Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation-Chapter 81 - 76: Immense Pressure

Although the Xingyun sun Commerce Association’s efficiency was impeccable, the complexity of a Third Grade Array was on a completely different level from a Second Grade Array.

Therefore, Xue Yuchen and a group of the association’s Array Masters remained on Longhuan Island for a full half-month before they finally completed the installation of the Profound Water Gang Sha Gathering Array.

He then spent several more days on adjustments and testing. Only after confirming that the Grand Array was operating normally and stably did Xue Yuchen take his leave and depart with his men.

Ling Qiyue had been present to supervise the entire process, personally overseeing every detail. After all, the Grand Array concerned the safety of the family’s core stronghold, so there was no room for even the slightest mistake.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly without any mishaps.

Ling Qiyue didn’t truly breathe a sigh of relief until the Xingyun sun Commerce Association’s fleet of Tianzhou Skyboats accelerated into the distance and vanished over the horizon.

"The family has grown. A single Third Grade Protection Array feels like it’s not quite enough anymore," 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

said the voluptuous and graceful Tang Qiu Yao, her hair styled with a Cloud Hairpin Phoenix. "Once the family’s finances are more stable, we’ll have to consider adding one or two Support Arrays for an extra layer of security."

Ling Qiyue agreed. "Of course, we can do that. But we can’t buy from the Xingyun sun Commerce Association again. We’ll need to consider other channels."

Although she didn’t believe the Xingyun sun Commerce Association would have any ulterior motives, there was no harm in being cautious. Otherwise, if a problem truly arose, it would be too late for regrets.

"...Senior Sister, the family should have a relatively stable period of development now, right?"

asked Ling Changqing, who was standing beside her. By now, the many small powers in the surrounding sea regions probably all knew that the Ling Family was protected by a Third Grade Array.

’It’s impossible to keep such a major event completely secret, but there’s no need for secrecy anyway. A strategic deterrent has to be widely known, just like the nuclear deterrence strategies of the great powers in my past life.’

Ling Qiyue nodded slightly. "That’s for certain. As long as we don’t actively cause trouble, none of the surrounding powers will dare to provoke us."

To powers that were only at the Foundation Establishment Level, a Third Grade Protective Array was an indestructible existence. With Ling Qiyue presiding over it, even hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators attacking in unison couldn’t breach the Grand Array.

Therefore, the Ling Family could now develop at its own pace: managing its various industries, gathering resources to refine Elixirs, selecting Immortal Seedlings with cultivation aptitude from the mortal world, and bringing them back to the family for training.

Of course, within the family, any disciple who possessed a Cultivating Spirit Root, regardless of how close or distant their blood ties were, would receive a certain investment of family resources to allow them to focus on their cultivation and improve.

In Ling Qiyue’s view, this was a slow and steady, step-by-step development strategy. Only by solidifying the family’s foundation could the Ling Family go further in the future.

From Ling Changqing’s perspective, a stronger Ling Family was also entirely beneficial for him.

"Little Junior Brother, since you’re not in seclusion, why don’t you come and practice Alchemy with your Senior Sister?"

Tang Qiu Yao came over, wrapped an arm around his waist, and spoke softly. Her voluptuous and graceful body pressed against his, instantly feeling warm, fragrant, and smooth as jade.

Ling Changqing did not refuse. "Alright, let’s go together. I feel like my own Alchemy Dao skills could use some improvement."

...

「Tens of thousands of miles away, in the Wilderness Islands.」

In the Council Hall of the family headquarters, the current Patriarch, Mu Yesheng, stood before a massive Magical Projection Light Mirror, frowning in silent contemplation. He was surrounded by a group of men and women, old and young—all of them high-ranking figures in the Mu Family.

On the Magical Projection Light Mirror was a huge map, clearly marking the distribution of all powers, large and small, in the sea regions surrounding the Mu Family.

And the Ling Family, which had recently been gaining much prominence, had naturally become the primary focus of the Mu Family’s leadership.

Although a vast expanse of sea and several small powers acting as a buffer separated the two families, it was not enough to make the Mu Family’s leaders feel secure.

If the two families ever truly had a falling out and went to war, clearing away those small powers to open up a path for invasion would not be too difficult.

"...Everyone, how many more years do you think it will be before the Ling Family confronts our Mu Family?"

After a long silence, Mu Yesheng finally asked softly.

The Patriarch appeared to be in his thirties, dressed in a grand red brocade robe and wearing a golden crown. His sharp gaze held an unyielding resolve, and his Cultivation was approaching the Foundation Establishment Peak.

After a moment of silence, a Foundation Establishment Elder with graying hair and a profound gaze spoke up:

"The Ling Family’s sudden rise is only because of that Female Patriarch. In terms of foundation, they are still at the level of an ordinary family. How can they possibly be compared to our Mu Family?"

"They need to consolidate control over their newly acquired territories, but the number of Qi Refining Stage Cultivators in their family is surely insufficient."

"If the Ling Family wants to change this situation, they will have no choice but to lie low for the next few decades, focusing on training new members and accumulating strength. It’s unlikely they will continue to expand outward."

Mu Yesheng nodded lightly. "That makes sense, but it probably won’t be for that long. Twenty to thirty years at most."

Since the Ling Family wasn’t lacking in Elixir resources, it could be foreseen that the growth rate of their new generation of disciples would be far higher than that of the surrounding small powers.

At this moment, Foundation Establishment Elder Mu Qinning said:

"Speaking of Second Rank Alchemists, our Mu Family has one as well, so they hold no advantage in that regard. That will still be true even twenty or thirty years from now."

Mu Yesheng shook his head and sighed. "But Elder Xuanlin doesn’t have much time left, and the few juniors following him are not living up to expectations, wasting a great deal of the family’s resources for nothing."

The Mu Family did indeed have a Middle Grade Second Rank Alchemist at present, but he was advanced in years, his potential was basically exhausted, and there was no longer any possibility of him advancing further.

But the Ling Family’s Female Patriarch was a Second Rank High-grade Alchemist, and because she was so young, it was entirely possible for her to attempt to reach the Third Rank Alchemist realm in the future.

The Mu Family was currently searching everywhere for life-extending Elixirs, trying to keep that elderly Alchemist alive for a few more years to buy time for a new Second Rank Alchemist to be nurtured.

The idea was sound, but whether they could make it in time was another question entirely.

At that moment, a young cultivator standing beside Mu Yesheng, with red lips, white teeth, and a spirited air, said in a low voice:

"Father, according to a message just received from our informant, the Ling Family has made contact with the Xingyun sun Commerce Association. It’s said that they helped the Ling Family install a true Third Grade Protection Array at their core stronghold..."

"What?!"

Mu Yesheng’s voice was filled with obvious shock and anger, and the surrounding elders were similarly stirred.

A Third Grade Protection Array was no commonplace item; it was a Heavy Artifact on par with a Golden Core Master.

Even if what the Ling Family obtained was a greatly simplified Third Grade Array, its defensive power would still far surpass all Second Grade Arrays and would be beyond the ability of Foundation Establishment Cultivators to break.

Even the Mu Family’s own core stronghold was not protected by a true Third Grade Array, but merely a Quasi Third Rank Array.

With such a heavyweight bargaining chip, the Ling Family now had enough confidence to face the Mu Family. As long as they didn’t make any amateur mistakes, they could be said to be in an invincible position.

Mu Qinning asked doubtfully, "The cost of setting up a Third Grade Array is extraordinary. Does the Ling Family have such financial and material resources? Could it be that they took out a loan from the commerce association?"

"That’s most likely the case!"

Mu Yesheng’s face was grim. "We’ve had a relationship with the Xingyun sun Commerce Association for so many years and have made the same request to them, but they always refused. It’s infuriating!"

In the past, the Ling Family wasn’t even qualified to work with the Xingyun sun Commerce Association. Now, not only had they established a connection, but they had immediately received better treatment than the Mu Family. It was enough to make the Patriarch feel deeply resentful.

The elders were speechless. The Xingyun sun Commerce Association had always been shrewd and pragmatic, disregarding relationships and focusing only on tangible benefits.

Their actions could only mean one thing: they were more optimistic about the Ling Family’s future than the Mu Family’s.

"What... should we do now?"

an elder asked softly. This devastating news had put the Mu Family under immense pressure.

If they didn’t quickly find a way to close the gap on the Ling Family’s advantage in this area, perhaps even their allies would begin to doubt the Mu Family’s strength and start to waver.

A Female Cultivator Elder with delicate features and a refined temperament spoke up:

"The Xingyun sun Commerce Association’s fleet will be in our area in two days. We should have a serious talk with their person-in-charge then. No matter the cost, we must acquire a Third Grade Protection Array for the family."

Mu Yesheng weighed the options and finally nodded. "Elder Wenxiu is right. That’s the correct way to think about it. The family truly cannot afford to fall behind in this regard."

There were rumors that the Ling Family’s Female Patriarch had displayed the power of a Golden Core Master. Whether it was true or not, Mu Yesheng did not dare to be complacent now.

Elder Mu Wenxiu hesitated for a moment before saying softly, "Patriarch, are you really not considering it? As long as someone successfully breaks through to the Golden Core Realm, the Ling Family will no longer be a threat."

The expressions of the elders changed abruptly. Two of the older men looked like they wanted to speak but held themselves back, a look of being unresigned in their eyes.

Mu Yesheng shook his head. "Those resources for Core Formation were painstakingly accumulated by the family over a hundred years. Several Foundation Establishment Elders have sacrificed their lives for them."

"This is no small matter. It must be given to the elder with the greatest chance of success. The family cannot bear the risk of failure."

As a major family with twelve Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the Mu Family had managed to accumulate one set of resources over the years, enough for a Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivator to attempt a breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm.

But the difficulty of breaking through to the Golden Core Realm was plain to see. Without an Earth Grade Spirit Root, sufficiently deep accumulation, or just a bit of luck, the attempt could fall short at the final moment, resulting in a Pseudo Core at best.

But a Pseudo Core master would be no match for the Ling Family, which was why Mu Yesheng was unwilling to take the risk.

The Mu Family only had this one chance. If they wasted it, they would likely never have enough time to gather the resources for a second attempt.

...

「Longhuan Island.」

In the sweltering, herb-scented Alchemy Room, Ling Changqing, having just finished refining a cauldron of Spirit Revitalizing Pills, slowly withdrew his power. After a moment of regulating his breathing to recover, he stood up.

"Senior Sister, it’s your turn!"

Ling Changqing said with a smile. Nowadays, Ling Qiyue had basically left the refining of all Rank One Middle and Lower Grade Elixirs to him.

Ling Qiyue would only personally handle Rank One High Grade Elixirs and various second rank Elixirs.

Tang Qiu Yao asked, "Little Junior Brother, you should... be able to refine Rank One High Grade Elixirs by now, right?"

"I can, but the risk of failure is quite high, so it’s better to wait,"

Ling Changqing said. The raw materials for Grade One Elixirs weren’t cheap, so there was naturally no reason to be wasteful.