Time flies, and ten years have passed quickly.
In the red algae sea, on an unnamed deserted island.
Dozens of giant crabs, which were red all over and about five or six feet in size, were waving their two huge claws and frantically attacking a group of puppet beasts.
Han Daobin, Han Delei, Han Changying, Han Changlu, Ye Xue, Han Benfu and Han Benzhi stood not far away. They controlled the puppet beasts to attack the red monster crabs. Ten Qi-refining monks stood in the distance. Each of them held a nine-cornered yellow array plate in his hand.
A yellow wall three hundred feet long and ten feet high stood on the shore, blocking the red crabs' retreat. They spewed flames from their mouths, which hit the beach and instantly blew up a huge pit several feet in size. The flames hit the yellow wall, leaving it intact. Their huge claws hit the yellow wall, making a muffled "ding ding" sound.
Han Benzhi and Han Benyong have already entered the foundation-building stage. They have relatively little experience in fighting, so they follow their elders to hunt monsters and improve their fighting experience.
Han Changming inherited the legacy of True Man Chiyang from the Suzaku Secret Realm, which included the art of puppetry.
Han Changying is quite interested in the art of puppetry. Thanks to the puppetry art brought back by Han Changming, her puppet making skills have improved year by year.
She refined a number of second-level puppet beasts and trained more than ten first-level puppet makers. The sale of puppet beasts has become an important source of income for the Han family.
Two spider puppet beasts sprayed out fine spider silk, entangled the red crab's legs, and made the red crab unable to move. A golden monkey puppet beast about ten feet tall swung a huge golden hammer and smashed at the red crab.
After a loud rumbling sound, the red crab was smashed into meat paste by the golden hammer, and red and white liquid flowed all over the ground.
Two white giant python puppet beasts spewed out a stream of white cold air, which hit the red crab. The red crab immediately turned into an ice sculpture. A huge hammer shining with golden light fell from the sky and smashed the frozen red crab into meat paste.
The red crab was not afraid at all. It either spewed flames from its mouth or waved its pincers to attack the puppet beast, but it was of no use.
The raging flames hit the puppet beast, leaving no trace at all; the giant pincers hit the puppet beast, only making a muffled sound and leaving a few faint marks.
Colorful magic lights lit up one after another, roars continued, air waves rolled, countless yellow sands were blown up by the powerful air waves, and then fell on the puppet beasts or the red crabs, making a series of crackling sounds.
As time passed, one red crab after another fell in a pool of blood. They suddenly changed direction and rushed towards Ye Xue.
Ye Xue was not in a hurry. He shook his sleeves and a white round wheel the size of a palm flew out. He cast a spell and the white round wheel lit up with countless white runes. Its size suddenly increased and a trace of cold air emerged. It was the Han Yue Wheel.
Since obtaining the Hanyue Wheel, Ye Xue's strength has increased rapidly. In order to improve her fighting experience, she has followed the family's monster hunting team to hunt monsters over the years. The Hanyue Wheel is extremely powerful and has helped her kill many second-level monsters.
There was a flash of white light, and then a thick white light shot out and hit a giant red crab.
The red crab immediately spewed out billowing flames and rushed forward.
The red flames collided with the white light, causing a powerful gust of air to burst out, and the nearby yellow sand and gravel shot out in all directions.
The red flames quickly froze, and the ice spread rapidly, soon reaching the body of the red crab. The red crab was suddenly frozen and turned into a huge ice sculpture.
There was a loud sound of breaking through the air, and a huge white round wheel flew over, emitting a biting cold air.
Boom!
The ice sculpture was cut into two halves by the Hanyue Wheel. The Hanyue Wheel rushed forward, and the red crab was hit by the Hanyue Wheel. It flew backwards and its body quickly froze.
In less than ten breaths, there was not a single living red crab on the beach. The beach was filled with a pungent smell of blood, and colorful liquids flowed all over the ground, looking a little disgusting.
Ye Xue pinched her fingers and the Han Yue Wheel shrank rapidly, flew back into her sleeve and disappeared.
"Hurry up and deal with the monster's corpse. We are going to return to Huludao. We have been out for more than a year."
Han Daobin instructed his clansmen who were in the Qi Refining Stage that when they went out to sea to hunt monsters, they would be looking for monsters most of the time.
The tribesmen in the Qi Refining Stage put away their formation plates and walked towards the corpse of the monster.
A cup of tea later, a huge yellow gourd flew out from the island and disappeared into the sky.
······
Huludao, meeting hall.
Han Daojing and a dozen other clan elders are holding a clan meeting to calculate last year's income.
Thanks to the great war ten years ago, the Han family had four more foundation-building cultivators, namely Han Changyan, Han Benmin, Han Benzhi and Han Benyong.
Now the Han family has more than twenty foundation-building cultivators, with strong men and horses. In terms of the number of foundation-building cultivators alone, the Han family has the largest number of immortal cultivation families affiliated with Tinghai Pavilion.
The "Dao" generation passed away one after another, and the "Ben" generation laid the foundation and took up the heavy responsibility.
Among the more than 20 foundation-building cultivators in the Han family, the largest number are from the "Chang" generation. Most of the foundation-building cultivators of the "Chang" generation have a special skill. This has a lot to do with the clan leader Han Zhangxiang's great efforts in cultivating the clan members of the "Chang" generation.
"Uncle Daojing, our clan now has 525 immortal cultivators, 22 foundation-building cultivators, 503 Qi-refining cultivators, and 1,026,735 mortals. This year, we have two more clan members with spiritual roots."
In the war ten years ago, many small families were destroyed and a large number of children from small families became homeless. Some of them became independent cultivators, while others joined immortal cultivation sects or other immortal cultivation families.
The Han family plundered a lot of immortal cultivation resources, became wealthy and powerful, and attracted a group of Qi-refining cultivators. Otherwise, the number of immortal cultivators in the Han family would not have grown so fast.
In addition to the immortal cultivators, the Han family also absorbed a group of mortals and settled them on the islands controlled by the Han family, hoping that they could produce more people with spiritual roots.
"Last year's total income was 168,452 spirit stones, and the expenditure was 113,650 spirit stones. The expenditure was mainly for materials for refining puppet beasts and the welfare of the tribe members. The expenditure on interpersonal relationships was only 8,000 spirit stones."
The elders of the tribe stood up one by one to report. They were in charge of different affairs with clear division of labor.
Han Daojing nodded and said, "You did a good job last year. We need to work harder this year. Let's get busy! Chang Yan stay."
Everyone left one after another, leaving only Han Daojing and Han Changyan.
"How is it? Is there any news on that matter?"
Han Daojing asked in a deep voice. Han Changyan was the head of the Han family intelligence hall, responsible for gathering all kinds of intelligence.
A powerful force deliberately caused a confrontation between the Han and Chen families and sent Lu Yue to seduce Han Changjiong, who was nearly killed.
The strange poison in Lu Yue's body could not be cured, and she died of the poison. Han Changjiong was depressed all day long, muttering about revenge for Lu Yue.
Han Changming personally took action and killed the Foundation Establishment cultivator who was bribed by the hostile forces. Over the years, the Han family has never given up looking for the mastermind behind the scenes, and Han Changyan is responsible for gathering intelligence.
"After careful investigation, I found that the evil cultivators killed by Brother Nine participated in several exchange meetings. I traced them all the way to the Yang family, our close neighbor. However, there is no conclusive evidence that it was the Yang family who did it. They are very careful in doing things."
Han Changyan spoke slowly and steadily with a serious expression.
The territories of the four immortal cultivation families, Chen, Yang, Han and Liu, are adjacent to each other. The Chen family used to be the strongest, but it has gradually declined over the years. The Yang family's strength has remained in second place, and the Han family and the Liu family are in-laws.
Han Daojing's face darkened. He had suspected the Yang family before, but he had no evidence. You know, over the years, the Chen and Han families had been in constant dispute, and the Yang family had always stayed out of it. In order to win over the Yang family, both the Han and Chen families had given the Yang family many benefits.
If it weren't for the increasing number of foundation-building cultivators in the Han family, the Yang family would definitely be the strongest.
"Oh, right, there's news from an insider that Chen Hongming has been practicing in seclusion, and the Chen family has sent a large number of people to look for Jindan spiritual objects. It's estimated that Chen Hongming is about to reach the Jindan stage."
After Han Changyan entered the foundation-building stage, he was able to contact Han Desheng.
The Chen family has been on the decline in recent years, and the number of foundation-building cultivators has been decreasing. Han Desheng was able to stand out, and was in charge of considerable power, responsible for purchasing external resources for cultivation.
Chen Hongming has been practicing in seclusion. He may advance to the Jindan stage one day. We must get rid of Chen Hongming as soon as possible to prevent future troubles.
"I understand. You should pay more attention to the situation of the Chen family. You can find an opportunity to set a trap and let the Yang family and the Chen family fight. However, if you are not absolutely sure, don't take action to avoid alerting the enemy."
Han Daojing understood the principle that if you fail to kill the snake, you will be bitten. You should either not make a move, or if you make a move, you must not give your opponent a chance to counterattack.
Han Zhangxiang has already advanced to the Jindan stage. Logically speaking, it would be easiest to directly destroy the foundation-building cultivators of the Chen and Yang families. If they really did so, and the news of Han Zhangxiang's Jindan stage leaked out, some people would definitely suspect that it was the Han family who did it, after all, the Han family was the biggest beneficiary.
Tinghai Pavilion is very powerful. Han Zhangxiang has entered the Jindan stage. The Han family is unable to compete with Tinghai Pavilion. Instead, the Han family has to rely on Tinghai Pavilion to slowly grow stronger.
The best way is for the Chen family and the Yang family to go to war. In this way, even if Han Zhangxiang has not formed a golden elixir, the Han family can still suppress both the Chen and Yang families.
"Yes, Uncle Daojing."
Han Changyan agreed, bowed and left.
"The Yang family! Humph, they are really calculating. The Yang family has been very low-key over the years, and I was almost fooled by them."
A somewhat dissatisfied male voice suddenly sounded. As soon as the words fell, a red light flew in. It was Han Zhangxiang.
Han Zhangxiang's face was ruddy and his eyes were bright. He had already cultivated supernatural powers. Even without the use of magic weapons, he could easily kill a foundation-building cultivator.
"Chief, you are out of seclusion, that's great."
Han Daojing looked a little excited and stood up quickly.
"I have been in seclusion. Tell me what has happened in these years."
Han Daojing agreed immediately and told the whole story of what had happened over the years.
"The remnants of the Ten Thousand Demons Palace! Ye Yan, humph, you can always find a pretext to accuse someone of a crime. Maybe Liu Sheng and Qingyan Zhenren killed Ye Yan, and in order to calm the war, they threw dirty water on Ye Yan. They stayed out of it and even got a share of Huoyun Sect's territory."
Han Zhangxiang said with a cold face. After all, there were no other cultivators present at the time, and no one knew what exactly happened.
Liu Sheng led his men to besiege Huoyun Sect, clearly intending to destroy Huoyun Sect and make an example of them. Without real evidence, Han Zhangxiang would not believe the nonsense that Ye Yan was the remnant of Wanmo Palace.
"Clan leader, when will we hold the Jindan Ceremony? This is a great event."
Han Daojing said excitedly that the Han family now had a Jindan cultivator, which gave them a certain say in the Red Algae Sea, and their development would be smoother.
Han Zhangxiang pondered for a while, shook his head and said, "There is no need to hold the Jindan Ceremony. I will continue to fake my death. Huoyun Sect is a living example. Our Han family should not follow in the footsteps of Huoyun Sect. If a second Jindan cultivator appears in the family, it will not be too late for me to revive."
Before this, he was planning to hold a Jindan ceremony, but the Huoyun Sect had been destroyed before, and the Han family had to take it as a warning.
When a Jindan cultivator appeared in the Han family, Tinghai Pavilion could at most ask several nearby immortal cultivation families to cede some islands to the Han family and give them a few shops. This would be a small benefit. But if another war broke out, Taixu Sect and the Lu family would join forces to destroy the Han family and then accuse the Han family of being the remnants of the Ten Thousand Demons Palace. Would Tinghai Pavilion fight to the death with Taixu Sect and the Lu family for the Han family
After the Huoyun Sect was destroyed, its territory was divided among four major forces.
Tinghai Pavilion obviously will not fight to the death with other forces for the Han family. Similarly, if Tinghai Pavilion is destroyed, the Han family will not avenge Tinghai Pavilion.
Han Daojing was stunned at first, but he soon realized that Han Zhangxiang's worry was not unreasonable. To put it bluntly, the Han family would not gain much benefit from the appearance of a Jindan cultivator, but would have to bear greater risks.
"There aren't many resources for cultivating immortals in the Red Algae Sea. The spiritual stone mines, metal mines, and islands with third-order spiritual veins are all occupied by the four major forces. If the news of my formation of the elixir gets out, it won't be a good thing. There's no need to mention it anymore. By the way, don't let the news that I'm still alive leak out. I plan to take some people to the outer sea to develop."
The outer seas are rich in resources for cultivating immortals, but the competition is more intense. Han Zhangxiang plans to develop in the outer seas, but there is no other way. The spiritual veins in Huludao are only of the upper second grade. Without the third grade spiritual veins, his cultivation speed will be severely limited.
There are many third-level spiritual veins and even fourth-level spiritual veins in the outer sea. Han Zhangxiang cannot occupy an island, but he has no problem renting a good cave.
"Outer sea? We currently have more than 20 foundation-building monks in our clan. How about we wait a little longer? Train more foundation-building monks?"
Han Daojing suggested that it was well known that the outer seas were rich in resources for cultivating immortals, but the environment in the outer seas was harsh, and even Nascent Soul cultivators were likely to perish.
"More than twenty foundation-building cultivators are already enough. Maybe Tinghai Pavilion has already set its sights on our Han family. Tinghai Pavilion will not let us develop too well. If we become strong, we will definitely get out of control. I already have a plan."
Han Zhangxiang said this with full confidence, his tone full of uncertainty.
His desire to develop overseas was certainly not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
People are afraid of becoming famous just like pigs are afraid of becoming fat. If the Han family is too strong, they will become the target of suppression by Tinghai Pavilion and a thorn in the eyes of other hostile forces. It is easy to avoid an open attack but difficult to guard against an arrow from the dark. It just so happened that it was discovered that the Yang family was the mastermind behind the murder of Han Changjing.
If you plan well, you can kill three birds with one stone.