Ling Yunhong's Ambition
On the other side.
Upon returning to his Lineage after leaving the Serpent Dragon Lake area with Yang Changxing, Ling Yunhong summoned the Supreme Elder Ling Pengxing, the Great Elder Ling Ruxian, the Fifth Elder Ling Yunxi, and the Sixth Elder Ling Yunqian to the Council Hall on the mountaintop.
Once everyone had arrived, Ling Yunhong, who had recently returned to the clan, explained in detail to Ling Ruxian and the others how he and Yang Clan had recently set up two second-tier formations in the Serpent Dragon Lake area to occupy the next Second Grade Middle Rank Spirit Vein, cultivated thirty-five acres of Spirit Field to grow Spirit Plant, and how the Lineage would receive forty percent of the Ling Ruxian. He also told them in detail that Ling Pengyun and the Immortal Spirit Crane King would be stationed at the Snake Den Spirit Vein in the future.
Upon hearing this, everyone reacted with varying expressions.
Some were shocked, some were worried.
Great Elder Ling Ruxian, who had been handling Lineage affairs for many years and was extremely skilled in planning, spoke with a worried expression.
"Yun Hong, this time, the matter of jointly occupying the Second Grade Middle Rank Spirit Vein of the Serpent Dragon Lake with the Yang Clan to develop Spirit Field and plant Spirit Plant is protected by an array. The location has few Demon Beast, and the Peng Yun and Immortal Spirit Crane King stationed there are less in danger, but the benefits they can get are greater. We should definitely agree to this."
"However, the fact that our Ling Clan and the Yang Clan jointly occupy that Snake Den Spirit Vein will probably not last long."
"If what the Yang Clan said is true, the Hundred Spirits Sect will seize tens of thousands of miles of land in the Hundred Years' Demon Beast Serpent Dragon Lake within the next ten years, and open up a new continent. The Second Grade Middle Rank Spirit Vein that we have seized in cooperation with the Yang Clan will probably also belong to the human race's territory."
"When there are no more Demon Beast around that Spirit Vein, and no more Foundation Establishment Cultivator are needed to guard it, the Yang Clan will probably kick our Ling Clan out of the game and enjoy that Second Grade Middle Rank Spirit Vein all by themselves."
Upon hearing this, Ling Yunhong's expression gleamed with confidence.
"Eight years ago, when the Hundred Spirits Sect launched the Demon Extermination War, the Lineage and the other four families in Huai River County jointly obtained the Second Rank Low Grade Stone Spirit Walnut Tree, which has now borne more than fifty First-Tier Superior-Grade Stone Spirit Walnut."
"Within three years, those fifty-odd Stone Spirit Walnut will have accumulated enough spiritual power to break through to the second tier. With my assistance as a second-tier Spirit Planter, at least half of those fifty-odd First-Tier Superior-Grade Stone Spirit Walnut will transform into Second Rank Low Grade."
"Aside from the twenty Stone Spirit Walnut distributed to the other four families in Huai River County, my Ling Clan can keep at least ten Second Rank Low Grade Stone Spirit Walnut. With those ten Second Rank Low Grade Stone Spirit Walnut, I am confident that I can break through from the Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer in a short period of time."
"At that time, with my strength at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer and the assistance of the Earthly Fiend Sword Formation, I will have no problem fighting against Yang Changxing, who is at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer. Moreover, with the help of Peng Yun, Peng Xing, and the Immortal Spirit Crane King, my Ling Clan has nothing to fear from the Yang Clan."
"Furthermore, given Peng Yun's connection, as long as there is no major conflict between the Yang Clan and the Ling Clan, and it is merely a simple conflict of interest, then the backer behind the Yang Clan will definitely not lend a hand to the Yang Clan."
"The Yang Clan treated the Ling Clan as henchmen, but I also used the Yang Clan as a stepping stone."
"Everything is still uncertain; it's unclear who is plotting against whom."
These words were like a stabilizing force, instantly dispelling Ling Ruxian's worries.
Upon hearing Ling Yunhong's words, Ling Pengxing, Ling Yunxi, Ling Yunqian, who were also in the Council Hall, felt a surge of passion in their hearts.
"Let's not discuss the matter of sharing the Spirit Vein with the Yang Clan. Let's talk about the internal affairs of the clan."
"Eleventh Uncle, your chosen successor Peng Yun, has now entered the Foundation Establishment. The position of Great Elder requires handling all kinds of Lineage affairs, large and small, which takes a very long time. Entrusting this position to Peng Yun will more or less delay his cultivation progress."
"Peng Yun is still young and has good aptitude. He has a bright future. It would be a real pity if his cultivation was delayed because of Lineage affairs."
"In my opinion, we need to select a new successor so that they can take over your position and manage the Lineage in the future," Ling Yunhong said again.
Ling Ruxian understood that this problem would inevitably occur a year ago, when Ling Pengyun successfully Foundation Establishment.
He had also planned ahead and had already chosen another person to succeed him.
"I have already thought of my successor. The person is Peng Liang, who is the sixteenth in the Peng Generation. There are three reasons for my choice of Peng Liang."
"Firstly, although our Ling Clan intends to change its foundation from the art of Spirit Plant to the art of Pill Refining, and will use Spirit Plant to assist Pill Refining in the future, the art of Spirit Plant is still an important skill of the Lineage. It would be best if the position of Great Elder were held by a member of the family who is proficient in the art of Spirit Plant."
"Secondly, Peng Liang has good aptitude, with Three Spirit Roots. Not long ago, his cultivation level reached the Qi Training Sixth Layer Refining, and his Spirit Plant level also reached the First Rank Middle Grade."
"Thirdly, Peng Liang has become extremely mature after being tempered by the Demon Extermination War launched by the Hundred Spirits Sect eight years ago. Such character is rare among the younger generation."
"Considering these three factors, I decided to choose Peng Liang as my successor to take over my position in the future."
"What do you think?" Ling Ruxian detail.
"I know Peng Liang has a talent, and it is indeed quite good. With the help of Lineage resources, it will not be a problem for him to reach the Qi Training Completion in the future. He can take over your great responsibility, Eleventh Uncle."
"However, Eleventh Uncle, your lifespan is running out, and your cultivation has begun to decline. You need to cultivate Peng Liang's ability to handle Lineage affairs as soon as possible."
"Once Peng Liang is able to handle Lineage affairs on his own, you, Eleventh Uncle, can finally retire in peace."
"This period is limited to... three years, which is when the fruit of the Stone Spirit Walnut Tree reaches the second level. At that time, you must put down your heavy responsibilities and live a peaceful old age in the clan." Ling Yunhong agreed upon hearing this.
"Alright, three years it will be. Within three years, I will definitely train Peng Liang into a qualified Great Elder." Ling Ruxian a warmth in his heart and said with a smile.
Seeing Ling Ruxian respond, Ling Yunhong felt a sense of helplessness.
Three years later, Ling Ruxian, the old man who had dedicated half his life to the Lineage, probably didn't have much time left to live.
After a moment of distraction, Ling Yunhong came back to his senses and asked Ling Ruxian question.
"Eleventh Uncle, what has become of Cheng Xin now?"
"Cheng Xin has only recently entered the Qi Training Second Layer," Ling Ruxian thinking for a moment.
"With the spiritual power and Divine Sense of the Qi Training Second Layer, he can barely refine pills or Law Artifact. We should also test this child's talent to see if he is better at Pill Refining or artifacts." After receiving the reply, Ling Yunhong's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he spoke.
"I agree with this," Ling Ruxian agreed.
Ling Chengxin is the fourth in the Cheng generation among the five generations of the Ling Clan: "Ru, Yun, Xiao, Peng, Cheng". He was the only person with Spirit Root that Ling Pengyun found in Lingyun Small City three years ago when he was stationed at Lingyun Mountain.
Although this child possesses the Three Spirit Roots fire, wood, and earth, his sensitivity to Spiritual Qi is extremely high in his fire and wood Spirit Root. The cultivation Cultivation Method he practices also corresponds to his Spirit Root, being a Cultivation Method that uses wood to enhance the fire element.
This also makes Ling Chengxin extremely skilled at controlling fire, possessing a very high level of control over flames.
Because of his control over fire, this young man was listed by the Ling Clan's higher-ups as an important candidate for future training in Pill Refining or weapon crafting.
Afterwards, Ling Yunhong and the others discussed some clan affairs before concluding their discussion.
Ling Yunhong, Alchemist capable of refining Second Rank Low Grade Spirit Gathering Pill, also found Ling Chengxin's residence in the Clan Mountain after the meeting. He gave Ling Chengxin a hundred portions of spiritual materials for refining mortal world pills, Mortal Iron for refining mortal world ironware, and a Pill Furnace.
Let it use these two materials to refine elixirs for the mortal world and ironware for the mortal world, respectively.
It has been determined whether Ling Chengxin has a stronger talent in Pill Refining or weapon crafting.
Four months later, in mid-June.
Within the territory of Serpent Dragon Lake, inside the Rock Scale Snake Den.
Ling Pengyun, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground with his eyes closed, had just finished comprehending the Lingxiao Ripening Technique for an hour and was using his spiritual power to nurture the Thorn Vine attached to his Dantian.
The Thorn Vine within Ling Pengyun 'Dantian suddenly unleashed a massive surge of spiritual energy, frantically absorbing the Liquid Spiritual Power within his Dantian.
Seeing this strange phenomenon, Ling Pengyun was delighted but did not stop it, letting it happen as it pleased.
As the Thorn Vine absorbed more and more Liquid Spiritual Power, their aura and spiritual energy began to gradually increase.
"Click!"
Several hours later, a tiny cracking sound rang out from within the Thorn Vine, and its aura officially entered the Qi Training Ninth Layer.
Because the Thorn Vine had only advanced from the Qi Training Eighth Layer to the Qi Training Ninth Layer, which was a minor breakthrough, the Thorn Vine did not improve much and therefore did not provide any spiritual energy back to their Master, Ling Pengyun.
Once the unusual movements of the Thorn Vine ceased, Ling Pengyun opened his eyes and mouth, summoning the Thorn Vine, no bigger than a finger, from his Dantian.
Since he entered the Foundation Establishment and was able to store things of the same origin as himself into his Dantian for nurturing, he has been storing Thorn Vine into his Dantian for nurturing.
The benefits of this move are also very obvious. Even if Ling Pengyun does not deliberately use the Liquid Spiritual Power in his Dantian to nourish the vine, the vine can still slowly absorb that Liquid Spiritual Power and thus improve its cultivation.
The Liquid Spiritual Power within Ling Pengyun's Dantian was already a level stronger than that of Qi Refining cultivator. Using this Liquid Spiritual Power to nurture the Thorn Vine was like Qi Training Stage cultivator consuming a pure second-tier spiritual fruit to improve their cultivation.
It was precisely because of this that the Thorn Vine progressed extremely rapidly during the year or so that Ling Pengyun entered the Foundation Establishment.
Ling Pengyun looked at the Thorn Vine that he had summoned from his Dantian and were now floating in front of him. A look of joy appeared on his face as he secretly made some plans.
"After seven years of nurturing this vine with spiritual energy, it has finally been able to advance from the Qi Training Late Stage to the Qi Training Ninth Layer."
"Judging from the speed at which I have used Liquid Spiritual Power to help this vine purify its internal spiritual energy, it should be able to reach the Qi Refining Consummation Realm in less than five years."
"Five years is neither a long nor a short time. It's time to search for Hundred Spirits Water Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object like Hundred Spirit Water to help it with its future Foundation Establishment process."
Thinking about it this way, Ling Pengyun suddenly remembered that a few months ago, he, Ling Yunhong, and the Immortal Spirit Crane King worked together with Yang Changxing to kill the Foundation Establishment Completion Rock Scale Snake Demon that originally occupied this Snake Cave. Yang Changxing promised to give the Ling Clan a bottle of Small Hundred Spirits Water Small Hundred Spirits Water refining the Foundation Establishment Completion Rock Scale Snake Demon.
"If five years later, after the Thorn Vine have purified all the spiritual energy in their bodies and their cultivation has reached the Qi Training Completion, and no one in the clan has used the Small Hundred Spirits Water, then we can ask the Third Grandfather for it."
"Although the probability of the Small Hundred Spirits Water improving Foundation Establishment is not high, only half, it is better than nothing."
"If I cannot raise the Spirit Stone needed to purchase the Hundred Spirits Water within five years, I will settle for the Lineage's share of the Small Hundred Spirits Water."
Few Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object are available from the outside world. Even the Hundred Spirits Water, Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object of the spiritual water type, only appears at auctions in various markets.
However, once the Hundred Spirits Water appears at an auction, the price required is extremely high, at least nine thousand Spirit Stone are needed to buy it.
Nine thousand Spirit Stone are extremely difficult for Ling Pengyun to raise at present.
He had already spent Spirit Stone he earned from selling the Autumn Cloud Spirit Rice Secret Method.
As for the Spirit Stone his Lineage owed him for crafting Law Artifact, he only had four or five thousand Spirit Stone left, leaving a shortfall of three or four thousand Spirit Stone.
There are still three or four thousand Spirit Stone missing. Earning that in five years will be quite difficult.
Only when the Thorn Vine in the Qi Training Stage reach the Qi Training Middle Stage, Qi Training Late Stage, or Qi Training Completion, and undergo a significant improvement, will they receive spiritual energy in return.
With his thoughts returning to normal, Ling Pengyun pulled the Thorn Vine back into his Dantian and nurtured them with Liquid Spiritual Power.
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