Family Rise: Beginning with Grandfather.

Chapter 950 Sword Master He Situ Yuan

The old man nodded slightly, then waved his hand lightly across the stone table, instantly displaying introductions to various spiritual materials on the smooth stone surface.

Yang Zhengshan didn't say much and started selecting items from the list with practiced ease.

He wants to forge the Azure Wood Purple Lightning Sword, so it's best to choose spiritual plant materials with lightning attributes.

He searched around and was pleasantly surprised to find golden bamboo among them.

Golden Thunder Bamboo was the material he had chosen, but unfortunately his own Golden Thunder Bamboo had not yet grown, so he had to find a substitute. Since there was Golden Thunder Bamboo here, he chose it without hesitation.

Besides the Golden Thunder Bamboo, he also chose a Purple Cloud Stone.

Purple Cloud Stone is a crystal of spiritual veins, born from the Purple Heaven Eye where the earth veins and thunderclouds meet. The stone is translucent like solidified fat, with flowing purple clouds inside. When held, it can be felt as if there is a slight vibration of thunderclouds.

However, purple cloud stone is generally used in defensive magical artifacts, as it can provide these artifacts with immunity to lightning magic.

The Azure Wood Purple Lightning Sword is a pure offensive magic sword, and in theory it is not suitable to use Purple Cloud Stone. However, Yang Zhengshan is not a lightning attribute cultivator. The Azure Wood Longevity Scripture he cultivates is a pure wood attribute technique. Although he also cultivates the Azure Flower Thunder Technique, his natal technique is the Azure Wood Longevity Scripture.

Therefore, his control over thunder magic is far inferior to that of cultivators who have switched to thunder magic.

The Purple Cloud Stone can effectively compensate for this deficiency, preventing him from suffering the backlash of lightning magic, and also allowing him to better control the Wood Divine Lightning.

Moreover, he also possesses the Thunderstone, which can enhance the lightning magic of the Azure Wood Purple Lightning Sword, and the Purple Cloud Stone, which can neutralize the conflict between the lightning magic and his own abilities. In this way, he can perfectly control the Azure Wood Purple Lightning Sword.

After making his selection, the old man didn't say much. He simply handed the two materials to Yang Zhengshan, who bowed respectfully before slowly leaving the treasure vault.

He really wanted to build a relationship with this senior, but as far as he knew, this senior disliked talking nonsense. If you talked too much nonsense to him, he would glare at you.

Therefore, Yang Zhengshan didn't want to make a fool of himself.

Having obtained the two desired third-tier spiritual materials, Yang Zhengshan left the treasure vault.

By this time, the area outside the treasure vault had quieted down. Zhao Tianhai and Li Deming had already left, and the onlookers had dispersed.

"What about those people?"

Yang Zhengshan asked Yang Zongyuan.

“They’re all gone! That arrogant guy left after you entered the treasure vault!” Yang Zongyuan said.

Yang Zhengshan thought for a moment and said, "Forget it, let's go back!"

Although he felt that those few Divine Soul Realm warriors were very strange, this was Wanbaoxing, and as a guest elder, he shouldn't care about such things. So he just felt that these people might have some problems, and he didn't have any intention of getting to the bottom of it.

Back in the courtyard, Yang Zhengshan handed over the Golden Thunder Bamboo and Purple Cloud Stone to Yang Jizhen, instructing him to prepare for forging the Azure Wood Purple Lightning Sword.

Different materials can be used to refine the same magical artifacts and treasures, but the resulting artifacts and treasures will have slight differences.

Even when crafting the Azure Wood Purple Lightning Sword using third-tier spiritual materials, the difficulty varies.

Although Yang Jizhen had already practiced with second-tier spiritual materials, he still needed to become more familiar with these third-tier spiritual materials if he wanted to forge the Azure Wood Purple Lightning Sword that would satisfy Yang Zhengshan.

Yang Zhengshan simply handed the task over to Yang Jizhen and left it to him. He would then cooperate with Yang Jizhen once Yang Jizhen was ready to begin refining the product.

……

In the blink of an eye, another half year has passed.

A biting wind swept in from the northern sea, bringing with it a blanket of snow.

Snowflakes transformed the rugged mountains and forests into towering ice peaks, while the fierce wind whipped up snowflakes that condensed into menacing icicles between pavilions and towers. Even the boundary between heaven and earth was swallowed up by the wind and snow, becoming a chaotic white curtain.

The White Cloud Immortal City instantly transformed into the Ice and Snow Immortal City.

This is a cold current from the deep sea, which comes every ten years or so.

It is said to be caused by the cold air gushing out from the depths of the ocean.

This was the first time Yang Zhengshan had ever witnessed a cold current from the Minghai Sea. The western part of the Yunxiao Mountains would not be affected by this cold current, which was a unique celestial phenomenon in the northern part of the Wanhua Mountains.

Standing in the courtyard, Yang Zhengshan felt the icy temperature and couldn't help but stretch.

This bit of cold can still cause some trouble for cultivators, especially those in the Qi Refining stage, whose cold resistance is not as good as that of innate martial artists.

However, this was nothing to Yang Zhengshan; he not only didn't feel cold, but actually felt quite comfortable.

Yang Zongyuan, on the other hand, was so cold that he put on a fur coat.

"Ancestor, why is it so cold in Baiyun Immortal City?" Yang Zongyuan looked at the snowflakes falling from the sky with some frustration.

Yang Zhengshan looked up at the gray sky and said, "The earth's veins influence the celestial phenomena. This can be considered a kind of celestial anomaly, hehe."

Although he didn't know what lay beneath the ocean, he could predict weather changes.

This cold snap won't last long; things will return to normal in about two weeks.

"Ah, it's so cold. I think I'll go back to the Spirit Source Land!" Yang Zongyuan was feeling quite uncomfortable from the cold.

"Whatever you want!" Yang Zhengshan said nonchalantly.

Li Jianning and Li Jianan had already returned to the Spirit Origin Land. Their cultivation had reached the ninth level of Qi Refining, and now was the time to accumulate magical power and prepare for Foundation Establishment. It was not suitable for them to stay in Baiyun Immortal City, so they only stayed in Baiyun Immortal City for three months before returning.

"Then I'll go back and come back when the weather here returns to normal!"

Yang Zongyuan felt it would be better for him to go back first.

The main problem is the cold weather, which affects many things.

If there are ground fires, sudden fires, or other similar fires, they will all be affected.

If the earth fire and the array fire are affected, then alchemy and qi cultivation will also be affected.

Moreover, the cold wave brings not only changes in weather, but also changes in spiritual energy.

The concentration of water and ice elemental spiritual energy increased, the concentration of fire elemental spiritual energy decreased, the wood elemental spiritual energy entered a sluggish state and was not conducive to absorption, while the metal elemental spiritual energy was unusually active.

Cultivators need to choose a suitable location for their practice, and changes in the environment can also affect their cultivation.

Yang Zongyuan cultivates fire-attribute techniques, so he feels uncomfortable from the cold.

Of course, this is also because of his low cultivation level. If he were a Foundation Establishment cultivator, then this change in weather would have a negligible impact on him.

Yang Zongyuan returned to the Spirit Source Land, and Yang Zhengshan originally wanted to go back and take a look as well. Just as he was about to leave, a communication talisman suddenly appeared outside the courtyard and kept hitting the protective array of the courtyard.

Yang Zhengshan activated the formation and sent over the communication talisman.

"Jian Changhe is here!"

Yang Zhengshan received the message from the talisman and was somewhat surprised.

However, his surprise quickly disappeared.

Jian Changhe's arrival in Baiyun Immortal City was not entirely unexpected.

He had already passed on the method to obtain the Dew of Oblivion to Jian Qingxiao, so Jian Changhe should have arrived long ago. Unexpectedly, it took him more than half a year to come.

After putting away the communication talisman, Yang Zhengshan slowly walked out of the courtyard.

He walked along the snow-covered cobblestone streets and arrived at a restaurant near Wanbaohang.

Wanbaohang does not operate a restaurant business, but it does sell spirit wine and spirit tea, as well as some precious ingredients.

Wanbaohang deals in high-end industries, such as elixirs. Wanbaohang generally only sells second-tier elixirs.

Wanbaohang would not engage in businesses like restaurants.

Upon arriving at a private room in the restaurant, Yang Zhengshan met Jian Changhe.

"I've met the mountain master!"

"sit!"

Jian Changhe nodded slightly, gesturing for Yang Zhengshan to sit down and speak.

After taking their seats, Yang Zhengshan asked, "Mountain Lord, did you come here for the Dew of Oblivion?"

“That’s right!” Jian Changhe looked at him with a faint smile. “It seems you’re doing well at Wanbaohang!”

Yang Zhengshan casually shrugged and said, "Wanbaohang is not bad; there are many like-minded people to exchange ideas with!"

Speaking of which, Jian Changhe can be considered one of his bosses.

However, he has quite a few bosses.

The Illusion Moon Sect is also his boss, and he remains a guest elder of the Illusion Moon Sect.

Hidden Sword Mountain is his boss, and so is Wanbaohang. Sigh, they're all just doing things for money!

Yang Zhengshan felt that he was a pretty good worker.

I never delay what my boss tells me to do.

However, he was a temporary worker. Although he served as a guest elder, he was not actually considered one of their people.

Whether it's Hidden Sword Mountain or Wanbao Bank, he can't enter the core; he can only gain good relationships through his status as a guest elder.

Jian Changhe smiled and asked, "Are you sure Wanbaoxing has the Dew of Oblivion?"

"Uh, I can't be sure about that. I just asked the manager of Wanbaohang, and she said that if you want the Dew of Oblivion, you can only exchange it for a Core Formation spiritual item!" Yang Zhengshan said.

Jian Changhe nodded slightly. "The manager you're talking about is Zhongli Xiayi?"

"Does the mountain lord know her?"

"I don't know him, I've only heard of him!"

"Oh! I joined Wanbaohang because of Fellow Daoist Zhongli's recruitment!" Yang Zhengshan explained.

Jian Changhe thought for a moment and asked, "Do you know Situ Yuan?"

“Situ Yuan?” Yang Zhengshan shook his head slightly; he had never heard of this name at Wanbaohang.

"It is said that he has been staying in the treasury of Wanbaohang!" Jian Changhe added.

Yang Zhengshan looked surprised. "You mean that old senior in the treasure vault?"

“It should be him. He has a faint scar at the corner of his eye, which is not noticeable unless you look closely!” Jian Changhe said.

Yang Zhengshan exclaimed in surprise, "So his name is Situ Yuan!"

Well, he really didn't know the old man's name.

The main reason is that very few people in Wanbaohang mention him.

Everyone knows there is an elder in the treasure vault, but no one knows what this elder's identity is, what his background is, or what his name is.

Perhaps some people know this, but no one is talking about it.

“Yes, he is the one in charge of Wanbaoxing in Baiyun Immortal City!” Jian Changhe said.

Yang Zhengshan was even more surprised.

There were quite a few managers at Wanbaohang, including three seventh-rank managers. He had always thought that the person in charge of Wanbaohang was one of those three seventh-rank managers, but he never expected that it was actually the old man in the treasure vault.

"I want to see him!" Jian Changhe said.

"Well, I can only say I'll give it a try. I'm not familiar with him at all!" Yang Zhengshan said.

Jian Changhe took out a small white jade sword. "Give this to him, and he will see me!"

Yang Zhengshan took the small white jade sword and looked at the two characters "Heavenly Sword" carved on it.

This is probably a keepsake from the Heavenly Sword True Lord.

But Heavenly Sword True Monarch has been gone for hundreds of years, so is his token still of any use?

However, since Jian Changhe said so, he might as well give it a try.

……

Helping Jian Changhe arrange a meeting with Situ Yuan was much simpler than Yang Zhengshan had imagined. He originally thought that after entering the outer array of the treasure vault, he would be questioned or driven away by Situ Yuan, but unexpectedly, Situ Yuan directly opened the door of the treasure vault and let him in.

In the same small room, Situ Yuan sat before the stone table and said calmly, "Give me the things!"

"Did you know I was coming, senior?" Yang Zhengshan took out his white jade sword and couldn't help but ask, his curiosity piqued.

"I don't know, but I can sense it!" Situ Yuan offered a rare explanation.

Yang Zhengshan suddenly realized that this white jade sword was also a magic weapon, with many restrictions on it. Although the aura it exuded was weak, it could still be sensed if one paid close attention.

"The mountain lord wishes to see the senior!"

Holding the small white jade sword, Situ Yuan suddenly asked, "Do you know what this is?"

"Junior doesn't know!"

Yang Zhengshan looked at the white jade sword with a strange expression. He had examined the sword before and found it to be a very ordinary magical artifact, not a magic treasure.

"There is a trace of sword energy left behind by the Heavenly Sword True Monarch here!"

Situ Yuan extended his withered finger and lightly touched the small sword. Instantly, a sharp aura spread throughout the room, and Yang Zhengshan felt a chill run down his spine.

He hadn't even noticed that this small sword contained a sword aura!
"What does he want?" Situ Yuan asked.

"The mountain lord wishes to see the senior!" Yang Zhengshan repeated.

Situ Yuan fell silent for a long time before finally saying, "Then bring him here!"

"Yes!"

Yang Zhengshan respectfully responded.

Facing this senior figure, he felt completely unsure of himself, always sensing that this person was somewhat unfathomable.

……

After leaving the treasure vault, Yang Zhengshan returned to the restaurant, found Jian Changhe, and brought him to Wanbaohang.

Walking through Wanbaohang, Yang Zhengshan asked, "Mountain Lord, is there sword energy left behind by the Heavenly Sword True Monarch in that sword?"

Jian Changhe nodded slightly, "That was left behind by the True Monarch before his ascension."

"Is that sword energy very strong?" Yang Zhengshan asked again.

Jian Changhe smiled, "The things left behind by the True Monarch are naturally very powerful!"

When he said this, his eyes were full of pride.

That was the sword energy left behind by the Heavenly Sword True Monarch, containing the sword intent of the Heavenly Sword True Monarch. Even if it was just a trace, the power it contained was something that ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators could not resist.

Yang Zhengshan continued, "How did the Mountain Lord come to know Situ Yuan?"

“I don’t know him, but Zhenjun once helped his grandmaster! When Zhenjun was still alive, Wanbaoxing also had a branch in Lingxiu Sea, and the person in charge of Wanbaoxing in Lingxiu Sea at that time was his grandmaster!”

"After his grandmaster passed away, his master also stayed at Wanbaoxing in the Lingxiu Sea. However, when Zhenjun's lifespan was about to end, Zhenjun made Wanbaoxing move away!"

"By the way, Situ Yuan comes from the Situ family!"

"Which Situ family?" Yang Zhengshan asked, somewhat puzzled.

"It's the Situ family from the Sea of ​​Spiritual Beauty!" Jian Changhe said.

Yang Zhengshan was astonished. The Situ family of the Sea of ​​Spiritual Beauty?

The Situ family actually has such a connection?

Back then, the Yang family had some conflicts with the Situ family, but Yang Zhengshan, with the help of the Huan Yue Sect, managed to suppress the Situ family.

If the Situ family has such a relationship, how could they be just a martial arts family?
Jian Changhe explained with a smile, "Although Situ Yuan was born into the Situ family, he was originally just a member of a collateral branch of the Situ family. He embarked on the path of immortality by chance!"

"The Situ family had no idea that they had such an ancestor."

Yang Zhengshan suddenly realized, "So he doesn't want to help the family either?"

“He’s just a collateral relative, how much affection can he have for the family! Besides, he was very young when he left the Situ family,” Jian Changhe said.

Yang Zhengshan nodded slightly, having roughly understood the relationship between Situ Yuan and the Situ family.

They are related by blood, but have no real connection.

This is actually a common problem for many aristocratic families; the larger the family, the more difficult it is to achieve fairness and impartiality.

The main line of the family usually occupies most of the family's resources, while the branches and collateral branches will gradually decline. The longer the time goes on, the weaker the feelings of the collateral branches towards the main line of the family become.

If collateral branches still need to rely on the main line for survival, then the family still has some cohesion. However, if collateral branches cannot rely on the main line, then they will not be very loyal to the main line.

The family bloodline remains, but the connections between them will gradually be severed.

Situ Yuan probably wouldn't want to acknowledge a bunch of distant relatives, let alone take care of a group of poor relatives.

(End of this chapter)