Chapter 297
Chapter 297
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Confronting the Sea-Hunting Li Clan
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As a true-blue Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion True Person of orthodox lineage, the Yun family ancestor was an absolute behemoth to those minor Qi Refining forces outside, no matter how weak he might be.
Thus, word from him spread, and before long, representatives from every sect had arrived.
“Pill Origin Sect, Myriad Arrays Hall, Spirit Treasure Court, Beast Taming Sect, Dao Talisman Gate, Wine Immortal Sect, Spirit Plant Valley. Good lord, the Hundred Arts of Cultivation are all here!”
Lu Yang’s scalp tingled. According to the Yun family ancestor, these forces had all received support from the Sword Pavilion to varying degrees. Most of Jiangnan consisted of such groups, each excelling in one of the Hundred Arts of Cultivation but lacking in combat prowess. In the end, they could only seek shelter under the Sword Pavilion’s rule.
This was evident from Jiangnan’s structure.
Up in Jiangbei, there were not only Foundation Establishment sects but even one or two Golden Core sects. Yet Jiangnan? Not a single Golden Core sect!
This governance had its pros and cons.
The downside was obvious: no real subordinates. Jiangnan had always relied on the Sword Pavilion itself, whereas in Jiangbei, the Primal Saint Sect could at least issue orders to rally the region’s cultivators.
But the advantages were substantial too. With just Jiangnan’s territory, the Sword Pavilion had nurtured its forces to an exaggerated level while making the region fabulously prosperous. In terms of resource cultivation and utilization, it could even outmatch the other three regions combined.
Soon enough, Lu Yang’s coffers overflowed with gifts.
“Thirteen sects—plundered from a full thirteen sects’ worth of Geng Metal spirit materials. Finally, enough to push my Immortal Spirit nurturing progress to seventy percent!”
Just three percent more, and he’d reach early Foundation Establishment completion.
At that point, all he’d need was to fuse one more Heavenly Gang or Earthly Fiend into his Immortal Spirit body for a seamless breakthrough to mid Foundation Establishment—no bottlenecks!
“Gotta be the heavens’ own child,” Lu Yang couldn’t help sighing.
Of course, this feat stemmed from his unique nature. Still in the nurturing phase, he could actively seek resources.
Most Immortal Spirits at this stage were dim and infantile, fed solely by the heavens. Forget seeking resources—not dying off was lucky enough. Those that survived usually emerged midway, never truly nurturing to Foundation Establishment completion.
“Where to find the last three percent?”
Lu Yang sat at his desk, flipping through scrolls. His brows lifted. “The Sea-Hunting Li Clan. This group didn’t send anyone?”
“Mm...”
True Person Xiu Xin, cultivating idly under the desk, mumbled through her occupied mouth, “The Sea-Hunting Li Clan is the only Foundation Establishment immortal clan within ten thousand li.”
“This family rose through sea trade. They unearthed a superior spirit treasure called the [Pioneering Ship] from some ruin. With it, they shuttled between Jiangnan and Jiangbei, amassing vast resources until they supported a Foundation Establishment True Person and earned their immortal clan status.”
Lu Yang got it instantly.
A Foundation Establishment immortal clan naturally had more backbone than those Qi Refining minnows. One Yun family ancestor couldn’t intimidate them.
But who cared? He still needed Geng Metal spirit materials.
If True Person Xiu Xin’s intel was accurate, though, the Sea-Hunting Li Clan had real assets—not something the Yun family ancestor could handle lightly.
“Looks like I have to make a move myself!”
With that, Lu Yang ended his session with True Person Xiu Xin, dispelling his superhuman state. With a beckoning hand, a figure landed in the room.
It was a man identical to Lu Yang in appearance—handsome and refined, upright in demeanor. Only his vacant eyes betrayed him as lifeless.
[Immortal Embryo Clone]!
“Limited by materials, it’s a bit crude—nowhere near my past life’s clones. It’ll wear out soon, but better than nothing.”
Lu Yang performed a incantation, merging his dharma body with the Immortal Embryo Clone. Linking to his Immortal Spirit core, his fingertip lit with divine radiance: the Geng Metal divine ability [Lord of Arms and Armor]. Without revealing his dharma body, he now passed for a Foundation Establishment sword cultivator.
The sole flaw: the clone was fragile, unable to bear his vast mana.
Thus, no prolonged fights.
At that thought, Lu Yang swept his sleeve over the desk.
In the next instant, three sheets of gleaming yellow paper flew into his palm, each radiating sharp sword qi.
[Yuantu Treasure Talismans]!
His recent masterpieces—fifth-rank Foundation Establishment talismans, activatable with minimal mana, no strain on the clone.
‘That said, this won’t do forever. Hope the Sea-Hunting Li Clan’s loaded enough to yield extra materials. Especially that superior spirit treasure True Person Xiu Xin mentioned, the [Pioneering Ship]. If I claim it, I can refine a proper high-grade Immortal Embryo.’
This one was barely serviceable.
For a true proxy clone to roam the world and fight freely, he needed superior spirit treasure materials.
Jiangnan, Gantang Dao.
This was a port facing Jiangnan on one side and the Great Dragon River on the other. Beyond lay an endless ocean.
The Sea-Hunting Li Clan had dwelled here for generations.
In a grand hall, a dignified youth stood by the window, gazing blankly at the boundless sea beyond the harbor.
He was the Li Clan’s pillar: Foundation Establishment True Person [Sea-Whistling].
Behind him stood a stern, imposing middle-aged man—the current Li Clan head—waiting respectfully at his side.
“True Person, what about that letter from the Yun family? We’re really not replying?”
The clan head looked anxious. The Sword Pavilion was Jiangnan’s sole overlord. Openly ignoring a Sword Pavilion True Person left him uneasy.
“A fallen family’s nothing. ‘Searching for fiends’? Plain extortion. Ignore it.” True Person Sea-Whistling scoffed, shaking his head. “Besides, I know that Yun family ancestor—few years left. Even if we skip, he won’t dare come knocking.”
“And the Sword Pavilion... hmph!”
At the name, resentment flashed across True Person Sea-Whistling’s face. “Our Li Clan’s fished the seas for them across ten full generations!”
“Even mortals would build a fortune in ten generations, right?”
“But where’s the money?”
All the wealth they’d toiled for—meant to nurture clansmen and aid cultivation—had ended up where?
True Person Sea-Whistling didn’t elaborate, merely sneering coldly. Ten generations of Li toil and thrift, yet endless suffering remained. Without that heavenly boon, where would the Sea-Hunting Li Clan be? Still a mere Qi Refining family!
“Enough. Compared to some dying geezer, [that place] matters more.”
True Person Sea-Whistling emphasized it. The clan head sobered. Between them, [that place] needed no explanation.
[That place] was the Li Clan’s origin of fortune.
The superior spirit treasure [Pioneering Ship] propping up their estate came from [there]. After years of probing, True Person Sea-Whistling had concluded:
[There] was almost certainly a fragment of a True Lord’s cave-heaven after their fall! For some reason, it lingered in the present world, undiscovered!
Once known, nearly everyone in the clan who knew of [there] had been silenced. Only True Person Sea-Whistling and the clan head remained, never naming it outright, always using euphemisms for its features to foil divination.
‘That will be our Li Clan’s greatest chance to rise!’
‘Given time, fully exploiting that cave-heaven fragment will vault us to Jiangnan’s top power under the Sword Pavilion!’
True Person Sea-Whistling was about to add more when his expression shifted.
The clan head reacted slower. Moments later, an escaping light streaked from the horizon, sword cry piercing the sky!
“Who goes there!”
True Person Sea-Whistling shot into the air. A verdant glow bloomed behind him, surging into sky-spanning waves.
But the next instant—a sword cry rang out!
The sword light slashed, ripping through True Person Sea-Whistling’s oceanic expanse. A sharp voice echoed everywhere:
“Where is the Sea-Hunting Li Clan’s True Person? Show yourself!”