However, divine thunder techniques need to be successfully cultivated before they can be transcribed. After some discussion, it was decided that the jade slip would be given to Elian, the one with the highest aptitude.
As an exchange, once Elian successfully cultivated the Wood Element Divine Thunder, he would create three jade slips containing the technique to share with the other three families.
Although this would make the Wood Element Divine Thunder more common within the Bianzhou Region, divine thunder techniques, unlike cultivation methods, are difficult to learn. Thus, the impact of this was minimal.
In addition to the jade slip, there were also seven or eight Foundation Establishment stage cultivation techniques. These valuable methods were copied by all present and added to their family archives.
After dividing the resources, Elian addressed the group.
"What we've done here has already offended the Qingyang Sect."
"Although the Qingyang Sect has lost much of its influence and is unlikely to reclaim Cangkong Mountain anytime soon, we should still station some forces here to be safe."
The others nodded in agreement. Xu Daoyuan said, "Let's do this: each of our four families will dispatch several Foundation Establishment cultivators, and we'll take turns stationing a Purple Mansion cultivator here."
Everyone approved of this plan. The Qingyang Sect was in disarray, with many high-level cultivators targeting Elder Xu. Furthermore, the Qingyang Sect had already fallen out with the immortal clans of Qingyang's two regions, leaving it facing both internal and external threats.
Even Jiang Linglong and the Celestial Sky Sword Sect had shown interest in taking action against the Qingyang Sect. If not for Jiang Linglong's focus on perfecting her spiritual roots to advance to the Golden Core stage, she might have already moved to claim the Qingyang Sect's resources.
After all, the Qingyang Sect, which had ruled three regions in Chu Kingdom for many years, possessed resources coveted even by Golden Core ancestors.
Given these circumstances, the Qingyang Sect no longer had the capacity to intervene in the Bianzhou Region, emboldening the families to remove this thorn in their side.
The group finalized their plan, with each family agreeing to station three Foundation Establishment cultivators at Cangkong Mountain, except for the Pan family, which would station two, as their share of the benefits was smaller. The Xu family, receiving the largest share, would send one additional cultivator.
For Purple Mansion cultivators, the families decided on a ten-year rotation, starting with Xu Qianyang.
With Xu Qianyang, a sixth-stage Purple Mansion cultivator, defending the mountain, even a late-stage Purple Mansion cultivator from the Qingyang Sect would struggle to take it back.
The Qingyang Sect once had three late-stage Purple Mansion cultivators. One died during the beast invasion, and another, Elder Liu, was at the ninth stage but had less than ten years of lifespan remaining. Elder Liu was also the sect's only high-grade alchemist. Upon his death, the Qingyang Sect's supply of Foundation Establishment pills would decrease by 30%.
Elian still remembered that the failure of Chen Qingyuan's Foundation Establishment, leading to his death, was due to a defective pill tainted with fire energy, refined by Elder Liu.
The only remaining threat from the Qingyang Sect was Elder Mo, an eighth-stage Purple Mansion cultivator who was fiercely loyal to Elder Xu. However, he was tied up defending Yang Region against the demon clans.
The next strongest member of the Qingyang Sect was Wei Chongyang, who oversaw its affairs. Although Wei was a fifth-stage Purple Mansion cultivator, his combat power was likely inferior to Xu Qianyang's, who wielded the Flaming Goldfire Dragon Shears.
After analyzing the situation, the group concluded that with Xu Qianyang stationed at Cangkong Mountain, only Elder Xu personally intervening—despite his injuries—could pose a serious threat.
However, Elder Xu was already severely injured, and leaving Qingyang Mountain would invite disaster. He was despised across the Chu cultivation world, hated by the Qingyang Sect's allied clans, rogue cultivators, demonic forces, and even beast tribes. Everyone was eager to see him fall.
In such a climate, Elder Xu's presence was more detrimental than beneficial to the Qingyang Sect. Even the Celestial Sky Sword Sect and its allies, who had restrained themselves, might see an opportunity to act.
"Moving forward, each family will rotate Purple Mansion cultivators every ten years."
"Let's settle it, then. Xu Daoyuan, we'll count on you for the first ten years," Elian said, finalizing the arrangements. The group also agreed on how to allocate guards for the Bianzhou Spirit Stone Mine.
The Chen family would station three Foundation Establishment cultivators at the mine, securing 25% of the mine's benefits in return.
After settling these matters, the group stayed at Cangkong Mountain for a month. When no response came from the Qingyang Sect, they each returned to their families.
Upon returning to Yu County, the Patriarch went to Pingyang City, while Elian returned to Qingyuan Mountain. There, he was greeted by a jubilant Chen Qinghao.
Seeing his uncle's elated expression, Elian raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Uncle Qinghao, your joy is apparent. Has something good happened?"
Chen Qinghao nodded, beaming.
"Xianye has reached Foundation Establishment."
"And he did it without a pill."
"Xianye reached Foundation Establishment?" Elian and the others were astonished, their faces lighting up with joy.
Elian recalled Chen Xianye, a dual water-fire spirit root cultivator and one of the most talented youths in the family.
Chen Xianye had always idolized Elian and cultivated diligently. He reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement at the age of nineteen and was now only twenty-four.
Initially, Chen Qinghao had proposed purchasing a Foundation Establishment Pill for Chen Xianye, but the young man had declined, instead requesting a Gathering Essence Pill and breaking through to Foundation Establishment on his own.
Due to the effect of Foundation Establishment Pills, few family members attempted Foundation Establishment without them. Yet Chen Xianye had dared to take the risk and succeeded.
Hearing the full story, Elian was impressed. A self-initiated Foundation Establishment at the age of twenty-four demonstrated both talent and boldness, earning his deep admiration.
"A youth like Xianye should be encouraged," Elian said. Then, stepping forward, he added, "Summon Xianye to the family hall. Let's hold an annual review as well."
At the family hall, Elian observed Chen Xianye closely, appreciation gleaming in his eyes.
Dressed in black, Chen Xianye had a sharp and handsome demeanor with an aura of distinction. Though his energy was slightly unrefined, indicating his Foundation Establishment stage was not yet fully stabilized, he exuded extraordinary promise.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator at the age of twenty-four, and one who succeeded without aid, was remarkable even among Golden Core-level families.
Unlike Chen Nianchuan, who had attempted self-Foundation Establishment at the age of forty-nine out of desperation, Chen Xianye's achievement was a testament to his exceptional potential.
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D