But Purple Gold Ore was a different story.
It was a substance a tier above Gold. One tael of Gold could be exchanged for ten taels of silver, but one tael of Purple Gold could be exchanged for a hundred taels of Gold.
Purple Gold could not only be used as currency, but more importantly, it could be used to temper Spiritual Weapons and concoct Elixirs. Under normal circumstances, no power would be foolish enough to use Purple Gold as mere currency.
Faced with a small Purple Gold Ore mine, the Four Great Clans were unwilling to develop it jointly this time, but they also didn’t want to fight a bloody war over it. Thus, they resorted to the old rules: letting the outcome of a competition between their younger generations decide the mine’s ownership.
The Lin Family had a grand competition for its younger generation, as did the other three clans.
According to the established rules, each clan would send three participants. Whichever clan emerged victorious would claim ownership of the Purple Gold Ore mine.
The Lin Family now had to select the three strongest members of its younger generation to compete against the other three great clans. Since the grand competition had been moved up, the clan simply decided to hold the rookie grand competition earlier as well.
Lin Minghai had written the letter to tell Lin Yan to hurry back and participate in the rookie grand competition.
At the same time, Brother Hai also mentioned in the letter that he had asked Uncle Qi before writing it.
Knowing Uncle Qi had been consulted, Lin Yan understood the situation.
’When I left the Lin Family, Master communicated with Uncle Qi,’ Lin Yan thought. ’Since Uncle Qi has also agreed to my return, it must mean Shen Guyun has either already paid a visit, or he has already left for the North Sea Lineage.’
’With my current strength, participating in the clan’s grand competition is no problem, but I can’t miss the rookie competition either. The clan has no rule saying that participating in the rookie competition disqualifies you from the main one. I want both rewards.’
Having made his decision, Lin Yan folded the letter. As he looked up, he saw Qin Yin’s charming eyes roving over him, filled with curiosity and a certain other meaning.
"The clan sent word. The rookie grand competition is about to start, and they’re telling me to hurry back."
"The rookie grand competition?"
"Mhm. It’s a competition for clan members who reached the Blood Exchange Realm less than two years ago."
Qin Yin nodded, a radiant smile on her face. "It seems you are highly regarded in the Lin Family, Lin Yan. The main branch sent a special message for you to return for the rookie grand competition."
As the current matriarch of the Lin Mansion, she knew that while her branch of the Lin Family couldn’t compare to the main one, the principles of managing clan affairs were the same. If Lin Yan didn’t have the requisite strength, the main branch would never have sent a letter urging him to return.
"I’m quite confident about the rookie grand competition."
This time, Lin Yan wasn’t being modest. He was already at the Blood Exchange Fourth Transformation. If he still couldn’t win the rookie grand competition... he might as well end it all with his Abyssal Sword.
"Then let me be the first to wish you victory. When the main branch sends the victory announcement to our home, I’ll hang it in the ancestral hall."
Qin Yin’s charming eyes shimmered as she winked at Lin Yan. In that moment, her dignified matriarchal image was replaced by a touch of feminine playfulness.
Before outsiders, she had to maintain the dignity of a matriarch, but she didn’t have to be so formal in front of Lin Yan.
Lin Yan: ...
After leaving the Qin Mansion, Lin Yan didn’t head straight home. Instead, he made a trip to the Martial Arts Hall.
The journey from Deng State back to Xin State was a long one, and he couldn’t delay any longer. He was going to the Martial Arts Hall to bid his master farewell.
Half an hour later, he left the Martial Arts Hall and made a special trip to the shop that Wei Zi, Monkey, and Fourth Uncle ran together. He told them he would be leaving the next day. The reason he went to tell them in person was to prevent Fourth Uncle and the others from showing up at his door later for a farewell party once they heard he was leaving in the morning.
He planned to have a quiet dinner at home tonight with his aunt and younger brother.
No outsiders, just the three of them as a family.
That evening, his younger brother, Lin Mo, was gloomy and had no appetite. He was clearly reluctant to see Lin Yan go.
"Alright, who are you putting on an act for? I’m just going to Qing State, it’s not like I’m never coming back," Lin Yan teased.
Lin Yan didn’t coddle him, rapping him with his chopsticks. Lin Mo pouted. "But Brother, I’ll really miss you."
"I’ll give you a chance. You can sleep with me tonight."
"Really?!"
Lin Mo’s eyes lit up. He had slept with his big brother ever since he was little, only getting his own room after his brother started learning to read with Mr. Sun. Even after they moved and he got his own bed, he still missed the days of sleeping next to his brother.
"So hurry up and eat. If you’re too slow, the offer’s off the table."
"I’m eating!"
Lin Mo grabbed his chopsticks and began shoveling the rice from his bowl into his mouth.
"Slow down, don’t choke. Have some of the other dishes too."
Seeing his little brother wolfing down his food, the corner of Lin Yan’s mouth twitched. ’Does he really want to sleep with me that badly?’
Their aunt watched the two brothers from the side, a gentle smile on her face. The better their relationship, the more at ease she felt.
Seeing his aunt watch him and his little brother with such a loving expression, Lin Yan thought for a moment but decided against telling her about his uncle.
Bai Ruo from the Bai Family had sent him a few messages. They had found clues regarding his uncle’s conscripted labor service back in the day, but they were only clues. His uncle’s whereabouts remained unknown.
This was the tragedy of the common folk in this world.
A Martial Artist would have left a trail, but the disappearance of a commoner often went completely unrecorded.
Later that night, the younger Lin Mo finished his bath early and went into Lin Yan’s room.
"Brother, why haven’t you come in yet?"
"Don’t be impatient. I’ll come in after I finish my training."
Lin Yan smiled faintly. He wasn’t one to go to sleep so early.
’Since I’m going back to the clan for the grand competition, I might as well raise my strength to its absolute peak.’
The one thing he could still improve right now was his Sword Gang.

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