Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

Finally, he took a deep breath, his eyes hardening: "My Lin family rose from humble beginnings. With such an opportunity before us, how can we back down because of the fear of risk? The dragon egg, the family will take it! As for the covetousness of the Thousand Radiance Sect and the Myriad Heng Market..."

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes. "My Lin family isn't made of clay! Besides, there might still be room for maneuver in this matter."

Seeing that he had made up his mind, Lin Zhao said no more and handed him the dragon egg and the jade slip containing information about the market.

A year later, a secret message from the family arrived.

The patriarch was indeed shrewd and experienced. He did not bear the pressure alone, but instead secretly made contact with the Black Fiend Pavilion through the connections of the fourth branch of the Lin family.

Black Fiend Pavilion, ostensibly famous for its weapon crafting, is actually a remnant of the Heavenly Capital Spirit Control Sect. In terms of controlling and nurturing spirit beasts and demons, its foundation may not be any less than that of Wanheng Market.

They were very interested in this demonic dragon.

The two sides reached a secret cooperation agreement: to jointly invest resources in the cultivation and share the benefits of the Jiaolong project.

The Black Fiend Pavilion has a secret method that eliminates the need for the dragon-walking ritual. By nourishing the dragon with its unique "Black Fiend Qi," it can stimulate the dragon's growth.

Collaboration brings more than just technology.

Furthermore, Lin Zhao had previously obtained three Spirit Sealing Pillars from the abandoned secret realm, and he had some special ideas, hoping that the family could keep an eye out for and collect similar Spirit Sealing Pillars.

There must be more than one set of these spirit-sealing pillars used to suppress secret realms. Lin Zhao plans to collect five for his own use.

Taking advantage of the strengthened ties with the Black Fiend Pavilion, the clan leader actually managed to obtain two Spirit Sealing Pillars from their inventory! The price was naturally high, but compared to searching outside or exchanging them with contribution points back in the sect, it was an unexpected bonus.

As part of the cooperation, the pressure from the Thousand Glory Sect would naturally be blocked by the Black Fiend Pavilion.

Black Fiend Pavilion is one of the three major sects, and Thousand Radiance Sect has to give it some face. As for Wanheng Market, the Lin family can only rely on itself to be more vigilant and deal with things as they come.

After all, it was just a broken third-generation dragon egg, equivalent to a mid-grade Dao Foundation potential cultivator, so Wanheng Market wouldn't go all out.

Lin Zhao felt somewhat relieved upon learning this.

It's only a matter of time before Shaoyang Market rises to prominence and clashes with Shangqi Market over interests.

Resources are limited; if you take one more bite, someone else takes one less.

Fortunately, there is still a loose alliance of markets, where people support each other and can maintain a balance for the time being.

The essential difference between the Upper Seven Markets and the Lower Ten Markets lies in the fact that the former possesses, to varying degrees, some means that can threaten or even temporarily counter Core Formation cultivators, such as the Ghost Cry Hall, the Dragon Imprisoning Flute, the Golden Sand Spirit Locking Array, and fake Core Formation cultivators. This is why the three major sects are somewhat wary and dare not bully them wantonly.

Tianyunfang Market is an exception.

In the ninth year that Lin Zhao guarded Tianyun Market.

The "Crimson Sun Spirit Boat," which was commissioned to be crafted under the supervision of Master Qingming, was completed a year ahead of schedule!

Perhaps it was because Chu Fengge's intervention to intercept the power of the Core Formation cultivator made Qingming Shangren willing to befriend the Lin family, and he put in extra effort during the refining process.

This brand-new Tier 2 high-grade spirit boat became an important trump card for the Lin family, finally allowing them to escape the predicament of being "at the bottom of the ten markets" and gain some confidence to make a living.

The matter of the dragon was classified as a top secret by the Lin family.

Incubation and nurturing require time and, more importantly, continuous investment of resources.

When he handed the jade slip containing information about the market to the clan leader, he made his stance clear: how to cleanse the internal affairs was a matter for the clan itself.

After the clan chief returned, he indeed dealt with a group of clansmen who were unstable in their stance or had suspicious connections with the outside world with swift and decisive measures, and the atmosphere inside and outside the market was immediately rectified.

Ultimately, the Lin family must walk its own path.

What Lin Zhao can do is lend a helping hand at crucial moments, but she cannot and will not interfere in everything.

Excessive protection can stifle the fighting spirit and resilience of a family's growth.

---

Meanwhile, in Tianyun Market, after a year of careful consideration, Wu Mingxuan finally accepted Chu Fengge's entrustment and agreed to succeed Chu Fengge as the guardian of Tianyun Market after Chu Fengge's departure.

Lin Zhao was pleased with this outcome, as it would make many arrangements after his departure much smoother.

According to the rules of the market, after his term of office ends, the cave dwelling under his name that is attached to a second-grade low-level spiritual vein must be returned to the market.

However, with Wu Mingxuan, one of their own, taking over as the garrison commander, it wouldn't be difficult to do a favor and allow the Lin family to continue using the second-tier cave for cultivation.

He even brought his parents over from their family home.

The Shaoyang Market will inevitably be rife with conflict in the future, while the Tianyun Market remains detached from worldly affairs, ensuring their safety.

The spiritual energy here is richer, and the resources are more abundant, which is undoubtedly more beneficial for parents to break through the Qi Refining stage and prepare for Foundation Establishment.

Zhou Xun's figure appeared outside the market.

Chu Fengge is about to leave, and Wu Mingxuan, who is in the late Foundation Establishment stage, will take over as the guardian.

Although Wu Mingxuan was strong in the Foundation Establishment stage, he was ultimately no match for a true Core Formation cultivator.

He returned not only to see off his old friend, but also to see if the changed Tianyun Market needed his help again.

-----

Meanwhile, the Yunxia Mountains were not at peace.

The rifts and turmoil within the human race caused by the Jinsha Incident seem to have been keenly perceived by the demon beast faction.

The scale and frequency of beast tides have begun to increase significantly in various places, and even the previously relatively peaceful Qingfeng Market has shown signs of large-scale monster invasions.

Master Qingming had no choice but to recall Master Feiyu, who was traveling abroad, to jointly oversee the market.

Shaoyang Market also faced the challenge of a beast tide.

Although not as large as Jinsha, it has been continuously encroaching on the areas controlled by the Lin family.

Faced with this situation, clan leader Lin Shanhe was not worried at all. Instead, he regarded it as an opportunity to hone the five branches of the clan and unite the people.

Meanwhile, the demonic dragon, which had been secretly nurtured and suppressed at the core of the market's grand formation, was also silently devouring flesh and blood and malevolent energy as it resisted the beast tides time and time again, slowly growing stronger.

-----

For the next three years, Tianyun Market remained calm and peaceful.

Lin Zhao kept to himself and spent most of his time digesting the insights from his trip to Jinsha, consolidating his cultivation, and nurturing the Azure Lotus Sword. The Azure Lotus Sword successfully absorbed the spiritual energy of the secret realm and advanced to a second-tier superior magic weapon.

He began taking the Foundation Building Pills he obtained from Wan Heling, and the effects were remarkable.

With the spiritual energy support he gained from the secret realm and the effects of the resources and pills he has taken over the years, his cultivation has broken through to the peak of the early Foundation Establishment stage, his spiritual energy is at its peak, and he is only one step away from the middle Foundation Establishment stage.

Before parting, Lin Zhao called her parents, Lin You, and Ye Xiaoxiao to the other courtyard.

Clouds swirl through the window, casting flowing light and shadows inside the room.

Lin Zhao's gaze slowly swept over his loved ones, his voice calm, "Our Fifth Clan is now rooted in Tianyun Market, and the road ahead is still long."

He first looked at his parents, "Senior Brother Mingxuan promised to take care of you, but for a maximum of forty years. After that, you will have to rely on yourselves."

The Zhong family... may not be happy to see the Lin family establish themselves here. While you are cultivating your Qi, things may be peaceful, but once any of you reach the Foundation Establishment stage, covert suppression will likely be inevitable.

He paused for a moment, "But as long as I am here, they will not dare to really cross the line. Pressure is not necessarily a bad thing. In terms of cultivation, it can sometimes be a tempering force."

He pushed two well-sealed jade boxes in front of his parents. Inside were Foundation Establishment Pills and auxiliary spiritual items he had obtained from Wan Heling. "You can try using them when you break through to the Foundation Establishment stage after you reach the tenth level of Qi Refining."

Next, Lin Zhao took out an ancient jade slip. "This is the 'Mysterious Spirit Cultivation Technique' that I obtained with sect contribution points. It is a secret technique that takes a long time to master and consumes a lot of resources... Moreover, it can only help you achieve a low-grade Dao Foundation at most, but it increases the probability of Foundation Establishment by several times."