Why had the atmosphere within the Xu Family changed so drastically?
It was because another faction had also discovered the existence of the mid-grade Spirit Land, though no one knew how the information had leaked.
That faction was the Chen Family of Purple Maple Bay!
The two families' bases were less than a hundred li apart. Friction and grudges were commonplace between them, and now, in the Savage Wastes, they had set their sights on the same juicy piece of meat.
They wanted a share of the spoils.
Admittedly, their Upper Sect, the Purple Pole Sect, had issued a series of regulations to keep frontier reclamation orderly, ensure everyone directed their efforts toward the proper goals, and reduce internal strife. At their core were protections governing ownership of newly discovered resources.
Namely-
During frontier reclamation, all discovered resources, Spirit Lands, and the like belonged to whoever occupied them first.
No other individual or faction could seize them by exploiting an opening. Once such an offense was confirmed, all under heaven would rise together to exterminate the offending clan!
Though no one dared defy that draconian rule, the problem was that the Xu Family had not "occupied" this Spirit Land. They had not even truly entered the valley, having been kept outside by the poisonous miasma.
At most, they had... discovered it! They had not even explored it.
Thus, the Chen Family of Purple Maple Bay had nothing to fear and began contesting it.
Cultivators from the two families had already clashed several times outside the valley.
There had been no casualties yet.
But judging by how things were developing, Lin Changheng believed they were not far off.
All it would take was an accidental spark to light the fuse of conflict.
After repeated meetings among the family's senior members, Family Head Xu Xuheng issued an uncompromising order. On one hand, more late- and mid-Qi Refining experts would be sent to the front line, making full preparations for the conflict should the situation deteriorate. They were permitted only victory, never defeat.
On the other, the family's Pill Masters were ordered to accelerate production of [Miasma-Dispelling Pills]. If necessary, they would simply keep taking the pills, push through the poisonous miasma, and enter the valley to clear out the demonic beasts and occupy it.
A storm was truly brewing-and its winds reeked of blood, its rain would be crimson!
It was far too dangerous. Who knew how many people would be killed or wounded?
Fortunately, Lin Changheng only needed to refine pills in the rear.
Three days later.
Immortal Seedling Bai Fengxian arrived with a grave expression and bad news.
"What? Fugui has been transferred to the Frontier Reclamation Battlefield?"
Lin Changheng was startled.
By rights, Xu Fugui had been fathering children in great numbers for the Xu Family. He had only recently been held up as a model and married a Xu Family woman with spiritual roots. Why had he suddenly been sent to the front line?
This should not have happened. It ran counter to the Xu Family's original intentions.
Unless another emergency had arisen.
"Yes. The family's transfer order came far too suddenly. He was dispatched as soon as it was issued. Brother Fugui only packed a few things before setting off for the Savage Wastes. He didn't even have a chance to say goodbye."
Bai Fengxian had happened to be working alongside Xu Fugui when several people arrived like the wind, carrying orders and wearing stern expressions. His heart had immediately lurched.
He had thought they had come to conscript him, since he had no children with spiritual roots.
He had long sensed that this might happen, but when the moment actually arrived, he still felt somewhat lost.
His face had fallen, and he was just about to rise to receive the order when they said instead, "By order, Xu Fugui is hereby conscripted and must depart immediately for the Savage Wastes to provide support."
Recounting what had just happened, Bai Fengxian felt a jumble of emotions: relief at having narrowly escaped being sent out, and worry 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 had best prepare early."
Seeing Bai Fengxian's bewilderment,
he continued explaining, "With conflict approaching, they need large numbers of mid-Qi Refining cultivators to hold the line, so they've sent Fugui out. Once fighting actually breaks out, early-Qi Refining cultivators will suffer heavy casualties. Then you and I will have to fill the gaps. It's only a matter of sooner or later..."
Understanding dawned on Bai Fengxian, and he repeatedly agreed. "Yes, you're right, Brother Lin. I need to spend my savings on useful magic artifacts and begin refining them now, so I don't end up scrambling when the time comes! I also need to push my cultivation upward with everything I have. Every bit of progress means another chance of survival."
With that, he moved to take his leave.
"Wait."
Lin Changheng placed a box containing three pills in Bai Fengxian's hands. "At a time like this, money is bound to be tight. Take these and use them for now."
"Thank you, Brother Lin!"
Clutching the pill box tightly, Bai Fengxian nodded emphatically, his eyes slightly reddened.
A thousand words and all his affection lay within his resolute gaze. "True friendship reveals itself in adversity. Since you've treated me so well, Brother Lin, if you ever need me, I'll repay you even if it means spilling my brains and guts upon the earth!"
After seeing Bai Fengxian off, Lin Changheng sat cross-legged and tried to cultivate, but found himself growing unsettled.
With danger lurking on every side, peace of mind was hard to come by.
After a moment's silent consideration, he rose and headed for 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 mid-Qi Refining, allowing him to control one first-tier mid-grade magic artifact or two low-grade magic artifacts.
Yet he possessed only a single low-grade [Wasp Blade], which was hardly enough.
Along the way, Lin Changheng also sought out several other Immortal Seedling friends and discreetly hinted at the situation to each of them.
Their expressions changed dramatically.
As they panicked, some even asked to borrow pills. Lin Changheng obliged as appropriate, lending three pills or a few Spirit Stones.
It would relieve their most pressing needs.
He had known these Immortal Seedlings for more than a decade, and their characters were sound. They all knew one another well; otherwise, they would not have stayed in touch. None were the sort to repay kindness with malice, accepting a handful of rice with gratitude only to resent being given a whole measure.
Even if someone did prove otherwise, losing a few pills to see a person's true colors would be no great loss.
As for the pills he gave out, they were all Standard Pills. He still kept his Premium Pills under tight wraps and Lin Changheng would not reveal them lightly.
Inside the Hundred Treasures Hall.
Streams of people flowed through it, heads crowding together.
The Chen Family's involvement meant the news had spread outside. No matter how strictly they prohibited its circulation, it would be useless, so the Xu Family's senior members had loosened their control over the information somewhat.
Thus, members of the Xu Family had begun spending Spirit Stones to strengthen themselves.
The Xu Family welcomed this as well. After all, it stimulated internal demand and brought benefits without harm.
Lin Changheng did not visit the ordinary counters, instead going directly to the Hundred Treasures Hall's steward.
He got straight to the point and asked to purchase a mid-grade magic artifact.
Many family members had come to buy magic artifacts and pills that day, and Steward Xu Xuyang was already accustomed to it. But very few were buying mid-grade magic artifacts, so he still felt compelled to offer a reminder:
"Pill Master Lin, early-Qi Refining cultivators have difficulty controlling mid-grade magic artifacts. With insufficient magical power and spiritual sense, the artifacts can become a burden instead."
"You're quite right, Senior. But I've made some progress in my cultivation and have already reached the bottleneck before mid-Qi Refining. No matter what I try, I can't break through, so I intend to use a mid-grade magic artifact to spur myself on. Perhaps it will bring inspiration and give me the opportunity to break through."
"If that fails, I'll simply keep it for later."
Lin Changheng had prepared his explanation beforehand, and it was enough to conceal the truth.
"As long as you know what you're doing, Pill Master Lin."
Steward Xu Xuyang chuckled. He had fulfilled his duty by offering a reminder and left a good impression. That was enough; pressing further might only provoke resentment.
With his experience, he naturally would not do anything so foolish.
Lin Changheng then chose one of the five or six mid-grade magic artifacts the steward brought out.
It was an azure banner.
Named the [Azure Flood Dragon Banner], it was a mid-grade defensive magic artifact.
Its quality approached premium, and its price was two hundred and sixty low-grade Spirit Stones.
A premium-quality mid-grade magic artifact, meanwhile, cost around three hundred Spirit Stones.
The price carried a slight markup, but it was still acceptable.
"I'd also like to look at low-grade offensive magic artifacts."
After choosing the banner, Lin Changheng thought for a moment before speaking again.