A daily divination, from family tortoise shells to immortal clans.

Since the news of Chen Mingzheng's breakthrough to Foundation Establishment spread, Qi Refining families have been coming to offer their congratulations in waves.

Even if most families couldn't establish a connection with the Chen family, they would still come to show their support.

In Linyuan County, who dares to disrespect a Foundation Establishment cultivator?

Chen Mingzheng, along with the elders, received the people who came to offer their congratulations and expressed their goodwill.

A few days ago, two long-established Foundation Establishment families sent word that they wanted to visit, which made the people of Tai Xuan Mountain a little nervous.

They didn't know if the other party was genuinely there to congratulate them or to assert their authority, but they couldn't afford to offend them.

That day, Bai Jian was chatting with Chen Mingzheng in the Chen family's council hall.

"Clan Chief Chen, what do you think?"

Bai Jian expressed the idea of ​​a marriage alliance between the two families.

"Chief Bai, this matter cannot be decided by me alone; it must be discussed with the elders of the clan before a decision can be made."

"Furthermore, this is a private matter for the younger generation, and it mainly depends on their own wishes."

Chen Mingzheng knew Bai Jian's intentions, but the marriage was a matter of great importance, and he would not agree to it easily.

Although the two families were on good terms, his family was not a place where he could have absolute power.

Bai Jian had guessed that Chen Mingzheng would answer in this way, and immediately wanted to say a few more words.

"Clan leader, Master Sun and Master Zheng have arrived."

Elder Chen Kaiji interrupted their conversation as two Foundation Establishment cultivators walked up from behind him.

"Having met the two esteemed individuals, I will not disturb the three of you any further."

Seeing this, Bai Jian knew that it was inconvenient for him to stay there, so he immediately got up and left the council hall.

Just as he stepped out the door, he saw that Master Tiejian had also arrived at the Chen family's council hall.

"Old Sun, Old Zheng, you're here too."

Master Tiejian addressed the two men without any hesitation.

"Iron Sword, show some respect."

Master Sun frowned.

"Since you're here to congratulate the Chen family today, I'll reluctantly call you two Old Sun and Old Zheng."

Although it didn't sound very good, it was still much better than the old man's, so the two didn't say anything more.

Iron Sword Master's words seemed to favor the Chen family, which aroused suspicion in Sun and Zheng's hearts.

"Clan Chief Chen, I'm giving you a bottle of Nourishing Essence Pill. As its name suggests, it has the effect of strengthening the body's foundation and nourishing the vital energy."

Master Tiejian took out a bottle of pills and handed it to Chen Mingzheng.

"Master Iron Sword, you are too kind. Your presence is a great honor for our clan."

Chen Mingzheng accepted the pill with both hands, somewhat surprised. The Peiyuan Pill was a pill that could only be used in the Foundation Establishment stage, and it was quite valuable.

He didn't plan to buy the pill because he was afraid of causing unnecessary losses to the clan.

He understood that Master Tiejian was only offering his congratulations because of his disciple Chen Qingmo.

After all, they weren't polite to Sun and Zheng, so why would they care about my newly established Foundation Establishment?

"Old Sun, where are yours?"

Master Iron Sword turned his head and asked.

"Clan Chief Chen, we each present a high-grade magic artifact."

Sun and Zheng also presented their congratulatory gifts.

"Tsk, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, huh? So stingy."

Iron Sword Master sneered.

Seeing that the atmosphere was getting awkward, Chen Mingzheng quickly tried to smooth things over:

"It's a small gift but a big sentiment; I'm glad you all have put your heart into it."

"I've been so busy talking, please have a seat, all three of you."

The group began to chat, and the Sun and Zheng families divided up the Chen family's future territory.

Five towns, including Xiyun Town, were placed under the jurisdiction of the Chen family, while the Chen family purchased the properties within the county town based on their own financial resources.

Of the nineteen towns in Linyuan County, two families ceded nearly a quarter of their land.

However, since they were far from here, they weren't too bothered by the loss.

Moreover, the Yuanjian Sect has a rule that the Foundation Establishment families under its jurisdiction should be divided and governed separately, with power and territory allocated accordingly.

The Chen family has just been promoted, and five towns are enough for them.

The more territory a territory is under its jurisdiction, the greater the rewards from the Yuanjian Sect every three years.

Some surrounding counties have as many as seven or eight towns, while others have as few as three or four, which is far smaller than the scale of Linyuan County.

This is also why the Sun and Zheng families have been entrenched in Linyuan County. Even with the addition of the Chen family, they are still comparable to the Foundation Establishment families in the surrounding area.

The two families had come mainly for this matter, and after making the arrangements, the two took their leave.

Iron Sword Master stayed a little longer and said to Chen Mingzheng:

"Clan Chief Chen, you must know that Qingmo is my disciple. I won't beat around the bush and will get straight to the point."

"Qingmo cannot stay in your clan forever. He has a chance to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage by practicing my sword technique."

"At most a year, he'll have to go out and gain experience."

"By then, your family will be stable, and with you, the Foundation Establishment patriarch, in charge, there will be virtually no trouble."

Master Tiejian did not want this disciple to be confined to the small Linyuan County, where there were few opportunities except for the Yuanhai Mountains.

Entering the Yuanhai Mountains with only Qi Refining cultivation would be suicide, so Chen Qingmo had no choice but to leave Linyuan County.

"Master, that's exactly what I was thinking too. Although Qingmo's spiritual root aptitude is not good, his own luck is not bad."

"It is rare in the clan that he has become the number one among the younger generation at such a young age."

"I won't hold him back, so please don't worry."

Chen Mingzheng also shared his thoughts, which coincided with those of Master Tiejian.

Chen Qingmo is no longer suitable to stay; the family needs a disciple who can venture out and make his way in the world.

Master Tiejian nodded slightly, said no more, and took his leave.

Another six months have passed in a roundabout way.

During this period, Chen Qingmo bought Spirit Gathering Pills for his wife, and Su Xue also broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refining.

His only worry right now is his daughter. There's still more than a year until Chen Weixia's spiritual root test, and he doesn't know if she'll be like her two older brothers.

But the clan chief sent word that he seemed to agree to let him go out to gain experience.

Chen Qingmo told his wife about the matter and asked her to take good care of the child.

At the foot of Mount Taixuan.

With all the elders and seniors present, Chen Mingzheng spoke earnestly:

"Qingmo, staying in the family is no longer beneficial to your cultivation. Leave Linyuan County and go out to explore the world."

"Your master, Master Iron Sword, also has this intention, so there's no need to inquire about him further."

"I entrust you with the map and token of this Three Forbidden Lands. You are the most promising child of the younger generation in the family. I hope you can find opportunities within it in the future."

He paused for a moment, then took out a storage bag.

"This storage bag is ten feet square, much larger than the one you're using now. Inside are three hundred spirit stones and some talismans and pills, which can be considered as travel expenses from the family."

"You are skilled with a sword, but your family does not possess any high-grade longswords. Of the two high-grade magical artifacts sent by the Sun and Zheng families, one is a flying shuttle, which I have already placed in my storage bag. If you encounter someone you cannot defeat, simply run away and do not linger in battle."

"There's not much the family can do, child, don't blame the family."

Chen Qingmo accepted the items and bowed respectfully.

"Thank you for the gift of Qingmo from the family. I don't know how many years will pass since then. I hope the family will prosper and flourish."

"Qingmo is gone!"

After saying that, he turned and left.

Watching him gradually disappear into the distance, Elder Chen Kaiji sighed:

"I wonder what this child will become. I hope he won't turn out like Qingfan."

Chen Mingzheng said calmly:

"The incident at the Hundred Spirits Secret Realm has shown that Qingmo is a person who values ​​loyalty and righteousness."

"The family always has to send people out. If Chen Qingfan hadn't been so ungrateful, why would I have left the family a year ago to seek a breakthrough opportunity?"

"That's enough, let's not dwell on the past."

Only when Chen Qingmo was no longer in sight did the group return to Mount Taixuan.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

It took Chen Qingmo nearly half a month to leave Linyuan County, and he is now traveling in Dongze County.

Dongze County is right next to Linyuan County. If you want to go to Shuangyangling, you have to pass through this place.

"Hey kid up ahead, stop!"

"If you want to pass, leave some money—five…no, ten spirit stones!"

Chen Qingmo narrowed his eyes slightly. In front of him, a thin young man was holding a wooden stick menacingly.

He couldn't help but chuckle. He'd only been out for a short while, and he'd already been robbed again?