Chapter 41: The War Begins
The war had begun!
The news spread like a hurricane from the Zhou Family’s Foundation Establishment Ceremony.
Night had fallen, and within the Juxian Tower, Lin Chang’an, Li Erniu, Shen Lie, Lu Qingqing, and the long-absent Wei Buyi had all arrived.
The oil lamp cast light on each person’s cheeks, reflecting a suppressed atmosphere, until nearly midnight when the person they had long awaited finally pushed the door open and entered.
“Sister Yun.”
“Daoist Yun!”
Yun Yao now wore a dark blue palace robe and walked in with a composed expression, nodding lightly at everyone.
“The war at the frontlines has begun, but the situation hasn’t yet reached the worst point.”
Among the group, Yun Yao held the highest status, being a disciple of a Core Formation Elder from Lihuo Palace, and naturally knew many secrets that others did not.
“This time, disciples from both factions at the border started a conflict, which eventually escalated into a deadly battle…”
As Yun Yao explained, everyone’s expressions grew increasingly solemn.
Although Yun Yao said it hadn’t reached the worst-case scenario, for Qi Refining cultivators like them, it was already far from good.
“The sect has decided to recruit cultivators at the major marketplaces, offering spirit stones, pills, cultivation methods—even Foundation Establishment Pills will not be spared.”
“Foundation Establishment Pills too!” Wei Buyi couldn’t help but exclaim when he heard Yun Yao mention the rewards.
The others also showed various expressions, only Lin Chang’an sighed inwardly—this was clearly the scorched earth policy before war.
Yun Yao nodded solemnly.
“This time, the sect is opening many rare resources to independent cultivators and family cultivators who respond to the call, including some strategic materials.”
“Breakthrough pills, high-grade techniques, inheritance of skills, Foundation Establishment Pills—even if one dies on the battlefield with enough military merit, their descendants can enter the sect directly.”
Good heavens.
Upon hearing this compensation, Lin Chang’an’s mouth twitched, not just for himself—even dying could profit the next generation.
These three major sects were truly ruthless.
However, upon hearing this, Lu Qingqing turned pale, and Shen Lie quickly shook his head and waved his hand.
“Though it’s tempting, I’ve only just broken through to the sixth level of Qi Refining, and Qingqing is already pregnant with my child—I’d rather honestly manage our business and earn some spirit stones to support the family.”
Shen Lie’s words made Lu Qingqing blush, but inwardly she also let out a sigh of relief.
She was afraid her husband would act on impulse.
Besides, what was the point of risking their lives on the frontlines—they were in the rear, making good money from business.
After the couple stated their position, Li Erniu’s eyes flashed with unease and he sighed helplessly.
“I reckon someone from my clan will answer the call, but as for the quota, I’m not sure.”
Previously envious of Li Erniu, Wei Buyi now showed a look of schadenfreude.
He had only seen the good in Erniu before, but hadn’t realized how trapped he was.
Once one joined the Zhou Family, it wasn’t so easy to break free.
“I might need to procure some medicinal herbs soon. Sorry to trouble you, Daoist Yun.”
Wei Buyi grinned cheekily, full of smiles—war was his opportunity to earn spirit stones.
When the others looked at Lin Chang’an, he just smiled and waved his hand.
“I don’t have that same fighting spirit as before.”
If he hadn’t awakened his golden finger talent and was still in that disheartened state preparing to return to the mortal world, would he have answered the call?
The answer was definitely yes.
After all, when he first entered the cultivation world, he had dared to join a demon-hunting squad—it was clear he held unspoken resentment deep inside.
Almost no one wanted to respond to the call, but upon closer thought, each of them was either quite wealthy, had a specialized skill, or had strong connections.
But in the cultivation world, there were far too many cultivators who gambled with their lives.
“Don’t worry, this is just the initial recruitment. The frontlines can’t get too intense yet.”
Seeing everyone’s expressions, Yun Yao forced a smile and tried to reassure them.
She was fortunate—previously, she had become a disciple under a Core Formation Elder in the sect, and now that war had begun, her master had sent a letter simply instructing her to focus on cultivating.
“I recently hired a late-stage First-rank alchemist within the sect. Though I can’t go to the frontlines, as a member of the sect, I, Yun Yao, also have a responsibility to contribute.”
Yun Yao solemnly stated her purpose, which made Lin Chang’an twitch at the corners of his mouth as he listened.
Well now, the little girl from back then had truly grown cunning.
Though she spoke with such noble righteousness, in the end, wasn’t she just aiming to profit from the war?
“Daoist Yun is right. These years we’ve been under Lihuo Palace’s protection, and indeed owe a debt of gratitude. I won’t speak for others, but I do know a few Talisman Masters here in the marketplace.”
Lin Chang’an, with a serious expression, also expressed his willingness to join the venture.
Making spirit stones wasn’t something to be ashamed of.
“I’m willing too,” Wei Buyi quickly added, as he also wanted to earn some spirit stones.
Only Li Erniu scratched his head awkwardly—after all, he couldn’t make decisions on behalf of the Zhou Family.
Meanwhile, Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing’s minds had already turned toward the merchants’ guild.
Seeing this scene, Lin Chang’an nodded secretly—this was precisely why so many drifting cultivators were determined to pioneer in marketplaces.
There was no other reason!
All for the Identity Jade Token.
For instance, now that war had broken out, drifting cultivators outside without an Identity Jade Token were subject to forced conscription.
As for hiding outside? Once the frontline situation grew critical, the sect would first crack down on those unaffiliated cultivators.
…
With the news spreading, both Lihuo Palace and Xuanyin Pavilion began their first wave of cultivator conscription.
Drifting cultivators without an Identity Jade Token were forcibly conscripted.
Of course, some bold ones, knowing the frontlines weren’t yet at their most dangerous, eagerly joined the recruitment for a chance at opportunity.
Breakthrough pills, advanced techniques, skill inheritance, even Foundation Establishment Pills—these were strategic resources usually priceless and unavailable.
For a time, the entire Yue Kingdom’s situation shifted, with the three major sects' territories interlaced, and cultivators battling at the borders or raiding marketplaces.
As the clouds of war swept through, even Li Erniu began to focus entirely on cultivation.
After all, as a son-in-law of the Zhou Family, he might be summoned to the frontlines any day.
At this time, Lin Chang’an, at home, looked out at the situation and sank into deep thought.
“A top-grade First-rank Talisman Master, even in tense times, wouldn’t be easily forced to the frontlines.”
Even conscription was divided into levels—for example, a top-grade Talisman Master would typically just be required to produce a few talismans each month, not sent to the frontlines lightly.
Thinking this, Lin Chang’an nodded quietly.
“With the current turmoil, I must hurry to cultivate and strive to reach the late Qi Refining stage as soon as possible. Only then can I ensure my survival. Luckily, there are many pills and spirit herbs in Zhou Qing’s storage pouch.”
He retrieved those shady spirit herbs from the storage pouch and sighed helplessly.
In truth, refining these herbs into pills would maximize their value—even converting them into spirit stones would be less wasteful than using them directly.
But what could he do when those things couldn’t see the light of day?
“Wasteful or not, they were free anyway.”
Thinking this, Lin Chang’an began selecting which ones could be consumed directly and which were better suited for medicinal baths.
However, since the Zhou Family bore the title of Beast-controlling, most of the herbs they cultivated were for spirit beasts, so nearly half of them were unusable for him.
Among them were two herbs nearly four hundred years old, both extremely valuable—he couldn’t afford to waste them.
But with so many herbs meant for spirit beasts, it did spark the idea in him to consider raising one.