Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 1045: Chapter 723: I, Yang Zhenshan, Am Your Great-Uncle!

In the following three days, Yang Zhenshan trained on Spiritual Spring Mountain Flat with Yu Qingyi, while also waiting in the courtyard of the Drunken Immortal Tower for Lv Hua and Chen Zhongshu to gather information.

In the courtyard of the Drunken Immortal Tower, Yang Zhenshan examined the map of the Sea of Spirit, while Lv Hua stood quietly beside him, holding several small booklets in her hands.

This map was much more detailed than the previous one. It not only marked the territories of the Three Sects and Twelve Clans around the Sea of Spirit but also provided detailed annotations of many small sects and families.

The Sea of Spirit is flanked to the north by the Yunxiao Mountain Range and to the south by the Wanlin Mountain Range.

The Yunxiao Mountain Range features many towering peaks that pierce the clouds, with cliffs as sheer as if cut by an axe or knife. Thick clouds conceal the midsections of the peaks, making the peaks appear as if they float in the sky.

The Wanlin Mountain Range resembles tumultuous green waves, layer upon layer, stretching endlessly. Each hill has a rounded top and gentle slopes, drawing smooth and beautiful curves in the landscape, like pages of stacked scales from a distance.

The Sea of Spirit is formed by numerous rivers from the north and south, appearing like a sapphire belt embedded among the peaks.

The Three Major Sects: The Xuanqing Sect stands on many peaks, its location resembling an Immortal Palace among the clouds. The Wuxiang Sect occupies the end of the Sea of Spirit, situated at the mountain’s base. The Illusion Moon Sect resides in Illusion Moon Valley, which also contains a lake known as Illusion Moon Lake.

The twelve families are scattered around the Three Major Sects, clinging to the edges of the Sea of Spirit, unwilling to defend them.

Numerous small sects and families are spread on the periphery of the Three Sects and Twelve Clans, like pieces of a puzzle, filling the surroundings of the Sea of Spirit within a three hundred li radius.

The more peripheral the sects and families, the weaker they are in strength. Conversely, those closer to the Sea of Spirit are generally stronger.

Although Ancient County is also near the Sea of Spirit, it only holds a small part of the edge, with most of its area over two hundred li from the Sea of Spirit Domain.

Yang Zhenshan’s focus is on the northeastern region of Ancient County. The southeastern part is too close to Heavenly Que City, while the central part, where the county city is located, is surrounded by Dazhao Dynasty dignitaries. Being newcomers, the Yang family should avoid disputes with them.

Moreover, the county city is already within the Lu family’s territory, and Yang Zhenshan does not want to embroil in conflict with the Lu family now.

The northeastern area of Ancient County seems most suitable for Yang Zhenshan to find a place to settle.

Yang Zhenshan accepted the booklet from Lv Hua and asked while flipping through it, "Is there a suitable target for us?"

Lv Hua replied coldly, "Yes, there are some small families there, none particularly strong. If we are to seize a foothold, several are quite suitable!"

Small sects are indeed small sects, despite the presence of the Three Sects and Twelve Clans; these small groups shouldn’t be overrated.

Some of these smaller groups might be linked to other powers, such as former sects and noble families of the Dazhao Dynasty, who come here to secure a piece of land as a platform for connecting with forces from the Sea of Spirit.

Others might be related to the Three Sects and Twelve Clans, where relatives of disciples from the major sects manage to establish themselves on the outskirts of the Sea of Spirit.

The Yang family has neither background nor connections here, making it difficult to establish a foothold.

Directly seizing a place isn’t impossible, but if it brings about a heap of trouble afterward, it won’t be worth it.

Yang Zhenshan scrutinized the information Lv Hua had gathered. Though time was short, Lv Hua’s intel wasn’t comprehensive. However, he got a rough idea about the small families in the northeastern Ancient County.

As he reviewed each small family, Yang Zhenshan remained unsatisfied.

Until he reached the end, his eyes suddenly lit up.

"Lingxi Mountain Yang Family! Yang Zhenghai?"

"What’s the story with this Yang family?"

Lv Hua glanced at the information in the booklet and said, "The Lingxi Mountain Yang Family has declined. It is said that a century ago, they had a Heavenly Gang Stage master, but since his passing, the Lingxi Mountain Yang Family has deteriorated with each generation."

"Three years ago, the old family head of the Lingxi Mountain Yang Family died. The descendants lacked the power to maintain the family property and continually conceded ground. Over three years, they lost a market town and three Spirit Mountains, leaving them with only their ancestral land, Lingxi Mountain."

"Although Lingxi Mountain is the family’s ancestral land, it is actually a very barren Spirit Mountain with little spirit field."

"Currently, the Lingxi Mountain Yang Family not only has few people but also lacks resources!"

After hearing this, a peculiar smile crept up on Yang Zhenshan’s lips.

The so-called Spirit Mountain refers to a mountain blessed with Spirit Land, which represents resources. Having Spirit Land allows for cultivating Spirit Plants and harvesting spirit rice, Spiritual Medicine, and Spirit Fruit.

Outside Da’an Capital City, Sanshan Valley was also considered Spirit Land. Yang Zhenshan once called it Blessed Land, whereas here by the Sea of Spirit, it’s known as Spirit Land.

The cultivation methods here require a far greater need for Spirit Pills than regions east of the Stormy Sea Area, with most Cultivation Techniques reaching a point where they cannot be practiced without Spirit Pills.

This situation leads to a consequence: once a family loses its Spirit Land, ceasing the production of Spiritual Objects, the family will soon decline.

For small families like the Lingxi Yang Family, downfall can occur in just twenty to thirty years.