Cultivating immortality begins with discerning the secrets of heaven.

On Huangzhu Mountain, Lin Jinnan carried a water jug ​​and irrigated a patch of green bamboo on the mountain.

"Elder, this is intelligence about the Liu family of Duanyun Ridge."

Upon hearing this voice, Lin Jinnan turned around, opened the secret letter, and began to read it carefully.

After a long while, Lin Jinnan lit a flame at his fingertips, burning the secret letter to ashes.

"The patriarch of the Liu family is nearing the end of his life. Various forces in Duanyun Ridge are eyeing him covetously. There are even several rogue cultivators who have joined forces to seize the Liu family's foundation and establish their own rule."

"White Crane Ridge..."

The old man's eyes revealed a thoughtful expression. The relationship between the Lin family and the Liu family was not harmonious, and there had been some frictions many years ago.

However, because the two families were far apart, one in Duanyun Ridge and the other in Xiangnan Ridge, no large-scale conflict occurred.

After a long silence, Lin Jinnan said softly, "Summon the elders of the Ji and Zhong clans for a meeting."

"Yes, sir!"

Before long, Lin Jing and Lin Jingtao arrived one after the other.

"The Liu family patriarch doesn't have much time left. What are your thoughts on this?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Jingtao's eyes gleamed, and he exclaimed, "What an opportunity! If we can get our hands on the Liu family's inheritance of raising spirit cranes, our family will have another way to make a living."

"Moreover, White Crane Mountain is a second-tier spiritual vein, which can support the cultivation of Foundation Establishment stage cultivators. If we can occupy it, my Lin family will have an additional clan land, and we will also have an additional road in Broken Cloud Ridge."

However, Lin Jing held a conservative attitude. He shook his head and said, "It's not appropriate. Although a second-tier spiritual vein is good, it cannot be protected. My Lin family does not have a second Foundation Establishment ancestor."

"The family is currently too weak to govern across two regions, which makes it somewhat difficult to manage."

Lin Jingtao frowned and said, "Are we just going to watch others divide up the Liu family's assets without fighting for them?"

The foundation of a Foundation Establishment family is quite vast, including not only the fixed spiritual assets but also the Liu family's savings over the years.

  

Hearing their opinions, Lin Jinnan understood more or less what Ji Mai and Zhong Mai were thinking.

The Zhongmai (middle branch) is always proactive and enterprising, while the Jimai (lower branch) is conservative and steady, with completely different styles.

"If Heaven grants a gift and you do not take it, you will suffer the consequences. However, occupying Baihe Mountain is a bit too radical."

"With the family's current strength, we cannot spare the resources to manage the second spiritual vein."

At this point, Lin Jinnan said, "I plan to draw some people from each of the three branches and send them to Duanyun Ridge now to transmit information back to the Liu family at any time."

"Now, the situation in Duanyun Ridge is turbulent, and the Liu family is on the verge of collapse. When the ancestor of the Liu family passes away, we will send other cultivators to lead the charge, and our clansmen will be ready to strike."

"My Lin family does not contend for spiritual veins, spirit stones, or rare treasures; we only contend for the inheritance of raising spirit cranes and the spirit cranes of White Crane Mountain!"

As he spoke, he glanced at Lin Jingtao and Lin Jing and said, "Which of you two is willing to go in person? After the Ascension Ceremony ends and Zhongchuan returns home, he will go with you."

Lin Zhongchuan is a key member of the family, with a cultivation level in the late stage of Qi Refining, making him absolutely top-tier in strength.

Upon hearing this, Lin Jingtao hesitated.

Instead, Lin Jing took a deep breath, stepped forward, and said, "I am willing to lead people there."

"Alright, you can make preparations for this matter in the future. You can draw on the manpower of the three clans as you see fit. If you need any assistance from any clan elders, please let me know as well."

Lin Jing nodded and said, "I'll go back and gather manpower to form a team."

"Remember this: do not be greedy!" Lin Jinnan said in a deep voice.

"I know what I'm doing."

After saying that, Lin Jing left quickly, acting with great efficiency.

Seeing this, Lin Jinnan chuckled and said, "Still so impatient."

"Hehe, he wants to save up more for his grandson. Lin Yun from the Ji lineage is destined to join a high sect, so naturally he, as the grandfather, needs to help him out more," Lin Jingtao sighed.

Lin Jinnan gazed at the scenery below the mountain: "I wonder how the Ascension Ceremony went. I instructed Zhongchuan beforehand to try to recruit some rogue cultivators who failed to ascend to immortality to return to the family after the Ascension Ceremony."

"Many of the younger generation in the branch are of marriageable age. It would be ideal if we could recruit some non-clan cultivators as sons-in-law."

...

On the other side, Taiyuan Immortal City.

The Ascension Ceremony has begun, and on the most bustling main arena, one fierce battle after another is taking place.

Unfortunately, all the Lin family cultivators who participated in the battle were defeated as expected, with the best one only lasting until the second round.

"Uncle Nakagawa, it's my fault for being so disappointing and bringing shame to the family," a young member of the Bo family said, bowing his head in shame.

Lin Zhongchuan waved his hand and said, "It's alright. Your opponent is a cultivator at the sixth level of Qi Refining, and he also possesses two mid-grade magic weapons. It's normal that you can't beat him."

"Next, let's see how the weapon crafting assessment goes."

With that, the Lin family cultivators walked toward the viewing platform for the weapon-refining assessment.

The temperature here has dropped to freezing point, and some cultivators with shallow cultivation levels couldn't help but shiver a few times.

The ancient ice wall still exudes extreme cold, affecting an area within a radius of a thousand meters.

"Hey, isn't that Brother Nakagawa?" Xiong Zhenglin stood up this time and waved to Lin Zhongchuan with an eager expression.

Lin Zhongchuan chuckled lightly: "Hehe, Fellow Daoist Zheng Lin, what a coincidence! Your Xiong family also has disciples participating in the weapon-refining assessment?"

"There is a good-for-nothing lad who learned some weapon-refining techniques a few years ago and thought he would come over to test his skills," Xiong Zhenglin said, pointing to the young man from the Xiong family on the stage.

"I see."

Xiong Zhenglin's eyes darted around, and he beckoned Lin Zhongchuan over, bringing up the matter of working together to deal with the Liu family.

"Such an important matter, can Fellow Daoist Zheng Lin make a decision on behalf of the family?" Lin Zhongchuan didn't answer immediately, but instead asked in a low voice.

Xiong Zhenglin said confidently, "To be honest, my grandfather officially took over as head of the family three years ago, and I am truly in charge of this matter."

"For this purpose, I have also won over two rogue cultivators and another family. If your Lin family is also willing to join, this matter will be foolproof."

"Our Xiong family will only take the land with spiritual veins; we will not take any other resources. You can divide them among yourselves according to your contributions."

However, despite making such a confident promise, Lin Zhongchuan did not dare to agree easily.

"I need to go back to the clan and discuss this with the other elders."

"Alright, then I'll wait for news from your Lin family." Xiong Zhenglin wasn't in a hurry.

Just then, a strong surge of metallic spiritual energy arose in front of the stands.

A young man dressed in white was repeatedly refining a long-handled broadsword that emitted a strong golden light.

Before long, the long-handled broadsword absorbed all the metal-type spiritual energy, emitting a chilling aura.

It's actually a mid-grade magic weapon!

Many of the cultivators watching from the stands showed expressions of astonishment!

"How is this possible? It's only been two days, and this person has already refined a mid-grade magic weapon?"

"Who is that person? I've never heard of him before?"

"He seems to be a member of a powerful family..."

However, the Lin family members recognized this person's identity.

"That branch of the Chen family, Chen Guan..."

Indeed, Chen Guan wore a confident smile. With a flick of his hand, the golden longsword in front of him drew an arc in the air.

The next moment, he used his early-stage Qi Refining cultivation to fully activate the golden longsword.

Clang!

As the crisp sound faded, a deep knife mark, about an inch deep, was left on the ancient, unyielding wall of black ice!

After doing all this, Chen Guan confidently retrieved the magical artifact he had just forged.

According to the rules, you can take away the magical artifact you create yourself.

...