Rapid Progress

As it turned out, aside from Ancestor Yifeng, the Mo Clan's authority was now in the hands of Patriarch Mo Changkong and several elders of the "Dao" generation. Mo Qingshi was Mo Changkong's second son and possessed the aptitude of a Three Spirit Root.

Mo Wen was very familiar with Mo Changkong. Among the "Chang" generation, Mo Changkong was outstanding in both aptitude and talent. Unfortunately, he had been ambushed twenty years ago, damaging his foundation. He could advance no further than the Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement and had no hope of reaching Foundation Establishment.

Among the Mo Clan's "Chang" generation, two others had the potential to reach Foundation Establishment. One was Mo Changge, who had just turned fifty this year and had already reached the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer. The other was Mo Changying, a forty-three-year-old female cultivator who had just advanced to the Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement.

As for the younger members of the "Qing" generation, the one with the highest cultivation was Mo Changkong's eldest son, Mo Qingyun. At thirty-five, he had already broken through to the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining. He had the best aptitude of the "Qing" generation and handled people and affairs with great competence. He enjoyed widespread support and had already been named the Lineage's young master.

The Mo Household looks peaceful now, but that's really because Ancestor Yifeng is holding everything in check. If he passes away, I'm afraid the Lineage will fall apart on the spot!

Having been born into the Mo Household, Mo Wen naturally knew that the Lineage was not as united as it appeared. In truth, there were quite a few conflicts within it, and their root lay with Ancestor Yifeng.

As the Mo Household's sole Foundation Establishment Ancestor, Mo Yifeng could be said to stand high above everyone else. No one dared defy his wishes. Ancestor Yifeng was absorbed in cultivation and never concerned himself with the Clan's trivial affairs, leaving his descendants to handle them as they pleased.

But because of Ancestor Yifeng's influence, the members of his branch held a particularly strong position in the Mo Household and controlled most of the Clan's power. Of course, this branch also had the best Spirit Root aptitude, with figures of astonishing talent appearing in every generation, such as Mo Changkong. Had he not been attacked through underhanded means, he would probably have reached Foundation Establishment long ago and become the Mo Household's new stabilizing pillar.

The strength of Ancestor Yifeng's branch might have been a good thing for the Mo Household as a whole. For the descendants of the other branches, however, it was rather hard to bear. Other matters aside, the unfair distribution of resources had left those descendants harboring deep resentment toward Yifeng's branch. With Ancestor Yifeng still around, though, they simply did not dare cause trouble openly.

Mo Wen came from one of the other branches, and with no elder to back him, his status in the Lineage was little better than that of a household-born servant. As a member of the Mo Household, he would never have chosen to leave the Lineage if it had supported him. Yet in the more than twenty years he had lived there, he had received very few cultivation resources apart from some Talisman Dao inheritance.

He already had the aptitude of a False Spirit Root, and he had few resources to help him cultivate. Had he stayed with the Household, he could never have dreamed of breaking through the Qi Refining Middle Stage in his lifetime.

With no other choice, he had worked for the Lineage without pay for seven years before he was able to leave and become a Rogue Cultivator left to fend for himself.

I hope the Mo Household can get through this calamity! Mo Wen thought with a quiet sigh. He had no desire to take control of the Mo Household. With the Attribute Panel, he would reach Foundation Establishment sooner or later. When that time came, it would not be he who needed the Mo Household, but the Mo Household that needed him!

Since they were in the marketplace, Mo Qingshi, Chen Kun, and the others did not dare make too much of a commotion. The shopkeeper of the Merry Tower also stepped in, and the two sides finally went their separate ways.

Who should I ask to keep an eye on the Mo Household? Mo Wen thought it over, but in the end, Song Xuan was the only person he could think of.

The original owner of the body had always focused on cultivation and had not even found a dao companion, so naturally he had no close friends. At present, Mo Wen and Song Xuan had a working relationship, and such ties of shared interests were the strongest. Merely asking him to keep an eye out for news of the Mo Household should not be much of a problem.

So when Mo Wen made his delivery that month, he mentioned the Mo Household to Song Xuan. He did not make it seem too important and only gave him a brief explanation.

His exact words were: "I did come from the Mo Household, after all. If I can lend a hand within my means, I will. Old Song, sorry to trouble you with this. I'll cover all the expenses."

Song Xuan had already wanted to grow closer to Mo Wen, so he naturally thumped his chest and agreed.

After returning home, Mo Wen stopped worrying about the Mo Household and devoted all his attention to cultivation. Only with strength would he be qualified to involve himself in the Mo Household's affairs. The stronger he became, the easier it would be to intervene in the future.

The days passed one by one, and Mo Wen grew stronger and stronger.

On the seventh day after his birthday, his Hundred Transformations Heart Scripture Qi Refining Chapter finally reached minor accomplishment. He could freely change his appearance and presence, and ordinary Qi Refining cultivators could no longer see through to his true face.

Half a year later, Mo Wen broke through to the Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement, and all three of his Cultivation Methods had made considerable progress. His Talisman Dao had also improved slightly, and his success rate in drawing Wood Armor Talismans had risen to twenty percent. That progress seemed modest, but it doubled his ability to earn Spirit Stones.

During that time, Shopkeeper Song also told Mo Wen about the Mo Household's current situation. According to the Song Clan's investigation, Jingxiu Mountain remained relatively peaceful for the time being because Ancestor Yifeng was there to hold the fort. Some of the forces and businesses under the Mo Clan, however, had already begun to contract.

After hearing this information, Mo Wen felt much more at ease. Judging by the various signs, Ancestor Yifeng was unlikely to be in danger of passing away in the near future.

I hope this ancestor can hold on for a few more years. Better yet, he should wait until I reach Foundation Establishment before passing away! Mo Wen thought, rather uncharitably.

Thanks to his progress in the Talisman Dao, Mo Wen began trying to draw another kind of mid-grade talisman-the Spirit-Concentrating Talisman. It was an advanced version of the low-grade Clear Heart Talisman, exceptionally effective in assisting with the comprehension of Cultivation Methods and Law Techniques, and highly sought after by Rogue Cultivators.

Time flew as he cultivated painstakingly day and night. In the blink of an eye, another half year had passed.

On this day, Mo Wen turned another year older. He made a point of opening the panel to see how much progress he had made over the past year.

Host: Mo Wen

Talent: Heavenly Dao Rewards Diligence (One reaps what one sows; hard work always brings rewards!)

Age: (59/104)

Spirit Roots: Four Spirit Roots (Wood 36, Metal 27, Fire 23, Water 9)

Cultivation: Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement (1021/2000)

Cultivation Methods: Azure Wood Instruction (Minor accomplishment 4276/5000), Sun Essence and Moon Radiance Life-Praying Technique (Beginner 4825/10000), Hundred Transformations Heart Scripture Qi Refining Chapter (Minor accomplishment 2157/5000)

Law Techniques: Wood Shield Technique (Minor accomplishment 1329/5000), Fireball Technique (Proficient 438/500), Geng Metal Finger (Minor accomplishment 271/5000)

Talisman Dao: First-tier mid-grade (1673/5000)

After a year of hard work, it finally hasn't been in vain!

In the most important category, cultivation, he was already more than halfway through the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer. He estimated that he would reach the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer in another four or five months.