Feiyue Lake possessed a Tier Three Top-Grade Spiritual Vein, was rich in Spirit Grass, and had a hundred acres of Tier Three Spirit Fields, but the strength of the Flood Dragon hidden within it was unknown.
Cyan Bull Valley had a Tier Three Low-Grade Spiritual Vein. Its resources were scarce, but the Demon King’s strength was manageable, making the risk of a Pioneer War relatively low.
At this point in the discussion, the pros and cons of both locations were quite clear.
The forr was an aggressive choice, the latter a conservative one.
"Junior Brother Bai, what are your thoughts on this?"
Gu Xisheng turned slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"My experience is limited; I’ve never even ventured deep into Black Mountain. What opinion could I possibly have? I’m just here to listen to the insightful views of my Senior Brothers."
Bai Zichen shook his head.
’In his view, since the two Ancestors hadn’t directly specified a target for the Pioneer War, it ant they already knew what they were doing. The Tier Three Demon Kings of both Feiyue Lake and Cyan Bull Valley must be within their ability to handle.’
’After all, no matter how intense the initial fighting beca, the decisive mont would still require a Core Formation True Man to make a move.’
’Sending Foundation Establishnt Cultivators against a Tier Three Demon King would just be throwing lives away.’
’Even if they managed a costly victory, a Tier Three Demon King could flee at will; they had no way to trap it.’
’With that in mind, Feiyue Lake was the obvious choice.’
’Besides, Liang Yu, who had proposed Feiyue Lake, had shown him kindness even before he reached Foundation Establishnt. Liang Yu’s close friend, Pei Dongyong, had even gifted him a Spiritual Artifact.’
’As for the Elders from the Alchemy Hall and the Talisman Hall, Bai Zichen still couldn’t put a na to every face.’
’If the choice was truly his, was there any question?’
"In my opinion, Feiyue Lake is the better option. Cyan Bull Valley is over six thousand li from the Sect. Establishing such a long supply line would put imnse pressure on the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall."
Gu Xisheng stated his opinion, but his reasoning was highly unconventional; not a single other Elder had ntioned it.
"After we clear out the Demon Beasts and the army fights its way to Cyan Bull Valley, it doesn’t an the Spirit Lands along the route will remain empty. Other Demon Beasts will quickly move in to occupy them."
"We’ll be facing a Tier Three Demon King and dozens of Tier Two One-Horned Kui Oxen. It would be normal for the final assault to last for months. With such a massive force of Cultivators, consider the daily consumption of Spirit Rice, Talismans, and Elixirs; the repair of damaged Magical Artifacts and Array Banners; the treatnt of the wounded... Unless you assign several Foundation Establishnt Cultivators to and have them carry a large number of storage bags purely for logistics, our supply line will beco a major problem."
Gu Xisheng’s expression was grave; he had clearly considered this matter long before.
"In previous Pioneer Wars, we weren’t far from the Sect’s Main Mountain, so this issue wasn’t as pronounced. Feiyue Lake, compared to Cyan Bull Valley, is at least a thousand li closer, which will significantly reduce the logistical pressure."
"Senior Brother Gu, have you reported this matter to the Sect Leader?"
Bai Zichen was impressed. The Miscellaneous Affairs Elder seed like a smooth operator, but his insight was unexpectedly profound.
"I ntioned it long ago. The Sect Leader only said that when the ti cos, he would dispatch more forces and set up posts along the route to protect the supply teams..."
Gu Xisheng sighed. The disciples of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall were certainly as competent as any when it ca to handling affairs, but in terms of combat strength, they were nothing to boast about.
"Alright. Since everyone has their own valid points, we’ll put it to a vote among all the Elders."
Seeing the contentious atmosphere brewing between the two factions of Elders, Wei Dao struck the Jade Plate again.
Two lines of text appeared on each Elder’s Token: ’Feiyue Lake’ and ’Cyan Bull Valley’. A simple tap on one of them would register their vote.
Bai Zichen glanced at Gu Xisheng beside him. The man pressed firmly on ’Feiyue Lake’, and the other line of text vanished.
Lan Hong followed Gu Xisheng’s lead, likewise pressing ’Feiyue Lake’.
’This voting thod is anonymous, but I wonder if the Sect Leader can see each Elder’s individual choice...’
No longer hesitating, Bai Zichen pressed his index finger on ’Feiyue Lake’, making his choice.
In a matter of monts, all the Elders had cast their votes.
Wei Dao glanced at the result, his expression unchanging. "All twenty-nine present have voted. With sixteen votes to thirteen, Feiyue Lake is the choice."
While the Elders from the Law Enforcent Hall faction bead with delight and those from the Alchemy Hall and Talisman Hall looked on resentfully, Wei Dao had already sent the result via flying missive to the Core Formation Ancestor.
"A decree from Ancestor Yangg: The pioneering of Feiyue Lake is approved!"
About an incense stick’s ti later, a flying ssage talisman bearing Ancestor Yangg’s own handwriting arrived at the Ancestor Hall. It contained the Core Formation True Man’s opinion regarding the outco of the Elders’ consensus.
With the result of the Elders’ vote decided and the Core Formation Ancestor’s approval given, Sect Leader Wei Dao imdiately began to mobilize their forces.
"Issue the Pioneer Decree to all Cultivators in Black Mountain County! The target of this Pioneer War is Feiyue Lake! The seven Tier Two Spirit Lands and fourteen Tier One Spirit Lands along the route will not be claid by the Qingfeng Sect. After the war, they will be awarded based on contribution."
"All listed Cultivation Noble Families are to send twenty mbers each in the first phase. All other Cultivation Clans are to send ten mbers each. They must be led by a Foundation Establishnt Cultivator, and the more the better. Loose Cultivators are welco to register; as long as you contribute, you will be generously rewarded."
"The Law Enforcent Hall will form the first contingent for the Pioneer War. You have three months to train the disciples in Battle Array coordination."
"The Miscellaneous Affairs Hall has three years to prepare a complete list of resources required for the Pioneer War. In the anti, you are to prepare the first batch of supplies imdiately."
"Alchemy Hall, Artifact Refining Hall, and Talisman Hall: cease all current tasks. Based on the list that the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall will provide, you are to schedule all refining tasks accordingly."
"Fellow Brothers, now that our target is set, let us cast aside our prior disagreents and advance as one! Let us take Feiyue Lake and add another Tier Three Spirit Vein to our Qingfeng Sect!"
All the Elders bowed in unison.
With their various tasks assigned and a great war looming, the Elders departed with a newfound sense of urgency in their steps.
Sect Leader Wei Dao asked Bai Zichen and Lan Hong to stay behind for a mont, reassuring them to focus on their Cultivation.
As they had only recently reached Foundation Establishnt, they would not be conscripted for the initial stages of the war. This would give them enough ti to familiarize themselves with their new strength in the Foundation Establishnt Stage and to prepare their Spiritual Artifacts.
’The expedition sets out in three months. The Demon Beasts at the front are easy to deal with, just annoyingly nurous... According to Senior Brother Sect Leader, it will be at least a year before I’m assigned a mission.’
Just now in the Ancestor Hall, Wei Dao had joked that he once considered taking Bai Zichen as his disciple. But before he could make up his mind, they had beco fellow brothers of the sa generation.
Bai Zichen could only respond with humble denials.
When he first joined the Qingfeng Sect, one of Bai Zichen’s goals had been to beco a Direct Disciple of Sect Leader Wei Dao, a fact that had earned him the jealousy of Mo Changfeng.
Who could have imagined that just a few years later, Bai Zichen would be a Foundation Establishnt Elder, while Mo Changfeng was nothing but a lost soul in the wilds of Black Mountain.
’Senior Brother Peng left in a hurry; he must be off to rush the refining of a batch of Low Tier, Disposable Magical Artifacts. Since I have nothing pressing to do, I’ll head back to the Clan. It’s been so many years since I left.’
Bai Zichen mounted his Colorful Cloud Robe, passed through the Mountain Gate, and flew toward the place where he had grown up.
Besides visiting his kin, he also needed to discuss the matter of the Pioneer War with the Clan Leader, Bai Xianzhong.
’It looks exactly the sa as when I left...’
At the speed of the Colorful Cloud Robe, Bai Zichen sat contemplating his future Cultivation plans, and in the blink of an eye, he arrived at his destination.
A strange, complex emotion welled up inside him as Hanxiu Peak ca into view.
"Which senior is visiting? Please land your Magical Artifact. After you give your na, this junior will announce your arrival to the clan."
Two Bai Family Cultivators on duty saw a Flying Spiritual Artifact appear. Even if they couldn’t tell the difference between a Spiritual Artifact and a Magical Artifact, they could infer from its speed alone that the visitor’s Cultivation was impressive.
They hurried forward and called out loudly, simultaneously sending a Talisman to inform the clan of the arrival.
"Senior, you’ve co to the Bai Family. Do you have an appointnt with one of our elders...?"
In recent years, the number of Black Mountain Cultivators had surged. Loose Cultivators often appeared nearby, and so had even occupied a few of the surrounding mountain peaks.
The Bai Family could only ensure the peaks imdiately surrounding Hanxiu Peak remained unoccupied; they lacked the power to control anything further out.
One of the Bai Family Cultivators was still speaking when his clansman tugged sharply on his sleeve, making him realize sothing was amiss.
The young man who dismounted from the Flying Spiritual Artifact... how could he look so much like that legendary figure from the Clan?
"Is that... Brother Chenn?"
The older of the two Bai Family Cultivators asked tentatively. Though the clan had a portrait of him, his appearance had changed quite a bit over the years.
Bai Zichen gave a slight nod. He had a vague impression of them; there weren’t that many Bai Clan mbers to begin with.
Even when he had lived in the Clan, he was constantly in seclusion for his Cultivation and rarely interacted with his fellow clansn.
"Heavens, it really is Brother Chenn! You’re back! Should we... should we be addressing you as Foundation Establishnt Ancestor now?"
Flustered and excited, the Bai Family Cultivators scrambled out of the way, clearing the path up the mountain.
Bai Zichen started up the familiar mountain path. Even the scenery on either side was much the sa as he rembered. "We’re all clansn. There’s no need for such ceremony."
He said that, but how could the Bai Clan mbers possibly take his words at face value?
When the news of Bai Zichen’s successful Foundation Establishnt reached the Bai Family, the clansn’s first reaction was to wonder if there had been a mistake.
He had only been at the Qingfeng Sect for a few years. How could reaching Foundation Establishnt be so easy?
Every Clan Leader had endured untold hardships to beco a Foundation Establishnt Ancestor and then guard the Clan for over a century.
The intimidating power of a Foundation Establishnt Cultivator was etched into the very depths of every clansman’s soul.
It wasn’t until Clan Leader Bai Xianzhong personally ca forward to confirm the news that the Bai Clan mbers finally believed it.
The old stories about the "Qilin’s Son of the Bai Family" were dug up and discussed with feverish excitent. In the hearts of the younger generation, his status even surpassed that of the Clan Leader.
"Brother Chenn, why didn’t you let us know you were returning? We didn’t even have a chance to co out and greet you."
Bai Xianzhong, leading several Bai Family Elders, hurried to et him, intercepting him halfway up the mountain.
"Clan Leader, there’s no need to be so formal. We are all mbers of the Bai Family. I’ve only co ho for a visit."
Bai Zichen looked at the people behind Bai Xianzhong. In just a few years, new faces had appeared among the Bai Family’s Elders.
Honggu was clearly showing her age. She could have once been considered a middle-aged beauty, but now her figure had grown plump and wrinkles had appeared on her face.
Besides his uncle, Bai Jiu’an, there were two new faces among the Elders. He vaguely recalled them being Late-Stage Qi Refining clansn back in the day.
"Are there guests here as well?"
Bai Zichen noticed a group of cultivators dressed in completely different attire following behind the Bai Family mbers.
"I am Liu Anx. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Bai." The man leading them bowed. "Fellow Daoist, your heaven-sent talent is astounding. To achieve Foundation Establishnt at such a young age has already beco a celebrated tale throughout Black Mountain."
"They are from a Noble Family that recently migrated to Black Mountain," Bai Xianzhong explained from the side. "The Liu Family is famous for Artifact Refining, and Brother Liu Anx himself is a Tier Two Refiner."
The newly migrated Noble Families were not on good terms with the original Top Five Families, but they interacted with the other Cultivation Families as equals.
The Liu Family, in particular, had frequent dealings with the Ink Bamboo Bai Family. Today, Liu Anx had happened to bring a few of his junior disciples to Hanxiu Peak for a study exchange.
"So it is Fellow Daoist Liu. I have long heard of your esteed na."
Bai Zichen had indeed heard of him. He had received a Purified Water Bottle, a Magical Artifact, from him as a gift during Sect Leader Wei Dao’s hundredth birthday celebration years ago.
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