Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1376 - 878: Guiding Humans and Ghosts Is the Same (Part 3)
Previously on Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather...
Indifferently, Xuanzhen declared, "The path I cultivate is the same for guiding both humans and ghosts!"
"..."
Yang Zhenshan stood utterly speechless.
Guiding humans and ghosts follows the identical path, implying it's perfectly acceptable to guide someone once they've turned into a ghost!
"We'll just have to wait and observe. If the Three Sects of Lingshou refuse to emerge, I won't waste my effort interfering!"
Xuanzhen's words rang true. Even should the Three Sects of Lingshou fall, the Spirit Origin would barely suffer any real damage. It might simply withdraw temporarily and resurface after Zhang Mo departs.
While this could hinder the Spirit Origin's progress, against a powerful foe like Zhang Mo, Yang Zhenshan appeared to lack better options.
Unable to confront? Then retreat. After the crisis fades, rise once more to expand. By that point, this realm could grow even vaster.
The Hidden Sword Mountain refuses alliance with the Three Sects of Lingshou, while the Three Sects of Lingshou avoid entanglement in Qingli Dynasty matters. Thus, Qingli's six families now seem more forsaken and isolated than ever.
Yet Lin Qihe hasn't returned from White Cloud Immortal City, and Zhang Mo awaits their reply as well. This leaves the Qingli Dynasty, freshly ravaged by calamity, in an oddly tranquil phase.
Time passed day by day, until three months afterward, when an enormous Flying Boat soared in from the east and touched down in Lotus Heart Valley.
...
Deep within Cangya Gorge.
Zhang Mo's expression turned rather somber.
Ultimately, White Cloud Immortal City had chosen to intervene, defying his predictions.
By his reckoning, White Cloud Immortal City ought not interfere in Qingli Dynasty's business, particularly since Qingli had never bowed to them.
On the surface, no ties existed between Qingli Dynasty and White Cloud Immortal City.
So why would White Cloud Immortal City defend an unrelated power?
"What drives White Cloud Immortal City to aid the Qingli Dynasty?"
"Does the Qingli Dynasty possess something prized by White Cloud True Monarch?"
He struggled to comprehend it, but such puzzles no longer signified. The Flying Boat from White Cloud Immortal City signaled their position clearly.
Pressing on against Qingli's six families would mean clashing directly with White Cloud Immortal City.
In truth, antagonizing White Cloud Immortal City lay beyond his means—not even the boldest provocation could he muster.
Though White Cloud Immortal City's might fell short of Unpredictable Ghost Sect's, even that sect wouldn't dismiss a Golden Core Cultivator lightly, much less him, a mere Blood Pool Steward in the Yin Ghost Department of Unpredictable Ghost Sect.
He simply couldn't risk challenging White Cloud Immortal City.
"Sir, must we truly let the Lin family off?" Duan Qiankun inquired.
Zhang Mo glanced at him sharply, "Fear not—I'll honor every promise I've made to you!"
"White Cloud Immortal City's involvement bars us from striking the Qingli Dynasty! Yet that doesn't prevent us from annihilating the Lin family!"
"Heh, the Lin family won't back down. Even without us hunting them, they'll come charging at us, won't they?"
Duan Qiankun served as his Yin Ghost, personally nurtured by him. In truth, deeming Duan Qiankun his disciple would fit perfectly.
Over a century past, when the Lin family crushed the Duan family, Duan Qiankun was merely a boy. Zhang Mo discovered him during a probe into Qingli Dynasty's state and took him under his wing.
That event spanned more than a hundred years ago, and across that span, Duan Qiankun evolved into his vital right-hand man.
Barring unforeseen twists, upon his next return to Unpredictable Ghost Sect, he planned to sever the blood jade's hold on Duan Qiankun, formally admitting him into the sect.
He had vowed to aid Duan Qiankun in exacting his vengeance.