Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 399 New Appointment
After the Foundation Establishment Ceremony ended, Changyang Valley became desolate.

Despite being well-prepared, the Li family ultimately did not harm Qin Zhengyi, but instead exchanged Li Qianliang and others with the Qin family.

However, since returning to Tailai Peak, the Li family has entered a state of war preparedness.

The family's strategy was adjusted again, shifting the focus of defense entirely southward.

Li Chengkang, who was originally stationed at Tailai Peak, and Li Chenggeng, who was stationed at the northern mine, were both sent to the south.

According to Li Xiangming's theory of three lines of defense, Li Chenggeng will be stationed in Xiaolangu for a long time to be responsible for perfecting the second line of defense.

With the support of his family, Li Chengkang oversaw the construction of Changning City between the second line of defense and Danggui Mountain, serving as a direct transit hub between Xiaolangu and Danggui Mountain, while simultaneously deploying a third line of defense laterally.

In addition, Li Xiangming's position as head of the Foreign Affairs Department was officially revoked.

Not only him, but also the hall masters and deputy hall masters, including Li Xiangyu, Li Xiangru, and Li Xianghua, were all suspended from their posts.

Li Qianxiong applied to his family for a large sum of spirit stones to fully cultivate these promising disciples of the Xiang generation, requiring them to strive for the Great Perfection of Qi Refining as soon as possible. Their positions were replaced by some mediocre but experienced cultivators of the Qian generation.

Inside the Changlin residence, family meetings continued one after another.

The process only came to an end after several contingency plans for dealing with the Qin family's threats were finalized.

"Xiangming, stay here for a moment."

Li Qianxiong, sitting at the head of the table, waved wearily.

Knowing that the patriarch loved tea, Li Xiangming brewed him a pot of hot tea and waited quietly.

After a long pause, Li Qianxiong let out a long sigh and looked at Li Xiangming: "You have already established your foundation, but you can't have extra cultivation time like Xiangru and the others. Do you have any complaints?"

Li Xiangming smiled and said, "If Fourth Brother and the others can reach the Foundation Establishment stage as soon as possible, it will be the greatest help to the family. I know what I'm doing."

Upon hearing this, Li Qianxiong nodded with satisfaction and said, "Originally, the family did not plan to remove you from your position. After all, the Foreign Affairs Hall is of utmost importance, and without someone who understands the big picture to oversee it, the family's operations will run into problems. But at this critical moment, only by sending you to Puyin Mountain can I feel at ease."

"Puyin Mountain?"

Li Xiangming seemed to be deep in thought.

"Yes."

Li Qianxiong put down his teacup, looked directly at Li Xiangming, and said seriously, "If we want to contend with the Qin family, the strength of our Li family alone is not enough. I want you to cultivate an unofficial force composed of demon-hunting cultivators in Puyin Mountain to deal with the future situation. Are you confident?"

"I will do my best."

Li Xiangming answered slowly.

He had already seen the potential of Puyin Mountain when he was running the animal trapping facility.

This place not only provides a continuous stream of demonic beasts for the Li family's beast-taming business, but also attracts a large number of demon-hunting cultivators who are eager to make a name for themselves.

That's why he reformed the Beast Hunting House, established three demon-hunting teams: Tianzhu, Shenfeng, and Jinguang, and merged the latter two teams into Puyin Mountain, secretly recruiting potential demon-hunting cultivators.

With his departure from Puyin Mountain and the removal of the beast-catching house from Tailai Peak, the Tianzhu Demon-Hunting Team, which originally represented the face of the Li family, was also disbanded. Some of its elites joined two other demon-hunting teams, while the rest returned to their families.

In addition to this, Li Xiangfeng also supported Li Jihu's Crimson Flame Demon Hunting Group. Overall, the Li family still has three direct demon hunting groups in Puyin Mountain.

Li Xiangming himself also controls the renowned Mad Lion Demon Hunting Group.

These four demon-hunting teams together have at least seventy or eighty cultivators.

Most of them did not have the surname Li, yet they were able to be used by the Li family.

For example, Li Jihu had led his demon-hunting team to do things for the family many times, while the Mad Lion Demon-hunting Team had long been responsible for smuggling supplies from Puyin Mountain to the Geng family. Not to mention the two most powerful demon-hunting teams, Shenfeng and Jinguang, who were responsible for 70% of the demon beasts needed for the Beast Breeding House.

If Li Xiangming's proposal and support for the development of beast taming earned him Li Qianxiong's favor, then this is a valid point.

Therefore, the reform of the beast-hunting houses gave him real weight in the eyes of the entire clan. Because these demon-hunting teams were all self-sufficient, even if there were casualties, as long as they weren't family members, the Li family wouldn't have to bear a single penny of the loss.

Correspondingly, the Li family has made a considerable profit from them, and this will continue for a long time to come.

The elders were overjoyed.

This is the fundamental reason why Li Xiangming was able to ascend to the position of hall master in just a few years.

Li Xiangming was not surprised that Li Qianxiong had turned his attention back to Puyin Mountain.

In peacetime, the Li family already had four powerful demon-hunting teams to safeguard the interests of Puyin Mountain, which was more than enough.

But in times of war, the Li family needs even more strength.

Besides Li Xiangming, the former head of the Beast Hunting Hall with a proven track record of success, there was no one more suitable to quickly win over and expand the demon-hunting team in Puyin Mountain.

However, despite understanding Li Qianxiong's expectations, Li Xiangming did not make any promises.

He did make many contributions to the Li family, but he also put the family in a disadvantageous situation several times, such as renting Jiming Mountain to the Five Scattered Sect and supporting Huang Zhencan to become the head of the Huang family.

Perhaps his intentions were good, but due to his immaturity, unexpected things always happened, especially this hasty annihilation of the Tongbi Sect, which completely ignited the conflict between the Qin and Li families, leaving behind a mess.

Although no one directly criticized him, he knew that there must be some people in the family who were unhappy with him.

Li Qianxiong saw through Li Xiangming's thoughts at a glance and sneered, "You're much better than I was when I was young. Looking back now, I was a complete bastard back then, but now I'm the head of the family, aren't I?"

He paused, then said in a deep voice, "You are a promising talent. Don't underestimate yourself. My only concern is that things have gone too smoothly for you. Success can lead to setbacks. Sending you to Puyin Mountain now is to give you some time to reflect and mature."

Li Xiangming took a deep breath and formally accepted the order.

However, after a slight hesitation, he still asked, "What are your plans regarding the Huang family?"

“The Huang family is still valuable to us. We cannot be absent when it’s time to fight for them. I plan to entrust this matter to your third uncle.”

Li Qianxiong answered calmly.

Although the Huang family is now riddled with holes by the Qin family, and although the Li family suffered a great loss for supporting Huang Zhencan, the Li family is close to the Huang family, while the Qin family is far away.

The advantages and disadvantages of geopolitics cannot be ignored.

Huang Zhenyi enjoyed the benefits of the Tongbei Sect, but in the end, didn't he still choose to make the Li family his sect leader?

The fact that the Li family didn't intervene in the past allowed the Qin family to gain an advantage within the Huang family.

If the Li family goes all out to win over the Huang family, the cost to the Qin family will increase exponentially.

Hearing Li Qianxiong's reply, Li Xiangming secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He was afraid that the Li family would be angered and humiliated by Li Qianliang's affair and abandon the Huang family.

The Huang family is weak and has a grudge against the Li family, so it is unrealistic to expect them to fight against the Qin family.

However, without them, the Qin family could use Jinqianling as a springboard to corrupt or coerce the surrounding Baolong Valley and Xiaolan Valley, rendering the second line of defense ineffective.

Even if the Li family were to annihilate the Huang family with lightning speed, it would be of no use.

The other smaller factions in the area are unaware of these rules and regulations.

They would only think that the Li family was bullying others by abusing their power.

At that time, it will be extremely difficult for the Li family to complete the second line of defense.

"By the way, you have another important mission on your trip to Puyin Mountain this time."

(End of this chapter)