Chapter 16: 016

The Heavenly Dao Alliance’s June Review for clans officially began in June, but it often took a month or even longer for the evaluation, as long as the final results were delivered before year’s end.

The conflict between the Lu and Wang Clans was already apparent, but the situation hadn’t escalated to a point requiring the Feng Clan’s attention. Moreover, by slipping some benefits into the hands of the Feng Clan Deacon dispatched by the Heavenly Dao Alliance, she naturally saw nothing at all. Nominally a matter between the Lu and Wang Clans, the Feng Deacon clearly also wanted a share of the pie and allowed the situation to unfold.

Langya City, Wang Clan Land.

The Wang family members wore grim expressions. The Wangs had been mining Azure Dye Sand for decades without the Lüs doing anything. Why bring trouble now? When they asked for a reason, the Lu Clan’s responses were all insinuating and ambiguous—utterly baffling.

“Either we concede benefits to the Lu Clan, or we request the Feng Clan to pressure the Lu Clan. Given the Young Master’s standing, the Feng Clan will help us once, but it won’t be gratuitous. What they demand might not be any less than what the Lu Clan wants.” The Wang Elder frowned deeply, fully aware of the situation they faced.

“If we could find a replacement for Azure Dye Sand—”

“We won’t find one quickly. We can only continue negotiating.”

“The Lu Clan uses Azure Dye Sand to restrain us. Can’t we cut off the Lu Clan’s raw materials for refining Thunderfire Golden Pills?”

“The moment we do that, the conflict will ignite and spiral out of control. I think that old bastard Lu Chunqiu is just venting his resentment. Although the June Review has only just begun, the outcome is already obvious.” The Wang Elder continued, “One of our clan’s descendants has caught the eye of a 2nd-Rate Clan—a Prosperous Clan, no less! How many people live their whole lives without ever glimpsing a single scion of a Prosperous Clan? Yet our child is becoming a member of one! In the Heavenly Dao Alliance’s evaluation, the Wang Clan cannot possibly sink lower. As for the Zheng Clan… they’re wealthy and extravagant. The Lu Clan will end up at the very bottom.”

Just as the Wang Elders gathered to discuss matters, the Wang Clan Patriarch suddenly received a transmitted message. One glance, and his expression drastically changed, dark as an approaching storm. Crushing the communication Dharma Talisman in his grip, he ground his teeth furiously. “Lu Chunqiu!”

The Elders’ hearts jolted with alarm. Hadn’t they just said Lu Chunqiu wouldn’t go that far? What caused this sudden shift? “Patriarch, what happened?”

The Wang Clan Patriarch took a deep breath and spat, “The Azure Dye Sand vein was destroyed by Thunderfire Golden Pills!” He had no more patience to discuss matters with his clansmen, rushing off in a streak of light towards the Azure Dye Sand location. The conflict with the Lu Clan had halted their Azure Dye Sand mining for this period. Who could have imagined this halt would be permanent?! Azure Dye Sand was the central resource of the Wang Clan disciples’ cultivation. For the Lu Clan to do this was to sever the future of their Wang Clan!

Upon reaching the vein, the Wang Clan Patriarch stared at the collapsed ruins, a chill surging up from within. Furious beyond containing his rage, he charged into Cangwu City’s territory, his hawk-like gaze sweeping over the smoke-wreathed broken stones. The lingering Spiritual Energy still swirled nearby. That aura was unmistakably from “Thunderfire Golden Pills”!

“The Lu Clan owes us an explanation! Let’s go demand an accounting from Lu Chunqiu!” a Wang Elder roared in fury.

“No.” The Wang Clan Patriarch coldly uttered a single word. His gaze suddenly fixed on one direction, sinister and low. “Thunderstone.” That was an indispensable precious material for refining Thunderfire Golden Pills!

By the time the Lu Clan received the news regarding the Azure Dye Sand’s destruction, half a shichen had already passed.

Lu Chunqiu was rather shocked by the news. First came a wave of schadenfreude, but then his brows furrowed deeply. “This is karma. It has nothing to do with us. We must prevent the Wangs from pinning this on us.”

The messenger’s heart turned cold. With a strained voice, he said, “What destroyed the Azure Dye Sand was Thunderfire Golden Pills.”

“What?” Lu Chunqiu’s eyes bulged, his scalp instantly tingling. He knew what Azure Dye Sand meant. If the Wang Clan believed the Lu Clan did this, all the previously negotiated terms would be voided. The Wangs would absolutely tear off all pretenses with them. At that moment, Lu Chunqiu cared nothing for face and urgently wanted to clarify with the Wang Clan. But before he could contact them, another terrible piece of news arrived from his own people. A Thunderstone vein within Cangwu City had been destroyed by Wang Clan Daoists! They had stormed into Cangwu City aggressively, even killing people!

“Cangcang, send word to the Feng Clan! The Wangs have killed my clansmen. The Feng Clan cannot be partial!” Lu Chunqiu ordered Feng Cangcang darkly.

Feng Cangcang lowered her eyes, a flicker in their depths, and feigned compliance. The Heaven Alliance Steward who accompanied her—a member of the Feng Clan herself—had a weakness: she could scarcely resist the lure of treasures. Once the Wang Clan resolved to act, they would surely bribe her. Therefore, news from here would never reach the Feng Clan. As for the various shops under the Heavenly Dao Alliance’s banner in the city, which ones were truly the Alliance’s? They were merely fronts to facilitate the Alliance’s fee collection.

At the Chongyuan Sect.

Hua Xiaozhu had returned unscathed after destroying the “Azure Dye Sand” vein.

There were Daoists outside keeping watch on the Chongyuan Sect, but how could their meager abilities possibly track a Golden Core cultivator?

“Finally, the Lu and Wang Clans can tear off all pretenses.” Wei Mingyi heard Hua Xiaozhu’s report, her eyes gleaming brightly.

“Best if they both suffer, giving our Chongyuan Sect room to breathe.” A smile also surfaced on Hua Xiaozhu’s face. All these years, the Chongyuan Sect had been suppressed by the clans. Seeing the Lu Clan suffer was deeply gratifying.

The Chongyuan Sect Daoists all appeared pleased, until Wu Chongyun wearily uttered two words: “Not enough.”

Wei Mingyi’s smile vanished: “Hmm?”

Wu Chongyun withdrew a manual and handed it to Hua Xiaozhu. She said, “Master the Great Tablet Shattering Hand. Kill the Wang Clan Golden Core.” Azure Dye Sand wasn’t irreplaceable—merely the most suitable material obtainable at minimal cost to the Wang Clan. Their clan cultivated the Dao of painting… Thinking of those names, Wu Chongyun suddenly halted. A sharp, piercing pain wracked her Nascent Soul.

Hua Xiaozhu’s eyelid twitched.

She knew the “Great Tablet Shattering Hand” was a Yellow-Tier technique practiced by Lu Clan disciples. For a 4th-Rate Clan, possessing a few Yellow-Tier Daoist manuals was already an immense stroke of luck; many clans practiced techniques that didn’t even rank.

But her talent lay solely in alchemy. Offensive, combat-oriented techniques, even Yellow-Tier manuals, were extremely difficult for her to learn.

So, what Wu Chongyun meant was to wait for the Sect Leader to emerge from seclusion and have her learn this technique.

“How is Shizun feeling?” Wei Mingyi had no interest in Yellow-Tier techniques. If she was going to cultivate, she’d cultivate the best. She had been observing Wu Chongyun’s expression the whole time. Seeing her knitted brows and her already pale complexion turning, if possible, even paler, anxiety shot through her heart.

Wu Chongyun had no desire to answer, but upon looking up and meeting Wei Mingyi’s gaze brimming with concern, she paused, then finally explained: “It’s nothing. Just thinking of old matters.”

These old matters were clearly unpleasant, or she wouldn’t wear that expression. Wei Mingyi mused to herself, but didn’t press further. Instead, she smiled brightly. “Then, Shizun, why not think of me instead?”

Sensing a gaze land on her, Wei Mingyi’s earlobes heated inexplicably. She added calmly, “I’m only at the Meridian Opening First Layer. I need Shizun’s guidance.”

Mo Xuanxiao asked, “Then, Junior Sister, why is your face red?”

Wei Mingyi blinked, speaking with unwavering conviction: “I’m ashamed that at twenty-six, I’ve only opened three Qi Meridians. Such progress, not even matching a mere child in pigtails.”

Mo Xuanxiao sighed along with her: “The beginning is easy, but it gets harder the further you go.” It had taken her many years to open her twenty-eight Qi Meridians too.

Wei Mingyi scowled.

She wasn’t going to finish the Meridian Opening First Layer only by seventy or eighty, was she?

Oh, never mind. She had her Cheat Item; she could just add points.