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

Yun Jiuniang watched the blue rainbow disappear into the distance before turning to look at Li Changsheng with a smile on her face.

"Clan Chief Li, you've come at the perfect time." She walked back with light steps. "If it had been half an hour earlier, I wouldn't have had time to see you."

Her gaze swept over Li Changsheng, her smile deepening: "You broke through? Fourth level of Qi Refining? Faster than I expected."

Li Changsheng cupped his hands in greeting: "Miss Jiu, you flatter me."

"You flatter me?" Yun Jiuniang didn't think so. She led him into the hall and made him sit down. "You only reached the third level of Qi Refining a few months ago, and now you've steadily stepped into the middle stage. Moreover, your Qi is solid and there's not a trace of weakness in it—"

She paused, a half-smile playing on her lips:

"Either you possess extraordinary talent, or you have had a special opportunity. Clan Chief Li, which one do you belong to?"

The scion of a ninth-rank noble family is indeed extraordinary, as he succinctly pointed out.

Li Changsheng dodged the question and got away with it.

Yun Jiuniang didn't press further, but changed the subject: "Speak, what brings you here?"

"Bandits." Li Changsheng cut to the chase. "With the autumn harvest approaching, the Li family seeks the protection of the Yun family."

Yun Jiuniang was not surprised to hear this.

"Protection..." She tapped her fingertips lightly on the table. "Does Clan Chief Li know the going rate? The Yun family's tribute to those who come to reside in their fiefdom is not cheap. This doesn't even include the mobilization fee, settlement fee, war funds, rewards... all these miscellaneous expenses add up to half of the harvest."

"I know," Li Changsheng said.

"So you came to me hoping for a 'friendship price'?"

"No," Li Changsheng looked at her, "it's because I trust Miss Jiu's character."

Yun Jiuniang smiled.

"Li Changsheng," she called him by his first name for the first time, "you are very smart."

She stopped smiling and said seriously, "I can guard the Li family's fiefdom free of charge."

Yun Jiuniang has personally come to guard the area?!

This was beyond Li Changsheng's expectations. What merit did the Li family possess? There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

really.

Yun Jiuniang changed the subject...

"But I have one condition."

"Soon, the Yun family will hold a grand competition among its clans. The winner of the competition will be granted permission to hunt in the outer areas of the Five Dragons Mountain Range."

She paused:

"I need you to get this spot, and then... help me accomplish something in the Five Dragons Mountains."

The topographical map of the Tianlong Mountains left by Kuang Daoyu flashed through Li Changsheng's mind.

Could it be that Yun Jiuniang also knows about that ancient cultivator's cave?!

But the Yun family has no shortage of people, so why did they choose him?

"Ninth Miss," Li Changsheng instinctively tried to refuse, "I'm only at the fourth level of Qi Refining. In the Grand Competition of the Aristocratic Families, there are countless people at the late stage of Qi Refining, and quite a few at the peak. With my strength, I'm afraid it's difficult..."

"I believe in Chief Li's abilities," Yun Jiuniang interrupted him, "You will definitely get a spot."

Seeing that Li Changsheng still wanted to refuse.

Yun Jiuniang said, "Don't worry, the task I'm tasking you with is dangerous, but it won't put you to your death. In fact, it's a great opportunity for you!"

Judging by this situation...

Li Changsheng understood that he had no right to refuse.

"Okay." Li Changsheng looked up. "I agree."

"Clan Chief Li is clearly destined for great things," Yun Jiuniang said with a slight smile. "You should go back now; I still have some official business to attend to. I will personally go to Qinglan Mountain to oversee things today."

...

...

After leaving the Yun family, Li Changsheng remained somewhat uneasy, his thoughts focused on the Heavenly Book of Destiny in his sea of ​​consciousness:

"Today's divination result is 'open'."

The celestial book glowed with a yellow light, and the deduced characters slowly emerged.

This time, the handwriting had a faint golden edge, unlike any he had ever seen before.

"Could it be related to this bandit raid?"

But bandits would likely face great misfortune.

The divination result now shows golden light.

Based on past experience, it should be a matter of chance.

hum!

The Heavenly Book of Destiny revealed line after line of text:

Deep within the Tianlong Mountains lies an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling, concealed by a natural barrier. The cave's owner was a rogue cultivator from three thousand years ago, known as the "Chaos True Man." His cultivation had reached the Pseudo-Nascent Soul stage, but upon breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage, he was trapped by inner demons and passed away here. His legacy, the "Chaos Primordial Scripture," is hidden within a jade slip in the cave's alchemy chamber.

Li Changsheng's heart skipped a beat.

The Primordial Chaos Scripture!

He only possessed the first four levels of the Qi Refining stage.

This Earth-rank cultivation technique is difficult to master, but its efficiency in absorbing and releasing spiritual energy far surpasses that of any other technique.

If the complete inheritance can be obtained...

He forcibly suppressed his surging emotions.

"Looks like I really do need to make a trip to the Five Dragons Mountains!"

After the banditry, they could then focus entirely on preparing for the grand competition among the aristocratic families.

only--

Yun Jiuniang asked him to go to the Five Dragons Mountain Range to "help her complete a task".

Could it be that what she is looking for is the cave dwelling of this Chaos Immortal?

The thought flashed through his mind like lightning, but Li Changsheng didn't dwell on it. He memorized the divination result and turned to look at the other side of the celestial book.

[Family Luck Value: 1200/1700]

[Sources of good fortune: Six new members of the Qi Refining Clan, and the arrival of important ally Yun Jiuniang to guard the area, etc.]

There are still 500 pages left before the next new page is opened.

...

...

Qinglan Mountain, Council Hall.

When Li's father heard that Yun Jiuniang would be coming to guard the area herself, he was stunned at first, then the wrinkles on his face smoothed out, and he said "good" several times.

"The eldest daughter of the Yun family personally oversees the operation—what an honor! Changsheng, you did a fantastic job going to the Yun family!"

Li's mother was already making plans: "Miss Jiu is an honored guest, so her residence must be quiet and have plenty of spiritual energy. The bedding should be made of new cotton... That small courtyard on the mountaintop is close to the spiritual spring, so it's perfect to prepare it. Chang Le, go and find two pretty pots of spiritual herbs to put there."

The younger sister readily agreed and pulled Hu Xiaoyue outside.

The banquet was held in the courtyard where Li's parents lived. As the lamps were lit, the table was laden with spiritual food. The main dish was the first batch of silver-scaled fish to grow in the underground river behind the mountain. It was steamed and then drizzled with a gravy made from spiritual mushrooms. The fish meat was snow-white and tender, with a slightly sweet taste. The soup made from fire-cloud chicken was golden and clear, oily but not greasy. Even the red marrow rice was freshly milled, the first harvest, each grain plump and gleaming with a faint spiritual light.

The Li family members sat around a table.

This was probably the most complete family dinner since we moved to Qinglan Mountain.

Li's father took a sip of the spirit rice wine, put down the wine cup, and cleared his throat.

"Since everyone is here, there are two things I'd like to say to you, Father."

Everyone looked at him.

"The first thing," said Li's father, "is that our Li family now has thirty-seven members who have cultivated Qi."

This number gave everyone present a jolt of energy.

When the title was conferred a year ago, only two members of the Li family were able to cultivate Qi.

"But we have no idea about the spiritual root attributes or potential of these thirty-seven people." Father Li sighed. "They have to figure it out on their own. Even though they are all at the first level of Qi Refining, some break through in three months, while others are still stuck in the same place after more than half a year. Without a Spirit Testing Platform, we don't know which path each child should be nurtured on."

He paused for a moment, then said, "So, I'm thinking that after the autumn harvest, I'll take a portion of the red marrow rice income and use it to build a spirit-testing platform in the clan."

The Spirit Testing Platform.

Li Changle was picking up some food when she heard this, and her chopsticks paused, her smile fading slightly.

"Father," she whispered, "the Spirit Testing Platform requires a second-tier array master to set up..."

She bit her lower lip: "My daughter barely managed to advance to the middle rank of the first level a while ago. She's still a long way from the second level."

Li Changsheng looked at his younger sister, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.

First-tier mid-grade array mage.

Seven years old.

He ruffled Li Changle's hair, said nothing, but a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Father Li smiled and said, "Changle, don't be in a hurry. I don't want you to build it right now. Just bring it up first, so you have a clear idea of ​​what to expect, and then we can plan it out slowly."

Li Changle nodded, but his brows were still slightly furrowed.

Just then, the sound of a clansman reporting from outside the door came from outside.

"Clan leader! The ninth young lady of the Yun family has arrived at the mountain gate!"