Read 30 Chapters Ahead On Patreon :D /zilawere
In the northwest of Liang Kingdom lay a chain of snowy, fragrant mountains—the Snow Plum Mountain Spirit Vein. After years of nurturing, the spirit vein of Snow Plum Mountain had advanced to high-grade second rank.
The family residing on Snow Plum Mountain boasted three Foundation Establishment cultivators, not including their guest cultivators and honorary elders.
That night, the family head's study was softly illuminated.
“The Six Demonic Sects are pressing in. The sect is mobilizing forces, conscripting cultivators from all over to the frontlines. Sigh... This era hasn’t been peaceful for long, and it’s plunging into chaos again...”
Li Congren finished reviewing a few documents, his face clouded with worry as he sighed softly.
It had only been a little over a decade since the war over the northern migration of the Golden Sun Sect had ended.
The Li Family of Snow Plum Mountain had been steadily developing during these years. However, in recent times, their momentum seemed to have hit a bottleneck.
Before they could overcome their current predicament, they now faced an era of chaos brought on by the invasion of the demonic path.
“Husband, you need not worry too much. The frontlines haven’t started fighting yet, and in the short term, the war might not even erupt. Besides, Liang Kingdom is situated far behind the battlefield, and our Snow Plum Mountain is in the northern part of Liang Kingdom...”
His wife, Wu Yue, with gentle eyes and a calm demeanor, poured another cup of spiritual tea for her husband.
Wu Yue had ordinary features and slightly darker skin, but her bright eyes and snow-white teeth made her seem vibrant. Her mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation level made her appear to be in her early thirties.
Li Congren pondered deeply and said, “Even if the demonic path hasn’t yet reached us, its invasion has already started affecting the rear lines. Snow Plum Mountain must heighten its vigilance and defense, and our clan’s cultivators should avoid wandering out alone as much as possible.”
The conscription of large numbers of cultivators by the sect had left the rear lacking in enforcers. The areas near the border were already descending into lawlessness.
“What you say is true, Husband. Recently, prices have soared, and those lurking rogue cultivators have become active again.
“If the situation grows chaotic, who knows if we can even hold on to the ‘Chang’an Mines’ that we’ve worked so hard to establish over the years...”
At this, Wu Yue’s face filled with worry.
While her husband’s concerns were for the long-term, she was more concerned about the plight near at hand.
“If we can hold the Chang’an Mines, we will. But if we can’t, we’ll sell our share to the Dongmen Family at a discounted price.”
Li Congren’s expression revealed his reluctance, but he had no choice but to make this difficult decision.
In an era of turmoil, sacrifices were inevitable.
Li Congren’s strategy was clear—prioritize saving lives over holding onto assets.
If they stubbornly held onto the Chang’an Mines, there would inevitably be casualties, possibly even the deaths of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Adding to that, the demonic invasion would likely force the sect to conscript more of the family’s cultivators, which would only make things worse.
“Husband, if that rumor is true... perhaps we wouldn’t need to fear the Dongmen Family so much,” Wu Yue said, her bright eyes shimmering with a trace of hope. Ř
The Dongmen Family was now one of the Top Ten Families of the Liang Kingdom, having migrated north along with the Golden Sun Sect to take over the territory previously held by the “Ten Thousand Swords Zhuo Family.”
Decades ago, the Liang Kingdom had seven great families. Today, only four remained, while six new families had risen, all originating from Feng Kingdom.
The Liang Kingdom lacked sufficient high-quality spirit veins, so some sects and clans from Feng Kingdom had transplanted spirit veins to this region.
However, a significant portion of the Golden Sun Sect’s faction had deemed the Liang Kingdom too barren and had chosen not to relocate.
Fortunately, the Beast Taming Zhou Family showed some favor to Snow Plum Mountain's Li Family, allowing them some leverage in dealing with the Dongmen Family.
“That rumor... it hasn’t been fully confirmed yet. Some cultivators in the Liang Kingdom are questioning its authenticity,” Li Congren murmured, his tone heavy with doubt.
“Even if it’s true, a distant spring can’t quench immediate thirst. No one knows when that elder will return. Normally, a genuine Core Formation cultivator would spend years stabilizing their foundation and refining their magical treasure before venturing out again.”
“You’re right, Husband. With Grandfather Lan’s style, it might be ten years or even longer before he’d consider leaving seclusion.”
Wu Yue couldn’t help but smile bitterly, letting go of her unrealistic hopes.
As for going to the Jing Kingdom to seek aid? Grandfather Lan did not owe them anything.
When he had escaped to Jing Kingdom via Snow Plum Mountain’s Li Family all those years ago, Grandfather Lan had generously gifted them talismans and puppets as payment—far more than adequate compensation.
In fact, the Li Family had greatly benefited from his aid.
Why did Grandfather Lan have such a good reputation?
Because he never left debts unpaid. To old friends and their descendants, he always offered a helping hand and instructions when appropriate.
...
Suddenly, sharp, hurried squeaks of a spirit rat rang out.
Li Congren, holding Wu Yue as they were about to return to their main room to rest, looked towards the door.
A sleek, pale-golden Treasure-Seeking Rat dashed in from outside, visibly flustered.
Its gem-like, beautiful eyes were filled with terror, evoking a sense of pity.
“Little Gold, what’s wrong?”
Wu Yue’s face showed her confusion. The Treasure-Seeking Rat had cultivation nearing the late second rank, its sense of smell of keen, and excellent survival skills.
In the surrounding region, there were few living beings that were a threat it. For it to be this alarmed was unprecedented in decades.
Ten breaths passed.
The terror on the Treasure-Seeking Rat’s face grew more pronounced as it hid between Li Congren and Wu Yue, its body trembling uncontrollably.
...
Squeak!
Suddenly, a clear, joyful squeak echoed in the room.
Li Congren and Wu Yue’s expressions changed dramatically.
A powerful rat demon had infiltrated the heart of Snow Plum Mountain without their knowledge.
This was a shocking feat, considering Li Congren was at the late Foundation Establishment stage and their family grounds were protected by alert formations.
Even a peak second-rank demon beast shouldn’t have been able to achieve this.
Buzz!
A faint yellow glow emerged from the floor, revealing a muscular, robust Earth Burrowing Rat.
Its fur was an orange-yellow shade, with a tuft of purple hair rising atop its head. Its sleek and powerful form resembled that of a panther.
“An Earth Burrowing Rat?”
“Grandfather Lan’s spiritual pet?”
Li Congren and Wu Yue were momentarily stunned, exchanging glances filled with both delight and doubt.
How could Grandfather Lan’s spirit rat appear alone at the Li Family of Snow Plum Mountain?
While they were still caught in their surprise, the Treasure-Seeking Rat let out a crisp squeak that sounded almost mournful. Its beautiful eyes were filled with awe and submission as it tried to curry favor.
The Earth Burrowing Rat grabbed the Treasure-Seeking Rat by its waist and began walking towards the door, step by step.
“Little Gold!”
Li Congren and Wu Yue called out with concern, remembering vividly how Little Gold had been bullied by the Earth Burrowing Rat in the past.
Squeak!
The Earth Burrowing Rat grinned, its reddish-brown eyes glancing back at the couple with a look that seemed to say, “Don’t worry.”
The moment its gaze locked with theirs, a chill crept through their hearts. An indescribable sense of dread rose from the soles of their feet, spreading throughout their bodies.
Squeak-squeak!
The Treasure-Seeking Rat nodded furiously, forcing a smile as it followed the Earth Burrowing Rat out of the room, never once looking back at its owners.
“This rat demon...”
Sweat trickled down Li Congren and Wu Yue’s foreheads as they exchanged uncertain glances.
The pressure they had felt just now was like an illusion, but it was utterly terrifying.
“Grandfather Lan’s Earth Burrowing Rat reached peak second-rank over thirty years ago. Now, its aura is unfathomable and even more fearsome.
“Could it be...”
A wild thought crept into their minds.
By logic, the lifespan of a second-rank demon beast was comparable to a human Foundation Establishment cultivator.
If its cultivation hadn’t progressed, it should have already entered old age. There was no way it could still appear so vigorous and imposing.
“Could it be that this Earth Burrowing Rat has already advanced to the Fake Dan stage?”
...
An hour later.
The snowy silhouette of Snow Plum Mountain emerged into Lan Chang'an’s field of vision.
Before the grand gates of the Li Family’s ancestral grounds, the couple Li Congren and Wu Yue stood, their expressions weary from standing through the entire night.
At that moment, the two sensed an unusual fluctuation in spiritual energy and instinctively raised their heads.
Beneath the morning’s rosy dawn, an enormous dark-green tortoise broke through the waves and soared across the air.
Upon the wide back of the tortoise sat a man in white robes, calm and refined, as gentle as jade and exuding an air of serenity.
“Grandfather Lan!”
Li Congren and Wu Yue’s faces lit up in shock and delight, rushing forward to greet him.
“Greetings, Grandfather Lan!”
“Congratulations, Grandfather Lan, on achieving the might of the Core Formation Realm and returning to the land of Liang!”
The couple, along with their direct descendants, stepped forward to pay their respects.
Li Congren and Wu Yue bowed deeply, while the younger generation behind them fell to their knees in full prostration.
Li Congren, being of a junior generation, could be considered Lan Chang'an’s grandson in terms of familial hierarchy.
As for his descendants, it would not have been inappropriate for them to address Lan Chang'an as "Old Ancestor."
“Rise, all of you!”
With a wave of his sleeve, Lan Chang'an gestured for them to stand, making no effort to hide the profound power of his True Dan cultivation.
Sitting atop the great tortoise, his demeanor was warm and amicable as he admonished,
“‘True Dan,’ is merely a minor achievement, hardly deserving of such lofty words like ‘mighty.’ On the path of cultivation, one must remain grounded and avoid indulging in such superficial airs.”
“We humbly accept Grandfather Lan’s teachings!”
“We humbly follow the Immortal's teachings!”
The cultivators of the Li Family of Snow Plum Mountain, sensing the ocean-like depth of the Core Formation Immortal's mana, responded in unison.
Li Congren’s old face flushed red; after all, it had been he who took the lead in shouting out this exaggerated praise.
It wasn’t entirely out of a desire to flatter.
In the eyes of low- and mid-level cultivators, a True Dan cultivator—an authentic Core Formation Immortal—had indeed stepped into the ranks of high-ranking cultivators, capable of destroying mountains and cities with a mere wave of their hand.
...
Accompanied by Li Congren and other key members of the Li Family, Lan Chang'an took the seat of honor in the main hall.
Lan Chang'an casually studied Li Congren.
Thirty years had passed, and Li Congren had cultivated to the late stage of the Foundation Establishment realm, now appearing to be in his middle years.
His facial features faintly bore a resemblance to the youthful days of Li Ergou, though his visage was somewhat more refined.
After some conversation, Lan Chang'an gained a clearer understanding of the situation within the Li Family of Snow Plum Mountain.
The Li Family of Snow Plum Mountain currently had three Foundation Establishment cultivators within its ranks.
Besides Li Congren and his wife, there was also a younger nephew of Li Congren’s generation who had advanced to the Foundation Establishment Realm over a decade ago.
In addition, the family also had a late-stage Foundation Establishment honorary elder who had a life-and-death bond with Li Congren. That elder was also the elder brother of Li Congren’s wife, Wu Yue.
“Why are the other two Foundation Establishment cultivators not here?” Lan Chang'an asked casually.
“Grandfather Lan,” Li Congren replied respectfully, “the two of them are currently stationed at the Chang'an Mines.”
“Chang'an Mines?” Lan Chang'an’s gaze briefly flickered toward the couple.
Li Congren, looking somewhat embarrassed, explained, “The Chang'an Mines is a mining site we unearthed and developed a decade ago. It contains a fair amount of first- and second-rank raw ores, though their distribution is uneven, making extraction somewhat difficult...”
Wu Yue, maintaining a respectful demeanor, added from the side:
“At the start of its development, the Chang'an Mines attracted the attention of several surrounding powers. To ensure the mine could be safely exploited, we named it Chang’an—symbolizing lasting peace and stability.”
“Additionally, we sold 30% of the mining rights at a low price to the Beast Taming Zhou Family, securing their protection to fend off the covetous eyes of the Dongmen Family.”
“The Dongmen Family—is that the one that migrated from Feng Kingdom?” Lan Chang'an asked with a hint of recognition.
Though he had been away for many years, he still retained a general understanding of the situation in Liang Kingdom.
The Liang Kingdom of today, compared to thirty years ago when he left, is like the seas turning into mulberry fields and the heavens and earth being overturned.
The ruling of the Flame Departing Palace had been overthrown, and the Golden Sun Sect had risen to take control of the cultivation world.
The cultivation forces of the Liang Kingdom had been completely reshuffled.
The four major sects that once existed below the Nascent Soul-level powers had become six.
The seven great families had expanded to ten.
Many immortal cities, market towns, and small to large families scattered across the Liang Kingdom had changed hands.
At the same time, the Liang Kingdom’s cultivation world had relocated or strengthened numerous spiritual veins, resulting in a noticeable improvement in overall power.
Returning to this land of his roots, Lan Chang'an felt both familiar and estranged.
The geographical landscape had remained largely unchanged, yet many of the forces and figures he now heard of were unfamiliar.
“That’s correct,” Li Congren said, his tone grave. “The Dongmen Family migrated here from Feng Kingdom. This clan boasts three Fake Dan experts and over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators. Moreover, several of their members are core disciples or hold positions within the Golden Sun Sect...”
Lan Chang'an nodded in understanding as he listened.
With the impending invasion of demonic forces and the larger-scale wars on the horizon, the demand for war resources had caused their value to soar.
The Chang'an Mines held by the Snow Plum Mountain Li Family, whose interests had multiplied several times over, was naturally a hot potato.
Even with the Zhou Family providing protection, it was unlikely that the Dongmen Family would give up on such a lucrative prize without a fight.
...
At noon, the Li Family of Snow Plum Mountain hosted a banquet in Lan Chang'an’s honor.
The Li Family spared no effort, utilizing the finest ingredients they could procure to ensure that the first True Dan-level guest in the history of the Snow Plum Mountain Li Family would be pleased.
Lan Chang'an planned to stay at Snow Plum Mountain for a day and head to Jin Yun Valley the following day.
Though he did little, his mere presence at the Li Family was an intangible deterrent to the hostile forces of the Snow Plum Mountain Li Family.
Throughout the banquet, Family Head Li Congren personally accompanied Lan Chang'an, providing him with updates on the situation regarding several old acquaintances.
For instance, he spoke of Li Erqing, who was still in good health and steadfastly guarding Feiyue in fulfillment of a lifelong promise to the Mu Family.
According to Li Congren, his grandfather Li Erqing had only visited Snow Plum Mountain twice over the course of several decades.
...
In the afternoon.
Lan Chang'an stood atop a snow-capped mountain within the Li Family’s territory, enjoying the view. It was there that he finally caught sight of the Earth Burrowing Rat.
The Earth Burrowing Rat and the Treasure-Seeking Rat were nestled at the edge of a snow-laden forest, basking in the sunlight.
The Earth Burrowing Rat appeared relaxed and content, its fur gleaming with vitality.
In contrast, the Treasure-Seeking Rat looked haggard, its energy weak and blood flow sluggish. Dark circles were faintly visible under its eyes.
In just one night, the Treasure-Seeking Rat seemed to have become noticeably thinner and more frail.
After barely resting for a moment, the Earth Burrowing Rat wrapped its arm around the Treasure-Seeking Rat and dragged it into the forest.
“Squeak, squeak...”
The Treasure-Seeking Rat’s feeble cries were soon muffled.
As the Treasure-Seeking Rat’s master, Li Congren’s eyelid twitched involuntarily, his heart aching.
He had many descendants, but there was only one Treasure-Seeking Rat.
Over the years, the Treasure-Seeking Rat had provided considerable assistance, aiding the family’s development and improving his own cultivation progress.
Lan Chang'an was about to speak, intending to tell the Earth Burrowing Rat to show some restraint.
Suddenly, from the southeastern direction of Snow Plum Mountain, a wave of True Dan-level energy swept toward them.