Everyone looked at Peilan with exceptional attentiveness, awaiting his orders.
"The Grand Ancestor... has reached the peak of the third stage."
"The peak?"
"So soon?"
"Will our clan be elevated further?"
Instantly, several discussions started among the cultivators, and they asked question they couldn’t hold back. After asking, they realised their rashness and quietened down, looking at Peilan was even more curiosity.
"There is no need to dwell on the implications of something that hasn’t happened yet," he first corrected them, then continued, "but the reason the ancestor sent us a message wasn’t to inform us of her cultivation.
The Sun Glow Sect has the inheritance of a fourth-stage sect, and some suspect they may even have the inheritance of higher stages. But regardless of their inheritance, there are only two Supreme Elders at the fourth stage. Resources to continue further are scarce and the sect won’t agree to a private exchange; besides the ancestor, there are two more cultivators at the peak stage, ready to break through.
For this reason, the ancestor has told us that there will likely be a major mission issued by the sect to determine who will receive the sect’s resources and support.
And this mission... will involve the Seven Mountains."
A wave of silence spread across the room as everyone took in Peilan’s words. They even felt a bit inadequate discussing such matters at only the first stage, even though their grand ancestor is about to break through to the fourth stage. Such a vast difference in strength naturally made them more cautious.
Hearing of the Seven Mountains, they were shocked once more.
The Seven Mountains, also called the Seven Beast Mountains, are a section of an extremely vast Beast Territory that stretches across the whole world, called the Beast Mountain Range.
There are many different kinds of beast territories, and some are larger than others. Among them, the Mountain Range, Swamp and Forest are the largest on the main continent, while there are several more around.
This mountain range—it’s best not to speak of it too much, as it simply is too large and has countless strong enemies. On the other hand, the Seven Mountains are weaker, though they are still not easy to discuss. The Seven Mountains are a total of seven smaller territories close to each other, and because they stem from the mountain range, they carry the name ’mountain’, though their actual appearance might vary.
These seven mountains are each the territory of fourth-stage beasts!
Generally, singular beasts have always an advantage over cultivators, but as a civilisation humans have an advantage. After all, a beast carries naturally grown treasures all over their body, they have innate spells and are often accompanied by plants that support their bloodline, and have various other innate advantages.
But this advantage is generally only found in the pack-leader of any given beast. Other beasts are generally just canon fodder and vastly weaker.
Humans, on the other hand, have strong individualism, and even a rogue cultivator carries one or two hidden abilities, allowing them to rise canon fodder beasts. And on a mass, they can use formations, talismans and other items to support each other. Finally, after reaching higher stages, there is a certain balance between individual power and group power, and at the fourth stage, cultivators first have the ability to contend with beast of their stage one on one—naturally that is given the beasts aren’t those with higher ranking bloodlines.
The Seven Mountains are surrounded by three sects—the Sun Glow Sect being no weaker than the other two. Each of the ancestors represents a force that can contend against one beast of the mountains, and the sect itself can also fight two more beasts. Usually, it is one ancestor who directly guards against the mountains, and the Seven Mountains Market that guards against another beast.
Even Peilan, having said those things, was shocked. A fourth stage beast! And now their Grand Ancestor said there might be a mission in this area?
Any action between the mountains and the sect were always passive; the beast tide attacked, and that was it. How could they suddenly turn the tables? Those seven beasts would support each other—attacking any one would lead to an attack from the others if the attack on them was too strong.
He felt a secret veil over this matter suddenly. Closing his eyes, he rapidly sealed all unnecessary thoughts and looked back at the cultivators of his family.
Seeing they had quitened down and looked at him again, he knew they wanted to await his orders.
"The Grand Ancestor didn’t specify what we should do this time..." he started, "but we will participate! The Grand Ancestor has helped the clan over the years, and we were able to grow so well because of the ancestor’s generosity.
Such karma can’t be ignored just because of the difficulty.
In addition—this is a great opportunity. Whatever mission may come, other families might be caught off-guard, but we can prepare for it long in advance!
With the further protection of the ancestor, this might become the chance for our clan to gather the means to advance further!"
Peilan’s eyes shone brightly as he said those words. Advance further—that was the third stage!
The other clan ancestor’s cultivation was stuck in the late stage. He was too old and wouldn’t be able to advance further. Peilan, on the other hand, was young and in the mid stage. He didn’t know when that mission would be—maybe in ten years, maybe in fifty—but by then, he might already have entered the late stage!
If he could reach that stage, then he... he might have a chance to advance further!
And even if he didn’t get that chance, as long as the family benefitted and reached the third stage, his own chances of going higher would rise exponentially!
Having a third-stage ancestor in the family and a fourth-stage ancestor who would assist them in secret... he couldn’t imagine just how prosperous their family would become.
He looked at all clan members and seeing their agreement, he smiled and said, "Our Clan has over 200 members—even if we’re just a small clan with less power, a lineage in the sect usually has no more than 100 qi refining cultivators; with lower power but more people, we can achieve more!
We have time to prepare now—we have to take this chance to allow the Grand Ancestor to advance further!!!"