Establishing a Clan in the Eastern Wilderness: A Daily Divination, Cultivating Longevity in a Grotto

"Clan Chief Li, you're too kind. Please feel free to stay here." Du Liuniang readily agreed, and then said, "It's quite a coincidence. I'm also planning to go to the market in a couple of days. I was just looking to buy a suitable offensive magic weapon and some pills to enhance my magic power."

She paused for a moment, then said with considerable excitement:

"Have you heard of this, Chief Li?"

It is said that the Yun family intends to hold a "Grand Competition of Families Under Its Rule" in the near future, in which all Qi-refining families that are affiliated with the Yun family must participate.

The specific date and method have not yet been announced.

But there's a rumor that the winner will be eligible to hunt in a specific area on the outskirts of the 'Five Dragons Mountain Range.' That's a good place, dangerous though, but full of opportunities. My cultivation level... I need to mention it again; I also need to get a better magic weapon to have some confidence."

This news came just in time.

"Thank you for informing me, Clan Chief Du," Li Changsheng said solemnly.

"Since our two families are allies, we should naturally share what we have," Du Liuniang said with a smile, and then arranged for a servant to take Li Changsheng and his companion to their guest room to rest.

……

Just as Du Liuniang saw Li Changsheng off and returned to her study, she heard a series of slightly noisy footsteps outside the door.

"Sixth Sister!" The door was pushed open, and a group of people filed in.

The leader was a young man in his early twenties, whose face bore some resemblance to Du Liuniang, but whose eyes held a more restless and sinister air. His cultivation level was at the third level of Qi Refining. Behind him followed five or six people, most of whom were at the first or second level of Qi Refining. They were all core members of the original patriarch's lineage of the Du family.

"Du Changfeng, you trespassed into the patriarch's study without prior notice. Is this your rule?" Du Liuniang put down the jade slip in her hand, her face ashen, the smile she had shown while entertaining guests earlier completely gone.

This Du Changfeng is the son of the former patriarch of the Du family, and the original young patriarch. Du Liuniang inherited the legacy of her ancestors and was officially appointed as the head of the family by the imperial court, which was rightful. However, there were still many elders and direct descendants in the family who were loyal to the old master's lineage, and Du Changfeng was their banner.

"Rules?" Du Changfeng scoffed. "Sixth Sister, let me ask you, was the person you just received Li Changsheng from the Li family of Qinglan Mountain?"

"So what if it is?" Du Liuniang said coldly.

"How is it?" Du Changfeng's voice rose. "Do you know what situation the Li family is in now? Rumors are circulating that they killed Cheng Laosan and are now mortal enemies with the Cheng family! Who is behind the Cheng family? It's the Second Elder of the Ninth-Rank Yun Family! At this time, instead of trying to make peace with the Cheng family, you're welcoming the Li family in and treating them like honored guests? Are you trying to drag my Du family into this fire pit too?!"

Several people behind him echoed his sentiments:

"Yes, Miss Liu, the Cheng family is powerful, and with the Yun family backing them up, we can't afford to offend them!"

"The right thing to do is to take this opportunity to befriend the Cheng family; why do we do the opposite?"

Du Liuniang slowly stood up. Although she was still young, her gaze was sharp as lightning, and she possessed an imposing aura that commanded respect without anger.

"Make friends? How do we do that? Is it by wagging our tails like a dog, or by betraying our allies for personal gain?"

She looked around at everyone, her voice clear and firm:

"I, Du Liuniang, have been appointed by the imperial court and am in charge of the Du family. My actions should naturally prioritize the long-term interests and reputation of the family! The alliance with the Li family was a promise I made myself. If I were to break my promise today because the Cheng family is powerful, who in Qinglan County would trust the Du family in the future? Which family would dare to ally with the Du family? Such shortsightedness and such lack of integrity are the true path to death!"

"You..." Du Changfeng was so choked up that his face turned red and he was speechless for a moment.

"As for the Cheng family," Du Liuniang's tone turned cold, "if they want revenge, my Du family will face them! But with me here, the Du family will not be those sycophants who kick someone when they're down!"

She bluntly told them to leave.

Du Changfeng's face turned pale and then red, a flash of resentment crossing his eyes. He glared at Du Liuniang fiercely before leaving with his men in a huff.

...

...

The next morning, Li Changsheng woke up in a guest room at the Du family's house.

The first thing to do was to communicate with the celestial book.

"Today's divination result is clear!"

Yellow light flowed, and the deduced text emerged:

In Qinglan Market, in the area where independent cultivators set up stalls, a beautiful woman was selling several Fire Cloud Chickens. Among them, a male Fire Cloud Chicken with a single leg, listless, and dull-colored feathers possessed a faint trace of the Golden-Winged Roc bloodline. Due to bloodline conflict and a leg injury, it had not awakened and was considered inferior. Around noon today, this chicken was spotted by Cheng Lao Er, who was going to the market to buy spirit birds, and was bought by him at a very low price.

Li Changsheng's eyes narrowed.

The bloodline of the Golden-Winged Roc?

Even if it's just a tiny bit, if it can awaken, the value of this Fire Cloud Chicken will be immeasurable!

We absolutely cannot let the Cheng family succeed!

Li Changsheng and Chen Wenyuan met up, and Du Liuniang was also ready.

The three of them went down the mountain together.

On the way, Du Liuniang remained cheerful and talkative.

However, Li Changsheng, being meticulous, still sensed from the Du family's behavior last night that things were probably not peaceful within the Du family.

"Clan Chief Du," he began casually, "the cultivation world is a dog-eat-dog world, where strength reigns supreme. The same applies to internal clan affairs. Sometimes, instead of wasting energy on maneuvering, it's better to concentrate resources on improving one's own cultivation. Once you're strong enough, all distractions will naturally disappear. If you have the capacity, cultivate a few truly trustworthy and capable confidants, and your foundation will naturally be secure."

He paused, his words carrying a pointed meaning:

"Some things are better done sooner rather than later. Hesitation will only lead to more trouble."

Upon hearing this, Du Liuniang's delicate body trembled slightly.

"Thank you for your guidance, Chief Li."

Li Changsheng stopped short of making a point; whether Du Liuniang listened and how she acted upon it was up to her own choice.

...

...

The city walls of Qinglan Market, towering over ten zhang high and entirely constructed of massive blue rocks, gleamed with a cold, hard luster under the sunlight. The city gates were teeming with people; cultivators of all kinds arrived, some riding magical artifacts, some on spirit beasts, and some on foot, creating a bustling and noisy atmosphere.

Li Changsheng and his two companions walked to the city gate.

At the entrance, there was a simple checkpoint where several cultivators dressed in uniform dark blue leather armor and exuding a powerful aura were maintaining order. Each person entering had to pay a low-grade spirit stone.

On the city gate tower.

An elderly man with a pale gold robe and a gaunt face sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. His aura was as deep as the sea. Although he did not deliberately exude it, the faint spiritual pressure still made the Qi Refining cultivators passing below feel slightly breathless.

"Foundation Establishment cultivators guarding the city gates?" Li Changsheng whispered to Du Liuniang beside him.

Du Liuniang nodded and explained telepathically:

"This market town was jointly built and managed by the Ministry of Revenue of the Imperial Court and several ninth-rank aristocratic families, including the Yun family. It can be considered a semi-official trading hub. Inside, there are not only shops of the major aristocratic families, but also branch offices set up by the Imperial Court's 'Suppressing the World' Office to maintain order and collect transaction taxes. The city gates are guarded by Foundation Establishment seniors sent by each family on a rotating basis, firstly to show their strength and deter troublemakers, and secondly to prevent any troublemakers from causing trouble."

It turned out to be the case.

This scale and management style are indeed much more formal and rigorous than I had imagined.