126: Chapter 126 Open and Covert Struggles, a Close Enemy-like Relationship!

...

The merger of the Dafeng Mountains and the Qingfeng Mountains has now gotten on the right track, although there was much resistance at the start.

But under the coordination of the Zhao lineage and Zhao Yanshan, everything is proceeding smoothly.

According to the current progress, the two mountain ranges can be completely merged into one within three years, and the Zhao lineage will also regain its momentum because of this!

...

Several months later, at Boan Peak, in the Meeting Hall.

Sun Mao sat in the main seat, his fingers lightly tapping the table in a dull rhythm. Sun Lin sat below him, flipping through a thick stack of ledgers.

"Big brother, thirty percent of the Spirit Stones that can be mobilized have already been diverted."

Sun Lin rubbed his brow and closed the ledger with a weary Face: "Except for the portion reserved for Chengzu's Foundation Establishment, the rest has all been spent."

"It's still not enough."

"Far from enough..."

Sun Mao's expression was equally grim, and he kept rubbing his Face...

"This is already the limit."

"If we divert any more, the Family's daily supply of Medicinal Pills and Talismans will be cut off."

"Then let it be cut off for a few months; it won't kill anyone."

Sun Mao stood up and walked outside the hall: "What the Old Ancestor wants to see now is an attitude. The Zhao clan handled the matters of Mushou Mountain beautifully; that's their capability."

"We, the Sun Clan, cannot snatch this credit, and even more so, we cannot trip them up."

Sun Lin nodded: "I understand. If we ruin the Old Ancestor's major affairs because of jealousy, that would be seeking our own death."

"Therefore, we must find another way."

Sun Mao turned around, his eyes burning: "The Old Ancestor is of the Yao Race and doesn't have much interest in the Human Race's Magic Treasures or Talismans. Instead, he places quite a bit of importance on blood and flesh Origin and exotic Yao Beasts."

"Send word to our subordinate families in various places, as well as those Guest Elders, Loose Cultivators, and Outer Sect Disciples who have received our favors in the past."

"Have them go into the deep mountains and old forests, to those inaccessible and dangerous places."

"Search! Look for rare bear species, Yao Beasts with singular Bloodlines, and aged Spiritual Fruits and precious medicines. As long as it has value, the Sun Clan is willing to purchase it at a high price!"

Sun Lin's heart shivered; this was going to cost them their entire fortune to curry favor with the Old Ancestor.

"Big brother, will this commotion be too big? The Yun Clan's side..."

"Great Elder Yun Tianfan is old and senile, only staring at those dead rules of the Sect."

Sun Mao sneered with a hint of persistence: "We are spending our own Spirit Stones to buy the Old Ancestor's favor; can he control that?"

"Rest assured, the Sun Clan is spending a fortune to please our own Old Ancestor."

"Isn't the Yun Clan doing the same, spending a massive amount of resources to support the Temple Master's cultivation?"

"What they do and what we do reach the same goal by different routes; both are for the sake of establishing a firm bond with our respective backers."

"The Old Ancestor still has feelings for the Sun Clan."

"But we cannot keep consuming this sentiment forever..."

"As time passes, feelings will eventually fade."

...

Several days later.

White Cloud Temple, Hall of General Affairs.

Sun Mao was leading several clansmen, putting a batch of Spiritual Plants that had just been transported from elsewhere into storage.

This batch of Spiritual Plants was of extremely high quality; the Sun Clan had paid a high price to obtain them.

A soft sound of footsteps came from outside the hall.

Zhao Yanshan, dressed in a green silk Daoist robe, was smiling and looking as refreshed as a spring breeze as he stepped into the hall, surrounded by a group of Disciples.

He is currently a popular figure in the Sect.

Responsible for the grand plan of integrating Mushou Mountain, he holds great power and is in high spirits.

The eyes of the two met in mid-air.

"Elder Sun, what a coincidence to run into you today."

Zhao Yanshan took the initiative to cup his hands, his tone gentle.

Sun Mao returned the greeting with perfect etiquette, his expression calm: "Peak Master Zhao is too kind. You are usually busy with official duties; how do you have time to come to the Hall of General Affairs?"

"At Mushou Mountain, a Grade 2 Spiritual Vein has just been cleared, yielding some associated spiritual ores. I have come specifically to deposit them into the Sect's treasury."

Zhao Yanshan stepped closer and glanced at the Spiritual Plants the Sun Clan was handing over:

"This batch of 'Purple Cloud Ganoderma' from the Sun Clan is of excellent quality. I'm afraid it took a lot of effort, didn't it?"

"For the sake of the Sect, one should naturally do their best."

Sun Mao replied indifferently. Seeing this, Zhao Yanshan smiled, cupped his hands, and congratulated:

"Elder Sun is truly noble!"

"However, this Purple Cloud Ganoderma is cold in nature and is mostly used for refining Tranquil Spirit Pills. The Old Ancestor cultivates a domineering lightning law; such cold items probably won't catch the eye of Zixiao Peak."

Sun Mao's eyes narrowed. This was a veiled mockery that the Sun Clan's flattery had missed the mark.

He did not get angry; instead, the corners of his mouth curled into an arc:

"Peak Master Zhao has certainly scrutinized the Old Ancestor's preferences thoroughly, but the Old Ancestor is far-sighted and has great ambitions."

"Some things cannot be understood just by looking at what's on the surface."

"Oh?" Zhao Yanshan raised an eyebrow.

"The Zhao Clan is good at planning. If you can share the Old Ancestor's worries, it is the good fortune of White Cloud Temple."

Sun Mao looked at him, his tone steady: "But the Sun Clan is the Old Ancestor's kin, not something that certain pawns can compare to."

"Moreover, the Sun Clan is willing to give everything for the Old Ancestor. We are the sharp blade in the Old Ancestor's hand. A blade doesn't need to be shown off every day; as long as it's fast and sharp enough to draw blood at the critical moment, that's enough."

Zhao Yanshan's smile remained: "If a blade rusts, it will also be replaced."

"Then Peak Master Zhao must look closely to see whether this blade has rusted or if it has hidden its edge."

Sun Mao flicked his sleeve and turned to call his clansmen:

"Into the treasury, let's go!"

Watching Sun Mao's departing back, the smile on Zhao Yanshan's Face gradually faded.

"Peak Master, this Sun Mao is too arrogant."

A Zhao clansman nearby complained in a low voice, but Zhao Yanshan shook his head and said calmly, "He's not being arrogant."

"If he were to have a big row with me here, losing the Old Ancestor's Face, or secretly tripping us up, then he would be a fool."

"But he yielded and exercised restraint."

"This shows that he knows his own position and has also grasped the Old Ancestor's temperament."

"This Sun Clan is not easy to deal with."

Zhao Yanshan straightened his sleeves: "We must speed up the progress of the Mushou Mountain matter and not give them a chance to catch their breath."

"Only by handling this matter well can our Zhao lineage catch the Old Ancestor's eye..."

...