The Wen Family's Dilemma

The territory of the Cloud Mist Wen Clan borders the Ling Clan Territory, and the two families are only a little over a thousand miles apart.

In just a few hours, Ling Pengyun and Wen Ruofei rode their Flying Demonic Beast into the territory of the Cloud Mist Wen Clan.

The two then headed north.

Along the way, Ling Pengyun and his companion, riding the Wind Shadow Peng, encountered several villages built upon first-tier or mid-grade Spirit Vein.

However, all these villages were destroyed by the Demon Beast, and their buildings were completely trampled.

After traveling nearly a hundred miles, the two arrived near a misty, ordinary town and stopped there.

Within a mile or two of that ordinary town, there lived a large group of Demon Beast.

The group of Demon Beast were all besieging a hundred-zhang-tall mountain protected by a huge golden light curtain.

Under the onslaught of the Demon Beast, the massive golden light barrier protecting the hundred-foot-high mountain was now riddled with cracks, and its shimmering spiritual light had dimmed considerably.

Ling Pengyun used his Aura Observation Technique to observe the situation.

At a glance, it was discovered that among the Demon Beast besieging the hundred-zhang-high mountain, there were approximately seven hundred Qi Training Stage Demon Beast.

There was also a Foundation Establishment Realm python demon among the Demon Beast horde, but that Foundation Establishment Realm python demon was surrounded by twelve red array flags.

The twelve array flags formed a formation, conjuring a blazing inferno that continuously swept towards the Foundation Establishment Python Demon.

The power of this raging fire was considerable; even the Foundation Establishment Demon Serpent could only barely withstand it by relying on its Protective Yuan Qi.

There are approximately twenty cultivators within the high mountains.

Besides them, there were also twenty or thirty thousand ordinary people in those high mountains.

"Those twelve Blazing Flame Array flags formed an array, and the flames they conjured were not weak. They were probably not conjured by an ordinary Blazing Flame Array. They were most likely conjured by a Higher Vehicle First-Tier Superior-Grade Blazing Flame Array."

"I never expected that the Cloud Mist Wen Clan, which mainly focuses on weapon crafting, would possess such a high-level killing formation."

"No wonder the Wen Clan was able to withstand the attack of more than 700 Demon Beast led by that Foundation Establishment python demon with just a group of Qi Refining cultivators." Ling Pengyun looked into the distance at the twelve array flags that had transformed into a large area of raging flames and temporarily trapped the Foundation Establishment Demon Serpent, and exclaimed in surprise.

A Higher Vehicle First-Tier Superior-Grade Blazing Flame Array is several times more powerful than other killing arrays of the same grade, and not much weaker than Second Rank Low Grade array.

At the same time, the spiritual energy required to activate the Higher Vehicle First-Tier Superior-Grade Blazing Flame Array flags is the same as that required for an ordinary Blazing Flame Array.

While consuming the same amount of spiritual energy, their power surpasses that of other formations of the same rank, making Higher Vehicle formations highly sought after by cultivators. On the market, a Higher Vehicle First-Tier Superior-Grade killing formation can fetch at least five hundred Spirit Stone, and it is extremely rare and difficult to find.

With his thoughts returning to normal, Ling Pengyun pointed to the Foundation Establishment Realm Demon Serpent surrounded by flames among the Demon Beast attacking the hundred-zhang-high mountain several miles away, and asked Wen Ruofei, who was riding a Gray-Feathered Peng Bird beside him.

"Elder Wen, did you seek me out this time to deal with that Foundation Establishment Demon Serpent trapped by the First-Tier Superior-Grade Blazing Flame Array?"

"Indeed, please Senior Ling take action as soon as possible. The six cultivators of my clan who set up the Blazing Flame Array to trap that Foundation Establishment Demon Serpent have already exhausted their spiritual power and are now relying on their Spirit Storage Magic Item to hold on."

"If we delay any longer, and the Mist Shadow Mountain's Mountain Protection Formation is broken, the tens of thousands of mortals within the Spirit Vein will surely become food for those who participate in the lottery," Wen Ruofei pleaded urgently.

"Yes, we'll make our move once we're inside the mountains. If we're outside, without any Defensive Formation, I'll have to focus on defense and won't be able to attack with all my might," Ling Pengyun replied.

Wen Ruofei was a reasonable person, and nodded in agreement.

Then, he took Ling Pengyun and flew towards the Misty Mist Shadow Mountain.

On their way into Mist Shadow Mountain, many Demon Beast discovered the two's presence and launched Law Technique attacks, but Ling Pengyun managed to block them all with his defensive Law Technique.

The two then safely entered the Mist Shadow Mountain.

Upon entering the mountain, the twenty-odd Wen Clan cultivators stationed there called out to Ling Pengyun in succession, "Senior Ling."

Ling Pengyun didn't seem to care, nodding in response. His gaze fell on the six Wen Clan cultivators who were controlling two Blazing Flame Array flags to trap the Foundation Establishment Demon Serpent outside the mountain.

"Please, fellow Daoists, use the Blazing Fire Array to trap that Foundation Establishment Foundation Establishment 1 Demon Serpent Demon Serpent outside the mountain for a while, in case it senses Demon Serpent and tries to escape when I attack it."

The Wen Clan cultivators who set up the six Blazing Flame Array were extremely afraid that the Foundation Establishment Demon Serpent would be defeated and escape. If the Demon Serpent were to return for revenge in the future, it would be troublesome.

Considering this situation, the six Wen Clan cultivators successively responded to what Ling Pengyun had said.

Seeing this, Ling Pengyun did not delay any longer and formed a Primal Water Light Screen around himself with his Hand Seals.

That Primal Water Light Screen wasn't meant to protect against the group of Demon Beast outside the mountain; the mountain was protected by Defensive Formation and wouldn't be broken in a short time.

What he was really wary of were the twenty-odd Wen Clan Qi Training Stage Wen clan cultivators who were also on the mountain.

Although the two families are geographically close, they have little to do with each other.

Then, Ling Pengyun summoned the Azure Steel Mother-Child Flying Swords from his Storage Bag.

As soon as the Azure Steel Mother-Child Flying Swords was taken out, Ling Pengyun infused it with two streams of spiritual energy.

With the support of spiritual power, the set of Azure Steel Mother-Child Flying Swords suddenly shone brightly, and a three-zhang Sword-Ray burst forth from the tip of each sword.

As soon as the Sword-Ray was formed, he threw the set of flying swords towards the Foundation Establishment Demon Serpent that was temporarily trapped by a raging fire outside the mountain.

The Foundation Establishment Demon Serpent had little strength left to resist the vast flames conjured by the Blazing Flame Array, so it could only watch helplessly as the set of Mother-Child Flying Swords bombarded the Protective Yuan Qi it had erected.

As the Azure Steel Mother-Child Flying Swords continued to bombard, the spiritual light shimmering from the Protective Yuan Qi erected by the Demon Serpent gradually dimmed.

After a hundred moves, some small cracks even appeared on the Protective Yuan Qi.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Ling Pengyun of Mist Shadow Mountain Hand Seals and used his Innate Spell "Azure Sea Sky Sword" to condense a six-zhang-long azure flying sword.

Once the sword was completed, it transformed into a dazzling blue sword light, swiftly striking the Protective Yuan Qi erected by the Demon Serpent.

"Click."

A shattering sound rang out.

Immediately afterwards, the tiny cracks on the Protective Yuan Qi erected by the Foundation Establishment Level 1 Demon Serpent rapidly expanded.

In just a moment, the light screen shattered into fragments and vanished from the world.

Without the barrier of light, the azure Azure Sea Sky Sword plunged straight in, slashing directly at the face of the Demon Serpent.

Although the Demon Serpent managed to use its inner core to block the incoming Azure Sea Sky Sword, the surrounding flames, formed by the Blazing Flame Array, and the set of Azure Steel Mother-Child Flying Swords, lacked a light barrier and both attacked its body.

The two Dao Sword formed by the Azure Steel Mother-Child Flying Swords slid across its head, leaving a trail of blood.

Its head also fell to the ground.

In the blink of an eye, the Demon Serpent was dead.

The Mist Shadow Mountain.

Ling Pengyun was in high spirits after seeing how easily he had killed the Foundation Establishment level one Demon Serpent.

This helped the cultivator from the Cloud Mist Wen Clan, who still had considerable power left in his Divine Sense to control the Azure Sea Sky Sword. He then attacked the surrounding Qi Training Demon Beast, killing nearly a hundred of Qi Training Demon Beast before the Azure Sea Sky Sword exhausted its remaining power and dissipated on its own.

Although the Azure Sea Sky Sword made great contributions, Ling Pengyun consumed a full 30% of his spiritual power in order to condense this Innate Spell. Even at the height of his victory, he could only unleash the Azure Sea Sky Sword three times in a row.

After finishing this task, Ling Pengyun waved his hand to recall the set of Azure Steel Mother-Child Flying Swords outside the mountain, turned around, and said to Wen Ruofei beside him.

"Elder Wen, the matter of slaying the Foundation Establishment Demon Beast is settled."

"I hope that when my Lingxiao Ling Clan encounters a crisis in the future, your Lineage will be there to help us."

"Of course. I will definitely inform my clan Clan Head of Senior Ling's great kindness today. Once the chaos of the Demon Beast Uprising is quelled, my clan Clan Head will certainly go to Lingxiao Mountain with proper etiquette to express his gratitude to Senior Ling."

"Senior, here are the five hundred Spirit Stone I promised you." Wen Ruofei was quite satisfied with Ling Pengyun Ling Pengyun for quickly killing the most threatening Foundation Establishment Demon Serpent without wasting any time.

He waved his hand and patted the Storage Bag at his waist, from which he summoned five hundred Spirit Stone, which he handed to Ling Pengyun, speaking very readily.

"No need for thanks. If you remember my kindness, please do not refuse if I ever ask your clan Clan Head to forge a Second Grade Magic Tool for me in the future." Ling Pengyun waved his hand, put the five hundred Spirit Stone into his Storage Bag, and then continued Wen Ruofei's words.

The reason Ling Pengyun was so quick to support the Wen Clan was partly because of the five hundred Spirit Stone the Wen Clan had promised.

Secondly, it's about who owns the corpse of that first -Foundation Establishment Demon Beast beast.

Thirdly, he wanted to befriend the Yunwu Wen Clan, so that they would owe him a favor and he could prepare for entrusting the clan leader, Wen Xianyun, a second-tier low-grade weapon refiner, to help him refine second-tier magic weapons in the future.

On the market, the price of a finished Second Rank Low Grade Law Artifact can be extremely high.

"Senior Ling, although I know that your support has been a great help to the Wen Clan, the matter of entrusting me with the crafting of Second Grade Magic Tool still requires the Clan Head's approval. I am just a mere elder and it is difficult for me to agree directly." Upon hearing this, Wen Ruofei frowned and replied after considering it for a moment.

"I understand. You can just tell your Lineage leader in the future. If he agrees to forge weapons for me, that would be great. If not, I won't force you."

"I've said enough, I won't stay any longer."

After Ling Pengyun finished speaking, he patted the Storage Bag at his waist, summoned the Mixed Rock Shield, and erected a Mixed Rock Light Screen around himself. He then Hand Seals two Primal Water Technique to create two Primal Water Light Screen to protect himself. He then flipped onto the Wind Shadow Peng beside him.

Riding this Peng bird, they flew out of the Mist Shadow Mountain, which was protected by an array.

With the four defensive light barriers around him, he withstood the bombardment of hundreds of Qi Training Demon Beast outside the mountain, and landed directly in the horde of Demon Beast outside the mountain, putting the corpse of the Foundation Establishment Level 1 Demon Serpent into his Storage Bag.

He then quickly rode the Wind Shadow Peng away from the place and returned towards his Lineage.

at this time.

The Mist Shadow Mountain.

Wen Ruofeng, the Second Elder of the Cloud Mist Wen Clan Wen Ruofeng, walked to Wen Ruofei's side and said with a solemn expression.

"Eighth Brother, today we have confirmed that Ling Pengyun of the Lingxiao Ling Clan has also entered the Foundation Establishment stage. What are your thoughts on this?"

Looking up at Ling Pengyun as he left, Wen Ruofei, who was lost in thought, said helplessly Wen Ruofei hearing this.

"What else can we do? The Ling Clan already has Ling Yunhong and a Foundation Establishment Realm Guardian Spirit Beast. Xianyun also confirmed in West Yang Market Town that Ling Pengxing has entered the Foundation Establishment. Now we have also seen Ling Pengyun has also entered the Foundation Establishment stage."

"Four Foundation Establishment —with such strength, even if the Ling Clan wanted to destroy my Cloud Mist Wen Clan, it wouldn't be difficult."

"Furthermore, the Peace Cloud Yang Clan, who is related to the Golden Core True Person of the Hundred Spirits Sect, is a traitor to the Ling Clan. There is a high probability that the Ling Clan will dare to do something that will destroy our clan in the future."

"If it were during the Demon Beast Uprising, if Xianyun and the other clansmen who went to West Yang Market Town to guard it could exchange a Foundation Establishment Pill by killing Demon Beast, Nian Ling could successfully enter the Foundation Establishment with that Foundation Establishment Pill. My Cloud Mist Wen Clan would still have some confidence in front of the Ling Clan."

"But if Xianyun and the others fail to exchange for the Foundation Establishment Pill, or if they do exchange for the Foundation Establishment Pill but Nian Ling fails to break through to the Foundation Establishment Pill Foundation Establishment using the Foundation Establishment Pill, then Xianyun, being the only Foundation Establishment, will have no choice but to take the path of marriage if he wants to preserve the Lineage and reduce Lineage losses."

Wen Nianling is the only outstanding cultivator among the younger generation of the Wen Clan.

Wen Xianyun was the Wen Clan Head.

The marriage alliance was something that Wen Ruofei and the other elders of the Wen Clan least wanted to see.

It's not necessarily a good thing for a weaker Lineage to initiate a Lineage alliance with a stronger one.

It's called a marriage alliance, but in reality, it's a disguised form of submission to a powerful Lineage.

Once the Wen Clan takes the initiative to arrange a marriage with the Ling Clan, they will, like the Ling Clan family, be required to offer a batch of spiritual items to their "relatives," the Yang Clan, every year.