Chapter 33: 033 Part 2

“The Cloud Realm has been searching for her for over a decade. Have there been any results yet?” Daoist Wu looked towards the Cloud Realm Daoist who had remained silent. “Back then, we jointly dealt with the Merciful Sword. It was the Cloud Realm that insisted on taking full responsibility. But has the matter been resolved?”

The Cloud Realm Daoist’s brows furrowed. That was the Family Head’s intention. Who dared to interfere? The relationship between the Family Head and that one had always been unclear. With a blank expression, she said, “Everyone, this is unrelated to the Chongyuan Sect we are discussing. That Chongyuan Sect posted a land sale advertisement at Yangchun Terrace. What do you all think we should do next?”

The Heavenly Dao Alliance had sent people to contact Chongyuan Sect multiple times, but never saw any trace of its members. They wanted to force their way in, but that restriction array was extremely troublesome—not only hard to break, but it would even harm the attacker. Now that Chongyuan Sect had posted a land sale notice, perhaps it was a path to make contact.

“Whether it’s true or false, we’ll know by testing it,” the Ministers returned to the main topic. “They refuse to see us; it seems they are wary of the Heavenly Dao Alliance. If we are to test them, it’s not suitable to send scions of Prosperous Clans. Or perhaps use a sect from the master-disciple lineage?” The Heavenly Dao Alliance had been operating for a long time; many sects were supported by them, attached under the Heavenly Origin Sect. On the surface, they acted like sects, but in truth, they leaned towards the Heavenly Dao Alliance.

“Use an aristocratic family. Let’s see their attitude towards the families.”

…

On the Heavenly Dao Alliance’s side, they deliberated about sending a small clan to contact Chongyuan Sect under the pretext of “buying land.”

As for Wei Mingyi, although she returned to Yangchun Terrace again a few days later, she paid no attention at all to those “land buyers,” planning to stall them. After restocking the vending machine’s pills, she acquired another copy of the Meritorious Virtue Stele from Lang Fengya. Without even looking at it, she returned to Chongyuan Sect.

The Meritorious Virtue Stele was a tablet erected by the Heavenly Dao Alliance for the Daoists who died resisting the evil tide… It held no practical use, just a performance by the Alliance. Upon hearing Lang Fengya’s words, Wei Mingyi’s interest was piqued, however. Those people died heroic deaths, and the virtue stele would allow her to recognize those external aristocratic families, which made it even more glorious.

In the small courtyard of Chongyuan Sect.

Having finished her cultivation, Wei Mingyi sat cross-legged on a rush cushion, reading the inscriptions on the Meritorious Virtue Stele. The fallen Daoists came from all four major powers, but none were from the top echelon. They were from middling families, or ones eager to earn enough Merit Points from this matter to advance their family further. Wei Mingyi had never interacted with those families and merely committed them to memory for future reference.

But as she scanned towards the bottom, Wei Mingyi suddenly uttered an “Eh?” “The Cloud Realm’s Huaxu Feng Clan, Nascent Soul Third Layer… Why does this sound vaguely familiar?”

Beside her, Wu Chongyun cast a flat glance at Wei Mingyi and said, “That’s the local Feng clan.”

Wei Mingyi’s eyes flickered. The death of a Nascent Soul Third Layer Perfected Person of the Feng clan… That was a tremendous piece of information. The Heavenly Dao Alliance’s ranking of family tiers was still very crude. Despite the Feng clan being only a third-rate family, having a Nascent Soul Third Layer cultivator in charge was a qualitative leap. One more step from Nascent Soul Third Layer, and one would be a Grotto-Heaven powerhouse—though, of course, that step was far harder than stepping from Golden Core into Nascent Soul. Regardless of the Feng family’s circumstances, the fallen Third Layer Perfected One was undeniably a top-tier powerhouse.

“The Feng clan is going to be in trouble,” Wu Chongyun said flatly. If the Feng clan had only that one Nascent Soul Third Layer Daoist, his death meant the Feng clan was no longer qualified to be a third-rate family. If the Feng clan had two… even if they could barely manage to hold the line, the families competing with them wouldn’t let this rare, golden opportunity slip by. It should be known that if a Nascent Soul Third Layer Daoist didn’t venture out, one could only wait for them to die of old age; they were not easy to kill.

Even though she knew the aristocratic families were all man-eaters, wasn’t this just too wicked? Wei Mingyi said, “His bones aren’t even cold, and his name is still on the Meritorious Virtue Stele.”

“Rules are rules,” Wu Chongyun said. “If the qualifications are insufficient, then demotion.”

Wei Mingyi thought for a moment. “Can’t they bribe their way out?” Since everything could be bought and sold, rules could also become a business matter, right?

Wu Chongyun replied, “They can buy time.” Her brows carried a hint of sarcasm. What use was bought time? It only made things worse. If they accepted their fate, it might just be a demotion. But if they looked upward, what awaited them would likely be flashing swords and shadows, ultimately leading to the family’s destruction.

Seeing Wu Chongyun’s expression, Wei Mingyi understood that buying time wasn’t anything good. Looking at the family’s state, she felt a little pity for the Feng clan.

But apologies aside, she had her own path to walk. She could only take advantage of the chaos. She said seriously, “The Wang and Zheng Clans are both subordinate to the Feng clan. Once the Feng clan is too preoccupied to manage things, it means our opportunity has arrived.” With different Dao convictions, in the end, it could only be a fight to the death. Chongyuan Sect was growing in the cracks; they had to seize the moment!

Wu Chongyun said slowly, “Fellow Daoist Feng.”

After the Lu clan’s downfall in Cangwu City, Feng Cangcang hadn’t returned to the Feng clan. And the Feng clan, naturally, didn’t care about a non-direct line person like Feng Cangcang. Foundation Establishment Third Layer wasn’t considered rare in the Feng clan.

Wei Mingyi’s eyes lit up. She immediately wanted to send Feng Cangcang to the Feng clan to gather information. But Feng Cangcang was already a member of their Chongyuan Sect. Whether she was willing or not depended on Feng Cangcang herself.

Her heart burning with desire for Langya and Xingyang, Wei Mingyi scrambled to her feet and rushed to Wu Chongyun’s side. Grabbing her wrist, she pulled her along to see the Sect Leader.

A meeting! A meeting for their great enterprise!

Chongyuan Hall was cold and deserted.

Su Xuanjing wasn’t there.

Wei Mingyi asked Meng Bujue, who was yawning, and learned that the Sect Leader had gone to Spirit Heart Sect to help. They had only exchanged a few words when the sound of a sword cry rang out. Su Xuanjing, brushing off her Dharma robe, emerged from the dazzling sword light. Sword intent lingered around her, and besides that, there was an aura of violent blood and slaughter.

Wu Chongyun asked lightly, “Ran into enemies?”

Su Xuanjing nodded. In a few brief words, she explained what had happened. She said, “The Wang Clan really can’t let go. They found Spirit Heart Sect and tried to forcefully take Little Friend Ying. Our two sects are on good terms; we’re both of the master-disciple lineage, so we dealt with them conveniently.”

“In that case, will the Wang Clan turn their gaze to Cangwu City?” Meng Bujue asked worriedly.

“It probably doesn’t matter,” Wei Mingyi said, her expression animated. “That Wang Clan is newly formed. They don’t even have a Nascent Soul cultivator. At worst, we just deal with them directly. With the Sect Leader’s strength, there’s no need to fear any Wang or Zheng Clan.”

Meng Bujue said, “And the Feng clan?” What she worried about was the backing behind those two clans.

“Perfect timing. There’s a piece of news,” Wei Mingyi blinked, handing the Meritorious Virtue Stele inscription to Su Xuanjing. She said, “The Huaxu Feng Clan’s Nascent Soul Third Layer died while resisting the evil tide. He may have been killed by wraiths, or murdered by enemies. In any case, let’s first observe three breaths of silence for the Perfected Person Feng.”

As she spoke, Wei Mingyi clasped her hands together and rested them against her chin, closing her eyes in prayer. Three breaths later, she opened her eyes and declared, “The Feng clan can’t look after themselves. This is the perfect time for us to act. Sect Leader, while we’re at it, let’s take Langya and Xingyang!” Only with no enemies eyeing them covetously from their flank would Chongyuan Sect be even a little bit safer.

Su Xuanjing rubbed her forehead. She glared at Wei Mingyi and said, exasperated, “You think it’s like chopping vegetables!”

“Shizun, what do you think?” Wei Mingyi turned her head to look at Wu Chongyun, who had quietly leaned against her.

Wu Chongyun’s eyes remained lowered as she said, “An opportunity missed will not come again.”

Wei Mingyi blinked and said, “But given Shizun’s condition, it’s inconvenient for her to act.” Counting Spirit Heart Sect’s Sect Leader Qi Wugua, their side had two and a half Golden Cores—the Assistant Master was an alchemist, hard to consider a full combatant. As for Shizun… the Spirit-Restoring Pill had suppressed the poison, but it only made her feel slightly better.

Wu Chongyun added, “Use another’s blade to kill.”

Wei Mingyi was taken aback. Her mind raced, and she quickly understood. The Wang Clan had come for Ying Shen’gao, a disciple of exceptional talent the Wang Clan didn’t want to let go. Then what about the Zheng Clan? Didn’t they want her too? If Ying Shen’gao were to feign joining the Zheng Clan, wouldn’t that pit the Zheng Clan against the Wang Clan? But there was another possibility: neither had forgotten the previous examples. Both the Zheng Clan and the Wang Clan might just wash their hands of the matter. Wei Mingyi voiced her concerns.

“The Heavenly Dao Alliance has methods to transplant innate constitutions, Golden Cores, and even Nascent Souls, but the recipient either must have been tempered with drugs since childhood, or have considerable talent themselves and just need accelerated progress. If the Feng clan chooses to forcibly push someone to the Third Layer, then the vacancies for subsequent Nascent Soul and even Golden Core positions must also be filled. No matter who they choose, right now is when the Feng clan most needs manpower.”

Both the Wang and Zheng Clans were affiliated forces of the Feng clan. If they wanted sufficient resources to advance further, they had to gain the Feng clan’s favor no matter what. It wasn’t a matter of not fighting or vying. Among aristocratic families, if others advance and you don’t follow suit, that’s equivalent to retreating. Pressured by all these circumstances, even if they knew there was a cliff ahead, they’d have to steel themselves and charge forward.

Wei Mingyi suppressed the smile on her face.

Although they could profit from this matter, a bone-chilling, tooth-clattering sense of dread still arose.

Ahead, it seemed a giant beast’s maw gaped wide.

Either eat others, or be eaten.

“Suppose we take Langya and Xingyang. After the families competing with the Feng clan reach a conclusion, will they, along with the Heavenly Dao Alliance, let us off?” Su Xuanjing’s expression was serious. They couldn’t just look at short-term gains.

Wei Mingyi also began to worry.

They couldn’t engineer another “dead zone” incident, could they? The Heavenly Dao Alliance might not fall for it again.

Reclaimed land wouldn’t change ownership, and there was no Mountain Protection Array there. If only they could expand Chongyuan Sect’s grand array outward.

Wei Mingyi thought to herself, and glanced at her golden finger again.

Following that, a upgradeable “+” appeared behind the Mountain Protection Array.

Chongyuan Sect’s Mountain Protection Array had no quality grade, but it could be expanded outward. Enveloping Cangwu City within the array would require twenty thousand Achievement Points. Based on this price, unifying the three cities would cost sixty thousand!

Wei Mingyi couldn’t help but sharply draw a cold breath.

It seemed the prerequisites had been met, and the upgrade conditions were revealed, but where was she supposed to get that many Achievement Points?

It was now February. After buying the vending machine, her remaining Achievement Points were only nine thousand three hundred!

Wu Chongyun said, casually and calmly, “By the time everything concludes, it will be around the start of the Heavenly Dao’s Paragon Debate among the families. The Heavenly Dao Alliance and the major clans will have no time to worry about a fourth-rate family.”

The Heavenly Dao’s Paragon Debate? Wei Mingyi was stunned. She thought for a moment before remembering that the Assistant Master had mentioned it to her. It was a grand event for the families of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, a very likely opportunity to find the medicine her Shizun needed. But the requirement to participate in the competition was Foundation Establishment cultivation! She had made little progress these past months. If it came down to it, she would have to add points. She absolutely didn’t want to miss the Heavenly Dao’s Paragon Debate.

Dragging her thoughts back from the distant Paragon Debate, Wei Mingyi’s eyes grew resolute. She said, “To refuse what heaven offers brings calamity upon oneself!”

With the right time, advantageous geography, and harmonious human relations, she was determined to take those two cities!