The Zhao and Sun Clans Vie for Favor!

A few days later.

Deep within the Clear Wind Mountain Range, a gigantic sinkhole, spanning ten miles in circumference, lies across the land.

The surrounding soil was churned up, and the traces of rock fractures were shocking.

The lingering aura of thunder raged in the air, with tiny purple arcs of electricity occasionally leaping across the scorched soil.

Several Rogue Cultivator made a living in this area stood at the edge of the pit, dumbfounded.

"Where is the Stone Forest? Such a large area of lightning-struck stone forest?" A gray-robed Rogue Cultivator swallowed hard, his voice trembling.

"I heard it was that Ancestor Shi from White Cloud Temple who forcibly uprooted it and moved it back to the Cloud Sword Mountain Range." Another person said with a look of awe.

"Uprooted? What incredible power that must require..."

The news spread like wildfire throughout White Cloud Commandery and Qingzhou Commandery.

The Golden Core demon's ability to move mountains and fill seas completely shocked the lower-level forces in the two prefectures. Lineage and Rogue Cultivator who originally had some resistance to White Cloud Temple's integration of the mountain range all shut their mouths at this moment.

In the face of absolute power, any scheming seems laughable.

Qingzhou Commandery, Azure Light Gate Main Peak.

Inside the main hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

Zhao Yanshan sat upright in the guest seat. The tea had already been changed three times. His expression remained calm, and his back was ramrod straight. With a strong backer behind him, it was difficult for him to bend his back. He was practically a steel-backed beast.

Qingxuan Azure Light Gate, sat in the main seat and Qi Dao politely:

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, the merger of the Great Maple Mountain Range and the Clear Wind Mountain Range involves far-reaching implications."

"Within an area of eight hundred li, there are many independent Rogue Cultivator. Forcibly expelling them would likely incite public outrage, and the manpower allocation and resource consumption involved would be a huge problem."

"How about we do this..."

He was haggling.

Although White Cloud Temple is currently powerful, Azure Light Gate is not to be underestimated. Qingxuan naturally wants to carve out a larger share of the pie for the sect in this merger.

Zhao Yanshan put down his teacup and looked directly at Qingxuan:

"Sect Leader Qingxuan, these Rogue Cultivator cultivators are causing trouble; just kill them."

"As for the losses, a short, sharp pain is worse than a long, drawn-out one."

"Once the Eight Hundred Li Beast Pasturing Mountain is completed, the Azure Light Gate will have exclusive rights to purchase spirit medicine. The Sect Leader should understand this better than I do."

Qingxuan chuckled dryly, "That's true, but..."

Before the words were finished, a streak of azure light suddenly swept in from the direction of the back mountain, landing directly in the main hall and transforming into a communication jade talisman.

True Person Qingshan's voice then echoed in the main hall:

"Do as this young friend Zhao says. The entire Azure Light Gate must cooperate fully and without fail, lest anything go wrong."

Qingxuan froze, and the jade talisman almost slipped from his hand.

The ancestor has spoken; there is no room for negotiation.

Zhao Yanshan straightened his cuffs and stood up.

He knew some inside information: True Person Qingshan had made an agreement with the Abbot and Ancestor Shi, and with the deal involving the Longevity Pill, the Azure Light Gate would never turn against him at this time.

"Sect Leader Qingxuan, now that Ancestor Qingshan has set the tone, let's discuss the specifics of clearing the area and connecting with the earth's veins."

Zhao Yanshan spoke calmly, neither servile nor arrogant, with a composed demeanor:

"This needs to be done quickly; the array masters from White Cloud Temple are already prepared."

Qingxuan sighed. The ancestor had already spoken; what could he do? He could only nod repeatedly in response.

"Of course, of course."

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, your actions are swift and decisive; I admire you greatly!"

Although he was saying flattering things, Zhao Yanshan knew in his heart that this face was not his, but given to him by the person on Purple Firmament Peak.

What he needed to do was turn this prestige into tangible benefits, taking back every last penny, in order to prove the Zhao Clan's worth.

Two days later, the clearing began.

White Cloud Temple and Azure Light Gate joined forces, with over a thousand disciples forming dozens of enforcement teams, and marched into the Clear Wind Mountain Range in a grand procession.

" By the Supreme Purity Sect, this area is designated as Beast Pasturing Mountain!"

"Within three days, all Rogue Cultivator and cultivators from various Lineage must withdraw from the mountains. Anyone who disobeys this order will be executed without mercy!"

The cold declaration echoed through the mountains.

Several Foundation Establishment Rogue Cultivator, confident in their own strength, even tried to instigate trouble and unite others to resist the law.

What awaited them was the merciless enforcement of the law by two Foundation Establishment Elders!

Three Foundation Establishment cultivators' heads fell to the ground, their bodies hanging on the only path leading into the mountain, their blood staining the rocks crimson...

Violence begets violence, as a warning to others!

Under the bloody suppression, thousands of Rogue Cultivator cultivators, along with their families, began to relocate from the vicinity of the Qingshan Mountains to avoid the disaster...

The cruelty of the cultivation world was on full display at this moment. In this feast of redistribution of interests, low-level cultivators without any backing were not even qualified to be used as waste materials.

Immediately afterwards, the formation masters from both sects entered the arena.

Dozens of array masters, holding array flags of various colors, worked together to activate the earth's veins.

Filling in the ravines, transplanting sacred trees, and forcibly connecting the earth's energy between the two mountain ranges—the entire process was extremely massive...

It's unlikely to be effective in the short term.

But once completed, a vast mountain range stretching for eight hundred miles, dedicated solely to the herding of beasts for the Upper Clan, will generate astonishing profits!

The profits generated from this, the mining of various spiritual mines, the distribution of spirit medicine, and the resources from the periodic Qingshan by Demon Beast...

The entire process was coordinated by Zhao Yanshan.

He was meticulous in everything he did, using both tactful and firm methods to secure the largest share for White Cloud Temple.

The matter was handled beautifully.

The remaining task is time; merging the two mountain ranges is no easy task and will take at least several years.

After all, Qi Refining Foundation Establishment can never compare to the Golden Core's power to move mountains and fill seas.

Cloud Sword Mountain Range, Bo'an Peak.

The atmosphere in the secret meeting room was extremely tense.

Sun Mao slammed his palm on the stone table, causing the teacups to bounce wildly.

Zhao Yanshan!

"That shameless woman dared to seduce the Ancestor!"

Sun Mao gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot, and suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He never expected that someone would dare to steal his ancestor's man!

Sun Lin sat to the side and sighed softly:

"Brother, the matter has been investigated and clarified."

"Zhao Yanshan went up to Purple Firmament Peak a few days ago and received the ancestor's decree, giving him full authority over the matter of merging the mountain ranges."

"Even True Person Qingshan Azure Light Gate has spoken out in support."

"Things are progressing smoothly now, and the Zhao Clan's prestige within the sect has risen significantly, causing unrest among the lower ranks."

"He's bypassed us and directly pledged allegiance to the ancestor!"

Sun Mao was breathing heavily; he wasn't jealous of Zhao Yanshan, he was afraid.

What does it mean that the patriarch entrusted such an important task to the Zhao Clan? It means that the Sun Clan is no longer the only useful tool in the patriarch's hands.

No longer is he the most beloved treasure in the old ancestor's heart!

"We've been too well-behaved lately."

Sun Mao paced back and forth in the secret room, his steps hurried:

"What our ancestor needs are people who can expand our territory and accomplish great things."

"Zhao Yanshan seized the opportunity and made a name for himself in front of the ancestor. If we keep guarding this place, Bo'an Peak will eventually be marginalized as a farming village."

Upon hearing this, Sun Lin nodded in agreement:

"The Zhao Clan's resources are still there, but Zhao Yanshan's methods are slippery."

"He handled things flawlessly this time, and the Ancestor will surely reward him. Our Sun Clan family, on the other hand, is small in number and has indeed fallen behind."

Sun Mao stopped in his tracks, his eyes flashing with fierce intent.

"We can't let him steal the spotlight! The Sun Clan's status was earned with the life of our patriarch, and we absolutely cannot let it fall into our hands!"

He abruptly turned to Sun Lin: "Pass down the order: squeeze another 20% of all clan resources and allocate them entirely to Chengzu!"

"I demand that he Foundation Establishment within three years!"

"If the patriarch wants to see value, then we'll present the Sun Clan's greatest value to him!"

"Sword cultivators with Dual Spirit Roots are the foundation upon which our Sun Clan stands!"

At this moment, the flames of involution were completely ignited on Bo'an Peak.

Sun Mao is determined to reclaim the old patriarch's favor!