Chapter 1063: Heavenly Fox Ancestor Bai Xin

Eastern Barren Lands, Yu Country, Bashan Mountain.

Myriad Flowers Palace underwent a transformation, which was in fact a division of the family. With the strong backing of Shangqing Temple, Tang Yunshang acquired extensive cultivation resources and took control of territories spanning four countries. This surge in power instantly established her family as the preeminent cultivation lineage in the Eastern Barren Lands.

Bashan Mountain, previously a vital outpost for Myriad Flowers Palace, possessed a mid-grade Tier 4 spiritual vein. Tang Yunshang chose this location to establish her family's main headquarters.

To solidify her influence, Tang Yunshang encouraged intermarriage between her Tang family disciples and the Myriad Flowers Palace disciples who joined her. Furthermore, all cultivation sects across the four countries were compelled to obey the Tang family's commands, with Tang family members being stationed within these sects.

The sudden renaming of Myriad Flowers Palace and the Tang family's swift annexation of territories across four countries did not immediately win over the local cultivation sects. However, after Tang Yunshang executed three Core Formation cultivators on charges of colluding with the demon race and inciting rebellion, the sects in all four countries promptly fell in line.

The Tang family boasted three Nascent Soul cultivators, along with a Nascent Soul stage revered master who hailed from Shangqing Temple.

Only the intervention of a Soul Transformation cultivator from Taiyi Immortal Sect saved Myriad Flowers Palace from annihilation. Consequently, Lin Siruo, under the patronage of Taiyi Immortal Sect, gained control over most of Myriad Flowers Palace's territory and personnel. Taiyi Immortal Sect also dispatched a group of high-level cultivators to be stationed at Myriad Flowers Palace. While nominally referred to as revered masters, their true purpose was to protect Lin Siruo and ensure her leadership of the palace.

Following the family's division, Myriad Flowers Sect's power diminished significantly, causing it to automatically withdraw from the ranks of the Seven Great Immortal Sects. As a result, only six great immortal sects remained in the Eastern Barren Lands, with Myriad Flowers Sect becoming a vassal of Taiyi Immortal Sect.

The war on the front lines had concluded. The demon race withdrew its forces, and the human race ceased its large-scale invasion. Instead, they focused on constructing cities, establishing formations, and relocating populations along the border.

Both the human and demon races suffered severe casualties in this major conflict. The invasion by the Northern Frontier cultivation world compelled the demon race of the Eastern Barren Lands to withdraw their troops, ceding over 20 million li of territory to the Six Great Immortal Sects. Although Myriad Flowers Palace had split, its legitimate interests were still addressed. The Tang family and Myriad Flowers Sect received portions, but Shangqing Temple and Taiyi Immortal Sect claimed the largest share.

Backed by Shangqing Temple, the Tang family acquired over 500,000 li of territory.

Upon relocating her family to Bashan Mountain, Tang Yunshang began consolidating control over the forces within her domain while simultaneously recruiting rogue cultivators and smaller families to strengthen her own influence.

The Tang family constructed a formidable fortress in Bashan Mountain, naming it Tang Family Fort, which served as their primary stronghold.

Inside the council hall, Tang Yunshang occupied the main seat, flanked by over a dozen Core Formation cultivators, including Wang Qingjun and Huang Fugui.

As the Wang and Tang families were connected by marriage, Wang Qingjun's presence there was entirely expected.

The Tang family's considerable territory and the sudden influx of new members placed immense pressure on Tang Yunshang. While she had already established both commercial and strategic cooperation with Shangqing Temple, it wasn't enough. Shangqing Temple's primary role was to secure her territory; for the Tang family to truly prosper, they required significantly more cultivation resources. To that end, Tang Yunshang had extended invitations to representatives from various powers, with the Wang family being her top priority.

Recent reports indicated that the Green Lotus Immortal Couple had slain one Nascent Soul stage demon and severely wounded another in the South Sea, significantly boosting their reputation. Tang Yunshang was eager to expand cooperation with the Wang family: the Wang family would gather cultivation resources from the South Sea and sell them to the Tang family, while the Tang family would collect Eastern Barren Lands cultivation resources and sell them to the Wang family, fostering a mutually beneficial partnership.

Beyond mere commercial cooperation, Tang Yunshang also aimed to fortify her relationship with the Wang family. Intermarriage, a prevalent custom among cultivation families, was her preferred method. She hoped that descendants of Wang Changsheng would marry into the Tang family, thereby aligning Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan, both Nascent Soul cultivators, with the Tang family's interests and significantly enhancing its strength.

“Young friend Wang, has the conflict in the South Sea not yet concluded?” Tang Yunshang looked at Wang Qingjun, asking with a benevolent expression.

“Senior Tang,” Wang Qingjun replied respectfully, “the conflict has not yet ended. The South Sea cultivation world remains in a state of war, and I am currently unable to reach my Ninth Uncle and Ninth Aunt. However, please rest assured, Senior Tang, as soon as the South Sea hostilities cease, I will personally travel there to convey your message to them in person.”

Wang Qingjun said respectfully. The Tang family's offer to expand cooperation and forge extensive marriage alliances with the Wang family, including the promise of four states of land for their development, was incredibly tempting.

Wang Qingshan had sent someone to caution Wang Qingjun, who, being privy to the internal dynamics, dared not make a decision unilaterally. This intricate situation involved both Taiyi Immortal Sect and Shangqing Temple, necessitating extreme caution from the Wang family. It was a critical matter of alignment that demanded careful consideration. The Wang family was faced with choosing between Taiyi Immortal Sect and the Tang family, understanding that every choice carried both benefits and drawbacks.

Tang Yunshang nodded, then turned to Huang Fugui. “Young friend Huang,” she said, “remember your words to me. If you can truly bring that matter to fruition, I will bestow upon you a generous reward.”

As a newly established power, the Tang family needed to expand trade, increase revenue, and secure allies to solidify its position. It was at this crucial juncture that Huang Fugui proactively approached them, asserting his ability to mediate contact between the Tang family and the Three Flames Palace. For this initial service, the Tang family paid Huang Fugui a substantial sum of spirit stones as an intermediary fee, promising a much greater reward should he successfully facilitate cooperation between the Tang family and the Three Flames Palace.

Huang Fugui had no interest in women or in establishing a sect; his sole passion was wealth.

Upon hearing the words “generous reward,” Huang Fugui's eyes gleamed. He said with a smile, “Senior Tang, please rest assured. I will dedicate myself to this task and do everything possible to bring it to fruition. I will depart shortly.”

“Excellent. Then I shall await your good news. I propose a toast to all of you.”

Tang Yunshang raised her wine cup, and the others, not daring to delay, swiftly raised their own in return.

Qingqiu Mountain, the ancestral home of the Heavenly Fox clan.

A vast number of fox demons were visibly gathered here. The males possessed handsome features, while the females were strikingly beautiful. Multicolored foxes ran and played throughout the mountains and forests. The entire region, spanning hundreds of millions of li, constituted the territory of the Heavenly Fox clan.

Perched atop a particular peak, adorned with exotic flowers and rare plants, stood a magnificent azure palace. A gilded plaque above its entrance bore the three large silver characters: “Heavenly Fox Hall.” Inside, a man with a fair complexion, clad in golden robes, sat on the main seat, his expression somber.

Four Nascent Soul stage fox demons — three males and one female — stood before the golden-robed man, their expressions conveying deep apprehension.

The golden-robed man was Bai Xin, the revered ancestor of the Heavenly Fox clan, a cultivator at the Soul Transformation stage.

“What is happening? The war has been over for more than half a year, yet there is still no news of Ling'er?”

Bai Xin spoke with a grim expression. Bai Ling'er was his most beloved and gifted descendant. Patriarch Qinghua and Patriarch Black Tiger, fearing that Bai Xin would abandon them in peril, had brought Bai Ling'er along when they ventured deep into human territory to attack the mountain gate of Myriad Flowers Palace. The outcome was disastrous: Patriarch Black Tiger was severely wounded, several Nascent Soul stage demons perished, and Bai Ling'er vanished.

Bai Ling'er possessed a remarkably pure bloodline and immense future potential. Had she not been on the cusp of a breakthrough, hoping to use the conflict to overcome her bottleneck, Bai Xin would never have allowed her to participate in the war. Yet, while some of the demons who attacked Myriad Flowers Palace managed to escape and return, Bai Ling'er had completely vanished.

Both shocked and enraged, Bai Xin dispatched a vast number of his people to search for her.

Were it not for Bai Ling'er's natal soul lamp, kept within the clan, still burning, Bai Xin would have personally confronted the human cultivators to exact retribution.

“Ancestral Patriarch,” one of them replied, “despite numerous investigations, we still have no trace of Ling'er. Perhaps she is recovering from injuries somewhere and will return in due time.”

Bai Xin's face grew cold. “'In due time'?” he retorted chillingly. “You will go yourselves to find her. If you fail to locate Ling'er, do not bother returning. If all else fails, you are to negotiate with Taiyi Immortal Sect. Inform them that if Ling'er perishes by the hands of Eastern Barren cultivators, I will resume hostilities. This is not a jest.”

“Yes, Ancestral Patriarch,” they responded.

The four felt a sudden chill, quickly agreed, and transformed into four streaks of multicolored light, soaring out of the Heavenly Fox Hall.