"Senior Brother Tan." Lu Qian added, "The Sect Leader passed away in my arms, and the pain of the sect’s destruction is etched deeply in me. No one wants revenge more than I do, to reclaim the ancestral spirit vein. However, we don’t have the power to do so yet."

"But I guarantee, that day will not be too far off. If I successfully reach Foundation Establishment this time, we’ll start gathering intelligence. If there’s a chance, we’ll first strike down one Foundation Establishment from the Wang Family or Ziluo Mountain!"

Lu Qian had long thought about taking back Yun Mountain. Occasionally in the dead of night, he would remember the ever-present thin mist in the mountains, the spirit vein flowing like springs, and the carefree days of cultivation.

Two major obstacles lay ahead.

The primary issue is that the Yunshan Sect has re-established its mountain gate in Chongming County, becoming a subordinate sect of the Xuanguang Sect. Meanwhile, Quyang County hosts the dominant Golden Core Major Sect, Qingling Sect, with the Quyang Wang Family and Ziluo Mountain as its subordinate sects.

If the Yunshan Sect attacks the Wang Family and Ziluo Mountain, it would be perceived as an external invasion, and Qingling Sect will surely respond.

Unless the Yunshan Sect swiftly takes back Yun Mountain, then announces a return to Yun Mountain, leaving Xuanguang Sect to once again become a Qingling Sect subordinate sect.

Even then, it needs to be considered whether Qingling Sect would accept them, and whether the foundations established in Chongming County would be rendered obsolete, possibly stirring discontent among the Yunshan Sect disciples who were born and raised in Chongming County.

That’s the first problem. The second issue is that Yunshan Sect, with its current power, is not strong enough to embark on a cross-county expedition.

The Wang Family, though only having one Foundation Establishment Feather Scholar, has numerous family members, totaling about 170 to 180 cultivators. Ziluo Mountain also has one Foundation Establishment and over a hundred disciples.

Their local defense gives them an advantage of terrain and unity, whereas Yunshan Sect’s cross-county expedition would require strength three times greater to strike faster than lightning, reclaiming Yun Mountain before Qingling Sect could respond.

For now, Yunshan Sect is far from sufficient.

Even if Lu Qian successfully reaches Foundation Establishment this time, leading fifty cultivators would only suffice for special force operations, a quick strike attack, with no benefit from direct conflict.

Tan Hong looked steadily at Lu Qian and finally nodded, "Sect Leader, I believe in you. I’ll wait for you to lead us to avenge and return to Yun Mountain."

Lu Qian patted his shoulder, "You’ll surely see that day."

Everyone fell silent again, watching Yun Mountain slowly disappear from sight, eventually covered by layers of mountains.

The Sky Ray flew on for hundreds of miles when Lu Qian suddenly shouted softly, "Stop!"

His gaze focused on a picturesque, lush peak to the left, a calling feeling stronger than ever, the invisible compass firmly pointing to here, right on this spot!

Everyone quickly raised their eyes and saw gleaming light on the mountaintop, with a Mountain Protection Grand Array covering the summit, and a few streaks of Escape Light could be seen entering it.

This clearly was a Spirit Mountain occupied by a sect!

Lu Qian sighed lightly in his heart, the situation is now more complicated, requiring negotiation with this sect, either offering Land Rent Gold or other terms. However, he had secured something from Xuanguang Sect before departure, specifically for this situation, which might avoid some trouble.

Tan Hong, having been a Yunshan Sect disciple for more than sixty years, knew Quyang County’s sects and geographical layout well. Seeing this peak, he said, "Sect Leader, this is Bailu Mountain, there’s a Qi Cultivation Minor Sect on it, the Yuehua Sect."

"Several years ago, Yuehua Sect had over thirty disciples, with more than half at Mid-Stage Qi Cultivation, but their output is quite mediocre."

He continued with a few more introductions. A county’s governance is entirely ruled by the Golden Core Sect in charge. Chongming County is chaotic, where sects attack each other boldly, leaving micro Qi Cultivation Sects no space to survive independently, only becoming vassals to Foundation Establishment Sects. It’s all because the Xuanguang Sect in charge never cares about the survival of the sects below.

In contrast, the situation in Quyang County is relatively better. The Qingling Sect in charge is openly a law-abiding sect. The Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation Sects within its territory are all subordinate sects, unable to attack each other easily, and any conflict requires explanation.

Therefore, Lu Qian always suspected that Wang Family and Ziluo Mountain’s attack on Yunshan Sect must have Qingling Sect’s tacit approval. It’s unclear what the real intrigue is.

In short, it’s due to the apparent peace that the twenty-plus Qi Cultivation Sects in Quyang County can maintain independence, directly reporting to Qingling Sect.

Including Yuehua Sect, which is also an independent Qi Cultivation Sect.

After listening to Tan Hong’s introduction, Lu Qian pondered for a moment and instructed, "Sky Ray, halt here. Zheng Duan, take a group of disciples ahead to pay respects at the mountain. Say we are cultivators from the Golden Core Sect Xuanguang Sect, based in Chongming County. I am a True Disciple of Xuanguang Sect, here for Foundation Establishment, you’ve been assigned by the sect to guard me."

"From now on, my name is Qi Kun, you will all call me Senior Brother Qi, refer to each other as senior and junior brothers, do not reveal identities."

Tan Hong added, "Yuehua Sect has had no contact with our Yunshan Sect before, unlikely to recognize our cultivators, but it’s still precautionary. I think it’s better if we both wear masks."

Lu Qian nodded, "Senior Brother Tan is right. Also, everyone change into Yunshan Sect uniforms, since we claim to be of the same sect, we should act convincing."

As he spoke, he reached out and brushed his face, a thin layer of cloud concealed his features, a simple application of Wind Shadow Cloud Body, eliminating the need for human skin masks.

Yunshandisciples then began distributing the already prepared uniforms. Designed by Lu Qian, these uniforms were completely different from the previous Yunshan Sect attire, avoiding compromising their identity.

The group chuckled and changed into the clothes, donning Yunshan Sect uniforms, posing as Xuanguang Sect disciples, finding it quite novel. They confirmed their new addresses and called each other a few times to get used to it, before Zheng Duan led the disciples flying toward Yuehua Sect’s mountain gate.

About half an hour later, seven chime sounds rang out on Bailu Mountain, and the Mountain Protection Array blazed open.

Two groups of cultivators emerged from the mountain, drawing closer, they saw a tall and full-figured female cultivator accompany Zheng Duan, each followed by their own sect’s cultivators.

As they approached, the Sky Ray flapped its wings, letting out a euphonious cry, causing the Bailu Mountain cultivators to show startled expression, whispereing among themselves, the female cultivator softly scolded them, stabilizing their formation.

Zheng Duan took a few steps forward, leading the female cultivator to Lu Qian, "Senior Brother Qi, this is the Yuehua Sect Leader."

Yuehua Sect Leader glanced furtively at the uniformly arranged cultivators standing behind Lu Qian, her Divine Sense slightly probing, finding these were Middle and Late Stage of Qi Cultivation elites!

She was immediately apprehensive, displaying both fear and favor on her face, she quickly stepped forward, bowing in greeting, "Bai Ling, Yuehua Sect Leader, pays respects to the Upper Sect noble friend."