"So, in this way... those old monsters had calculated, allowing the Yangnao Land to exist among the forces of us eight families?"

"If the three of us join hands to destroy one of them, would they place another Golden Core influence here?"

After understanding Shen Chongming’s meaning, Old Man Jin murmured in a deep voice.

Luo Yao and the others also looked solemn.

"Actually, during the second great harvest, the Shen Family should have had the strength to directly wipe out Fushan Country. The reason they didn’t do so must be because of this, right?"

Luo Yao looked at Shen Chongming and spoke.

The three demons of Celestial Sandalwood Mountain also figured it out.

During the recent great harvest, with Shen Wen’an’s strength, it seemed it wouldn’t have been difficult to march directly into Yingchuan County City and kill Wushi Ao along with the cultivators of Fushan Country.

"Not entirely."

Shen Chongming smiled faintly and changed the topic: "Therefore, eradicating one of the forces is not advisable."

"At that time, if the old monsters behind the scenes either bring down punishment or introduce a new Golden Core influence, it would not be beneficial to us."

After hearing this, Old Man Jin pondered for a while and had no choice but to give up on this idea.

"Then, as Patriarch Shen says, let’s keep a low profile."

After a brief discussion among the three parties, they confirmed the alliance, and Luo Yao left with some senior members of Luoxia Mountain.

After they left, Old Man Jin looked at Shen Chongming and spoke again: "Patriarch Shen, now that the main topic is done, Master Shu has two personal matters."

"Please speak, Fellow Daoist." Shen Chongming nodded.

Old Man Jin glanced at Hua Qing beside him, then turned to Shen Chongming and said, "Master Shu’s sister has turned into a demon and needs to devour some Heaven and Earth Spirit Roots to evolve."

"Luan Jie sensed a Wood Moonlight Pine within the Shen Family’s territory, may I ask if..."

Wood Moonlight Pine?

Shen Chongming’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and after a moment’s thought, he suddenly guessed what Old Man Jin meant by "Wood Moonlight Pine."

"Fellow Daoist Jin, this request is a bit excessive."

"That Heaven and Earth Spirit Root absorbs Taiyin Moonlight and can condense a strand of Middle Grade Innate Wood Essence Qi every few decades."

"It’s of great use to my Shen Family."

The Wood Moonlight Pine was discovered by Shen Wen’an a hundred years ago in Hidden Dragon Mountain after he slew a Pan Mountain Python, finding a peculiar little pine tree.

Over the century, the little pine tree has already contributed three strands of Innate Wood Essence Qi to the Shen Family. If nothing goes wrong, it will continue to produce Innate Wood Essence Qi approximately every thirty years, like a hen that lays golden eggs.

"Master Shu knows, Master Shu knows."

"Hua Qing."

After Old Man Jin cupped his hands, he turned to look at Hua Qing, the woman named Hua Qing nodded and lightly waved her hand, revealing over a dozen various Jade Bottles before her.

Next, she divided these Jade Bottles into three parts.

"Patriarch Shen." A slightly soft voice came from her mouth.

"Here are two strands of Upper Grade Innate Spiritual Qi, five strands of Middle Grade Innate Spiritual Qi, and seven strands of Lower Grade Innate Spiritual Qi, though none are of the wood attribute."

"I propose to trade these with you, how about it?"

Hearing this, Shen Chongming looked incredulously at the pile of Jade Bottles before him.

The preciousness of Innate Spiritual Qi needs no further explanation, but why is it that in Hua Qing’s hands, it seems like roadside rock, pulled out so casually in such quantity!?

Old Man Jin seemed to have seen through his confusion and cheerfully said, "Patriarch Shen ought to know, us Demon Cultivators don’t need this Innate Spiritual Qi to break through."

"The ones my sister has are all from our many brothers and sisters of Celestial Sandalwood Mountain obtained by chance, and today we’ve brought them all out."

Shen Chongming suddenly understood.

These Innate Spiritual Qi were indeed the foundation of a Golden Core influence, not solely collected by Hua Qing.

"With such sincerity from Fellow Daoist, I would be somewhat unkind not to agree."

Although the Wood Moonlight Pine can continuously produce Innate Wood Essence Qi, just the five strands of Middle Grade Innate Spiritual Qi would take over a hundred years to generate.

Including the two strands of Upper Grade and seven strands of Lower Grade, it would take at least several centuries for the Wood Moonlight Pine to produce of equal value.

Currently, it’s the golden period of development for the Shen Family; these Innate Spiritual Qi are especially crucial for the Shen Family.

In several centuries, the Shen Family might have already produced a Nascent Soul Realm expert and wouldn’t have to rely too much on a single Heaven and Earth Spirit Root capable only of producing Middle Grade Innate Spiritual Qi.

"Thank you, Patriarch Shen."

Seeing him agree, Hua Qing immediately bowed with a difficult-to-hide expression of joy on her face.

Shen Chongming waved his hand and collected all the Jade Bottles filled with Innate Spiritual Qi, turning his gaze to a child around seven or eight years old.

"This Fellow Daoist wouldn’t also be eyeing some treasure of my Shen Family, would you?"

Luan Jie chuckled and replied, "Patriarch Shen has sharp eyes. When I discovered that Wood Moonlight Pine, I also sensed a relic in the nearby mountain."

"Treasure Qi is abundant within that relic, and I wish to go in and absorb some to make the bloodline of my Treasure-Seeking Rat purer."

Relic?

Shen Chongming smiled and shook his head.

"I’m afraid I cannot agree to this request, Fellow Daoist."

He knew the relic Luan Jie referred to was precisely the Dragon Tamer’s Mansion.

Some time ago, he even considered sending people to explore the Dragon Tamer’s Mansion further, but was stopped by his grandfather, Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan mentioned that great secrets lie within Dragon Tamer’s Mansion, making it unwise to explore too thoroughly at present.

Therefore, Shen Family’s cultivators have been stationed near the relic all year, forbidding anyone from approaching.

"I can trade Magical Treasures with you."

"These items, Patriarch Shen, feel free to choose ten pieces."

Upon hearing Shen Chongming’s refusal, Luan Jie grew somewhat anxious and suddenly waved his hand, revealing a plethora of weapons, armor, bottles, and vessels—all sorts of glittering Magical Artifacts.