Arrangements

As the heaven-supporting pillar of the Yang Household, Old Ancestor Yang Haoyu's words had undoubtedly given the elders a tremendous boost. The atmosphere in the great council hall grew much more heated and relaxed.

Seeing this, Yang Haoyu felt a slight sense of relief and continued, "Since we're preparing with all our strength for the Cold Tide's arrival, the Lineage's development strategy must be adjusted accordingly."

"Dangmo!"

"Your nephew is here!"

"I'm giving you one year to select three cultivators at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement from among the Wolf Pool cultivators. Don't hold on to the three Foundation Establishment Pills we obtained. Use them as soon as possible to strengthen the Lineage."

"Yes!"

"Qiongqing!"

"Your grandson is here!"

"You are to lead the Lineage's Alchemists in refining pills with all their strength, especially Wound-Healing Pills and Qi-Replenishing Pills. I'll also allocate you another twenty thousand Spirit Stones to purchase a Fire-Attribute Formation and a Spirit Flame Seed to help with Alchemy!"

"Your grandson obeys!"

"Dang Xu!"

"Your nephew is here!"

"You are to finish expanding the Lineage's Scripture Repository within three months. In the meantime, sort through the many texts we obtained from the Dragon Valley Sect as quickly as possible. Take particular care to protect the original copies. They are all part of the Lineage's foundation."

"Your nephew obeys!"

"Qiong Ye!"

"Your grandson is here!"

"Starting today, your External Affairs Hall is to devote all its efforts to gathering intelligence on the many Lineages and Markets of Dragon Valley County. Pay particular attention to the movements of outside cultivators. Those Evil Cultivators probably won't stay quiet."

"Your grandson obeys!"

"Qiong Qi!"

"Your grandson is here!"

"Starting today, the Lineage's shops and merchant caravans are to prioritize buying strategic resources. Only thirty percent of the Talismans, Law Artifacts, and other goods produced by the Lineage may be sold. Stockpile all the rest."

"Your grandson obeys!"

"Dang Kai!"

"Your nephew is here!"

"Starting today, the entire Lineage is to go on full alert. Keep Purple Moon Mountain's Clan-Guarding Array ready to activate at all times, and strictly inspect cultivators entering and leaving Purple Moon Town. If necessary, some people with other surnames may be abandoned, with protecting mortals of the Yang bloodline as the priority!"

"Your nephew obeys!"

"Tianyou!"

Yang Tianyou was taken aback. He had not expected the Old Ancestor to call on him. Although he had been placed first in the line of succession, Yang Tianyou knew his own limits well. He had no ability to interfere in the Lineage's affairs.

Still, since the Old Ancestor had called him, he hurriedly stood and answered respectfully, "Your grandson is here!"

Yang Haoyu looked at him gently and said, "Starting today, you will have no other duties. Devote yourself fully to cultivation. You may take whatever resources you need from the Clan Treasury, except for the three Foundation Establishment Pills. Strive to break through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement as soon as possible, before the Cold Tide arrives."

So that was what it was about. Yang Tianyou breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "Your grandson obeys!"

After giving these instructions, Yang Haoyu sat back down and continued, "Next is the third matter: the Zhao Household!"

"How should we deal with the Zhao Household? Let's hear your opinions!"

Household head Yang Dangkai was the first to rise. "The Zhao Household and our Yang Household have been enemies for generations. The hatred between our two households is already deeply rooted. We must abandon any thought of peaceful coexistence with them. Only then can we avoid mistakes in our decisions as much as possible."

Yang Dangkai was setting the tone first: peaceful coexistence with the Zhao Household was impossible, so there was only war. In that case, if members of the Lineage encountered the other side, unless it was a matter like the Dragon Valley Sect, where both households had reason to be wary of each other, they need not think twice. They could simply fight.

At this point, Yang Qiongqi, the commerce hall elder, spoke up. "We and the Zhao Household have now both obtained the legacy left behind by the Dragon Valley Sect. Each side will fear the other making the matter public, and neither will dare smash the vase to catch the rat. As long as neither side possesses Golden Core-level combat power, there will be a limit to the fighting, so we must know where to draw the line."

Hearing this, the other elders nodded in agreement, and Yang Tianyou gave a slight nod as well.

Household head Yang Dangkai took up the thread and smiled. "Qiong Qi is quite right. We must fight, but we can't let the fighting kindle a True Fire. Otherwise, tugging one hair could move the whole body, and it could very well trigger an all-out war between the Yang and Zhao households. That would not only be dangerous but could also make things easy for the other Lineages.

"So warn the members of the Lineage: they can fight, but they must do it cleanly and leave nothing that can be used against them. That way, without an excuse, the Zhao Household will also tacitly suppress the matter."

"Those are minor matters. What we should be considering now is that old fellow Zhao Leicong. We'd better think about how to deal with him!"

Yang Dangmo spoke in a booming voice, directly pointing out the heart of the current conflict between the two households.

At the mention of that name, the Yang Household elders all fell silent.

"Can Zhao Leicong really break through to Golden Core?"

Yang Qiongqi spoke softly. He was only at Late Qi Refinement and knew little about breaking through to Golden Core.

But from the few scraps he had heard, he understood just how difficult it was. Thus, he was very doubtful: did Zhao Leicong have that ability?

"By my reckoning, if he obtains a Golden Core Formation Pill, his chances should be close to fifty percent!"

Yang Haoyu spoke coolly, her tone grave.

"Fifty percent!"

The elders could no longer sit still. But the Old Ancestor certainly would not deceive them about something like this, so it was true!

"We can't let him obtain a Golden Core Formation Pill. Intercept and kill him at any cost!"

Yang Dangxu spoke. This old cultivator, who regarded the Lineage as his everything, understood all too well that once Zhao Leicong broke through to Golden Core, the Yang Household's death knell would sound. He would never allow that to happen.

The other elders also nodded in agreement. This was not something that needed discussion. They absolutely could not let Zhao Leicong break through to Golden Core.

"A Golden Core Formation Pill isn't so easy to obtain. At the very least, it's absolutely impossible in Dragon Valley County!"

Yang Qiongye spoke slowly. His deep eyes made it difficult to guess what he was thinking.

"Qiong Ye, tell us what you think!"

Yang Haoyu raised her chin slightly, signaling to him.

"Your grandson believes the Zhao Household has only two ways to obtain a Golden Core Formation Pill!"

"First, they could go to Luochuan City, the heart of Luochuan Commandery. As a Nascent Soul power, Luochuan Commandery certainly has Golden Core Formation Pills. The advantage of this approach is that his status as a cultivator under the Luochuan Sect could carry considerable weight. If he offers a high enough price, there's a good chance he can obtain one."

"Second, he could take a Golden Core power's Large Inter-Commandery Flying Vessel to another commandery and attend a Large Auction held by a Nascent Soul power, or seek out a Nascent Soul power directly to buy one. The advantage of this method is that it minimizes the risk of the Three Rivers Sect finding out."

"After all, as a Golden Core power under the Luochuan Sect, the Three Rivers Sect must have Golden Core cultivators in the Luochuan Sect with whom it is on good terms.

"Once the Three Rivers Sect learns that the Zhao Household is buying a Golden Core Formation Pill from the Luochuan Sect, it will certainly send people to intercept and kill him. The danger might well be much greater than with the second method."

"Then which method do you think Zhao Leicong will choose?"

Yang Haoyu pressed.

"The second!"

"Why?"

"Old Ancestor, this is a piece of intelligence your grandson just received."

Yang Qiongye took out a Jade Slip and handed it to Yang Haoyu.

She pressed it to her forehead. A moment later, realization appeared on her face.

"The Xiang Household. I didn't expect Zhao Leicong's mother to be a member of the Xiang Household."