Chapter 2422: 2404 Peng Family

The Golden Elm Mountain Range stretches for tens of millions of miles, named for the vast abundance of golden elm trees growing there. Their tender and juicy leaves are ideal for feeding spirit silkworms. Once, a fifth-tier multicolored magpie, adept at wind-element divine abilities, resided here.

Over 40,000 years ago, Peng Yimin, utilizing powerful divine abilities, slew this demon and established his family here. At its peak, the Peng family boasted eighteen Void Refinement cultivators and over 300,000 cultivators within the clan.

During the great racial war, eight Void Refinement cultivators from the Peng family perished at the hands of powerful experts from the Yaksha clan. Subsequently, after multiple calamities, the Peng family began its decline. To this day, the Peng family has five Nascent Soul cultivators and over 70,000 cultivators within the clan.

Deep within the Golden Elm Mountain Range, a majestic peak stands, looking from a distance like a colossal sword piercing the ground, looming majestically over the world.

At the summit sits a magnificent golden palace with intricately carved beams and painted pillars. A plaque above the entrance bears three powerful characters: "Golden Elm Hall."

The main hall's doors were wide open, revealing a spacious and brightly lit interior.

A stern-faced elder in a golden robe sat on the main seat. His cheeks were gaunt, and his eyes faintly emitted a golden light.

This was Peng Tianyu, the Peng family's patriarch, currently at the late-stage Nascent Soul realm.

A well-featured man in a green robe was reporting to Peng Tianyu that the Peng family patriarch's two-thousandth birthday was being celebrated with a grand banquet, to which many guests were invited. The man in the green robe was Peng Qingfeng, the head of the Peng family.

"People from Tianxiang Mountain, the Sun family of Qianfeng Island, and the Kong family of Tianying Mountain have all arrived and been settled," Peng Qingfeng reported respectfully.

"The people from the Azure Lotus Wang family haven't arrived yet? Are they not coming?"

Peng Tianyu frowned deeply. The Azure Lotus Wang family was an affiliated force of Zhenhai Palace, possessing formidable strength. True Monarch Taihao had gained widespread renown for slaying multiple Void Refinement realm foreign races during the great racial war.

By chance, a Peng family descendant had befriended a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Wang family. Peng Tianyu was holding this grand birthday celebration hoping to deepen their relationship with the Wang family, preferably by forming a marital alliance.

In recent years, the Peng family had made many enemies. If they could become in-laws with the Wang family, it could avert many troubles.

"Not yet, but Senior Wang promised to attend; they shouldn't break their word."

Though Peng Qingfeng said this, a hint of worry appeared in his eyes.

The Peng family had invited many guests, but the Wang family was the most powerful. After all, they were an affiliated cultivation family of Zhenhai Palace. Inviting the Wang family to this birthday celebration was also an attempt to use their presence to enhance the Peng family's prestige.

He took out a gleaming green communication plate from his robe and cast a spell. A respectful male voice suddenly sounded: "Patriarch, Senior Wang from the Azure Lotus Wang family has arrived and is outside."

"Understood. Do not slight them. I will be out immediately."

Peng Qingfeng instructed, putting away the communication plate.

Peng Tianyu took out a communication plate, cast a spell, and instructed: "Seventh Brother, the people from the Azure Lotus Wang family have arrived. Please go out and greet them! Do not be disrespectful."

"Understood, Third Brother, I'll be right out."

Putting away the communication plate, Peng Tianyu sighed softly and said: "The family's decline to its current state is largely our responsibility."

"Once we begin mining that medium-sized Silver Adamantite vein, the family will surely be able to cultivate several more Nascent Soul cultivators," Peng Qingfeng said excitedly. "If the Ancestor can advance to the Void Refinement stage, restoring our ancestral glory will only be a matter of time."

"I hope so!" Peng Tianyu said, his expression solemn. "The Silver Adamantite vein is located right next to the Qunyang Sect. Send more experts there. The Qunyang Sect is currently in a period of rapid development; they even fought fiercely with the Sun family over a secret realm, and three of the Sun family's Nascent Soul cultivators perished."

"Ancestor, please rest assured. Fourth Grand-Uncle and Sixth Grand-Uncle have led people to provide support; there shouldn't be any issues," Peng Qingfeng said confidently.

Outside the Golden Elm Mountain Range, a vast azure lotus platform, over a hundred zhang in size, floated high in the sky. Wang Lihe and over a hundred clan members stood upon it, the lowest of their cultivation levels being Core Formation.

Wang Lihe had followed Wang Qingshan to develop inland, adhering to Wang Changsheng's strategy of forging many friendships and few enmities. The Wang family had extensively formed marital alliances with numerous cultivation families, establishing a vast network of interests, and the family was developing increasingly well.

The Peng family patriarch's two-thousandth birthday celebration had invited Wang Lihe to attend.

Wang Lihe had been delayed by other matters and had only just arrived.

A streak of green light flew out from the Golden Elm Mountain Range. Soon after, the green light halted.

As the light dissipated, a plump man in a green robe was revealed. He had a round face and small eyes, and a sincere smile graced his face, giving off an approachable impression.

"I am Peng Tianfeng. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Wang. You've had a long journey; please come in."

The man in the green robe said politely, inviting Wang Lihe and his party inside.

Less than a quarter of an hour later, Wang Lihe and his party appeared in a sprawling estate.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, please rest well first. My Third Brother's birthday celebration is three days from now."

After saying this, Peng Tianfeng departed.

"Find rooms for yourselves and settle in. Do not wander off; just stay here."

Wang Lihe gave a few instructions, then sent his clan members to rest.

Three days passed quickly. Early on this day, as dawn just broke.

At the summit of Welcoming Peak, a bluestone plaza covering a thousand mu was filled with thousands of cultivators chatting together. The higher one's cultivation, the more prominent their position.

Wang Lihe exchanged greetings with other Nascent Soul cultivators, who all treated him very courteously.

"Auspicious hour has arrived! Please welcome the Ancestor!"

Peng Qingfeng announced loudly. A golden python several hundred zhang long flew from a distance, with Peng Tianyu standing atop its head. The golden python was a fifth-tier spirit beast.

Wang Lihe and the other cultivators all stood up, only sitting down after Peng Tianyu took his seat.

The cultivators presented their congratulatory gifts one after another. Wang Lihe offered a puppet beast and a bottle of fifth-tier pills as his gift.

"What? A fifth-tier puppet beast!"

"The Peng family is truly blessed! The Wang family's fifth-tier puppet beasts are formidable; they're no worse than Nascent Soul cultivators."

"Indeed! The Wang family's gift is so valuable. Could it be that the Peng family has formed a marital alliance with the Wang family?"

Lower-tier cultivators whispered among themselves, their expressions varied, with envy being the most prominent.

Peng Tianyu was initially stunned, but quickly recovered, saying with a smile: "Fellow Daoist Wang, you are too thoughtful. Since you've come all this way, please stay for a longer period."

"Very well, then we shall impose."

Wang Lihe agreed. His grand gift was intended to propose a marital alliance with the Peng family.

The Peng family had a long history, and although they had declined, their network of connections was vast. The Wang family now possessed strength, but their social circle was not large. Marrying into the Peng family would expand the Wang family's social reach, aiding their expansion of power.

Prior to this, Wang family cultivators had frequently interacted with Peng family descendants, forging a deep friendship; otherwise, Wang Lihe would not have presented such a lavish gift.

After presenting the gifts, the cultivators raised their cups, drinking heartily and chatting merrily, creating a lively atmosphere.

A while later, Peng Qingfeng suddenly took out a communication plate, cast a spell, and his face changed as his lips moved subtly.

Peng Tianyu's expression became grim, but he quickly returned to normal, continuing to drink and chat.

Over two hours later, the banquet concluded, and the guests gradually departed.

Upon returning to his residence, Peng Tianyu received a report from Peng Qingfeng.

"The Qunyang Sect went too far! They actually led people to seize the Silver Adamantite vein, and both Fourth Grand-Uncle and Sixth Grand-Uncle have perished!" Peng Qingfeng said with a grim face. That medium-sized Silver Adamantite vein was a significant fortune, and the Peng family naturally couldn't cede it to other forces. However, the Peng family now only had three Nascent Soul cultivators remaining; one was still traveling abroad and hadn't returned, leaving only two within the clan.

"Immediately invite Fellow Daoist Wang here. Tell him I have urgent matters to discuss with him."