A Lifetime of Labor for the Clan

Pingyun Mountain.

Huang Bailin sat across from a man, smiling as he poured him a cup of tea. "Lord Cao's visit today truly brings light to my humble abode."

The man seated opposite him was an elder with the transcendent bearing of an immortal, though a hint of anger lingered in his eyes.

The territory of Zhaoping Commandery was not vast, and its lands were weak and barren. Because of this, the Immortals' Directorate branch in Zhaoping Commandery lacked sufficient manpower. Aside from Yang Tiancheng, there were only two stewards at the eighth level of Qi Condensation, alongside a dozen or so Qi Condensation wandering envoys like Zhang Ting.

Although this was the greatest martial strength in Zhaoping Commandery, it was ultimately stretched thin when governing the eleven counties.

Therefore, when facing disputes between immortal clans, the Immortals' Directorate was largely powerless and could only resort to the gentlest of approaches.

Steward Cao said coldly, "Hmph, your Huang family truly acts with great prestige, exterminating entire clans at the drop of a hat."

"Lord Cao, this old man is terrified," Huang Bailin said, letting out a heavy sigh. "I only did so because my hand was forced. The Meng family colluded with Demonic Cultivators and even plotted to uproot my Huang family's century-old foundation. This old man was truly backed into a corner and had no choice but to strike first."

As he spoke, he pushed forward several scrolls. "This is the evidence of the Meng family colluding with the demonic path."

Steward Cao merely gave the scrolls a passing glance. The Meng family had already been wiped out; right and wrong were naturally whatever the Huang family shaped them to be.

Moreover, this so-called evidence might actually be genuine.

Because the demonic path had prospered for so long without decline, nearly every immortal clan possessed a demonic cultivation manual or two, and some even used them to cultivate. The Meng family had stood for a long time, so finding records of the demonic path within their clan would hardly be a surprise.

"So by that logic, thirty years ago, your family also annihilated the Xiao family simply to protect yourselves?" Steward Cao sneered.

Huang Bailin, however, put on a shamelessly sorrowful expression. "Lord Cao, back then, Fellow Daoist Xiao passed away, leaving his clan unguarded, which led to their persecution at the hands of Demonic Cultivators."

"I deeply regret that my strength was meager back then. By the time I arrived, the majority of Fellow Daoist Xiao's clansmen had already been slaughtered. I barely managed to rescue a handful from the Demonic Cultivators. This Small Five Elements Array was gifted to me by Fellow Daoist Xiao's surviving kin as a token of gratitude for saving their lives."

Huang Bailin sighed heavily, a faint glimmer of tears seemingly welling in his eyes.

Steward Cao waved his hand in irritation. Although the Immortals' Directorate cared little for the internal squabbles of immortal clans-so long as the territory remained peaceful and the mortal populace lived in tranquility-the Huang family's blatant massacre of another immortal clan was still an affront that angered the Directorate.

If it were not for the Huang family diligently safeguarding the peace of this region over the years, combined with their continuous fostering of over a dozen immortal clans-making their merits far outweigh their transgressions-the Immortals' Directorate would not have sent Steward Cao. Yang Tiancheng would have come in person.

"The war near Zhennan Prefecture has grown tense recently. Your family borders Zhennan Prefecture, so tread carefully," Steward Cao said, his tone suddenly shifting.

Huang Bailin immediately understood the underlying meaning and spoke with righteous indignation, "My Huang family has been loyal to the realm for generations. Now that demons and monsters ravage the lands of Zhennan Prefecture, my family naturally must contribute our meager strength. We are willing to support the front lines with six thousand jin of spirit rice and twenty thousand shi of grain and fodder, to comfort the tens of thousands of soldiers bleeding for us."

Setting all else aside, the benefits the Huang family brought to the four southern counties far outweighed the harm. Although they held the various families by the throat to dominate the four counties, swallowing up all resources to strengthen their own bloodline, they had undeniably brought visible prosperity to the region.

Immortal clans, bound by various interests and duties, would naturally treat the mortals under their rule well. As the number of immortal clans grew, the lives of the commoners in the four southern counties naturally improved. This was to say nothing of the Huang family's merchants doing business across the four counties, or their officials acting with unified purpose.

To immortal clans like the Zhou family, the Huang family was tyrannical, overbearing, and insatiably greedy.

But in the eyes of the Immortals' Directorate, if the Huang family had not slaughtered the Meng family, they would truly be worthy of the title of the righteous faction's leader in the four southern counties. Even with the Meng family's massacre, it ultimately did little harm to the grand scheme. At the very least, the Huang family always followed the rules and had never once provoked the Immortals' Directorate.

Hearing the vast amount of resources Huang Bailin was willing to supply to the front lines, Steward Cao's expression finally softened.

He stood up, looking out with a sigh. "The four southern counties have truly changed. As far as the eye can see, it is a land full of vibrant vitality. Truly a rare sight."

"The mortals of Zhaoping Commandery have suffered too much. You clans can fight amongst yourselves, but if you dare to slaughter the mortal populace, do not blame our Directorate for showing no mercy."

Standing on the cliff's edge, Steward Cao gazed out at the vast, boundless expanse of the earth, then transformed into a streak of flowing light and soared north.

Huang Bailin silently finished the cup of tea before him, then called for Huang Zhengming.

"Zhengming, how many Green Jade Pills does the clan currently hold?"

"Thirteen."

"Sell eight of them at their normal market price," Huang Bailin ordered softly.

"I understand, Granduncle," Huang Zhengming replied respectfully. The old man sitting before him had committed countless sins in his life for the sake of the Huang family, even falling into the demonic path to butcher other clans, all to ensure the Huang family's enduring survival.

Whatever faults others might find in him, he remained the elder Huang Zhengming admired and revered above all.

"Zhengqing and the others are already arranging marriage alliances with the various families. This should pull our relationships with them closer."

Huang Bailin nodded, then sat there withered and motionless, like an old man nearing the very end of his days.

Huang Zhengming produced a golden pill the size of a dragon's eye from his sleeve. "Granduncle, this is a Vajra Pill I refined. If you consume it, you will surely be able to advance another step."

Huang Bailin returned to his senses, gazing at the Pill with a relieved smile. "Keep it for Xuanqing. It would be a waste to use it on me."

Huang Zhengming's heart tightened, and he urged, "You are the stabilizing pillar of our family! If you can take one more step and reach the Foundation Establishment Realm, you could live for another two hundred years. Granduncle, why are you unwilling?"

Huang Bailin merely shook his head, smiling faintly. "Even if I cultivate to the absolute peak of Qi Condensation, I will not be able to break through."

"Why, Granduncle?"

"To step into the Foundation Establishment Realm, one must use a treasure of the same origin to bear the weight of their Dao foundation," Huang Bailin said with a sense of detachment. "It is exactly because of this that Foundation Establishment cultivators are so incredibly powerful, and so exceptionally rare."

Huang Zhengming's expression instantly darkened. He could not be blamed for his ignorance. The cultivation methods passed down within the Huang family all ended at the Qi Condensation Realm. Combined with the sheer scarcity of Foundation Establishment cultivators, their understanding of the realm was severely limited.

Huang Bailin continued, "Although this Vajra Pill can elevate my cultivation by another layer, I have no more than twenty years left to live. It would truly be a waste. That child Xuanqing possesses excellent talent. When he practices alchemy in the future, he will also cultivate the fire path. Fire-path treasures of the same origin are much easier to find. It is better used on him."

He cultivated the wood path. However, the Zhao Kingdom was situated in the north, a region that mostly produced earth-path and wind-path treasures. Wood-path treasures were primarily found in the southern borders of the Great Wilderness. If he wanted to reach Foundation Establishment, he would have to travel south and brave the wilderness.

But the Great Wilderness was a domain of Demon Beasts. He was merely a Qi Condensation cultivator; stepping foot in such a place would certainly mean nine deaths and one life.

He did not care about his own life or death. But after he died, what would become of the Huang family?

"Watching all of you grow up, one by one, to shoulder the weight of this family... I am already deeply gratified. I am content."

Huang Bailin smiled softly. The Huang family had given him life and raised him, but it had also shackled him for a lifetime.

Yet, in his heart, he had never once regretted it.

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