Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

Are some people dissatisfied? Or harboring covetous intentions?

That's perfectly normal.

But so what?

The Lin family's rise from a small clan in Qingxi Mountain to a powerful family that owns a whole neighborhood and has cultivated vast territories was never due to their soft-heartedness.

The ruthlessness when the "Azure Talisman Alliance" was formed, the purge of the Yun family remnants after taking over Hidden Mist Market, the discipline of those who were disobedient and those who were passive and uncooperative in the market after the pioneering war... every time it was bloodshed!

Profits are tempting, but you also need to be alive to take them and capable of protecting them.

The Lin family is no longer the same Lin family of Qingxi Mountain that had to be subservient to others.

The dishes on the stone table gradually cooled down, and the spirit wine was almost gone.

Lin You was still talking about the latest happenings in the market, and Ye Xiaoxiao occasionally added a few words.

Lin Zhao leaned back in the recliner, her eyes closed, as if she were asleep.

After the market had completely stabilized, the Lin family quietly embarked on a costly project—building a second-tier spirit boat.

It is the "Crimson Sun Spirit Boat" among the five second-tier magical artifacts in the "True Technique of Departing Fire".

Before Lin Zhao left the sect, he had Instructor He give him special instructions on how to build the Crimson Sun Spirit Boat.

An ordinary second-tier spirit boat is about thirty feet long, comparable to a cultivator in the early stages of Foundation Establishment.

The Crimson Sun Spirit Boat was nearly fifty zhang long.

Once this thing is forged, it becomes a small, mobile fortress. When fully activated, its combat power rivals that of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

The Lin family needs such a powerful weapon.

It's obvious to anyone with eyes that no matter how many tricks the Lin family has up their sleeves over the years, they have one fatal flaw—they don't have any real late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, or even mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The clan leader is only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and it will take him at least twenty more years to advance to the middle stage.

It's true that Lin Zhao can fight beyond his level, but we can't always rely on him to take action in everything.

The Lin family needs something substantial to command respect and make those secretly scheming forces think twice.

The Crimson Sun Spirit Boat is the Lin family's answer.

Several Foundation Establishment cultivators, along with hundreds of Qi Refining cultivators, entered the spirit ship. Relying on the ship's formations, they were capable of going toe-to-toe with late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Making this thing isn't something you can do just by talking.

The first thing is the materials, which number in the thousands. Fortunately, the Lin family now owns a workshop with smooth acquisition channels, so they can always gather them if they have the time.

The second item is spirit stones. A second-tier spirit boat is a money-devouring beast once it gets going.

Offensive and defensive formations, as well as flight and movement, all require a large number of spirit stones. In the past, the Lin family would never have dared to dream of such a thing, but now they have a spirit stone mine...

The third thing is the refining method. Lin Zhao himself is a second-level weapon refiner, and he has specifically consulted with Instructor He in the sect about the refining of spirit boats.

The most troublesome thing is the fourth thing – the formation.

There are more than fifty large and small formations inside and outside the spirit boat. The core formations, such as the "Li Huo Ju Ling Array", "Chi Yang Yan Bi Array", and "Ba Men Jin Yang Array", are all high-grade formations among the second-tier formations.

The Lin family's own foundation in formations was so limited that they couldn't even begin to grasp its essence.

The Lin family couldn't refine it themselves, but they could find someone to cooperate with. For this matter, Lin Zhao personally made a trip to Qingfeng Market.

The master of Qingfeng Market, Master Qingming, is a peak second-tier array master. Apart from the three major sects, there is no array master stronger than him in the Yunxia Mountain Range.

The Lin family and Master Qingming reached a deal, in exchange for the two Tier 2 resource points from the Liu family. These points, which were originally allocated to the Lin family by the Liu family a few years ago, are located right next to Qingfeng Market.

With the Lin family's current focus on Shaoyang Market and their possession of spirit stone mines, it would be somewhat inappropriate for them to also control the resource points in Qingfeng Market. It could easily lead to misunderstandings that the Lin family has designs on Qingfeng Market.

These two Tier 2 resource points are a bit of a waste, as they are difficult to manage. It would be better to exchange them for Master Qingming to refine a Tier 2 spirit boat.

As for Qingxi Mountain, it was impossible to give it up, as it was the ancestral land of the Lin family.

Most of the Lin family cultivators came to Shaoyang Market, leaving behind some centenarian elders and younger generations in the clan territory.

After failing to establish his foundation, the Grand Elder returned to his clan's territory to prepare for his later years.

The forging of a second-tier spirit boat is not easy; it takes at least five years.

Lin Zhao estimated that the spirit boat would be completed before the end of his ten-year guarding mission. At that time, when he left, the Lin family would also have a means to fight against late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

In fact, Master Qingming himself also had an advantage: by participating in the refining of the Crimson Sun Spirit Boat, he could learn most of the refining method.

Don't underestimate a peak second-tier array master; otherwise, why would Master Qingming have so readily joined in?

The Lin family paid two Tier 2 resource points and materials in exchange for a Tier 2 spirit boat;

Master Qingming spent five years in exchange for the crafting method of a second-tier spirit boat, as well as two readily available second-tier resource points.

Each gets what they need, and it's all understood without being said.

The Lin family currently only has enough resources to forge one second-tier spirit boat.

As for why Qingfeng Market doesn't build its own?

Firstly, the resource consumption is staggering. Although Master Qingming is powerful, his family's wealth may not be as great as that of the Lin family, who have just acquired a spirit stone mine.

Secondly, he himself is at the peak of Foundation Establishment, and ordinary late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators pose no threat to him. The spirit boat is more of an added bonus for him.

Then there's Master Qingming's disciple, Master Feiyu, who has already broken through to the late Foundation Establishment stage.

Then, Master Qingming found him an eyesore and kicked him out of the market.

Of course, if Qingfeng City ever needs external assistance, it would be perfectly reasonable for this late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator to return from his "travels".

Lin Zhao and the clan leader were well aware of these secrets hidden in the shadows, but naturally they wouldn't tell the younger generation like Lin You and Ye Xiaoxiao.

Not many people in the family knew about this plan.

The early clearing of the market was also to ensure the smooth completion of the family's plan.

-----

Lin Zhao glanced at Lin You and Ye Xiaoxiao again.

Lin You and Ye Xiaoxiao's conversation had long since shifted from family affairs and spirit stone mines to the latest fashion trends and a new type of "lava honey cake" in Jinsha Market.

He chuckled softly; after all, he was still just a child, and closed his eyes.

"I heard that the cake is made with a secret recipe using 'Red Sap Flower,' which is unique to the vicinity of the volcano. It's very beneficial for those who cultivate fire-attribute techniques!"

Lin You's eyes lit up, "It's just that the beast tide is really bad in Jinsha Market, it's not peaceful, I don't dare to go there..."

Ye Xiaoxiao smiled, pursing her lips: "You're not really craving pastries, you're just itching to try out your newly mastered 'Blazing Chain Sword' spell on a demon beast, aren't you?"

Lin You, having been exposed, wasn't annoyed. She chuckled and said, "Sister Xiaoxiao, how about we find an opportunity to talk to Uncle about going to Jinsha Market? I've heard there's a war there every year, and the cultivators there are all fierce. It would be good for us to go and see for ourselves."

As they talked, their eyes secretly glanced at Lin Zhao on the recliner.

Lin Zhao had her eyes closed and was breathing evenly, as if she had been asleep for a long time, with only a barely perceptible curve at the corner of her mouth.

Jinsha Market... he was reminded of two old friends.

Gao Yuan and Chu Xin were members of the demon-hunting team back then. Later, they chose to go to Jinshafang City for training.

The beast tides in that area are almost constant; it's dangerous, but it's also the best place to toughen people up.