Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 1279: Chapter 832: What Is That Old Guy Up To?

The morning mist over the Spiritual Spring Mountain Plateau had not yet dissipated, and the dew on the green stone slabs shattered into gold foil in the morning light.

Yang Zhenshan stood under a dense Three Yellow Li Tree, wearing a loose Daoist robe.

The blue-gray Daoist robe appeared plain, but the intricate embroidery of pine patterns displayed its exquisite craftsmanship. If observed closely with the Spirit Eye Skill, one might even discover the spiritual light of runes hidden beneath the threads.

The Pine Daoist Robe was actually more than just a Daoist robe; it should be referred to as a Vestment robe. The pine patterns served only to conceal the runes within.

This Vestment robe was sewn by Yu Qingyi for Yang Zhenshan, and he was particularly fond of the pine patterns on the front lapel, which he found very tasteful. The outline was embroidered with gold thread, while the needles were woven with nine shades of dark green silk threads of varying depths.

The dense stitching resembled the arrangement of pine needles, and up close, one could discern that the translucent fluorite fragments hidden within each cluster of needles emitted a faint blue light in the dim light, akin to frost condensing on pine needles when the morning mist had not yet lifted.

The pine branches at the cuff extended to the back of the hand, and the scale armor-like bark was embroidered with overlapping silver threads, the raised patterns fitting perfectly with the flow of veins.

Whenever mana circulated, the pine branches would glow with a gentle green hue, and the three snow-colored crane birds perched among the branches would flap their wings, the tassels in their beaks swaying gently.

The robe contained three arrays, including a Protective Array composed of twelve Restrictions, a Spirit Gathering Array composed of eight Restrictions, and a Wind Control Array composed of six Restrictions.

It could protect the body in battle, gather spiritual energy during cultivation, and assist in controlling the wind when traveling.

Such a Vestment robe was already considered a top-grade Magic Artifact.

Yang Zhenshan named this set of Vestment robes the Changqing Magical Robe, and in his opinion, all Immortal Cultivators in the Spirit Source Land should be equipped with Changqing Magical Robes in the future.

Of course, others’ Changqing Magical Robes didn’t need to be sewn personally by Yu Qingyi; Ma Qiuyan and Ning Yun could handle it.

After all, there were only six Immortal Cultators in the Spirit Source Land under Yang Zhenshan’s disciple, and even if each had two, it would only amount to twelve pieces.

Wearing the Changqing Magical Robe, Yang Zhenshan appeared even more ethereal and elegant, exuding the demeanor of a sage-like hermit.

He stood under the tree, waving his sleeve, and twelve arm-thick green vines emerged immediately from the ground in front of him.

The green vines thrust out straight, resembling rows of long spears.

His spiritual sense spread out, and the twelve green vines appeared completely in Yang Zhenshan’s Sea of Consciousness.

The next moment, with a thought, the twelve green vines charged forward like soldiers wielding spears.

The spears shot forth like dragons, lightning flashing, the sharp spear tips carrying a piercing sound, and instantly pierced the stone wall ahead.

The stone wall, a breadth wide, was directly penetrated, and in the next moment, the twelve green vines retreated in unison.

Yang Zhenshan’s eyes sparkled as he stepped forward to observe the stone wall.

"Not bad, there’s already a hint of my unique spear intent in it. However, to imbue the green vines with the full extent of my spear intent, I still need to practice diligently!"

He nodded in satisfaction.

Combining the Vine Skill with Spear Skill to imbue the green vines with his unique spear intent was his research focus during this period.

So far, it seemed his Spear Intent Vine Skill had shown initial results.

This move was already capable of threatening Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Yang Zhenshan waved his sleeve, and the twelve green vines dissipated like bubbles.

The spell practice for today was over, and next, he was to nurture the Qinghua Thunder Pearl.

However, just as he was about to go to the Quiet Chamber to cultivate the Qinghua Thunder Pearl, Qingxia suddenly arrived and said, "Family Head, urgent report from the Secret Martial Guards!"

"Oh!"

Yang Zhenshan took the letter in surprise and opened it. After reading the contents, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

"I didn’t expect that old guy to still be alive!"

"And he’s mixed up with the Soul-breaking Blade, what’s that old guy up to?"

He murmured softly.

The urgent report from the Secret Martial Guards contained only one piece of information: they had found someone familiar.

Xuanzhen Elder!

Ever since more than twenty years ago, when Yang Zhenshan and Xuanzhen parted ways, Xuanzhen seemed to have vanished from the world, with no trace to be found.

Yang Zhenshan had thought this old guy might have already passed away, but now this old guy had resurfaced.

Previously, Yang Zhenshan had even sent the Secret Martial Guards to search for Xuanzhen and had Yan Qinting inquire about Xuanzhen’s whereabouts in the Xuanqing Sect. After all, back then, he had been convinced by Yang Zhenshan to go there.

Naturally, Xuanzhen had not joined the Xuanqing Sect; the Xuanqing Sect would never accept him.

But it seemed he had joined the Soul-breaking Blade!

According to the investigation by the Secret Martial Guards, Xuanzhen was now in a stronghold of the Soul-breaking Blade in Yu Mountain Town, and judging by his appearance, he didn’t seem to be on the brink of death.

"Could it be that after realizing he couldn’t join the Xuanqing Sect, he ran off to join the Soul-breaking Blade? But how did he connect with the Soul-breaking Blade?"

Yang Zhenshan was quite perplexed.

The Soul-breaking Blade had always been secretive, and not even the Three Sects of Lingxiu could uncover them. The Secret Martial Guards had only recently found several strongholds around the Sea of Spirit.

Logically, Xuanzhen should have nothing to do with the Soul-breaking Blade, but now his appearance at their stronghold in Yu Mountain Town strongly suggested he might have already joined them.

"Soul-breaking Blade~~" Yang Zhenshan frowned.

He had dealt with the Soul-breaking Blade many times, but to be honest, he still knew very little about it.

The actions of the Soul-breaking Blade were very odd. Yang Zhenshan had sabotaged their plans multiple times, yet the Soul-breaking Blade never retaliated against Yang Zhenshan.

One might say Yang Zhenshan hid too well, so the Soul-breaking Blade couldn’t find him, but that doesn’t make sense. Yang Zhenshan’s previous concealment was full of flaws, unable to deceive an underground force like the Soul-breaking Blade.

Yang Zhenshan thought the Soul-breaking Blade simply didn’t care about his previous actions, such as helping the Lu family eliminate evil spirits. If the Soul-breaking Blade truly cared, they wouldn’t have disappeared after the incident.

For now, let’s set aside the matters of the Soul-breaking Blade. Regardless of the Soul-breaking Blade or Nether Prison Sect, they don’t concern them much; it’s mostly the business of the Three Sects of Spirit.

Yang Zhenshan was still more interested in Xuanzhen.

"Should I reach out to this old friend?"

The Soul-breaking Blade was too sinister, and Yang Zhenshan didn’t want to make contact. However, Xuanzhen was his old friend, and since he found Xuanzhen’s trace, he naturally wanted to contact him and reminisce.

"A trip to Yu Mountain Town wouldn’t hurt!"

Yang Zhenshan made up his mind, returned the letter to Qingxia, and said, "I know about this matter, tell them not to interfere too much, just keep an eye on the Soul-breaking Blade’s base!"

Yang Zhenshan didn’t want to be enemies with the Soul-breaking Blade, but he also wouldn’t ignore them.

The Soul-breaking Blade wasn’t a minor force, and to develop in the Sea of Spirit in the Spirit Source Land, one must pay attention to the movements of various forces.

So it’s necessary to keep an eye on the Soul-breaking Blade’s base, lest they cause trouble and catch Yang Zhenshan off guard.

Returning to his study, Yang Zhenshan’s Heart Spirit moved, and his Divine Soul consciousness instantly shifted to the soul crow outside.

Outside Lian family’s town, from a dense old locust tree, a completely black crow suddenly flew out from a nest interwoven with branches.

The crow cawed twice, then spread its wings and flew eastward.

This was Yang Zhenshan’s soul crow hidden outside Lian family’s town.

The soul crow was both Yang Zhenshan’s Divine Soul avatar and a soul body created by him.

As Yang Zhenshan’s understanding of the Soul Crow Divination Skill deepened, the soul crow would become more like a real crow.

Now the soul crow could act on its own; as long as Yang Zhenshan gave it an order, it would carry it out like a real crow.

Of course, it couldn’t execute complex commands, but for tracking and shadowing, it was competent.

Yang Zhenshan withdrew his consciousness. The soul crow autonomously flew towards Yu Mountain Town.

With the soul crow’s speed, it would take at least three two hours to reach Yu Mountain Town, so Yang Zhenshan wasn’t in a hurry. He continued to cultivate or draw talismans when needed.

First, he nurtured the Qinghua Thunder Skill for a two hours, then had lunch with Yu Qingyi, and practiced Magical Treasure control for another two hours.

The Soul-Attracting Bell and Soul-breaking Cone were the main Magical Treasures Yang Zhenshan cultivated. He didn’t own other Magical Treasures, nor did he bother purchasing or having them refined by others.

Because he planned that once his cultivation reached the mid-stage Foundation Establishment, he would start refining his Lifebound Magical Treasure.

Both the Divine Wood Treasure Cauldron and Green Wood Purple Lightning Sword need refining.

Hence, he saw no need to spend time and energy preparing Magical Treasures now.

After practicing with the Magical Treasures for a while, Yang Zhenshan returned to his study to draw talismans.

The Cloud Ascending Talisman could enable a cultivator to fly on clouds. The more mana infused at activation, the faster the flight speed.

In Lotus Heart Valley, a low-grade Cloud Ascending Talisman fetched around a thousand low-grade Spirit Stones.

Don’t underestimate the low-grade Cloud Ascending Talisman. Though its utility was limited for Foundation Establishment Cultivators, it was a life-saving charm for Qi Refinement Cultivators.

At critical moments, the Cloud Ascending Talisman could be a lifesaver, which was why it was highly sought after by Qi Refinement Cultivators in Lotus Heart Valley.

Any Qi Refinement Cultivator who could afford it didn’t mind having a Cloud Ascending Talisman ready.

During this time, Yang Zhenshan had drawn a lot of Cloud Ascending Talismans, over a hundred, all given to his disciples.

His current level of talisman making was actually mediocre, with only a thirty percent success rate in drawing low-grade Cloud Ascending Talismans, just barely qualifying as a Second-Order Talisman Master.

Just as Yang Zhenshan finished drawing a Cloud Ascending Talisman, the soul crow sent him a message that it had arrived in Yu Mountain Town.

Yang Zhenshan put away the talisman pen, focused his mind, and his consciousness descended into the soul crow once more.

The soul crow perched outside Yu Mountain Town slightly turned its head, a contemplative look flashing in its dark eyes.

Yu Mountain Town used to be a logistics base for the Three Sects of Spirit and Nether Prison Sect during their battles, but after the truce, it became just a regular town.

Yang Zhenshan controlled the soul crow to fly into Yu Mountain Town.

The base of the Soul-breaking Blade was in an estate on the south side of the town. Although Yu Mountain Town was a small town, it was the eastern terminus of the Sea of Spirit.

Further east was the territory controlled by the Nether Prison Sect, but in fact, it was still far from the Nether Prison Sect, which maintained a very loose control over the area, so many Martial Arts families from the east came to the Sea of Spirit to trade.

Thus, Yu Mountain Town became an important trade hub, with countless trading caravans coming and going.

There was also a workshop here, and it was quite bustling.

However, Yang Zhenshan’s target was the base of the Soul-breaking Blade, so he went straight to the estate hidden within the town.

He controlled the soul crow to fly into the estate and dove into a lush banyan tree.

Through the gaps in the leaves, he observed everything in the courtyard, searching for Xuanzhen’s figure.

The soul crow could also extend its Spiritual Sense, but the range was small, about ten yards, and it couldn’t last long because Yang Zhenshan didn’t store much Soul Power in the soul crow.