Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1405: 892: White Cloud Immortal City

“It’s perfectly alright if you choose not to accompany me. After all, I can make the journey back anytime!” Yang Zhenshan chuckled heartily.

His intention was to journey to White Cloud Immortal City, primarily to procure the necessary materials for crafting the Divine Wood Treasure Cauldron and the Green Wood Purple Lightning Sword.

His current cultivation had ascended to a bottleneck in the mid-stage Foundation Establishment. It was only a matter of time before he could make a serious attempt at breaking through to the late-stage Foundation Establishment.

Consequently, the matter of his Lifebound Magical Treasure could no longer be postponed.

While Qingli Immortal City was experiencing a period of prosperity, it was still a considerable distance from White Cloud Immortal City. Numerous rare spiritual objects and vital materials were simply not available in Qingli Immortal City, though they were quite commonplace in White Cloud Immortal City.

“Yan’er and Yang’er are both on the cusp of reaching Foundation Establishment. Are you sure you can depart now?” Yu Qingyi inquired, her brow furrowed slightly.

Ma Qiuyan and Cui Yang were presently at the zenith of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, diligently preparing for their imminent Foundation Establishment attempts.

According to their projections, Ma Qiuyan would likely achieve Foundation Establishment within the current year, whereas Cui Yang might need to postpone his breakthrough until the following year.

Yang Zhenshan let out a confident laugh, “There’s no impediment. Xuanzhen and Jizhen possess the capability to safeguard them, and I shall ensure my timely return during the critical juncture!”

The process of Foundation Establishment typically spans around two to three months. While protection is less crucial in the initial and final phases, it becomes paramount during the consumption of the Foundation Establishment Pill.

“As long as you have meticulously planned your course of action!” Yu Qingyi replied with a gentle smile.

The pair ambled by the lakeside, engaging in leisurely conversation until the twilight’s soft glow painted the lake’s surface in hues of fiery red, after which they retreated to the tranquility of their courtyard.

The following day arrived.

Yang Zhenshan made his way to Xuanqing Sect.

His journey to White Cloud Immortal City was not one he intended to undertake alone. Primarily, having never visited before, he was unfamiliar with the route and the city’s layout, necessitating a companion.

He proceeded to Xuanqing Sect with the hope of ascertaining whether Yun Xiao would be amenable to accompanying him to White Cloud Immortal City.

“Haha, what brings you to my humble abode today?”

At Immortal Fate Peak, Yun Xiao extended a cheerful welcome to Yang Zhenshan, ushering him into the elegant confines of the Luoxia Pavilion.

“I have a specific purpose for my visit,” Yang Zhenshan responded with a smile.

As the two settled themselves at the tea table, Yun Xiao’s diligent disciple promptly presented them with freshly brewed tea.

“Pray tell, what is the matter?” Yun Xiao inquired with palpable curiosity.

In truth, Yang Zhenshan had frequented Yun Xiao’s company quite often over the intervening years. He consistently dispatched a Demon Essence Pill annually, and at times, he would visit solely to exchange profound cultivation insights with Yun Xiao and Yun Xi. Alternatively, should he find himself in want of a particular material, he would seek assistance from Yun Xiao and Yun Xi.

As time flowed onward, a strong camaraderie developed between them, and they could now be regarded as close confidants.

“I am embarking on a journey to White Cloud Immortal City. Would you care to join me?” Yang Zhenshan took a measured sip of tea before posing the direct question.

Yun Xiao exhibited a flicker of surprise, “White Cloud Immortal City has been rather tumultuous of late!”

“Oh, is that so? What exactly is occurring?” Yang Zhenshan confessed his lack of awareness regarding these recent developments. Yun Xiao had previously apprimentioned him about an incident where a workshop situated near White Cloud Immortal City within the Wanhua Mountain Range had been subjected to an attack. However, Yang Zhenshan lacked direct channels for news emanating from White Cloud Immortal City, leaving him uncertain about the current state of affairs there.

By this juncture, the Secret Martial Guards offered minimal utility to him. They encountered significant difficulty in furnishing accurate and advantageous intelligence.

This predicament stemmed from the fact that the intelligence operatives within the Secret Martial Guards were predominantly martial artists. Their inherent identity constraints severely hampered their capacity to gather meaningful intelligence within the realm of Immortal Cultivation.

Consider Qingli Immortal City as an example; martial artists were simply incapable of accessing the upper echelons of the White Cloud Commerce. Their intelligence gathering was restricted to analyzing observable information, which often proved inaccurate and susceptible to considerable deviations.

Furthermore, the operational scope of the Secret Martial Guards was confined to the Qingli Dynasty. Beyond this geographical limit, they were unable to extend their intelligence-gathering activities.

Although Yang Zhenshan possessed the means to furnish Jade Tokens to the Secret Martial Guards, these tokens, fundamentally, served as keys to access the Spirit Source Land. Their suitability for large-scale deployment was questionable, as they could be readily exploited by external parties to gain entry into the Spirit Source Land.

Consequently, a strategic transformation of the Secret Martial Guards was imperative. Firstly, a selection process targeting worthy Immortal Cultivators for recruitment would be initiated. Secondly, their operational focus would shift from external intelligence acquisition to internal surveillance.

This designation of ‘internal’ did not pertain exclusively to the Spirit Source Land but encompassed the entire sphere of influence emanating from the Spirit Source Land. This included the Sea of Spirit, Qingli Immortal City, the Stormy Sea Area to the west, the vast Ten Thousand Miles Sea Domain, and the Da’an Dynasty.

Naturally, this does not imply that the Secret Martial Guards would cease their external intelligence-gathering. They would still collect intelligence on various powers, but their focus would narrow to only a select few significant forces.

Consider White Cloud Immortal City, for instance.

Yang Zhenshan intended to journey to White Cloud Immortal City on this occasion, aiming to establish a presence there for the purpose of gathering intelligence pertinent to the city.

Nonetheless, this endeavor would only furnish a limited quantity of overt information, merely enabling Yang Zhenshan to grasp the discernible shifts within White Cloud Immortal City.

"The precise details elude me, but I have gathered that White Cloud Immortal City appears to have provoked the demonic entities dwelling in the recesses of the Wanhua Mountain Range. As a consequence, cultivators from White Cloud Immortal City now hesitate to venture deep into its expanse!" Yun Xiao stated.

The demons inhabiting the depths of the Wanhua Mountain Range differed significantly from the Yun Que Clan of Cangyu Mountain. While the Yun Que Clan possessed considerable might, they maintained cordial relations with numerous human clan factions, largely owing to the proximity of human settlements.

Conversely, the demons concealed within the Wanhua Mountain Range were deemed more formidable and untamed, their interactions with human forces being exceedingly intricate.

"I comprehend! It is no surprise, then, that the White Cloud Commerce has recently been procuring a substantial volume of strategic resources within Qingli Immortal City!" Yang Zhenshan commented, drawing a connection to the recent alterations observed in Qingli Immortal City.

Over the preceding two to three years, the White Cloud Commerce had procured a multitude of talismans, elixirs, and magical artifacts within Qingli Immortal City, a boon that significantly benefited the Spirit Source Land.