Making Grand Promises to the Rogue Cultivators

"Indeed, when I annihilated the Cloud Stepping Thunder Leopard Clan, I fused the Golden Core Third Layer and bones of the Black Wind Wolf Demon Golden Core the third level of the Golden Core stage into this flying boat."

"Back then, I promised you and the rest of the clan that we could participate in the attack on the Swamp Giant Crocodile Clan. This was the key to our success. By setting up the borrowed Five Elements Return Origin Grand Array Returning to Origin Formation on this flying boat and controlling it, we can move freely even if we face tens or hundreds of thousands of Demon Beast."

Ling Pengyun said with a smile.

"My little sister truly admires the Eighth Brother's foresight."

"By the way, Eighth Brother, I wonder how fast this flying boat is, and how many people it can carry?" Ling Penglin asked curiously after offering a compliment.

"I was just about to test the speed of this flying boat when I saw you walking up and down this mountain, so I came down to take a look. The speed and number of passengers the flying boat can carry are still unknown."

"Sister, what are you doing?"

After giving a reply, Ling Pengyun inquired.

"Back then, when Eighth Brother brought back that Second Grade Middle Rank Array Formation inheritance book from the Boundless Sea Region, it contained a little trick for setting up arrays by following the terrain."

"If used properly, this little trick can increase the power of an array by 10%, 20%, or even 30%."

"Over the years I've been working on figuring out the techniques for setting up formations, and now I can say I've at least managed to master them."

"With my current understanding of that little trick, the formation set up using this method can increase its power by at least 20%."

"Just now, I walked up and down this mountain to explore the Earth Vein."

Ling Penglin replied.

"The complete second-tier array formation inheritance that our Lineage obtained from the Falling Dusk Luo Clan originated from the Hundred Spirits Sect. Doesn't that array formation inheritance contain this technique?"

Ling Pengyun was not Array Formation Master and had little contact with formations.

"No, according to my guess, it was probably done by the Hundred Spirits Sect to prevent our forces from using such tricks to maximize the power of the formation."

"In addition, based on my deductions over the years, I have discovered that as long as the formation is placed on the Spirit Vein, regardless of whether the little trick of setting up the formation according to the terrain is used, the formation and the Earth Vein will more or less match."

"As long as an array is set up to reverse the Earth Vein's energy, the array can be destroyed or severely damaged by destroying the Earth Vein's energy around the Spirit Vein."

"Perhaps the reason why the Hundred Spirits Sect did not leak that little trick was also because of this."

"After all, if everyone mastered such methods, our clan-protecting and Mountain Protection Formation would be useless, and we would have no advantage against Rogue Cultivator and intercepting cultivators."

"However, it is extremely difficult to reverse the Earth Vein using an array. The array must be at least of the third rank, which is currently beyond my capabilities."

A look of regret appeared on Ling Penglin's face.

Upon hearing this, Ling Pengyun looked at his cousin, whose lifespan had been greatly depleted by the Small Demon Uprising, whose head was covered in blemishes and whose face was full of wrinkles, and he began to think more highly of her.

"This girl truly lives up to her reputation as the first person in the Ling Clan to reach the second tier in the art of formations, thanks to the Lineage's second-tier formation inheritance."

"Such talent is truly remarkable."

"If this girl still has time left to live, it wouldn't be impossible to give her a boost by channeling some Yin Yang Primordial Qi into her."

"What a pity...!"

Ling Pengyun sighed inwardly.

Over the years, Ling Penglin has taken many longevity-enhancing substances, extending her lifespan by about twenty years.

However, her cultivation level is currently only at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer, and her cultivation aptitude is poor. Even if she is given a mouthful of Yin Yang Primordial Qi in the future, it will be difficult to help her reach a higher level.

The current acting Clan Head of the Lineage, Ling Pengshan, is in the same situation.

Only Ling Pengqiu, with his exceptional cultivation aptitude, has a slight chance to break through to a higher realm before his remaining lifespan runs out.

"Sister, it's already quite impressive that you've managed to comprehend that little trick of setting up formations based on the strength of the Earth Vein."

"With the experience you left behind, the clan's Array Formation Master will be able to more easily comprehend this little technique in the future."

After offering a few words of comfort, Ling Pengyun changed the subject and asked a question.

"Sister, have you found a successor?"

Ling Penglin shook her head and said, "No, there are currently no members of the clan with talent for array formations. They are all ordinary people, and the same is true for the other arts and crafts."

"However, according to what my cousin Peng Shan, who was temporarily managing the Lineage at the time, said, in the next few years, the number of people with Spirit Root among the Lineage's mortals will increase. Perhaps at that time, someone destined to be with me will appear."

Ling Pengyun said with a smile, "I hope so. It would be best if there were more people with talent in formations."

"By the way, cousin, during the two months I was in seclusion, did any Rogue Cultivator agree to help my Ling Clan conquer the Muddy Swamp Territory, and then, through meritorious service, lease the Spirit Vein of my Lingxiao Ridge?"

Ling Penglin's face lit up with joy, and she said, "Yes, and there are quite a few Rogue Cultivator who agreed to rent Spirit Vein through battle merits. Among them, there are more than 1,800 Qi Refining cultivators and 25 Foundation Establishment Cultivator."

"Some of these Rogue Cultivator brought their families, while others came in twos and threes. They probably planned to rent a Spirit Vein together for cultivation. Those Foundation Establishment Realm Rogue Cultivator even brought quite a few disciples with them."

"Now, I have settled these cultivators in a desolate valley a few miles away, waiting for my clan to lead the attack into the Muddy Swamp Territory and gain merit in battle."

Ling Pengyun muttered to himself, "Nearly two thousand cultivators, that's quite a number. With their help, the Lineage's chances of winning the battle against the Swamp Giant Crocodile Clan when they enter the Muddy Swamp Territory will be much greater."

Afterwards, he chatted with Ling Penglin for a few more minutes, and after finding out where the Rogue Cultivator were temporarily stationed, he bid farewell to Ling Penglin and rode the Ling Xiao Flying Boat away from the Yellow Earth Mountain alone.

Before long, Ling Pengyun arrived at the place where nearly two thousand Rogue Cultivator were stationed.

They then arranged for these Rogue Cultivator to board the Ling Xiao Flying Boat one by one to test the ship's passenger capacity and maximum flight speed.

Ultimately, it was concluded that this prototype of the Magic Treasure Prototype, the Ling Xiao Flying Boat, could normally travel 120,000 li per day.

If the powerful "Black Wind Escape Technique" is activated, the flight speed will more than double, reaching 240,000 li per day.

The maximum capacity of this airship is four hundred people, classifying it as a medium-sized airship.

Small airships can typically carry one to five people, while medium-sized airships can carry dozens or even hundreds of people.

Large airships can carry at least a thousand people.

After learning about the flying boat's effects, Ling Pengyun made a grand promise to the nearly two thousand Rogue Cultivator stationed there.

The nearly two thousand cultivators present agreed, provided they could help the Ling Clan reclaim the Muddy Swamp Territory occupied by the Swamp Giant Crocodile Clan.

The Spirit Vein that the Ling Clan leases out can be leased by these Rogue Cultivator for up to two hundred years based on their battle merits.

No rent needs to be paid during this period.

Two hundred years later, if any of the cultivators present still have descendants alive, they can still rent the original Spirit Vein, but at this time they will need to spend Spirit Stone.

However, the number of Spirit Stone required to rent Spirit Vein is not large.

Renting a first-grade low, medium, or high-grade Spirit Vein costs only fifty, one hundred, or one hundred and fifty Spirit Stone respectively.

Renting a second-tier lower or middle-grade Spirit Vein only costs five hundred or one thousand Spirit Stone.

If the business is run well, this rent should not be difficult to come up with.

This event also greatly excited the nearly two thousand Rogue Cultivator present.

In particular, those twenty-five Foundation Establishment Rogue Cultivator.

They risked their lives to serve the Ling Clan, gathering here for the sake of the Spirit Vein.

The Spiritual Qi generated by the Spirit Vein can help them accelerate their cultivation progress.

Ling Pengyun's promise at this moment gave them the idea of leaving behind their own lineage and establishing a small Lineage.

After all, if one has Spirit Vein that can be inhabited for a long time, and is lucky enough to take many wives and concubines and spend decades building a small Lineage, it is not impossible.

Immediately, all the Rogue Cultivator spoke up, expressing their full support for the future battle against the Swamp Crocodile.

Seeing this, Ling Pengyun was quite satisfied.

Then, looking at the nearly two thousand Rogue Cultivator before him, and then at the Ling Xiao Flying Boat that could only carry four hundred people, he frowned slightly.

After thinking for a moment, he spoke.

"Fellow Daoists, let me tell you the truth. My Ling Clan did not expect to be able to gather so many cultivators this time. In addition, my Ling Clan's foundation is weak, and the clan does not have many medium-sized flying boats."

"This also means that my Ling Clan currently does not have enough flying boats to accommodate everyone."

"If we follow the original departure time, I'm afraid at least 1,500 or 1,600 of you will be unable to be on my Ling Clan's flying ship, which can only carry 400 cultivators."

"Since most of you are only at the Qi Refining stage, and you are fighting on Flying Magical Item, it will be difficult for you to fully utilize your strength. Under such circumstances, I'm afraid you will only be able to fight on the ground."

"At that time, although I can rely on the formation to protect you all, our mobility will be reduced."

"If we win by a large margin, that will be fine. But if we are to suffer a defeat, we will not be able to evacuate in time and may be in danger."

"As for abandoning those comrades who are unable to stand on the flying boat and are fighting to the death for our clan on the ground, my Ling Clan cannot do that. Therefore, we can only ask that you comrades stay in this desolate valley for another three months."

"And my Ling Clan will also find a way to acquire more flying ships within the next three months to ensure everyone's safety in the battle to attack the Muddy Swamp."

The nearly two thousand Rogue Cultivator present, upon hearing this, felt even greater respect for the Ling Clan, Golden Core clan.

There are very few Golden Core Force that would consider the lives of these Rogue Cultivator in this way.

Most powerful Golden Core Force regard these Rogue Cultivator as cannon fodder.

Of course, among these Rogue Cultivator, there were also many experienced individuals who saw through Ling Pengyun's true intentions: to delay the start of the war and prepare a larger number of flying boats.

It's simply that Ling Pengyun doesn't want too many of these Rogue Cultivator who fight for the Ling Clan to die.

After all, these Rogue Cultivator were a formidable fighting force, enough to alleviate much of the pressure on the Ling Clan in their battle against the Swamp Giant Crocodile Clan in the Muddy Swamp Territory.

Conversely, if too many of these Rogue Cultivator die, the Ling Clan will face even greater pressure from the Swamp Giant Crocodile Clan.

However, those experienced rogue Rogue Cultivator, though aware of this principle, did not pay it any mind.

Ultimately, it all comes down to differing stances. As long as the Ling Clan keeps its promises and doesn't let them down, they'll be satisfied with the Spirit Vein they receive.

As for whether they'll actually use it or not, who cares?

Seeing that the nearly two thousand Rogue Cultivator present had no objections to the matter, Ling Pengyun left the place and returned to his cave abode on the Cloud Peak Mountain.

He then sat cross-legged on a Meditation Mat in the quiet room, took out several Storage Spirit Bead String with enormous space from his bosom, and summoned nearly a hundred corpses of Flying Demonic Beast.

These hundred Flying Demonic Beast corpses were all obtained by Ling Pengyun when he annihilated the Cloud Stepping Thunder Leopard Clan.

Without further delay, he immediately took out a sharp magical Law Artifact and began to cut up the materials from the hundred Flying Demonic Beast corpses.