Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 1167: Chapter 781: The War Between the Three Lingxiu Sects and the Nether Prison Sect (Part 2)

"Hmm, I will stay in Sanshan Valley for half a year. By then, I will bring the first batch of Spiritual Acupoint disciples back to the Spirit Source Land. After that, every three years, the Foreign Affairs Hall will send people to take the Spiritual Acupoint disciples away!"

"Your Majesty can promote this matter in the name of the Divine Wood Sect, saying that those who can cultivate this technique can become disciples of the Divine Wood Sect!"

Yang Chengxu said.

The relationship between Divine Wood Island and Da’an is no secret, and now that Divine Wood Island has been renamed to Divine Wood Sect, recruiting some disciples is quite a normal thing.

As for what will happen to these disciples once they get to Spirit Source Land, that will be a matter for the future.

"I understand!" Yang Jijue naturally would not refuse such a thing. In his view, it was just a small matter. However, he was quite interested in this Immortal Dao and planned to try cultivating the Green Wood Skill when he returned.

Afterward, the two chatted for a while longer before Yang Chengxu took his leave.

The court promoted the Green Wood Skill at a very fast pace. In just a month, printed copies of the Green Wood Skill spread to every prefecture in Da’an.

And to attract more people to cultivate the Green Wood Skill, Yang Jijue even offered titles as rewards. Anyone able to cultivate this technique could become a disciple of the Divine Wood Sect and would be bestowed the title of Third-Class Marquis. If the individual could not receive the title themselves, they could pass it on to their father or offspring!

In addition, Yang Jijue included the matter in the officials’ performance evaluations.

This operation caused quite a stir in Da’an, with rumors spreading both in the court and worldly society. Local governments encouraged the populace to cultivate the Green Wood Skill.

The impact was significant, causing considerable unrest. However, things soon calmed down because many people discovered that this practice was simply impossible to master.

Of course, not everyone gave up. Some people were willing to try their luck.

Moreover, Da’an is vast, and even with the court promoting the Green Wood Skill, it couldn’t be completed in just a few months; this needs time to ferment to be successful.

Leaving matters in Da’an aside for now, in the Spirit Source Land, after several months of cultivation, Yang Jijue and Ma Qiuyan made quick progress.

However, they only reached the First Layer of the Qi Cultivation Stage and couldn’t assist Yang Zhenshan anytime soon.

It was already the forty-second year in the Spirit Source Land, seven years since Yang Zhenshan entered the Ancient Relic Array, and more than two years since he broke through to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer.

Over more than two years of cultivation, Yang Zhenshan’s cultivation had increased considerably. According to his estimation, he was not far from breaking through to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

It would probably only take one or two more years.

The Qi Refinement Stage is divided into nine layers, with each breakthrough marking a small realm progression. The difficulty varies. Breaking through the Third and Sixth Layers is the hardest, akin to the breakthroughs from the Qi Sea Stage to the Earth Evil Stage and from the Earth Evil Stage to the Heavenly Gang Stage for Innate Martial Artists.

As for breakthroughs in other layers, it mainly depends on mana accumulation.

If one’s talent is not bad and resources are ample, it takes only three to five years to break through. If one’s talent is lacking and there aren’t enough Spiritual Medicines or Spirit Pills, it might take decades to break through.

Yang Zhenshan’s talent shouldn’t be considered poor, and his cultivation resources should be quite sufficient, so his current cultivation speed cannot be considered slow.

On the Spiritual Spring Mountain Plateau.

Yang Zhenshan slowly woke from his meditation, his eyes shining with a bright gleam, his temperament undergoing a subtle transformation.

The former mightiness he exhibited was gradually reined in, replaced by an ethereal transcendence.

It was hard to tell whether it was because he had immersed himself in cultivation for years and rarely displayed force, or because he cultivated the Immortal Dao Skill. The killing intent he had buried deep within was dissipating, replaced by serenity and calmness.

Yang Zhenshan stood up, walking out from the Spiritual Fruit Tree grove. He glanced briefly at Yu Qingyi, who was instructing Yang Jizhen and Ma Qiuyan by the lakeside, and a subtle smile appeared on his lips.

He did not go forward to disturb them but instead flickered back into his study.

Qingxia, seeing his return, brought him a pot of tea and said, "Family Head, the Secret Martial Guards have sent new secret reports."

Yang Zhenshan looked at the fold on the desk, nodding slightly, "I see!"

Despite years spent cultivating in the Spirit Source Land, he was not completely ignorant of outside affairs.

The Secret Martial Guards delivered a secret report every month, informing him of happenings in the Sea of Spirit.

And through these reports, Yang Zhenshan could roughly grasp the changes occurring over the years in the Sea of Spirit.

Things in the Sea of Spirit were unstable over the years. The conflict between the Three Sects and twelve families with the Nether Prison Sect did not cease, instead escalating further, igniting what seemed to be True Fire.

Both sides were deploying more forces, with increasing casualties.

The Secret Martial Guards were not fully informed about the Nether Prison Sect’s situation, but they were generally aware of the developments in the Sea of Spirit.

Over the past three years, the Three Sects and twelve families had already lost three Martial God Realm experts.

Among those, the Xuanqing Sect and Illusion Moon Sect each lost an elder in battle, and the most powerful Beishi family among the twelve families also lost a Martial God Realm patriarch.

These were Martial God Realm experts, yet three were lost in just three years, showing that both sides were in a do-or-die situation.

Yang Zhenshan opened the secret report from the Secret Martial Guards, skimming through it, finding it mostly detailed battles between the Sea of Spirit and the Nether Prison Sect - skirmishes, city raids, and so on.

However, one piece of information caused Yang Zhenshan’s brow to furrow slightly.

Ten days ago, the Soul-breaking Blade assaulted Anhu City, causing heavy casualties among the stationed disciples of the Three Sects in Anhu City!

Anhu City, located in the northeast of the Sea of Spirit, within the Yunxiao Mountain Range, is the only city of the Three Sects in the Yunxiao Mountain Range, and one of the most crucial cities.

Like Snow Valley Town, Anhu City is a haven for adventurers, boasting numerous hunters and herbalists, a key source of mutant beast materials and spiritual medicines for the Sea of Spirit.

Simultaneously, Anhu City serves as a protective barrier for the Sea of Spirit, positioned deep within the Yunxiao Mountain Range, roughly eight hundred miles from the Sea of Spirit. It functions to repel assaults by mutant beast hordes from deep within the Yunxiao Mountain Range.

The Yunxiao Mountain Range houses many mutant beasts, including numerous mutant beast groups, ranging from dozens to hundreds in number, and even Martial God Level mutant beasts.

The most terrifying instances arise when Martial God Level mutant beasts ally to form beast tides.

Do not consider this impossible; remember, many mutant beasts possess intelligence comparable to humans. They are not mere sheep to be slaughtered; they also harbor animosity towards humans, rising in resistance, and they resort to strategic alliances to vie for resources.

Roughly three hundred years ago, a massive beast tide erupted in the Yunxiao Mountain Range, with ten thousand mutant beasts surging out from the depths to assault the Sea of Spirit.

It was after this beast tide that the Three Sects collaborated to construct Anhu City.

The Soul-breaking Blade targeting the Three Sects isn’t surprising, but they actually attacked Anhu City.

If Anhu City were compromised, would the mutant beasts deep in the Yunxiao Mountain Range once again form a beast tide?

Moreover, why did the Soul-breaking Blade attack Anhu City?

Could it be that the Nether Prison Sect hired the Soul-breaking Blade?

This isn’t impossible.

The Soul-breaking Blade is a typical assassin force, recognizing only money, not people.

Hiring them to deal with the Three Sects is entirely plausible for the Nether Prison Sect.

Furthermore, they already have enmity with the Three Sects, and their alliance with the Nether Prison Sect would not be surprising.

If this is truly the case, then what was their objective in attacking Anhu City?

Was it simply to kill the stationed disciples of the Three Sects there?

Impossible!

Yang Zhenshan’s thoughts churned, considering a rather dire possibility.

Could the Nether Prison Sect be collaborating with the mutant beasts to confront the Three Sects?

This isn’t out of the question!

Mutant beasts can understand the concept of strategic alliances!

And the Nether Prison Sect would certainly be eager to leverage mutant beast power to impact the Three Sects.

"It’s truly a turbulent time! Who knows if these issues will affect the opening of the Ancient Relic Array?"

Yang Zhenshan had little concern for the war between the Three Sects and the Nether Prison Sect, but he cared about gaining access to the Ancient Relic Array.

If the Three Sects decide to abandon opening the Ancient Relic Array this time, he would have to wait another ten years!