Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1461 - 919: Enemy Attack Approaching

Some wandering cultivators resigned themselves to fate, opting for marriage and children, their aspirations transferred to their offspring. Others, however, refused to accept such a passive existence. They chose the path of adventure, either venturing into wild mountains and forests to hunt demon beasts or turning to banditry to rob others.

Li Shangyuan, unwilling to tread the former path, abandoned his prospects in the arduous workshop life. He set out to hunt demon beasts, determined to forge his own opportunities.

Yet, the world proved unpredictable. He himself fell victim to a bandit's ambush. It was only through quick thinking, abandoning all his belongings and fleeing for his life, that he avoided perishing under the bandit's blade.

When cornered, even one's principles can be cast aside.

Having lost the wealth he had painstakingly accumulated over a decade, Li Shangyuan eventually found himself walking the path of a bandit.

Once he embraced banditry, Li Shangyuan's life took a turn for the better. His cultivation progressed steadily, and his strength grew with each passing day.

However, Li Shangyuan did not completely abandon his former self. He kept the memory of his old friend, Yang Zhenshan, close, recalling how Yang Zhenshan had guided him across the Stormy Sea Area.

During that time, Yang Zhenshan had imparted much wisdom to him.

Yang Zhenshan's kindness towards him was a debt he never forgot, a cherished memory that offered him solace.

For that period represented the last vestiges of his happiness.

As everyone else dispersed, Li Shangyuan lingered. After a long hesitation, he finally produced a green paper crane, whispering, "Two days from now, an enemy will attack. Prepare yourselves early, old friend. Li Shangyuan."

With those words, he infused a stream of spiritual light into the paper crane, sending it soaring into the sky. It transformed into a streak of light, hurtling towards Yang Family Town.

...

Within Yang Family Town, in the courtyard of the Yang family estate.

Yang Chengzhang, An Yuxing, Liang Shengze, Chen Zhongshu, and Lv Hua were gathered in the main hall, deep in discussion.

"Elder Lv, have you not yet discovered any traces of those individuals?" Yang Chengzhang inquired.

They had been relentlessly searching for Fang Shou and his group, unaware that Fang Ze and Zhang Baishan had brought over twenty additional cultivators from the Qi Refinement Realm, initially believing the attackers to be merely a band of rogue Qi Refinement cultivators.

Aside from Fang Shou, a scattering of minor bandits roamed near the Yang family's domain, but these were isolated incidents, ambushing lone martial artists. They were unlike Fang Shou's group, who were known to annihilate entire families.

To apprehend Fang Shou and his gang, Yang Chengzhang had deliberately delayed the reinforcements from the Yujing Guard, hoping to locate the whereabouts of Fang Shou and his associates first, thereby eliminating them swiftly.

Lv Hua responded with a grave tone, "Not yet. These bandits are exceptionally experienced, leaving no discernible traces when they retreat."

"Is there truly no other recourse?" Yang Chengzhang asked, his brow furrowed.

Lv Hua shook his head. "The methods available to martial artists are often ineffective against Immortal Cultivators! For now, the Secret Martial Guards are at a loss."

The Secret Martial Guards found themselves genuinely powerless in this situation. Although Fang Shou and his men had been operating within the Yang family's territory, the guards had been unable to track their movements.

Firstly, Immortal Cultivators possessed superior skills in concealment compared to martial artists, their techniques imbued with a more profound magic.

Secondly, Fang Shou and his group operated as transient criminals, maintaining no contact with the local populace. This prevented the Secret Martial Guards from accurately identifying their targets or utilizing their extensive intelligence network to ascertain their movements.

Liang Shengze interjected, "If all else fails, perhaps we should seek assistance from the Immortal Hall!"

The most effective strategy for dealing with Immortal Cultivators was, naturally, to involve other Immortal Cultivators. The Spirit Source Land was, after all, home to numerous such individuals.

"Very well, I shall make the journey," An Yuxing declared, rising to his feet.

Yang Chengzhang, seeing no other viable options, expressed his gratitude, "Then I shall trouble Senior An for this endeavor."

With that, he also stood, intending to escort An Yuxing out.

At that precise moment, a figure, whose physique was as robust as a wild beast, suddenly materialized outside the hall.

Kou Ta stood in the doorway, holding a green paper crane in his hand.

Moments before, he had sensed an unfamiliar aura entering the Yang family courtyard. Initially, he had assumed it belonged to one of the Yang family members, but a scan with his Spiritual Sense revealed it to be a paper crane.

As the appointed guardian of Yang Family Town, Kou Ta's foremost responsibility was to ward off any potential threats directed at the town.

Though this paper crane appeared innocuous, Kou Ta, having only recently arrived in Yang Family Town, maintained a heightened state of vigilance. Upon discovering the paper crane, he had immediately come to investigate.

"Greetings, Master Kou!"

Upon witnessing Kou Ta's arrival, Yang Chengzhang and the others hastily bowed in salutation.

Kou Ta, along with Hong Fuxiu, had been brought by Yang Zhenshan. Yang Chengzhang, consequently, was familiar with him.

However, as Yang Zhenshan had stated, Kou Ta and Hong Fuxiu were solely tasked with the defense of Yang Family Town, their responsibilities not extending to other affairs. Consequently, Yang Chengzhang, beyond managing daily needs, was instructed not to bother Kou Ta and Hong Fuxiu.

Thus, Yang Chengzhang and his kin had not even considered requesting Kou Ta and Hong Fuxiu’s assistance in finding Fang Shou and his companions.

"Is this the communication method of your Yang family?" Kou Ta presented the paper crane before Yang Chengzhang.

Yang Chengzhang promptly shook his head. "No, our Yang family does not possess such a means of communication!"

Kou Ta gave a slight nod. After a moment of contemplation, he resolved to ascertain the contents of the message held within the paper crane.

Paper crane messaging, in essence, was but a rudimentary communication technique employed by Immortal Cultivators, its practicality inferior even to a First Rank Communication Talisman.

With a simple incantation, he activated the paper crane, which forthwith emitted an audible voice.

"An enemy assault is imminent in two days. Make preparations accordingly, old friend Li Shangyuan!"

Unmistakably, this was a message of warning.

What's more, it originated from an acquaintance.

Kou Ta turned to Yang Chengzhang. "This should not portend any ill intent!"

"Old friend Li Shangyuan! Who could this individual be?" Yang Chengzhang inquired, looking thoroughly perplexed.