「Longhuan Island.」
Inside the Clan Assembly Hall, Wu Canglang, the Patriarch of the Wu Family, was seated in the main seat. Below him on both sides sat over a dozen Elders.
Also present were the Wu Family’s four other Foundation Establishnt Elders.
The latest developnts from the Ling Family of Zenxin Island had alard the Wu Family’s upper echelons, which was why Wu Canglang had summoned all the clan’s key figures for a eting.
"...Regarding this matter, what opinions do you have, Elders? Feel free to speak your minds."
Wu Canglang said slowly, his brow furrowed in thought.
A silence fell over the hall.
The Ling Family had managed to acquire a strategic resource like the Foundation Establishnt Pill. Naturally, they would imdiately use it to enter seclusion and pursue a breakthrough, not let it go to waste.
Faced with this situation, the Wu Family had no good solutions. They couldn’t very well forbid the Ling Family from entering cultivation in seclusion, could they?
After a short while, a Foundation Establishnt Cultivator who looked to be in his late twenties, dressed in a feathered robe and a silk turban, spoke up.
"This matter... we can no longer stop it. Not unless we’re prepared to tear apart all pretenses and go to war with the Ling Family."
He was the Wu Family’s newest Foundation Establishnt Elder: Wu Cangyuan.
"War is out of the question. Our chances of victory right now are slim."
Wu Jinghong frowned. "As things stand, even if we managed to crush the Ling Family, the price the Wu Family would have to pay would be imnse."
If both sides were grievously wounded, other surrounding powers would just swoop in to pick up the spoils. The Wu Family’s leadership could not afford to make such a basic error.
"Could we perhaps unite with our allies to put pressure on the Ling Family?"
Another Elder proposed.
Wu Canglang shook his head again. At a critical mont, few of those so-called allies could be trusted. They’d turn on you in the blink of an eye.
The Ling Family has allies too. If the two sides were to face off, it would amount to a war of words at most. It would never escalate into a real fight.
"Since we can’t stop it, we should just accept the reality of the situation," said a woman who appeared to be seventeen or eighteen, her Daoist robe as white as snow.
"Our greater concern now should be this: does the Ling Family have any more Foundation Establishnt Pills? Will another Foundation Establishnt Powerhouse erge after Ling Yulu?"
She was the Wu Family’s other new Foundation Establishnt Elder: Wu Xiuqing.
A slight shock went through the hall. Such a thing wasn’t impossible. After all, the Ling Family’s Patriarch herself had a late-stage Foundation Establishnt cultivation and possessed the mastery of a Second Rank High-grade Alchemist.
When refining a batch of Foundation Establishnt Pills, the yield is typically at least one pill. With a bit of luck, it can be two.
If the alchemist’s skill in the Alchemy Dao is high enough, it’s even possible to produce three Foundation Establishnt Pills from a single batch.
Based on the intelligence they had gathered, Ling Qiyue’s mastery in alchemy was a well-established fact.
Hardly anyone would doubt her ability to refine three Foundation Establishnt Pills in a single attempt.
So now, the question the Wu Family leadership had to consider wasn’t whether the Ling Family was about to gain one more Foundation Establishnt Powerhouse, but... three?!
"That’s the worst-case scenario, but it’s not an impossible one!"
Wu Jinghong’s expression was grim. ’If the number of the Ling Family’s Foundation Establishnt Great Cultivators grows from three to six in the next few years, wouldn’t they be able to suppress our Wu Family instead?’
And the worst part was, the Wu Family had no way to stop it; they could only watch helplessly.
Patriarch Wu Canglang cleared his throat, easing the tense atmosphere. "There’s no need to be so pessimistic. This is, after all, only speculation."
"Perhaps the yield wasn’t three pills at all. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have put only one Foundation Establishnt Pill up for their internal auction."
Elder Wu Xiuqing mused, "That’s true. Ling Qiyue has no prior experience refining Foundation Establishnt Pills. This was her first attempt. Even if she got lucky and succeeded, it’s unlikely she produced two, right?"
"Hmm, that makes sense."
As the Elders considered this, their expressions eased considerably.
A Second Rank Alchemist could indeed refine Foundation Establishnt Pills. However, due to factors like differing alchemical traditions, the quality of the raw materials, and the grade of the Pill Furnace, the success rate wasn’t particularly high.
Because the raw materials were so precious, Second Rank Alchemists rarely had the opportunity to practice and accumulate experience. Therefore, it was unlikely Ling Qiyue could produce another Foundation Establishnt Pill anyti soon.
Wu Cangyuan sighed faintly. "In the long run, having a Second Rank Alchemist like Ling Qiyue gives the Ling Family a massive advantage. We must plan ahead."
The Elders exchanged glances. Ling Qiyue was, after all, still very young. Barring any accidents, she could hold the position of Patriarch for the next one or two hundred years.
As long as she lived, she would sooner or later refine more Foundation Establishnt Pills. When that ti ca, wouldn’t the number of Foundation Establishnt Powerhouses in the Ling Family just keep growing?
By a conservative estimate, if the Ling Family added one new Foundation Establishnt Powerhouse every twenty years, they could accumulate five to watch over the clan in a century. In two centuries, that would be ten.
Of course, that calculation didn’t account for Foundation Establishnt Powerhouses dying of old age or falling in battle.
"Patriarch, we must secure more allies. Furthermore, we need to find a way to nurture our own Second Rank Alchemist."
Wu Xiuqing said, "Only then can we protect our clan’s foundation!"
Wu Canglang pondered for a mont before nodding slowly. "That is the proper course. The Wu Family cannot afford to be without its own Second Rank Alchemist. It is settled."
Nurturing a Second Rank Alchemist was no small feat. The sheer amount of resources required was a staggering figure, even for a Foundation Establishnt Clan.
Compared to training a Foundation Establishnt Powerhouse, nurturing a highly specialized talent like a Second Rank Alchemist was an entirely different level of difficulty.
The ti investnt alone could span decades; without sufficient patience, it was an impossible wait.
However, the competition and strategic maneuvering between Cultivation Clans were like the rivalries between nations—often protracted affairs where conflicts lasting decades, or even centuries, were commonplace.
Therefore, when a victor couldn’t be decided quickly, it beca a contest of strategic resolve.
...
「Zenxin Island, within Tang Qiu Yao’s Spirit Vein Cave Mansion.」
Nearly two months had passed by the ti Ling Changqing erged from the Cultivation Chamber again.
"Young Master, Elder Tang has asked to speak with you."
The head maid, Longyun, said in a soft, gentle voice, giving a slight curtsy.
Ling Changqing acknowledged and followed her from the courtyard, arriving at the flower hall of the inner residence where Tang Qiu Yao lived.
Dressed in a peach-pink palace gown, her hair adorned with a Cloud Hairpin Phoenix, the radiant Tang Qiu Yao sat behind a desk, perusing a Jade Scroll.
"You’re here?"
She looked up, her cherry-red lips pursed slightly as she sized up Ling Changqing for a mont.
"It seems your cultivation has advanced again. Very good. Co with to see the Patriarch later. She’s been asking about you often!"
"Alright."
Ling Changqing naturally had no reason to refuse.
After a mont’s thought, he asked, "Has Elder Yulu... successfully reached Foundation Establishnt?"
Tang Qiu Yao smiled. "Of course. Did you have any doubt, with her being the Patriarch’s choice? The Ling Family now has four Foundation Establishnt Great Cultivators."
Ling Changqing nodded. ’The Ling Family has grown stronger, which is good for too,’ he thought. ’It’s always good to have a tall tree for shade.’
’Perhaps in a few more years, Tang Qiu Yao will also have her breakthrough. Then the Ling Family will have five Foundation Establishnt Powerhouses.’
"As long as you’re willing to help ease the Patriarch’s burdens and accumulate enough rit, there will be a Foundation Establishnt Pill for you in the future!"
As if reading the mind of the handso, purple-robed youth before her, Tang Qiu Yao spoke with a radiant smile.
"I will."
Ling Changqing nodded again. ’This aligns with my own interests,’ he thought. ’Following Ling Qiyue is far better than following an outsider, in any case.’
"Well then, let’s go now!"
The stunningly beautiful woman rose with an elegant grace, her slender waist swaying as she led Ling Changqing out.
「Half an hour later, in the Patriarch’s Embroidery Tower.」
To the pleasant tinkling of jade pendants, the beaded curtain was parted, and a woman of subli grace and gentle bearing walked in.
Ling Changqing and Tang Qiu Yao rose in unison to greet her.
"There’s no need for formalities. Please, sit."
Ling Qiyue said gently, her striking, clear eyes studying Ling Changqing for several monts before she nodded in satisfaction.
"...My Junior Sister has already told about you. There’s no ti like the present, so shall we go take a look at the Deep Sea Region today?"
Ling Qiyue didn’t beat around the bush, getting straight to the point.
In private, she and Tang Qiu Yao addressed each other as Senior and Junior Sister, revealing their relationship was not as simple as outsiders believed.
Ling Changqing hesitated. "I have no objections, but doesn’t the clan’s main branch need soone powerful to stand guard?"
As the one in charge of the clan, Ling Qiyue obviously couldn’t leave Zenxin Island at will, lest sothing important happen and she be unable to respond in ti.
Tang Qiu Yao smiled. "Don’t worry about that. The three Foundation Establishnt Elders are all here, and we won’t be gone for long. It won’t be an issue!"
Only the three of them knew of this matter. Since no one else had been inford in advance, there was no possibility of the secret being leaked.
"Very well. I await the Patriarch’s command on this matter."
Ling Changqing said no more. With Ling Qiyue’s intelligence, she had surely arranged everything perfectly.
Ling Qiyue returned to her chamber and changed into a snow-white combat outfit. Her flawless, snowy skin looked exquisitely delicate, and the outfit left nothing of her enchanting, fiery curves to the imagination.
The three of them left the Embroidery Tower, boarding Tang Qiu Yao’s Flying Ship and heading out to sea.
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