Just like Qingtao Mountain, the peach blossoms on Fangmu Mountain had bloomed as well.
And they were even more splendidly vibrant; from a distance, one could see a sea of pink flowers around the mountainside of Fangmu Mountain, breathtakingly beautiful.
After descending from his sword, Lin Shiming walked the familiar path once again.
The spiritual energy on Fangmu Mountain had become even richer; just arriving at the foot of the mountain, he felt the oncoming spiritual energy envelop his body, providing an extremely refreshing sensation.
Lin Shiming was still practicing the Qing Mu Art and hadn't switched to the Purple Wood Heart Sutra. The best time to switch cultivation techniques was after Foundation Establishment, or when one had a large quantity of spiritual objects that could allow for a quick restoration of one's cultivation level.
Moreover, transitioning from the mid-stage to the late stage of Qi Cultivation was a barrier, and it would be more advantageous to disperse one's cultivation and start anew after a breakthrough.
"Shiming, you're back?" Just as Lin Shiming landed, a voice followed closely behind him.
It was Uncle Thirteen, holding a liquor jug.
"Uncle Thirteen, where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?" Lin Shiming also turned around and greeted Lin Houwei.
"Come on, let's find the Family Head. The Huang Family has lost it, and there are even more people in the Qingyun Mountain range now!" Lin Houwei said angrily, taking a fierce swig from his jug.
Over the past two years, the Lin Family's profits had increased, and the Lin Family's Demon Hunting Team spent most of their time secretly causing trouble for the Huang Family.
Now that the Huang Family had caught on and was preparing to counter-encircle the Lin Family, how could Lin Houwei not be anxious?
After reporting to the higher-ups, Lin Shiming followed behind.
During his two years in Peach Blossom Valley, he had purchased Beast Nurturing Pills from the clan three times and some Spirit Pills for cultivation. His Spirit Water had long been depleted, and he had drawn a considerable part of his Spirit Stone stipend in advance.
Without securing more Spirit Stones, his cultivation pace would be severely affected.
Raising a Spirit Beast had significant benefits and provided substantial help in combat, but the downside of resource consumption was now becoming apparent.
Before landing, Lin Houwei clearly relayed a message using a Sound Transmission Talisman.
By the time the two reached the Council Hall, Lin Shiming's father, Lin Houyuan, was already there.
"Seventh brother!"
"Father!" Lin Houwei and Lin Shiming spoke simultaneously.
The latter nodded slightly in acknowledgment, aware that Lin Shiming's shift guarding was over and that it was time for him to return.
"They are clearly trying to stop our advance!"
Upon hearing this, everyone reflected and realized that the Huang Family had indeed formed a massive defense line.
If the Huang Family had sought revenge, they should have surrounded and attacked them already.
Lin Shiming was also deep in thought. After discussions with his uncles, it became clear that the Huang Family had brought four or five Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivators, as well as thirty or forty late-stage Qi Cultivators. Facing the Huang Family, their Lin Family had no chance of success.
It wasn't that they lacked countermeasures, but that they could not discern the Huang Family's motives.
Just then, a system prompt arrived.
"Continue heading north, and you will encounter a critically injured Dire Bear, along with a Third Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Vein!"
The system's prompt sounded, making Lin Shiming's heart surge.
A Third Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Vein!
His heart instantly understood.
The Huang Family's goal was not their Lin Family, but a Third Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Vein.
This time, it wasn't just a few Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivators that the Huang Family had sent, but Foundation Establishment cultivators had come as well!
And there might even be two of them!
One of them would certainly be in Qingyun Market Square, watching over Lin Xianzhi.
What shocked Lin Shiming the most, however, was the Third Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Vein. Knowing that his own Lin Family's Third Rank Intermediate Grade Spirit Vein had absorbed a Second Rank Superior Grade Spirit Vein and greatly improved, if the Huang Family got their hands on a Third Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Vein...
They could potentially use it to upgrade their Spirit Vein to Third Rank Superior Grade.
The cultivators of the Huang Family were undoubtedly too lucky; the Spiritual Energy of a Third Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Vein could fetch tens of thousands of Spirit Stones at an auction. Sometimes, to those in urgent need of upgrading their veins, it could even sell for over a million Spirit Stones.
The most crucial point was that the upgrade of a Spirit Vein would cause a tide of Spiritual Energy.
The abundant pure Spiritual Energy produced by the tide could greatly aid in the breakthrough of realms. Upgrading from Third Rank Intermediate Grade to Third Rank Superior Grade could even improve the chances of a cultivator's Foundation Establishment.
Lin Shiming dared not think about the consequences if the Huang Family succeeded.
But he knew he had to inform the Lin Family, especially the Family Head!