Poaching!

Of course, Shi Jian might also remember Zhao Qing's kindness...

After all, back then, Zhao Qing had indeed treated him well, bestowing upon him treasures on several occasions and never harming him.

Shi Jian had a very good impression of Zhao Qing, and therefore also had a certain degree of goodwill towards the Zhao Clan lineage.

"The Zhao Clan founded the White Cloud Temple. Logically, the one sitting in the main seat of the council hall should be from the Zhao Clan."

Shi Jian spoke casually, as if he were chatting:

"How did things turn out like this by the time you got here?"

Zhao Yanshan's gaze darkened slightly, and he couldn't help but sigh:

"After the fall of Ancestor Zhao Qing, the Zhao Household never recovered. They were short-handed and had no Golden Core cultivators to protect them. No matter how deep their foundation was, they were just easy prey in the eyes of others."

He paused, then added:

"This isn't a complaint; it's a younger generation's clear understanding of the current situation."

Shi Jian grunted in response but did not comment.

He then turned his head to look at the rolling thunderclouds outside the cave abode and casually asked:

"Do you know that I've actually wanted to support another force within the sect for a long time, to rival the Sun Clan?"

Zhao Yanshan was taken aback, then smiled wryly, "I didn't know then, but I know now."

Aren't you panicking?

What's the panic?

Zhao Yanshan countered with a frank reply, "The ancestor's willingness to provide support is fortuitous opportunity for the Zhao Clan, and also a chance for us juniors."

"If the Ancestor wants two forces to compete with each other, then it means that what the Ancestor needs is not a lackey, but someone who can get things done."

"If the Zhao Clan can't even withstand this much pressure, how can they talk about making a comeback?"

Shi Jian finally looked at him properly for the first time.

This person is quite shrewd; he's someone who can get things done!

"OK."

Shi Jian slowly straightened up, his five-zhang-tall body creating a surge of air within the cave abode, with lightning crackling through his hair.

"I have accepted your offer of refuge, but there is no such thing as a free lunch, nor is there a free powerful backer."

"Before you submit, you have to do one thing."

Zhao Yanshan cupped his hands in greeting. "Please speak, Ancestor."

"You must have heard about the merger of the Great Maple Mountain Range and the Clear Wind Mountain Range, right?"

Zhao Yanshan's brows twitched slightly. "This junior vaguely knows that it was the Ancestor and the Abbot who planned the consolidation of the mountain range, using the name of the Supreme Purity Sect's Beast Pasturing Mountain to claim that eight hundred li of territory."

"You're well-informed."

Shi Jian remained noncommittal. "The next step is to have someone liaise with the Azure Light Gate to negotiate terms, define interests, and finalize the details."

"I and Fellow Yun Du have already established the general framework, but someone still needs to run the errands."

He paused, his gaze fixed on Zhao Yanshan's face:

"The Zhao Clan's weapon-refining peak has had dealings with the Azure Light Gate for many years, and the Zhao Clan has facilitated many transactions involving Law Treasure materials."

Zhao Yanshan understood.

He remained silent for about three breaths before speaking, "The Ancestor's intention is to have the Zhao Clan act as a liaison to advance the specific negotiations for the merger of the mountain ranges."

"And to secure the greatest possible benefit for our ancestor in the distribution?"

"It's more than just communication."

Shi Jian's tone was calm, yet carried an unambiguous clarity. "I must know every calculation, every superfluous word, and every unspoken condition that the Azure Light Gate has made in this matter."

Whether your Zhao Clan can achieve this is the standard by which I will judge you.

Zhao Yanshan lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then raised his face.

"This junior has a matter I would like to ask the venerable one for clarification."

"Explain."

"If the Zhao Clan succeeds this time, what can the Ancestor give Zhao Clan?"

Shi Jian grinned, his tone light, and casually wrote:

"For every point you gain for me in this matter, I will reward the Zhao Clan accordingly, whether it be resources, a position, or Spirit Vein..."

"Your performance will determine how much you receive."

"One day in the future, perhaps even the Heaven and Earth Qi could be used!"

This statement contains no promises, no upper limit, and no lower limit.

But precisely because of this, it is more trustworthy than any empty promise, not to mention the allure of the Heaven and Earth Qi.

Zhao Yanshan thought it over in his mind. He had no reason to refuse, and he didn't want to refuse. He took a deep breath, solemnly cupped his hands, and bowed deeply, almost to the point of kneeling in worship.

"Zhao Yanshan, obeying the Ancestor's command."

Shi Jian waved his paw, signaling him to step back, then lay back down on the stone platform, his gaze fixed on the rolling Cloud Sword Mountain Range outside the window, lost in thought.

After the people left, the Lord Rat quietly approached:

"Ancestor, is Zhao Yanshan reliable?"

"Have no idea."

"Why did the patriarch accept him?"

Shi Jian closed his eyes. "Because it's useful."

The Lord Rat knowingly narrowed its long, thin eyes.

If it's useful, keep it; if it's useless, replace it. This is the rule of our ancestors—simple, clear, and without any unnecessary emotional considerations.

"Ancestor, what about Sun Mao...?"

"No need to tell him," Shi Jian said calmly. "Let him realize it himself, let him experience it for himself."

The Lord Rat paused for a moment, then suppressed a laugh.

If Sun Mao were to discover that the Zhao Clan was also on the old ancestor's side, wouldn't Sun Mao be unable to sleep all night, desperately thinking about how to do more and gain more?

That's brilliant!

That's brilliant!

"In addition..."

Shi Jian spoke again, his tone calm as if he were recounting a trivial matter:

"Send two clever little rats to the border of the Clear Wind Mountain Range in the next few days, over there on the Great Maple Mountain Range."

"Find out exactly which Rogue Cultivator in that area, how large they are, and whether any of them have powerful backers."

The Lord Rat nodded and noted, "Understood. I'll gather information to prepare for the cleanup after the merger."

"Clearing the area is a matter for the abbot and True Person Qingshan."

Shi Jian opened his eyes, a hint of coldness flashing casually across his purplish-gold pupils. "What I want to know is where the valuables are in that mountain range, how many there are, and how well they are hidden."

The Lord Rat choked, then lowered its head:

"I have learned a lot."

The cave abode returned to silence, with only thunderclouds rolling on the peak and purple lightning occasionally striking down, landing in the lightning pool and creating a soft sound.

Shi Jian picked up the Root Bone again, lowered his head and continued picking at the remaining flesh, his expression as calm as if nothing had happened.

The chess pieces have been set up.

Now, it's up to each of them to decide what to do.

He wasn't in a hurry.

The ones who were anxious were Sun Mao, Zhao Yanshan, Yun Tianfan, True Person Qingshan, and the Golden Core cultivators who were fighting desperately on the North Sea battlefield.

He, Shi Jian, only needs to sit atop Purple Firmament Peak.

We just need to wait for all sorts of people to deliver their benefits.

Along the mountain path, Zhao Yanshan had already walked quite a distance, his steps much steadyer than when he came.

Meanwhile, atop Bo'an Peak, Sun Mao was instructing Sun Chengzu on Swordsmanship, while Sun Chengzhu remained completely unaware of what was happening...

Little did they know that someone had already begun to undermine their own family, their very ancestor.