Morning Light Renews All, Xiu An Inherits the Enterprise

When the morning light fell on Yangming Mountain again, the light screen of the Mysterious Yellow Formation had changed its appearance.

The shimmering white light emanating from the great array's light barrier was like a full moon covering a mountain, without a single crack. The newly embedded high-grade Spirit Stone formed star trails within the array's base, and when the wind passed, they only shimmered with fine light patterns, no longer resembling the spiderweb-like dilapidation of the past;

The seventy-three array flagpoles that were just erected were made of thousand-year-old lightning-struck peach wood obtained after dismantling the Ghost Sword Sect's main hall; they were considered Higher Vehicle even among Third Tier spiritual materials.

But the brand-new battle banners, with their edges embroidered with the Chongming Sect, spread out flat in the wind, washing away the Qi and Blood of the past;

The azure Spirit Stone slabs in the training ground were all remade, since the spirit restriction runes on them had long since shattered and were hard to find.

Therefore, each of the newly made azure Spirit Stone slabs was polished smooth and shiny by a group of low-level weapon craftsmen. Silver thread array patterns were skillfully inlaid in the seams of the slabs, and they shimmered with a faint glow when the morning light shone on them. Then, many array masters came over to connect the array formations.

After this, the Spiritual Qi in the arena has greatly increased, which not only saves on the consumption of Spirit Stone in the training ground, but also allows the generals to train more efficiently.

Three rows of tall stands were erected in the center of the venue, where the standardized Law Artifact, which had been repaired by the weapon masters day and night, were arranged in an orderly manner, with the spear tips pointing west, the blades pointing east, and even the ropes wrapped around the handles of the knives were neatly arranged.

The geomancer brought in a new spiritual spring from the sidelines. The stream was filled with fresh water mixed with Essence Powder. The purpose was twofold: first, to allow all cultivators to thoroughly cleanse themselves of the remaining witchcraft poison, and second, to revitalize the spiritual soil beneath their feet.

This suggests that even with the personal persuasion of elders Fei Nanying and Fei Donggu, Sect Leader Kang Da still had not given up the idea of taking over Yangming Mountain.

After all, the three of them can barely be considered to be of the same level at present, so it is perfectly normal for them to have different opinions on the same thing.

Along the ditch, a circle of Green Orchid Grass was planted, and the dew on the leaves reflected the energetic soldiers training in the drill ground, dazzling to the eye.

The military tents used in the medical clinic were also remade by a craftsman. The light gray tent surface was embroidered with insect-repelling runes, which would always make the attacking spirit insects more wary.

Four new blue stone medicine tables were added to the tent. The stone mortars on the tables were made by Yellow Xiu Jade, Second-Tier Upper-Grade, which He Degong brought from Cloud Horn Prefecture. They were refined using Attendant Luan from Luan Gongfeng and were made into mid-grade Spirit Artifact. They were most suitable for the medicinal properties and reduced the amount of medicinal dust.

The tilted Pill Furnace had long since been righted, its bronze handles polished so smooth they reflected a person's image. The ashes at the bottom of the furnace had been cleaned away, and newly added firewood was stacked neatly around the furnace like a small mountain.

At this moment, the brothers Kang Changyan and Kang Changzhao were leading the cultivators who were assisting the Alchemist to sort and bag the dried Qingling grass and Huangjing root. The fragrance of the medicine mixed with the scent of grass and trees outside the tent, refreshingly wafting through the tent curtains, which slightly diluted the lingering smell of blood.

On the open ground beside the mountain-protecting array, Wei Gu, still pale-faced, was worried and, despite his illness, led the array masters to inspect the array base.

This time, the array base that Wei Guxin refined was made of purple copper and followed the mountain's contours to form profound runes. Although its effect was not as good as the original, it was still a level higher than the array set up by the fake alchemist who did not have a deep understanding of it.

The base of the array was surrounded by knee-high Growth-Accelerating Grass, with small white flowers interspersed among the green leaves. These were seeds that Qi Ke, Gun Fangmu, and Chen Zihang had found in some False Core Storage Bag.

The note found along with the seeds stated that this Spirit Plant could purify the soil and warn of witchcraft, making it perfect for this situation. However, it had only been planted recently under the guidance of Kang Rongquan, who was just getting up, and its growth was mediocre; it might not survive.

At the foot of the mountain, the supply depot built by Ye Zhengwen and his nephew Duan Anle appeared even more well-organized.

The Law Artifact and pills sent from the Little Ring Mountain, the Spirit Plant and materials from more than 400 families in Cold Crow Mountain, and the spiritual rice from more than 20 counties in Yun and Pu prefectures, all gathered here in stacks.

Each stack of barns is covered with runes that are updated in real time, bearing inscriptions such as "Thousands of stones from the Tea-Colored Grain" and "Hundreds of Flying Dragon Stone," representing various resources.

He Degong was accompanying Duan Anle with several caravan managers to take inventory. The scrolls in his hands were filled with records. He occasionally greeted a few Liang-surname managers who passed by, and he noticed that the latter had become much less arrogant.

However, seeing Duan Anle face, He Degong also felt extremely sad when he thought of the He Household members who had been defeated at Yangming Mountain. Even the joy that He Yuanhe had felt after Bian Hu's death and his formal ascension to the position of sect leader of the Stone Mountain Sect was greatly diminished.

Duan Anle stared at the silk scroll without saying a word for a long time, while He Degong, being quite old, also found it difficult to concentrate fully.

Just as he was distracted and shifted his gaze elsewhere, he saw a young boy with red lips and white teeth bow to the Double Brightness disciple on duty outside the formation, his eyes bloodshot, and step in.

He Degong glanced at the flags carried by the young man's entourage, his eyes widening in surprise. He murmured, "The Xiu Household of Guo County?"

Hearing Duan Anle commotion, Duan Anle also looked over. Upon seeing the banner, he couldn't help but sized up the young man before turning to He Degong and saying, "Senior may not know, but this is Xiu An, the eldest son of Brother Xiu."

While the latter explanation wasn't very direct, He Degong immediately understood why the young man named Xiu An had come. He asked curiously, "Brother, do you intend to hold this succession ceremony with Xiu An in Yangming Mountain?"

Duan Anle gave He Degong a serious look, but didn't bother with pleasantries with his uncle. "It's just a formality. Now that Brother Xiu has died in service to the king, how can the position of lord of Ingenious Craftsman Fort fall into the hands of another family?"

He Degong nodded in agreement, thinking to himself that Sect Leader Kang Da was a man of great loyalty and affection. Even after achieving the Golden Core stage, he still cherished his friendship with Xiu Ming. He was more humane than the storytellers in the streets.

It seems that with this incident, the two Pill Master the Ingenious Craftsman Fort, who had been openly and secretly vying for the position of fortress master, have now become a laughing stock.

Even though these two Pill Masters were filled with a thousand resentments and ten thousand impatiences, they could only watch helplessly as this Qi Refinement, who hadn't even grown his first hair, took a high position.

As Xiu An stepped into the Mysterious Yellow Encircling Veins Formation, he was greeted by a scene of great activity. He was still young, and according to the agreement that Lady Fei had made with his wife, Lady Fei, before Xiu Ming death, Xiu An was to become a disciple of the Chongming Sect.

However, after examining his Spirit Root, Xiu An discovered that his aptitude was only Triple Spirit Root, which was not considered Higher Vehicle. In the current Chongming Sect, he would probably be classified as just another ordinary person.

Therefore, Xiu Ming and his wife gave up their plans and focused on Xiu Ming Xiu An by their side. However, they did not expect that Xiu Ming and his wife would still be separated for most of the years. Xiu An, who had not yet achieved his cultivation goal, had been suddenly pushed to the forefront of the storm.

For someone who is not yet of age to dance like an elephant, it is no easy task to actually manage a False Core- elixir sect like Ingenious Craftsman Fort.

Xiu An clutched the hem of his clothes as he walked to the front of the supply camp, the cuffs of his coarse cloth robe still stained with bits of grass from the road.

He stared at the neatly stacked piles of goods before him, his ears burning with embarrassment. Duan Anle's words, "Brother Xiu's eldest son," had drawn the attention of the caravan leaders around him, their gazes filled with curiosity, scrutiny, and a hint of barely perceptible disdain.

"Nephew, come with me. Master is waiting for you." Duan Anle put away the spirit scroll, his tone softening. After bowing to He Degong, he briefly explained the numerous annotations on the spirit scroll before leading Xiu An to meet Kang Dabao.

The group of attendants sent by the boy's mother were not qualified to pay respects to the cultivator, and were politely welcomed by Double Brightness's disciples to the guest quarters to await instructions.

As Duan Anle rode the cloud, he could see the boy's unease and didn't know what to say. He could only secretly glance at Xiu An's thin shoulders, Xiu Ming how Xiu Ming had stepped forward to help him in times of danger, and felt a pang of emotion in his heart.

As we left the supply depot, the morning light was just beginning to shine.

The newly paved bluestone path gleamed with a faint light, and silver lines formed delicate bands of light underfoot. Walking on it, one could even feel wisps of Spiritual Qi rising up from the soles of one's shoes.

Xiu An couldn't help but look down, just as Gust of Wind blew by and a unified shout came from the direction of the training ground.

The new recruits of the Crimson Zhang Guard, who had already experienced a bloody battle, were training. When their spears were thrust out, they gleamed with a crimson light, shattering the morning light and casting countless tiny points of light on the ground.

"That's my son, over fifty years old, who has fortunately already established his Dao Foundation." Duan Anle said this without any boasting, simply pointing to Xiu An Duan Yunzhou:

"Brother Xiu and I were quite close, but we've both been busy with our own lives these past few years, so we've drifted apart a bit. If you need anything and can't find me, you can always look for him."

Xiu An pursed his lips, unsure how to express himself. After walking for quite some time, he finally stammered, "Thank you, Uncle."

As the clouds drifted past the corner of the training ground, the aroma of medicine wafted over.

Kang Changyan was squatting outside the tent, watering several Spirit Plant. This trip to Yangming Mountain was not in vain for Kang Changyan. He learned some basics of alchemy, artifact crafting, talisman arrays, and animal puppetry. In this environment, he also unconsciously overcame his fear of difficulties.

Upon seeing Duan Anle, Kang Changyan quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Senior Brother Duan." After the two returned the greeting, Xiu An then came forward to pay his respects, but the young man, not recognizing people, hesitated to speak.

As one of the most powerful young masters under the jurisdiction of the Marquis of Martial Peace's Residence, Kang Changyan did not have the arrogance and domineering habits that young masters usually have.

Therefore, even though Xiu An remained silent for a long time, the former only slowly turned his gaze to him, and after a few breaths, he reacted. "Is this the Xiu Household's nephew? In the past, I often drank and chatted with Brother Xiu. If you need anything in the future, you can come and find me."

Kang Changyan clearly inherited the generous nature of the Sect Leader Kang Da. As he spoke, he even took out a Higher Vehicle, the Buddha Tooth Pill, saying that he wanted to present it to the junior as a gift.

Xiu An's mother came from a prominent family, and he naturally gained knowledge and experience from her. He knew that Kang Changyan's greeting was enough to earn the loyalty of True Cultivator for ten years.

Knowing all this so clearly, Xiu An was unwilling to accept it, but Duan Anle took it for him and forcefully stuffed it into his Storage Bag.

Following Duan Anle toward the main hall, Xiu An couldn't help but look around.

The light screen of the mountain-protecting array swirled overhead, its shimmering white light making the surrounding Growth-Accelerating Grass appear even greener, and the small white flowers swayed gently in the wind;

The water in the Lingquan Canal shimmered with tiny sparkles, and dewdrops rolled around on the leaves of the Green Orchid Grass along the canal, reflecting the clouds in the sky.

Even where the broken spears used to be piled up, now lush bamboo has been planted. The bamboo shadows sway gently, and when you sweep the ground, you can't find even a trace of blood.

"Yangming Mountain is much better than you imagined, isn't it?" Duan Anle suddenly asked.

Xiu An nodded and said softly, "I heard from some of the retainers who accompanied me that it has become a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood."

"That's true, but if we could give Chongming Sect a little more time, this place might very well have transformed from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood into a paradise." Duan Anle paused here, then continued, "Your father deserves some credit for this, and the Chongming Sect will not neglect him in the slightest."

After hearing this, Xiu An felt a warmth in his eyes and a surge of emotion in his heart, and the unease he had felt beforehand gradually dissipated.

At this moment, Jin Shilun was on duty in the main hall with Jin Tanglü.

Strangely enough, unlike his father who had a good piece of flesh found on his body when he left the battlefield, Jin Tanglü the strongest in every battle, was completely unharmed, and the merits he made were enough for him to find two Foundation Establishment Pills.

Upon seeing Duan Anle approach, he, wrapped in spiritual silk, nodded slightly, his gaze becoming more solemn as he looked at Xiu An.

He had a past friendship with Xiu Ming, and seeing his old friend's son again brought him a great deal of emotion.

Therefore, even the tightly closed door became very easy to open. As soon as the door was pushed open, Kang Dabao was sitting at the desk. Instead of searching, he first looked through the files of Ingenious Craftsman Fort.

Hearing the noise, he looked up and his gaze fell on Xiu An. He didn't speak immediately, but carefully examined the boy. His eyebrows and Xiu Ming were seven-tenths like Xiu Ming's, but he still had a childish air about him. The hand that was clutching the hem of his clothes was just like Xiu Ming then, with a hint of timidity.

"They're here." Kang Dabao put down the file, his voice gentler than usual. "Sit down. The person who came to report said you've been traveling for five days. You must be exhausted."

Xiu An sat down and said respectfully, "Thank you for your concern, sir. I'm not tired."

"How could I not be tired?" Kang Dabao smiled, took out a token from his Storage Bag, and placed it on the table. The token was quite exquisite, with the emblem of Ingenious Craftsman Fort engraved on the front and the words "Inheritance" on the back.

"Your father is gone, Ingenious Craftsman Fort cannot be without a leader. This token was made in your father's style. From today onwards, you are the new lord of Ingenious Craftsman Fort."

Even though he knew this would be the outcome, Xiu An still felt deeply moved when he looked at the token.

"My lord," Xiu An's voice trembled, "I am but a lowly person, how could I dare to offer such great favor?"

Duan Anle added from the side, "Master also spoke with Myriad Treasures Trading Company. For the next six months, Myriad Treasures Trading Company will give priority to accepting orders for magical Law Artifact from Ingenious Craftsman Fort, helping you with your cash flow."

Xiu An looked at Kang Dabao, then at Duan Anle, and finally couldn't hold back his tears. He stood up and bowed deeply to Kang Dabao: "Thank you, sir! I will not let you and my father down!"

Kang Dabao nodded, picked up a scroll from the table, and handed it over. "This was given to me by your father before he passed away. It contains some of the management methods of Ingenious Craftsman Fort and his ideas on improving puppets. Take it; it might be useful."

Xiu An held the scroll of notes in both hands, his fingertips touching his father's familiar handwriting, and his eyes welled up with tears again.

Before he could speak, Sect Leader Kang Da said calmly, "Your mother is too calculating. The morale of the people in Ingenious Craftsman Fort isn't beyond repair yet. It's not appropriate for her to come here this time. With the Chongming Sect here, you won't lose your position."

Xiu An's tone became even more respectful. "I will certainly pass on every word of your teachings to my mother."

"It's alright. We'll be setting off for Ink Cloud Marsh again in ten days. It doesn't matter if you come or not." Kang Dabao paused, then continued, "Just stay in the back. This battle isn't for you to fight."