Since they planned to use Ying Shen’gao as bait and have Feng Cangcang gather intelligence, they naturally needed the consent of both individuals. Feng Cangcang was present during Chongyuan Sect’s discussion. She didn’t say much. Only after Su Xuanjing and the others had discussed a comprehensive plan did she say in a deep voice, “I will return to the Feng clan.” She only had Foundation Establishment cultivation and wasn’t from the Feng clan’s direct line. Her disappearance would at most cause a minor ripple; no one would care, and certainly, no one would imagine she had joined Chongyuan Sect.
As for Spirit Heart Sect, Su Xuanjing personally went there to discuss with Qi Wugua. Spirit Heart Sect had recently established its mountain and opened its sect. Qi Wugua had already brought back all the disciples she had previously placed in hiding somewhere. The current Spirit Heart Sect was much livelier than Chongyuan Sect. However, among the group, Qi Wugua still valued the most talented Ying Shen’gao above all.
After listening to Su Xuanjing’s words, Qi Wugua looked hesitant. She feared Ying Shen’gao getting caught up in the affair and not being able to extricate herself easily. If anything happened to Ying Shen’gao, Spirit Heart Sect’s future would be severed, and she would have failed the heavy trust of her Senior Sister, the former Sect Leader. But if they didn’t seize the opportunity, the Wang clan had already found them and was pressing step by step. They couldn’t rely on Chongyuan Sect’s help for everything.
Su Xuanjing understood her concerns and didn’t press her for an immediate answer. After all, dealing with two aristocratic families wasn’t something that could be done in a day or two. But just as she was about to return to Chongyuan Sect, Ying Shen’gao stepped forward. Her eyes were sharp and determined, her face showing unshakable resolve. “I’m willing!” Cangwu City was a “dead zone.” The power of the Heavenly Dao Alliance here was indeed not strong, but that didn’t mean Spirit Heart Sect could rest easy.
The Langya Wang Clan could enter Cangwu City without any difficulty. With Spirit Heart Sect’s strength, they couldn’t withstand those people. They had magical artifacts and restriction arrays as support, but could they hole up in their mountain gate forever without leaving? Rather than cowering in one spot, it was better to risk it all! If Chongyuan Sect’s plan succeeded, there would be no nearby family forces to threaten them, making it perfect for Spirit Heart Sect to recuperate and grow.
“Fellow Daoist Qi, there’s no need to worry. Since we’re prepared to act, we will do our utmost to devise a foolproof plan,” Su Xuanjing said, looking at Qi Wugua. She greatly admired Ying Shen’gao’s decisiveness. Given her talent, reviving Spirit Heart Sect was indeed a foreseeable goal. The current situation for the master-disciple lineage was precarious. It wasn’t a question of whether you wanted to fight; the moment you stopped, only death and disintegration awaited.
Since things had already come this far, Qi Wugua naturally had no reason to refuse. She exhaled a breath and said, “I shall follow your arrangements, fellow Daoist.”
Su Xuanjing said gently, “There’s no rush. Fellow Daoist, continue your own cultivation as before. The Wang Clan might send people again. Stall them for now.”
Langya City.
After the Daoists sent to Spirit Heart Sect remained unreturned for a long time, the Wang Clan elder went to the ancestral hall. Indeed, he saw that the person’s Life Plaque was shattered. At this sight, the elder flew into a great rage. But before he could act, dissenting voices arose.
These hastily assembled “Wang Clansmen” weren’t actually one family. Among them were branch lineages of the former Wang Clan, and also those who had changed their surname from others, forcibly grouped together. Although they worshipped the ancestors of the Langya Wang Clan, some harbored thoughts of restoring their original surnames. Hearts could never be united as one. This led to disagreements among the elders on various matters.
For instance, regarding Ying Shen’gao, some thought they should treat her with courtesy and respect, so she would remember their kindness in the future. Others felt there was no need for such trouble; they should just capture the Daoist directly and bring her into the Wang Clan. There were plenty of methods to alter her thoughts. The latter faction acted extremely quickly and had already attempted a seizure once. Though they failed, they had severely wounded Qi Wugua. The Wang Clan member who had been killed was also from this faction, sent to Spirit Heart Sect.
After their own man was killed, this faction was naturally unwilling to accept it, itching to bring their forces and massacre Spirit Heart Sect. But voices of dissuasion rose: “Everyone, don’t forget that there’s still a master-disciple lineage sect in Cangwu City that hasn’t moved away. How could Spirit Heart Sect establish itself so quickly without their involvement? The master-disciple lineage has always been united.”
Upon hearing this, that elder’s aggressive momentum subsided. Chongyuan Sect had two Golden Core Perfected Persons, plus Spirit Heart Sect’s Qi Wugua—Langya City had no advantage.
“We want to make them one of our own, not create an enemy,” that elder continued calmly. “Why not treat them with courtesy and entice them with benefits?” This plan negated the previous actions of the elders. When negotiating peace with Spirit Heart Sect, that faction would inevitably have to go along to offer apologies. But how could that elder be willing to lose face? He immediately started arguing with the one who proposed it. Thus, they no longer had the attention to spare for the dead Wang Clan disciple.
At this time, Feng Cangcang returned to the Huaxu Feng family.
She hadn’t shown her face for years. Although the Feng clan members didn’t care whether she lived or died, seeing her return safely still prompted questions. Feng Cangcang had also prepared her explanation. During the conflict between the Wang and Lu Clans, she had been severely wounded by the Wang Clan members and had been hiding in a corner recovering from her injuries all this time, only daring to show herself after healing. And as soon as her freedom of movement was restored, she had rushed back to the Feng family at the first opportunity.
The Feng clan members didn’t think much of it and believed Feng Cangcang’s words. After all, Feng Cangcang had previously been from the Lu clan’s direct line. Being injured by the Wang Clan while helping the Lu family during their conflict was perfectly logical. But the Wang Clan’s actions had, after all, offended the Feng clan’s face. The moment Feng Cangcang joined the Feng clan, she became one of their people. However, the former Wang Clan was no more, so the Feng clan had no place to vent their anger.
“Feng Cangcang, remember this: you are a member of my Feng clan,” the Feng Clan elder said, gazing deeply at Feng Cangcang, her eyes carrying a strong warning. The elder had previously valued Feng Cangcang, but after Feng Cangcang disappeared, she had found a new promising talent to cultivate. Now that Feng Cangcang had returned, her cultivation hadn’t progressed; she hadn’t broken through to Golden Core. The Feng Clan elder had lost interest in her. After that single warning, she waved her hand dismissively and said, “Don’t wander around recklessly lately. Obey the clan’s orders.”
Feng Cangcang’s eyes flickered slightly. She obediently answered yes, then seized the chance to probe for information. “The atmosphere in the clan is different from before. Has something happened?”
The Feng Clan elder’s brow furrowed. She wanted to reprimand her, but as if remembering something, her attitude softened. Cold-faced, she said, “It’s a pack of rats kicking someone when they’re down.”
Feng Cangcang thought to herself, “So it’s true.” Seeing the elder had no intention of elaborating, she obediently withdrew. Afterward, she sought out a somewhat familiar Feng Clan disciple to gather more information. She had been in the Feng clan for many years and knew it was at the bottom tier of third-rate families, with only one Nascent Soul Third Layer Daoist overseeing it. But because a clan elder had been stuck at Nascent Soul Second Layer for many years, Feng Cangcang wasn’t sure if anyone had advanced during her absence.
After probing around the clan this time, she finally understood. The upper echelon Daoists of the Feng clan were the same as when she left. The higher one went, the harder it was to advance. Not only did one need to gather sufficient precious materials, but one also had to align with the heavens. It wasn’t a matter of simply having enough magical power to cross the threshold. Thus, the death of the Feng Clan Head in The Lifeless Land meant that the Feng Clan no longer had a Nascent Soul Third Layer force and would soon be kicked out of the ranks of third-rate families.
The Feng clan was also acutely aware of their precarious situation. On one hand, they bribed the Heavenly Dao Alliance Daoists, asking them for more time, loudly proclaiming that the Clan Head had sacrificed himself defending against the Wild Domain—after all, it was a meritorious deed. On the other hand, they concentrated all their resources to push the former Nascent Soul Second Layer cultivator to the Third Layer. Naturally, the vacated Nascent Soul position would need to be filled by a Golden Core Third Layer Daoist.
The Feng clan was unwilling to let genuinely talented members with the potential to reach the top undergo methods that harmed their Dao foundation. “Pulling up seedlings to help them grow” could easily sever a Daoist’s future outright. The Nascent Soul Third Layer position was a necessity; they had no choice but to force it. But for promoting a Golden Core to Nascent Soul, the Feng clan was actively seeking out talented commoners everywhere. They would use the method of Nascent Soul grafting to push someone into the Nascent Soul stage.
It seemed to be a matter at the Golden Core and Nascent Soul levels, but when Daoists at these stages became “disposable materials,” the lower levels also needed to find replacements. So now, the Feng clan was operating at high speed, sparing no cost to find people from outside.
But the families competing with the Feng clan didn’t want to see them rise again. This was a once-in-a-millennium golden opportunity. As long as the Feng clan was kicked out, the resources they would receive would increase. These families couldn’t pressure the Heavenly Dao Alliance—after all, the Alliance was supposed to maintain harmony among the families on the surface. But they could block the Feng clan’s efforts to find talented disciples, and could even spend large sums to preemptively buy up the cultivation resources the Feng clan needed.
It truly was a matter of life and death.
Feng Cangcang mused secretly. After feigning dedicated cultivation for a while, she went to find the Feng clan elder and reported, “I spotted an exceptionally talented Daoist in Cangwu City. However, the other party is from the master-disciple lineage.”
The Feng Clan elder’s eyes flickered. What did it matter if it was master-disciple or aristocratic? She said in a deep voice, “Find a way to bring that person here!” Since Feng Cangcang had discovered the person, naturally, Feng Cangcang would have to handle the matter. Of course, it was also because the people under the elder were unwilling to leave the clan land, fearing they’d be killed by enemies if they ventured out.
Feng Cangcang was happy to take on this mission.
She was the Feng clan’s emissary. She didn’t return to Cangwu City immediately but went to Xingyang City, to the Zheng Clan.
As for why she didn’t go to the Wang Clan, Feng Cangcang’s reasoning was solid. She was, after all, originally from the Lu Clan. And while this Wang Clan wasn’t the exact same group as before, they worshipped the ancestors of the Langya Wang Clan, with whom she had a blood feud. Naturally, any benefits should go to the Zheng Clan.
Inside Chongyuan Sect.
Wei Mingyi and the others maintained constant contact with Feng Cangcang.
Their conjectures, based on the old customs of the aristocratic families, had come true one by one. The Huaxu Feng clan’s situation was one of the worse scenarios they had imagined. If their strength had been slightly greater, with two Nascent Soul Third Layer Daoists, they wouldn’t have been reduced to demotion. But Nascent Soul Third Layer Daoists weren’t so easily obtained; third-rate families likely poured all their resources into just supporting one.
Next, they just had to sit back and wait for those people to fall into chaos themselves.
Wei Mingyi thought to herself.
Her task, besides taking down the Wang and Zheng Clans, was to step into Foundation Establishment cultivation before the Heavenly Dao’s Paragon Debate began, to qualify for the Heavenly Dao Alliance’s grand competition!
With a surplus of Achievement Points on hand, Wei Mingyi focused on the immediate matter, spending three thousand points without hesitation to upgrade the Meridian Opening Pool from Profound-Rank to Heaven-Rank. Under the stimulation of the Meridian Opening Pool and Wu Chongyun’s training, from February to May, Wei Mingyi’s Qi meridians were pushed open in one go to twenty-four. Her cultivation barely reached the Third Layer. At this level, many with less innate talent would shift their focus to polishing their cultivation, waiting until perfection to establish their foundation.
