Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

As the clan cultivators entered the battlefield, a small group of people were secretly observing them from a distance of more than ten miles away. Their spiritual light was restrained, yet their auras were as deep and unfathomable as an abyss.

These individuals are clearly not cultivators who have undergone tribulation, but rather high-ranking figures from Jinsha Market and Huxiao Market, including clan leaders or elders who wield significant power.

They came from afar, like vultures lurking in the shadows, coldly observing the internal strife in Qingfeng Market, intending to fish in troubled waters and gain profits.

High above on the azure spirit boat, Master Qingming's indifferent gaze swept over the battlefield strewn with corpses below, and also over the "guests" in the distance, a barely perceptible hint of coldness appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Upon seeing this, the Qiao family patriarch, who was standing to the side, stood up and cupped his hands, his Foundation Establishment stage spiritual pressure rippled slightly around him: "Master, they're about to lose their patience. It's time for us to set off to 'welcome' them."

Master Qingming did not turn around, but simply uttered two words: "Go."

Since the neighbors came uninvited, Qingfeng Market naturally had to "return the favor".

In an instant, apart from Qiao Yanran, the dozen or so elites at the ninth level of Qi Refining on the azure spirit boat, led by Su Qianxue and Liu Yuan, all emitted intense spiritual light.

They transformed into more than a dozen streaks of different colors, piercing through the clouds like arrows released from a bow, and sped off into the distance, leaving behind powerful spiritual energy fluctuations that lingered in the air for a long time.

The power structure in the Yunxia Mountains is complex, but it ultimately boils down to a conflict between two major factions: human cultivators and the demon beast tribes deep within the mountains.

Every ten years there is a small tide, every hundred years a large tide. The threat of beast tides is like a sword hanging over the heads of all markets, and no market can escape it.

Since the beast tide seventeen years ago, Qingfeng Market has enjoyed far too much peace. More than a decade of tranquility has worn down the cultivators' spirit and fostered internal strife, causing the market's higher-ups to become mired in a power struggle. For more than a decade, no new Foundation Establishment cultivators have been born.

The recent turmoil surrounding the Liuyun Chamber of Commerce may well have been fueled by Master Qingming's deliberate manipulation and attempt to escalate the conflict.

He needs a significant amount of chaos and bloodshed to break the stalemate and revitalize the market, reigniting its sense of crisis.

Otherwise, how could thousands of cultivators have gathered just because of friction within the Chamber of Commerce? Qingfeng Market usually only has a little over five thousand cultivators. Without his tacit approval, how could it have escalated into such a large-scale battle?

At this moment, only Master Qingming, the Qiao family patriarch, and Qiao Yanran, whose cultivation level was only at the sixth level of Qi Refining, remained on the huge azure spirit boat.

Qiao Yanran felt uneasy as she sensed the undisguised powerful aura from afar and the chilling atmosphere brought by her elites soaring through the air.

With her cultivation level, if she were to get involved in a conflict of that level, she would probably be annihilated in a single exchange.

Master Qingming suddenly turned around, his gaze falling on Qiao Yanran, then turning to the Qiao family patriarch, his tone flat and indifferent: "Since you don't intend for her to join the battlefield, why did you bring her here?"

The Qiao family patriarch chuckled, nonchalantly sitting back down and stroking his beard. "It's always good to bring the younger generation to broaden their horizons. I didn't intend for her to actually risk her life. Besides,"

He pointed to the empty teacup. "Everyone's gone. Who's going to serve us two old folks tea now?"

Upon hearing this, Qiao Yanran felt relieved and quickly stepped forward. With graceful movements, she picked up the jade pot brimming with spiritual energy and refilled the two Foundation Establishment cultivators' cups with emerald green spiritual tea.

The suffocating aura emanating from Master Qingming subsided considerably. He sat down, picked up his teacup, and snorted lightly, "You are, after all, a Foundation Establishment Master. Aren't you afraid of being called a coward by the younger generation behind your back for acting like this?"

After saying that, he shook his head slightly, revealing a helpless smile.

The patriarch of the Qiao family picked up his teacup, took a satisfied sip, and said nonchalantly, "So what if it's a tortoise? Haven't you heard the saying among mortals? 'A thousand-year-old tortoise, a ten-thousand-year-old turtle.' To live a long and peaceful life, to die a natural death, that's my greatest wish in this life!"

The two Foundation Establishment cultivators were enjoying spiritual tea and chatting casually on the spirit boat that was thousands of meters high.

Time slipped away quietly amidst the fragrant aroma of tea and the fading echoes of the battle below.

Lin Xuan and Lin Qinglu followed Lin Tianze in silence all the way back to the Lin family's talisman shop in the market. The shop door remained the same, and the familiar scent of talismans wafted over them.

Having already received the news, Zhao Ziming and Lin Zhao, who were anxiously waiting in the shop, immediately came forward to greet them.

"Zi Mo and his cousin," Lin Xuan said, her eyes welling up with tears when she saw Zhao Zi Mo and Lin Zhao, but she quickly held back, though her voice was slightly hoarse.

Zhao Ziming rushed forward and hugged Lin Xuan, saying repeatedly, "Sister Xuan, it's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."

Lin Zhao looked at her pale yet resolute face, and at the still gruesome wound on her shoulder blade, which had been treated. Her lips moved, but in the end she simply patted her lightly, everything understood without saying a word.

After a brief reunion, Lin Tianze made arrangements: "The market will not be peaceful in the near future, so it is not advisable to stay for long. Second brother, you will stay and manage the shops and take care of your safety. Xuan'er, Qingluo, Zimo, and Zhao'er, the four of you will return to the clan territory with me immediately."

Mr. Lin nodded in agreement. The Lin family had made quite a splash this time, which would attract a lot of attention, so the Lin family's ancestral land was obviously safer.

Without lingering, the five quickly tidied up and quietly left the market, heading towards Qingxi Mountain, where the Lin family's base was located.

They traveled quickly, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of the market area, and the tranquility of the mountains and fields allowed them to relax a little.

When they were still more than ten miles away from the gate of Qingxi Mountain, Lin Tianze stopped in his tracks when he saw a figure holding a sword standing under an ancient pine tree by the roadside.

The man, dressed in a simple white shirt and with a tall and straight figure, was none other than Xiao Wen.

The fierce sword intent emanating from him had mostly subsided, but his eyes remained as sharp as ever.

"Brother Xiao?" Lin Tianze stepped forward quickly, his voice tinged with urgency.

His gaze swept quickly over Xiao Wen's body. Seeing that although his aura was slightly fluctuating, his posture remained upright like a pine tree, he felt somewhat relieved.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wen nodded slightly. Due to days of travel and fierce battles, there was a hint of weariness between his brows, but his eyes were surprisingly bright, with a faint sword light hidden within them, indicating that he had just mastered the way of the sword and had not yet been able to completely conceal his sharpness.

His gaze first fell on Lin Xuan, who was being protected behind Lin Tianze. Seeing that although her face was pale, her breathing was steady, he was finally relieved.

"Brother Lin, the matter is settled, I'm leaving now. These are the spoils of war from this battle, all of them are here." After saying that, he handed several specially made storage bags to Lin Tianze. It was clear that he had waited here specifically for his uncle, just for these goods from the merchant guild.