Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1371 - 876: Illusion Moon Sect Leadership (Part 2)

Yang Chengye gave a nod and declared, "Grandson will dispatch people to watch over the Qingli Dynasty!"

...

News of the chaos unfolding in the Qingli Dynasty rapidly reached the Sea of Spirit, with countless loose cultivators from Qingli fleeing there and sparking major turmoil.

Tension gripped the Three Sects of the Sea of Spirit due to the dire circumstances in the Qingli Dynasty.

That day, Yang Zhenshan got a summons from the Illusion Moon Sect and made his way to the Mirror Abyss Pavilion beside Illusion Moon Lake.

Almost every top figure of the Illusion Moon Sect had gathered in the first-floor hall of the Mirror Abyss Pavilion.

Sect Master Yue Qing was there, along with Golden Body Realm Elders like Yue Su, Yue Ming, Yue Zhuo, Yue Yin, and Yue Chu. A Foundation Establishment Elder named Liu Yue was present too, and Yang Zhenshan served as the Guest Elder.

Master Jing Shui remained in deep hibernation, so she couldn’t join this elite assembly.

"Greetings to Sect Master and all Elders!" Yang Zhenshan clasped his hands in salute to the group.

"Greetings, Master Yang!" Various Elders stood up to return the courtesy.

Yang Zhenshan now commanded great respect within the Illusion Moon Sect. Though he wielded no official authority, his standing surpassed even Sect Master Yue Qing’s, trailing only Supreme Elder Yue E and the slumbering Master Jing Shui.

"Master Yang, please have a seat for now—the Supreme Elder will arrive shortly!" Yue Qing offered a cordial smile.

Yang Zhenshan inclined his head faintly before settling into a chair beneath Yue Qing.

He had a solid hunch about why the Illusion Moon Sect called him here today—it surely tied to the turmoil in the Qingli Dynasty.

"Master Yang, this junior has lately been delving into talisman crafting. Could you offer some guidance?" Liu Yue, seldom crossing paths with Yang Zhenshan, eagerly sought his counsel right away.

"Oh!" A flicker of surprise crossed Yang Zhenshan’s face. He recalled that Liu Yue had never touched the hundred arts of immortality cultivation before. Remarkably young at under eighty, she had already achieved Foundation Establishment.

Before, she poured every ounce of effort into cultivation alone, ignoring the hundred arts.

Yet picking up talisman making now proved wise—the hundred arts didn’t obstruct progress in cultivation. Talisman work sharpened mana control and fostered a meticulous mind, while alchemy bolstered the divine soul and spiritual sense immensely.

"Show me the talisman you’ve made!" Yang Zhenshan readily agreed to instruct Liu Yue.

To him, she counted as half a disciple, their bond of protection akin to a mentor and student.

Liu Yue presented her crafted talisman, and after a quick look, Yang Zhenshan provided straightforward advice.

Her skills in talisman making were plainly at the beginner stage, far from proficient, but as a Second-Order Talisman Master, guiding her came effortlessly to him.

No sooner had he wrapped up with Liu Yue than Yue Ming stepped forward. "Master Yang, I’ve collected three additional sets of materials for the Illusion God Pill. Are you available to refine them?"

"Certainly, hand over the ingredients!" Yang Zhenshan answered with a grin.

Producing the Illusion God Pill had become a breeze for him lately; three batches would barely take days. Assisting Yue Ming like this netted him roughly ten Illusion God Pills in return.

He welcomed such deals heartily.

"Many thanks, Master Yang!" Yue Ming laughed heartily.

At that moment, Supreme Elder Yue E entered, causing all to stand and pay respects.

Yue E gave a cool nod of recognition before the assembly resumed their seats.

"Master Yang, are you aware of the situation in the Qingli Dynasty?" Yue E questioned right after sitting, her gaze fixed on Yang Zhenshan.

"I’ve heard of it," Yang Zhenshan responded.

"What do you make of it?" Yue E pressed.

Yang Zhenshan caressed his beard pensively for a beat before stating, "The Yin Ghost Department’s assault on Qingli’s six families demands our action—we can’t stand by."

"Oh? And why is that?" Yue E’s features twitched subtly, urging more details.

"The Supreme Elder surely grasps the ‘lips and teeth’ bond. Though the vast Yunxiao Mountain Range divides us from Qingli Dynasty, it’s clear: should the Yin Ghost Department seize Qingli, the Sea of Spirit stands as their prime next conquest."

"It's preferable to seize the initiative and shift the battlefield to the Qingli Dynasty rather than waiting idly for our destruction—this will cut down our losses!"

Yang Zhenshan voiced his view.

"Yet, what if the Yin Ghost Department exploits our troop movements to strike at the Sea of Spirit?" Yue E raised her worry as well.

Her apprehension was entirely justified.

At present, Zhang Mo stays concealed, with no faction aware of his Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool's location, making it impossible to pursue him actively.

Their own factions stand exposed, leaving them vulnerable to Zhang Mo's sudden assaults at any moment.

Deploying excessive forces to the Qingli Dynasty could invite Zhang Mo to ravage their home ground, much like the fate that befell the Qingli Lin Family.

On the flip side, sending too few troops would barely sway the tide in the Qingli Dynasty.

"That's why we must gather more allies—the Nether Prison Sect, Hidden Sword Mountain, and even the Yun Que Clan plus White Cloud Immortal City could join us; they certainly don't wish for Qingli Dynasty's collapse!" Yang Zhenshan declared.

Yue E fell silent in thought; as a Divine Soul Realm Martial Artist, Foundation Establishment Cultivators offered her some danger, though hardly a major one.

Divine Soul Realm Martial Artists match up to Golden Core Cultivators—feeble against actual Golden Core experts, yet vastly superior to those at Foundation Establishment.

Three Divine Soul Realm Martial Artists protect the Sea of Spirit; Zhang Mo might not threaten them head-on, but his sneaky maneuvers would prove hard to counter.

Recall the Mo Xuanyu incident: without Yang Zhenshan unmasking his plot, the Sea of Spirit might still be locked in brutal combat with the Nether Prison Sect even now.

Eliminating the Yin Ghost Department's menace is crucial for the Three Sects of the Sea of Spirit to gain true peace of mind.

"Allying with the Nether Prison Sect is straightforward, but teaming up with Hidden Sword Mountain could prove challenging!" Yue E noted thoughtfully.

Yang Zhenshan shook his head faintly. "I think the Three Sects of the Sea of Spirit ought to ally with Hidden Sword Mountain and mend old ties!"

"Why is that?" Yue E questioned, confused.

After a moment's reflection, Yang Zhenshan replied, "Hidden Sword Mountain and the Three Sects of the Sea of Spirit are deeply connected—no reason to clash; sure, interests collide sometimes, but plenty of room exists for joint efforts!"

"Supreme Elder, without Lotus Heart Valley in Qingli Dynasty anymore, should we set up a new Immortal Cultivator workshop right here in the Sea of Spirit?"

"Led by Hidden Sword Mountain and backed by our Three Major Sects, a Sea of Spirit Immortal Cultivator workshop would swiftly outshine Lotus Heart Valley!"

"Plus, we've got the ideal spot—Anhu City is prime for launching an Immortal Cultivator workshop!"

He had long viewed the rift between Hidden Sword Mountain and the Three Sects of the Sea of Spirit as utterly senseless.

Hidden Sword Mountain craves supremacy over the Three Sects, who in turn strive to escape that dominance—such strife achieves nothing.

True power and shared gains are what matter most.

An Immortal Cultivator workshop promises vast rewards, ample to please both Hidden Sword Mountain and the Three Sects of the Sea of Spirit.

Regarding power, the stronger side calls the shots.

Lacking Golden Core Cultivators, Hidden Sword Mountain has no business lording over the Three Sects of the Sea of Spirit—that's the harsh reality.

"An Immortal Cultivator workshop!"

Yue E mulled it over, joined by Yue Qing and the rest.

As martial artists, they eyed Immortal Cultivators with suspicion, yet depended on them heavily for key tasks.

Consider alchemy: why else does Yang Zhenshan enjoy VIP status at the Illusion Moon Sect and earn deference from its leaders, if not for his skill in brewing elixirs beyond martial artists' reach?

The Three Sects of the Sea of Spirit may stay vigilant toward Immortal Cultivators, but cutting off all ties isn't feasible.

What's more, Yue E wondered if the Illusion Moon Sect had truly thrived since breaking from Hidden Sword Mountain.

By her reckoning, over three centuries had passed since the Illusion Moon Sect's independence from Hidden Sword Mountain, but rather than flourishing, it had steadily withered away.

In times past, the Illusion Moon Sect possessed far more Golden Body Realm Martial Artists than it does today; half a millennium ago, the sect proudly held two Divine Soul Realm Martial Artists and eight Golden Body Realm Martial Artists.

The Xuanqing Sect stood even mightier, boasting three Divine Soul Realm Martial Artists and twelve Golden Body Realm Elders.

Evidently, the Three Sects of the Sea of Spirit have steadily declined after breaking away from Hidden Sword Mountain.

Regarding the Immortal Cultivator workshop suggested by Yang Zhenshan, she found it quite fascinating; if the Illusion Moon Sect joined such an Immortal Cultivator workshop, the rewards it reaped would surely prove immense.