2: Chapter 2: A Shocking Change in Yunmeng, Flying Clouds Gather

Feiyun Island, the Foundation of the Linghu Lin Clan's main branch.

As Lin Ze steered his small black-awning boat, riding the wind and waves through the outer "Water Moon Labyrinth Formation," a sliver of white appeared on the horizon.

Usually, these inner lake waters were quiet and peaceful, with only a few spiritual cranes leisurely preening their feathers on the surface.

But at this moment, a chilling Aura of slaughter hung over Feiyun Island.

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!"

In mid-air, streaks of light from those stepping on Flying Swords or controlling low-grade flying Magical Artifacts were frantically rushing back from all directions.

On the water, a thousand sails competed as countless low-level spirit fishermen rowed with all their might, converging toward the bluestone pier in the center of the island.

Every face was filled with unease.

The Red Lotus Summons—this was the third time it had been issued in the two hundred years since the Lin Family's founding.

Of the previous two times, one was due to a once-in-a-century beast tide, and the other was a decade-long bloody war against their archenemy, the Black Water Gang, to fight for a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Lin Ze steered his small boat steadily into the Family's private berth.

He skillfully tied a dead knot and carefully checked the Talismans sealing the water tank once more, ensuring that not a hint of the priceless Moon Shadow Silver Shuttle's Aura leaked out. Only then did he straighten his straw raincoat and blend into the crowd.

"Thirteenth Brother, you're usually the best informed. What on earth happened?"

"How should I know? I had just cast my net at Wild Goose Reef when I saw the Red Lotus Summons. I didn't even care about the net and just rushed back!"

"Could it be that the remnants of the Black Water Gang are attacking again?"

His ears were filled with the chatter of his clansmen.

Lin Ze said nothing, only silently quickening his pace.

He only had a cultivation of the second level of Qi Refining, making him inconspicuous in the crowd. However, his Major Achievement in the Azure Wave Art gave him a steady Aura and light steps; even while squeezed in the crowd, he wasn't winded at all.

This was what one called Foundation.

Passing through the mountain gate and following the stone steps up the mountain led to a magnificent hall... the Lin Clan Ancestral Hall.

By now, no fewer than several hundred people stood densely packed on the white jade plaza in front of the ancestral hall.

As a small Family that had just ascended to the Foundation Establishment Stage, the Lin Family had just over a thousand core members. Those standing here were basically Cultivators with Spiritual Roots who had entered the Qi Refining Stage.

Following the generational hierarchy, Lin Ze consciously walked to the outermost edge of the plaza, standing among a group of sixteen- or seventeen-year-old clansmen.

"Ze-ge'er, over here!"

Just as he stood still, a woman's voice, intentionally lowered but filled with concern, came from ahead.

Lin Ze looked up and saw a gentle-looking woman in green, about thirty years old, standing in front.

Her cultivation was at the fifth level of Qi Refining. She was frequently looking back, searching the crowd with her eyes; only when she saw Lin Ze did her tense cheeks relax slightly.

"Sixth Aunt."

A wave of warmth flowed through Lin Ze's heart as he respectfully replied via voice transmission.

This person was indeed Lin Ze's Sixth Aunt, Lin Wanrong.

Lin Ze's parents had died early. If it weren't for this Sixth Aunt Lin Wanrong secretly giving him the cultivation resources she had saved since he was young...

...and even selling her jewelry to exchange for spirit rice to temper his body, he likely wouldn't have even broken through to the first level of Qi Refining with his four-element Pseudo-Spiritual Root of metal, water, wood, and earth, let alone having such robust blood and qi.

Lin Wanrong looked at Lin Ze; though he was thin, he was full of spirit. She couldn't help but nod slightly, yet the worry deep in her eyes remained.

She knew this nephew of hers all too well.

He had been sensible and steady since childhood; which of the neighbors didn't say "the Lin Family's Ze-ge'er is precocious"?

But in this world of immortal cultivation, having precocity without talent often leads to an even faster death!

"Silence!"

Just then, a low shout rang out from the hall!

The one or two hundred Qi Refining Cultivators on the plaza were instantly enveloped by a wave of pressure.

The young clansmen at the Early Stage of Qi Refining felt a tightness in their chests, and even the circulation of spiritual power within their bodies momentarily stalled.

Lin Ze's pupils also constricted slightly, but with a slight rotation of the Azure Wave Art within him, his mana dissolved the discomfort.

"The Spiritual Pressure of the Foundation Establishment Stage... it truly is as terrifying as they say."

Lin Ze felt a secret chill in his heart. He lowered his head slightly, his gaze becoming more restrained.

The vermilion doors of the hall slowly opened to both sides.

A group of people stepped out.

Walking at the very front was a burly old man wearing a purple-gold python robe, with half-white hair and a face that commanded respect without anger.

His tiger-like eyes swept across the field, his gaze making everyone afraid to look directly at him.

This person was the pillar of the Linghu Lin Clan, The Old Patriarch who had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage less than two years ago... Patriarch Lin Zhenhai!

He was also Lin Ze's grand-uncle.

Half a step behind The Old Patriarch was a skeletal old man wearing a gray cloth Daoist robe.

That was the "Seventh Grand-Uncle of Technique Transmission," Seventh Uncle Lin Zhenyuan, who managed the clan's techniques and teaching.

"Greetings, Patriarch! Greetings, Seventh Elder!"

On the plaza, over a hundred Lin Clan disciples bowed in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

Patriarch Lin Zhenhai stood on the jade steps, the night wind fluttering his purple robe.

He didn't immediately tell everyone to rise but coughed twice.

"Cough, cough..."

Although he tried his best to suppress those two coughs, Lin Ze still caught a hint of weakness.

"The Old Patriarch's injuries haven't healed yet."

Lin Ze's heart sank.

Rumor had it that Patriarch Lin Zhenhai two years ago, in order to fight for that Foundation Establishment Pill, had fought a bloody battle with the Black Water Gang leader in the depths of Yunmeng Marsh for three days and three nights. Although he forcibly broke through and killed the powerful enemy, he also damaged his Foundation.

"You may all rise."

Patriarch Lin Zhenhai spoke slowly.

"I have issued the Red Lotus Summons to gather you today for only one thing."

The Old Patriarch's gaze became sharp: "Half a month ago, in our clan's final battle in the western waters of Yunmeng Marsh..."

"...we completely destroyed the Black Water Gang's headquarters and killed their last two Elders at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the field was first silent, then erupted into a burst of cheers.

"We won!"

"Our Lin Clan finally has sole Possession of these waters!"

Even Sixth Aunt Lin Wanrong Lin Wanrong, standing at the front, had slightly reddened eyes.

Over the past ten years, too many clansmen had died at the hands of the Black Water Gang.

However, Lin Ze still remained calm.

He looked up slightly at the expressionless Old Patriarch and the frowning Seventh Grand-Uncle on the jade steps, knowing in his heart that this matter was certainly not simple.

"Avenging our grievances is indeed worth celebrating."

The Old Patriarch pressed his hands down, quieting the cheers. "But it is easy to conquer a territory, and hard to hold it!"

"The Black Water Gang's destruction left behind three 'Rank 1 Medium Grade Spirit Fish Islands' they controlled, as well as Spiritual Water Veins!

"This is a massive amount of resources, enough for our Lin Clan to produce two more Foundation Establishment Cultivators within a century!"

Hearing "Rank 1 Medium Grade Spirit Fish Island," the eyes of all the young Cultivators present lit up.

Those were places where the Spiritual Qi was much denser than the outskirts of the main island.

If one cultivated there, their speed could be at least thirty percent faster.

The Old Patriarch took in everyone's greed and sneered, "What?"

"You all want it?"

"Unfortunately, pies don't fall from the sky!"

He suddenly struck the ground with his dragon-head cane, and a wave of Killing Intent vibrated outward.

"Those three islands are isolated. Beneath the deep waters, Second-rank Great Yao lurk, and in the surrounding waters, countless Loose Cultivators and water bandits are staring like sharks that have smelled blood!"

"Our Lin Family lost too many experts in the bloody war. Now the main island is empty, and we simply cannot spare any Foundation Establishment or Late Stage Qi Refining elites to garrison them!"

The Old Patriarch's words were like cold water poured over the young clansmen who were dreaming of making a fortune.

Garrisoning the outer Spirit Fish Islands?

Without high-level Cultivators leading them, what would these greenhorns at the Early and Middle Stages of Qi Refining do against the Yao Beasts underwater and the cold-blooded water bandits and Loose Cultivators?

Go and serve as snacks for the water yao?

A commotion immediately broke out in the crowd.

Several young masters who were usually pampered and had reached the third or fourth level of Qi Refining by relying on their parents' resources had already turned pale.

"Therefore..." The Old Patriarch took a deep breath, his tone becoming firm.

"By resolution of the Clan Elders' Council, those over sixteen and under twenty-five..."

"...with a cultivation between the second and fifth levels of Qi Refining, will all participate in a drawing of lots!"

"Those selected will immediately pack their bags and head to the three outer Spirit Fish Islands to garrison them for a period of three years!"

"Within these three years, the island stays as long as you live; if the island falls, you fall with it!"

On the plaza, there was only the fluttering sound of the Formation Flags in the wind.

In the front row, Sixth Aunt Lin Wanrong Lin Wanrong instantly lost her color. She snapped her head back to look at Lin Ze, her eyes filled with heartache.

Over sixteen years old, second to fifth level of Qi Refining.

This condition was practically tailored for Lin Ze!

If he were sent to such a peril-filled deserted island, with Lin Ze's four-element Pseudo-Spiritual Root and second-level Qi Refining cultivation, let alone guarding the island for three years, he probably wouldn't even survive the first month!

"This... this is just sending us to be cannon fodder!"

A young clansmen couldn't help but wail in a low voice.

"Impudent!"

Seventh Uncle Lin Zhenyuan's hair and beard bristled as he pointed at the clansman and shouted, "The Family has raised you for sixteen years. Now that the Family needs to expand its territory, it's time for people to step up."

"If you only want to hide under your Elders' wings and act like leeches, what use is there in keeping you?!"

Just as the entire field fell into panic...

...Lin Ze, who had been standing at the very back of the crowd with zero presence, had an eyelid twitch.

Garrisoning an outer deserted island?

In the eyes of others, that was a near-certain death mission.

But in Lin Ze's eyes...

"Away from the gaze of the Family's main island, no need to worry about someone probing my secrets..."

"Enjoying a Rank 1 Medium Grade spirit island all to myself—even if the Spiritual Qi is chaotic, it's a hundred times better than fighting for scraps with hundreds of people here on the outskirts of the main island!"

Most importantly!

"The outer waters are teeming with Yao Beasts and water-attribute spiritual items... it's practically a natural fishing ground and leveling Holy Land tailored for my 'Heaven Rewards Diligence' panel!"

Lin Ze calculated rapidly in his mind.

If he stayed on the main island, he would forever be a useless person who could never get ahead.

Once his Perfection-level Water Arrow Technique and Major Achievement-level Azure Wave Art were exposed, they wouldn't just fail to bring him attention; instead, he might be suspected of Possession or carrying some great treasure, inviting disaster.

He had to go out!

To a territory that belonged entirely to him!

Develop low-key, grind proficiency like crazy, and silently grind various basic Spells and the Hundred Farming Arts to an unprecedented level.

This was the correct way to use his cheat!

Moreover, since the Family wanted people to risk their lives, it was absolutely impossible for them to only use the stick without offering a carrot.

For such a pioneering mission, the Early Stage resource allocation would definitely be extremely generous.

Thinking of this, Lin Ze took a deep breath.

He knew that in this Family, the more cowardly one appeared, the faster they would die.

Only by demonstrating the qualities the Family needed—steadiness and a 'big picture view'—could he secure the best resources and the safest island in the upcoming arrangements.

Amidst a scene of gloom and despair, Lin Ze took a slow step forward from the very back of the crowd, under the astonished gazes of his surrounding clansmen.

He straightened his back and looked toward The Old Patriarch on the high platform.

"Grand-uncle, your grandson Lin Ze is only at the second level of Qi Refining."

"I am willing to share the Family's burdens and proactively apply to garrison an outer spirit island!"