Vol. 1 - Ch. 340 - The Beginning of Chaos

"Go ahead. As for these medicinal herbs, I will have the clan members transport another batch from Chaotic Burial Mountain."

Chen Tianjing waved his hand.

He did not know why these hemostatic herbs had sold out completely, but it was not harmful to the clan.

The clan had been around for a long time, and its number of members was gradually increasing. Originally, clan members in Chaotic Burial Mountain did not need jade coins; food and clothing were sufficient.

However, as the clan developed and its members' horizons broadened, the clan began distributing a certain amount of jade coins to each member according to their realm for daily use. This was a welfare benefit separate from the clan’s cultivation resources.

Otherwise, when clan members went out, they would not be able to purchase what they desired. Wouldn't that be awkward?

The amount of jade coins the clan needed to expend was already considerable and would only increase in the future. Yet it was indispensable.

Although these hemostatic herbs were effective, the clan did not really need them with the divine tree present. Furthermore, the clan still had Chaotic Burial Mountain, which could be sold to obtain jade coins.

Over the past six months, the Hidden Mountain Pavilion, in an effort to increase the clan’s revenue, had expanded into the territories of other clans.

Now that business is improving, there is no reason not to sell.

However, the clan still needed to investigate why these medicinal herbs were sold.

This made Chen Tianjing feel that he was not yet fully competent as clan leader because he could not learn about surrounding developments in a timely manner.

Just as he was preparing to mobilize the clan’s newly established intelligence network, Chen Tianyu arrived in haste.

The first words Chen Tianyu spoke left Chen Tianjing momentarily stunned.

"Clan Leader, the Sun family of Le'an and the Cui family of Qinghe seem to have started fighting!"

After a brief daze, Chen Tianjing hurriedly asked,

"Is this information confirmed?"

"It came from the Zhao family of Yunmeng City. I have also sent clan members to inquire, and it is most likely accurate!”

After confirming the information was true, Chen Tianjing’s brows knitted tightly.

Both of these great clans were medium-sized in the vicinity, each with over a thousand clan members and several martialists in the Qi Manipulation Realm. They were not weak.

Having developed into medium-sized clans, they certainly had some understanding of each other and would exercise mutual restraint. How could they so easily go to war?

Regardless of who won or lost, the other clans surely would not stand idly by if one clan emerged victorious.

After all, this was not a battle between small clans. Medium-sized clans controlled vast territories and considerable resources. A conflict between two such clans would inevitably cause significant disturbances.

Many other clans would be implicated as well. This was likely the reason hemostatic herbs had recently become scarce probably because other clans had caught wind of something.

After a major battle, nearby clans might not miss this excellent opportunity to reap the benefits. At that point, the conflict would no longer be limited to just one clan or family.

"Do you know the reason behind this?"

Chen Tianyu shook his head.

"The Zhao family did not specify. However, I suspect that they probably don't know either. Otherwise, they wouldn't have voluntarily informed our clan."

Upon hearing this, Chen Tianjing nodded slightly. Perhaps the Zhao family also hoped to learn some information from the clan.

What the Zhao family did not know, however, was that the clan had only recently developed and was located in a remote area. In terms of intelligence, the clan was actually inferior to the Zhao family.

The reasons that could provoke two medium-sized clans into open conflict were few. There was either a deep-seated feud between the two clans or they were competing for some kind of benefit.

In fact, even in the former case, the latter would be intertwined.

Among clans, only interests are eternal.

"Clan Leader, should our clan send someone to investigate?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Tianjing hesitated. Given the clan’s current strength, becoming involved in a conflict between two medium-sized clans was not suitable. The most crucial reason, of course, was that the clan’s highest combat power could not be revealed. Otherwise, the clan’s secrets would be exposed, and its weaknesses would be revealed to enemies.

Currently, the clan was better off resting and recuperating until they truly had a martial artist in the Qi Manipulation Realm.

Furthermore, both clans were far from Yong’an City and Chaotic Burial Mountain. Even if the conflict implicated many others, it was unlikely to affect the clan directly.

However, the Cui family of Qinghe was one of the parties in this conflict. This alone made Chen Tianjing hesitate.

Most of the clan’s Innate Realm resources currently came from the Cui family, while the Zhao family provided only a small portion.

If the conflict between the two clans prevented the clan from smoothly exchanging resources, it would undoubtedly hinder the clan’s development.

After pondering for a while, Chen Tianjing spoke.

"This matter may affect the clan. We should send someone to investigate and assess the situation. However, given its importance, I fear that only you, my Clan Brother, can make this trip in person."

Although the clan now has four Innate Realm martial artists, as clan leader, he could not leave. Chen Tianmo and Chen Tianquan had only recently advanced to the Innate Realm. Only Chen Tianyu was in the highest realm and was the most suitable candidate.

Once the situation was clarified, news could be sent back through prayer to the Divine Tree.

This was something Chen Tianjing had only learned after becoming clan leader. The higher a clan member’s Realm, the wider the range for transmitting messages through prayer. However, the distance could not be too great; otherwise, success would be difficult due to various factors, even with a high enough realm.

Chen Tianyu nodded and agreed without hesitation.

Before that, though, the two of them went to the ancestral hall to pray for the Divine Tree’s protection. Then, Chen Tianyu mounted the clan’s Azure Wolf and left Yong’an City.

"Tianquan, you will be responsible for investigating the situation in Yunmeng City.

"Tianmo, keep an eye on the other small clans in the surrounding area and see if any of them have more information."

"Yes, Clan Leader."

With these orders issued, the clan, which had been quiet for a long time, began to move again. However, these movements were carried out in secret. On the surface, Yong’an City remained tranquil.

In the ancestral hall, Chen Tianjing began to pray before the clan’s Divine Tree.

Although the Divine Tree in Yong’an City was smaller than the one in Chaotic Burial Mountain now less than two or three meters in height and no longer glowing at night he always received a response and could sense its consciousness when he prayed.

After praying, Chen Tianjing turned his thoughts to the clan’s strategy.

Currently, the clan had achieved initial stability and had sufficient cultivation resources. As the clan prospered, the number of martial artists within it continued to grow.

Coupled with the Divine Tree's immense power, the clan would soon undergo a qualitative transformation.

Moreover, outside the clan, there was Chen Qingyu, who was on the verge of advancing to the Qi Manipulation Realm. Once he returned and the overall strength of the clan members increased, the clan would have more options.

For now, the clan simply needed to continue developing quietly for a few more years.

For now, Chen Tianjing could only hope that the situation between the two clans was merely probing and not a major conflict. If so, it probably wouldn't affect the clan's transactions with the Cui family.