Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1796 - 1089: Taoist Master and Authority Master (Part 2)

"Haha, to me, you’re still that little bird!"

The Heavenly Sword True Monarch laughed with abandon, laughed freely.

This made Que Lingyu unable to resist laughing along.

...

Several days later, Master Jing Shui and Yun Xi, among others, arrived outside the Yang Family Blessed Land.

They were stopped outside the array; there was no mountain gate for the Yang Family Blessed Land, and though they wanted to find someone to report to, they couldn’t find anyone. However, those responsible for patrolling the array noticed them, and there was a monitoring array within the central formation that could detect cultivators and martial artists approaching the array.

Just as Master Jing Shui and his companions were circling the Yang Family Blessed Land, a squad of patrolling martial artists suddenly appeared before them.

Leading the team was none other than Yang Xiangwu of the Lingxi Yang Family.

Yang Xiangwu had once followed Yang Xiangheng in managing Yang Family Town; he didn’t know Jing Shui and Yun Xi, but he recognized Lu Fusheng and Lan Peng, especially Lan Peng, who used to frequently visit Lingxi Mountain.

During his patrol, he noticed Master Jing Shui and the others, but without orders from above, he couldn’t openly approach and meet them, so he first reported upward and received approval before revealing himself from within the array.

"Senior Lu, Elder Lan! Who are these?" Yang Xiangwu came out and inquired.

Lu Fusheng didn’t know Yang Xiangwu, but Lan Peng had an impression of him.

"So it’s a brother of the Yang family, hahaha~~, this is Master Jing Shui of the Illusion Moon Sect, this is Master Yun Xi of the Xuanqing Sect, and this is Chu Lingxiao of the Xuanqing Sect. We are here to request an audience with True Monarch, could you help pass on the message?" Lan Peng first laughed heartily and then introduced the three beside him.

At this time, Chu Lingxiao was already a Divine Soul Realm martial artist. Her decision back then was correct; after marrying her granddaughter, Li Qianqian, into the Yang family, she received considerable support from them. That support allowed her to advance to Divine Soul Realm martial artist.

"Greetings, Masters, greetings, Senior Chu! Please wait a moment, I will send someone to report!" Yang Xiangwu said, then instructed a few words to his subordinates, whose figure then disappeared.

He didn’t really vanish, he just concealed himself within the array, becoming invisible.

Transmission was quick but also slow.

Soon, Yang Qingyu, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator responsible for guarding the Yang Family Blessed Land, received the message, but such matters weren’t hers to decide; she could only pass it higher up.

By the time the news reached Yang Zhenshan’s ears, it was already two hours later.

Inside the Pill Hall, Yang Zhenshan was practicing alchemy, while Han Fei stood outside the hall door, reporting: "Reporting to True Monarch, outsiders have come to seek an audience at the Yang Family Blessed Land. The visitors are Master Jing Shui of the Illusion Moon Sect, Master Yun Xi of the Xuanqing Sect, Chu Lingxiao, Lu Fusheng, and Lan Peng!"

Yang Zhenshan, hearing this while practicing alchemy, glanced out the door in surprise, but his hands didn’t stop, still casting Dharma Seals onto the Pill Furnace as before.

"Understood, invite them into the Yang Family Blessed Land first, I’ll go once I’ve finished refining this batch of elixirs!"

The ones who came were all familiar faces; if he didn’t meet them, it would be very inconsiderate. However, this batch of Tongming Pills was made with materials for ten pills, and he was expected to produce at least seven pills. He couldn’t waste this batch to meet with Master Jing Shui and others, so he let them wait in the Yang Family Blessed Land.

"Understood!" Han Fei responded, then bowed and left swiftly, returning to the Transmission Hall in Jade City and passing Yang Zhenshan’s words to Yang Xiangdong.

Yang Xiangdong then conveyed the message to Yang Qingyu, who finally came forward to receive Master Jing Shui and others.

Upon entering the Yang Family Blessed Land, Master Jing Shui curiously examined everything inside it, as they had all been here before during its time as the Ancient Relic Array, and they had almost all entered the Ancient Array.

But the environment within the former Ancient Relic Array was quite primitive, full of weeds and vines everywhere, ruins stretching all around.

Now, the Yang Family Blessed Land was lush and vibrant, with a profusion of flowers, and had magnificent palaces and pavilions, along with many spirit fields, medicinal fields, and orchards.

"This way, Masters!" Yang Qingyu led them to the Bamboo Creek Pavilion.

The Bamboo Creek Pavilion was located beside a small stream, which flowed from the mountain. Its banks were lined with verdant green bamboo, with a dozen waterside pavilions nestled within the bamboo grove, giving the area a particularly tranquil and elegant look.

"This place is quite similar to Youhuang Peak!" remarked Chu Lingxiao, as she gazed at the surrounding scenery.

Yang Qingyu gave her a bright smile and said, "My mother designed this, modeled after my great-grandmother’s Youhuang Peak!"

"Your mother? Are you Qianqian’s daughter?" Chu Lingxiao looked at Yang Qingyu in shock.

She knew Yang Qinting and Li Qianqian had a daughter and two sons, but she hadn’t met them.

After marrying, Yang Qinting and Li Qianqian had always lived in the Spirit Source Land; although they visited the Xuanqing Sect to see relatives, they never brought their children.

"Yes, my mother is Li Qianqian!" Yang Qingyu said with a smile.

Returning to her senses, Chu Lingxiao sighed deeply, "I didn’t realize you had grown up so much!"

Indeed, Yang Qingyu was already a centenarian.

The group sat in the pavilion’s tea room, where Yang Qingyu prepared tea and Spirit Fruit for them.

"How is your mother?"

"She’s well. Twenty years ago, she broke through and is now a Golden Body Realm martial artist."

"May I see her?"

"Well, the ancestor has ordered that no one is allowed to leave during this period! I’ll ask the ancestor when we meet later!" Yang Qingyu hesitated but couldn’t bring herself to refuse outright.

Actually, Yang Zhenshan wasn’t prohibiting everyone from leaving, just prohibiting anyone from leaving without permission.

"If it’s difficult, it’s alright," Chu Lingxiao said, sensing her hesitation.

Yang Qingyu replied, "It’s fine, asking won’t anger the ancestor!"

The group then chatted idly, and after nightfall, Yang Qingyu prepared a banquet to welcome them.

For the following days, they stayed in the Bamboo Creek Pavilion until the eighth day when Yang Zhenshan finally came.

There was nothing to be done; refining a batch of Tongming Pills took half a month. Although he didn’t need to monitor it every moment, he couldn’t leave for long, so Yang Zhenshan decided to finish refining the batch of Tongming Pills.

In the Bamboo Creek Pavilion, Yang Zhenshan looked at each familiar face and couldn’t help but smile brightly.

"Everyone, sorry for the delayed welcome, forgive me, haha~~"

"Greetings, True Monarch!" the crowd bowed and saluted.

Yang Zhenshan waved his hand, laughing, "We are all old friends, no need for formality!"

"Qingyu, serve the tea!"

"Come, sit down and chat."

The group sat down, seeming somewhat reserved.

Times had changed; now Yang Zhenshan was a Golden Core Cultivator known throughout the Yunxiao Mountain Range, putting him on a different level altogether.

Even Master Jing Shui, was still only at late-stage Foundation Establishment.

Late-stage Foundation Establishment seemed close to the Golden Core Realm, but in reality, there was a vast difference.

"Master Jing Shui, how have you been lately?" Yang Zhenshan casually asked.

"Haha, True Monarch should not address me as ’master’, I’m not worthy of it!" Jing Shui replied.

"What are you saying, Master? You once guided me," Yang Zhenshan said, unconcerned.

Upon hearing this, Jing Shui felt much more at ease, "I’ve been relatively stable over the years, but my cultivation has hardly progressed!"

Yang Zhenshan looked at him, his Spiritual Sense hovering around his body, and then said, "That’s normal; although you extended your lifespan with martial arts, your martial arts cultivation is actually hindering your Immortal Path cultivation!"

"Normally, a Divine Soul Realm martial artist would switch to cultivating mana, but you’ve done the opposite, transforming your mana into True Yuan, now trying to convert back naturally leads to twice the effort for half the result!"

He quickly identified the issue Master Jing Shui faced; his idea was good, but walking this path was challenging.

The conversion between True Yuan and mana was inherently troublesome, and Jing Shui’s back-and-forth attempts rendered his mana and True Yuan mixed and chaotic.

If he wished to make further progress, he needed to first sort out the True Yuan and mana within his body.

Yang Zhenshan estimated that Jing Shui was likely to remain at his current level indefinitely, making further breakthroughs difficult. As for reaching the Golden Core stage, it was even less likely unless he had a Nine Tripod Divine Pill.

If there were a Nine Tripod Divine Pill, Jing Shui should find it easier to form a core than Yun Xiao, but alas, he did not have one, and Yang Zhenshan did not have one now either.