Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and catch up!" Lin Xuan's voice, tinged with a barely perceptible hint of embarrassment, called from ahead.

Lin Zhao responded and followed quickly with a smile.

He rarely went down the mountain since he was a child; most of the time, Lin Xuan forcibly dragged him out.

Looking back now, every little detail is filled with warmth.

At night, Lin Zhao sat cross-legged in her childhood room.

The company of his family and the familiar scents of his hometown allowed him to completely relax.

The spiritual energy within his body, which had been somewhat restless due to the long-term practice of drawing talismans,

At this moment, it also became exceptionally docile, like a gentle warm current flowing merrily through the meridians, nourishing the previously depleted mind and body.

For the past month, I've only had the warmth of family, the company of old friends, and the familiar scenery of my hometown.

This rare tranquility deeply touched everyone.

In this atmosphere, Lin Qingluo made up her mind and formally proposed to her family that she join the Lin family.

A month has passed in the blink of an eye, like sand slipping through your fingers, yet it is enough to soothe the dust of life and warm the heart.

On this day, a steady communication talisman transformed into a stream of light and fell into Lin Zhao's hands; it was a summons from her grandfather.

The group dared not delay and immediately set off for their grandfather's cave on the back mountain.

My grandfather sat upright on a futon, his figure slender yet as straight as a pine tree, wearing a dark blue robe.

Upon seeing the group arrive, he nodded slightly, his gaze first falling on Lin Xuan, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority:

"Lin Xuan, the clan's decision has been made."

With a flick of his sleeve, a jade slip shimmering with a hazy blue light and a token engraved with the Lin family crest slowly flew towards Lin Xuan:

"From today onwards, you will be in full charge of handling all family affairs in Qingfengfang City."

The family will also assign three capable members to your command; bring Qingluo and Zimo along as well.

The allocation and transportation of talismans and spirit stones for the shops, as well as the procurement tasks needed by the family, and the network of relationships cultivated over many years in the market are now officially handed over to you.

"Someone will contact you later to tell you exactly what you'll be asked to do."

Lin Xuan took a deep breath and solemnly accepted the jade slip and token with both hands.

The token felt warm and smooth to the touch. She straightened her back, her eyes resolute.

"Granddaughter understands and will certainly live up to the family's expectations!" She knew that this was not only power, but also a heavy responsibility, and she was truly beginning to enter the vision of the Lin family's upper echelons.

The grandfather nodded slightly. He brought Lin Qingluo along because she had just joined the Lin family and needed time to be tested. Her basic benefits would not be lacking, but the core inheritance needed to be handled carefully.

He then changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious: "Also, when you go to the market, be careful of Liu Yifeng. He escaped this hunt."

"Liu Yifeng isn't dead?" Zhao Ziming exclaimed in shock, his face instantly turning frosty, his eyes flashing with hatred and disbelief.

It was because of this person that Lin Xuan almost suffered a calamity and narrowly escaped death.

He thought that Liu Yifeng was doomed to die in the encirclement of so many experts, but he never expected that he would escape alive.

Lin Zhao also frowned, stepped forward, and asked in a deep voice:

"Grandfather, how did he escape? So many experts surrounded him in the market, yet they couldn't kill him."

Grandfather sighed softly: "After this person exposed two puppets that were comparable to the late stage of Qi Refining, his whereabouts were quickly tracked down by the people in the market."

Unexpectedly, he secretly practiced demonic arts and infiltrated the "Four Blood Fiends".

Later, their scheme was exposed by the Four Fiends of Blood, and the two sides turned against each other. The group chased after them, but at the last moment, they were rescued by the people of Ghost Cry Market.

Those present were hesitant to act for fear of causing serious harm, and could only watch him leave.

"Oni-kubaishi?"

Lin Zhao's gaze sharpened. "Grandson knows this market. I've heard it's much stronger than Qingfeng Market."

But with so many experts around, did no one dare to make a move?

Could it be that a Foundation Establishment cultivator has personally intervened in the Ghost Cry Market?

Foundation Establishment cultivators respect their status and will not easily interfere in the struggles of juniors.

Grandfather shook his head. "The one who made the move back then was still a Qi Refining cultivator. But!"

Lin Xuan frowned slightly and replied, "I also heard of Ghost Cry Market when I was in the Flowing Cloud Chamber of Commerce."

It is said that even Foundation Establishment cultivators are unwilling to provoke this market.

Grandpa, what secrets does this Ghost Cry Market hold?

The grandfather looked around at his grandchildren, whose features were already showing signs of angularity.

A complex emotion flashed in his eyes as he slowly said, "You have all grown up, and it's time you learned something about these special secrets."

As he finished speaking, a flick of his fingertip revealed a soft screen of light that unfolded before everyone, vaguely outlining the contours of the mountains and numerous points of light.

"The main forces of the human race in the Cloud Mist Mountains are the three major sects and the seventeen markets; the others are insignificant."

"Among them, the strongest are naturally the three major sects: Hundred Herbs Sect, Black Fiend Pavilion, and Thousand Radiance Sect."

"The Hundred Herbs Sect,"

The grandfather pointed to a point of light surrounded by green spiritual energy, "He is skilled in alchemy and practically controls the distribution of all spiritual herbs and pills in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range."

It is rumored that there is a secret realm within their sect, where tens of thousands of spiritual herbs are cultivated. They are also the only sect capable of consistently refining third-tier pills.

The sect has two Core Formation cultivators in charge, and more than three hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"To improve one's cultivation, elixirs are fundamental; therefore, the Hundred Herbs Sect is the one entity one absolutely cannot afford to offend."

On the light screen, the green dots were full of vitality, as if countless phantom images of spiritual herbs were swaying.

His finger moved toward another point of light that emitted a black sheen:

"The Black Fiend Pavilion excels at weapon crafting. Its unique 'Black Fiend Magic Weapons' are extremely powerful, considered top-tier among their peers."

However, the sect has very few disciples and its whereabouts are always mysterious. The sect is located in the Black Fiend Valley, which is easy to defend and difficult to attack. The "Black Fiend Grand Formation" where it is located is known as the best defense.

There are also two Core Formation cultivators and over two hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators on the surface.

Finally, the grandfather pointed to the brightest golden spot of light, which also seemed to be expanding.

His tone carried a hint of apprehension:

"The Thousand Glory Sect is the strongest and most domineering, with great ambitions, and has always wanted to unify the Cloud Mist Mountain Range."

If it weren't for the demonic beasts holding it back, this mountain range would probably have been renamed the Thousand Glory Mountain Range long ago.

The current royal family of the Dayun Dynasty originated from the Qianhuang Sect.

They possess a powerful "Thousand Radiance Sword Formation," which, according to legend, requires twelve Core Formation cultivators, twelve Tier 3 spirit boats, and the combined power of over a thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators to activate.

Once the sword formation is deployed, it can cover an area of ​​hundreds of miles, making it virtually invincible within the Core Formation realm.

"Currently, there are three Core Formation cultivators and over five hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators!" On the light screen, the golden light spot shone brightly, and the faint sound of sword energy hissing could be heard.

Grandfather paused, allowing them to process this shocking information, before continuing:

"The three major sects together have seven Core Formation Real Persons and over a thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators."

They control over 80% of the high-end forces in the Yunxia Mountains.

Once your cultivation reaches the advanced stage of Qi Refining, you will find that almost all key cultivation resources, such as Breakthrough Pills, Transformation Pills, and Foundation Establishment Pills, are controlled by these three major sects.

They monopolized almost all the resources for improving cultivation. If it weren't for the need for the seventeen markets to act as a barrier against the demonic beasts, they probably wouldn't even leave behind a scrap.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xuan sighed with emotion. She had originally thought the competition in the market was already fierce enough.

Unexpectedly, the real difficulties lay above, and their methods were more direct.