Chapter 534 - 503: The Tang Family’s All-Out Struggle

Chapter 534: Chapter 503: The Tang Family’s All-Out Struggle

"This details the locations of the recent Evil Cultivator uprisings in the lands under the Primordial Sect’s jurisdiction, along with the number of Evil Cultivators and their Cultivation at each site."

At the Jinyun Valley office on Jinghai Island Reef, Zhao Changping placed several Jade Scrolls before Tang Linli.

"As the saying goes, know your enemy and know yourself, and you will fight a hundred battles without defeat. With accurate intelligence, it’s easier to strike. You won’t be running around blindly, not knowing where to begin and risking falling into their traps."

"Thank you, Island Master. Thank you, Valley Master!"

Tang Linli accepted the Jade Scrolls, filled with gratitude.

His fate was several times worse than he had initially expected.

A few days prior, when the new Chief Steward responsible for guarding the Island Reef arrived, he also brought an order detailing Tang Linli’s punishment.

Not only was Tang Linli stripped of his position as Chief Steward, but even staying on Jinghai Island Reef to cultivate became an impossible luxury. His clansmen were also dragged down with him. All those who had been responsible for guard duty in Primordial City or overseeing various projects were pulled from their posts—

and assigned to temporary squads dedicated to hunting down Evil Cultivators in every region.

In a word: everyone in the Tang Family was transferred from cushy, profitable posts to the most dangerous front lines.

Moreover, these were all the elites of the clan. It was no exaggeration to say that if these people died in battle, the Tang Family would immediately be reduced to a mere Qi Refining Clan. This possibility was what disappointed Tang Linli the most.

’I’ve handled countless matters for Duobao. The loss of the Spiritual Boat clearly had nothing to do with me, but I took the fall, and I accepted that.’

’But for my entire family to be dragged into it...’

’As the saying goes, "to beat a dog is to slight its master." This meant I had been utterly abandoned by Duobao.’

"Does the Valley Master have any other orders?"

After sweeping the contents of the Jade Scrolls with his Divine Sense, Tang Linli let out a long, heavy sigh.

He had not resigned himself to his fate.

’The front lines might be perilous, but as long as I slay enough Evil Cultivators and rack up enough merit, I can still turn things around quickly.’

"The Valley Master said that Jinyun Valley will cover all expenses for the Spirit Stones, Pills, and Magical Artifacts you mobilize from your family. In addition to yourself, you may also select two other clansmen. They must be people you trust, with sufficiently good aptitude..."

"!?"

"The Valley Master will also provide them with sufficient Cultivation Resources. If those two have the chance to cultivate to the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection realm, they will also be bestowed with a Qingxu Guiyuan Pill."

"Please thank the Valley Master for me! I would not hesitate to die for him and will absolutely not betray his trust!"

Though he had been cast aside by Duobao, Chen Che’s actions made him feel as if he had finally met a worthy lord.

Before this, he still had some reservations.

But now, he wished for nothing more than to pledge his life in service.

"Actions speak louder than words."

Zhao Changping stood up, led Tang Linli into the backyard, and casually pushed open several Bronze Boxes. Inside were Spirit Stones, as well as Magical Artifacts, Talismans, and Pills. "Take all of these. I must guard the Island Reef and cannot accompany you."

"Furthermore, here are several bottles of Pills personally refined for you by the Valley Master. They can save your life in a critical moment."

"T-Tier... Tier Three Pills!"

Tang Linli’s Divine Sense swept over them, and he was immediately stunned.

Moreover, most of these Magical Artifacts and Weapons were Tier Two High Grade, with a few even reaching Tier Three. "Fellow Daoist Zhao, you may guard the Island Reef with peace of mind. With these items, I’m confident I can remain undefeated, even if I have to face a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator head-on!"

Tang Linli was overcome with emotion.

’This is too much!’

’I followed Duobao for so long, yet all the gifts he ever bestowed upon me don’t even add up to half of this.’

...

「Seven days later.」

"The Patriarch is back!"

"The Patriarch is back!"

Tang Linli walked into the clan grounds with a stately gait and was immediately met with waves of cheers.

Though Tang Linli humbled himself before Golden Core True Masters, within his own clan, his word was law. His status and prestige were immense. It was under his leadership that the Tang Family had established a firm foothold in the Primordial Sect.

If not for this incident, a Golden Core cultivator would have emerged from their family within a few hundred years.

But the internal politics of a Sect were just that cruel. One wrong step, and you would plunge into a bottomless abyss.

"Summon all Foundation Establishment cultivators to the clan’s meeting hall."

Tang Linli ordered grimly.

In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, the clan’s upper echelon—seventeen Foundation Establishment cultivators—had assembled.

However, the atmosphere was heavy and bleak.

They, too, had received orders and would soon be sent out to hunt down Evil Cultivators.

This mission was incredibly dangerous. No one knew how many Foundation Establishment cultivators would be left in the clan after a few battles.

"Elder Brother, the clan’s situation is truly dire. You followed True Master Duobao for seventy or eighty years, can’t you go and plead with him..." ℴℴ𝘮

Tang Lintao spoke. He was originally a City Gate Guard, a highly lucrative post, but he too had been pulled and assigned to the front lines.

"Don’t bother."

At the mention of Duobao, a frigid expression settled on Tang Linli’s face. "The Tang Family’s fall to this state must have been with Duobao’s tacit approval. Begging him is useless. He is the great Interim Sect Leader. Why would he care whether people like us live or die...?"

’To him, Foundation Establishment cultivators are like ants, to be cast aside like old shoes.’

"What?"

"Then what should we do?"

"Could it be... the Tang Family is really finished?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall erupted in an uproar.

They had hoped that Tang Linli’s return would bring a change in their fortunes, but they never expected to face such an outcome.

"It doesn’t matter. We still have a chance to turn this around!"

With a wave of his hand, several Bronze Boxes appeared. He pushed them open and took out the Pills, Magical Artifacts, and Talismans inside. "With these, not only can our Tang Family safely weather this storm, but we might even be able to turn this crisis into an opportunity and rise to even greater heights!"

"Ah, so many Pills and Talismans! Elder Brother, where did you get all this?"

Tang Lintao was overjoyed and couldn’t believe his eyes.

The value of these items already exceeded the Tang Family’s entire treasury.

Besides, in a battle between Cultivators, the most critical factor after one’s own Cultivation Realm was one’s equipment—Magical Artifacts, Talismans... These items were more than enough to allow them to dominate the field in the upcoming operation against the Evil Cultivators.

"We can discuss that later. All of you just need to understand that Heaven has not forsaken us!"

Tang Linli closed the boxes, his expression turning serious. "Relay my command: The Tang Family is to immediately enter a state of war readiness. All Qi Refining clansmen must do whatever it takes to hold onto their positions in Primordial City."

"Our Tang Family will undoubtedly rise again, and it is crucial that we have our own people in key positions. Furthermore, every cultivator at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer or the Great Perfection stage is to receive three thousand Spirit Stones from the clan treasury for their Cultivation. Strive for a breakthrough as soon as possible!"

"The rest of you at Foundation Establishment, select suitable Magical Artifacts from these boxes. Tomorrow, you will march with me to eliminate the Evil Cultivators."

"Yes, Patriarch!"

The great hall echoed with their response.

Now that they had a chance to fight back, even though they had just been cast into the depths of despair, everyone felt their blood stir with passion.

...

In the mountains, time seems to stand still; three months passed in the blink of an eye.

As the morning sun’s rays pierced through the thin clouds and fell upon the back mountain:

a young, heroic-looking cultivator with a ramrod-straight posture, wearing a Jade Crown and a Star Robe, was slowly stretching his limbs. Behind him, the giant Willow Tree Demon had undergone a tremendous transformation compared to its previous withered state.

From the withered trunk, countless tender green branches had sprouted, filling it with a vibrant life force.

A closer look revealed that several of the chains originally used to bind the trunk had been removed. Nearby, the Earth Store Profound Tree was also growing vigorously. Beyond it, more than thirty sprouts resembling garlic shoots had broken through the soil.

These were the Divine Court Trees.

Not far away was a pool, over a hundred feet in diameter, filled with Spiritual Water. This pool alone consumed over three hundred thousand Spirit Stones and had to be replenished every three months.

There was no other way.

There was not enough Spiritual Qi, so this was the only, albeit crude, method to support the growth of the Spirit Plants on the back mountain.

That is, unless he could find several more Earth Store Profound Trees or, like the Primordial Sect, forcibly plunder the Spiritual Qi from several major surrounding regions.

Over the past three months, the Taichu Haoyue Sword technique he had completed finally passed its review. Given the choice between the two remaining parts of the Celestial Derivation Five Elements Skill and the latter half of the Flame Emperor Body Forging Technique, Chen Che deliberated for three days before ultimately choosing the latter.

The Celestial Derivation Five Elements Skill required vast resources. Just gathering what he needed for the fire, water, and wood aspects was already a major headache. Even if he obtained the remaining parts, he would need a mountain of resources to pour into them.

In contrast, completing the Flame Emperor Body Forging Technique would grant him the subsequent stages of the Cultivation Technique, making his physical body even more formidable and granting him faster recovery.

In these troubled times, that would provide an immediate and significant boost to his chances of survival.