I established the Eternal Immortal Clan by taming beasts.

The night was as dark as ink, and the surface of Shattered Star Lake reflected the countless stars in the sky.

Lin Che stood with his hands behind his back under the willow tree by the island in the middle of the lake, his gaze fixed on the sky in the distance, which was being bathed in twilight.

A night breeze blew from the lake, carrying the moist scent of water plants and spirit flowers, which slightly lifted the hem of his clothes. The leaves of the spirit trees rustled overhead, like pages of a book being turned by the wind.

He had been standing under the tree for a long time.

His thoughts about the situation in the southern region, the expansion plan, and the future of his family were slowly weaving into a net that was gradually expanding in his mind.

Footsteps came from behind him, with a deliberately soft rhythm, clearly indicating that no one wanted to disturb him.

"Father." Lin Xuanqi stopped a few steps away, holding a jade slip that was faintly glowing in his hand. "We have received new intelligence from Zhihei."

"Speak," Lin Che said without turning around.

"The main force of the Earth-Splitting Bear Demon King has advanced to the outer perimeter of Black Wind Ridge. The Reverse Fate Demon Palace is not holding firm on the defensive line and is gradually retreating, seemingly intentionally making way for the beast tide army to cross Black Wind Ridge and rush straight to the heart of the Southern Region where the Fang family is located."

Lin Che nodded slightly.

It seems they do indeed have a partnership with the demonic beasts; the Demon Palace of Rebellion is quite adept at scheming.

By letting the beast tide weaken the Fang family, we can avoid being impacted by the beast tide and weaken the Fang family's power at the same time, achieving two goals at once.

Thinking of this, Lin Che frowned slightly: "But there's a problem here, why did the beast tide dare to confront the Fang family directly?"

Those demon emperors were only at the fourth-level Nascent Soul stage, while the Fang family had a Deity Transformation cultivator.

Without hesitation, Lin Che sent a message to Wan Yue asking for her information. The spiritual light lingered on the jade slip for a moment before dissipating in the night wind.

A moment later, the reply arrived, and the answer was as he had guessed: the initiator behind this beast tide was not Venerable Bai Ze, but rather several other Nascent Soul stage demon beasts.

"Keep a close eye on the beast tide's movements; I think they have something big planned!" After a pause, Lin Che continued, "What about the Azure Ridge Python Demon King and the Gale Eagle Demon King?"

"The tribe of the Azure Python Demon King is moving northeast of Burning Bone City. They seem to be bypassing Black Wind Ridge and crossing the Red Leaf Mountain Range."

The Gale Eagle Demon King still occupies the airspace above Burning Bone City, continuously releasing reconnaissance capabilities to a wider area. Zhi Hei judges that they are preparing to completely occupy the Burning Bone City area.

"Keep an eye on them. For now, don't move. Observe how the beast tide plans to advance. Have your spirit beast spies continue infiltrating; we must figure out their marching route." Lin Che looked at the lake and continued, "How are the other two beast tide fronts doing?"

"In the territory of Baicaogu, the demonic beasts along the Luohun Mountain Range have breached the front line of Baicaogu's defense against the demonic beasts, Zhenyao City. This is mainly due to the Fang family. In the previous battle, Baicaogu lost most of its main force, forcing them to retreat, shrink their power, and let the beast tide run rampant."

He didn't say it, but Lin Che understood that he had the same idea as the Demon Palace of Rebellion: to hand over the mess of the beast tide to the Fang family.

Now that you've occupied my territory, the beast tides that will soon be facing these lands are yours to deal with.

"The Qingyun Sword Sect on the western front, after catching its breath, began to fight back against the beast tide army along the Iron Ridge Mountains."

With the Baicao Valley holding the middle line temporarily resisting the Fang family, they have devoted all their energy to dealing with the beast tide, and have already recaptured several cities.

However, due to the great distance, these messages were actually sent out a month ago, but only reached me today when the black player was playing. There may have been new developments by now.

There's nothing we can do about it. The Xuanwang network has only just begun to extend into the territories of Lingcao Valley and Qingyun Sword Sect, so it's already quite good that we have such accurate information.

"Pay close attention. Baicao Valley and Qingyun Sword Sect are far away from us and will not interfere with our development for the time being."

Lin Xuanqi nodded: "That's what I think too. Also, the progress in the development zone is progressing steadily, and the pass of Qingfeng Gorge is almost completed. However..." He paused slightly, "There is something that may be worth noting."

"What is it?"

"The message from Xinyao's side is that a spirit beast scout team discovered some traces south of the middle section of the Fulong Mountains. According to these scouts, these traces do not seem to have been left by local demon beasts." Lin Xuanqi handed over a jade slip, its spiritual light flickering slightly.

Lin Che's gaze sharpened slightly: "Have Xin Yao continue tracking them, but don't alert them. Just find out their route and purpose. Tell Xin Qing that the exploration speed in the development zone can be slowed down. First, stabilize the territory that has already been explored, and don't rush to advance outwards."

"Understood." Lin Xuanqi turned and left, his footsteps gradually fading into the night, eventually swallowed up by the night wind and the chirping of insects.

…………

Three months later, at Qingfeng Pass.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the gate walls of Qingfeng Gorge were revealing their complete outline in the morning light.

The entrance to the canyon, which was once used as a lair by the Green-Faced Fox King, is now completely blocked by a thick city wall about ten feet high.

The city wall spans the cliffs on both sides of the canyon, like a bolt nailed into the mountain, dividing the entire passage into two sections.

The grayish-white rock blocks were piled up from the bottom of the valley to the edge of the cliff. Each block was meticulously polished and cut. The mud at the joints solidified into crystals of the same material as the rock under the influence of spiritual power, making the entire city wall look like a single giant stone that was carved out as a whole, without any trace of splicing.

The city wall is about three zhang thick, with its base made of basalt unique to Qingfeng Gorge. It gradually narrows upwards, ensuring stability while leaving enough space for the defenders to move and deploy within its limited width.

The walls were engraved with a three-tiered composite array designed by Lin Xuanqing and Qin Yulin, which combined defense, early warning, and spirit gathering into one, enveloping the entire entrance to the canyon in a continuously operating spiritual light barrier.

Above the city wall, several garrison soldiers dressed in orange-red standard spirit armor were taking turns on duty.

Their gazes passed over the battlements, fixed on the distant mountain range silhouetted against the morning mist, their fingers resting on the handles of their spiritual weapons at their waists, ready to engage in battle at any moment.

Every fifteen minutes, a patrol team would walk along the path inside the city wall, their footsteps echoing on the bricks and stones, repeatedly refracted by the rock walls on both sides of the canyon, forming a continuous echo.

On the high cliffs on both sides of the city wall, several arrow towers, like eagle nests embedded in the rock face, overlook the only passage below.

The arrow towers are made of ironwood with walls of blue stone, and each one is equipped with the latest spirit-breaking crossbows and early warning arrays.

Their firing ranges overlap, covering the entire valley entrance with a net of fire that leaves no blind spots. Any threat attempting to approach will be locked onto immediately once it enters the firing range.

Inside the wall, a hundred miles away, a camp under construction is gradually taking shape; that is the Dawn Army's temporary camp.

Unfinished barracks and makeshift tents were interspersed, and timber and stone were piled up at the edge of the open space, covered with tarpaulins for rain protection.

Several groups of cultivators were training in formation on the open ground. Their spears gleamed with a neat, cold light in the morning sun. Each step they took echoed on the ground, the echoes bouncing back and forth between the valley walls like the surface of a drum being repeatedly struck.

The spirit beast convoy carrying supplies emerged from the passage inside the wall and headed south along the newly paved road. The wheels made a continuous rumbling sound as they rolled over the gravel, like a drawn-out breath.

Lin Xuanqi stood on the observation platform at the highest point of the pass, his gaze fixed on the road that was stretching southward.

It was a dirt road that had just been cleared, winding through dense forests and mountain ridges. The road surface was still covered with freshly turned soil and gravel, and there were several piles of dead wood that had not yet been completely cleared away at the edge.

The felled trees were piled up haphazardly on both sides of the road, the cross-sections of the stumps still showing the fresh color of wood, and the air was filled with the scent of pine resin mixed with soil, the unique smell of new land.

"The first batch of pioneers has already set off." Lin Xuanjing's voice came from behind.

Lin Xuanqi didn't turn around: "How many people?"

"Two thousand Dawn Army soldiers, plus the little ones from our clan, led by Xin Yao, and eight hundred rogue cultivators who signed up to participate in the reclamation. Xin Qing led scouts and set off a day early, leaving markers along the way to serve as the vanguard for the main army."

Lin Xuanjing walked to his side, placed his hands on the crenellations of the city wall, and his gaze also fell on the road that was extending. He squinted slightly and measured the direction of the distant mountain ridge.

"If all goes well, we should be able to complete the first phase of the new city area within two months."

"How are the monster tribes in this area doing?"

"The message Xinqing sent back is that the envoys we sent last time have met with the four demon beast tribes south of Qingfeng Gorge. Two of them have directly expressed their allegiance and willingness to accept the Lin family's jurisdiction; one is still hesitating; and the other insists on meeting Father in person." Lin Xuanjing paused slightly. "The leader of that tribe said that they used to be the spirit beast race of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect. After that great battle, they were forced to leave their original habitat and migrated all the way to the outskirts of the Fulong Mountains. They request to meet the successor of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect and confirm the Lin family's identity before they will decide whether to submit."

Lin Xuanqi was taken aback: "Is that so?"

"Who says otherwise? If it really is, then there must be something valuable behind it!" Lin Xuanjing looked into the distance. "Zhihei has already sent a message back. Father's intention is to have the leader of that tribe come to Chuyang City for a face-to-face meeting."

"Okay, I'll take care of this."

Lin Xuanjing didn't reply, but simply nodded, his gaze falling with some concern on the outline of the mountain range in the distance, which was being illuminated by the morning light.

His daughters joined him in this land reclamation project; hopefully, they won't encounter any danger.

…………

One week later, in the reception room of Chuyang City.

The aroma of the spiritual tea slowly diffused in the air, mingling with the fragrance of the osmanthus blossoms drifting in from outside the window, creating an atmosphere that made people unconsciously slow down their breathing.

Light slanted in through the gaps in the carved window frame, spreading a narrow strip of light across the floor and clearly defining the silhouettes of the host and guest inside.

Lin Che sat in the main seat, with a cup of untouched spiritual tea in front of him, his gaze falling on the Azure Scale Wind-Patrolling Beast sitting opposite him in an almost human-like posture.

It is about two meters long and resembles a giant lion covered in scales. Its entire body is covered with dark green scales, and the edges of those scales are edged with a very fine gold trim, which refracts a fine light under the light.

Its back is covered with a row of dark green, bristle-like scales, each of which glistens slightly in the light, like grass blades soaked with dew.

With its four sturdy legs and claws hidden in its paw pads, Lin Che could still see the lines of those claws in a relaxed state. Even when relaxed, they still maintained a certain arc that could pop out, grab, and lock at any time.

As a master beast tamer, Lin Cheguang immediately recognized the species of this spirit beast from its appearance—the Azure Scale Wind-Patrolling Beast!

This is a species of spirit beasts bred through crossbreeding by the Myriad Beasts Sect.

Spirit beasts value bloodlines; the purer and more natural, the better.

Hybridization takes a different approach, combining the bloodline characteristics of two different spirit beasts to create a combination greater than the sum of its parts.

The Azure Scale Wind-Patrolling Beast is just like that. Its bloodline is only at the fourth level at most, but its abilities are very strong, especially in terms of stealth and tracking. It will definitely be of great help to the spirit beast scout team that the Lin family has recently formed.

"Greetings, Lord Lin Zhenjun. I am the patriarch of the Azure Scale Wind-Patrolling Beast." Its voice was more composed than Lin Che had expected. "I don't know if you believe it, but my clan has been wandering this land for nearly a thousand years. After the destruction of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, we were driven out of our former home by the army of the Great Qian Dynasty and migrated northeastward. Those once familiar valleys and spiritual veins no longer belong to us. We can only find a place to settle down in the crevices on the outskirts of the Fulong Mountains. Each generation is searching for a place to take root again."

Lin Che didn't interrupt it, but just listened quietly.

"Our ancestors were once part of the reconnaissance force of the Beast Sect. We are more familiar with the legacy of the Beast Sect than with any living being on this land. So when you stepped forward as a successor of the Beast Sect, there were great divisions within our clan. Some people thought this was an opportunity to finally find our home, while others thought it was just another force that was using the name of beast taming to seek profit. In the end, the task fell on me, so that I could see for myself."

Lin Che picked up the teacup, took a small sip, and then began to circulate the spiritual energy within his body.

A unique aura, like a slowly rising tide, spread from his dantian to his limbs and bones, and then to the surface of his body, leaving a very faint trace in the air around him.

This is precisely the unique spiritual energy fluctuation of the "Ten Thousand Beasts Paying Homage to the Ancestor Technique," carrying a unique frequency.

In an instant, the pair of emerald green eyes opposite lit up. "That's right, you really are the inheritor of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect! The Lin family really are the inheritors of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect!" An indescribable excitement appeared on its face.