Affiliation

We have the blueprints, the necessary formations, and the tortoise shell; all that's missing now are the building materials.

More than a month has passed, but due to the huge demand, the production of building materials in Hufang Province is not enough, so Liu Yunan is also looking for building material suppliers in other cities.

Meanwhile, their Artifact Refining Hall also takes time to refine materials for some core components.

For example, main beams, walls, and columns.

However, the Artifact Refining Hall still has monthly production tasks to complete, and even if they could find the time, they couldn't finish too quickly. Therefore, the city construction project has been temporarily put on hold for now.

Fortunately, Lin Xiao wouldn't need much time to use the synthesis function afterward, so being delayed here for a while wouldn't be a big deal.

Lin Xiao put away the blueprints and was about to go back to continue his cultivation when he noticed that snowflakes had suddenly started falling outside.

It's snowing!

Lin Xiao did the math and realized that there were still ten days until New Year's Eve.

The Lunar New Year is almost here.

He contacted Liu Yunan using Lock Ring.

"Yunan, I have some extra plans for this year's Spring Festival. Please do what I tell you to do these next few days."

The next day, Lingxian Sect received a Sound Transmission Talisman.

The reason for this surprise is that the Sound Transmission Talisman did not originate from the Lingxian Sect.

It was used by the head of the Clear River Sect, probably some kind of stockpile he had saved up sometime in the past.

Although the three major sects have earned far more Spirit Stone in the past two years than before, they still adhere to the principle of spending Spirit Stone wisely.

The Sound Transmission Talisman is not a necessity for cultivation, and it has not appeared on the purchase lists of the three major sects in the past two years. Therefore, the Lingxian Sect members guessed that this Sound Transmission Talisman should be in the Clear River Sect's own inventory.

This was the first time that Lingxian Sect had received Sound Transmission Talisman from outside its own sect.

After all, in the past, whether it was to Xiushui Village at the foot of the mountain, the prefect of Liaoju Prefecture, or the Li Imperial Clan, they all used the Sound Transmission Talisman that they sent out.

The first part of the message on this Sound Transmission Talisman sounds like a typical New Year's greeting.

Lin Xiao initially thought it was because the Clear River Sect leader's daughter was in the Lingxian Sect, but after hearing the rest, he realized why the Sound Transmission Talisman had suddenly appeared.

"I have long admired your esteemed sect's reputation and its profound, unassuming strength. It is an honor to share the same territory as your sect, and for my daughter to be able to cultivate the profound Daoist arts at Lingxian Sect. It is truly a blessing. Today, I, Han Shangyi, as the leader of the Clear River Sect, represent my sect in hoping to establish a brotherhood with the Lingxian Sect, to help each other in the future and jointly pursue the Great Dao."

Although Han Shangyi's words were rather subtle, Lin Xiao could still tell that while the other party said he wanted to form a brother sect, his words clearly revealed his intention to respect Lingxian Sect.

Lin Xiao guessed that Han Weishu must have said something to her father.

This was all within his expectations; otherwise, he wouldn't have recruited new members regardless of their background.

"System, if I accept the Clear River Sect's proposal, does that mean I've completed one-tenth of my mission?" he asked the system.

[This can only be determined after the host accepts it, based on the actual status between the sect and the other party.] The system replied calmly.

Lin Xiao smiled and didn't continue communicating with the system.

He simply turned to look at the elders in the sect's main hall.

What do you all think?

Since this was the first time Liu Yunan had received Sound Transmission Talisman from an outer sect, and the other party was a sect leader, and the matter concerned inter-sect affairs, he notified all the elders of the Lingxian Sect to come to the sect's main hall for a meeting.

However, since it was not a major event for the sect, it was not mandatory for all elders and those in charge to attend. Therefore, those currently in the main hall were people who had some free time, such as Mo Yuanjiao and Yang Jinshu.

Mo Yuanjiao had previously helped Lin Xiao create the array formations needed for the Trade Center and finished this month's array formation sales orders, so he had some free time. Hearing about something interesting, he immediately rushed over to join in the fun.

Yang Jinshu, on the other hand, found that the disciples of Azure Cloud Peak were all very well-behaved, making her Law Enforcement Hall arguably the most relaxed place in the entire sect.

She rarely spends time in her own Law Enforcement Hall; she mostly goes to other departments to help out.

There were also those who were very busy, but whose busyness was directly related to the matter, so they were able to attend, such as Liu Yunan and Qin Jianghe.

As for the others, such as Elder Lin Quan of Lingtian, who is also Lin Xiao's grandfather, when he heard that it was unrelated to farming, he immediately said that he would not come. He only told them to go and get some fresh seeds for Lingtian to plant when they had time, and to notify them when they had any new farming-related tools.

Sun Yigao was also busy teaching.

Because Liao Pantu had not yet emerged from seclusion, and Sun Yigao was currently the person with the highest cultivation level in the sect besides Lin Xiao, he temporarily took over Liao Pantu's morning and evening lessons and was also responsible for frequently going to Azure Cloud Peak to provide extra tutoring for the disciples there.

Tuantuan always worked alongside him, assisting him.

Therefore, there are only five people in the sect's main hall at the moment.

"Brother Xiao, does Sect Leader Han mean to... form an alliance with us?" Liu Yunan frowned slightly, pondering, unable to think of a suitable word to describe it for a moment, and hesitantly said "alliance".

Yang Jinshu said:

"Similar situations are not uncommon among merchant families among mortals. Smaller, weaker Lineage that want to expand their businesses and achieve better development will pledge allegiance to larger, more powerful Lineage, hoping that the latter will support them. This is generally referred to as 'dependence'."

"I think that's what Sect Leader Han meant."

Upon hearing this Mo Yuanjiao's eyes brightened as he looked at Lin Xiao:

"Sect Leader, is our sect going to recruit new disciples?!"

Lin Xiao raised the Sound Transmission Talisman in his hand:

"This isn't a discussion, what are your thoughts?"

Mo Yuanjiao sat on the cushion, hands on his knees, and excitedly said:

"I wholeheartedly agree! Doesn't the Immortal Cultivation Realm look down on our Mortal Realm? From now on, we'll absorb all the sects in the Mortal Realm, develop them together, and surpass all the sects in the Immortal Cultivation Realm. Let them be envious! Let's see if they still dare to look down on our Mortal Realm!"

Both Qin Jianghe and Liu Yunan looked at him with considerable surprise.

They were surprised that Mo Yuanjiao's idea coincided with Lin Xiao's earlier thought.

Qin Jianghe also spoke up:

"Yuanjiao. Our sect has always intended to expand outwards, and the Clear River Sect has always had a good relationship with us. They have been very cooperative, and we haven't heard of any major issues with their conduct. Now that they have taken the initiative to make this proposal, I think we can discuss it further with the Clear River Sect."

Liu Yunan and Yang Jinshu also agreed, and so the matter of further contact and discussion with the Clear River Sect was decided.

However, since everyone has gathered in the sect's main hall for a small meeting today, it's impossible to discuss just this one matter.

With the Lunar New Year approaching, it's a good time to discuss other recent matters as well.