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

Yun Jiuniang laughed:

"Clan Chief Li need not worry. This Treasure Pavilion is the private property of the eldest branch of the Yun family. We have always been happy to make friends with and recruit promising alchemists. Consider this pill formula as a gift and an investment. We only hope that if Clan Chief Li achieves success in alchemy in the future and has surplus pills to sell, he will give priority to our Treasure Pavilion. As for the price, we will certainly not let Clan Chief Li suffer any loss."

really.

The other party saw his potential as an alchemist.

After a moment's thought, he nodded in agreement:

"I am deeply grateful for Senior Yun's kindness. If I have the capacity in the future, I will certainly give priority to supplying the pills I refine to your esteemed establishment."

This is also a good thing for the Li family, who currently lack stable sales channels.

"Very good." Yun Jiuniang nodded in satisfaction. "Then, Clan Chief Li, go and settle the bill. These materials will be discounted by 20%."

"Thank you, Senior Yun."

After thanking him, Li Changsheng took the materials and the precious Qi-boosting pill formula to the counter to pay the bill. He enjoyed a discount and the cost was less than expected.

Watching Li Changsheng's figure disappear through the door, the waiter approached Yun Jiuniang and asked, puzzled:

"Ninth Miss, since Li Changsheng is the head of a clan and not a rootless rogue cultivator, why give him pill formulas to win him over? Isn't the price a bit too much..."

Yun Jiuniang glanced at him and said indifferently:

"Precisely because he is the clan leader, he is even more worthy of being won over. Do you know that both the Li family and the Cheng family are under the jurisdiction of my Yun family? Now, the Second Elder is openly and secretly supporting the Cheng family. What is his intention?"

The waiter suddenly realized, "Miss Jiu wants to support the Li family and counterbalance the Cheng family?"

"A system of checks and balances? Perhaps."

Yun Jiuniang gazed out the window at the bustling street, her eyes deep and thoughtful.

"The Second Elder's lineage has become increasingly arrogant in recent years, and the Cheng family, after climbing the social ladder, has also become quite ignorant of their own limitations. We cannot allow them to dominate Qinglan County. Although the Li family is weak, Li Changsheng, judging from his actions, is both courageous and resourceful, and more importantly, he has embarked on the path of alchemy. If he can grow stronger, even if he cannot rival the Cheng family, he can still restrain some of their attention. If we are lucky, the Li family can truly develop and become a powerful ally of our eldest branch among the vassal families, wouldn't that be even better?"

The waiter hesitated and said:

"Miss, the Li family doesn't even have a single mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator right now. I've heard they're dirt poor. With that autumn harvest coming, those ferocious bandits... it's hard to say if they'll even survive. Isn't investing now a bit too early? What if..."

"What if they don't survive and are wiped out?" Yun Jiuniang picked up the conversation, her tone calm. "Then it's just copying a mid-grade first-level pill formula for him. It's insignificant to us. But if we bet right, the future gains could be far more than that. On the path of cultivation, sometimes it's all about foresight and courage."

...

...

After leaving the Treasure Pavilion, Li Changsheng cautiously sensed his surroundings, making a point of circling the market several times to confirm that no one was following him before finally letting out a slight sigh of relief and returning to the inn.

He left the supplies at the inn before venturing out to browse the shops in the market, both to broaden his horizons and to look for cheap supplies suitable for his family. It wasn't until sunset, when the market lights began to twinkle, that he arrived at the weapon-refining workshop.

The ritual implements have been crafted.

A three-foot-long, gray-black crocodile bone cone with a tip made from a single horn, heavy in the hand, with scales on its body, exuding a faint aura of ferocity.

A palm-sized round shield made from a piece of skull.

A pair of wristbands sewn from tanned crocodile skin.

Li Changsheng inspected the items and was very satisfied. He then paid the remaining thirty spirit stones as the final payment.

The shopkeeper also gave us a leather pouch to hold the ritual implements.

Back at the inn, nothing happened that night.

Hu Xiaoyue was quiet, curled up in a corner meditating, trying her best to absorb the meager spiritual energy. Chen Wenyuan kept watch. Li Changsheng, on the other hand, was adjusting his breathing while reviewing what he had gained that day.

翌日清晨，天光微亮.

The first thing Li Changsheng did after opening his eyes was to communicate with the Heavenly Book of Destiny in his sea of ​​consciousness.

"Today's divination result is clear!"

hum!

The ancient pages glowed with a yellow light, and new deduced text slowly emerged:

An hour later, thirty miles northeast of the market town, in the "Changliu River," Yun Qilang rescued a mysterious woman who had drifted downstream, her face disfigured and unconscious. This woman possessed an eerie aura, a chaotic fate, and was entangled in karma. Yun Qilang took her back to his villa in the market town for treatment, and from then on, she soared to great heights, defying fate.

"Soaring to the heavens, defying fate?" Li Changsheng's pupils constricted slightly. For the Heavenly Book to use such words to describe her, this mysterious woman was no ordinary person! Yun Qilang could change his fate by obtaining her; how could he let someone else get there first?

"We must get there first!"

Li Changsheng made a quick decision and immediately woke Chen Wenyuan and Hu Xiaoyue: "Pack your things, let's leave right away!"

The three of them quickly left the inn and exited the market.

"Chieftain, you ride Little White!" Chen Wenyuan said.

The Pegasus was not yet an adult and could not seat three people.

Li Changsheng looked at Hu Xiaoyue. The little girl was clutching her small bundle, trying her best to straighten her thin body, but there was still some unease in her eyes.

"Xiaoyue, come with me and get on the horse."

Hu Xiaoyue was stunned for a moment, her little face full of flattery and surprise. She quickly waved her hand, "Clan leader, I... I can walk, I can walk fast..."

"Come on up, it'll save time," Li Changsheng said firmly.

Hu Xiaoyue was carefully pulled onto the horse by Li Changsheng and sat in front of him. Her small body was stiff, and she dared not move, for fear of disturbing this magical beast. Feeling the warm and soft fur of the little white beast beneath her and the steady aura of the clan leader, her tense heartstrings relaxed slightly, and a trace of gratitude quietly welled up in her eyes.

"Little White, let's go!"

The flying horse neighed and transformed into a white streak of light, galloping towards the northeast of the market.

The Changliu River is about thirty miles from the market town. At Xiaobai's speed, it would only take the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to get there. From afar, Li Changsheng's sharp eyes caught sight of what appeared to be a small black dot drifting downstream on the wide river surface.

"Faster! It's just ahead!"

Xiaobai accelerated again.

After getting close.

Sure enough, a person was floating on the river.

It floated face down in the water, drifting slowly with the current, its fate unknown.

Li Changsheng dismounted and stepped into the knee-deep river without hesitation, quickly scooping up the floating person and carrying him back to the shore.

It was cold to the touch; it was a woman.

She wore tattered clothes, their original color long since lost to memory. Her face, neck, and arms were covered in gruesome scars, as if burned by fire and slashed by sharp weapons. Her face was almost completely disfigured, making her unrecognizable. Her aura was so faint as to be almost imperceptible, and there was no trace of spiritual energy emanating from her; she seemed to be just an ordinary mortal.

Li Changsheng checked her breathing; she was still breathing faintly.

"Clan leader, this is..." At this moment, Chen Wenyuan also arrived, panting, and was shocked to see the woman in Li Changsheng's arms in such a terrible state.

"Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda." Li Changsheng said succinctly, while taking out an ordinary healing pill, crushing it, mixing it with water, and carefully feeding the woman a small amount. He then used his spiritual power to protect her heart meridian.

Hu Xiaoyue watched this scene quietly from the side. As she watched Li Changsheng rescue this complete stranger and terrifying-looking woman without hesitation, something in her clear eyes lit up slightly, and then became even more gentle and firm.

Her loyalty score, which was originally only 60, quietly jumped up to 70.

"This is no place to linger, let's go!"