Chapter 1455 - 1046: Gift Giving, Grotto Heaven

Although the river’s current was not swift, its mere existence in the middle of a desert was an extreme rarity. The Ma Family of the Celestial River Oasis was one of the many Affiliated Clans of the Ye Family that held the privilege of selling Spirit Fish to them.

At this moment, several members of the Ma Family gathered within a heavily guarded hall atop the Ma Family’s Spirit Mountain. The oldest ancestor of the Ma Family, Ma Xiuyuan, was already quite elderly. He sat leaning slightly back in a Master’s Chair, deep in thought. Upon closer inspection, one could even see that his gaze had begun to grow cloudy. Although this Ma Family ancestor had established the Ma Family just over a century ago, he was already over two hundred and twenty years old. Coupled with his previous failure to break through to the Purple Mansion using Celestial Spirit Qi, which had cost him a significant portion of his Lifespan, it was already incredibly difficult for him to maintain his Late Stage of Foundation Establishment Cultivation.

Beside him sat the high-spirited Ma Xiuyuan, who was currently the Ma Family’s only Purple Mansion Cultivator, boasting an impressive Mid-stage Purple Mansion Cultivation. However, neither of them looked particularly pleased at the moment.

"Father, we’ve fallen for the Wan Family’s trick this time," the valiant Ma Yuyuan spoke up from beside the two men. Though Ma Yuyuan was only just over a hundred years old, she boasted a Foundation Establishment Peak Cultivation, leaving her not far from reaching the Purple Mansion. Moreover, thanks to Ma Xiuyuan’s grooming, her grasp of the bigger picture was quite sharp.

"That boy from the Wan Family is truly full of schemes," the younger Ma Xiuyuan sighed helplessly.

The Cyan Yang Camel had been found in a Secret Realm, but theoretically, this Secret Realm was located closer to the Wan Family. It was also the Wan Family members who had first incited the idea of annexing some smaller oases. Afterward, the Ma Family, the Xu Family, and the Wan Family had schemed together in secret, but at the last moment, the Wan Family changed their target for annexation, opting for three small oases instead. As a result, the Ma Family became the target of public criticism.

Meanwhile, the Wan Family advanced by retreating. Not only did they harvest three oases, but they also married Wan Yulian off to Ye Qingnian. Setting aside what the Wan Family’s Combat Power might be in the future, Wan Yulian marrying into a Nascent Soul Clan and greatly increasing her chances of breaking through to the Golden Core was a massive gain in itself. Even if the Wan Family didn’t prosper for thousands of years, they were destined for a smooth and enduring legacy over the next seven or eight centuries. Furthermore, while the value of the three small oases acquired by the Wan Family couldn’t compare to the Haoyu Oasis that the Ma Family had annexed, in the long run, as long as they were willing to invest resources, the prospects of those three small oases were no worse than those of the Haoyu Oasis.

"Even if we marry Yuyuan into the Ye Family this time, it would be of no use," the elder Ma Xiuyuan shook his head from the side.

"I’m afraid we wouldn’t be able to marry her off even if we wanted to," the younger Ma Xiuyuan replied with a bitter smile. When it came to his daughter, he naturally hoped she would find a good match. However, to compete with the Wan Family previously, the Ma Family had treated Ma Yuyuan as a core successor, much like the Wan Family did with Wan Muchun. Such a clan member was undoubtedly an asset to the Ma Family, but the Ye Family likely wouldn’t favor her. It was just like Wan Muchun, who had constantly tried to marry into the core lineage of the Ye Family as a matrilocal husband, yet had never succeeded. This made it clear that the Ye Family valued not only talent in their core members but also malleability. Wan Yulian’s success this time was the best proof of that.

"Let’s offer all the Thousand-Year Elixirs the family recently obtained this time. Although the Ye Family is only holding a Nascent Soul ceremony, they still have several Golden Core True Masters," Ma Xiuyuan finally said.

As soon as these words were spoken, many clan members couldn’t help but frown.

"Uncle Yuan, is there really a need for that? Even if we can’t compare to the Wan Family, without Wan Yulian, who possesses an Abnormal Spirit Root, it won’t be easy for them to surpass our Ma Family in High-tier Combat Power. The Xu Family doesn’t even have a Purple Mansion Cultivator right now. As long as we don’t overstep our boundaries and quietly develop our oasis, there shouldn’t be any problems in the future," a Ma Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator spoke up.

"Hmph. According to my sources, the Xu Family has obtained an extraordinary Treasure this time and is preparing to offer it to the Ye Family at the Nascent Soul ceremony. If nothing goes wrong, the Ye Family will grant the Xu Family Purple Mansion Jade Liquid. Now that there is a Teleportation Array, neither you nor I even have the ability to target the Xu Family on their journey," Ma Xiuyuan snorted coldly. If it were truly just the Wan Family competing with the Ma Family, he naturally wouldn’t worry. After all, despite the Wan Family’s deep scheming, they were far too devoted to the Ye Family to ever overstep their bounds in the slightest. This strategy of theirs was bound to persist, and they would never harbor thoughts of annexing the Ma Family. But the Xu Family was different. Like them, if the Xu Family had any ambitions of reaching the heavens in a single bound, they would undoubtedly take desperate risks.

Hearing this, the rest of the clan members ceased their discussions. While a Thousand-Year Elixir was beneficial to a Purple Mansion Cultivator, they also knew that it would, at most, refine Ma Xiuyuan’s True Essence a bit further. It wouldn’t give him even a ten percent chance of breaking through to the Golden Core. Unlike the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid that the Ye Family occasionally let slip into the market, Treasures like the Gold Condensing Pill would absolutely never be leaked. After all, the Ye Family lacked them too. If they wanted a Golden Core Cultivator to emerge from their family, their best bet was to find clansmen with exceptional talent and send them to the Ye Family from a young age. Only then would it be possible.

"The family still needs to select some female clansmen with outstanding looks and talent. They must receive the proper grooming during their Immortal Seedling stage," Ma Xiuyuan instructed.

"Even if we have to make some sacrifices, we cannot be weaker than the Wan Family. We’ve already fallen one step behind; we can’t afford to fall behind at every step," he added.

At the Yuanling Oasis, within the Xu Family’s Talisman Shop, the position of the Xu Family’s Patriarch had now been passed to Xu Haoceng. As for the Xu Family’s founding ancestor, Xu Changkong, his Lifespan had been exhausted ten years ago, and he had passed away. A Cultivator walked into the Talisman Shop and strode briskly up to the second floor. It was only when he saw the bright red lacquered door that his demeanor became cautious.

"Uncle Haoceng!" He gave the door a gentle tap.

The courtyard door quickly opened, revealing Xu Haoceng’s expectant face.

"It’s done. I’ve already contacted Ye Yunshan of the Ye Family. He is the descendant of Ye Qingfu and has agreed to let us tag along on the Teleportation Array."

"Xuan Jing, you did well on this matter. I have high hopes for you becoming the next Patriarch of the Xu Family."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xuanjing was naturally thrilled, though he still replied modestly.

"Uncle Haoceng praises me too much. How could I ever compare to Brother Xuan Monarch?"

"Although Xuan Monarch’s talent is better than yours, he is lacking in interpersonal skills. You shouldn’t belittle yourself." Xu Haoceng was quite pleased, so he wasn’t afraid to make heavy promises. The Xu Family’s foundation was different from that of the Ma Family, and they didn’t have a large number of clansmen. He wouldn’t just practice nepotism.

"Uncle Haoceng, is it really worth spending Wan Xu Spirit Stones just for a single teleportation opportunity?" Xu Xuanjing still couldn’t quite wrap his head around it. "The Nascent Soul ceremony isn’t pressing for time. If we sailed a Tier Two Spiritual Ship, we’d arrive in roughly half a month."

"Of course it’s worth it," Xu Haoceng stated with absolute certainty. He glanced down at his waist, where a Small Brocade Bag bulged outward, looking as if it contained a small seashell. The shell-like Treasure inside this Small Brocade Bag couldn’t be considered a Magical Treasure, yet it was far more precious than one. Inside lay an entire Grotto Heaven. If it weren’t for the fact that the Ye Family was the only one in the entire Desert Sea that possessed Purple Mansion Spirit Medicine, he would never have taken it out under any circumstances.

A Grotto Heaven Treasure was exponentially more precious than a Storage Bag or a Spirit Beast Bag. Not even the Zhang Jia families, who once controlled the Desert Sea, had ever possessed one. This type of Magical Treasure was incredibly convenient for cultivating Spirit Medicine and raising Spirit Beasts, all without any lingering worries. Most importantly, it offered a massive advantage even if one had to flee with their clansmen. Furthermore, it could be passed down from generation to generation. It was just a pity that their Xu Family had no Purple Mansion Cultivator. They had once been hailed as one of the three great clans of the Desert Sea alongside the Ma and Wan Families, but now they had been left far behind by the other two. Even with this Treasure in his possession, he still had to worry about being robbed by the Ma Family. He was left with no choice but to pay a high price in exchange for a spot on the Teleportation Array.

"Since you’ve already made the arrangements, don’t leave the Talisman Shop for the next few days. Just focus on your Cultivation here. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask me at any time. For the future Patriarch of the Xu Family, interpersonal skills are important, but Cultivation is equally crucial," Xu Haoceng instructed.

Xu Xuanjing nodded in agreement. He knew that Xu Haoceng was maintaining a degree of caution, even towards him. Xu Haoceng was the descendant of Xu Changkong. As the offspring of a once-renowned Loose Cultivator, he naturally lacked trust in everything, even when the person standing in front of him was a member of his own Xu Family. Moreover, the Xu Family was currently not only competing with the Ma and Wan Families, but there were also quite a few Foundation Establishment Clans keeping a close watch on them.