Chapter 86

Chapter 86: Rewards

Yang Lingqing stood on the mountain throughout the night.

Only when she personally witnessed the safe return of the Yang Family members did her tightly clenched fist behind her back finally relax.

Though connected through the Immortal Master’s awareness, confirming their safety with her own eyes allowed the weight in her heart to lift completely.

Every strategy for this mission had been devised by her, yet her current role as acting Master forced her to remain home rather than accompany them to Qinghe.

This wasn’t the first time. Whenever Yang Lingqing formulated plans, she fretted over potential flaws in her "armchair strategies."

Real battles proved far more chaotic than theoretical simulations – circumstances shifted constantly, often exceeding anticipated complexity.

Limited by her cultivation level and understanding, she couldn’t foresee every contingency, only striving to prepare as thoroughly as possible.

Fortunately, the family cultivators had repeatedly overcome dangers during their expeditions.

This brought to mind their greatest asset – the Immortal Master.

Chen Yang remained the cornerstone of all Yang Lingqing’s schemes. His unwavering support enabled the Yang Family cultivators to repeatedly emerge victorious against impossible odds.

"Through the Immortal Master’s divine grace, the Yang Family shall remain eternally grateful!" she murmured inwardly.

After the group’s return home, Old Yu detailed their experiences. As family Master, Yang Lingqing distributed spiritual crystals as rewards for their successful mission.

The Qinghe operation demanded extraordinary effort – deploying every available cultivator except herself, plus commissioning Chen Yang to create numerous talismans at great expense.

Such investment required proportional returns.

Yang Lingqing’s calculations regarding Qinghe had been precise.

Though the conflict didn’t concern the Yang Family directly, intervention demanded maximum commitment. They needed to become Qinghe’s saviors, securing reputation, resources, and influence simultaneously.

Three objectives guided their involvement:

1. Expand Yang Family influence from their two-town domain northward into Qinghe

2. Secure Gao Hui’s breakthrough opportunity

3. Obtain greater compensation than Tian Yu’s paltry low-grade cleansing elixir

All goals were achieved.

The Songshan Yang Family’s name now resounded across Qinghe’s territory, commoners spreading tales of their cultivators slaying monsters and saving lives.

Gao Hui owed them a personal debt – the evil beings in Sanglu Valley provided his breakthrough chance, with Dynasty merits for cleansing the area now credited to him following Tian Yu’s transfer.

Material gains proved substantial:

– Tian Yu’s promised cleansing elixir

– Control of Zhang Family’s Sanglu Valley

– Impending Dynasty rewards

– Most crucially, the mother jade from Sanglu Valley’s cavern

The Immortal Master formed the Yang Family’s foundation. Any treasure that could strengthen Chen Yang’s cultivation took priority.

Back in the Forbidden Area’s main courtyard, four Yang Family members presented the mother jade to Chen Yang.

"Massive!"

Chen Yang’s eyes widened at the jade quintupling his previous son jade’s size. His spiritual senses detected intense fluctuations of spiritual energy within – pure, concentrated power.

By his calculations, absorbing this mother jade could instantly fill his inner white space, propelling him straight to the Perfected Gathering Qi Realm.

The chance for a breakthrough was within reach, yet Chen Yang didn’t hastily consume the mother jade.

Consuming such a massive object would require prolonged digestion, inevitably plunging him into deep slumber.

Combined with the necessary dormancy period for breaking through realms, this sleep would last at least a year.

If he drifted off now, both the Yang Family’s fire talisman contracts for two years and the hundred divine movement talismans promised to the Su Family would remain unfulfilled.

Moreover, Chen Yang didn’t want to awaken to find drastic changes within the Yang Family.

These youngsters had grown under his watch – while he couldn’t shield them forever, he aimed to prevent them from overtaking Yang Guanfeng’s position.

Before ingesting the jade, Chen Yang needed to prepare.

Through Thought Transmission, he informed Old Yu and Yang Lingqing about his planned year-long secluded cultivation requiring secure premises.

After deliberation, the Yang Family chose the abandoned cave beneath Sanglu Valley.

Protected by natural defenses, Sanglu Valley offered greater security than their current location.

The valley’s cave maintained stable spiritual energy flow, ideal for cultivation.

Only Zhang Family remnants needed clearing and the guarding formation reconstructing to make it usable again.

The Immortal Master’s instructions became the Yang Family’s top priority.

Upon receiving Chen Yang’s message, they mobilized immediately.

Yang Lingrui and Yang Linghu headed to Sanglu Valley to handle Zhang Family remnants, while Old Yu stationed himself at Fish Ridge River marketplace. On the market’s reopening day, he secured Liu Zihao from the formation hall for valley preparations.

One month later.

The imperial rewards arrived via Gao Hui’s personal delivery.

Four thousand spiritual crystals, a late-stage Gathering Qi superior cleansing elixir, and matching heavenly protection talisman – total value surpassing six thousand crystals!

"This far exceeds due compensation. Our Yang Family shouldn’t accept such generosity." Yang Lingqing’s suspicion grew as she inspected the haul.

The family’s total expenditure barely reached one thousand crystals, six cultivators’ deployment included. Even with all costs considered, fifteen hundred crystals marked the upper limit.

Her calculations suggested three thousand five hundred crystals as reasonable compensation. This doubled amount clearly hinted at hidden motives.

Gao Hui addressed her doubts: "You’re correct, Yang Master. Only the four thousand crystals are imperial reward. The elixir and talisman come from Lord He’s personal coffers."

"The He Family?" Yang Lingqing concealed her surprise.

Like the Su Family, the Hes were proper nobility. But where the Su Clan balanced between dynasty and sect interests, the Hes staunchly supported the throne.

This explained Su Lingyun’s leniency – her family avoided antagonizing any faction. The Hes differed completely. Their recommendation letter for Yang Lingrui and now excessive rewards clearly signaled recruitment efforts.

"What does Lord He require of us?" Worry tinged Yang Lingqing’s question.

"Understand your caution," Gao Hui reassured. "This concerns the dynasty’s grand strategy involving multiple factions. Implementation alone may take Ten Years."

Collecting himself, he added: "Your family aided me greatly. Were this treacherous, I’d never involve you. While details stay classified, this offers your clan a golden developmental opportunity!"