A Storm on Ningyu Mountain

The Chen family had now lost its share in the spiritual mines, several spirit vein mountains, and even their basic livelihood shops had seen their business vanish.

The Lin family didn't dare to act too rashly at once, so they gradually chipped away at the Chen family, driving them into financial deficit. Once the Chen family lost its cultivation resources and sources of income, a single strike would bring about its downfall.

Chen Jinshu had already sent a message to her mother, urging her to take refuge at the Vermilion Market. Her second uncle, however, had just broken through to the ninth layer of Qi Refining and had become an elder.

Her mother had now settled in the market, but the second uncle couldn't shake off his responsibilities as a Chen family elder. It was said that he had originally been set to marry, but the filthy affairs of the Chen family had forced him to postpone the wedding.

"Now that my divine senses has broken through the peak of Qi Refining, it's time to prepare for Foundation Establishment."

She quickly got up, retrieved her token, and sent a message to several senior brothers and sisters. Moments later, when she stepped out of the courtyard, several of her senior siblings were already waiting at the gate.

"I figured you'd be preparing for Foundation Establishment this month. It's been three months—your cultivation must be stabilized by now," Senior Brother Zheng Shaosi said with a light chuckle.

"Sister! These are some insights we gathered during our own Foundation Establishment stages. I hope they help you!"

"Thank you, Senior Brother, and all of you!"

"All right, enough talk. The spirit vein in this courtyard is strong, but just in case, we'll set up a Spirit Gathering Formation," Zheng Shaosi said, pulling out a formation disk with a flick of his hand.

"Let's all give her some guidance on what to be careful of during Foundation Establishment. It'll help her break through more smoothly!"

At his words, Chen Jinshu immediately invited two of her seniors into the courtyard, where spirit tea had already been prepared.

Several days later, near Bai Chong Mountain Range—

Chen Qiaozhen rode a flying artifact, leaving behind a brilliant blue trail and a long streak of white cloud. Her face was pale and filled with anxiety.

A day earlier, her father had sent her a message: the Lin family had joined forces with the Wang family and other Foundation Establishment clans and were now gathered in front of Ningyu Mountain—ready to attack the protective formation.

They had come aggressively, with eight Foundation Establishment cultivators and hundreds of Qi Refining disciples. The Chen family had only two Foundation Establishment cultivators and a mere two to three hundred Qi Refining disciples. With such a power disparity, how could they defend themselves?

A single Foundation Establishment cultivator could defeat several Qi Refining disciples with ease—the latter wouldn't even have the strength to resist.

"I hope the Chen family can hold on for a while longer..."

Chen Qiaozhen pushed her spiritual artifact to its limit, flying from Vermilion Market to Ningyu Mountain—a journey of several thousand li. She would need to fly for two to three hours—though she couldn't say for certain.

And this was while reserving energy for a potential fight. She was moving fast enough already, considering she had only recently entered Foundation Establishment and hadn't yet mastered her spiritual control.

At this point, it had been a day since she'd received the message. Based on the defense level of the family's formation, it was probably on the verge of collapse.

Outside Ningyu Mountain, the barrier protecting the Chen family's territory had already begun to crack.

"Chen Zhixing! Your family should stop resisting. Ningyu Mountain now belongs to us." Lin Daochang, the head of the Lin family, looked fierce and unyielding.

"Lin Daochang! Your Lin family has no honor. You've broken the collaborative agreement the families swore to uphold! Shameful behavior!" Chen Zhixing roared back, his voice hoarse from shouting.

"That agreement is long obsolete. It's useless now," Lin Daochang sneered.

"The heavens want to destroy my Chen family…" Chen Zhixing looked utterly defeated.

"Patriarch! The protective formation is about to collapse—what should we do?" the third elder asked anxiously.

"Patriarch! Please guide us!" cried many Chen family disciples.

Chen Zhixing felt like his head would explode.

"Have the elite disciples begun evacuation? We must preserve the Chen family's century-old legacy—at least leave behind seeds for revival!"

He turned quickly to the Grand Elder.

"They've already retreated through the underground passage. But are we really going to fight these clans to the death?" the Grand Elder asked coldly.

Just a day earlier, he had received news that his third daughter, Chen Qiaozhen, had broken through to Foundation Establishment and was on her way. But a day and a half had passed, and she still hadn't arrived.

He was torn—should he send word for her to hide?

He had learned that the reason the Lin family was acting so boldly was because one of their own had caught the eye of a Golden Core elder from Xuanming Sect and become a personal disciple. Riding that wave, the Lin family now sought to expand their power even further.

While Chen Qiaozhen had indeed advanced to Foundation Establishment, her status within Xuanming Sect wasn't particularly high. If the Chen family fell, she might become a target in the sect too.

"The Chen family has no cowards. Or do you mean to run away?" Chen Zhixing glared coldly at him.

"At the very least, we must buy time for our young to escape. Only then can we face our ancestors with pride after death."

Chen Zhixing muttered, overwhelmed with regret. It had been his idea to marry off talented Chen girls in hopes of alliances—those women should've been the family's backbone. Now, their strength was serving another clan.

"That's not what I meant. It's just that the Lin family is abusing their connection to a Golden COre elder. I just learned my daughter Qiaozhen has become a Foundation Establishment disciple of Xuanming Sect. Maybe her status can restrain them."

The Grand Elder hesitated no longer and spoke up—perhaps this was their one chance.

"Truly? When will she arrive?" Chen Zhixing grasped at the lifeline.

"I wronged her in the past. If she saves the Chen family, I'll step down and go to the back mountain to forge artifacts—offering my last strength to the sect!"

"She sent a message just a day ago. Her location now—uncertain."

Chen Zhixing's expression grew grave. He understood the Grand Elder's concern—if the Lin family insisted on the attack even knowing Qiaozhen's identity, it would spell trouble for her in the sect.

He soared into the air, to the top of the formation, and locked eyes with Lin Daochang.

"The Chen family has a Foundation Establishment disciple within Xuanming Sect—an inner disciple. If you withdraw now, we can act as if this never happened."

Lin Daochang hesitated for a moment, shock flickering across his face. He couldn't confirm the truth. He had once ordered an investigation—only two Chen family members had entered Xuanming Sect. One was a four-spirit root servant, the other a three-spirit root outer disciple.

If this was true, it had to be the latter.

He hesitated—briefly.

But then he remembered: their own genius had become a personal disciple of a Golden Core elder. That status was more than enough.

"So what? My Lin family's prodigy is a direct disciple of a Golden Core cultivator. What can a mere Foundation Establishment do?"