Certainly! Here's the translated text:

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After a long time.

The old woman carefully inquired about Lihua's situation.

"Back in the day, the only one who came here was our Jiang family Patriarch Jiang Riqing..."

"If I'm not mistaken, you should be his descendant—"

The old woman sighed deeply, "I never thought I'd meet you today, it's fate, it's fate..."

She repeatedly stroked Lihua's head and smiled, "Having finally encountered a descendant of my Jiang clan, I must stay here for a few days—"

In the following days, she did indeed stay in the village.

The villagers were very happy to learn that she was Lihua's elder relative, and the old woman seemed very amiable.

But Li An keenly sensed something was amiss.

Since the old woman met Lihua, why didn't she express an intention to take her back to the clan?

Li An felt increasingly heavy-hearted, a slight thought had made him realize... the old woman must be waiting!

Waiting for news.

This news had something to do with Lihua.

"All great clans are the same..."

He couldn't help but remain silent, there was no such thing as familial affection in the world of cultivation clans, everywhere there's calculation.

It seems Lihua's appearance is a pivotal variable for the Jiang clan.

Hence, it requires the high-level members to weigh the situation.

If Lihua's appearance aligns with the interests of the high-level members, then she can be welcomed back to the Jiang family.

If not.

Then Lihua might...

Disappear.

This filled Li An with regret, earlier he heard what the old woman said and knew that Lihua's status was likely extraordinary, which is why he led her here, without anticipating this unforeseen situation.

Li An was ready at any time to unleash two small swords.

If the Jiang family harbored murderous intent towards Lihua, they would definitely kill him too.

Even though Li An had given the old woman a lifesaving favor, she would still kill him without hesitation to keep silent!

However, what reassured Li An somewhat was that currently, the old woman had little remaining strength, if she made a move, the Evil Qi would attack her heart.

Conversely, Li An's form of Evil Qi was just a disguise, his strength was at its peak.

With two Rank Three small swords, combined with his Foundation Establishment Stage Great Perfection strength, and the powerful physique from the Golden Treasure Skill, he could easily kill a True Core with almost no strength to retaliate...

The odds were greatly in his favor.

Li An secretly summoned his flying sword, ready to strike...

While Lihua, unaware of worldly matters, did not perceive the danger, instead, she was deeply moved by the old woman's warmth...

...

The next morning.

"Lihua, your wandering outside is due to the family's neglect, rest assured, I will bring you back to the family!"

The old woman spoke with enthusiasm, taking out a Tier Two Magical Artifact from her belongings and handing it to Lihua, smilingly saying, "Take this as my welcome gift to you, once you return to the family, no one will dare bully you again!"

Seeing this, Li An secretly breathed a sigh of relief and put away the two Rank Three flying swords.

If the old woman truly intended to silence them, there was no need to give Lihua a magical artifact.

It seemed stable!

Lihua was unfamiliar with the Jiang family, so she asked, "Great-Aunt, will Master and Er Niu also be going?"

Li An already knew that the old woman was considered a cousin to Lihua's grandfather.

Therefore, Lihua should call her Great-Aunt.

"Of course."

The old woman agreed wholeheartedly, displaying great enthusiasm, as if finding Lihua's joy diminished the sorrow of her grandson's passing.

Immediately, Lihua and Er Niu packed their things, and the three of them followed the old woman to the Jiang family.

The Four Sceneries Mountain range was undulating and very long, if one followed it, they would reach the territory of Yan Country.

The Four Sceneries Mountain range actually spanned two countries, with the part in Yan Country called the Wanzhang Mountain range.

It took half a month for Li An to finally step out of the Great Li territory!

Leaving the Great Li, Li An felt his breath become a bit smoother.

He speculated that Shangguan Shengxian's main target should be within Great Li, while Yan Country might still be peaceful.

Moreover, even if she intended to harm Yan Country, she would target the upper royal family, and Qing Province, belonging to the border, would not be her interest.

On the contrary, it was safe.

Within Yan Country's Qing Province, he would complete the Core Formation advancement, then he could be free!

Then, he could escape the entire Xiling Origin Continent and pursue cultivation in other continents, which would be a great choice.

"First, stabilize things in the Jiang family, and after some time, return to retrieve my pills and treasures..."

Li An had a plan in mind.

His Top Grade Primordial Spirit Pill was still in White Tiger City, and his Rank Three flying sword and other core treasures were hidden in the Four Sceneries Mountain range, he would definitely have to return.

...

Although Great Li's Northern Territory bordered Yan Country's Qing Province, the two places were quite different, within Qing Province, prosperity was everywhere, far surpassing the Northern Border of Great Li.

The cultivation forces within Qing Province were also more numerous than in the Northern Border of Great Li.

Core Formation powers like Xuining Temple, Ming Dao Sect, etc., numbered no fewer than five!

The Beast Taming Jiang Clan was even more renowned, a Nascent Soul family!

The Jiang Clan was located at Xingluo Mountain, thus people also called it "Xingluo Mountain Jiang Clan."

The entire family was built by the mountain, occupying all Earth Veins.

Surrounding Xingluo Mountain were four large cities, all under the domain of the Xingluo Mountain Jiang Clan, and these four large cities were very bustling, each no less lively than Celestial Yang City!

This was the heritage and glory of a Nascent Soul family.

But what surprised Li An was, the three of them did not directly enter the Jiang family, instead, they were arranged to temporarily stay at "Beixing City" at the foot of Xingluo Mountain, in a mansion.

"Lihua, in these few days the elders on the mountain are in secluded cultivation, once they emerge from it, they will see you, so reside here temporarily, if you need anything, ask Ah Si."

The old woman left, still lovingly patting Lihua's head, fully embodying the image of an esteemed aunt.

She assigned a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator named "Ah Si" to take care of the daily needs of Li An and the others.

Lihua and Er Niu, newly arrived in such a luxurious place, were at a loss for what to do.

Li An, on the other hand, was pondering the Jiang family's intentions.

"The crisis is yet to be resolved—"

He reached a conclusion!

Especially, when he wanted to go out, Ah Si politely refused: "Rihua Master instructed that Miss Lihua's whereabouts are a Jiang family secret. To protect Miss Lihua, please, Fellow Taoist Wu, do not leave. Whatever you need, Ah Si will certainly accommodate!"

The old woman's name: Jiang Rihua.

Ah Si's actions made Li An more certain of this.

Until Lihua is formally recognized by the Jiang family, everything remains in flux.

Li An began observing his surroundings, preparing to escape should anything unexpected occur.

With his current cultivation, as long as no True Core powerhouse shows up, escaping is not difficult!

...

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

On this day, there was a great deal of noise outside the mansion.

When Lihua, Li An, and the others stepped out, they were all startled.

The pomp was extremely grand.

Leading the group were three Core Formation Masters, with the foremost being a middle-aged man, who was especially powerful and reserved. Li An felt a chill just at a glance, fearing that this man was at Great Perfection in Core Formation!

Jiang Rihua stepped forward quickly and spoke:

"To the Patriarch and elders, this is the direct descendant of Patriarch Jiang Riqing, Miss Lihua—"

The middle-aged man looked at Lihua indifferently, waved his hand, and immediately an elder stepped forward to verify Lihua's lineage.

Undoubtedly, it passed.

"As a direct descendant of my brother, according to clan rules, she should be cultivated as a candidate."

The middle-aged man nodded, "Take her back to hold the return ceremony."

...

On that day, Lihua was ceremoniously welcomed back to the Jiang family.

Li An also set foot on Xingluo Mountain.

"Rank Four Spirit Vein!"

Standing on Xingluo Mountain, Li An could feel the strong foundation of the Jiang Clan.

At present, although there were ups and downs, everything was going smoothly.

As long as he could obtain the Jiang Clan's support, breaking through to Core Formation wouldn't be difficult!

...

Subsequently, the Jiang family held a grand return ceremony for Lihua.

Although Er Niu was quite close to her, he was not of Jiang family lineage and only became a disciple of the Jiang family.

After staying a few days, Li An also roughly understood the situation within the Jiang family:

The Jiang family currently has two Nascent Soul powerhouses, but both are elderly and have been secluded, and major clan affairs are solely decided by Patriarch Jiang Rilan.

Besides Jiang Rilan, there are four True Core Elders.

Jiang Ribai, Jiang Riping, Jiang Ridong, Jiang Rihua.

Among them, Jiang Rihua and Jiang Ribai are siblings.

And recently, it was the critical period for competing as a "candidate" within the family.

Three candidates are selected, with Patriarch Jiang Rilan's descendants naturally occupying one slot, leaving the four True Core powerhouses to compete for the remaining two.

Jiang Rihua's descendants died in the Four Sceneries Mountain range, and her brother Jiang Ribai's two descendants, Jiang Ruochun, Jiang Ruoshi, were also defeated in the competition.

As the general situation was being decided, the old woman suddenly reported finding the direct descendant of the former Patriarch Jiang Riqing—

This immediately disrupted the power dynamics.

It meant that either Jiang Riping or Jiang Ridong's descendants were going to be eliminated!

After much debate, Jiang Rilan personally decided to welcome and establish Lihua, with Jiang Ridong and Jiang Riping's descendants competing once again.

...

Having sorted this out, Li An also understood everything.

To put it bluntly, the sudden appearance of Lihua had become a pawn in the True Core Elders' power struggles!

Jiang Rihua had been patiently waiting, precisely for the results of her brother Jiang Ribai's descendants' competition.

If Jiang Ribai's descendants, Jiang Ruochun and Jiang Ruoshi, could become candidates, then Lihua's existence might never have been known, seamlessly disappearing!

Because it is impossible to increase the competition for your own descendants.

However, Jiang Ribai's descendants failed, losing their place among the candidates.

Thus, Lihua was introduced.

This was Jiang Rihua and Jiang Ribai's open stratagem!

Patriarch Jiang Rilan couldn't possibly not support Lihua, because Jiang Rilan's descendants themselves benefited from this system, Jiang Rilan must uphold this system.

Moreover, Jiang Riping and Jiang Ridong were forced to have one of them eliminated, and in doing so become divided in conflict.

Jiang Rihua, by bringing Lihua into the clan, gains the merit of establishing her and can leverage Lihua to continue engaging in the political feast.

A strategic maneuver hitting three objectives!

"The greater the clan, the more intrigue and swirling whirlpools…"

Li An remarked, realizing that to achieve Core Formation within the Jiang Clan, strategic steps are necessary.

"Mr. Wu Qin, the Third Elder requests your presence—"

At this moment, a voice called from outside.

The Third Elder being Jiang Ribai.

Li An felt a slight chill in his heart—finally it has begun.

...

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