Immortality and Cultivation: This old man seeks enlightenment through mere survival.

Song Xuanhe returned to the brightly lit and incense-filled council hall.

Several core elders of the Song family were already seated solemnly, waiting here.

"Three days from now will mark the official establishment of our Tianqing River Mining Alliance. This is a crucial step for the Song family to establish its leadership and unify the resources along the river, and we cannot afford to fail."

Song Xuanhe sat imposingly in the main seat, his gaze sharp as lightning sweeping over everyone present. His voice was steady, carrying an undeniable air of authority:

"Nearly one hundred sets of [Mystic Water Robes] and [Rock-Breaking Drills] procured from the Desolate Marsh City have all arrived..."

Combined with the unique water-avoidance method of my Song family's "Qinghe Classic", it is sufficient to support the early underwater exploration and preliminary mining.

At that time, the seven powerful families and sects from upstream and downstream will gather together to discuss strategies for dealing with the fog... The haze is spreading at an alarming rate, polluting the spiritual energy and eradicating all life in its path; it is likely no ordinary natural disaster.

There are naturally far more than seven cultivation factions along the Tianqing River.

But the only ones with the real strength and qualifications to get a share of this jade mine are undoubtedly these seven companies.

Among them, the Yuntian Sect and the Wang family also have Foundation Establishment cultivators in charge, and their strength is only slightly inferior to that of the Song family.

The other families also have several cultivators at the peak of the Qi Refining stage, who could break through to the Foundation Establishment stage at any time...

As for that strange fog tide...

Including the Song family, no one knew that it was actually Master Qingming who had instigated this—

They thought it was some kind of natural disaster leaking from the barren marshes.

After all, the [Mist Tide Domain] that Qingming Zhenren used with the remains of the Mist Demon King was very different from the ordinary mist tides in the Black Miasma Forest.

Moreover, in name only, it's impossible for Master Qingming to do such a thing.

Several Core Formation factions in the northern airspace have strictly divided their territories and do not interfere with each other.

The southwestern region, which is shrouded in fog, is considered part of the territory under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Underworld Palace.

It can be described as the back garden of the Heavenly Underworld Palace.

The cultivation families and sects here all have to pay tribute to the Heavenly Nether Palace every year.

Isn't this kind of messing around just ruining your own backyard?

However, no one expected that it was precisely because it was his own backyard that Qingming Zhenren dared to act so recklessly.

They're just harvesting their own crops!

As long as the intensity of the fog tide is deliberately controlled—only devouring low-level Qi Refining cultivators, or even a large number of mortals—it will not cause too much panic.

It will not infringe upon the interests of other Core Formation factions, nor will it attract attention...

At this moment, the Third Elder, Song Xuanfeng, who was in charge of intelligence and external liaison, spoke up:

"Patriarch, there is one more thing... The spies we planted in the Jiang family of Fangyou City have not sent back any messages for several days. I am afraid that things might get complicated if we wait too long."

"It's best to get your hands on the Seven Treasures Tree as soon as possible..."

Upon hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in Song Xuanhe's eyes, and he snorted coldly:

"...The Jiang family? Hmph, what merit does a mere Qi Refining family possess to have such a treasure?"

If it weren't for our connection with that body cultivator Jiuyou, my Song family would have wiped them out with a single hand long ago...

Now, the only option is to proceed slowly, supporting Jiang Tianyi to take power and controlling him without bloodshed through internal strife within the Jiang family.

Even if Jiuyou returns then, given the fait accompli of the family feud, on what grounds can he attack my Song family?

That's right, this was exactly Song Xuanhe's plan.

There's no need for a major conflict. Just secretly support the ambitious figures within the Jiang family, and once they purge dissidents and take control of the family, the Jiang family will naturally become a vassal of the Song family.

The Seven Treasures Tree naturally became part of the Song family's possession.

"You just said that Jiang Tianyi's communication was cut off?" Song Xuanhe pressed.

"That's right. As agreed, he's supposed to send a message daily, reporting on the Jiang family's movements, in case Jiang Feng and Jiu You suddenly return. But it's been interrupted for two days..."

Song Xuanfeng was only halfway through his sentence when he suddenly paused, his expression changing slightly.

"Wait... the communication is down? Could it be that Jiang Feng and Jiu You have already appeared?!"

Upon hearing this, the elders in the hall were all taken aback.

"Yes, something's definitely fishy when things are going wrong!"

"If they really show themselves and discover our hidden forces, especially Jiu You, we must take action as soon as possible!"

The Second Elder, Song Xuanming, stood to the side with a solemn expression.

He represented the Song family when he joined the Ze Alliance to explore the Black Miasma Forest, where he witnessed firsthand the great battle between Jiu You and the two Core Formation cultivators.

The earth-shattering force still sends shivers down my spine when I think about it, far beyond what others can describe from hearsay!

"I suggest we immediately contact the Heavenly Underworld Palace and the Huang family, and ask them to send experts to set up a killing formation in advance, aiming for a fatal blow to eliminate any future trouble!"

The other elders, who had not yet seen the meeting in person, looked at each other with suspicion.

"Is the Nine Netherworld... truly that powerful?"

"But surely my Song family has no one with late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation?"

“If it were before, perhaps we would have been more wary, but now that you, Elder, have successfully broken through to the late Foundation Establishment stage, your cultivation is comparable to his. Why should we fear him?”

The elder they were referring to was none other than the current head of the family, Song Xuanhe.

After the original patriarch of the Song family failed to secretly attempt to reach the Core Formation stage, the Song family faced a talent shortage and was in dire need of late-stage Foundation Establishment combat power.

It was precisely because Song Xuanhe lived up to expectations and broke through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment not long ago under tremendous pressure that he was able to restore the prestige of the Tianqinghe Song family and naturally take over the position of family head.

Song Xuanhe sat in the main seat, listening to the debate. He stroked his beard with one hand, pondered for a moment, and then raised his hand to tap the table lightly, stopping the noise.

His gaze fell on Song Xuanming, and he said, word by word:

"Second Elder, I believe you!"

Of all those present, only you have personally witnessed Jiuyou make a move.

Even if the rumors are exaggerated, the fact that he was able to force Master Qingming to personally issue a kill order is enough to prove how dangerous he is.

It's not that I'm belittling myself, but if it were a one-on-one fight, I'm afraid... I really wouldn't be his match.

He readily admitted that he was inferior to Jiu You, but then his tone shifted, a cold smile playing on his lips:

"However... everyone, please don't forget that in three days, it will be the big day of the official establishment of the Tianqinghe Mining Alliance!"

At that time, allies such as the Yuntian Sect and the Wang Family, who are all at the Foundation Establishment stage, will be present. They—naturally—stand on the same side as my Song Family!

"If the Nine Netherworlds dare to cause trouble, we won't even need to say a word. These allies, for the sake of the alliance's prestige and their own interests, will certainly not stand idly by!"

Song Xuanhe had already calculated that if he told the Yuntian Sect and the Wang family in advance that he was going to deal with Jiuyou, they might make excuses and pretend not to hear...

However, if a powerful enemy comes to provoke us on the day the alliance is signed, no one can remain uninvolved.

Otherwise, you can forget about establishing yourself in the Tianqinghe circle in the future.

What do you mean?

You just signed an alliance, agreeing to mine together and make money together? But then a powerful enemy comes knocking, and you just want to stand by and watch?

Who would dare to sign an alliance with you after that? All talk of mutual support and shared destiny is just a lie!

"Patriarch's plan is brilliant! In this way, the entire mining alliance is bound to the Song family's warship!"

"Hehe, the mining alliance is spearheaded by my Song family, with us taking the lead. It's perfectly legitimate and reasonable for our allies to jointly deal with the invading enemy!"

Upon hearing this, the Song family's senior members all revealed knowing smiles.

In just a few words, one could almost picture Jiu You trapped in a siege, surrendering without resistance.

"In that case, all of you may go and carry out the plan accordingly, making sure that nothing goes wrong! Disperse!"

With a wave of his sleeve, Song Xuanhe made the decision.

.........