Qingshan Has Passed, an Old Friend Gone Far Away!

Time flies, and several years pass in the blink of an eye.

Azure Light Gate of the Eastern Protectorate of Ming Province, the entire mountain was draped in white mourning. The Dragon Gate Bell of the sect tolled nine times in succession, the mournful sound echoing among the mountains.

True Person Qingshan has passed away peacefully.

This ancestor, who had supported the Azure Light Gate for nearly five hundred years, ultimately could not withstand the erosion of time. His lifespan was exhausted, and he passed away in his secluded chamber.

With his departure, the Azure Light Gate's sky collapsed.

Inside the main hall, several Foundation Establishment elders were arguing fiercely.

"The Ancestor has just left, and some Rogue Cultivator have already begun harassing the spirit mines on the border of our sect! They are testing us, it's blatant provocation!" The First Elder slammed his fist on the table, spitting as he spoke.

"The decree from the Supreme Purity Sect has arrived."

The sect leader, his face gaunt and haggard, clutched a piece of gold silk in his hand. "Thirty years. The upper sect has given us a thirty-year window of opportunity."

"If no new Golden Core cultivators emerge from the sect within thirty years, the quota for the Ming Province Eastern Protectorate will be revoked and handed over to other Golden Core forces."

These words caused an uproar among the audience.

The quota for the Eastern Protectorate represents the power to allocate tax revenue and resources to more than ten counties in the eastern part of Ming Province.

This is the foundation upon which the Azure Light Gate stands. Without it, the Azure Light Gate will be reduced to a second-rate force, at the mercy of others.

Thirty years?

"The highest cultivation level in the sect is only among us Foundation Establishment Late Stage, but who among us can guarantee that Core Formation within thirty years?"

"Right now, we haven't even touched a trace of the Heaven and Earth Qi within the sect!"

The second elder smiled bitterly and shook his head helplessly.

"Go and ask for help."

The sect leader sighed, realizing he could only rely on the benevolence of others. "Go to White Cloud Temple. Our ancestor had a close relationship with White Cloud Temple back then."

"Perhaps White Cloud Temple can help our sect overcome this calamity."

White Cloud Temple?

Will they really help us? People forget you once they're gone; will they still remember our past kindness after our ancestor passed away?

Times have changed.

"White Cloud Temple is now a large and powerful organization; they look down on our meager possessions."

"As long as we are willing to bow our heads, cede some of the interests of the Eastern Protectorate, and even give up some of our inherited heritage in exchange for their protection, we can ensure the Indestructibility of our lineage."

"Once our sect produces another Golden Core cultivator, this deal will be worthwhile."

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.

Right now, we have no choice but to try anything, take it one step at a time, and see if we can find any support...

Their future days will be easier.

A few days later.

The leader of the Azure Light Gate personally visited the temple and knelt outside the main hall of the White Cloud Temple.

When Yun Du learned of Qingshan's passing, he was filled with sorrow, never imagining that their parting at the Kunyuan Secret Realm would be their last.

He then personally received the leader of the Azure Light Gate.

After hearing the terms, Yun Du stroked his beard and nodded in agreement:

"I have a long-standing relationship with True Person Qingshan, and our two families have cooperated for many years. Now that the Azure Light Gate is in imminent danger, it is only natural for this old Daoist to help."

"How about this? My sect doesn't need your Azure Light Gate Sect to give up any part of its flesh. We only need the Azure Light Gate's Dao of Alchemy inheritance to be transferred to our sect."

"Even you yourselves can hardly preserve this tradition now."

"Giving it to my sect will at least allow this lineage to continue, which is better than letting it be lost in the wilderness..."

Upon hearing this, the sect leader of Azure Light Gate sighed and reluctantly agreed.

Indeed, what does Azure Light Gate have left for White Cloud Temple to covet these days? Land, population, cultivators, resources...

No matter how many low-level spiritual creatures there are, White Cloud Temple won't even consider them.

The only thing they valued was the alchemy lineage of the Azure Light Gate. The fact that White Cloud Temple didn't use this to exert pressure or attempt to merge with them was already a great concession on their part...

As long as the tradition is preserved, paying some price is only reasonable.

They dismissed the leader of the Azure Light Gate.

Looking out over the distant mountains and valleys, Yun Du felt a deep sense of melancholy...

Perhaps it's true that people get old; he's become sentimental. He really is old. One by one, the ancients have passed away, and loneliness has crept into his heart.

So this is what spiritual practice is like—utterly lonely.

Our gaze shifts back to the northern part of the Cloud Sword Mountain Range.

This is White Cloud Temple, the dwelling place of various tribes of Demon Beast.

The Sun Clan and Zhao Clan families have experienced slow growth in recent years, gaining a few more Foundation Establishment members and some vassal forces.

After Zhao Xuanqing took over as the head of the family, he acted with composure, guarding the family's assets in Abundant Prefecture without vying for power or resources, and managed the Lineage in an orderly manner.

Sun Chengzu was stationed in the northern part of Abundant Prefecture for many years, so Sun Qiming took over the management of clan affairs.

Now they are close friends with Zhao Xuanqing, and they often drink together, chat about everything under the sun, and share their difficulties with each other.

Overall, both families were at peace, and their clan strength gradually increased.

The truly revolutionary changes occurred in the five lineages of the bear family.

The Lightning Bear, Boulder, and Frost and Snow lineages are now incredibly powerful and respected by all sides, with all demons revering them as royalty.

The Lightning Bear Line, with its ancestor Shi Jian, has had an abundant supply of resources, and in recent years, several new Foundation Establishment bear demons have emerged.

Each of them possesses formidable combat prowess and exceptional Thunder Method.

The status of the Boulder Line also rises after the Shi Pan Core Formation.

Earth-elemental spiritual objects, heavenly materials and earthly treasures, were being moved to Boulder Peak as if they were free, forcibly creating four or five Foundation Establishment Bear Demons.

The Frost and Snow Line and snow, Shi Yin, serves as the sect's guardian spirit beast in the Supreme Purity Sect, and the incense offerings still burn brightly.

In an effort to win over Shi Yin, the Zhou Household would occasionally send over ice-type resources, which helped them cultivate several Foundation Establishment Ice Bear, leading to the growth of their clan and the continuation of their lineage.

Some are happy, while others are sad.

The Dark Gold Line and the Primordial Line are having a tough time.

Neither of these two lineages has Golden Core cultivator in charge to this day.

The older generation of Foundation Establishment bear demons are aging, while the new generation is facing a shortage of capable successors, resulting in them being relegated to the bottom of the resource allocation list.

Dark Gold Peak.

Shi Mo lay prone at the cave entrance, watching the bustling scene on the opposite Boulder Peak, and let out a low roar.

"Our ancestors were biased!"

A young, Dark Gold bear demon approached, muttering complaints.

Shi Mo slapped the bear, sending it flying several times.

"Shut up!"

"What right do you have to gossip about what our ancestors have done?"

"If you don't have the ability, then go fight for it yourself! If you want resources, go to the Evil Water Marsh and risk your life for them! Stop complaining here!"

Shi Mo cursed, but his heart was also bitter.

He'd been stuck at the Foundation Establishment Perfection for many years, his aptitude inferior to Shi Yin's, and he lacked Shi Pan's unwavering Dao heart. Core Formation?

Of the three bears back then, he was the most outstanding.

As a result, he is now the one among the three brothers who has the most difficulty in Core Formation.

Without the Golden Core, their Dark Gold Line cannot stand tall. Might reigns supreme, and the law of the jungle prevails—this is the ironclad rule of the Demon Race.

He cannot demand anything from Shi Jian just because he is weak.

It should be understood that in this world, only the disciples and clansmen who support the ancestor are given resources. It's clear that no ancestor would ever forgo resources to support their clansmen and disciples.

If he Dark Gold Line, then this is the only way forward.

You can only blame yourself; you lacked the fortuitous opportunity and the ability.

He deserved to die; there was no rule against asking the ancestor for resources. If Shi Mo couldn't break through to the Golden Core, it was entirely his fate.

Shi Mo had already accepted this outcome and planned to wait a few more years.

He then forcibly sought the path to the Golden Core. If he failed, it would be his fate, and he would have failed his ancestor's cultivation.

If successful, his Dark Gold Line will be able to regain its former glory and transcend the world.

Everything is due to karma!