’A hundredth birthday celebration... So Sect Leader Wei is only just turning one hundred.’

Although he didn’t know why his Clan Leader had wanted him to attend the birthday celebration, the Sect Leader of the Qingfeng Sect, with his wide robes and imposing presence, had left a deep impression on Bai Zichen.

As the Sect Leader of the Qingfeng Sect, a single word from him could decide the life and death of the Bai Family. Even the Clan Leader had to speak with the utmost caution in his presence.

He had also offered him a position as an Inner Sect Disciple, leaving Bai Zichen to waver for a long time between two paths: becoming a disciple of the Qingfeng Sect or remaining in the clan to cultivate.

"Indeed. A Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator at only one hundred years old... In all of Black Mountain, he has the greatest hope of reaching Core Formation."

Bai Xianzhong sighed with emotion, his expression filled with deep admiration.

"Wei Dao possesses a Wind Element Anomalous Spiritual Root. After joining the Qingfeng Sect, his path of cultivation was smooth, and he successfully reached Foundation Establishment at the age of thirty."

"His cultivation afterward was just as smooth, and he broke through to a new realm every twenty years on average. For an Abnormal Spiritual Root Cultivator, reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection isn’t particularly difficult. The only true trial is the Core Formation stage."

In terms of cultivation speed, the talent of an Abnormal Spiritual Root is second only to a Celestial Spiritual Root, and it grants a significant boost when cultivating magic of its corresponding element.

Although Bai Xianzhong was a few years younger than Wei Dao and had used contributions from the Inheritance Stele to redeem a pile of elixirs from the Qingfeng Sect, which caused his Early-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation to show signs of advancing, he was still worlds apart from Sect Leader Wei.

Not to mention, the resources the Qingfeng Sect could provide were on a completely different level from those of the Bai Family.

The gap between the two would only grow larger in the future.

"Rumor has it that Sect Leader Wei wants to accept one more Direct Disciple before attempting to reach Foundation Establishment Perfection. Therefore, this hundredth birthday celebration is a major opportunity for you."

"Clan Leader, you mean you want me to join the Qingfeng Sect and try to become Sect Leader Wei’s Direct Disciple?"

Bai Zichen’s heart skipped a beat. ’The Sect Leader of the Qingfeng Sect, a cultivator with Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation, wants to accept a Direct Disciple. I’m afraid every eligible cultivator will be fighting tooth and nail for that position.’

"That’s right. With your talent, it would be a great waste for you to remain in the clan. Joining the Qingfeng Sect is the best choice," Clan Leader Bai Xianzhong said calmly, having clearly given the matter much thought.

Few Clan Cultivators joined the Qingfeng Sect. For one, it wasn’t easy for a Cultivation Family to produce an outstanding member, so they were reluctant to let them go, preferring they stay to look after the clan’s affairs.

Furthermore, when many disciples from Cultivation Families entered a sect, the support their clan could offer was limited. They paled in comparison to the other disciples, who were handpicked by the Qingfeng Sect from thousands of candidates across the county, and thus their achievements were often limited as well.

"It just so happens that Sect Leader Wei intends to take another disciple. Of his four previous Direct Disciples, besides the eldest who unfortunately encountered a Tribulation Cultivator and died young, two of the remaining three have successfully reached Foundation Establishment. This proves that not only is Sect Leader Wei’s own cultivation profound, but he is also an excellent teacher."

"Sect Leader Wei already has a favorable impression of you. Combined with your talent, Chenn’er, your chances are very high."

As if sensing Bai Zichen’s thoughts, Bai Xianzhong added, "As long as you can become a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, even if you are not based in the clan, your status as an Elder of the Qingfeng Sect will still be of immense help to our family."

"Since the Clan Leader has put it that way, I am willing to give it a try!"

’The Cultivation Conditions and various resources within the Qingfeng Sect are, of course, far superior to what the Bai Family has.’

’The most obvious example is that after I reach Foundation Establishment, I’ll definitely need a new Cultivation Method. Given the Bai Family’s resources, there won’t be many Cultivation Techniques for me to choose from.’

’In the Qingfeng Sect, however, there are no fewer than a hundred Cultivation Techniques suitable for Foundation Establishment Cultivators, tailored for different disciples and different Spiritual Roots.’

Bai Zichen’s prior hesitation was mainly rooted in his concern about whether the sect would discriminate against disciples from Cultivation Families.

’If I were to be restricted at every turn, I’d be better off cultivating peacefully in the Bai Family. I’m still somewhat confident I can reach Foundation Establishment that way; my future path would just be a bit more arduous.’

But after hearing what the Clan Leader had to say, he realized it was indeed a great opportunity.

"When the Chen Family visited this time, we settled on the direction of our future cooperation. Starting next year, they will transport fifty Fragrant Pig piglets here, and a specialized Beast Tamer will come to teach us how to raise them."

Bai Xianzhong already considered Bai Zichen the future pillar of the Bai Family. Even though he was sending him to the Qingfeng Sect for the sake of a brighter future, he was beginning to slowly involve him in important clan affairs.

"Of course, all the Fragrant Pig piglets will be castrated. But once we master this skill, our clan can increase its net income by seven to eight hundred Spirit Stones annually."

"In a few years, once we become proficient, the number of piglets they send will increase. Besides selling them, we can also supplement the meals of all our clan members. The long-term consumption of Spirit Beast Meat has a slight beneficial effect on a cultivator’s physical body."

"Why would the Chen Family be willing to give us a piece of their cash cow?"

Bai Zichen asked, confused.

This was as inconceivable as the Bai Family digging up the Profound Ink Bamboo from their own lands and offering to transplant it for the Chen Family.

If a Great Foundation Establishment Cultivator was the foundation upon which a Cultivation Family stood, then unique, inheritable assets like the Profound Ink Bamboo or the Fragrant Pigs were the main beams supporting the clan.

Without these exclusive products to earn Spirit Stones, these Cultivation Families would simply be unable to sustain themselves.

"Last month, Master Yangg summoned the leaders of the Cultivation Families, loose cultivator groups, and the few Foundation Establishment Level minor sects entering Black Mountain County to Wanglong City and laid down the rules."

Bai Xianzhong walked over to a map on the stone table and circled a large section of the Black Mountain area with his hand.

"A total of five Cultivation Families were permitted to enter the Black Mountain Range and were granted a Spirit Vein to establish themselves. The rest, those who didn’t qualify, were broken up and assigned to the county’s subpar Spirit Veins."

"However, that area only has a single Tier Two Low-Grade Spiritual Vein, which feeds a few Tier One spiritual mountains. It will definitely be incredibly crowded if all five families are settled there."

"According to intelligence gathered by the Chen Family, Master Yangg promised these families that he would issue a Pioneer Decree within ten years to open up new Spirit Veins!"

The Pioneer Decree!

A term that filled the cultivators of Black Mountain with both dread and longing!

When the Qingfeng Sect was first founded, the entire Black Mountain Range was Demon Beast Territory, and all the Spirit Lands suitable for cultivation were occupied by them.

It was the Core Formation True Men of the Qingfeng Sect who issued the Pioneer Decrees, leading Sect Disciples and countless Loose Cultivators through arduous toil. At the cost of innumerable lives, they slew Demon Kings and Demon Beasts, bringing one mountain after another under the control of cultivators.

Most of the Cultivation Families in the Black Mountain Range were founded by outstanding Loose Cultivators who had answered the Qingfeng Sect’s Pioneer Decree. Only after making immense contributions were they granted a Spirit Vein to pass down through the generations.

The Demon Beasts in the outer Black Mountain Range have largely been wiped out. The remaining ones, including several powerful and troublesome Demon Kings, hide deep within the mountains. As a result, the Qingfeng Sect has not issued a Pioneer Decree in several hundred years.

A Pioneer Decree is a great thing for newly relocated Cultivation Families and Loose Cultivators, as it gives them a chance to fight for and win an inheritable Spirit Vein. However, for established native families who wish only to peacefully pass on their legacy, it is not such a welcome event.

Each time a Pioneer Decree is issued, cultivators die by the hundreds. Even a Great Foundation Establishment Cultivator can perish from a single moment of carelessness.

The deeper one ventures into the Black Mountain Range, the more dangerous it becomes.

This is especially true for a clan like the Fragrant Pig Chen Family. When the time comes, even if their Foundation Establishment Ancestor hasn’t passed away from old age, he simply won’t have the strength to travel great distances and battle Demon Beasts.

Without the protection of a Great Cultivator, they are guaranteed to become cannon fodder in the pioneering effort.

Don’t be fooled by the Chen Family’s current prosperous and flourishing appearance; one wrong step and they will vanish like smoke, fading into history!

That is why the Chen Family is willing to concede such benefits—they want to bind the Ink Bamboo Bai Family to their side to fight for a chance at survival.