After completing the circulation of her Heavenly Cycle and discovering she had successfully drawn Qi into her body, Wu Tong stood frozen in place, scarcely able to believe it.

Elder Yu then appeared. He told her that this was the result of her bitter efforts, and that she had knocked open her own Dao path.

Learning that Elder Yu had been watching over her all along, Wu Tong was deeply moved. She immediately knelt and bowed in gratitude.

"If not for the Yang Clan, Wu Tong would now be nothing but bones in the forest. Not only is my life preserved, but I have also been fortunate enough to step onto the immortal path. I dare not ever forget such great kindness!"

"In this life, I shall do my utmost to serve the Yang Clan! I will brave mountains of blades and seas of fire without hesitation!"

Elder Yu gently helped her up and softly encouraged her, "It is good to have such a heart. Your road is still long, so take it slowly. Alright, hurry back and rest."

"Yes, Ancestor Yu!"

Wu Tong replied with a bright smile, bounding back to her room.

From that day onward, her cultivation remained arduous, but it was no longer completely stagnant.

Every little bit of progress was enough to fill her with joy.

With the cultivation of these two children on the right track, the Yang Clan once again ushered in a stable period of development that lasted a full year.

During this time, Baishi Town completed its reconstruction. With the Yang Clan's help and arrangements, a portion of the commoners from the south bank returned to live in the town, restoring its vitality.

The shops along the Yang Clan's three streets opened for business. They thrived, bringing in impressive revenues.

The four mines under their control produced steadily, and the commoners at the foot of the mountain lived and worked in peace. It was a scene of true prosperity.

As for Mist Mountain itself.

Zhao Qi had advanced steadily, breaking through twelve Qi Nodes and successfully condensing his Qi Mansion.

He became the first cultivator with an outside surname in the Yang Clan's history. He took Elder Yu as his master and learned a Five Elements technique, the Golden Light Art.

Wu Tong had also opened four Qi Nodes. It was estimated that she would be able to condense her Qi Mansion in another two years.

Under Chen Yang's full assistance, Yang Lingrui's cultivation had reached the peak of the third level of Qi Gathering, just one step away from the mid-stage of Qi Gathering.

He had now been in Secluded Cultivation to break through for over a month. Although the gap from the third to the fourth level was only a single realm, it was actually a minor stage transformation and could not be taken lightly.

The Qi Channel injury on Yang Lingqing's left shoulder had long since healed, improving her cultivation efficiency by another half a tenth. Her realm had also easily broken through to the third level of Qi Gathering.

Yang Clan, Meeting Hall.

Yang Lingqing sat at the head, presiding over the clan meeting as usual, listening to the reports from below as various matters were sorted out.

Everyone in the Yang Clan knew as clearly as a mirror in their hearts that she would be the future steward of the clan.

"News from Baishi Town indicates that due to the war between the Wangchao, wandering bandits are running rampant within our borders. We need to heighten our guard."

Yang Xiaolei said, "A few days ago, hunters in the western mountain forest found suspected traces of wandering bandits and reported it back to the clan."

Upon hearing of wandering bandits, the crowd below all showed traces of concern.

Recently, they had heard various rumors about these bandits. It was said that they were like mad dogs, burning, killing, plundering, and stopping at no evil.

"The situation regarding the thieves in the west has already been investigated by the clan's immortal master. There is no need to worry. In the coming days, unless strictly necessary, everyone should avoid traveling far."

After calming the crowd, Yang Lingqing looked toward Yang Feiyun and said, "Father, pass down my decree. From today onward, the Clan Soldiers on the north bank must stand guard and patrol day and night without fail. Remind passing merchant caravans to avoid traveling at night. Inform all inns and taverns that they are forbidden from raising prices and exploiting customers during this bandit crisis. Under the Yang Clan's rule, we do not engage in opportunistic business. Furthermore, distribute weapons to the south bank so they have the power to defend themselves."

"Yes, we obey Immortal Master Lingqing's decree!"

"There are no further matters to discuss today. Everyone may disperse."

After the crowd departed, Yang Feiyun sighed. "Alas... we've only had peace for a year, and now there is chaos again."

"Father knows well what this world is like. Peaceful days never last long."

Yang Lingqing said, "Our clan's situation is still passable. With sufficient manpower and cultivators taking action, ordinary bandit troubles are of no concern."

"Lingqing is right."

The two Yang brothers deeply agreed. With the Yang Clan's current strength, as long as it wasn't a major disaster like a Beast Tide, they possessed the ability to protect themselves.

"Tianyou and our Zhuhu Wangchao have never crossed paths for so many years. Why have they suddenly started fighting this time?" Yang Xiaolei asked in confusion.

"All under Heaven bustle for profit."

Yang Lingqing stood up and said, "There has never been a conflict in this world without reason. This war between the two nations is merely an attempt to carve out a piece of the Eastern Wasteland Wangchao's dissolution."

Tianyou Wangchao lay to the north, Zhuhu Wangchao to the south. Their lands bordered each other, and to the east, they both neighbored the Eastern Wasteland Wangchao.

Not long ago, the Eastern Wasteland Wangchao had split due to internal strife, dissolving into several smaller nations.

These vast muddy waters were filled with all sorts of fish and dragons. Both Zhuhu and Tianyou wanted to reap some benefits from it, which led to friction and eventually erupted into war.

Both sides wanted to interfere with each other as much as possible to secure greater advantages.

This caused both nations to relax their control over the eastern border. The wandering bandits appearing everywhere right now had slipped into the Wangchao from there.

Since the Yang Clan was located in the eastern part of the Wangchao, the bandit problem was even more severe.

"Hiss... so the great Eastern Wasteland is truly gone?"

"A hundred years ago, before our Zhuhu established its Wangchao, we were merely their vassal. Who would have thought the Eastern Wasteland would fall first-what a twist of fate."

The two Yang brothers both sighed in lamentation.

After the meeting ended, Yang Lingqing returned to the Restricted Grounds on the cliff, just in time to meet Zhao Qi coming back.

The "clan's immortal master" she had mentioned earlier was precisely him.

Having successfully stepped into Qi Gathering and cultivated a metal-element technique, Zhao Qi had become an important fighting force for the Yang Clan.

He had recently followed Elder Yu into the mountains to temper his state of mind, and his overall demeanor was now much more mature than before.

"Greetings, Senior Sister Lingqing," Zhao Qi bowed in greeting.

Having taken Elder Yu as his master, he now addressed the Yang Clan cultivators as fellow disciples.

"You've worked hard, Junior Brother Zhao. Who are these two?"

Yang Lingqing looked at the two half-dead wandering bandits he was carrying.

"There were twenty-six wandering bandits in total. All have been slain."

He dropped the two men onto the ground. "These are the two leaders. I noticed they were different from the others, so I brought them back."

"Oh?"

Yang Lingqing reached out to take hold of them. She swept over them with her Divine Sense and furrowed her brows slightly.

The Qi Nodes at the crowns of their heads were actually in an awakened state. This meant they had broken through at least eight Qi Nodes.

"These wandering bandits actually have cultivation methods?"

Upon discovering this, Yang Lingqing immediately raised her guard.

If they were ordinary mountain bandits or horse thieves, it would be manageable and pose no real threat to the Yang Clan.

But if there were cultivators mixed in among them, the situation would become quite complicated.

"Junior Brother Zhao, I will have to trouble you to make another trip to Baishi Town to report this matter to the Ancestor."

"Yes, Senior Sister Lingqing. I will go at once."

Zhao Qi dared not delay and set off immediately.

Yang Lingqing entered the main courtyard of the Restricted Grounds. One of the stone chambers was faintly emitting spiritual power fluctuations.

This was Yang Lingrui's site of Secluded Cultivation, personally built for him by Yang Guanfeng and Elder Yu.

"If the situation is like this here, I wonder how Linghu is faring."

Yang Lingqing sat down upon a prayer mat, feeling somewhat worried in her heart.

The distant mine to the north was far from the Yang Clan and located at the border of two towns. The bandit problem there would likely be even more severe.

Currently, Elder Yu was guarding the clan's local mines, Yang Guanfeng had gone to Baishi Town due to the Wangchao's decree, and Lingrui was at a critical point in his breakthrough. She had to stay at home as a Dharma Protector and could not pull herself away.

Otherwise, she would have definitely made the trip herself.

Just as she was worrying, a thought was transmitted to her, informing her that Yang Linghu was perfectly fine.

Yang Lingqing's gaze shifted. She turned toward the ancestral hall and bowed in thanks. "Thank you for your care, Spirit Stone Immortal Venerable."

Chen Yang now held the Soul Flames of five Yang Clan members within him and could sense their status.

"Linghu is safe for now. Judging by Lingrui's flame, he should be close to breaking through. When that happens, I'll be able to receive another great wave of nourishment."

Chen Yang muttered to himself.

His own cultivation progress had never fallen behind. He was now only a quarter away from filling his spiritual power space again. Once he received the feedback from Yang Lingrui's breakthrough, he would be even closer.

Barring any accidents, he would reach the late stage of Qi Gathering before anyone else in the Yang Clan.

But this was for the best. The stronger his strength became, the better he could protect the Yang Clan and ensure their safety.