Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1255: 821: Fat Sheep and Neighbor (Part 2)

Capítulo 1255: Chapter 821: Fat Sheep and Neighbor (Part 2)

Within this group, certain creatures possess the ability to transform into spirit beasts, acting as fierce battle partners for Martial Artists, including the Red Cloud Horse, Flying Slave Eagle, Gale Grey Wolf, and Golden Feathered Fire Crow.

Others function as production-oriented mutant beasts, providing unique resources such as the bones and pelt from the Gold-devouring Rat, the precious Spiritual Amber produced by the Spiritual Amber Moth, or the exquisite silk from the Crystalized Demon Spider.

A few serve as exquisite delicacies; numerous water-based mutant beasts transferred from the lakes within the Ancient Relic Array offer rare culinary delights.

Some remain under exploration, such as the aggressive Red-tailed Sawtooth Fish, which proves challenging to domesticate. At present, multiple divisions in the Clan Hall are investigating the potential applications of this mutant beast.

In the Spirit Source Land, the arts of domesticating mutant beasts and harnessing their materials have become well-established practices over time.

Luo Feiyu leads the Beast Taming Department. He earned this position as the second individual after Yang Zhenshan to successfully tame a Gale Grey Wolf—and one that had fully matured.

While Yang Zhenshan conquered the Green Wolf King through sheer power, securing the allegiance of the entire pack, Luo Feiyu likewise overpowered a Gale Grey Wolf, acquiring a steadfast and dependable companion in the process.

“These Cloud Tiger Cubs are outstanding; with proper guidance, they could form the basis of our cavalry units down the line!”

Inside the Beast Taming Department's horse farm, Yang Zhenshan set free four Cloud Tiger Cubs and addressed Luo Feiyu.

The vision of cavalry units composed of Innate Martial Artists paired with mutant beasts has long excited Yang Zhenshan.

Regrettably, the Spirit Source Land has yet to assemble any such force.

Even though the Spirit Source Land has long possessed Red Cloud Horses suitable for riding, these steeds come with significant limitations. For starters, their speed in the air is dreadfully sluggish; during sky battles, they become easy targets. Moreover, their stamina is lacking, managing only about two hours of flight, rendering them unfit as true aerial mounts.

The Red Cloud Horses started as mere regular equines, and despite countless generations of selective breeding to elevate them to mutant beast status, their inherent capabilities stay limited.

To cultivate Second-Order mutant beast lineages from them would demand no less than a millennium of dedicated breeding efforts.

On the other hand, Cloud Tiger Cubs make ideal mounts for Innate Martial Artists. Upon reaching maturity, these cubs can attain the Middle Stage of Qi Refining, and through targeted training, push to the Late Stage of Qi Refining. With decades of meticulous care, they hold the potential to evolve into Second-Order mutant beasts.

Hence, out of all these mutant beasts, Yang Zhenshan places the highest regard on the Cloud Tiger Cubs.

Regarding the Illusion Moon Fox and Heavenly Turtle Beast, they too qualify merely as First-Order mutant beasts; advancing them to Second-Order demands considerable effort.

The presence of Second-Order versions of these in the Illusion Moon Sect and Wuxiang Sect stems from the two great Sects investing centuries into their development.

“Got it, Family Head. We'll raise them with utmost care!” Luo Feiyu responded, grinning as he stroked the mane of one Cloud Tiger Cub.

Cloud Tiger Cubs appear quite intimidating in looks, yet they are inherently docile mutant beasts. Unless stirred to anger, they stay remarkably calm and composed.

“Indeed, the Spirit Fish and Mystic Turtle require diligent breeding as well. Our daily meals featuring fish will hinge on those Spirit Fish and Mystic Turtles!” Yang Zhenshan chuckled.

The White River Spirit Fish and Nine Patterned Xuan Turtle rank among gourmet treasures; Yang Zhenshan harbors high hopes for their cultivation.

As soon as they thrive and multiply freely across the Spirit Source Land, Yang Zhenshan plans to indulge in their delectable tastes.

“Haha, I'll oversee the Spirit Fish and Mystic Turtles myself!” Luo Feiyu laughed.

Yang Zhenshan clapped his shoulder, “Then these spirit beasts are in your hands!”

Departing from the horse farm, Yang Zhenshan made his way back to the cave dwelling situated in Lotus Heart Valley.

Upon arrival, he found an unexpected visitor occupying his cave dwelling.

An elderly figure with flowing silver-white hair, clad in a gray-white robe adorned with feathers, radiating an air of ethereal grace.

Yu Qingyi was hosting the elder, and their discussion appeared warm and engaging.

“Who is this distinguished guest?” Yang Zhenshan asked.

“Master, this is our neighbor, Immortal Master Yao Fu.” Yu Qingyi explained as she noticed Yang Zhenshan's return.

Neighbor!

Yang Zhenshan clasped his hands respectfully, “I am Yang Zhenshan, pleased to meet Senior Yao!”

“Haha, greetings, Yang. It's a pleasure. I dropped by without invitation—please pardon the intrusion!” Yao Fu replied.

Following a exchange of courtesies, the pair took seats, with Yu Qingyi pouring fresh tea for Yao Fu.

Yang Zhenshan quickly engaged in conversation with Yao Fu, who steered clear of weighty topics, opting instead for casual talk that stretched beyond two hours before he departed, as if it were simply a neighborly call.

“Odd, this fellow seems intent on building rapport!” Yang Zhenshan remarked, bemused, as he bid him farewell.

“Mmm, he comes across as rather deferential! What's his level of cultivation?” Yu Qingyi inquired.

Yang Zhenshan answered, “Qi Refining Eighth Layer.”

“Qi Refining Eighth Layer—that's no minor achievement in this Lotus Heart Valley,” Yu Qingyi observed.

Lotus Heart Valley teems with Immortal Cultivators, but existence here proves far from straightforward.

Those at the Early Stage of Qi Refining, lacking powerful support, fare no better than mortals in Lotus Heart Valley, toiling in stores or handling odd jobs—essentially functioning as common workers.

Not every Immortal Cultivator enjoys a personal cave dwelling; the lowest ranks reside beyond the valley's borders, in makeshift settlements devoid of protective arrays, where the spiritual energy pales in comparison to the valley's interior.

For them, dwelling outside counts as a blessing, since they can still draw faint traces of spiritual energy from Lotus Heart Valley's spirit vein.

Within Lotus Heart Valley, reaching the Middle Stage of Qi Refining grants a tolerable existence at best, while Late-stage Qi Refining earns a modicum of respect.

Naturally, individuals with specialized talents stand apart.

The Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation ensure that mastery of any specialty affords a comfortable life in Lotus Heart Valley.

Yet acquiring such expertise proves arduous; pursuits like Pill Refining, Artifact Forging, talismans, and arrays demand even greater challenges, often requiring substantial aid from familial or Sect backgrounds—out of reach for typical commoners.

When Yang Zhenshan pursued alchemy studies, the squandered materials alone drained thousands of spirit stones, and during his attempts at Jade Marrow Pill, over ten thousand spirit stones vanished before he succeeded.

Such lavish costs lie beyond the grasp of independent Loose Cultivators.

Beyond the financial burden, access to proper lineages is essential.

For average Loose Cultivators, securing any inheritance from the Immortal Hundred Arts borders on impossible; even the basic legacy of a Spirit Plant Farmer eludes most.

As a result, countless Early Stage Qi Refining cultivators resort to lowly tasks, scarcely distinguishing themselves from everyday people.

A cultivator like Yao Fu at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer shouldn't need to humble himself so much in extending friendship; he remains unaware of Yang Zhenshan's Foundation Establishment Stage prowess.

…

In the days that followed, Yao Fu made frequent visits, not just to partake in spiritual tea without cost, but often arriving with modest offerings like portions of spiritual tea, quantities of spiritual wine, or cuts of mutant beast meat.

Though simple, these presents carried no annoyance.

Yao Fu had called Lotus Heart Valley home for almost a hundred years, possessing intimate knowledge of the valley's inner workings.

Yang Zhenshan welcomed these discussions, as they allowed him to delve deeper into the realities of Lotus Heart Valley and the Qingli Dynasty.

It wasn't until the new year had passed that Yao Fu introduced his grandson during a visit to Yang Zhenshan, revealing the true intent behind his overtures.

The Yao family qualifies as an Immortal Cultivation Family; as Yao Fu recounted, his own grandfather was an Immortal Cultivator who attained the sixth layer and acquired a partial talisman inheritance, establishing him as a decent First-Order Talisman Master.

Thanks to that ancestral stroke of fortune, the Yao family rose to become an Immortal Cultivation Family.

Nevertheless, the Yao lineage remains modest, enduring for more than two centuries and yielding just six Immortal Cultivators in total, with only Yao Fu and his grandson Yao Cheng still alive today.

Consequently, the Yao family now counts solely Yao Fu and Yao Cheng among its Immortal Cultivators.

Still, the family boasts dozens of members without awakened spiritual apertures, some dwelling in the secular realm, others scraping by in Lotus Heart Valley, just barely clinging to their status as an Immortal Cultivation Family inside the valley.

Yao Fu extends his friendliness not only to Yang Zhenshan but to numerous neighbors and minor families throughout Lotus Heart Valley.

All he desires is that, upon his life's end, others might offer some protection to his grandson, enabling Yao Cheng and the Yao family to persist in Lotus Heart Valley.

This reflects the poignant desperation and melancholy of an aging cultivator.

Yang Zhenshan grasps Yao Fu's plight fully; his grandson Yao Cheng possesses only Third Layer Qi Refining cultivation, and without guidance ahead, surviving in Lotus Heart Valley would prove exceedingly harsh.