Chương 40: Foundations of a Rising Clan

Deep within Zhang Huaijin's spirit, the Primordial Tai Chi Visualization Diagram turned slowly, like a Chaotic Primordial Fiendcelestial. Black and white light swirled in an endless cycle, constantly tempering his soul. He had now condensed nine Yin Yang Divine Needles. Six of them were wrapped in threads of sinister baleful energy, lending them a vicious, poisonous aura. With each rotation of that black and white primordial fiendcelestial, Zhang Huaijin's soul grew just a little stronger.

His physical body followed suit, becoming more powerful with every passing day. He had now reached the peak of Tier 1 Body Refining. At this stage, most ordinary Qi Refining Realm cultivators were no match for him, even if they had reached the Perfection stage of their own realm. The spiritual energy in Langya County town was incredibly dense. For Qi Refining cultivators, training here felt like a blessing from the heavens. Zhang Huaijin's Qi Refining cultivation was also advancing steadily.

Every half month, he consumed a Snow Spirit Pill to accelerate his progress. Now that he was also a Body Cultivator, any residual pill toxins were instantly crushed into nothingness by his surging, vigorous blood energy. As a result, he had slightly increased the frequency of his pill intake. He was now an eighth level Qi Refining Realm cultivator. At this rate, in about two more years, he would reach the peak of the eighth level. Meanwhile, the Zhang family had found its footing and was thriving.

Among the family's third generation, a new Artifact forger had emerged. Zhang Huaijin's youngest uncle had broken to the seventh level of Qi Refining Realm, and now led the family's spirit beast hunting team daily into the depths of the Purple Dusk Mountain Range. Sales of the family's spirit artifacts and talismans were climbing steadily. The number of spirit rice fields was growing, and the spirit wine business was booming. The Zhang family sold three types of spirit wine.

First was the tier 1, low grade Red Sun Spirit Wine. It aided early stage Qi Refining cultivators in their training and worked best for those who specialized in fire based techniques. Second was the mid grade Revitalizing Spring Wine. This wine restored spiritual energy and worked for cultivators of any elemental type. It was even more effective than most recovery pills. The third type was Tiger Bone Wine.

Quite rare, this tier 1, upper grade spirit wine could strengthen a cultivator's body and temper their flesh and blood. A single jar of Tiger Bone Wine was worth several times more than a tier 1, upper grade pill. Because spirit wine carried no pill toxins, there was no need to worry about it eroding the body from within. Every jar sold for a handsome price. The Purple Spirit Tiger Zhang Huaijin had acquired long ago had slowly reached the fourth level of Qi Refining Realm.

Spirit beasts lived several times longer than cultivators, so their cultivation speed was much slower. The two Purple Spirit Tigers he had brought back to the family were now reaching maturity and beginning to breed. Though their numbers were still small, more could be found. Now, the Zhang family's Spirit Beast Garden housed eight Purple Spirit Tigers, and they had started producing offspring. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Zhang Linyi was in charge of the Spirit Beast Garden. Now at the eighth layer of Qi Refining Realm, he watched the family grow and prosper with a smile on his face every day. Who knew? He might even have a chance at reaching the ninth level before his time ran out. Zhang Huaijin spent a significant number of merit points to take a Purple Spirit Tiger cub and gave it to Zhang Wujian, fulfilling his promise. It was worth noting that the family's new Artifact Forger was none other than Zhang Wujian.

He hadn't inherited his father Zhang Liliang's talent for talisman crafting, but he was deeply interested in forging artifacts. With the family's support, he had become a tier 1, low grade Artifact Forger. Zhang Wujian was Zhang Liliang's second son. Zhang Liliang's eldest son had no spiritual root and had been sent to Green Bamboo Town. Zhang Wujian's mother, Zhang Liliang's wife, had sadly passed away giving birth to him. Even for cultivators, childbirth consumes a mother's vital energy.

If the toll was too great, there was always a risk of death. Zhang Liliang never remarried. Zhang Chongwen did not blame him; he understood the pain of losing a wife all too well. —— Two more years passed in the blink of an eye. Zhang Huaijin's own cultivation had reached the eighth level of Qi Refining Realm. He was now twenty four years old. The three year timeframe thay had discussed with Weng Zho was up. The Zhang family's two shops were stable. Zhang Hanren now had two children.

Miao Linghui had given birth to a pair of twins, a boy and a girl. They were just two years old now, not yet old enough to be tested for spiritual roots. Zhang Huaijin had visited several times, and the children were quite fond of their uncle. And then word arrived from Green Bamboo Mountain, the envoy from the Heavenly Crane Sect had come. Zhang Huaijin gave his instructions and immediately left the Langya County town, heading back to the Green Bamboo Mountain.

The envoy from the Heavenly Crane Sect was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. He wore a purple robe, had a square, upright face, a strong and imposing build, and carried an air of righteousness about him.

"Huaijin, this is a senior Foundation Establishment Realm elder from the Heavenly Crane Sect. Come and pay your respects." Zhang Huaijin had barely entered the family's main hall when he heard Zhang Lixian's voice. He did not dare to be negligent. He hurried forward and bowed deeply.

"Junior Huaijin greets the senior elder of the Heavenly Crane Sect." His posture was perfect, his tone respectful.

"My master ordered me to deliver a message," the man said.

"The Foundation Establishment Pill is ready. I am to take you to the sect. Who is going?" This man was named Zi Xuanwu, the leading disciple of Weng Zho and a late stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. At just 130 years old, he still had the potential to reach the Purple Mansion realm. He was a genius with Fire and Wood spirit roots, had joined the Heavenly Crane Sect as a child, and was considered a future candidate for the Purple Mansion.

Though he asked the question, his gaze fell directly on Zhang Lixian. Zhang Lixian had been at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm for about five years now. He was fifty seven years old, possessed three spirit roots, and his Dao heart was unshakable. In the entire Zhang family, no one else had such a superior profile.

"Reporting to the senior elder," Zhang Lixian said, taking a deep breath and speaking in a low, steady voice, "this junior will go." This was the chance the Zhang family had bought with the sacrifice of one of their own geniuses. He had to succeed.

"Good. There's no time to waste. We leave now." Zi Xuanwu's expression did not change in the slightest. The Heavenly Crane Sect had done everything it could. If Zhang Lixian could not break through to Foundation Establishment with this pill, then that was simply his fate. Zi Xuanwu took Zhang Lixian and left. They boarded a flying boat bound for the Heavenly Crane Sect. A Foundation Establishment cultivator could ride the wind and fly solo. In the eyes of mortals, they were like immortals descending from heaven.

The Heavenly Crane Sect's main headquarters was located in the Heavenly Crane Mountains in Bing Province, atop a Tier 4 Spirit Mountain. And the Heavenly Crane Sect controlled more than just one Tier 4 spirit vein. That was the foundation of a Golden Core Sect. All the Zhang family cultivators watched Zhang Lixian's figure slowly disappear into the distance. Hope and anticipation shone in their eyes.

"He must succeed." Zhang Chongwen's gaze was fixed on the horizon, a quiet whisper escaping his lips. If it hadn't been for the family's incredible luck in producing a Wind Spirit Root genius, the Zhang family would never have had a chance to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill. Zhang Lixian had been at the peak of Qi Refining Realm for about five years. He had three spirit roots and an unshakable Dao heart. He was definitely going to succeed.