103: Chapter 103 Sending out Shiyin and merging for joint governance!

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"Immortal Master, please wait!"

Shi Jian suddenly spoke up, his tone sincere.

"This minor demon is bound by an oath and indeed cannot go to serve the Great Sect."

"However, I have always looked up to the Great Sect's prestigious reputation. I have a Junior under my wing who is exceptionally gifted."

"If the Immortal Master does not mind, I am willing to let him follow you to the Shangqing Sect to listen to the Great Dao. Consider it a token of my filial respect."

Immortal Master Luanyuan stopped in his tracks and turned around.

"Oh? Your Junior?"

Shi Jian turned his head and let out a low call toward the distant, dilapidated Main Peak.

A moment later.

The air ten yards away from Immortal Master Luanyuan's side suddenly rippled with an eerie shimmer.

There was no fluctuation of spiritual power, no leakage of aura.

A bear demon with grey-and-white fur, only about the size of an ordinary local dog, appeared out of thin air in the sky.

A faint layer of frost swirled around its body, and its grey eyes were cold and calm.

It was indeed Shi Yin.

Immortal Master Luanyuan's originally casual gaze instantly froze when it landed on Shi Yin, showing a hint of interest.

His massive Divine Sense swept out, directly enveloping Shi Yin.

"Eh?"

Immortal Master Luanyuan let out a sound of surprise.

In his Divine Sense's perception, a bear demon was clearly standing before him, but the feedback he received was that of a lifeless, cold stone.

This level of concealment talent was simply unheard of!

Not only that, but that pure, extreme power of ice was a very rare mutated branch of the Frost Dao...

"A mutated Frost Giant Bear with excellent concealment..."

A glimmer of light flashed in Immortal Master Luanyuan's eyes. Although this little bear had only just reached Foundation Establishment, in terms of potential and uniqueness—

Whether for assassination or growth potential, it possessed extremely high value!

If carefully nurtured, the probability of it achieving Core Formation in the future was not small; it might even surpass this Thunder Bear...

Shi Jian watched Immortal Master Luanyuan's expression and chuckled inwardly.

He took the bait!

Shi Yin was the best hidden trump card in his hand. Sending him to the Shangqing Sect now was nominally to build good relations, but in reality, it was planting a mole.

With the Shangqing Sect's resources, Shi Yin's growth speed would definitely be much faster than staying in Hongtian City, perhaps even taking a step further!

In the future, this chess piece will surely be of great use!

"Little fellow, are you willing to follow me?"

Immortal Master Luanyuan looked at Shi Yin, his tone much gentler.

Shi Yin did not speak, only turning his head to look at Shi Jian.

Shi Jian nodded slightly.

Shi Yin immediately prostrated himself, kowtowing once to Immortal Master Luanyuan, and then silently walked behind him.

"Good, very good!"

A smile finally appeared on Immortal Master Luanyuan's face. Failing to recruit the Thunder Bear but unexpectedly gaining a top-grade mutated Frost Bear—

This trip wasn't in vain after all. Regardless, the Shangqing Sect was coming out ahead.

"Daoist Yun Du, keep your people in check."

"The Great Sect will no longer interfere in Hongtian City's affairs. However, if this bear demon causes trouble for the region in the future, I will certainly not show mercy!"

Leaving behind this formal warning, Immortal Master Luanyuan waved his long sleeve, sweeping up Shi Yin, and transformed into a streak of sword light, instantly vanishing into the horizon.

The sea of clouds returned to tranquility.

Immortal Master Yun Du let out a long breath and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Facing this Immortal Master Luanyuan of the Shangqing Sect—

The pressure he felt was by no means small. Protecting Shi Jian this time could also be considered building a friendship.

The implications were broad, whether it was facing pressure from the Fenghe Sect or the fact that White Cloud Temple itself had not yet recovered its Origin Qi.

For whatever reason, he needed an ally.

And Shi Jian was undoubtedly the most suitable!

He turned his head to look at Shi Jian, the smile on his face becoming much more sincere.

"Fellow Daoist Shi, from today onward, our two houses are truly of one heart and mind. I'll be counting on your care in the future."

"Now that the Sun Clan has suffered heavy casualties and has no high-grade Spiritual Vein for cultivation within their clan,"

"Why not merge the Sun Clan into White Cloud Temple as an independent branch? From now on, the two of us shall govern this Baiyun Prefecture together. What do you think?"

Hearing this proposal, Shi Jian's massive frame straightened up again, purple-gold electrical arcs dancing between his fur...

He grinned widely and extended a bear paw.

"Fellow Daoist Daoist Yun Du, your proposal is quite good..."

"But I require complete autonomy. Helping each other is fine, but you cannot interfere with my decisions, nor can you touch my clansmen."

Upon hearing this, Daoist Yun Du laughed heartily and, without a care, lightly high-fived Shi Jian's bear paw.

"Of course, from now on, we are one family!"

Thus, the deal was struck.

From this moment on, Shi Jian was no longer a wild Yao Beast hiding behind the Sun Clan, but a Golden Core Great Demon with the official backing of White Cloud Temple, who could legitimately divide the interests of Baiyun Prefecture!

"Although that old dog Yan Qiu was rescued, his Origin is heavily damaged. The Fenghe Sect shouldn't be able to stir up trouble in the short term."

"Fellow Daoist has just broken through and still needs to stabilize your cultivation."

"The matter of our two houses merging still needs further planning."

"You should first appease the Sun Clan and stabilize the situation. I shall take my leave now. Once everything is ready, I will await you in the Yunjian Mountain Range!"

Daoist Yun Du was very tactful, knowing now was not the time for small talk, and cupped his hands in farewell.

"Safe travels, Fellow Daoist."

Shi Jian watched Daoist Yun Du depart, then flashed like a bolt of purple lightning, crashing down onto the martial arts field of the Sun Clan's Main Peak.

Boom!

The ground shook, and dust billowed everywhere.

As the thunder dissipated, the fifteen-foot-tall Purple Heaven Thunder Bear stood proudly.

Atop the Main Peak, everything was in shambles.

Blood stained the mountainside, and the ruins were covered in scorch marks and frost from the battle—a scene of utter devastation...

The Sun Clan was effectively broken.

Elder Rat was covered in blood, his dark red fur tattered, yet he still stood ramrod straight.

Shi Mo's side was soaked in blood, his dark gold bones exposed, and he was gasping for breath.

Shi Pan lay on the ground, more than half of the rock armor on his back shattered.

Thunder Badger was also heavily injured, barely kept alive by Sun Yao's spiritual power.

Sun Mao's abdomen and shoulder were pierced through; his face was as pale as paper as he leaned against a broken stone pillar.

All the surviving Sun Clan disciples and the Spirit Beasts across the mountain fell silent at this moment.

They looked at the Purple-Gold Thunder Bear that had descended like a deity, sensing the terrifying aura representing the pressure of a Golden Core. In their eyes, there was no fear, only fanaticism and awe.

Thud.

Elder Rat was the first to kneel, his head hitting the pool of blood heavily.

"We welcome the Old Ancestor's exit from seclusion! Congratulations to the Old Ancestor on achieving the Golden Core Dao!"

Immediately after, Shi Mo and Shi Pan let out earth-shaking roars.

Sun Mao struggled to his feet, and ignoring his torn wounds, knelt on both knees, his voice hoarse yet loud.

"The unworthy descendants of the Sun Clan congratulate the Old Ancestor! May the Old Ancestor live for ten thousand years!"

Rustle, rustle.

Across the entire mountain, whether human or demon, everyone knelt in unison.

Shi Jian looked around.

Looking at this core group who had fought a bloody battle to the death to protect his seclusion, a satisfied look flashed in his purple-gold thunderous eyes.

Loyalty is forged through battle.

Prestige is carved through killing.

"Those who died in battle today shall be buried with honors!"

"Their descendants shall receive three times the resources from now on, with priority access to all kinds of resources and Cultivation Techniques, and shall be granted the Foundation Establishment Legacy!"