Under Moon Watching City’s rule, the eight towns were divided by the eastern mountain range and the city itself, diagonally splitting the north and south from the northeast to the southwest.

The northern front held four towns: Liuyun, Cuixi, Beipu, and Xiting.

The southern region’s four towns were the well-known Willow Leaf, Baishi, Qinghe, and Fengling.

The Yang Family was closest to Baishi Town, with Willow Leaf Town lying to the west.

Qinghe sat in the northeast, while Fengling, the farthest, was in the deep south.

Though the Yang Family had solidified their standing in the three towns region of the south, their influence across the entire Moon Watching area still fell short of the Li Family’s former reach.

This stemmed from two gaps: the absence of a full-level cultivator overseeing family matters and the lack of both scale and affiliated families.

At its peak, the Li Family had boasted twelve affiliated families scattered throughout Moon Watching.

In contrast, the Yang Family had only absorbed external surname clans, with no true affiliated families yet.

Old Yu had raised this issue with Yang Lingqing earlier.

Back then, the Yang Family had just acquired the Talisman Inheritance, and Chen Yang had crafted their first batch of talismans.

Offering talismans held great attraction for many Gathering Qi families.

But with the family’s weak power and no strong backing, Yang Lingqing deemed the timing unripe.

She worried acting would paint them as a target for various factions and risk exposing their complete Talisman Inheritance, so the plan was shelved.

Now, however, the Yang Family’s circumstances had transformed beyond recognition.

Within years, they’d leveraged the power struggles between the dynasty and sects to rise decisively.

Liu Zihao’s arrival filled the last missing piece.

For any faction, a guarding formation was vital for growth.

With ample strength, He Shenglai’s support, and Formation Master Liu Zihao’s genius, the Yang Family now met all requirements to recruit affiliated families.

The latest imperial decree from the dynasty further set the stage—newly risen Gathering Qi forces faced shortages of elite family members, creating ideal external conditions for the Yang Family’s move.

Thus, when the bamboo forest cultivator’s letter arrived, Yang Lingqing already knew her course.

Accepting the storage bag from Huang Yan, she said, “So this is your purpose. Master Huang, sit and elaborate.”

“Ah! Of course!”

Huang Yan sat again, anxiety mingling with hope.

Yang Lingqing’s lack of immediate refusal meant opportunity!

“Zhao Qi, summon Formation Master Liu.”

“Yes.”

At the mention of Liu Zihao’s arrival, Huang Yan’s heart leaped.

*They say the Yang Family will become the ‘new Li Family.’ I doubted it before, but two thousand spiritual crystals given without hesitation? A resident formation master? Truly, they’ve left their past selves far behind!* he mused.

Soon, Liu Zihao knocked and entered.

“Greetings, Master.”

“Please sit, sir.”

“Yes.”

After Liu Zihao bowed respectfully and took his seat, this simple interaction once again altered Huang Yan’s understanding.

The outside world claimed Liu Zihao had recognized the Yang Family’s potential and thus humbled himself to join them.

But today’s encounter suggested otherwise.

Yang Lingqing briefly explained the matter. Liu Zihao nodded in understanding before addressing Huang Yan: “Five hundred spiritual crystals. Have you selected your formation, Master Huang?”

“Ah! The selection’s made. Here’s the formation diagram, sir!”

Huang Yan hastily handed over the purchased diagram. Liu Zihao glanced at it before setting it aside.

“Bought this from the formation hall?”

“Indeed, Formation Master Liu.”

“Cost you a hundred crystals?”

“Yes!”

Liu Zihao chuckled derisively. “The formation hall’s sinking lower – chasing deception over innovation. Charging a hundred crystals for this scrap? Shameful!”

Huang Yan sat frozen, not daring to comment. Only someone of Formation Master Liu’s status could speak so boldly.

“Since you’ve old ties with our family, I’ll draft a new diagram. Crude but serviceable – still better than this trash.”

The original diagram’s shoddy craftsmanship showed obvious patchwork, detectable only by experts like Liu Zihao.

“Many thanks, Formation Master Liu!” Huang Yan’s hands trembled. Securing the master’s help was fortune enough – this redrawn diagram felt like a delightful surprise.

Little did he know greater astonishments awaited.

“Sir,” Yang Lingqing interjected, “will five hundred crystals suffice for a large late-stage formation?”

Huang Yan gaped. His diagram had been for a medium late-stage formation. Large formations typically cost seven hundred!

“Sufficient.”

“Yet the Huang territory has many mortals. Perhaps…”

“Adapt Song Mountain’s Baixiang Guiyuan Formation into medium early-stage. Reduced efficacy, but adequate for their needs.”

Their rapid exchange left Huang Yan rubbing his ears in disbelief. Were they forcing upgrades he couldn’t afford?

He shot up, trembling. “Yang Master! Formation Master Liu! We’ve scraped together every crystal! We can’t possibly-“

Yang Lingqing smiled calmly. “Don’t panic. The five hundred suffices.”

Huang Yan’s eyes lit up – until she added: “There is one condition.”

His heart plunged. The Yangs always demanded hidden costs.

Tribute? Mortal sacrifices? Promising youths? He braced for the worst.

“When you arrived,” Yang Lingqing inquired, “did you see the Hall of Yang’s Lineage and its stone tablet?”

“Y-yes. Grand structures, visible from the mountain base.”

“Then Huang Family must build identical sites. Daily worship by all – cultivators and mortals alike.”

Huang Yan’s breath caught. “Does this… make us Yang vassals?”

“Indeed. Your answer?”

“Magnificent!” Huang Yan nearly danced. “To serve the Yang Family honors us! We’ll build ten halls – no, a hundred!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep