Chương 144: A Gathering of Powers

Purple Cloud Peak Deep within the heart of Purple Cloud Peak, Huaijin remained locked in ceaseless calculation. The materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill still eluded his grasp, pieces were missing, crucial ingredients yet to be acquired. He had already exhausted every Tier 2 upper grade spiritual herb from the Zhang family's stores. Nothing remained. With no other recourse, Huaijin plunged his consciousness deeper into meditation, pushing his spiritual sense to its utmost limits. He would find a way.

He had to find a way. One decisive breakthrough, that was the only path forward. Nine months slipped by like water through fingers. That year, Huaijin turned fifty-five. When he finally emerged from seclusion, a profound stillness greeted him. Purple Cloud Peak lay wrapped in silence, its usual hum of activity subdued. Zhang Rende, ever diligent, had reached the very peak of the sixth level of Qi Refining, just a hair's breadth from breaking through to the seventh level, from stepping into the late stage.

The others stationed on the peak had progressed just as remarkably. No surprise, really. The spiritual energy that saturated Purple Cloud Peak was exceptionally dense, thick as honey to the senses. And Huaijin, when he had the mind for it, was generous with resources. Between his gifts and the spirit beasts they could hunt and train against, his disciples lacked for nothing. Their strength had surged accordingly. Word reached Huaijin that the family had birthed four new Tier 2 cultivators.

A genuine smile touched his lips. Unknowingly, the Zhang family now commanded nine Tier 2 cultivators in total. In all of Langya County, no other family could claim such strength. The Zhangs had become the undisputed powerhouse of the county. The Gao family's strongest Cultivator, Gao Zenyu, had finally shattered his bottleneck and ascended to the seventh level, becoming a late stage cultivator. Now only two such cultivators existed in Langya County, Gao Zenyu, and Huaijin himself.

Once the family stabilized further, they could set their sights on Qingtai City. That was the privilege of a late-stage Tier 2 cultivator, respect followed wherever you walked. Even in the great city, such a figure commanded deference. A late stage cultivator and an early stage one inhabited completely different worlds. The gulf between them was vast as heaven and earth. Meanwhile, deep in the lake, the mysterious Pine Fish had advanced to the ninth level without anyone noticing.

It now stood only one step from the peak. Huaijin felt no surprise. The creature's origins had always been shadowed in mystery, its nature inscrutable. He suspected, no, he sensed, that the fish was not the creature's true body. Something about it felt incomplete, like a mask over a deeper truth. Huaijin's secrets drew the Pine Fish's curiosity. And the Pine Fish's mysteries captivated Huaijin in equal measure. Two beings, each fascinated by the other's hidden depths. An unspoken understanding passed between them.

Huaijin's black-and-white chains binding the pine fishes soul, those were the real marvel. Profound in their design, formidable in their binding power. The Pine Fish, for all its strength, would struggle desperately to break free from them. The Seven Colored Spirit Peach Tree, by contrast, had reached the very apex of Tier 2 mid grade. The tree fed on threads of primordial Chaos Qi drawn from the void itself, energy of such purity and power that it defied ordinary classification.

It wouldn't be long now before the peach tree broke through to Tier 2 upper grade entirely. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. And when that happened, the spirit vein beneath Purple Cloud Peak would naturally ascend as well. The spiritual energy on the peak would become richer still, denser, sweeter.

And with each advancement of the spirit vein, the entire mountain would respond, growing taller, its foundations widening, its presence expanding outward. Huaijin's Purple Spirit Tiger, Haihu, had also advanced, reaching the peak of the third level. The beast had fed on the corpses of Tier 2 cultivators, bodies preserved by the energy within them, and would continue to consume them for decades to come. Its cultivation progressed with a steady, inexorable rhythm.

More Purple Spirit Tigers were being born as well, each generation with purer bloodlines than the last. The family's beast-taming arts advanced alongside them, growing more refined and sophisticated with each passing year. Every aspect of the Zhang family's foundation was improving, steadily, surely, inevitably. Their spirit cuisine business had carved out a healthy market for itself. The business flourished, pouring a steady stream of spirit stones into the family coffers daily.

If Huaijin's fearsome reputation did not precede them, other forces would have moved against the Zhangs long ago. But now, even the Mansion families thought twice before provoking them. Huaijin's combat prowess had become legendary, none dared test it lightly. The Zhang family enjoyed strong ties with the Fang family as well. And as for the Zhou family, Langya County lay outside their sphere of influence entirely. The Zhangs' rise blazed like oil thrown onto an open flame.

Only the Jin family stood in open opposition. All others wisely held back. In mere decades, the Zhang family had grown strong enough to rival centuries-old Tier 2 houses. Huaijin's title, the "Tiger of Langya", had been carved from victory after victory, each battle adding to his legend. Privately, Huaijin disliked the nickname. But there was nothing to be done. Once a name sticks, it sticks. Then came the summons from the main family.

With their power swelling, The patriarch Zhang Lixian was preparing another round of reforms. Huaijin issued a few final instructions, then departed Purple Cloud Peak without delay. Half an hour later, he reached Green Bamboo Mountain. In the main hall, all of the Zhang family's Supreme Elders had assembled. Huaijin's gaze swept across the gathered faces and landed on Yunli, who had recently succeeded in establishing her foundation. A warm smile spread across his face. Yunli winked at him, playful and bright.

Zhang Lixian sat in the seat of honor at the head of the hall. He raised his hand for silence, and the murmuring died away.

"Now that the family's strength has grown," he began, "our old system of titles and positions no longer serves us." He paused, letting the words settle. Then continued: "After deliberation, the family has decided that only Foundation Establishment cultivators may serve as Elders, bearing responsibility for major family affairs. Qi Refining cultivators at the peak will serve as Managers, handling the day-to-day operations." Nods of agreement rippled through the hall.

With nine Tier 2 cultivators now in their ranks, the Zhang family stood among the foremost powers of their tier.

"We must also revise the salary system. That will be a matter for all of us to discuss together." Zhang Lixian's voice grew more serious.

"There is another matter. We have more Tier 2 cultivators now, and Green Bamboo Mountain's spirit vein remains Tier 2 low grade. The spiritual energy here is becoming insufficient for our needs." He looked around the hall, meeting each pair of eyes in turn.

"I propose we allocate spirit stones from the clan vault to upgrade the mountain's spirit vein to Tier 2 mid grade." The announcement sent a ripple of murmurs through the assembly. Eyes widened. Looks were exchanged.

"Patriarch," Zhang Liliang spoke up, his brow furrowed with concern, "the family just purchased four Foundation Establishment Pills. Does the treasury truly have enough remaining spirit stones for such an investment?" Upgrading from Tier 2 low grade to mid grade would cost no less than sixty thousand spirit stones. A staggering sum. Could the Zhang family truly bear such an expense? Zhang Lixian's expression remained steady. Confidence radiated from him.

"The family has grown rapidly these past years. After accounting for consumption and salaries, we have saved over ten thousand spirit stones each year." He spread his hands, counting off their assets.

"We also have a stockpile of Tier 2 artifacts and talismans already forged, we can sell them for a considerable sum. Between these and our reserves, we can easily raise the sixty thousand stones required." Pride and ambition filled his voice. The family collected nearly four thousand stones annually from Langya County Town as well. And because salaries were paid out in Merit Points rather than direct spirit stones, the treasury had accumulated a hoard of physical currency over time.

"Excellent. I agree," Zhang Liliang said, nodding. The others voiced their assent as well. The benefits were clear, upgrading the spirit vein would bathe Green Bamboo Mountain in richer spiritual energy, accelerating everyone's cultivation. Huaijin spoke up, his voice steady and decisive.

"Purple Cloud Peak possesses exceptionally dense spiritual energy. I propose we reassign some to guard Langya County Town, and invite Yunli and Wujian to train on Purple Cloud Peak with me. This will also ease the burden on Green Bamboo Mountain." Though all those present were members of the Zhang family, Huaijin's trust, deep and abiding, lay with Yunli and Wujian above all others. His eyes met theirs, and they understood. No further words were needed.