The post-battle eting was brief.
Once the important matters were settled, Ling Qiyue gave the order to dispatch half of the Foundation Establishnt Cultivators, along with several hundred family disciples from the Qi Cultivation Stage, to imdiately set off with her for Longhuan Island.
The goal was to completely eradicate the Wu Family’s foundation and take over their holdings intact.
This haste was, of course, to prevent a desperate Wu Canglang from destroying Longhuan Island’s Second Grade Spirit Vein and other important assets, leaving a ss for the Ling Family to clean up.
Although a Second Grade Spirit Vein was not so easily destroyed, in Ling Qiyue’s eyes, Longhuan Island was already her family’s territory. She obviously couldn’t allow outsiders to cause any more trouble.
On the plaza outside, so twenty-odd Flying Ships stood ready for departure.
The main elite force would be riding Ling Qiyue’s personal vessel, a Flying Ship of the Top Grade Spiritual Artifact Level, with enough internal space to accommodate several hundred Cultivators.
"...Senior Sister, please let go with you this ti?"
On the foredeck of the Flying Ship, Ling Changqing ignored Tang Qiu Yao’s protests and spoke to Ling Qiyue.
Ling Qiyue pondered for a mont before finally nodding. "Alright. It’s not a bad idea for you to co along and see for yourself, but you are not to leave my side."
’She was thinking that with Ling Changqing’s extraordinary Luck and Fortune, his presence during the takeover of Longhuan Island might reduce the chances of any mishaps.’
"Alright."
Ling Changqing agreed. ’The Wu Family has hardly any strength left,’ he thought. ’My safety won’t be a major concern.’
Ling Qiyue nodded. "Junior Sister, hold down the fort. I’ll be back as soon as I’ve handled things over there."
Tang Qiu Yao agreed. She and the few remaining Foundation Establishnt Elders would stay behind to guard Zenxin Island. After all, the family’s foundational territory could not afford any mishaps.
A mont later, the twenty-odd Flying Ships, shimring with Spiritual Light, rose into the air one after another. They turned in unison in mid-air and accelerated toward the outer sea, leaving glowing trails in their wake.
The force heading to take over Longhuan Island this ti included not only Cultivators but also a large number of Daoist Soldier Puppets and an army of ordinary mortals. The latter were mainly responsible for maintaining order and control in the mortal cities.
Inside the Flying Ship.
Ling Qiyue, a cold and enchanting beauty with skin like ice and bones of jade, strolled unhurriedly down the long corridor. Dressed in a snow-white Magical Robe, she carried herself with an elegant, swaying grace.
Ling Changqing followed behind, silently admiring the beauty’s exquisitely graceful and voluptuous figure. The gentle sway of her full, pert backside created a series of captivating curves. Her faint, alluring fragrance drifted back to him, and he felt a deep sense of pleasure in both body and soul.
The Flying Ship’s interior was about the size of the Sea Boat Ling Changqing had once traveled on, large enough that every Cultivator at the Middle stage Qi Cultivation could have their own private room.
Seemingly oblivious to the ardent gaze of the young man behind her, Ling Qiyue walked to her private chambers, deactivated the Restriction, and pushed the door open.
The furnishings inside were luxurious and exquisite, and a faint, sweet fragrance filled the air. The accommodations were just as fine as any on land.
"Have a seat. The accommodations are a bit simple, I’m afraid. Not like back at the family headquarters."
Now that they were alone, Ling Qiyue’s imperious aura subsided a great deal. A faint blush colored her flawless, jade-like face as she spoke to him in a soft, gentle voice.
Then, with a graceful hand, she lifted the Azure Jade Tea Pot from the table and poured Ling Changqing a cup of Spirit Tea.
Ling Changqing accepted the cup and took a light sip. A fragrant aroma filled his mouth, and his mind felt instantly refreshed.
"Senior Sister..."
Ling Changqing hesitated for a mont, but he couldn’t resist asking, "Just what level has your Cultivation Realm reached now?"
"What do you think?"
Ling Qiyue’s dark brows furrowed slightly, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
"Alright, forget I asked."
Ling Changqing understood he wouldn’t get an answer from her, so he decided to drop it.
’He still found it hard to believe that Ling Qiyue possessed so special technique to temporarily raise her Cultivation Realm. It was more likely that she was already a bona fide Golden Core Master.’
’The reason she hadn’t admitted it publicly was likely to buy the Ling Family a sufficient buffer period, allowing more Foundation Establishnt Cultivators to erge within the family.’
’Otherwise, the nurous smaller powers in the Feiyu Sea Region would panic. In their desperation, they might just band together for mutual protection and unite against the Ling Family ahead of schedule.’
’Even without a Golden Core Master of their own, if they were willing to pay a steep enough price, they could still potentially bring in a few experts at the True Pill Level as outside help. They might even attract the intervention of major powers from beyond the region, which would ruin the Ling Family’s long-term plan to unify the Feiyu Sea Region.’
’From that perspective, Ling Qiyue’s current actions made perfect sense.’
"Junior Brother, do you think our Ling Family will be able to hold on to our new holdings on Longhuan Island in the future?"
Ling Qiyue changed the subject.
Ling Changqing thought for a mont before replying, "Holding Longhuan Island and its surrounding vassal islands shouldn’t be a problem. The sa goes for the territories of the other small powers."
"But if we want to continue expanding, our family’s current number of Cultivators won’t be enough. I’m referring to the manpower needed to garrison and govern the new territories."
Ling Qiyue nodded lightly. "That’s true. My plan is to pause our expansion after we’ve taken down the Wu Family and those other small powers. We’ll first focus on consolidating and integrating the territories we’ve already won."
"That would be for the best."
Ling Changqing said in agreent.
Since Ling Qiyue took the reins as Patriarch, the number of Qi Refining Stage Cultivators in the Ling Family had increased significantly, now reaching nearly double that of the Wu Family.
As the number of Cultivators grew, so too did the demand for Spirit Veins and Cave Mansion Blessed Lands. It had reached the point where, in another ten or twenty years, the Spiritual Qi Resources on Zenxin Island might no longer be sufficient.
Therefore, from the Ling Family’s perspective, expansion was a strategic imperative.
However, a larger territory required a proportional number of Cultivators to manage it and maintain order. These individuals also needed to be completely loyal to the family; outsiders were certainly not to be trusted.
The combined area of the Wu Family’s Longhuan Island and its surrounding vassal islands was roughly double that of Zenxin Island, but its mortal population was nearly three tis larger.
Furthermore, the territories of the four smaller powers—the Yang Family, the Zhu Family, the Mu Family, and the Chiyang Sect—were roughly equivalent in size and population to the Wu Family’s lands.
All told, this ant the Ling Family’s territory would increase more than fourfold in a single stroke.
To hold on to such a vast territory and govern it effectively in the long term, the Ling Family’s current number of Cultivators was barely sufficient. They couldn’t possibly manage any more.
Therefore, the Ling Family would have to make a concerted effort to train new Cultivators. Any family disciple who possessed Spirit Root Talent would have to be considered for training.
They would also have to select Immortal Seedlings with Spirit Root Talent from the vast mortal population in their territories and bring them back to the family to be trained.
...
「Longhuan Island.」
At this very mont, Patriarch Wu Canglang, who had been fortunate enough to escape with his life, had returned to his family’s headquarters.
Of the family’s elite main force that had set out for Zenxin Island, only a handful of people had managed to flee back with him.
"...Is this everyone who’s left?"
In the Council Hall, an ashen-faced Wu Canglang asked, his voice hoarse.
About a hundred people stood scattered around the hall. Most of their Cultivation was in the Early and Middle stage Qi Cultivation, with only a scant few at the Late stage Qi Cultivation.
As for Cultivators at the Foundation Establishnt Level, there was only Wu Canglang himself and a single Elder who had been left to guard the island.
A family Steward at the Qi Cultivation 6th Layer stepped forward from the crowd. With a crestfallen expression, he answered tremblingly:
"Patriarch, all the family’s surviving Cultivators... they’re, they’re all here."
The Wu Family had prospered for several hundred years, with each generation spreading its branches and leaves. Of course, the clan had more mbers than this, but the vast majority were ordinary people without Spirit Root Talent, numbering in the hundreds of thousands.
"..."
There was nothing but despair in Wu Canglang’s eyes.
Elder Tianyang had already fled. Wu Qi and Wu Xiuqing were missing. Nearly all the other Foundation Establishnt Cultivators had been killed or captured by that Ling Qiyue.
And the Protective Array at the family headquarters on Longhuan Island had no hope of withstanding a full-powered assault from a Golden Core Master.
Wu Canglang knew the Ling Family’s counterattack would co swiftly. And with the Wu Family having suffered such catastrophic losses, what could they possibly use to resist?
’Is the glory of the Wu Family, a legacy passed down for hundreds of years, truly going to end in my hands today?’ he thought.
At this thought, a chill ran down Wu Canglang’s spine, and his vision began to darken.
The Steward gritted his teeth and suggested in a low voice, "Patriarch, why don’t we just... surrender?"
"Insolent!"
Wu Canglang jolted, and a flicker of his forr sharpness returned to his eyes.
"Our Wu Family’s legacy has been passed down for generations! How can we just hand over everything we’ve built to outsiders?!"
"Then... our only choice is to gather our valuables and flee Longhuan Island with a small number of the Direct Lineage!"
The voice of Elder Wu Yuanlong, the Foundation Establishnt Cultivator who had stayed behind to guard the island, slowly echoed in the hall.
Hearing this, Wu Canglang’s expression beca grim and uncertain.
’Reason told him this was the most logical choice. It would preserve a core of the family’s bloodline, and perhaps there would be hope for their legacy to continue in the future.’
’But the thought of abandoning the legacy built over hundreds of years of painstaking effort, for which countless clan mbers had poured out their life’s blood, made Wu Canglang’s heart ache as if it were bleeding.’
"I... I have brought ruin upon my family..."
Wu Canglang’s voice choked with emotion. "So be it. We’ll do as the Elder suggests. Everyone, pack your things and prepare to leave!"
The Wu Family mbers present reacted as if they’d been granted a general amnesty, scattering in an instant.
They scrambled to gather whatever wealth and resources they could, intending to flee with their families.
When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. At this point, they could no longer concern themselves with the family’s survival.
However, in less than an hour, the Ling Family’s fleet of Flying Ships appeared on the horizon.
By this ti, the Wu Family’s Protective Array had already been shut down. So clan mbers had dismantled the Grand Array’s Array Base and core components, preparing to pack them up and take them along.
To a power at the Foundation Establishnt Level, a complete Second Grade Array was extrely valuable, so it could not be left for the Ling Family.
The outco was a foregone conclusion. When the Ling Family’s Flying Ships landed on the plaza before the Wu Family’s Council Hall, the situation was beyond saving.
These Wu Family mbers, as frightened as birds startled by a bowstring, put up almost no aningful resistance before being captured by the Ling Family’s Cultivators.
Patriarch Wu Canglang tried to flee again, but this ti, he had no Third Grade Talismans left and was personally apprehended by Ling Qiyue.
Only Elder Wu Yuanlong showed so backbone, leading a dozen or so disciples from the Qi Cultivation Stage in a desperate resistance. He ultimately fell under the combined assault of several Foundation Establishnt Cultivators.
With that, the Wu Family’s centuries-long rule over Longhuan Island ca to an end.
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