Chương 151: The Journey to Ganyang

Above Purple Cloud Peak, the spiritual energy grew denser with each passing day. Beyond the Seven Colored Spirit Peach Tree stood nine Tier 1 upper grade Azure Spirit Peach Trees. The azure peaches they bore were Tier 1 upper grade fruits, excellent cultivation resources for late stage Qi Refining realm cultivators, capable of advancing their cultivation base. Every three years, the nine trees would yield eighty-one peaches.

One could say that, three years from now, the Zhang family would experience a surge in late stage Qi Refining cultivators. And the Seven Colored Spirit Peach Tree, empowered by the Realm-Breaking Pearl, faced no bottlenecks whatsoever. Given enough time, it would continue to improve without end. When it eventually ascended to Tier 3 upper grade, these nine Tier 1 upper grade Azure Spirit Peach Trees would directly transform into Tier 2 upper grade. Such was the current might of the Realm-Breaking Sub Pearl.

From there, those nine Tier 2 upper grade Azure Spirit Peach Trees would in turn differentiate into eighteen new Tier 1 upper grade saplings. And so on, ad infinitum. As time wore on, Purple Cloud Peak would eventually be blanketed in a dense, sprawling peach orchard. At the summit, peach blossoms burst into bloom, their fragrance saturating the air. Beneath the sweeping wind and rain, the sight was nothing short of breathtaking. Huaijin stood there in white robes, his silhouette carrying a trace of loneliness.

Unbeknownst to him, he was now only three years shy of his sixtieth year. The memories of his past life had gradually faded to a blur. Huaijin had now spent more time in the Nine Peaks Realm than he had in his entire previous existence. Cultivation knows no years; a thousand years may pass in the mortal world in the blink of an eye! The passage of time in a cultivator's life was truly vast and immeasurable. For now, he had yet to experience the bitterness of watching his loved ones pass away one by one.

All he could do was devote himself fully to growing stronger. To better protect his clan. Huaijin's current cultivation had reached the middle stage of Tier 2, Seventh Level. By his estimation, it would take at most two more years to break through to the eighth level. Beyond that lay nothing but gradual, persistent effort. And so, Huaijin prepared to leave Purple Cloud Peak once more. He had previously obtained the inheritance left behind by Yun Chaoge, which had given the Zhang family a solid foundational base.

Now, Huaijin was no weaker than a Tier 3 cultivator and had enough confidence to venture to the Yun Clan of Ganyang Prefecture. He had considered visiting the Yun Clan right after his initial breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm, but had ultimately decided against it. Stolen story; please report. To the Yun Clan, a mere Tier 2 cultivator like Huaijin was hardly worth mentioning. And since the Zhang family had acquired the bulk of the foundational techniques from Yun Chaoge's inheritance…

If the Yun Clan demanded they return them, would he comply or refuse? But now, things were different! His reputation had spread far and wide, reaching even the prefectures neighboring Qingtai Prefecture. He was no longer a nameless cultivator. Huaijin intended to minimize the risks of this undertaking. He also prepared himself for the worst. Of course, this was only possible because Yun Chaoge had placed no time constraints on him back then. Purple Cloud Peak was secure, guarded by the Azure Ink Dragon.

However, the current Flame Beacon Mystery Array was beginning to show its limits. At the very least, they needed a Tier 2 upper grade Array formation. Unfortunately, the Gao family had no Tier 2 upper grade formation master to craft one. To purchase such a formation, the Zhang family would have to travel all the way to Qingtai city. After giving a few instructions to Zhang Rende, Huaijin mounted his Haihu and departed from Purple Cloud Peak. Haihu had now reached fourth level, its cultivation rising steadily.

Huaijin sat astride the tiger's back, concealing his aura, and began his journey toward Ganyang Prefecture. The distance spanned a full hundred thousand miles, even with the Haihu traveling day and night, the journey would take at least half a month. The route would pass through Guiyun Prefecture and Luoshan Prefecture. Allowing for delays, a month would be sufficient for him to arrive. The Purple Dusk Mountain Range was a colossal, ancient mountain chain.

Its countless branches and veins crisscrossed the land, harboring thousands of spirit mountains and blessed grottoes. This vast and ancient mountain range stretched across the entire Tang Kingdom. Legend has it that Tier 5 spirit beasts lurked within its depths, making them the arch-nemesis of the Guheng Sect, the only Nascent Soul sect in the nation. Huaijin traveled along the edge of the Purple Dusk Mountain Range, hunting spirit beasts as he went. He only killed Foundation Establishment level beasts.

All usable materials were kept, and the remaining beast flesh was devoured by Huaijin himself. There was no other choice, who could deny that spirit beast flesh offered the best value for its cost? In the vast Eastern Region Great Wilderness, the number of spirit beasts numbered in the hundreds of millions! They were the one resource that was never scarce. Though absorbing their blood essence was a slow process, it was practically an inexhaustible supply. Huaijin also scoured the area for spirit herbs.

Those of personal value were kept; the rest were fed to the Realm-Breaking Pearl. Time flowed on. Huaijin took his time, but his gains were substantial. —— After a month, he arrived in Ganyang Prefecture! The Yun Clan of Ganyang was renowned far and wide! Everyone in Ganyang Prefecture knew their name. Their ancestral home, Foot of the Maple Mountain, boasted a spirit vein that had been nurtured to Tier 3 upper grade. They possessed deep reserves, including a Tier 3 upper grade formation for protection.

Even a Tier 4 spirit beast would be held at bay for at least three hours. They were the most powerful clan in Ganyang Prefecture, with five Purple Mansion cultivators in their ranks! Their Tier 2 cultivators numbered over forty. The Yun Clan of Ganyang was a colossal entity that ruled over the entire prefecture. What's more, the Yun Clan's esteemed status was further solidified by the fact that one of their ancestors was a cultivator at the peak of the Purple Mansion realm.

He had even taken a Golden Core formation pill and attempted a breakthrough to the Golden Core realm. Though he failed, he gained a certain degree of insight from the attempt, making him stronger than the average perfection stage Tier 3 cultivator. And crucially, this ancestor still had several decades left before his lifespan ran out, and he had not yet consumed any life-extending resources.

If he could find another suitable Golden Core formation pill, he would have at least an eighty percent chance of achieving a Golden Core. He was considered one of the most promising cultivators in the Bing Province to break through to Golden Core Realm. This was also, ironically, the reason the Yun Clan was facing difficulties, they were being suppressed by the Zheng Family, a Tier 4 clan, just like the Heavenly Crane Sect. Huaijin had done his research before setting out.

Several of the Yun Clan's most outstanding members had met untimely ends. If he guessed correctly, it was the work of the Zheng Family. And Yun Chaoge was one of them. At this moment, Huaijin had already set foot on Foot of the Maple Mountain. He announced his purpose to the Yun Clan cultivators stationed at the entrance. When news of his arrival reached the Yun Clan's inner halls, it immediately stirred a great deal of attention. And the one most moved was the current clan leader, Yun Zhaoxi!

Besides him, the relatives of Yun Chaoge were also roused. Dressed in white, Huaijin sat composedly in the guest pavilion at the foot of the mountain. He always adhered to one principle, never lightly enter the stronghold of another cultivation power. If the Yun Clan harbored any ill intent, he could make his escape at a moment's notice. Traveling abroad, one could never be too cautious. A cultivation clan's ancestral grounds were heavily guarded. It was easy to step in; but a thousand times harder to get back out.