Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

He paused, recalling the feeling of meeting Master Qingming, "He probably used some kind of secret method to connect some of his life force with the ancient maple trees in the market, using the power of plants to prolong his life and nourish his health."

The reason I was able to temporarily suppress him this time was mostly because he was hesitant to act rashly and didn't want to destroy the ancient maple forest that he had cultivated for many years.

I suspect his actual lifespan might be close to the limit of the Foundation Establishment stage—three hundred years.

He looked at the patriarch and gave his final conclusion: "The Lin family has no chance of taking over Qingfeng Market. This path can be abandoned."

Finally, a hint of relaxation and relief appeared on the face of clan chief Lin Shanhe.

He let out a long breath, as if he had unloaded a heavy burden.

"You actually had this in mind all along, didn't you?"

Lin Zhao pressed further, "Then why bring the Lin family into this mess?"

The patriarch took another sip of tea and slowly said, "The Lin family's resources are barely enough to support one Foundation Establishment cultivator. If they wish to produce another Foundation Establishment cultivator and continue the family's prosperity..."

There are only two paths: either wage a pioneering war deep into the Cloud Mist Mountains, or enter Qingfeng Market and try to get a share of the spoils. It's only a matter of time before they clash with the Liu family.

"Furthermore," he said, his gaze narrowing slightly, "by common sense, the shop owner is indeed close to two hundred years old."

As you know, the lifespan of a Foundation Establishment cultivator is four Jiazi (60 years). Once they reach the age of two hundred, their Qi and blood begin to decline, and fighting can easily shorten their lifespan.

This is also the source of the Liu family's confidence to test and even challenge the authority of the neighborhood head.

If the Liu family makes a move, and the Lin family doesn't, what if... I mean, what if the Liu family really does overpower the neighborhood head?

Even if they only nominally control the market, and then use the market's interests to win over a few Foundation Establishment cultivators, plus the four from their own family, they can crush the Lin family in the blink of an eye.

The Liu family has already played their cards; the Lin family can't afford not to follow suit.

Lin Zhao remained silent, her fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of the teacup.

The clan leader glanced at him and continued, "Later, I gradually realized that something was wrong. The expansion of the Azure Talisman Alliance and the Hundred Refinements Society seemed to be driven by an invisible hand."

But by then I was already in a bind, and more importantly, I realized that this was very likely the will of the workshop owner himself.

"If the Lin family continues down this path, they might still have a sliver of hope. But if they withdraw immediately, they will likely become the target of a purge."

"Of course, I wasn't completely unprepared."

The patriarch's tone turned cold. "Within the Azure Talisman Alliance, there aren't many truly core members of the Lin family; most are just nominal members on the periphery."

If things become unmanageable, as long as the shop owner is willing to show leniency, the Lin family can immediately sever ties and cut their losses to survive.

Lin Zhao did not refute the statement that "few members of the family are involved".

He knew perfectly well that the Qingfu Alliance's ability to run rampant in the market and almost replace part of law enforcement power would have been impossible without the tacit approval or even the push from the core power of the Lin family.

Chen Pangzi's statement that "half of the spirit stones went into the Lin family's pocket" is probably not an exaggeration.

But what could he say? Should he, for the sake of those unfamiliar cultivators, stage a "righteous act of sacrificing family ties" and uproot his own clan?

This is his root, the place of his family bloodline. His success today is due to the countless resources and expectations his family has poured into him.

Lin Zhao had always known that the world was not simply black and white. The Lin family had been passed down for over three hundred years; how could it not have a dark side?

The clan chief offered a way out, and Lin Zhao had no choice but to accept it.

That concludes this discussion.

As for the thousands of cultivators who have been killed or wounded in the market over the years... Lin Zhao and the clan leader tacitly refrained from mentioning a single word about it.

In the cruel world of cultivation, the key to family unity lies in blood ties and shared honor and disgrace.

The most frustrating part is this: once someone makes a mistake, everyone is bound together and shares the consequences.

Lin Zhao composed himself and said, "I have reached a temporary understanding with Master Qingming that we will push for the 'end' of the Qingfu Alliance and the Hundred Chains Society as soon as possible."

What I mean is, the Lin family should take a portion of what the Azure Talisman Alliance has gained over the years and use it to compensate the cultivators in the market who suffered the most damage, as a way of...

Unexpectedly, the clan chief shook his head resolutely, his tone firm: "We cannot give it."

Lin Zhao was taken aback: "Clan leader, have you thought this through?"

The Lin family has caused quite a stir this time. If they don't make some kind of response, their reputation in the market will be completely ruined.

I can't stay here forever. If someone holds a grudge and seeks revenge in the future..."

The clan chief raised his hand to stop him, and stood up: "Come with me."

-----

He led Lin Zhao to an ordinary-looking stone wall covered with dark green moss on the inside of the cave.

Lin Zhao recognized this place; it was the jade tablet containing the family's main cultivation technique.

The clan leader, with a solemn expression, made a hand seal, and a stream of spiritual energy entered the stone wall.

"Buzz..."

The spiritual light on the stone wall rippled out like water, and the thick moss quickly receded and shrank as if it were alive, revealing the jade stele underneath.

The clan leader's movements did not stop; his hand gestures changed again, and another different spiritual light entered the bottom of the jade tablet.

"Click...click click..."

The jade tablet slowly slid to the left, revealing a deep, narrow passage that led downwards, allowing only one person to pass at a time.

This is the deepest treasure trove passed down in the family!

Lin Zhao followed the clan leader into the passage.

After descending about ten feet, the view suddenly opened up, revealing a stone chamber about ten feet in size.

The walls of the stone chamber are inlaid with fluorite that emits a soft white light, and the floor is engraved with intricate spirit-sealing array patterns to prevent the spiritual energy of the treasures from leaking out.

There were some jade shelves and spirit-sealing boxes lined up against the wall, with many items on them, but the clan leader did not stop and walked straight to the innermost part of the stone chamber.

There was a circular stone platform about a foot above the ground, covered by a layer of pale golden, constantly flowing protective light.

The clan leader waved his hand and cast a spell to lift the restriction, and the light barrier quietly dissipated.

The sight on the stone platform caused Lin Zhao's pupils to contract sharply!

It was a claw about ten feet long, ferocious and full of power! Its entire body was covered with scales the size of a bowl, shimmering with a dark golden luster, and even after countless years, it still exuded a chilling aura.

Its five curved claws are sharp as hooks and are a deep, almost black color, as if they could easily tear apart magical artifacts.

Dragon's Claw!

Even after being silent for countless years, Lin Zhao still felt a slight suffocation. This dragon must have reached the third rank in its lifetime, which is equivalent to the Core Formation stage of a human!

Even more miraculously, centered on this dragon claw, the surrounding spiritual energy seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, slowly circulating and flowing around it.

Occasionally, it would spontaneously condense into some tiny, mysterious, pale golden rune phantoms, as if the dragon claw itself was still absorbing spiritual energy.

Lin Zhao took several deep breaths to suppress the shock in his heart and slowly uttered, "The family... actually has such a foundation. With this claw, it's probably enough to exchange for several Foundation Establishment Pills."

The clan chief didn't respond to that question. His gaze fell on the dragon's claw, filled with complex emotions. "Do you know the origin of this claw?"