Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1252 - 820: Yunxiao Mountain Range Power Distribution
Previously on Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather...
Having spent nearly the entire day exploring the area, Yang Zhenshan along with Yu Qingyi headed back to their rented cave residence. Without delay, Yang Zhenshan retrieved the map and scrutinized it intently.
"So this is where the Hidden Sword Mountain is!"
A hint of astonishment crossed Yang Zhenshan's face as he examined the spot marking Hidden Sword Mountain.
Situated just to the east of Snow Valley Town, Hidden Sword Mountain lay a mere five hundred miles distant, nestled profoundly inside the Yunxiao Mountain Range, though kept apart from Lingxiu’s domain by a notable gap.
Shockingly, the Nether Prison Sect stood more than three thousand miles from the Sea of Spirit, implying that the Nether Prison Sect was venturing far to reach the Sea of Spirit, leaving the Sea of Spirit to merely defend its own borders.
Clearly, the Nether Prison Sect's might overshadowed that of the Lingxiu Three Sects, and even adding Hidden Sword Mountain to the mix, they couldn't rival the Nether Prison Sect's power.
"The Sea of Spirit, Nether Prison Sect, and Qingli Dynasty form the core powers revolving around the Yunxiao Mountain Range, while White Cloud Immortal City occupies the eastern flank of the Yunxiao Mountain Range."
"Although White Cloud Immortal City isn't right on the edge of the Yunxiao Mountain Range, its proximity qualifies it as a power within the Yunxiao Mountain Range!"
As Yang Zhenshan delved into the Jade Scroll's details, he sketched roughly on paper, quickly forming an approximate map of the Yunxiao Mountain Range on the sheet.
"White Cloud Immortal City is protected by the Golden Core Ancestor known as White Cloud True Monarch; deep inside the Yunxiao Mountain Range dwell three Demon Kings; the Sea of Spirit boasts three Martial Immortals, but the Nether Prison Sect astonishingly commands four Martial Immortals!"
"Viewed this way, the Qingli Dynasty seems the frailest, yet as an alliance of Cultivation Families, it's no easy task to subjugate such a force in this region!"
Yang Zhenshan pondered deeply.
Gazing at the map he'd outlined, Yu Qingyi paused briefly before suggesting, "Maybe we should aim to grow our influence on the Qingli Dynasty's territory!"
"I’ve seen that interactions with the Sea of Spirit are scarce here; it looks like there's tension between the Immortal Cultivation Forces and the Martial Artists' groups!"
While Lotus Heart Valley welcomes Martial Artists from the Sea of Spirit without issue, the Sea of Spirit appears to deliberately suppress news about the Qingli Dynasty and Lotus Heart Valley.
Yang Zhenshan gave a slight nod, "It's straightforward to figure out—this stems from the Lingxiu Three Sects' desire to prevent their affiliates from linking up with Immortal Cultivation Forces, so they intentionally withhold information on Immortal Cultivators!"
The motives behind the Lingxiu Three Sects' actions aren't hard to grasp.
For one, the Lingxiu Three Sects have long concealed details about Hidden Sword Mountain, unwilling to let it interfere in Sea of Spirit matters.
Additionally, the Lingxiu Three Sects focus on nurturing their own Immortal Cultivators while suppressing any rise of such talents in their vassal groups; take the Twelve Families, for example—none have yielded a prominent Immortal Cultivator in a millennium, highlighting the problem plainly.
Lastly, the Lingxiu Three Sects remain cautious of rival Immortal Cultivation Forces; though Martial Artists can sometimes stand against Immortal Cultivators, they often falter helplessly before them.
As a result, the Lingxiu Three Sects harbor intense wariness toward every Immortal Cultivation Force, rejecting any intrusion by outside ones into the Sea of Spirit and dreading the birth of such powers within it.
Yu Qingyi nodded faintly, "The Qingli Dynasty hosts six Cultivation Families, and these six aren't likely bound in perfect harmony; we might seize an opening amidst them!"
Yang Zhenshan shook his head gently, "That's tough. To them, we're complete strangers. If we aim to plant roots here, we'll need the might to challenge all comers!"
This stands as the biggest hurdle.
Forces throng every corner, and even absent foreign meddling, they'd clash ceaselessly over their stakes.
As newcomers seeking a base and vying with entrenched locals for gains, Yang Zhenshan would surely plunge into fierce battles.
Such is the case in both the Sea of Spirit and the Qingli Dynasty.
Power forms the bedrock of all, and at present, the Spirit Source Land lacks the dominance to rule over everything.
That's the reason Yang Zhenshan feels so bound.
"Looks like venturing into danger is unavoidable!" Yang Zhenshan stated steadily.
"What do you intend to do?" Yu Qingyi inquired.
Yang Zhenshan answered, "We understand the Sea of Spirit far better than the Qingli Dynasty, and an opening exists there right now."
"You mean the Lian family?" Yu Qingyi questioned.
"Exactly, the Lian family patriarch is probably approaching his final days!" Yang Zhenshan affirmed with a nod.
The Lian family patriarch once had almost twenty years left to live, but following the chaos wrought by Yang Zhenshan and the Green Wolf King in the Lian family town during their last raid, his life force is now all but spent, with perhaps only one or two years remaining.
"The Lian family aligns closely with the Wuxiang Sect, and we hold no ties in the Wuxiang Sect," Yu Qingyi observed.
Yang Zhenshan nodded subtly, agreeing with Yu Qingyi's observation.
To join the ranks of the Twelve Families in the Sea of Spirit, forging strong bonds with the Lingxiu Three Sects is essential.
The Lu family, for instance, enjoys backing from the Illusion Moon Sect.
"Everything hinges on whether the Illusion Moon Sect seeks to grow its influence!"
In the past, Xuanqing Sect led the Lingxiu Three Sects, followed by Wuxiang Sect, with Illusion Moon Sect trailing in third place.
But circumstances have shifted. During the clash against the Nether Prison Sect, the Wuxiang Sect bore the heaviest blows, even sacrificing three Martial God-level powerhouses, whereas the Illusion Moon Sect, despite some harm, suffered light casualties without losing a single Martial God.
Consequently, the Illusion Moon Sect's prowess now eclipses the Wuxiang Sect's.
And crucially, the Lingxiu Three Sects have ended their war with the Nether Prison Sect. Had the conflict persisted, the Illusion Moon Sect would never challenge the Wuxiang Sect at this juncture.
With no outer dangers looming, strife among the factions within the Sea of Spirit becomes inescapable.
"This is like bargaining with a fierce tiger!" Yu Qingyi cautioned.