War Begins

The war had begun!

The news spread from the Zhou Family's Foundation Establishment ceremony like a hurricane.

As night fell, Lin Chang'an, Li Erniu, Shen Lie, Lu Qingqing, and Wei Yiyi, whom they had not seen for a long time, all gathered at the Gathering Immortal Pavilion.

Oil lamps cast their light across every face, illuminating the oppressive atmosphere. It was nearly dawn by the time the person they had long awaited finally pushed open the door and entered.

"Sister Yun."

"Fellow Daoist Yun!"

Yun Yao was now dressed in a deep-blue palace gown. With a dignified expression, she walked in and gave everyone a slight nod.

"The war at the front lines has begun, but the situation has not yet reached its worst point."

Among them, Yun Yao held the highest status. As the disciple of a Golden Core Elder from Li Fire Palace, she naturally knew many secrets others did not.

"This time, disciples from the two factions at the border came into conflict, and in the end, it escalated into slaughter..."

As Yun Yao explained, everyone's expressions gradually turned solemn.

Though Yun Yao said it had not yet reached the worst-case scenario, for a group of Qi Refining Cultivators like them, things were already looking rather grim.

"The sects have decided to recruit cultivators from the major Markets. Spirit Stones, Medicinal Pills, cultivation techniques, and even Foundation Establishment Pills will not be spared."

"Even Foundation Establishment Pills are included!" Upon hearing of the rewards Yun Yao mentioned, Wei Yiyi could not help but cry out.

The others wore mixed expressions. Only Lin Chang'an sighed inwardly. This was clearly clearing the field before a war.

Yun Yao nodded gravely.

"This time, the sects have opened up many rare supplies to rogue cultivators and Lineage cultivators who answer the call, including certain strategic resources."

"Rank-Breaking Pills, high-grade cultivation techniques, inheritance of skills, Foundation Establishment Pills—even those with sufficient military merit who accidentally fall on the battlefield may have their descendants directly admitted into the sect."

What a deal.

Hearing of this compensation, Lin Chang'an's mouth twitched. Not only could one fight for oneself, but if one died in battle, one could still profit for the next generation.

These Three Great Sects were truly ruthless enough.

Yet upon hearing this, Lu Qingqing's face turned pale. Shen Lie, beside her, repeatedly shook his head and waved his hand.

"Though it's tempting, I've only just broken through to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer. And Qingqing is already carrying my child. I'd better honestly manage the business, earn some Spirit Stones, and support the family."

Shen Lie's words made Lu Qingqing blush, but inwardly, she also let out a quiet breath of relief.

She had been afraid that her husband would get carried away.

Besides, why risk life and limb at the front lines? They were safely in the rear, and doing business earned them no less.

After Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing stated their positions, a flicker of panic passed through Li Erniu's eyes, and he let out a helpless sigh.

"I reckon someone from the clan will answer the call, but I don't know how the slots will be assigned."

At that moment, Wei Yiyi, who had once envied Li Erniu, could not help but feel a touch of schadenfreude.

Before, he had only seen Er Niu's good fortune, but not how powerless Er Niu was over his own fate.

Once one joined the Zhou Family, it was not so easy to get away.

"I'll probably need to purchase some medicinal ingredients soon. I'll have to trouble Fellow Daoist Yun."

Wei Yiyi grinned ingratiatingly. With war breaking out at the front, this was a fine opportunity for him to earn Spirit Stones.

When everyone turned to Lin Chang'an, he simply smiled and waved a hand.

"I no longer have the drive I once did."

If he had not awakened his golden-finger talent, and if he were still in that dejected state from back then, preparing to return to the mortal world, would he have answered the call?

The answer was certainly yes.

After all, when he had first entered the Cultivation World, he had already dared to fight and kill alongside a Monster Hunting Squad. It was not hard to see the unwillingness in his heart.

Almost none of them wanted to answer the call, but upon closer thought, each of them was either worth a considerable fortune, possessed a specialized skill, or had personal connections.

Yet in the Cultivation World, there were far too many cultivators who gambled with their lives.

"Don't worry. This is only the initial recruitment. The front lines won't turn into much just yet."

Looking at everyone, Yun Yao forced a relaxed smile as she spoke.

She had been fortunate. Earlier, she had become the disciple of a Golden Core Elder within the sect. Now that the war had begun, her Master had sent her a letter that merely instructed her to cultivate diligently.

"I previously hired a first-order late-stage Alchemist within the sect. Though I cannot go to the front lines, as a member of the sect, I, Yun Yao, also have a responsibility to contribute my share to the sect."

Yun Yao slowly and solemnly revealed her purpose, making Lin Chang'an's mouth twitch as he listened.

Well then. That little girl from back then truly had quite a few sly schemes now.

She made it sound so righteous and awe-inspiring, but in the end, did she not simply want to profit from the war?

"Fellow Daoist Yun is right. Over the years, we have lived under Li Fire Palace's protection and naturally owe them a debt of gratitude. I dare not claim much else, but within this Market, I do know a few Talisman Masters."

With a grave expression, Lin Chang'an also made known his willingness to join in.

Making Spirit Stones was nothing shameful.

"I'm willing too," Wei Yiyi hurriedly said. He wanted to earn Spirit Stones as well.

Only Li Erniu awkwardly scratched his head. After all, he could not make decisions for the Zhou Family.

As for Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing, their thoughts had already turned to the Chamber of Commerce.

Seeing this, Lin Chang'an nodded inwardly. This was precisely why so many rogue cultivators were obsessed with Land Reclamation in the Markets.

For no other reason!

They sought nothing but an Identity Jade Token.

For instance, now that war had begun, rogue cultivators outside without Identity Jade Tokens would be forcibly conscripted to the front lines.

As for hiding outside? Once the front lines grew desperate, the sects would be the first to turn their blades upon rogue cultivators drifting beyond their control.

As the news spread, the two Major Sects, Li Fire Palace and Mystic Sound Pavilion, began their first round of cultivator recruitment.

Rogue cultivators without even an Identity Jade Token were directly conscripted by force.

Of course, there were also those willing to take a gamble. Knowing the front lines had not yet reached their most dangerous moment, these cultivators eagerly joined the recruitment, seeking nothing but an opportunity.

Rank-Breaking Pills, high-grade cultivation techniques, inheritance of skills, even Foundation Establishment Pills—these were all strategic resources that were priceless and unavailable in ordinary times.

For a time, the entire Yue Kingdom's situation changed. As the Three Great Sects interlocked like dogs' teeth, cultivators slaughtered one another along the border or launched surprise attacks on Markets.

As the dark clouds of war swept over the land, even Li Erniu devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation.

After all, as the Zhou Family's live-in son-in-law, perhaps one day he would be summoned to fight at the front lines.

At home, Lin Chang'an watched the situation outside and pondered in silence.

"A First-Order High-Grade Talisman Master, no matter how tense the situation becomes, will not be easily forcibly conscripted to the front lines."

Even forced conscription had its ranks and distinctions. For example, a high-grade Talisman Master would generally only be compelled to provide some Talismans each month, and would not easily be assigned to the front lines.

Thinking this, Lin Chang'an nodded inwardly.

"With the situation so turbulent, I must seize the time to cultivate and strive to break through to the Qi Refining Late Stage as soon as possible. Only then will I possess the strength to protect myself. It just so happens that Zhou Qing's Storage Bag contains quite a few Medicinal Pills and Spirit Grasses."

Taking out those Spirit Grasses that could not see the light of day from the Storage Bag, Lin Chang'an let out a helpless sigh.

In truth, refining these Spirit Grasses into Medicinal Pills would maximize their value. Even exchanging them for Spirit Stones would be better than wasting them as he was now.

But who could blame him when these things could not see the light of day?

"Waste them if I must. After all, they were picked up for free."

With that thought, Lin Chang'an began sorting through them, choosing which could be consumed and which would work better in a medicinal bath.

However, since the Zhou Family bore the name Beast Control, most of the Spirit Grasses they cultivated were naturally meant for Spirit Pets. Nearly half of them were unusable to him.

There were even two Spirit Grasses that were nearly four hundred years old. Those two were immensely valuable, and he could not afford to squander them.

Still, with so many Spirit Grasses meant for Spirit Pets, he began to entertain thoughts of raising one.