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

Chapter 118 Foundation, Approved Grace, and Various Schemes

Before we knew it, the day to head to Wulong Mountain had arrived.

In the front yard, Li Changle and Li Changmo were already waiting.

Li Changle had changed into a smart outfit, her black hair tied up high, a storage bag hanging from her waist, looking neat and energetic. As soon as she saw Li Changsheng come out, she skipped over to him, her eyes crinkling with joy: "Brother! You've finally arrived! I thought you were cramming for the battle at the last minute!"

Li Changsheng chuckled and patted her head: "You've reached the sixth level of Qi Refining, and you haven't neglected your verbal skills either."

"Of course, we'll do it both ways." Li Changle proudly raised his chin.

Li Changsheng sighed inwardly, "With such high spiritual root aptitude, the cultivation speed is indeed fast. In just a few months, my little sister has easily broken through to the sixth level of Qi Refining. Such talent would be a treasure in any family."

Li Changmo stood to the side, dressed in a gray short-sleeved turban, his aura perfectly concealed. To outsiders, he appeared to be only at the second level of Qi Refining; no one could tell he had already reached the fifth level. He simply nodded to Li Changsheng, his gaze calm, carrying a melancholy beyond his years.

Li Changsheng was already used to his cousin's personality. He was aloof and taciturn, but he was ruthless in his actions and never hesitated.

Li Shouyi, Li's father, rushed over from the underground river behind the mountain, his clothes still damp. He took out a jade slip from his bosom and handed it to Li Changmo, saying earnestly, "Changmo, the golden-scaled fish is wary of strangers. I've trained it for so long, and it's finally willing to obey the orders of the designated person."

This jade slip contains the control incantation; keep it safe.

Li Changmo took the jade slip and nodded.

Li Shouyi then turned to Li Changsheng and said, "Wulong Mountain is not like home, so be careful in everything you do. I trust you to do things, but don't be reckless."

Li Changsheng smiled and said, "Father, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Before she finished speaking, Li's mother hurried over and stuffed the spirit jade ointment she had just made into Li Changsheng's storage bag, her face full of worry: "Changsheng, Five Dragon Mountain is very dangerous, you and Changle must be careful. If you can't win, run away, survival is the most important thing, do you hear me? And Changle, don't just focus on studying the formation, listen to your brother—"

"Mother, I understand." Li Changle stuck out her tongue.

Li's mother then turned to Li Changmo, "Changmo, you too, don't just blindly rush forward alone—"

Li Changsheng held his mother's hand and said gently, "Mother, the three of us will look after each other, nothing will happen. Please rest well at home and wait for us to come back."

Before Li's mother could say anything more, Li Shouyi put his arm around her shoulder and comforted her, "Alright, the children are all grown up now and have their own ideas. Let's go, let them go on their way."

With tears in her eyes, Li's mother kept turning back to look at the flying boat until it disappeared from sight. Only then did she turn back with the help of Li's father.

The airship was extremely fast, the wind was howling, and the clouds were churning beneath its feet.

-

Li Changmo was a little nervous at first, riding in a flying boat for the first time. His fingers gripped the gunwale tightly, his knuckles turning white. But after flying for a while, he relaxed, leaning against the gunwale, his gaze following the mountains and rivers rushing past below, a faint light appearing in his eyes.

Ultimately, he was just a child.

Li Changle leaned over and poked his shoulder with a grin: "What's wrong, scared? Don't worry, even if you fall, I'll catch you."

Li Changmo ignored her.

"You're really boring." Li Changle pouted, then turned to look at Li Changsheng, "Brother, what do you think Five Dragon Mountain looks like—"

Amidst Li Changle's cheerful chatter, they soon arrived at the meeting point.

The Nangong and Du families had been waiting for a long time in the square of Qinglan County.

Nangong Jin, dressed in a blue robe, stood with his hands behind his back, beside his wife, who wore a simple dress and exuded gentle grace. Both husband and wife were at the peak of Qi Refining, their auras calm and composed, clearly seasoned individuals who had weathered many storms.

Du Liuniang stood on the other side, followed by Han Tieyi and Meng Shanhe. Han Tieyi was cold and silent, standing with his arms crossed; Meng Shanhe was broad-shouldered and burly, like a wall. Both of them were at the peak of Qi Refining, standing on the left and right like two guardian deities.

Today, Du Liuniang wore a deep purple dress with a brocade belt around her waist, and her hair was styled in a high bun. She looked radiant and elegant. When she saw Li Changsheng's flying boat landing in the distance, she smiled and went to greet it, her voice cheerful: "Clan Chief Li, you've finally arrived! We've been waiting for you for quite a while."

Li Changsheng leaped off the flying boat, clasped his hands in a fist and smiled, "I'm sorry to have kept the Du clan waiting for so long; there was a slight delay on the way."

Nangong Jin strode over, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said with a smile, "The three families of Qinglan County are finally all here!"

Li Changsheng returned the greeting: "The Nangong clan has been waiting for a long time."

Nangong Jin glanced at Li Changsheng and Li Changle behind him, his gaze lingering on Li Changmo—a second-level Qi Refining cultivator, following him into Five Dragon Mountain? But he didn't ask any further questions, only smiling and saying, "Clan Chief Li, this trip to Five Dragon Mountain is fraught with unpredictable dangers."

"I have a suggestion. The three families of Qinglan County are of one blood and support each other; why not form an alliance and advance together? What does Chief Li think?"

Li Changsheng turned to look at Du Liuniang. Du Liuniang nodded slightly and smiled, "That's exactly what I was thinking. It's always better for the three families to work together than to fight separately."

Li Changsheng laughed heartily and decisively said, "Good! The three of us will form an alliance and advance or retreat together."

Half an hour later.

On the horizon, a huge treasure ship broke through the clouds.

The ship is entirely silver-white and over thirty feet long. A lifelike divine bird with outstretched wings is carved on the bow.

The treasure ship is divided into three levels, each with a distinct design: the first level is the lowest, with low hulls and narrow cabin doors, and is prepared for Qi Refining families; the second level is higher, with carved hulls and wide cabin doors, and is prepared for Yun family Qi Refining cultivators; the third level is the highest, with flying eaves and brackets, carved beams and painted rafters, and is prepared for Yun family Foundation Establishment cultivators.

There are different classes, and they are clearly distinguished.

The treasure ship slowly landed on the square of Qinglan County, the air currents stirring up the crowd and causing their robes to flutter. The cabin door opened, and two figures stepped out side by side. On the left was Steward Zhou, dressed in a gray robe, a gourd of wine hanging from his waist, smiling broadly, and twirling two walnuts in his hands. On the right was Yun Zhiwu, the head of the seventh branch of the Yun family, dressed in fine clothes, with a fair complexion and a warm smile, but his eyes, though sharp, revealed a calculating composure.

"Gentlemen, board the ship." Manager Zhou waved his hand.

The crowd filed onto the ship.

Li Changsheng's gaze swept over the wooden plaques hanging on both sides of the cabin door: the Du family, the Nangong family, the Du family of Huai'an County, and the Sun family. These five plaques corresponded to the five Qi-refining families that had made it into the top five.

Besides these, there is also the Zhuo family.

He paused, his brow furrowing slightly. The Zhuo family hadn't even made it into the top five, so how did they end up here?

"Brother, what's wrong?" Li Changle asked in a low voice.

"It's nothing." Li Changsheng withdrew his gaze and walked into his cabin.

at the same time.

Sun's cabin.

Outside the door, Sun Zhengyuan and Sun Zhengfang stood on either side, their hands at their sides. Their backs were straight, their eyes alert, guarding both ends of the corridor tightly.

In the cabin.

Old Master Sun sat on the couch, dressed in a gray Taoist robe and cloth shoes. His face was thin and his expression was amiable. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked at Yun Zhiwu opposite him.

Yun Zhiwu, dressed in brocade robes, had a fair complexion and a warm smile on his lips. After setting up a soundproof array, he leaned back comfortably in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, his posture casual yet impeccably polite.

"Father-in-law," Yun Zhiwu began, his voice neither loud nor soft, "have you seen the map of Five Dragon Mountain?"

Sun Wanshan nodded: "Zhengyuan showed it to me. The Seventh Branch has found quite a few resource points."

Yun Zhiwu smiled slightly, took out a more detailed map from his sleeve, and spread it out on the table. The mountains and rivers were marked in detail, and there was a red circle at the deepest point, with the four small characters "Ancient Cave Abode" written next to it.

"This was discovered by the eldest branch of the family," Yun Zhiwu said, pointing to the red circle. "It's said that a low-level (Earth Rank) cultivation technique is hidden inside."

O

Sun Wanshan's eyes lit up slightly.

Yun Zhiwu continued, "If the news about the eldest branch of the family could be leaked to me, then that old man from the second branch must also know the details. If we don't take action, and the items fall into their hands, then my seventh branch will have even less of a foothold in the Yun family in the future."

He spoke in a calm tone, but there was a hint of coldness in his eyes.

The Yun family was a ninth-rank aristocratic family in Anyang County. Yun Zhiwu's branch ranked seventh, with the eldest son above him and the other branches below him each having their own support. He had endured for decades in the second branch, navigating the relationships between the various branches with a smile and skillful social maneuvering, all for the day he could rise up.

Earth-rank cultivation technique.

Once he gets his hands on it, the Yun family will be his domain in thirty years.

Sun Wanshan glanced at him, put down his teacup, and said in a amiable tone, "Earth-rank cultivation techniques aren't so easy to obtain. Since the eldest and second branches of the family have already planned this, we should be cautious. Once we enter Five Dragon Mountain, we'll follow behind and act according to the situation."

Yun Zhiwu smiled: "Father-in-law is right. That's why I only brought a few trusted confidants and didn't make a big fuss. Whether this matter succeeds or fails, it won't affect the fundamentals."

He paused, then added, "There's one more thing. The imperial court wants to approve an imperial decree that allows established Qi-refining families to enjoy some of the benefits of a ninth-rank family ahead of schedule, creating 'quasi-ninth-rank families.' The conditions aren't harsh—one second-tier spiritual vein, two second-tier artisans, a fiefdom with a population of 100,000, and one Foundation Establishment cultivator."

He looked at Sun Wanshan, his smile deepening: "I suppose no one knows that my father-in-law has already reached the Foundation Establishment stage. Now that the Sun family has met all the above conditions, you only need to find one more second-tier artisan, and the Sun family will become a near-ninth-rank family."

Sun Wanshan's expression remained unchanged, but a hint of fervor appeared in his eyes.

He had been waiting for a long time.

From an insignificant Qi-refining family to a near-ninth-rank aristocratic family, once this step was taken, the Sun family was no longer an ant that could be manipulated at will.

"This matter is not urgent," Sun Wanshan said. "Let's take care of the Wulong Mountain matter first."

Yun Zhiwu nodded, put away the map, stood up and bowed: "Father-in-law, rest assured, I have everything under control."

He dispelled the formation and opened the hatch.

Outside the door, Sun Zhengyuan and Sun Zhengfang were still standing straight. Yun Zhiwu smiled and patted Sun Zhengyuan on the shoulder: "You've worked hard." Then he took Yun Qilang and walked away unhurriedly.

Sun Zhengyuan entered the cabin, glanced at his father's expression, and cautiously asked, "Father, what did the son-in-law say?"

Sun Wanshan picked up his teacup and said calmly, "It's nothing. Just do what you're supposed to do."

"9

Zhuojia cabin.

Chief Zhuo Zhengtang sat at the table with a humble smile on his face, bowing and scraping to the two people sitting opposite him.

The two men, one tall and thin, the other short and stout, both wore the Zhuo family's clan robes and had ordinary faces, easily lost in a crowd. Yet, their presence made Zhuo Zhengtang feel extremely uneasy. It wasn't because of their high cultivation levels; superficially, both were at the peak of Qi Refining, the same as the Zhuo clan leader. But he knew their true cultivation was far beyond the peak of Qi Refining.

Foundation building.

The people sent by the Lord.

The tall, thin one is called Shadow Seven, and the short, stout one is called Shadow Nine. They have no surnames, only code names. They are assassins trained by their lord, raised in the bloodshed of childhood, each one a survivor of the carnage of Mount Hu. They are masters of disguise, assassination, and stealth, ruthless in their methods and decisive in their actions.

"Clan Chief Zhuo," Ying Qi spoke, her voice flat and devoid of emotion, "Do you still remember the Lord's orders?"

Chief Zhuo quickly replied, "I remember, I remember. Enter Five Dragon Mountain, find the ruins of the ancient cave, and retrieve the things inside."

Ying Jiu snorted coldly and glanced at him sideways: "Him? At the peak of Qi Refining, going in would just be suicide."

Chief Zhuo's smile remained unchanged, but inwardly he groaned. He knew his strength was insufficient, but he dared not disobey his lord's orders.

Shadow Seven waved his hand to stop Shadow Nine, and said calmly, "Once we enter Five Dragon Mountain, you'll stay with us. Do whatever we tell you to do, don't ask questions, and don't act on your own. Understand?"

"Understood, understood." Clan Chief Zhuo nodded repeatedly.

Shadow Seven and Shadow Nine exchanged a glance and said nothing more.

Silence fell over the cabin, broken only by the roar of the treasure ship cutting through the air. Chief Zhuo sat at the table, his palms sweating profusely.

Wulong Mountain, an ancient cave.

He had a feeling that not many of those who went in this time would come out alive.

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