88: The allure of immortality

At these words, Jiang Zhenhai immediately slammed his hand on the table.

"Exactly!"

"Everyone, the Star Guidance Technique is very likely a longevity method that can break the shackles of the Age of Dharma Decline!"

"If we can assist Xinghai in winning this war, perhaps we can obtain the complete cultivation method!"

"The path to longevity is right before our eyes, what are we still hesitating for?"

Longevity.

In the Age of Dharma Decline, with scarce spiritual energy, all possibilities had long been cut off.

But the Star Guidance Technique is different; practitioners can directly draw the power of the stars from the cosmic Star Sea to strengthen themselves, no longer limited to Blue Star.

Everyone present had cultivated this technique, so they naturally felt it.

The grand vision Jiang Zhenhai painted was simply too tempting.

And it was the kind that could actually be achieved!

Everyone present, including the direct descendants of the Jiang Family standing in the corner, had their eyes shining, their minds filled with various fantasies.

"The Family Head is right!"

"The Star Guidance Technique is definitely a longevity method!"

"Yes, I feel the same way. After less than two months of cultivation, I feel like I've become much younger."

...Under the propulsion of Jiang Zhenhai and the Grand Elder, the meeting had shifted from whether to fully resist the Hai Star to how to assist Xinghai and strive to obtain the complete Star Guidance Technique.

Yan Family Ancestral Hall.

Compared to the Jiang Family and Jiang Zhenhai, the Yan Family's newly appointed Family Head, Blazing Phoenix, who was only 30 years old, was not so relaxed.

The dissenting voices within the clan had not stopped since the day he took office, and any important decision he made would face great resistance.

The previous Yan Family Head, who had promoted him, was nearing his end and had long lost the desire to manage the family, focusing solely on breakthroughs in cultivation.

"Blazing Phoenix, do you still have any regard for clan rules and ancestral traditions?"

In the main hall, an old man with graying temples on the left main seat smashed the armrest of his chair, fuming with anger.

"You secretly transferred all the medicinal kings of the Yan Family's inventory that were over three hundred years old. Such a major decision, and you dared to act first and report later!?"

Blazing Phoenix slightly raised his head, his pair of narrow, phoenix-like eyes glancing sideways at the speaker.

"That is the family's foundation accumulated over countless generations, and you just gave it all away with a single word. How generous of you."

"How will we cultivate in seclusion for breakthroughs in the future...?" Another elder with a gloomy expression sighed despondently.

Facing the accusations from the elders, Blazing Phoenix merely kept his gaze lowered, letting their words go in one ear and out the other, completely disregarding them.

The faction left to him by the former patriarch naturally felt stifled hearing these harsh words.

Just like previous clan meetings, a new round of verbal sparring began.

After a long while.

When everyone had mostly finished arguing, Blazing Phoenix finally stood up and sneered.

"Inform you?"

"And then listen to you argue here for three days and three nights?"

"Other matters are fine, I can tolerate them, but if we miss this opportunity, even if you die and go to the underworld, the ancestors of the Yan Family will throw you into a wok of oil and fry you for seven days and seven nights."

"Presumptuous!"

The Yan Family's Grand Elder was so angry that his beard bristled, and his whole body trembled.

"You are disrespectful to your elders!"

"Indeed, even if we are to invest in Xinghai, it shouldn't be everything!"

"Leaving a portion for unforeseen needs, that is the way of survival."

Blazing Phoenix scoffed.

"A bunch of short-sighted fools, living in this world is just a waste of grain."

"You!"

Several elders stood up simultaneously, and a new round of verbal sparring began again.

Blazing Phoenix closed his eyes again, already accustomed to such scenes.

After the arguments subsided, Blazing Phoenix opened his eyes again.

"Why is the Jiang Family willing to charge into battle for Xinghai?"

"Haven't you carefully considered this question?"

Everyone present understood this logic and was willing to exchange resources for the Star Guidance Technique promised by the Jiang Family.

Because, recently, the speed at which the direct descendants of the Jiang Family had increased their strength was truly astonishing.

Even the weakest among them could sweep through their peers from other major families; how could this not be surprising!

But to exchange all medicinal kings over 300 years old for a cultivation method never heard of before, the risk was simply too great.

"The Star Guidance Technique, if this cultivation method can truly draw upon the power of the stars to replace the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, isn't this a longevity method that breaks the shackles of the Age of Dharma Decline?"

"Longevity method?"

"Blazing Phoenix, you really dare to say that!"

"This is the Age of Dharma Decline; the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is depleted. Even breaking through the 300-year lifespan has become a luxury. Where is there any longevity method?"

Facing a group of elders several generations his senior, Blazing Phoenix still acted extremely assertively.

"Just based on the recent actions of the Jiang Family."

"With the nature of that old fox, Jiang Zhenhai, if it weren't a longevity method, why would he disregard the cost and willingly become Xinghai's pawn?"

These words were spoken with conviction, and the dissenting voices of the elders also quieted down a bit.

Although Jiang Zhenhai was young, everyone present had more or less suffered losses in their dealings with him, so they naturally dared not underestimate him.

"You bunch of short-sighted old fellows, speaking so righteously, aren't you just looking for someone to take the blame?"

"If the Star Guidance Technique is not a longevity method, then I will not be this Family Head."

"But for now, please shut your mouths."

"Good, good, good!"

The Grand Elder said "good" three times in a row.

"What a 'short-sighted' remark!"

"Since the Family Head no longer respects us old fellows, then my lineage will hereby separate from the Yan Family!"

Beside the Third Elder who was speaking, the Fifth Elder, who managed nearly half of the family's businesses, also stood up with a livid face.

"For some so-called longevity method, you are willing to stake the fate of the entire clan. Such a reckless act, how is it different from a gambler?"

"It seems there's no need for my lineage to remain either."

Blazing Phoenix snorted coldly.

He was almost tired of these tactics of forced abdication.

Ordinarily, for the stability of the family, he might choose to tolerate it, but this was an opportunity for the Yan Family's rise; how could he allow anyone to interfere?

"Then you may leave. You will receive every single thing that is due to you."

At these words, everyone was startled!

Who among those present didn't know this was a tactic to pressure Blazing Phoenix, just words, so why did he take it seriously?

"If you step out of this door today, do not mention that you are from the Yan Family of Ru'nan outside."

"My Yan Family cannot afford to lose face."

At this moment, the air in the hall dropped by more than ten degrees. No one expected Blazing Phoenix to suddenly become so unyielding.

Instead, the Third Elder and Fifth Elder, who had declared their departure from the Yan Family, were somewhat at a loss.

Seeing this, the Grand Elder cleared his throat twice.

"I think, let's not argue about this any further."

"If the Star Guidance Technique that the Jiang Family gives us is not a longevity method, then the Family Head will step down."

"But if the Family Head's gamble pays off, from now on, whoever dares to stir up internal disputes again, do not blame me for being merciless."

The Third Elder and Fifth Elder, seeing an opportunity to back down, quickly agreed.

"Hmph... I'm only letting this go out of respect for the Grand Elder, not bothering with a child like you."

"Just wait to abdicate and yield your position, Blazing Phoenix."

As Blazing Phoenix's peripheral vision swept over the Grand Elder, the latter's lips curled slightly, looking like an old fox whose scheme had succeeded.

Hmm?

Blazing Phoenix was startled. What was going on with the Grand Elder, the most vocal opponent of his in the clan, today?

"Could this old fellow be the greatest trump card my grandfather left for me?"