Chương 99: The Tiger's Claim

With the dual breakthroughs of the Purple Spirit Tiger Haihu, and Zhang Liwei, the Zhang family's power began to skyrocket. Their overall strength now surpassed even the Yan family. After all, once Zhang Huaijin unleashed his full combat power, the Yan family's three Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators wouldn't stand a chance. Seizing the moment, the Zhang family decided to hold a Foundation Establishment Ceremony for Zhang Liwei, a public declaration of their rising might.

The major powers of Langya County raised no objections. It was no secret that Zhang Huaijin had earned a Foundation Establishment Pill by placing among the top ten contributors during the beast tide. And Zhang Liwei had proven himself worthy, successfully breaking through without wasting that precious pill. Over at the Tian family, Tian Jianmo was absolutely livid.

With Tian Jianwei fallen, the Tian family had been forced to hire a rogue Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator at an exorbitant price just to maintain their grip on Langya County's profits. If Jianwei were still alive, the Tians might have lost some revenue, but they wouldn't be scrambling like this, so vulnerable, so reactive. Now Tian Jianmo was straining every resource, funneling the family's entire wealth into the search for another Foundation Establishment Pill.

If none could be found in Qingtai Prefecture, they would look elsewhere. Because the moment he passed away, without a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator of their own, the Tian family would crumble. Other powers would tear them apart, seizing the legacy they had built. —— Half a month later, Zhang Liwei's Foundation Establishment Ceremony took place as scheduled. Every faction in Langya County attended, including the three major Foundation Establishment Realm powers.

The Zhang family was riding a wave of destiny, producing one Foundation Establishment cultivator after another. Even the Gao family now treated them as equals. Zhang Huaijin's potential was simply too immense. In a few more decades, once the Zhangs' newer Foundation Realm cultivators had matured, Langya County's top power would likely change hands. Huaijin had already reached the mid stages. Given his combat prowess, even Gao Zhengyu, a sixth level cultivator, probably couldn't beat him.

In the world of cultivation, power was everything. Dignity and face were defended by strength. Status and authority were secured by cultivation level. … The Wu family of Shangfu sent an envoy once more, the same Wu Ping as before. Back then, Wu Ping had only been at the third level. More than a decade later, he had now reached the mid stages himself.

"Congratulations!" Wu Ping said, a trace of genuine envy in his voice.

"Another Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator joins your ranks." Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Zhang Lixian had returned temporarily from Langya County for the ceremony and would head back afterward.

"Is Anhe still in seclusion at the family estate?" Zhang Lixian asked with a warm smile.

"It's been far too long since I last saw him."

"Ah, Anhe's talent is solid," Wu Ping replied, pride creeping into his tone.

"He's advanced to the second level now and spends his days refining his alchemy techniques. He's hoping to become a Tier 2 alchemist."

"That's wonderful news," Zhang Lixian said.

"When the time is right, I'll have Huaijin visit the Wu family to pay his respects to his uncle." He paused, realizing with a start that more than twenty years had slipped by since their last meeting.

"Excellent! Anhe will be overjoyed to hear that." After a few more pleasantries, the Foundation Establishment Ceremony officially began. Representatives from various factions looked on. The Miao and Yang families felt their confidence in following the Zhangs deepen. The Zhangs' rise was simply too fast to deny. And this was without the secret of the Purple Spirit Tiger, Haihu, even leaking. Not every Foundation Establishment Realm family could boast a Tier 2 spirit beast. …

After the ceremony ended, Zhang Lixian returned to Langya County Town to oversee affairs there. In recent years, the Zhang family had collected over three thousand spirit stones annually from the county's tax revenues alone. It was a staggering income. Accumulated year after year, it would steadily enrich the family's foundation. In the county town, the Zhang family's shops had begun selling Tier 2, low grade spirit artifacts and spirit talismans. Zhang Liliang had lived up to expectations.

After nearly a decade of hard work at the Perfection stage of Qi Refining Realm, he could finally refine Tier 2 spirit talismans with some consistency. His success rate wasn't high yet, but he was officially a Tier 2 talisman maker. This added another revenue stream to the family's coffers. In a few more years, he would be able to pay off all his remaining debts. Meanwhile, Zhang Liwei diligently stabilized his new cultivation base and polished his skills, all while guarding the family's spirit mountain.

And Huaijin began preparing to head to Green Ape Peak to establish his own personal cultivation abode. Of course, the groundwork had to be laid first. He went directly to the Gao family and paid 1800 spirit stones to have their family array master, Gao Zhengxin, construct a set of formations for him. The core of the formation was a Tier 2, mid grade spirit artifact: the Bloodflame War Lance. It was one of Zhang Huaijin's trophies from killing those Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.

He wasn't afraid of that fact coming to light anymore. The grudges with those two families were already carved in stone. The Gao family readily agreed to Zhang Huaijin's request. Half a month later, the array was complete. The Tier 2, mid grade formation was called the Flame Beacon Sacred Mystery Array. Using the Bloodflame War Lance as its core and supported by thirty six formation flags, it could draw spiritual energy from the local spirit vein to manifest thirty six spear projections.

If nurtured for several decades, the formation's power would be enough to injure a late stage cultivator. Huaijin was deeply satisfied. He was no formation master and didn't fully understand the intricacies involved. He was already spread thin with his many pursuits. The Zhang family had no array formation inheritance of its own; if he wanted arrays, he had to buy them. Building a family's heritage couldn't be rushed.

Zhang Huaijin took the Purple Spirit Tiger, Haihu, and headed straight into the Zimo Mountain Range. The outer reaches now held more and more spirit beasts, and Tier 2 were beginning to show themselves. Green Ape Peak had been taken over by a Tier 2, second level spirit beast called a Blazing Sun Chicken. It commanded a flock of several dozen Tier 1 Blazing Sun Chickens. Zhang Huaijin's eyes lit up. He summoned the Purple Spirit Tiger, Haihu, from its spirit beast pouch.

"It's up to you now," he said calmly.

"Don't kill it." Even though the Blazing Sun Chicken was at the second level of Foundation Establishment Realm, the racial gap between them was simply too wide. The Purple Spirit Tiger, though newly advanced to Tier 2, belonged to a powerful bloodline. The chicken never stood a chance. Sure enough, half an hour later, Haihu let out a triumphant roar. His purple fur was singed in a few places, but beneath his fierce claws lay the barely alive Blazing Sun Chicken.

Huaijin's spiritual power surged from his Sea of Consciousness, crashing into the chicken's mind. The chaotic, balanced power of his soul transformed into a black chain, binding the beast's very soul.

"You can understand me, yes." he said, his voice utterly cold.

"I am your master now. Make sure your flock behaves." The Blazing Sun Chicken, despite its cultivation level, had little future value. But its meat was exquisite, tender and flavorful, no matter how you prepared it. And it was rich in spiritual energy, perfect for banquets that could boost a cultivator's power.