Clan Cultivation: My Intelligence Updated Daily

Chapter 313 Major Intelligence, Wandering Old Taoist

"The pinnacle of Foundation Establishment has been achieved today!"

Inside the secret chamber, Zhang Lingyu suddenly opened her eyes, feeling the abundant magical power in her dantian. She couldn't stop smiling, and she wished she could let out a long roar to the sky.

The effects of a third-tier spiritual vein are truly different.

What would have taken nearly two years to achieve a breakthrough has now been cut in half!

Both the Golden Core and the Water Moon Brightening Divine Pill are in his storage ring. Now, he only needs to spend two or three years perfecting his cultivation before he can begin to form his core.

Zhang Lingyu slowly got up, opened the secret room and came to the courtyard. Looking at the mountain of jade slips in the pavilion, he went up and looked through them one by one.

Because he was preparing for Core Formation and his family was in harmony, he no longer needed to do many things personally unless there were major decisions to be made.

As the clan leader, even if there are some things he doesn't get involved in, he still needs to know everything in order to keep abreast of clan affairs.

Now, family affairs are gradually being managed by the younger generation, Zhang Yuanli, with Zhang Yuanlin and Zhang Xingyao assisting him. Although he has been recognized as the next patriarch of the family, his cultivation has not yet reached the Foundation Establishment stage, and he is still lacking in experience, so there is no rush to hold the succession ceremony.

Zhang Lingyu brewed himself a cup of tea and took out a jade slip from the top to start reading.

Because he preferred peace and quiet, otherwise, as the clan leader, there should have been dozens of servants in the large courtyard. However, doing things personally had its own unique charm.

"Wow, I didn't expect there to be so many spiritual treasures this year!" Looking at the densely packed names on the jade slip, Zhang Lingyu's smile deepened.

The Spirit Awakening Ceremony has always been a major event for the family. Although there are spiritual disciples who come up the mountain every year, the number today is much greater than in the past, with more than thirty people.

This is understandable. With the Zhang family unifying Yingchuan, the territories of the Yun and Ming families were all taken into their hands, and those ordinary people naturally became their subjects.

The population explosion was originally a headache, but fortunately, the two wars of extermination were only fought in Mingyue Mountain and Yunjing Mountain. At the same time, the Zhang family ordered its vassal families not to burn, kill, or loot, which prevented the spread to the mortal realm, and the destruction of farmland was minimal.

With these factors, coupled with the family's diligent efforts over the years, ordinary people lived in peace and prosperity, and the population naturally increased dramatically.

With a larger population, the probability of spiritual beings emerging increases significantly.

However, the chances of a mortal being born with spiritual abilities are still too low. The reason there are so many spiritual beings in this batch is because the family issued an order requiring its members to take more concubines and have more children, and to form marriage alliances with various vassal families.

The more spiritual beings unite, the greater the chance that their offspring will also possess spiritual abilities.

The current batch of spiritual disciples are still of the "Yuan" generation; in a few years, they will be the next batch of fresh blood.

Following 'Yuan, Xing, Ling, Yuan', the next generation names in the Zhang family are:

Profound understanding leads to truth; purity and tranquility are maintained in the One.

The Tao follows the natural way, and all things return to emptiness.

I wonder if I'll even live to see someone born in the "empty" generation...

The path of cultivation is unpredictable. Even if Zhang Lingyu has an intelligence system in hand to seize opportunities and avoid disasters, he cannot guarantee that the path will be smooth. Perhaps one day an accident will happen, or he will lose his greatest reliance.

"Why think so much? Let's take it one step at a time. If we want to live long, let's focus on achieving the Golden Core stage first."

Zhang Lingyu smiled and shook his head, continuing to peruse the jade slips. He had emerged from seclusion in the morning, and it took him all day to finish reading through the clan's year-long affairs, until dusk.

Overall, with the help of the clan elders, Zhang Yuanli, this nephew, handled matters both big and small quite well.

Of course, there are still some flaws, but we can point them out afterward.

After the family finished understanding the situation, there were more than a dozen flying swords transmitting messages next to the jade slip. The restrictions on the swords were intact, so the family must have sent them here as soon as they received them.

Without a doubt, it must have been sent back from Tianliu City by my disciple.

It seems he didn't heed her words before his departure.

Zhang Lingyu's lips curled into a smile, showing some interest. She couldn't wait to see how Wang Menghan had fared in the past year.

With a wave of his hand, he erased all the restrictions on the flying sword and began to study it carefully.

[To Master: Your disciple, along with Clan Sister Yuan Yao and Senior Brother Mo Wuyai, arrived in Tianliu City today. We first paid our respects to Grandpa Xingfu and Senior Lin Qing, and then received the Demon-Slaying Token in the city, preparing to enter the Wanling Mountains for demon-slaying training.]

[To Master: Over the past month, the three of us have slain seven third-tier demonic beasts, twenty-six second-tier demonic beasts, and fifty-three first-tier demonic beasts.]

[Master's Personal Remarks: Over the past month, the three of us disciples have slain a total of third-tier demonic beasts...]

......

Seeing this, Zhang Lingyu was both amused and exasperated. "I asked you to report that you were safe, not to report every detail of how many demons you killed and how many spirit stones you earned."

However, he also sensed something unusual about it.

That means there are fewer and fewer monsters on the outskirts of the Wanling Mountains.

At the beginning, he could kill nearly a hundred monsters a month, but recently he has only been able to kill about twenty.

"I witnessed the upheaval in Tianliu City back then. There's no doubt that we cultivators were defeated. Although the Demon Emperor led the demon race to retreat to the inner perimeter afterward, and the six sects led the retaliatory siege, how many years has that been?"

Zhang Lingyu frowned slightly. After the revenge was taken, the situation returned to the previous tug-of-war.

Not to mention that the monsters were not seriously injured back then, the sheer number of these low-level monsters is enough to fill the outer area again.

How could they have been killed by cultivators after decades of hard work, leaving no trace of them?

If they truly possessed such power, the Wanling Mountains would have been razed to the ground long ago; how could they still be in this state?

It's most likely those three demon emperors causing trouble. After being dormant for decades, they're probably starting to stir again. It hasn't even been a hundred years yet, which is really not a good sign.

He had Zhang Lingxiao secretly inquire within the sect that the two demons who killed the Moon Shadow Demon Emperor, the Burning Feather Demon Emperor, were not native to the Ten Thousand Spirits Mountain Range, but came from outside, and not even from Donghua Continent.

It came from across the sea!

This is baffling. Instead of lording it over others in their own territory, they risked their lives to come to Donghua Continent, to this tiny Zhao Kingdom.

Could it be that they have some ulterior motive?

Or is there something that attracts them?

"Let the Six Sects deal with this headache. If they don't achieve the Golden Core stage, they'll just have to obey the summons; if they do, isn't it the same?"

Zhang Lingyu sighed softly and began to read the last message sent by the flying sword, which had been sent back three days ago.

[To Master: Three days ago, your three disciples discovered a cave dwelling belonging to a previous inhabitant in a valley on the outskirts of the Ten Thousand Spirits Mountains. We suspect the cave's owner was at the late Foundation Establishment stage in their lifetime. We are preparing to explore it. We hope Master will not worry.]

"The predecessor's cave dwelling, late stage of Foundation Establishment?"

"With their skills, plus those three mid-grade fifth-tier talismans, there shouldn't be much of a problem."

Zhang Lingyu raised an eyebrow slightly. There were many cave dwellings left by predecessors in the Wanling Mountains. The first volume of the Lingxuan Nourishing Soul Scripture came from the inheritance left by Tianji Sanren in the mountains.

The cave dwellings left behind by late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators are somewhat attractive to Qi Refining cultivators, but for the three of them, the attraction is negligible.

Although he said he wasn't worried, he still made a special trip to check the soul lamps that the three of them had placed in the family. Only after confirming that there was nothing wrong did he feel at ease. He then waited for them to come out and report that they were safe.

"It's time to take a look at the intelligence system."

After settling many matters, Zhang Lingyu reopened the intelligence system after a year, hoping to see what major opportunities might be coming up.

I don’t know, I’m scared.

Nearly ten pieces of Level 5 intelligence were updated in a year, which was quite a surprise to him. Just as he was about to record them all and hand them over to the clan for processing, he suddenly stood up when he casually glanced at one of them.

[Level 5 Intelligence: In three days, Yunhe Zhenjun, a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Tianyan Sect of Zhongzhou, will appear at a restaurant in Xiaohe Town, Yingchuan County, Zhao State, Donghua Continent. You may try to make contact with him; you might obtain unexpected opportunities.]

"The Heavenly Evolution Sect of Central Continent, True Monarch Yunhe, and Xiaohe Town?"

This short piece of information gave him a tremendous shock.

What is Zhongzhou? It is the most prosperous place for cultivation in this world, and is undoubtedly the number one continent. Whenever a cultivator reveals that he comes from Zhongzhou, he is treated as an honored guest.

Although he didn't know what level the Tianyan Sect was, or whether it had a Nascent Soul cultivator in charge, the fact that a mere Nascent Soul cultivator dared to travel across continents without regard for the sect's safety meant that the sect's strength couldn't be too weak.

As for why a Nascent Soul True Monarch from the Central Continent would appear in the Eastern Continent, it's actually quite understandable. After all, when cultivators reach a certain level and feel that they cannot break through in a short period of time, they begin to travel around in order to temper their minds or seek opportunities.

As you observe more people and events, your mind will become more fulfilled, and your spiritual cultivation may naturally follow.

There are countless examples of wandering cultivators casually giving away opportunities or taking people as disciples if they take a liking to them during their travels.

"Since the intelligence system has told me to try making some contact, there shouldn't be too much danger. If I can really gain an opportunity, that would be good; if I can't, that won't be bad either." Zhang Lingyu slowly sat down and took a sip of tea.

Encountering someone with extraordinary abilities is not unusual, but this place is truly intriguing.

Xiaohe Town.

The town was originally Xiaohe Village, where the bronze gate was located. After deciding to treat that place as a forbidden area, the family moved all the mortals in the surrounding area to a distant place, and over time it became Xiaohe Town.

In order to observe the former Xiaohe Village, the family also arranged for clansmen to guard it at all times.

"The closest town to the Bronze Gate is Xiaohe Town. This True Monarch Yunhe is most likely stopping here to rest and assess the situation."

The bronze door and the space behind it were so eerie that Zhang Lingyu felt a chill every time he went there. The last time he went was to retrieve the unfinished Yin Corpses.

He had no idea what the bronze door and what was behind it were, or why they were there.

But this True Monarch Yunhe must know something; his purpose in coming here is most likely to check the state of this gate...

According to the intelligence system, True Monarch Yunhe will arrive at the Xiaohe Town restaurant tomorrow. Whether he can obtain any opportunities will most likely depend on the bronze door.

After making his decision, he got up and returned to the secret room, where he silently began to regulate his breathing.

......

The next day.

Xiaohe Town, Yingchuan County.

Since the calamity that occurred in Xiaohe Village, the villagers lived in fear until the immortals moved them to other places. After several decades of changes, they gradually forgot their suffering.

But when some elderly people inadvertently look at that distant mountain, that fear keeps resurfacing.

"Selling candied hawthorns! Delicious candied hawthorns!"

"Candied hawthorn berries are delicious, and my family's sugar paintings are just as good! Come and take a look!"

The streets were bustling with people, all with smiles on their faces. An old man in patched-up clothes strolled slowly down the street, his gourd at his waist swaying casually with each step, clearly empty.

Looking at the bustling streets, he stroked his beard and nodded: "It is rare to see ordinary people living in peace and contentment. It seems that the immortal cultivation families governing this place value ordinary people. This is truly remarkable."

After sighing, my stomach unexpectedly growled.

"I'm hungry. I should find a good restaurant to fill my stomach!"

"I need to fill my gourd with wine!"

The old man looked around the street and chose a restaurant that wasn't too crowded. Just as he was about to step inside, he was stopped by the servants at the door.

Seeing his ragged clothes and unkempt appearance, the servant looked at him with disgust, pinched his nose with one hand, and waved his other hand, scolding, "Where did this old beggar come from? This is not a place for you to eat for free."

"Hey, you little brat, who are you calling an old beggar?"

"Hey, I'm calling you. What's up? Got some money and came to eat?"

"Who do you think you are? Look at me, I don't have any money!"

The old man was shoved by his servant, his face turning ashen. He angrily pulled a brightly colored stone from his pocket and shouted, "Let me tell you, this is something I obtained from a sacred mountain. It has been appraised and is a celestial treasure!"

"A celestial treasure?"

This shout immediately attracted the attention of the surrounding crowd, who pointed at the rock and started discussing it animatedly.

"A magical treasure? You're kidding me. If it were real, and you looked like that, get out of here and don't interfere with my business."

The servant held the stone in his palm, looking at it from left to right. It looked like an ordinary pebble, and the colors on it seemed to be painted on. If it were truly a celestial treasure, it should at least emit seven colors.

Having said that, he threw the stone far away, and pedestrians couldn't dodge it in time.

"My darling, you little brat, if you don't want it, fine, but don't throw it away! Can you afford to pay for it if you break it?!"

The old man, his face full of anger, turned around and jogged to pick it up, but when he got there, someone beat him to it.

The newcomer was dressed in a thin blue robe and had a handsome face. Although he wore no adornments, it was clear at a glance that he was not from an ordinary family. He picked up a pebble, handed it to the old man, and said with a smile, "Uncle, you must keep your valuables safe. You can't just show them to others like that next time."

The old man looked at the man in front of him but did not reach out to take the object. A strange light flashed in his eyes, and his left hand, which was tucked into his sleeve, quickly made a hand seal, as if he was calculating something.

"I had already calculated before coming here that I shouldn't have encountered any cultivators... Since this child is at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, he must be Zhang Lingyu, the patriarch of the Zhang family in Yingchuan County."

As the Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Tianyan Sect, he has always been skilled in the art of divination.

When he encounters someone he shouldn't have, he's bound to be wary, wondering if someone is plotting against him.

After some calculation, however, the person in front of him showed no abnormalities, as if it was truly just a chance encounter.

"The art of celestial secrets can only allow me to glimpse a sliver of heavenly secrets, not to see them completely; otherwise, it would be a breach of the Heavenly Way. Since I didn't foresee this person appearing here, it means my cultivation is still very shallow."

"However, this person is also a cultivator, and the patriarch of the Zhang family. His sudden appearance here is highly suspicious. Since I have important matters to attend to, I must not be careless and need to test him further."

All of this happened in the blink of an eye. The old man immediately smiled, took the pebble from Zhang Lingyu's hand, and cupped his hands in a salute, saying:

"Thanks, sir!"

......

......