Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1265 - 825: Divine Soul Technique (3)

Only through locating a specific node and capitalizing on the instant when the Great Array's internal mechanisms falter can an individual be dispatched inside it.

This starkly illustrates the formidable caliber of this Great Array.

Far from feeling let down by this, Yang Zhenshan was instead quite pleased with the Clan Hall's current performance.

Putting the Clan Hall's report to one side, Yang Zhenshan then turned to the document from the Secret Martial Guards.

Over the past few years, the Secret Martial Guards have grown swiftly, boosting their Hidden Guards from three hundred to eight hundred strong, while their shadows now number more than ten thousand, extending throughout the entire Sea of Spirit and its neighboring regions.

Hidden Guards of the Secret Martial Guards are active in the western Three Dynasties, the southern Wanlin Mountain Range, and the eastern domains controlled by the Nether Prison Sect.

Even though the intel they've collected stays mostly superficial, it's sufficient for Yang Zhenshan to grasp the actions of the major powers.

Yang Zhenshan glanced at the report on the Lian family, observing that their patriarch hasn't shown up in over two years, leaving it unclear whether he's deceased.

The Lian family nowadays acts far more cautiously than in the past; nearly all direct descendants stick to Lian family town and seldom venture out, with the branch family members also toning down their behavior significantly.

Numerous parties have cast their ambitions toward the Lian family.

It's not just Yang Zhenshan who seeks to supplant the Lian family to claim a spot among the Twelve Families; plenty of veteran clans in the Sea of Spirit aim to seize this chance for elevation.

Within the Lian family itself, they're undoubtedly striving to nurture the next Martial God, yet it's evident their efforts have fallen short.

To this day, no fresh Martial God has arisen from the Lian family, underscoring their repeated setbacks.

Yang Zhenshan examined the intel provided by the Secret Martial Guards, thoughtfully running his fingers through his beard.

From the data amassed by the Secret Martial Guards, three clans are currently vying for the Lian family's slot.

The Luo family of Anhu City, a longstanding Martial Arts lineage that rose through Mutant Beast hunting, boasts solid strength and roots; still, their glaring weakness is the absence of a Martial God.

The Chen family tied to the Wuxiang Sect can be seen as an in-house clan of the Sect, possessing a Martial God and broad ties inside the Wuxiang Sect. Should they choose to detach, they could readily join the ranks of the Twelve Families.

That said, voices within the Wuxiang Sect would probably resist; a clan seeking independence isn't welcome news for the Sect. Even if the clan pledges ongoing loyalty post-separation, securing the Sect's approval remains challenging.

The third contender is the Ming family from Green Jade City, a dependent clan of the Xuanqing Sect, though such affiliates receive little regard from the Xuanqing Sect itself.

For the Ming family to contend for Family status, they would require backing from the Xuanqing Sect.

It's simply unclear to what extent the Xuanqing Sect might back them.

All three clans possess their own strengths, so what edges does the Yang family hold?

Yang Zhenshan aims to claim a place among the Families; he can't rely on the Spirit Origin Yang family's identity but must proceed as the Lingxi Yang family, akin to a covert entry.

Regarding foundations, the Lingxi Yang family inevitably falls short, and Yang Zhenshan can't pull in excessive resources from the Spirit Source Land.

Exposing the Spirit Source Land's might would surely draw wariness from the Three Sects toward him.

Therefore, he's limited to deploying the Lingxi Yang family's resources and the figures who've already stepped forward, namely Yang Minghao and Ding Qiu.

On the strength front, Yang Zhenshan has attained Foundation Establishment as a Cultivator, making him eligible to vie for a Family seat, though his Immortal Cultivator background could spell either benefit or hindrance.

Immortal Cultivators are undoubtedly esteemed above Martial Cultivators, but the Three Sects of the Sea of Spirit have long regarded Immortal Cultivators warily, particularly outsiders like Yang Zhenshan unaffiliated with the Three Sects; they could turn antagonistic.

Hence, his Immortal Cultivator standing might prove a boon or a bane.

Yang Zhenshan pondered the circumstances deeply, deeming it a pursuit worth the effort yet without overreaching hopes.

Victory would delight, but defeat needn't be pursued relentlessly.

After deliberation, he resolved to pursue the route via the Illusion Moon Sect first, testing their willingness to endorse a nascent Family.

Should the Illusion Moon Sect decline, there's no point in further investment.

Subsequently, he composed a letter and passed it to Li Chang, instructing him to convey it to Lu Fusheng.

To navigate the Illusion Moon Sect's path, the mediation of Lu Fusheng as intermediary was essential.

Lacking Lu Fusheng, forging links with the Three Sects would elude Yang Zhenshan.