Generally speaking, the Northern Alliance was made up of many factions and itinerant cultivators in the northern part of the East Sea. Other than Heaven's Origin City, the heart of the Northern Alliance, there were eighteen large factions, thirty-six medium-sized factions, and seventy-two small factions under the Northern Alliance's jurisdiction. These were the branches of the giant tree that was the Northern Alliance. They and Heaven's Origin City, where the headquarters of the Northern Alliance was located, worked together to control the northern part of the East Sea.
The House of Li was one of the weakest among the thirty-six mid-sized forces. The Northern Alliance's forces had their own standards. Generally speaking, if a force wanted to become one of the eighteen major forces, it needed to have at least one Dharma Adept, Laozu. A mid-stage Core Forging Enlightened Master was the lowest mark of a mid-sized force. Even a small force needed at least one Core Forging Enlightened Master to raise their flag.
Li Xiuzhu had advanced to the Core Forging stage in the past two years, and Chu Ting had joined the Li Clan after she advanced to the Core Forging stage. The Li Clan's strength had increased by a lot, and their position on the three clans' island had also been consolidated. However, the Li Clan's strength was still at the bottom of the 36 medium-sized clans. Many small clans had already surpassed the Li Clan in terms of the number of Core Forging Enlightened Masters and overall strength. After this Elixir Gathering, the Li Clan would not be able to pass the Northern Alliance's strength certification, and they would give up their position as a medium-sized clan for them to compete for.
Every hundred years, the Northern Alliance would use the occasion of the Northern Alliance's founding celebration to hold a competition among the major factions. At that time, the three factions would choose to compete in alchemy, crafting weapons, formations, or talismans. Then, the ranking of each faction would be evaluated based on the overall strength they had developed over the past hundred years. After each competition, the last three major factions would automatically be demoted to middle-sized factions, and the top three mid-sized factions would replace them. Similarly, the last six mid-sized factions would be replaced by the strongest six small-sized factions. As for the last twelve small-sized factions, the major factions of the Northern Alliance would choose from among the unranked factions in the North Sea.
The Li Family was ranked 29th out of the 36 mid-sized forces last time, just next to the six eliminated mid-sized forces. They were one of the 'hot' candidates to be demoted to a small-sized force this time.
When Lu Ping arrived at the foot of Qianyuan Mountain in the middle of Qianyuan City, the Li Family's Patriarch, Li Maolin, and Li Xiuzhu were already waiting there. Lu Ping went up to greet Li Maolin. Li Maolin laughed and said, "Niece Chu Ting is ill, so she won't be able to come and enjoy the competition."
Lu Ping nodded expressionlessly. Lu Ping clearly understood that it was naturally because of yesterday's matter that the two of them had become enemies. Naturally, out of sight, out of mind. Obviously, Li Maolin already knew about this matter. Li Xiuzhu glanced at Lu Ping and saw him following behind Li Maolin expressionlessly towards the towering Qianyuan Mountain. After thinking for a while, he didn't say anything in the end. He silently followed behind Lu Ping with Chi Lianying.
"Isn't this Brother Li of the Sanjia Island? You've come to the Elixir Gathering early this time! "A middle-aged scholar with three strands of long beard slowly came from the side with a few people.
"Oh, it's Brother Shangguan. Brother Shangguan is representing your family this time. I'm afraid that you're determined to promote your family to a mid-sized force, right? My Li Family can't be compared to the Shangguan Family. Who knows, maybe this Elixir Gathering will be replaced by Brother Shangguan's family. Coming early is just like a clumsy bird flying early. "
Li Maolin's complexion slightly changed when he saw the people who had come. However, he still went up to greet them and chatted wittily and wittily with them.
"Brother Li's family is also not bad. I heard that two years ago, my niece and one of the family's consecrators both advanced to the Core Forging Stage. The strength of Brother Li's family has greatly improved. I wonder which alchemy expert Brother Li invited to participate in this Elixir Gathering?"
Li Maolin only brought a few people with him. The eyes of the Shangguan Clan's Patriarch only lingered on Lu Ping and Chi Lianying.
"It's just a little help. After all, both of them have just advanced and are women. They can't be compared to Shangguan Hao. I heard that his cultivation has reached the second layer of the Core Forging Realm. Now, he is taking care of the family affairs for Shangguan Hao."
"Uncle Li, you flatter me. I'm just doing odd jobs for my father." A handsome young man behind the Shangguan Clan's Patriarch, whose eyes hadn't left Li Xiuzhu since the beginning, hastily replied respectfully.
Li Xiuzhu couldn't help but frown when he saw this person.
"Brother Li, have you considered the matter I mentioned to you last time?" The Master of the Shangguan Family asked with a smile that concealed a dagger, "My son and Brother Li's daughter are a match made in heaven. Their families are well-matched. This time, our Shangguan Family is determined to become one of the 36 mid-sized families. When the time comes, our families will join hands. Even if Brother Li's family is reduced to a small-sized family, the Zhang Family and the Wang Family of the Three Families Island won't dare to do anything."
Li Maolin muttered, "Brother Shangguan, are you sure you can become a medium-sized clan this time?"
"Of course!" The Shangguan Clan's Patriarch said confidently, "Our Shangguan Clan has five Core Forging Stage cultivators and two Mid Core Forging Stage cultivators. It can be said that our Shangguan Clan has already reached the standard of a medium-sized clan. The only thing we lack is the status of the Elixir Gathering. Furthermore, our Shangguan Clan is fortunate enough to invite Master Yue to help us.
The Shangguan Clan's Patriarch pointed at an arrogant old man behind him and introduced him to Li Maolin.
Li Maolin's expression changed, and he asked in surprise, "Are you Old Mister Yue, Yue Jiangrui?"
When the arrogant old man heard Li Maolin, who was a Core Forging Enlightened Master, address him as "Mister", he nodded his head in satisfaction, but didn't say anything.
When Li Xiuzhu, who was standing beside Lu Ping, heard the Shangguan Clan's Patriarch talking about the marriage between the two clans, his expression turned gloomy, as if he was unwilling to do so. When he heard the name "Yue Jiangrui", his face was filled with surprise.
Lu Ping didn't know Yue Jiangrui's background. Chi Lianying, who was standing beside him, explained in a low voice, "Yue Jiangrui has been practicing alchemy for more than a hundred years. He's always been one step away from becoming an Alchemist Master because he's never been able to break through to the Core Forging Stage. However, he's quite famous in the Northern Alliance because he's refined dozens of half-step Core Forging Stage pills. His success rate is even higher than some Alchemist Masters. Therefore, he's always considered as the number one alchemist below Alchemist Masters."
When Lu Ping heard this, he was quite surprised. Lu Ping had refined less than ten kinds of half-step Core Forging Stage pills. He couldn't be mentioned in the same breath as Yue Jiangrui.
Li Maolin thought for a moment and then said, "Marriage, although it is decided by the parents, but whether the two people are in love with each other is more important. If Nephew Shangguan can win my daughter's heart, I have nothing to say. However, this time, my Li Clan might be able to keep our position as one of the 36 clans. "
When the Shangguan Clan's Patriarch heard this, his expression changed. No one saw Li Xiuzhu's expression just now. Li Maolin's words were a clear rejection of the marriage between the two clans.
At this moment, Yue Jiangrui, who had been standing beside the Shangguan Clan's Patriarch, pointed at Lu Ping and suddenly said, "Patriarch Li, are you relying on this brat for the Alchemy Gathering?"
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