away her tears and walked over, taking Lin Chen's hand, her eyes red.

"My husband, if you're in a difficult position, then I will—"

"It's not difficult," Lin Chen interrupted her. "Don't say anymore."

Lingbo suddenly spoke up: "Something's not right with this woman."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Lingbo's face remained expressionless, but her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she were recalling something:

When she said "preserving off the seed," there was no desire or emotion in her eyes; it was as if she were talking about business.

When she looks at you, there's nothing in her eyes; it's not an act, it's genuinely empty.

Yan Ruyu nodded: "The Gu God Palace's techniques, when cultivated to a deep level, will sever the seven emotions and six desires. She is not cold, she is—empty."

Blue Phoenix's face paled slightly.

Lin Chen leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest twice.

So what if something's wrong? He couldn't think of any other solution.

This woman was neither afraid of death nor of him.

Killing him is impossible, beating him is probably useless, and cursing him is probably a waste of breath.

Lin Chen leaned back in his chair: "Why think so much? What's done is done. Do you think I, Lin Chen, am a person who goes back on his word?"

At this moment, a maid in black robes entered through a side door, bowing her head and saying:

"Young Master Lin, the Palace Master has instructed that rooms and meals have been prepared. Please move to the side hall and stay for the time being."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow; this arrangement was quite thoughtful.

The group followed the maid through the corridor and into a side hall.

The side room wasn't large, but it was very clean.

A long table was set out, laden with dishes.

The dishes at the Gu God Temple are different from those outside.

There was a plate of fried scorpions, golden brown and sprinkled with salt and pepper.

A bowl of snake soup, with milky white broth and a few pieces of bamboo fungus floating on top.

There were also a few dishes whose names I didn't know; they looked and smelled delicious, but they didn't look very appetizing.

Several jugs of wine were also on the table, their aroma refreshing and invigorating.

Lin Chen sat down at the table and gestured for the others to sit down as well.

The group only drank some wine and didn't touch any of the food. After all, with their cultivation levels, going hungry for a meal wouldn't be a big deal.

Half an hour later, the black-robed maid reappeared and led them to their resting place.

The courtyard wasn't large, but it was clean, and there were a few rooms, enough to keep us comfortable.

The bedding was brand new, and a teapot and teacups were set on the table; hot water was already prepared.

Lin Chen stood by the window of his room, looking at the moon outside.

The moon was round and bright, illuminating the courtyard in a silvery white light.

Yan Ruyu pushed open the door and walked in from behind Lin Chen, placing her hands on his shoulders.

Lin Chen didn't move, and she didn't say anything either, just stayed there.

After a long pause, Lin Chen spoke up: "Tell me, what exactly is she after?"

Yan Ruyu thought for a moment: "She doesn't want anything."

"She has no feelings, she doesn't care about your cultivation level, your appearance, or your power; she's just following a rule."

Yan Ruyu's tone was unusually serious.

"Whoever sees his true face must preserve his lineage, regardless of who that person is."

Lin Chen was silent for a moment, then asked, "What do you think I should do?"

Yan Ruyu did not answer the question.

She smiled and patted Lin Chen on the shoulder: "Think about it yourself, I'm going to sleep."

After saying that, he turned and walked away, but stopped abruptly at the door without turning back. "Lin Chen."

"Um."

"Take care of your health, don't get too addicted, it would be embarrassing if someone plotted against you."

After saying that, he chuckled and quickly left.

Lin Chen: "..."