The Immortal Clan begins with deductive intelligence.

The water clock drips, the night grows ever more sparse, and the candle's tears turn to ash.

The spring rain drizzled on and on until dawn.

Zhang family on Ling'ao Island.

Inside the warm pavilion, wisps of smoke rose from the golden incense burner, emitting a sweet and cloying aroma.

Zhang Shichang sank into a grand chair covered with a large tiger skin, toying with two round iron balls in his hands, which made a "click-clack" sound.

Below the hall, Steward Zhang Fu stood with his head bowed, his hands tucked into his wide sleeves, and said respectfully, "Second Elder, the matter is settled."

"The steward Wang of the General Affairs Hall and the steward Liu of the War Preparations Department have both accepted our tribute. The two stewards were very satisfied with the batch of century-old medicinal herbs that were sent over."

Zhang Shichang slightly raised his eyelids, his iron gall bladder pausing in his hand: "Have they agreed?"

"I agree."

Zhang Fu chuckled softly, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

"Manager Liu personally promised that the mobilization order issued to Cangwu Island this time will be implemented 'seamlessly'."

"Not only did they specifically name a cultivator from the Xu family who is at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, but they also strictly forbade the use of spirit stones to redeem him, and forbade the use of three disciples at the early stage of Qi Refining to replace him."

Zhang Shichang snorted coldly and slammed the iron clapper heavily onto the table.

"That little bastard Xu Changqing thinks he can challenge the Zhang family just because he got lucky and sent a few good-for-nothings into the outer sect?"

"That Xu Dayou is old and senile. Besides him, the patriarch, who else in the Xu family can be considered a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator?"

"Second Elder is brilliant; this is an open strategy."

Zhang Fu echoed in agreement.

"The Demon-Slaying Dike is now a veritable meat grinder, where even Foundation Establishment cultivators are in danger of perishing. If Xu Changqing, a Qi Refining cultivator with shallow foundations, goes there, he will surely die."

"Once he dies, Cangwu Island will be leaderless, with only a few old, weak, women and children left. Our Zhang family will only need to lift a finger to make the Xu family ours."

"Rules are rigid, but people are flexible."

Zhang Shichang picked up his teacup, brushed away the foam, and a hint of arrogance flashed in his eyes.

"If it weren't for Qingling's talent and ability to catch Elder Yun's eye, becoming a promising inner disciple, would Steward Liu of the War Preparations Department have broken the sect's rules for compensation to vassal families for a mere few spiritual herbs?"

"Let that ant hop around for a few more days; a month from now, it will be his death day."

……

Cangwu Island.

Xu Changqing watched Xu Xining walk away until his figure disappeared into the mist before turning his gaze away.

Just as he was about to turn around and go back to his study to practice breathing exercises, he suddenly felt a violent surge of spiritual energy in the sky.

A crimson streak, as red as blood, fell from the heavens, tearing through the clouds and hovering in mid-air outside the main hall of the Xu family.

It was a standard flying sword used to deliver a message, with a black iron scroll tied to the hilt, which slowly unfurled.

Xu Changqing stood in the courtyard, and with a wave of his sleeve, he used his spiritual power to draw the iron scroll into his hand.

[By imperial decree of the Sword Sect, Nanzhu is hereby summoned.]

The battle at the Demon-Slaying Dike is in dire straits, and the demonic atmosphere is growing increasingly intense. All vassals under the protection of the Qinghe Sword Sect must send their elite troops to defend it to the death.

[The Xu family of Cangwu hereby orders that within one month, a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator be dispatched to the left flank of the front line, 'Black Wind Pass,' to await further orders.]

This decree is absolute and takes effect immediately. It cannot be offset with spirit stones, nor can it be used to substitute lower-ranking disciples. Those who disobey this decree will be considered traitors and their entire families will be exterminated.

Xu Changqing slowly opened his eyes, his face ashen.

"Clan...Clan chief, has the conscription order been issued?"

Outside the courtyard gate, Xu Dayou was startled by the sword light he had just seen.

"Um."

Xu Changqing put the iron scroll into his sleeve, his tone indifferent.

"We need someone at the mid-stage of Qi Refining to go to Black Wind Pass. We'll set off in a month."

"Black Wind Pass?!"

Xu Dayou was struck dumb.

"That's the front line! Of the ten rogue cultivators who go there, if even one comes back alive, their ancestors' graves are emitting auspicious smoke!"

The old man was so anxious that he paced back and forth in circles, then suddenly slapped his thigh.

"Let's pool our spirit stones! Clan leader, we still have some extra. According to the sect's usual rules, six hundred spirit stones are enough for a mid-stage spot!"

"It's unavoidable."

"The decree clearly states in black and white that no exemptions may be granted with spirit stones, and no one of lower rank may be used to fill the vacancy."

"This...how is this possible? This has been the sect's rule for a hundred years, how could it be so harsh on our Xu family alone?"

Xu Dayou's face was filled with disbelief.

"Forcing the Xu family to pay with their lives, Uncle Dayou, who on the edge of this great swamp most wants me to die at the Demon-Slaying Dike, and also has the ability to change the sect's rules?"

Xu Dayou was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized what was happening and gritted his teeth, saying, "The Zhang family! It's that old dog Zhang Shichang! He used his illegitimate daughter's influence within the inner sect to bribe the higher-ups!"

Xu Changqing didn't reply, but lowered his eyes, his fingers unconsciously rubbing against his sleeve.

Actually, even if the Zhang family hadn't pulled this stunt, Xu Changqing had originally planned to go to the Demon-Slaying Dike anyway.

Planting medicinal herbs and raising fish on Cangwu Island is ultimately a small-scale operation, as resources come too slowly.

What is a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood to others is, to his "Heavenly Mirror," which allows him to avoid misfortune and seek good fortune, a private treasury where he can take whatever he wants.

He originally intended to spend some spirit stones to secure a leisurely logistical job escorting grain supplies, and then gradually make his move.

Now, things have gotten even worse; they've been thrown directly into the most dangerous Black Wind Pass.

However, every cloud has a silver lining.

Xu Changqing thought to himself.

This could be a way out to get to know the elites of the sect and expand one's network.

"Chieftain, what should we do now?"

Xu Changqing's eyes narrowed slightly, his thoughts having moved beyond the immediate crisis to a more pressing matter.

"If I leave the island, the Xu family will be left empty."

Although Xu Dayou has reached the fifth level of Qi Refining, his combat skills are sparse. The Third Elder is in seclusion, so it is unknown how many more times he can make a move.

Even if the Zhang family is afraid of being held accountable by the sect afterward and doesn't take action personally, as long as they spread the word and let a group of powerful bandits land on the island, the Xu family will immediately wipe them out.

"Before I leave the island, I need to turn Cangwu Island into an impregnable fortress."

Xu Changqing's eyes sharpened, and he turned around.

The "Sunflower Water Smoke Formation" is too weak; it can only hold off a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator for a short while.

Within this month, I also need to go to the market to buy a new set of Tier 1 high-grade killing array plates, and purchase enough puppets and magical artifacts to guard the island...

Each and every one of these matters must have cost at least several thousand spirit stones.

Xu Changqing untied the storage bag from his waist, probed it with his divine sense, and carefully checked it.

The ill-gotten gains from robbing Liu Sandao and One-Eyed Owl, plus the income from selling talismans and demon cores, after deducting expenses for hiring array masters, buying fish fry seeds, body-tempering herbs, and travel expenses for Xu Xining and others.

Now, this storage bag contains only 730 low-grade spirit stones.

Seven hundred and thirty yuan is an enormous fortune for an ordinary independent cultivator.

However, if the defenses of Cangwu Island were to be upgraded to the point where they could withstand a strong attack from a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator from the Zhang family, this would be like a drop in the ocean.

There is only one month left until the deadline for the mobilization order.

Within a month, we must acquire another large sum of spirit stones so that we can provide Jiang Rou and her people with a place to settle down before this trip.