He found it hard to accept this reality.
The Lan clan had truly gone too far!
But he never doubted Ling Fan's words.
Whatever Ling Fan said was the truth.
Lan Tianxiong was in a dilemma, deeply conflicted.
He slumped against a pillar.
He knew very well.
With Ling Fan's strength, even if the entire Lan clan sacrificed their lives, they wouldn't be able to hold Ling Fan back for even a moment.
But...
Did it really have to come to this?
No matter how despicable the Lan clan was,
They were still his clan, after all.
Ling Fan saw Lan Tianxiong's struggle and smiled faintly, "Father-in-law, there's no need to be conflicted. We'll deal with whatever comes our way. Why should I leave? Is there anyone who can do anything to me, Ling Fan? I'd like to see what tricks that Old Madam Lan can pull."
Lan Tianxiong breathed a sigh of relief.
Tomorrow was Old Madam Lan's birthday banquet.
He would definitely clear things up with the Old Madam at the banquet and confront her.
-------------------------------------
As time passed.
Old Madam Lan's birthday banquet drew ever closer.
The entire Lan clan was immersed in a festive atmosphere, with lanterns and decorations everywhere, adorned with large "寿" (longevity) characters.
This was Old Madam Lan's hundredth birthday banquet.
How many people in this world truly lived to be a hundred?
Gilded invitations were sent out from the Lan clan.
They were dispatched to all the influential families and factions in Tianchu City.
Of course.
Whether these invitations would be honored was another matter entirely.
Families with similar or lesser strength and status than the Lan clan would likely attend.
As for those truly high-ranking families and top clans, whose strength and foundation far surpassed the Lan clan's, they would likely dismiss the Lan clan's invitations with disdain.
While the entire Lan clan was bustling with preparations for Old Madam Lan's birthday banquet.
Lan Tianxiong's family seemed to have been forgotten.
Ignored.
Coldly neglected.
As if deliberately ostracized and isolated by the entire Lan clan.
Ling Fan was indifferent.
Lan Tianxiong and Li Huimei, however, wore troubled expressions, feeling very dejected.
Soon.
A day passed.
Old Madam Lan's hundredth birthday banquet officially arrived.
Lan Tianxiong put on a brave face, forcing a smile, and said to the others, "Let's go, we should go and wish the Old Madam a happy birthday."
Carrying the gifts they had prepared, Lan Tianxiong's family of five headed towards the Lan clan's ancestral shrine.
The venue for today's birthday banquet was divided into an inner area and an outer area.
The inner area was within the courtyard of the ancestral shrine.
The outer area was set up outside the ancestral shrine, covering a large space.
Only the core members of the Lan clan.
And the influential experts who came to offer their birthday wishes.
Were qualified to enter the inner area.
As for the ordinary members of the Lan clan, as well as some unimportant relatives and the experts from smaller families who came to offer their birthday wishes, they could only be seated in the outer area.
As Lan Tianxiong's family was about to enter the ancestral shrine.
They were stopped by an unexpected figure.
It was their second aunt!
At this moment, the second aunt had a smug expression on her face, blocking the entrance to the ancestral shrine without budging.
"Second sister, what do you mean by this?"
Lan Tianxiong was furious.
After all, he was the biological son of the current clan head, Lan Yuan'an, and a direct descendant of the Lan clan.
Although he had been expelled from the Lan clan twenty to thirty years ago, since the Lan clan had allowed him back in, it was as if that chapter had been closed.
What was his second sister doing blocking their family outside the ancestral shrine?
The second aunt glared hatefully at Ling Fan.
The bloodstain on her face had not completely disappeared yet, and it still ached faintly.
She naturally dared not seek revenge against Alchemist Qian or He Jingtang.
So, she logically transferred all her hatred to Ling Fan.
She pointed at Ling Fan with a snap.
"Your family of four can go in, but he cannot!"
The second aunt gritted her teeth.
It was incredibly satisfying!
"Damn it, why can't my brother-in-law go in? Do you think we're eager to go in? If my brother-in-law doesn't go in, then I won't go in either!"
Lan Junjie immediately exclaimed, unable to contain himself.
The second aunt shook her head, hands on her hips, and said smugly, "What is this place? It's the most sacred ancestral shrine of our Lan clan! What right does he, an outsider, a live-in son-in-law adopted by a family that has fallen, have to enter the ancestral shrine of our Lan clan!"
"It's not impossible for him to enter."
The second aunt sneered, "Let him take my surname. If he calls himself Lan Fan from now on, then I'll let him in! Otherwise, forget it!"
Ling Fan's eyes flashed with a cold light.
Lan Tianxiong was standing next to Ling Fan and felt that chill, immediately shivering as if plunged into an ice cellar!
He thought to himself, this is bad.
Did his second sister really think Ling Fan was a pushover she could easily manipulate?
Her status within the Lan clan wouldn't save her life.
He quickly stepped forward.
And said, "None of us will go in!"
Then he turned to Ling Fan and said, "Xiao Fan, don't be angry. It doesn't matter whether we go in or not. It's the same if we wish the Old Madam a happy birthday from outside."
-------------------------------------
Ling Fan glanced at Lan Tianxiong.
The chill emanating from him disappeared.
For his father-in-law's sake.
He would let Lan Meili off the hook this time.
Otherwise, he could easily flatten this insignificant Lan clan.
Did he really think the dignified Azure Cloud Emperor was some benevolent great philanthropist?
Ling Fan said faintly, "Father-in-law, you don't need to worry about me. The four of you go into the ancestral shrine."
He knew that Lan Tianxiong had longed to return to the Lan clan for decades, and he would fulfill that wish now.
Lan Tianxiong looked at Ling Fan with gratitude.
As for whether Ling Fan would be alright alone outside.
He wasn't worried about that at all.
His son-in-law was like a divine dragon from the heavens who could slay grandmasters. Others might be in trouble, but what trouble could he possibly get into?
Lan Tianxiong's family of four entered the ancestral shrine.
Ling Fan casually found a seat.
"Isn't that Lan Tianxiong's live-in son-in-law?"
"Heh, why was he blocked from the ancestral shrine? They didn't let him in! Haha, it seems he's really unwelcome."
"Heh, we can't even get into the ancestral shrine. What about him, a live-in son-in-law who married into the family, and an adopted one at that? It would be strange if he could get in!"
Many unfriendly gazes were cast his way.
Mocking and sarcastic laughter erupted.
Ling Fan remained calm, ignoring their cold taunts.
"Hey, who told you to sit down!"
Three young men were already seated at this table.
The three were all sons-in-law of the Lan clan.
However, because these three were from small families and minor forces in Tianchu City, and not important direct descendants.
They had married ordinary collateral daughters of the Lan clan.
Therefore, they were not qualified to enter the ancestral shrine.
At this moment, the young man with a sharp mouth and monkey cheeks opposite Ling Fan slammed the table and yelled.
This person's name was Pang Liu.
He was the illegitimate son of a concubine of the third elder of the Pang family, a minor force in Tianchu City.