Many children, many blessings: Stealing the offspring of powerful figures to cultivate immortality.

"Master! Are you really decided? You...you're going to give up this hard-won legacy?"

Inside the Jiang family's council hall, the lights flickered. Steward Zhao's white beard trembled, his face filled with incomprehension and heartache.

Not only him, but also Jiang Hu and other core members of the Jiang family standing in the hall were all filled with shock and reluctance.

How long has it been?

They had only just emerged from the shadow of the Blood Fiend Sect, had only just taken over the City Lord's estate, and had only just gained a foothold in Qingyun City, enjoying a few days of peace.

Why are they suddenly leaving? And it's the whole clan relocating, even abandoning this ancestral home that has been passed down for hundreds of years.

Jiang Yining sat in the main seat, her face pale from her unhealed injuries, but her eyes were unusually firm.

She didn't explain much about Lin Qingxue and the powerful figure behind her, because it was too shocking and would only cause unnecessary panic if she did.

"It's not giving up, it's relocating." Her voice wasn't loud, but every word clearly reached everyone's ears. "Qingyun City is too small. The spiritual energy here can no longer support a Foundation Establishment cultivator, let alone... support the future of the Jiang family."

As she spoke, her gaze fell on Jiang Lei, who was being held in Elder Mei's arms and chewing on a low-grade spirit stone to sharpen his teeth.

Everyone followed her gaze, and their expressions became complicated.

They had all witnessed the thrilling confrontation last night. Although they didn't understand exactly what happened, they all knew that the ethereal female swordswoman had been "frightened" away by the young master.

The young master's talent is both the hope of the Jiang family and likely the source of their misfortune.

"Patriarch, where...are we going?" Jiang Hu stepped forward and asked in a deep voice. He was one of the earliest followers of Jiang Yining and had an almost blind trust in her decisions.

Jiang Yining took out a tattered animal hide map from her sleeve and spread it out on the table.

She found this in the Blood Fiend Sect's treasury; it depicts the mountains and rivers of the Eastern Wilderness.

Her finger traced the names of dynasties and sects, finally landing on an area marked in dark red.

"here."

The crowd crowded forward and saw the three words clearly.

"A city of chaos?"

Butler Zhao gasped.

"Master, you mustn't! That place... that place is a no-man's-land, a gathering place for exiles, demonic cultivators, and outlaws! Rumor has it that people die there every day, and murder and looting are commonplace. Even the army of the Great Xia Dynasty dares not set foot there easily! If we, a group of old, weak, women, and children, go there, wouldn't we be... wouldn't we be lambs to the slaughter?"

"Like lambs to the slaughter?" Jiang Yining's lips curled into a cold smile. "Butler Zhao, do you think we're not lambs right now?"

She stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the deep night outside.

"In the eyes of those major sects, the entire Qingyun City, and even the entire Great Xia Dynasty, is nothing more than their pasture. Today a Golden Core cultivator arrives, tomorrow a Nascent Soul cultivator might appear. Rather than waiting to be devoured by domesticated tigers, it's better to actively jump into a jungle full of jackals."

Her voice was resolute.

"In the jungle, at least... we still have the chance to show our fangs."

"Moreover, the more chaotic the place, the simpler the rules—whoever has the biggest fist is right. There, no one cares about your background, and no one will investigate a child's origins. For us, it's the best hiding place and the best hunting ground."

The word "hunting ground" that she uttered sent a chill down the spines of everyone present.

They suddenly realized that this young patriarch's vision might have already extended beyond this corner of Qingyun City.

"I've made up my mind." Jiang Yining turned around and said firmly, "From now on, we'll split into three groups."

"Steward Zhao, you take a group of people and immediately begin selling off all the assets in the city that are difficult to move, including houses and shops, and converting them all into spirit stones and pills. Remember, be quick, and you can lower the prices a bit; we only have three days."

"Jiang Hu!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Take the people from the Enforcement Hall and pack up everything of value in the City Lord's Mansion and the Blood Fiend Sect's storerooms—magical artifacts, cultivation techniques, spiritual materials—leave nothing behind! Also, go to all the major pharmacies in the city and buy up all the aged spiritual herbs I can find, as many as you can!"

"yes!"

Elder Mei.

"I am here."

"You are responsible for taking good care of Da Bao. At the same time, gather all the clansmen who are willing to come with us and prepare their belongings. Tell them that the road ahead is uncertain and life and death are unpredictable. Those who do not wish to go will each receive a settlement allowance and can do as they please. The Jiang family does not keep cowards."

One order after another was issued in an orderly manner.

The entire Jiang family, like a long-dormant war machine, suddenly began to operate under Jiang Yining's will.

For the next three days, the entire Qingyun City was shrouded in an eerie atmosphere.

The once invincible Jiang family suddenly began frantically selling off its assets, as if they were about to go bankrupt and collapse tomorrow.

At the same time, they were frantically acquiring all kinds of cultivation resources, spending spirit stones like water, almost emptying all the pharmacies and artifact shops in the city.

The other small families and independent cultivators in the city were completely dumbfounded, having no idea what the Jiang family was up to.

Some speculate that the Jiang family has offended the Lingxiao Sword Sect and is about to face disaster, so they are selling off their assets in preparation for fleeing.

Some speculate that the Jiang family is deliberately creating a diversion, preparing for some major move.

But no matter what the outside world speculated, Jiang Yining turned a deaf ear.

Three days later, late at night.

Qingyun City, the ancestral home of the Jiang family.

The place is now deserted, leaving only an empty courtyard and tables and chairs that can't be moved.

Jiang Yining stood in front of the ancestral hall, looking at the densely packed ancestral tablets, and remained silent for a long time.

Finally, she took out a high-level fire talisman from her bosom and flicked it with her finger.

"boom!"

A raging fire shot into the sky, instantly engulfing the ancestral home that had witnessed the rise and fall of the Jiang family for hundreds of years.

"It's better to burn it clean than leave it to someone else."

She turned around without the slightest hesitation.

Behind her, a convoy of more than a dozen enormous beast-drawn carriages was ready to depart. On board were all the core members of the Jiang family and all the possessions they had plundered.

"Set off."

Jiang Yining carried the already sleeping Jiang Lei and boarded the largest beast-drawn carriage at the head of the group.

The wheels rolled on, grinding over the bluestone pavement, and under the glow of the blazing fire, they silently drove out of Qingyun City, speeding towards that chaotic land full of unknowns and dangers.

They had only been gone for less than an hour.

The space above Qingyun City was suddenly torn apart by an invisible force without warning.

A pitch-black spatial rift appeared out of nowhere, like a giant maw ready to devour its prey.

A figure dressed in a snow-white robe slowly walked out from there.

The moment he appeared, all sounds in the world seemed to vanish. The wind stopped, the rain ceased, and even the flames burning in the distant courtyard seemed to freeze for a moment in an eerie silence.

That terrifying sword intent, which transcended all things, made all the living beings in the city feel an urge to worship it from the bottom of their hearts.

The person who arrived was none other than Ji Lingxiao.