Although they had provoked internal strife between the Lu and Wang Clans, Su Xuanjing had never considered taking Cangwu City for herself. After all, Cangwu City was clan territory. Even if every last Lu perished, the Heavenly Dao Alliance and the Feng Clan would never allow that territory to be occupied by members of the Master-Disciple Lineage. A new clan was destined to move into that coiling dragon of a city sooner or later.
“The Heavenly Dao Alliance won’t permit us to occupy all of Cangwu City. It’s also a transmission hub for Profound‑Rank Spiritual Veins! Many small clans and sects lease Spirit Veins from the Lu Clan.” Su Xuanjing said with solemn gravity. “With our current strength, we can’t contend against a 3rd-Rate Clan.” Let alone a 3rd-Rate Clan—they couldn’t even match a slightly stronger 4th-Rate Clan. Should an opponent possess a Nascent Soul cultivator, the Chongyuan Sect would find it extremely difficult to cope.
Wei Mingyi asked, “What if it became dead land?” The System could reclaim territory, but Reclamation took time, couldn’t be interrupted, and required suppressing any Daoist of higher cultivation than her. While reclaimed land wouldn’t be granted new Spirit Veins, wouldn’t upgrade soil quality, and couldn’t even be upgraded using Achievement Points, according to the System’s introduction, once reclaimed, she would possess one hundred percent absolute control over that territory. The Lu Clan acted as a transit hub for Spirit Veins, correct? What if she directly suppressed that? Once Cangwu City became dead land, would the Heavenly Dao Alliance still care?
In keeping with the clans’ typical attitude—useless people were garbage; likewise, useless land was naturally garbage too.
While Su Xuanjing pondered Wei Mingyi’s proposal, Wu Chongyun raised her head and uttered a faint word: “Granted.” A useless territory—the clans would never specifically manage its geomancy or inject fresh vitality into it. The upper echelons of the clans would never cast their gaze here. A few breaths later, her languid voice sounded again. “Spirit Veins are the heart of a cultivation ground. Any ranked clan, whether possessing a True Vein or serving as a hub, holds a ‘Celestial Overseer Token’ bestowed by the Heavenly Dao Alliance. That’s the critical item for controlling the Spirit Vein. Acquire it.”
Wei Mingyi listened as she studied the Cheat Item’s description. Those general Reclamation details began to change as she absorbed Wu Chongyun’s words. Her knowledge increased, and the Cheat Item’s unlocked functions expanded accordingly. Wei Mingyi finally saw the conditions for Reclamation. First, the System’s energy must cover the land to be reclaimed. Second, it must consume the Celestial Overseer Token. The System’s energy wasn’t silent or invisible. Any cultivator with a higher cultivation base than hers could detect the change and interrupt it, hence the need for suppression.
This limitation fell within Wei Mingyi’s acceptable range. Essentially, her and the Chongyuan Sect’s strength dictated how much territory they could swallow. Expansion still had to proceed gradually. Otherwise, she could just reclaim the entire world directly.
Wu Chongyun added, “Clans recruit followers everywhere, binding them with the same surname. What they value most is their clan’s ancestral land.”
Her words weren’t fully explicit, but Wei Mingyi understood. A bloody showdown between the Lu and Wang Clans was unavoidable. The Wang Clan, missing one Golden Core, would likely lose to the Lu Clan. The Lu Clan wouldn’t be in great shape either by then. When their ancestral land came under attack, they’d probably assume it was a Wang Clan contingency and rush back to defend it. At that moment, they could catch the Lu Clan’s remaining forces in one fell swoop.
She glanced at Wu Chongyun, whose face was full of profound weariness, and inwardly thought: She planned this from the very start, didn’t she? If the Lu and Wang Clans still hadn’t started fighting, the next step would be to strike even deeper at their ancestors.
“I’ll go find some helpers.” After a moment of deliberation, Su Xuanjing also made up her mind.
Wei Mingyi looked at Su Xuanjing in surprise. Their sect had helpers?
Within half a day, the helpers arrived at the Chongyuan Sect.
It was a small sect called the Hidden Moon Sect, which the Sect Leader had mentioned once before. The Hidden Moon Sect’s leader was named Li Ciyun, at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. The eight disciples she brought were all at the Meridian Opening Realm. The youngest was six; the oldest was older than Wei Mingyi.
“Fellow Daoist Li has aided us many times. She’s trustworthy.” Su Xuanjing explained. In truth, many small sects existed within Cangwu City, but they rose and fell in an instant, their spirits worn down into subservience to the clans. The Hidden Moon Sect, though impoverished, had weathered storms for a century. “I made an agreement with Fellow Daoist Li to shelter her disciples in the Chongyuan Sect.” This venture was still very dangerous. These Meridian Opening disciples weren’t suited for frontline combat. Left at the Hidden Moon Sect, they might also face retaliation. Their Chongyuan Sect’s Mountain Protection Array, however, could protect these people. Yet the Mountain Protection Array was also brought by Wei Mingyi, so they had to inform her first.
“Whatever the Sect Leader decides is fine.” Wei Mingyi nodded, too lazy to bother with these trivial matters. The more people joined forces with their Chongyuan Sect, the faster their expansion. After thinking briefly, she added, “Since they’re acquainted with us, why not let them use the Meridian Opening Pool too?” The Meridian Opening Pool would remain permanently, and she would inevitably reach Foundation Establishment sooner or later; they couldn’t just leave it unused forever.
Su Xuanjing’s expression turned solemn. She stared fixedly at Wei Mingyi, grateful once more that she had been the one to bring her back from outside.
This operation targeting the Lu Clan’s destruction required everyone from Foundation Establishment upwards to set out. Wei Mingyi was only at the Meridian Opening Realm, but because she needed to reclaim Cangwu City, she had to go along. Only Mo Xuanxiao was left in the sect to care for Wu Chongyun and the Hidden Moon Sect’s cultivators.
On the eve of their departure, Wei Mingyi half-knelt before the wheelchair, tirelessly fussing: “Shizun, you mustn’t wander about aimlessly, understood?”
“If it gets boring indoors, reading some books or doing a bit of painting is also acceptable.”
“As a 4th-Rate Clan, the Lu Clan might have some valuable texts stored away. Perhaps we might even find information related to the antidote for Wither and Flourish?”
Wei Mingyi was optimistic. She was about to own Cangwu City and all the treasures the Lu Clan had accumulated over generations.
Wu Chongyun didn’t want to listen to Wei Mingyi’s nagging and wanted to push her wheelchair away, but Wei Mingyi swiftly held it in place. She shot Wei Mingyi a listless glance and uttered a single word: “Annoying.”
“I’m just worried about Shizun.” Wei Mingyi still beamed. She gazed intently at Wu Chongyun and deliberately said, “I’m only at the Meridian Opening Realm, Shizun. Aren’t you worried about me?”
Wu Chongyun lifted her eyes, focusing her gaze on Wei Mingyi’s face, adorned with a bright, enthusiastic smile. Su Xuanjing cultivated the Flawless Sword Scripture and the Divine Firmament Lightning Method. The former, though only Profound Tier, wasn’t inherently limited—she merely comprehended an incomplete sword path. The latter was a complete Earth-Tier technique of immense power when unleashed. If Su Xuanjing and the others couldn’t protect Wei Mingyi, they might as well jump off a cliff right now.
Despite thinking this, Wu Chongyun said nothing. From her Qiankun Pouch, she retrieved a golden talisman. This was known as the Golden Body Talisman, tossed into her pouch long ago, untouched for years. Suppressing the wave of disgust that came with recalling old matters, Wu Chongyun placed the Golden Body Talisman into Wei Mingyi’s hand.
Wei Mingyi sensed Wu Chongyun’s emotional shift. Without even glancing at the spiritually radiant talisman, she casually stuffed it into her sleeve and reached out to embrace Wu Chongyun, soothing her: “All the bad things are over now.” Wu Chongyun stiffened at first, then slowly, just as her attitude softened, her body relaxed as well. Resting against Wei Mingyi’s shoulder, she closed her eyes and said, “Profound‑Tier Golden Body Talisman. It can withstand a single strike from a Golden Core.”
Wei Mingyi let out a soft “Oh?” “Shizun can draw talismans?”
Wu Chongyun pursed her lips, wanting to push Wei Mingyi away, yet her body craved the warmth of that embrace.
Too weary to move, she muttered tiredly, “Stop asking.”
