"Protector Wu,"

she spoke softly, "Jin Xue has submitted her resignation to the family and therefore didn't come to pay her respects. Please forgive her, Protector."

Although she said this, a hint of admiration and affection unconsciously showed in her eyes.

Her attitude towards Li An had always been complex. At one time, because Li An was her superior, she devoted herself to him. Later, when Li An fell into destitution as a 'farmer,' she felt a little regret but never spoke ill of him.

When Li An became the Prime Minister, his calm and unwavering demeanor deeply moved her.

Later, when she learned that Li An was going to die, she inexplicably felt a sense of despair and planned to leave the Jiang family.

Who would have thought that Li An could turn the tables and reach this point...

She admired strength.

Having personally witnessed Li An's rise, her admiration deepened by countless times.

"Leaving Guest Peak might be for the best,"

Li An spoke, and she was slightly taken aback.

"I need people at South Spirit Peak, come with me."

Li An stated, "From now on, all industries in South Spirit Peak will be managed by you."

As a Guardian Elder, he could easily develop many industries to support his cultivation, but he also needed a reliable person.

Moreover, doing so, Li An intentionally made it visible to the Jiang family, which was the most important aspect.

The Jiang family saw him developing his influence within the Jiang family and cultivating confidants, further believing he was determined to take root in their midst.

In truth? Li An didn't care about these things at all; the only thing that appealed to him within the Jiang family was the Rank Three Spirit Vein, which allowed him to absorb the Taiyin Qi.

When the Jiang family became complacent, and the opportunity was right, Li An would turn and leave.

Upon hearing this, Sun Jinxue's beautiful eyes were filled with a crystalline sheen, and she smiled slightly, "All right, Jin Xue shall obey the Protector's command."

...

In just a month or two, Li An had already secured his foundation within the Jiang family.

The industries belonging to South Spirit Peak, once owned by Jiang Ribai, including several pill, talisman, and artifact refining shops and halls in Qing Province, were now all under Li An's control.

The monthly income from Spirit Stones was around seventy to eighty thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones, enough to support Li An's daily consumption with a small surplus.

After becoming the Grand Steward of South Spirit Peak, Sun Jinxue was even more motivated, managing the industries for Li An. Before long, her confidants would fully replace the existing personnel.

...

Li An cultivated in peace.

"Indeed, the Spirit Vein naturally contains Taiyin Qi..."

In the seclusion area, Li An sensed the changes within his body and couldn't help but murmur.

He had already set up many Rank Three arrays to protect the surroundings and then buried a Rank Three "Spirit Gathering Array."

Though it seemed like a Spirit Gathering Array, it was essentially centered around a Demon Array, channeling Taiyin Qi from the Earth Vein into his body through the use of Demon Skill.

Traces of Taiyin Qi filled his Dantian, making even Li An's soul consciousness feel extremely comfortable.

The Nascent Soul was indeed born of the yin, true to its nature.

"The Demon Skill is indeed unrivaled. If collected through spirit medicine, the Taiyin Qi absorbed in this month would probably take at least five to six years to reach..."

Li An gradually understood why Shangguan Xiaoxiao and her sisters were so eager to practice the Celestial Demon Skill.

For cultivators, this cultivation technique was akin to having cheat codes!

"To forge a Purple Mansion, five or six Rank Three Spirit Veins or a Rank Four Spirit Vein's worth of Taiyin Qi should suffice..."

"But, the stronger the Purple Mansion, the easier it is to birth a Nascent Soul. If conditions permit, I might as well absorb a few more Spirit Veins..."

Li An was making plans.

In fact, the Jiang family's resources were entirely sufficient for him to achieve the Purple Mansion.

They had one Rank Four Spirit Vein and five derived Rank Three Spirit Veins. If he could absorb them all, his plan for the Purple Mansion would come to fruition.

But that was only a fancy. Once the Taiyin Qi was fully absorbed, a Spirit Vein would become useless, and wouldn't the Jiang family then fight him desperately?

For now, there's no issue; he could absorb for a while and then assess the situation.

As he was cultivating, Xiaoqing stood on his shoulder with closed eyes, seemingly resting.

In reality, this Divine Bird was absorbing the green aura within his body.

The product of cultivating the Life Nourishing Immortal Skill was perfect for feeding the Spirit Bird.

...

In the blink of an eye, five years had passed.

In five years, Li An's Golden Core Cultivation was thoroughly consolidated.

During these five years, apart from his cultivation, Li An was most attentive to curing Lihua's illness. He had invited several True Core Doctors to diagnose and treat Lihua, giving it his utmost effort.

At the same time, he devotedly taught Er Niu, often advising him to assist Lihua diligently in the future.

The development on the industrial side was going well. Li An appeared somewhat domineering, besides his own industries, he also annexed portions of other weaker elders' shares.

Through these efforts, the Jiang family increasingly trusted him.

In any aspect, Li An seemed firmly rooted in the Jiang family.

On this day,

"Today's meeting of various elders is to discuss an important matter,"

In the Jiang family's grand hall, Patriarch Jiang Rilan summoned Li An, Jiang Richu, Jiang Ridong, Jiang Rihua, and several True Core Elders.

Li An sat before many elders, and although several True Core Elders felt disgruntled initially, they had grown accustomed to it.

Especially Jiang Rihua, who had once brought Li An and others back from the Great Li borders. Back then, Li An was but a pawn in her hand, easily manipulated.

Now he had become a real figure, commanding a Divine Bird.

She felt a mix of emotions.

"After years of investigation and exploration, we decided to launch a campaign to seize the Northern Territory of the Great Li Dynasty in one year!"

Jiang Rilan announced.

Everyone was alarmed.

"The things in the Ten Thousand Miles Abyss are extremely important to our Jiang family. If we can obtain them, perhaps Yan Country shall hold our clan in supreme regard—"

Jiang Rilan spoke solemnly.

...

Much later.

The meeting dispersed.

Li An was deep in thought.

The Ten Thousand Miles Abyss was too crucial for the Jiang family, rumored to be the resting place of a Divinity Transformation Stage cultivator, and if acquired, the Jiang family might ascend to great heights.

This kind of opportunity was a fatal temptation for any Nascent Soul family.

Jiang Ribai's failure in the past battle could not alter the Jiang family's interests and family determination.

This meeting mainly formulated the time and plan for the operation. Li An, familiar with the Great Li Northern Territory, offered lots of 'advice and strategies.'

"The Jiang family is doomed..."

This time, the resources and strength Jiang family planned to deploy far surpassed that during Jiang Ribai's time, almost an all-encompassing operation.

The Jiang family chose a timing similar to Jiang Ribai's past decision when the Great Li Dynasty had annexed Chen and was advancing on another country—Zhao Country.

No time to bother with the north.

In reality, in these years, the Great Li Dynasty had developed so rapidly, it could now stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Yan Country at the Xiling Origin Continent. Under the expansion of the Great Li Dynasty, the two countries were sure to clash eventually.

Hence, the Jiang family's strategy also aligned with the entire Yan country's will.

But in front of Shangguan Shengxian...

Yan Country was insignificant.

Finding an opportunity to slip away...

Otherwise, if a battle with the Great Li Dynasty ensues, there's a risk of exposing himself.

"Protector, an emergency, there's been a mishap..."

Upon returning to South Spirit Peak, Sun Jinxue reported, "A shipment of ours was intercepted, losing hundreds of thousands of Spirit Stones, with dozens of cultivators dead or injured, and according to leads... it might be Jiang Ribai's doing!"

Li An was taken aback upon hearing the news, soon reporting to the family.

Jiang Ribai's appearance drew the Jiang family's attention.

After all, since Jiang Ribai was overthrown and hunted, he had become an arch-enemy of the Jiang family, being too familiar with the Jiang family's details, making him a grave threat.

Jiang Rilan said, "Over the years, I've been investigating, and in truth, I have some leads... If I'm not mistaken, this person might have fled to reside in the 'Celestial Killer Mountain range'..."

Celestial Killer Mountain Range!

Li An was slightly alarmed; that location... he had studied many times!

The Celestial Killer Mountain Range was famously known across the Xiling Origin Continent for its chaotic spiritual energy and formidable Evil Qi. It was said to border lands of ancient Demon Race, with no power or sect daring to establish a foothold there.

Instead, many desperate cultivators, those being hunted, and various mighty figures would settle there, rendering it a lawless land over time.

Numerous sect forces were powerless to do anything about it.

Yan Country and the Great Li Dynasty both situated in the western Xiling Origin Continent, while the Celestial Killer Mountain Range sat in the northern Xiling Origin Continent, about ten thousand miles away from this location.

"Our clan is about to prepare for battle. If Jiang Ribai attacks at this time, it will be troublesome..."

Jiang Rilan frowned tightly.

"Perhaps I should pay a visit?"

Li An suggested proactively, "Jiang Ribai intercepted my goods, it's an irreconcilable enmity between us, I must destroy him!"

...

Goodnight

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