Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1383 - 881: All Factions Gather at Lotus Heart Valley (Part 2)
Previously on Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather...
"Haha, Master Yunxiao, I've heard so much about you!" Yun Ge declared with great enthusiasm.
"I dare not, greetings to Senior Yun Ge!" Yun Xiao responded, forming a cupped-fist salute.
Within the confines of White Cloud Immortal City, Yun Ge was a figure of considerable renown. His management of the White Cloud Commerce, which served as the city's financial powerhouse, underscored his influential position.
In stark contrast, Yun Xiao seemed rather unassuming. Despite possessing mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, his affiliation with the Xuanqing Sect meant he wasn't widely recognized within the broader Immortal Cultivation World.
"And this must be Master Yunxi. Haha, Master Yunxi is indeed young and full of promise!" Yun Ge's attention then shifted to Yun Xi.
"Greetings to Senior Yun Ge!" Yun Xi replied amiably, offering a polite bow.
"And who might this be?" Yun Ge directed his gaze toward Yang Zhenshan.
"Yang Zhenshan from the Yang family, greetings to Senior Yun Ge!" Yang Zhenshan executed a respectful cupped-fist salute.
"Ah, it is Master Yang! Welcome, most welcome!" Yun Ge offered a smile that was warm, yet Yang Zhenshan detected a subtle difference in its sincerity.
It appeared that Master Yun Ge held a genuine warmth for the arrival of Yun Xiao and Yun Xi.
However, his demeanor towards Yang Zhenshan was notably cooler, more perfunctory than heartfelt.
This discrepancy was understandable, as the Yang family was only moderately known within the Sea of Spirit, with little recognition beyond its borders.
Yang Zhenshan harbored no offense, patiently awaiting the conclusion of Yun Ge's polite exchanges. Once formalities were complete, he instructed everyone to secure their Mutant Beasts in the Spirit Beast Bags before following the assembled group into Lotus Heart Valley.
Surveying the newly reconstructed Lotus Heart Valley, Yang Zhenshan could not help but be impressed by the vast resources commanded by the White Cloud Commerce.
For Immortal Cultivators, the creation of a settlement was remarkably straightforward; a few Earth Magic spells could summon city walls stretching a thousand feet, and constructing dwellings required little effort unless one prioritized architectural splendor.
The fact that White Cloud Commerce managed to rebuild Lotus Heart Valley in a mere three months, while not entirely astonishing, was still notable. What truly set it apart was the simultaneous establishment of numerous defensive arrays throughout the valley. This undertaking demanded not just rudimentary spellcasting but the expertise of many skilled Array Masters.
The successful execution of this feat by White Cloud Commerce spoke volumes about their formidable array capabilities.
Upon their entry into Lotus Heart Valley, the White Cloud Commerce designated a modest estate for the Yang family—an area that certainly wasn't expansive.
Observing their new residence, Xuanzhen remarked with a chuckle, "It seems we are expending undue effort to impress those who show us little regard!"
Yang Zhenshan concurred with a slight nod. "It is only to be expected; our Spirit Origin Land lacks significant renown beyond its immediate vicinity."
Initially, he had intended to subtly display the strength of Spirit Origin Land. However, when juxtaposed with the grandeur of the Glaze Cloud Boat, the Mutant Beasts from Spirit Origin Land appeared quite diminished in comparison.
He had already noted that the estates allocated to the three sects of Lingxiu were at least double the size of their own.
It was abundantly clear that the White Cloud Commerce perceived the Yang family as a decidedly ordinary Immortal Cultivation lineage.
"We shall make do and manage within for the time being," Yang Zhenshan decided, choosing not to press White Cloud Commerce for a larger estate. Offending them at this juncture seemed imprudent.
The members of his group raised no objections, finding it acceptable to share rooms over the next few days.
...
The day following the arrival of the Three Sects of Lingxiu and the Yang family at Lotus Heart Valley, the Nether Prison Sect also made its entrance.
The Nether Prison Sect's arrival lacked the ostentatious display of the Three Sects of Lingxiu, as they did not possess large Flying Boats. However, their contingent included a greater number of Foundation Establishment cultivators than their predecessors.
The Three Sects of Lingxiu had brought a total of four cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage: Yun Xiao, Yun Xi, Liu Yue, and Master Jieyu, a member of the Wuxiang Sect.
Conversely, the Nether Prison Sect dispatched a martial artist in the Divine Soul Realm alongside six Foundation Establishment cultivators, presenting a formidable lineup capable of eclipsing the combined strength of the Three Sects of Lingxiu.
This disparity clearly illustrated the formidable might of the Nether Prison Sect.
It should be noted that the Yang family had also brought three Foundation Establishment cultivators: Yang Zhenshan himself, Xuanzhen, and Bai Xiaoyun. However, the latter two had integrated with the group from the Three Sects of Lingxiu, leading the White Cloud Commerce to likely assume they were also affiliated with those sects.
After the Nether Prison Sect's arrival, a steady stream of numerous other Immortal Cultivation forces began to appear.
Many of these newly arrived factions were unfamiliar even to Yang Zhenshan.
These groups were not particularly powerful, falling short of the strength demonstrated by the Three Sects of Lingxiu. Nevertheless, their sheer numbers far surpassed Yang Zhenshan's initial expectations.
Within a span of a few days, Lotus Heart Valley had become a gathering place for over forty Foundation Establishment cultivators, representing more than twenty distinct forces, many of which Yang Zhenshan had never encountered before.
A power known as Wind Valley was completely unknown to Yang Zhenshan, yet they dispatched a Great Cultivator at the apex of Foundation Establishment alongside another cultivator in the mid-stages of Foundation Establishment. Through inquiries with Yun Xiao, he learned that Wind Valley was actually a prominent Immortal Cultivation sect within the northern Qingli Dynasty, possessing strength on par with the current Hidden Sword Mountain. Yang Zhenshan undertook a thorough investigation and discovered that the forces converging on Lotus Heart Valley were not solely from the immediate vicinity of the Yunxiao Mountain Range, but also included many from much further afield. It appeared that an overwhelming majority of Immortal Cultivation forces situated within a five-thousand-mile radius of Lotus Heart Valley had assembled. Yang Zhenshan couldn't help but express his amazement at the vast resources commanded by White Cloud Commerce; however, he firmly believed that White Cloud Immortal City must have a significant agenda to orchestrate such a grand invitation for various forces to gather at Lotus Heart Valley. As Yang Zhenshan had surmised, White Cloud Immortal City indeed harbored substantial plans. Within Yun Ge’s cave dwelling, the high-ranking members from over twenty different forces convened. In the expansive hall, seating arrangements were organized into four rows, with more than twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators occupying their designated places. Yang Zhenshan found himself seated in the final row, his gaze sweeping over those positioned before him. The foremost row contained only four seats, claimed by Que Lingfei of Cangyu Mountain, Jian Changhe of Hidden Sword Mountain, Feng Guiyue of Wind Valley, and Han Jiangche of Nether Prison Sect. These four individuals presented remarkably distinct profiles. Que Lingfei, hailing from Cangyu Mountain, was identified as a Second-order demon beast, yet her appearance was strikingly human-like, indicating an incomplete transformation into her human form. Clad in attire of brown feathers, she possessed a slender build reminiscent of a young woman in her prime, her complexion akin to polished white jade, adorned with a few delicate feathers between her brows. Her eyes, like amber, held glimmers of golden light. Fine feathers extended across her neck and shoulders, while the feather shafts emerging from her wing bones radiated a subtle luminescence. Her wings, folded against her back, overlapped like partially unfurled silk, their long feathers cascading down to her knees. She wore supple boots with slightly upturned toes, giving the impression of being poised for immediate flight into the heavens. This marked Yang Zhenshan’s inaugural encounter with a demon beast, and he did not harbor any underestimations towards Que Lingfei based on her charming demeanor, understanding that for demon beasts, outward appearance bore no correlation to age. Although Que Lingfei presented as a youthful maiden, her actual lifespan undoubtedly dwarfed Yang Zhenshan’s. Generally, mutants and demon beasts boast considerably longer lifespans than the Human Clan; for instance, First-order mutants typically possess a minimum lifespan of one hundred years, which further extends with advancements in cultivation, surpassing the life-extension benefits available to human Immortal Cultivators. Second-order mutants usually live for approximately five hundred years, with certain exceptionally rare species exceeding a millennium. At the Third order, they attain a level comparable to Golden Core cultivators, enjoying lifespans extending beyond three thousand years. While the Yun Que Clan was not historically known for exceptional longevity, a Second Rank Top Grade Yun Que demon beast’s lifespan would certainly exceed that of a cultivator in the late stages of Foundation Establishment. This seemingly innocent and endearing Yun Que maiden was, without question, an ancient being who had lived for centuries. Whether her accumulated years numbered three hundred or four hundred remained a mystery. She represented Cangyu Mountain, a force so formidable that even White Cloud Immortal City hesitated to provoke them lightly. Beyond Que Lingfei, Han Jiangche also commanded significant attention. He was a Martial Artist, distinct from an Immortal Cultivator, yet as a Martial Artist at the Divine Soul Realm, his combat capabilities surpassed those of Foundation Establishment cultivators. It could be asserted that he stood as the most formidable individual present at this gathering. The Nether Prison Sect, despite lacking Golden Core cultivators, boasted numerous Divine Soul Realm Martial Artists and several Foundation Establishment cultivators, making their strength a factor not to be disregarded. Jian Changhe of Hidden Sword Mountain and Feng Guiyue of Wind Valley were both situated in the late stages of Foundation Establishment. While their cultivation levels were not the absolute highest, Hidden Sword Mountain and Wind Valley were established sect powers with deep-seated histories. The true extent of hidden capabilities within such sect forces remained an enigma. In comparison to these formidable entities, the Three Sects of Lingxiu were relegated to the second row. The third row accommodated several cultivators who had reached the late stages of Foundation Establishment. Yang Zhenshan, being merely in the mid-stages of Foundation Establishment and with his Yang family lacking widespread renown, could only occupy a seat in the fourth row. It was evident that White Cloud Immortal City adhered strictly to a hierarchy, treating individuals according to their established status.