Chapter 12: 012

With her cultivation too low, Wei Mingyi could only stay cooped up in the sect, quietly cultivating and waiting for those mysteriously granted Achievement Points.

Within Cangwu City, everything appeared normal on the surface. But in reality, with the arrival of the Heavenly Dao Alliance Deacon, dark currents surged within the Lu Clan, and peace was a thing of the past.

The Deacon from the Feng Clan had given Feng Cangcang face by visiting the Lu Family first, but had disappeared the very next day. The Lu Family wanted to detain her but lacked the ability.

Anxious over the outcome of the June Review on one hand and preoccupied with the Chongyuan Sect matter on the other, the Lu Family Patriarch and Elders could only follow their earlier plan and probe Feng Cangcang for information.

Feng Cangcang was the most outstanding child this fourth-rate Lu Family had produced. However, she hadn’t been sent to the Feng Clan in her youth, but left home at the age of twenty—fifteen years ago now. Her cultivation was at the Foundation Establishment 3rd Layer, with Golden Core formation just within reach.

“Did the Deacon reveal anything?” The Elders asked impatiently the moment they saw Feng Cangcang.

“What do the Elders mean?” Feng Cangcang raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance.

The Lu Clan’s primary concern was still the June Review, but before that, they recounted the Chongyuan Sect incident to Feng Cangcang. The Lu Clan Patriarch, Lu Chunqiu, said, “Our Cangwu City has already cut off Chongyuan Sect’s spirit vein supply. Yet last time we went to Chongyuan Sect, we saw the mountain gate filled with spiritual energy. I suspect another power has intervened. Besides the Feng Family, only the Wang and Zheng Clans, who are in competition with our Lu Family, could possibly do this. Have you heard any rumors?”

Chongyuan Sect? A strange look flashed in Feng Cangcang’s eyes, and the figure of a free-spirited swordswoman suddenly appeared in her mind, flickering into existence and vanishing just as quickly. She lowered her eyes and said flatly, “No.”

Lu Chunqiu was somewhat dissatisfied with this answer, but since Feng Cangcang claimed ignorance, he could extract no more. Putting on an act of a loving father, he asked again, “Has life in the Feng Clan been to your liking?”

Feng Cangcang’s expression remained calm, yet her heart was full of scorn. Comfortable? What difference did it make if it wasn’t? Ultimately, they were just tools. Except for the Direct Line Branch of the Feng Clan, everyone else lived like dogs. Even if a certain figure took a liking to you, it just meant you were a slightly better dog. She knew what Lu Chunqiu truly wanted to ask. No longer willing to beat around the bush with him, she said directly, “The Zheng Clan’s tribute exceeds that of the Lu Clan. As for the Wang Clan, although their tribute isn’t much, their disciple within the Feng Clan has been taken away by a big figure above the Feng Family.”

Above the third-rate Feng Clan could only be the Prosperous Clans that directly interacted with the Yun Clan of Cloud Realm! Lu Chunqiu’s eyelid twitched violently. He had dealings with people from the Feng Clan, but those further above were beyond his reach.

Even reaching the Nascent Soul realm himself was useless. The entire family had to cross that threshold together—having three Nascent Soul cultivators, with at least one at the 3rd Layer—before they could even hope to come into contact with such lofty existences. And achieving that goal was almost impossible for the Lu Family alone.

They needed to continuously send outstanding family offspring to higher-ranked families over centuries, then wait for them to advance, and finally for them to choose to restore their original surname and return home. But first, who knew if the higher families would allow it? And among those sent away, how many would willingly return? Only those just a hair’s breadth from the third-rate standard had a chance to rise.

Unable to reach that level of cultivator himself, one could only pin hopes on the younger generation. Now, hearing that a rival had sped ahead, Lu Chunqiu lost control of his emotions. Veins bulged on his face, twisting it into a terrifying grimace. That Wang Clan disciple entering a second-rate family also meant one thing: in this June Review, regardless of what happened, the Feng Clan would have to give the Wang Clan a First Rank rating. And with the Zheng Clan’s tribute exceeding the Lu Family’s, they would likely also rank above them!

“When you were taken by the Feng Clan, weren’t your cultivations roughly equal? How is it that he got noticed by a higher family and you didn’t?” Lu Chunqiu asked through gritted teeth. The situations of the Lu, Wang, and Zheng Clans were quite similar—the weakest among the fourth-rate families, none having an old ancestor alive, with the highest cultivation being the Golden Core 3rd Layer. Precisely because they were so evenly matched in every aspect, the inability to tolerate one pulling ahead burned even fiercer.

Feng Cangcang knew Lu Chunqiu was cursing her for being useless, yet her emotions were completely untouched. She said, “The unusual circumstances at Chongyuan Sect must be investigated. I’ll make a trip.”

Being ignored caused Lu Chunqiu to feel even more stifled. He glared at Feng Cangcang, barely managing to retrieve a sliver of reason. He knew Feng Cangcang was his daughter, but apart from blood ties, they had no relationship left. After being sent to the Feng Clan, she had even changed her surname to “Feng,” considered a member of the Feng Family. He said coldly, “Then go.”

Feng Cangcang nodded and said, “Yes.”

Three days later, Feng Cangcang arrived outside Chongyuan Sect’s mountain gate.

At this moment, within the sect, only Wei Mingyi, Wu Chongyun, and Mo Xuanxiao were available to meet someone.

A guest like Feng Cangcang should be received by the Assistant Master, but Hua Xiaozhu was out struggling to make ends meet. And as for Wu Chongyun… expecting anything from her was even more hopeless.

“Are we just ignoring her?” Wei Mingyi asked Mo Xuanxiao. Although the visitor was blocked outside the mountain gate, her voice could still enter.

With the Mountain Protection Array active, there was no worry about her forcing entry disrespectfully.

Mo Xuanxiao waved her pipe around irritably. She would much rather spend all day facing soil and plants than deal with people.

“I think we should still go take a look,” Wei Mingyi said again. “At least talking will give us some idea of what they’re plotting.” As long as they didn’t step outside the mountain gate, no one could hit her.

“I’ll look after the Assistant Master; you go,” Mo Xuanxiao quickly delegated.

Wei Mingyi looked at her, wanting to say something but hesitating. Finally, under Mo Xuanxiao’s suspicious gaze, she said, “Then Senior Sister, please don’t smoke in front of Shizun.”

Mo Xuanxiao gritted her teeth: “It’s medicine.”

Wei Mingyi: “Oh.”

A small matter like going out for a look was still within Wei Mingyi’s capabilities.

Hands clasped behind her back, she strolled leisurely down the mountain stairs, all the way to outside the mountain gate.

Ding. Her eyelid twitched.

As long as they had two eyes, a nose, and a mouth, nothing was special.

Wei Mingyi, having stopped in her tracks, was staring intently at her panel.

She clicked her tongue.

She’d been waiting for pie to fall from the sky, but receiving Achievement Points was indeed unexpected.

An achievement named “It Is Always a Pleasure to Greet a Friend from Afar” flashed by. Her Achievement Points immediately increased by one hundred.

【Achievement Points: 100

Talent Points: 3

Assets: Chongyuan Sect (Spirit Vein · Yellow, Meridian Opening Pool · Yellow, Upgradable)】

Wei Mingyi lifted her hand, pretending to tap on the panel in midair.

With a sigh, she remarked, “Wei Mingyi, you’re quite wealthy now!”

Cheerfully adjusting her sleeves, Wei Mingyi only then began to engage her brain.

“It Is Always a Pleasure to Greet a Friend from Afar”—

So this person was actually a good person?

After all, the previous Lu Clan visitors hadn’t triggered any achievements at all.

Putting on a formal front, she performed a standard Daoist salutation and said with a smile, “May I ask who you are?”

“Feng Cangcang.” Feng Cangcang returned the greeting and added, “Fifteen years ago, I once discussed the Dao with Sect Leader Su. Having some free time recently, I came specially to visit.”

Wei Mingyi suddenly understood.

Surname Feng? The Feng Clan ranked above the Lu Family. This person had previously claimed to be from the Lu Family but now bore the Feng surname; probably because of decent talent, she had been sent to the Feng Family to be raised.

The struggle for the Dao between the families and Master-Disciple lineages was truly baffling.