68: Chapter 69: Landscape

Since the Sun Family moved here, Luoxi Mouth had gained a bit more vitality.

The remaining members of the Luo Family repaired their houses, the Sun Family set up fish sheds by the stream, and several Formation Flags were newly planted on both sides of the irrigation ditch.

On this afternoon, a Cultivator came treading across the water.

As the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Pressure spread from outside Luoxi Mouth, the stream water sank slightly, and several aquatic creatures simultaneously dove into the mud at the bottom. The Sun Family Cultivator who was patrolling by the paddy fields turned pale instantly, hurriedly lowering his head, not daring to look directly.

On Baili Mountain, Jiang Yuhe was inspecting the newly laid Formation patterns outside the ancestral home.

Listening to Rain suddenly stirred slightly.

Jiang Yuhe felt a jolt in her heart. Daring not to delay, she immediately withdrew the Dharma Seal in her hand and used Catalyzing Green to descend the mountain.

By the time she arrived at Luoxi Mouth, that Foundation Establishment Cultivator was already standing by the stream.

This person looked to be around forty years old, with a thin face and wearing a blue-grey long robe.

His Qi aura was steady; he was not an ordinary person who had just entered the Foundation Establishment stage.

Jiang Yuhe stopped more than ten steps away and bowed with her sleeves tucked.

"Jiang Yuhe of the Jiang Family greets Senior."

The Cultivator's gaze fell upon her, and he said indifferently, "Are you the Family manager here?"

Jiang Yuhe did not correct the word "manager" and only said in a low voice, "This Junior can receive orders on behalf of the Jiang Family. I wonder what instructions Senior has?"

The Cultivator nodded and said, "I am Zhao Guying, an Elder of the Zhao Clan under the jurisdiction of the Chengtian Sect. I am here today to deliver a message on behalf of the Sect."

Jiang Yuhe's heart sank slightly.

The Zhao Clan. Under the jurisdiction of the Chengtian Sect. Once these words were spoken, it was not something a Qi Refining Family could refuse.

Zhao Guying continued, "In recent years, the Chengtian Sect wishes to recruit Disciples widely and expand the various branches outside the mountains. We are now willing to grant the families near Baishi River an opportunity to have their Disciples enter the Sect to cultivate."

Jiang Yuhe showed an appropriate amount of joy on her face, then bowed and said, "With the Chengtian Sect's favor, the Jiang Clan will naturally obey."

Zhao Guying was quite satisfied with her attitude.

He said, "Two years from now, the Sect will send people here to recruit Disciples. However, the quotas for Disciples, the weight of resources, and the rights of management in this area hereafter cannot be distributed without reason. The Sect intends to first test the strength of the families near Baishi River."

Jiang Yuhe lowered her eyes, listening very carefully.

Zhao Guying said, "During the Great Heat, a temporary water pavilion will be set up in the center of Jinglan Lake, with a Dharma combat platform placed inside. At that time, there will be three rounds of Dharma combat, divided into three grades: early-stage Qi Refining, Middle Stage, and Late Stage. Each Family may send people to participate."

He paused, as if confirming a list.

"The Han Clan of Hedong, the Lu Clan of Hedong, the Jinglan Lake Shen Clan, the Qingwu Terrace Gu Clan, and your Jiang Family."

Zhao Guying looked at her. "The Jiang Clan of Hexi, correct?"

Jiang Yuhe's thoughts raced instantly. The Chengtian Sect is expanding. Cangya Ridge is silent. The Gu Clan, the Shen Clan, the Han Family, and the Jiang Family have all been included in the same Dharma combat. If it were merely to determine who is superior, it would be too superficial; I fear there are some changes in the situation that the Jiang Family is unaware of.

She did not show anything on her face and only replied, "Yes."

Zhao Guying nodded. "The location for the Dharma combat is set at the center of Jinglan Lake."

"The Chengtian Sect will build a temporary water pavilion, and each Family will receive a talisman edict when the time comes. This matter concerns future resource allocation and the weight of Disciple recruitment; if the Jiang Family has the intention, prepare early."

After speaking, he seemed to have no intention of staying longer. Regardless of whether Jiang Yuhe still had etiquette to perform, he flicked his sleeves, spiritual light lifted him beneath his feet, and he flew away directly.

Jiang Yuhe remained bowed to see him off.

Not until that Foundation Establishment aura had completely faded away and she could no longer hear the opponent's Spiritual Pressure in Listening to Rain, did she slowly straighten up.

Only then did the Sun Family Cultivator at Luoxi Mouth dare to approach.

Jiang Yuhe did not say much, only instructing, "Continue to guard the paddy fields as usual, and do not spread rumors."

After speaking, she turned and returned to Baili Mountain.

Baili Mountain today was no longer as crude as it had been at the beginning. Although there was still only a thin layer of Formation outside the mountain, it could now conceal the Spiritual Qi in the mountain, so it would not be seen through at a glance.

After passing through the Formation, the Spirit Fields were tidily arranged, several small paths were cleared out of the White Gang Stone, and several newly built wooden houses were scattered along the mountain's slope. In the center of the mountain, an ancestral home had been built, with the family genealogy enshrined within; daily worship and discussions all took place here.

Jiang Yuhe went straight into the ancestral home and called for the members of the Jiang Family. Before long, everyone had arrived.

Jiang Yuhe briefly recounted the visit of Zhao Guying.

After listening, Jiang Chengning tapped his fingers lightly on the table and pondered for a moment before saying, "The Chengtian Sect is expanding, yet there is not the slightest reaction from Cangya Ridge."

He spoke very slowly. "Logically speaking, the market interests of the Gu Clan and the Shen Clan should be considered territory that Cangya Ridge has interfered with."

"The Chengtian Sect has now come to recruit people, test the clans, and set rules, yet Cangya Ridge remains indifferent. I fear it is not because they haven't received the news, but rather that they have already tacitly consented."

Lin Suwen said in a low voice, "Has Cangya Ridge retreated?"

Jiang Chengning shook his head. "Not necessarily retreated; perhaps they used this area as a bargaining chip and handed it over."

"No matter how strong the Yao Race is, it is impossible for them to clash head-on with the Chengtian Sect everywhere. What Cangya Ridge wants is the balance of Canghu Market and the overall situation; they will not stand up for us Qi Refining families."

The ancestral home fell silent.

The Jiang Family's ability to stand firm today relies on the name of the Gu Clan, the lingering prestige after Cangya Ridge struck the Shen Clan, Jiang Yuhe's Late Stage Qi Refining cultivation, and the resources after swallowing the Luo and Yao families. However, these things are still too light when placed at the level of noble families.

With one word from the Chengtian Sect, they could be pushed back onto the stage to be weighed by others.

Jiang Chengning continued, "The Chengtian Sect's intention is very clear; they want to see the true strength of each Family."

"The so-called question of who gets resources and who is qualified to send Disciples into the Sect is likely not the key point."

"But what we do know is that if we win the Dharma combat well, we might be able to exchange it for some benefits; if we lose too ugly, in their eyes, the Jiang Family will just be a newly emerging small clan."

Jiang Yuhe nodded. "Zhao Guying made it very clear: one round each for early-stage, Middle Stage, and Late Stage Qi Refining."

Lin Suwen frowned and said, "We have Yuhe for the Late Stage, and we can manage the early stage. The trouble is the Middle Stage."

This is precisely the Jiang Family's current weakness. Jiang Xingchuan is missing, and Chen Xiaoyan is missing. Jiang Shoushan has already entered Late Stage Qi Refining; he is the Jiang Family's hidden blade and cannot be easily revealed before the other families. The number of Middle Stage Qi Refining Cultivators that the Jiang Family can bring out on the surface is pitifully small.

Jiang Chengning said, "Shoushan cannot go up."

Jiang Shoushan sat to the side, his expression unchanged, and merely nodded.

His Single Yang Concealment talisman, Frost Treading boundary, and Sound Concealment enhancement are all the Jiang Family's trump cards. If exposed on such a Dharma combat platform, others would immediately know that the Jiang Family has produced a Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator out of thin air in just one year, which would instead attract deeper investigation.

Jiang Chengning continued, "Sun Jingxiu now has a chance to break through to the fourth level."

"Although Old Crow Chen is at the fourth level, he left behind hidden injuries when he broke through back then. In a real fight, he only slightly wins against a third-level Qi Refining Cultivator, and Chen Baisheng is currently also at the third level, preparing for a Breakthrough to the fourth level."

Jiang Chengning said, "If the opponent sends an old fourth-level Cultivator, or a fifth or sixth-level Cultivator, we will likely have no power to fight back in this Middle Stage round. Getting injured, or even losing a life, would not be worth it."

Lin Suwen's expression changed slightly. She knew what Jiang Chengning was going to say next.

"For the Middle Stage round, it would be better to forfeit," Jiang Chengning said slowly. "Prepare well for the early-stage and Late Stage Qi Refining rounds. As long as we can guarantee two wins and one loss, it won't look too ugly, and it won't make the Jiang Family appear too sharp everywhere."

Having said this, he looked at Jiang Yuhe again. "However, the candidate for the early stage must also be chosen carefully. Both Suwen and I have low-grade Start of Spring; we usually don't specialize in Dharma combat. If we really go up on the platform, we might not be as suitable as Sun Jingxiu."

Jiang Yuhe pondered for a moment and said, "Let Jingxiu do it."

Jiang Yuhe looked at Jiang Chengning. "Jingxiu has always had ambitions."

"Recently, he also told me that he doesn't want to just be a Junior of the Sun Family; he doesn't want to rely on the Jiang Family's protection for his whole life. He wants to become the pillar of the Sun Family, and he also wants to strive for Foundation Establishment."

She paused. "If the Jiang Family truly intends to pave the way with Rain Water, the Sun Family and the Chen Family cannot always remain in the position of just farming and running errands. Although the hope for Foundation Establishment is slim, giving them an opportunity to move upward is often better."

Jiang Chengning was silent for a moment. He naturally understood this principle.

For affiliate families to be stable, it does not just depend on contracts and favors; it also depends on a visible future. If Sun Jingxiu can show his face at the Chengtian Sect's Dharma combat, even if it is only in the early-stage Qi Refining round, it would be enough to greatly boost the Sun Family's morale.

But Dharma combat has risks. Jiang Chengning hesitated for a moment and said, "Then ask for the Sun Family's opinion; if they agree, let Sun Jingxiu prepare for the early-stage Dharma combat."

He said to Jiang Yuhe, "There should still be some Rain Water techniques in the treasuries of the Yao Family and the Luo Family."

"Rain Water techniques are common anyway; even if the grade is not high, it can allow Jingxiu to supplement his Dharma combat methods in the short term. You take him to borrow a few, and then accompany him to practice personally."

Jiang Yuhe smiled slightly. "I know."

She stood up and was about to walk out when Jiang Chengning suddenly called out to her. "Yuhe."

Jiang Yuhe turned back. Jiang Chengning looked outside the ancestral home, his voice lowered.

"Jingxiu's talent is not bad, and his Heart-Nature is also good." He stopped for a moment here.

"It's just that a youth's thoughts are most easily entangled by love. His feelings for you over these years can be seen by others to some extent."

Jiang Yuhe did not speak. The atmosphere in the ancestral home was subtle.

Jiang Chengning said, "You had better advise him. Don't let him take these feelings too seriously. If he puts the cart before the horse because of this and ruins his path of Dao, it will also ruin the Sun Family."

Sun Jingxiu can admire her, can follow the Jiang Family, and can fight a Dharma combat for the sake of the Sun Family's future. But he cannot bet his entire path of Dao on a thought that is almost impossible to be reciprocated. That is unfair to him. It is also unfair to the Sun Family.

Jiang Yuhe lowered her eyes for a moment and said softly, "I will make it clear to him."

Jiang Chengning nodded.