After seeing off Gao Hui, Yang Lingqing returned to the ancestral hall.

Old Yu, Lingrui, and Linghu were currently in Sanglu Valley, leaving only her in the Forbidden Area’s main courtyard.

Yang Lingqing stood silently in the ancestral hall for a long while.

Chen Yang observed her, witnessing shifting emotions in her eyes over fifteen short minutes—

excitement, anxiety, fear, resignation…

Yet when she finally spoke, all these feelings gave way to steely resolve.

The girl remained unchanged from four years prior, never showing vulnerability publicly, only lowering her guard when alone with the Immortal Master.

“Immortal Master, the tide cannot be turned. Our only path lies in riding its current.”

Her voice held iron certainty: “Since we’re part of this game, I’ll play without regrets! I’ll exhaust every means to carve an escape route for the Yang Family!”

“I’ll prove worthy of your grace and the Elder’s legacy!”

She stepped back and bowed deeply to Chen Yang.

Having overheard the conversation, Chen Yang shared Yang Lingqing’s grim conclusion—

Weakness spelled damnation. The Yangs had no choice.

Refuse to be chess pieces, and they’d become mere sacrifices in this grand design.

“Ten years…”

Chen Yang repeated inwardly.

The deadline Gao Hui mentioned—He Shenglai’s timeframe for Yang Lingrui’s late-stage Gathering Qi breakthrough—

marked when the royal scheme would unfold.

“Time’s tight. No telling how long full mastery takes. Must work faster.”

The following year saw Chen Yang fully focused on the Talisman Technique, crafting endlessly.

Major developments unfolded:

The Yangs delivered their first batch of 36 fire talismans through Fengling. Fearing prolonged dormancy, Chen Yang stockpiled two extra years’ worth.

To satisfy the Su Family, he prepared 60 divine movement talismans—20 yearly deliveries to Moon Watching City’s Immortal Patrol Office.

For emergencies, he forged 5 diamond talismans and 5 mountain-opening talismans, including one superior-quality of each.

Sanglu Valley’s restoration concluded, its cave dwelling personally arranged by Old Yu.

Per He Shenglai’s orders, Old Yu, Yang Linghu, and Wu Tong led Yang Xiaolei, three main family members, southern bank elites, and merited commoners in relocating to establish a branch family.

Thus the Yangs officially settled in Qinghe.

Southern bank notables formed new allied clans, while settlers built villages at Sanglu Valley’s three entrances.

Flush with royal reward spiritual crystals, Yang Lingqing outfitted every Yang cultivator with storage bags and combat-ready spiritual treasures. Upgraded formations now shielded both Song Mountain’s main family and Sanglu’s branch—

Three-tiered late-stage Gathering Qi systems for detection, defense, and attack.

These preparations elevated the Yangs’ strength, banishing their former dread of late-stage practitioners.

Two cleansing elixirs were distributed: the superior quality one went to Yang Lingrui, while the inferior grade went to Liang Yi.

Liang Yi, knowing his average aptitude, never expected the superior elixir. He approached Yang Lingqing to share his thoughts.

He reasoned that Zhao Qi and Wu Tong were too young to waste the inferior elixir on. Neither his age nor talent deserved significant investment from the family head.

Getting this elixir was already fortunate enough, so he requested it from Yang Lingqing.

Thanks to years of accumulated effort, Liang Yi broke through to the second level of Gathering Qi within three months of taking the elixir.

After stabilizing their branch family for half a year, the Yang Family began absorbing smaller clans in the three towns region.

They hadn’t attempted this in the two towns area before, but now acted under imperial authority.

With overwhelming cultivation strength and Yang Lingqing’s personal involvement, they recruited all twelve local clans with cultivators within two months.

Yang Lingqing rarely used force.

She first demonstrated power, then negotiated respectfully by explaining mutual benefits. Most clans understood clearly.

Two clan leaders proved exceptions.

Mistaking her politeness for weakness, they demanded outrageous terms thinking the Yangs needed their help.

Yang Lingqing simply stepped aside and let her brothers take over.

After Yang Lingrui and Yang Linghu’s “persuasion”, both clans brought apology gifts soon after the Yangs left.

With these matters settled, Chen Yang’s secluded cultivation period approached.

Old Yu escorted him to the cave dwelling at Sanglu Valley’s base.

“This cave is under my personal guard. None shall disturb Immortal Master’s cultivation.”

After placing Chen Yang on the jade platform, Old Yu bowed and retreated.

“All preparations done. Time to begin.”

Chen Yang retrieved mother jade from his storage bag and activated its devouring power.

As spiritual resonance flowed into him, the jade shrank while his body swelled, skin cracking.

Though feeling no pain, watching his splitting form through detached consciousness gave phantom discomfort.

The elastic gel beneath his skin stretched into transparent film, containing his doubled-sized body.

“Burp! Burp! Buuurp!”

“Gah!”

Stuffed beyond capacity, Chen Yang’s consciousness vanished mid-burp, plunging him into darkness.

Given his bloated form, a year might not suffice for digestion.

Three major events occurred during Chen Yang’s first cultivation year:

First,

Three evil cultivators from Eastern Wilderness infiltrated Zhuhu Dynasty, reaching Qinghe territory through eastern mountains.

Kidnapping villagers for dark arts, they were tracked by Yang Family-led coalition of twelve clans. After three months, the cultivators were cornered and slain.

The dynasty rewarded all participants, granting Yang Family a 1,500 dynasty merits certificate for claiming treasures from Dynasty Treasury through Gao Hui.

Second,

Li Family’s Elder Li Yuande entered Chongtian City with Li Qingwan. Next day, second young master Li Cheng was assassinated, plunging the clan into chaos.

Within a month, the century-old “top clan beneath noble families” in Moon Watching City collapsed completely as members looted home assets and scattered.

Third,

Yang Lingrui reached the fifth level of Gathering Qi.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep