Winds of Change

Why had the atmosphere within the Xu Family changed so drastically?

It was because other forces had also discovered the existence of the mid-grade spirit land, though no one knew how the news had leaked.

That force was the Purple Maple Bay Chen Family!

The territories of the two clans lay less than a hundred li apart. They had their usual frictions and grievances, yet now, in the Wilderness, they had set their sights on the same juicy piece of meat once more.

They sought to take a share of the spoils.

To be fair, the Purple Extreme Sect had issued a series of rules to ensure orderly Land Reclamation, so everyone could pull in the same direction and reduce internal strife. At their core was the matter of safeguarding ownership over newly discovered resources.

Namely—

During Land Reclamation, all unearthed resources, spirit lands, and the like belonged to whoever occupied them first.

No other individual or force could seize them by exploiting an opening. Once confirmed, all under heaven would rise against them and wipe out their clan!

Though this was a high-pressure clause that no one dared touch, the problem was that the Xu Family had not "occupied" this spirit land. They had not even truly entered the valley, having been blocked outside by the poisonous miasma.

At most, they had... discovered it! It did not even count as exploration.

Thus, the Purple Maple Bay Chen Family had nothing to fear and began competing for it.

The cultivators of the two clans had already clashed several times outside the valley.

There had not yet been any casualties.

But judging by how matters were developing, Lin Changheng believed they were not far off.

All it would take was a stray spark to ignite the fuse of conflict.

After repeated meetings among the clan's upper ranks, Clan Head Xu Xuheng made a final decision and issued a strict order. On one hand, he dispatched additional Qi Refining Middle Stage and late-stage experts to the front lines, making full preparations for a conflict that might worsen. Victory was permitted; defeat was not.

On the other hand, he ordered the clan's alchemists to continue accelerating the refinement of Miasma-Clearing Pills. If necessary, they would simply keep taking the pills, force their way through the poisonous miasma into the valley, clear out the demon beasts, and claim occupation.

Truly, wind and rain were on their way—and the wind was foul with blood, while the rain was bloody rain!

It was far too dangerous. No one knew how many would die or be wounded.

Fortunately, Lin Changheng only needed to refine pills in the rear.

Three days later.

The Immortal Seed Bai Fengxian arrived with a grave expression, bringing bad news.

"What? Fugui was drafted to the Land Reclamation battlefield?"

Lin Changheng was startled.

Logically speaking, Xu Fugui had been vigorously producing children for the Xu Family. He had only recently been set up as a model and had not long married a Xu Family woman with a Spirit Root. How had he suddenly been sent to the front lines?

That should not have happened. It ran contrary to the Xu Family's original intentions.

Unless some emergency had arisen.

"Yes. The clan's transfer order came too suddenly—issued and carried out at once. Brother Fugui only packed up briefly before setting out toward the Wilderness. He did not even get the chance to say goodbye."

Bai Fengxian had happened to be working alongside Xu Fugui. Then several people arrived carrying orders, their expressions stern as they swept in like the wind, and his heart immediately skipped a beat.

He thought they had come to conscript him, a man without descendants possessing Spirit Roots.

He had long had a premonition of it, but when it truly came, he was still somewhat at a loss.

His face darkened at once. He had just risen to receive the order when they instead said, "By order, Xu Fugui is to be conscripted and immediately proceed to the Wilderness for support."

As he brought up what had just happened again, Bai Fengxian's emotions were a mixed bag. He was delighted to have narrowly escaped disaster, yet worried for his friend's safety.

Lin Changheng suddenly sighed and patted Bai Fengxian's shoulder. "The situation changes in the blink of an eye. You and I should make preparations early."

Bai Fengxian froze.

Only then did Lin Changheng continue explaining, "With conflict drawing near, a large number of Qi Refining Middle Stage cultivators are needed to hold the line, which is why Fugui was drafted. Once the conflict truly erupts, early-stage cultivators will surely suffer heavy casualties. Then it will be our turn to fill the gaps. It is only a matter of sooner or later..."

Bai Fengxian suddenly understood and repeatedly agreed. "Yes, Brother Lin is right. I need to exchange my savings for useful magic artifacts and begin refining them in advance, so I do not end up flustered when the time comes! At the same time, I have to desperately improve my cultivation. Every bit higher means another bit more chance of survival."

As he spoke, he prepared to take his leave.

"Wait."

Lin Changheng placed a box containing three pills into Bai Fengxian's hands. "At a time like this, your funds will inevitably be tight. Take these and use them first."

"Many thanks, Brother Lin!"

Clutching the pill box tightly, Bai Fengxian's eyes reddened slightly as he nodded heavily.

A thousand words and every bond of friendship lay within his resolute gaze. "True feelings are seen in adversity. Brother Lin has treated me thus; if you ever have need of me in the future, I will repay you even if I must spill my liver and brains upon the ground!"

After seeing Bai Fengxian off, Lin Changheng sat cross-legged in meditation and tried to cultivate, but he found himself increasingly restless.

Danger lurked on all sides. It was truly difficult to find peace.

After pondering in secret for a moment, he immediately rose and headed toward the Hundred Treasures Hall.

He, too, needed to acquire more means of protecting his path before he could feel at ease.

His cultivation had now reached the Qi Refining Middle Stage. He could control one first-rank mid-grade magic artifact, or two low-grade magic artifacts.

Yet he possessed only one low-grade Wandering Bee Blade. It was truly not enough.

Along the way, Lin Changheng also sought out several other Immortal Seed friends and subtly pointed out the situation to them.

All of their expressions changed drastically.

While they were deeply alarmed, some even asked to borrow pills. Lin Changheng timely lent them three pills or several spirit stones.

This relieved their pressing needs.

These Immortal Seeds had known one another for over a decade, and none of their character was poor. Everyone had long gotten to know one another well; otherwise, they would not have remained in contact. None of them would repay kindness with enmity, or turn a favor of a peck into a grudge over a bushel.

Even if there truly was such a person, losing a few pills to see them clearly would not be a loss.

As for the pills he gave away, they were all standard-grade pills. The Premium Grade pills remained tightly hidden away; Lin Changheng would not casually show them to others.

Within the Hundred Treasures Hall.

The flow of people was like weaving threads, heads packed shoulder to shoulder.

The Chen Family's intervention meant the news had spread. No matter how strictly it was forbidden, it was useless, so the Xu Family's upper ranks moderately loosened their control over the information.

Thus, members of the Xu Family began spending spirit stones to improve their own strength.

The Xu Family was happy to see this. After all, it stimulated internal demand and brought nothing but benefits.

Lin Changheng did not go to the ordinary counters. Instead, he went straight to find the Hundred Treasures Hall's manager.

Getting straight to the point, he asked to purchase a mid-grade magic artifact.

There were many clan members who had come to buy magic artifacts and pills today, so Manager Xu Xuyang was no longer surprised. However, very few sought mid-grade magic artifacts, so he could not help reminding him:

"Alchemist Lin, it is difficult for those in the early Qi Refining Realm to control mid-grade magic artifacts. Their spiritual power and divine sense are insufficient, and they may instead be burdened by them."

"What you say is entirely correct, Senior, but this junior has gained a little from cultivation and has already touched the bottleneck of the Qi Refining Middle Stage. Yet I cannot break through no matter what I do, so I intend to use a mid-grade magic artifact to spur myself on. Perhaps it may bring some inspiration and let me break through by seizing the opportunity."

"If it truly does not work, I can save it for future use."

Lin Changheng had prepared this explanation long ago. It was enough to conceal the truth.

"It is good that Alchemist Lin knows what he is doing."

Manager Xu Xuyang chuckled. He had fulfilled his duty to offer a reminder, and leaving behind a good impression was enough. He stopped at the proper point; saying more might make others dislike him.

With his experience, he naturally would not do something so foolish.

Lin Changheng then selected one from among the five or six mid-grade magic artifacts he brought out.

It was an azure flag.

It was called the Azure Flood Dragon Flag, a mid-grade defensive magic artifact.

Its quality was close to Premium Grade, and it cost two hundred and sixty low-grade spirit stones.

Premium Grade mid-grade magic artifacts, meanwhile, cost around three hundred spirit stones.

This price carried a slight markup, but it was still acceptable.

"Let me take a look at some low-grade offensive magic artifacts as well."

After choosing the flag, Lin Changheng considered for a moment and added.