Chapter 34: Chapter 34: A Drastic Turn of Events

The atmosphere within the Xu Clan had changed drastically.

This was because another power had also detected the Middle Grade Spiritual Land, though it was unknown how the information had leaked.

That power was the Chen Family of Purple Maple Bay!

The two clans’ territories were not far apart, less than a hundred li, and they already had their share of friction and disagreements. Now, in the Wilderness, they had once again set their sights on the same prize.

They were trying to get a slice of the pie.

Admittedly, the Upper Sect, the Purple Extreme Sect, had issued a series of regulations to ensure the orderly development of the wilderness, directing everyone’s efforts productively and reducing internal conflict. The core of these rules was to protect ownership rights over newly discovered resources.

The rule was—

During wilderness development, all discovered resources, Spiritual Lands, and the like belonged to the first to occupy them.

Other individuals and powers were forbidden from forcefully seizing such discoveries. Any clan confirmed to have done so would face annihilation at the hands of all others!

Although this was an inviolable rule that no one dared to defy, the problem was that the Xu Family had not "occupied" this Spiritual Land. They hadn’t even managed to enter the valley, blocked outside by the Poisonous Miasma.

At most, it could be considered... a discovery! It didn’t even count as exploration.

Therefore, the Chen Family of Purple Maple Bay had no reservations about vying for it.

The cultivators from the two clans had already skirmished several times outside the valley.

There had been no casualties yet.

But based on how the situation was developing, Lin Changheng judged that it wouldn’t be long.

All it needed was a spark to light the fuse of conflict.

After repeated meetings among the clan’s upper echelons, Patriarch Xu Xuhe made a final decision and issued a strict order. On one hand, he dispatched more Late Stage and Middle Stage Qi Cultivation experts to the front lines to be fully prepared for the conflict to worsen. Victory was the only option; defeat was not permitted.

On the other hand, he ordered the clan’s Pill Masters to accelerate the refining of Decompression Pills. If necessary, they would enter the valley by continuously taking these pills, braving the Poisonous Miasma to clear out the Demon Beasts and occupy the land.

A storm was truly brewing, and it would be a storm of blood and gore!

It was too dangerous; there was no telling how many would be killed or injured.

Fortunately, Lin Changheng only needed to perform Alchemy in the rear.

...

「Three days later.」

Immortal Seed Bai Fengxian arrived with a grave expression, bearing bad news.

"What? Fugui was drafted to the wilderness battlefield?"

Lin Changheng was startled.

’Logically, Xu Fugui had been prolific in siring children for the Xu Family. He’d only just been held up as a role model after marrying a Spirit Root Woman from the clan. How could he be so suddenly drafted to the front lines?’

’This shouldn’t be happening. It goes against the Xu Family’s original intentions.’

’Unless another emergency has come up.’

"Yes, the clan’s mobilization order came too quickly. The order was issued and he was deployed immediately. Brother Fugui just quickly packed his things and set off for the Wilderness. He didn’t even have a chance to say goodbye."

Bai Fengxian happened to be working with Xu Fugui when he saw several people arrive like the wind, holding an order with solemn expressions. His heart immediately sank.

He thought they had come to conscript him, as he had no children with Spirit Roots.

He had long had a premonition, but when the moment actually came, he still felt a little lost.

His face fell. Just as he was about to stand and receive the order, the person spoke: "By order, Xu Fugui is hereby conscripted for immediate deployment to the Wilderness as support."

Recalling what had just happened, Bai Fengxian had mixed feelings. There was the joy of a narrow escape, but also worry for his friend’s safety.

Lin Changheng suddenly sighed and patted Bai Fengxian’s shoulder. "The situation is changing rapidly. We should both make preparations."

Seeing Bai Fengxian’s stunned look, he continued to explain, "With the conflict imminent, they need a large number of Middle Stage Qi Cultivators to hold the line, which is why they drafted Fugui. Once the real fighting breaks out, many Early Stage Cultivators are bound to be severely injured or killed. That’s when you and I will have to fill the ranks. It’s only a matter of time..."

Bai Fengxian came to a realization and nodded repeatedly. "Yes, Brother Lin is right. I need to exchange my savings for a useful Spiritual Artifact and start refining it now to avoid being caught unprepared! I also have to desperately raise my Cultivation. Every bit I raise it is another chance at survival."

With that, he was about to take his leave.

"Wait."

Lin Changheng placed a box containing three Elixirs into Bai Fengxian’s hand. "At a critical time like this, funds are bound to be tight. Take these for now."

"Thank you, Brother Lin!"

Squeezing the Pill Box tightly, Bai Fengxian’s eyes reddened slightly as he nodded emphatically.

A thousand words and all his feelings of friendship were conveyed in his determined gaze. "A friend in need is a friend indeed. Brother Lin, for treating me like this, if you ever need anything in the future, I swear I’ll lay down my life to repay you!"

After seeing Bai Fengxian off, Lin Changheng sat cross-legged and tried to cultivate, but he found his Heart and Spirit were restless.

With crisis lurking everywhere, it was difficult to feel at ease.

After a moment of silent contemplation, he immediately got up and headed for the Hundred Treasures Hall.

He decided he also needed to acquire more protective measures to feel secure.

Now that his Cultivation had reached Middle Stage Qi Cultivation, he could control one Tier One Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact or two Lower Grade Spiritual Artifacts.

But he only had one Lower Grade Wandering Bee Blade, which was definitely not enough.

On his way, Lin Changheng also made a detour to find several other of his Immortal Seed friends and gave them a subtle warning about the situation.

It made each of their faces fall.

In their extreme panic, some even asked to borrow Pills. Lin Changheng took the opportunity to lend them three Elixirs or a few Spirit Stones to help with their urgent problems.

These Immortal Seeds were all friends of over a decade, and he knew their character was sound; otherwise, they wouldn’t still be associating with one another. He trusted they weren’t the type to repay kindness with hatred.

’And if one of them turned out to be like that, well, losing a few Pills was a small price to pay to see a person’s true colors. It wouldn’t be a loss.’

As for the Elixirs he gave away, they were all Genuine Pills. He still kept his Masterpiece Pills hidden away securely; Lin Changheng would not show them to others easily.

...

「In the Hundred Treasures Hall.」

The hall was bustling with activity, packed with people.

The Chen Family’s intervention meant the news had spread. Forbidding it further was useless, so the Xu Family’s upper echelons had appropriately loosened their control over the information.

As a result, the Xu Clan Members all began to spend their Spirit Stones to improve their strength.

The Xu Family was happy to see this. After all, it was a harmless way to stimulate their internal economy.

Lin Changheng didn’t go to the regular counters but went directly to the Hundred Treasures Hall Steward.

He got straight to the point and asked to buy a Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact.

Many clan members had come to purchase Spiritual Artifacts and Elixirs today, so the Steward, Xu Xuyang, was already used to it. However, very few came to buy Middle Grade Spiritual Artifacts, so he couldn’t help but offer a reminder:

"Alchemist Lin, it is very difficult for someone in Early Stage Qi Cultivation to control a Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact. With insufficient Magical Power and Divine Thought, you’ll find it more of a burden than a help."

"Senior is absolutely right, but this junior has made some small progress in his Cultivation and has already touched the bottleneck of the Middle Stage Qi Cultivation. Since I can’t seem to break through, I thought I’d use a Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact to motivate myself. Perhaps it will bring some inspiration and give me the opportunity I need."

"If it really doesn’t work out, I’ll just save it for later."

Lin Changheng had prepared this excuse in advance, and it was enough to cover his tracks.

"As long as Alchemist Lin knows what he’s doing."

Steward Xu Xuyang chuckled. He had fulfilled his duty to give a reminder and leave a good impression. That was enough; saying any more might be annoying.

With his experience, he naturally wouldn’t do something so foolish.

Lin Changheng then chose one from the five or six Middle Grade Spiritual Artifacts that the steward presented.

It was a cyan banner.

It was named the Cyan Flood Dragon Banner, a Middle Grade Defensive Spiritual Artifact.

Its quality was close to that of a Masterpiece, and the price was two hundred and sixty Lower Grade Spirit Stones.

A Masterpiece-quality Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact, on the other hand, would cost around three hundred Spirit Stones.

The price was slightly inflated, but still acceptable.

"Let me also see some Lower Grade Attacking Spiritual Artifacts."

After choosing the banner, Lin Changheng thought for a moment, then spoke again.