The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

"Patriarch, the Wen family has begun attacking the Xia family members!"

In a pavilion in Tongshan County, a rogue cultivator from the Yulin Wang family knelt respectfully before Wang Qinglin.

"I know," Wang Qinglin replied, hands clasped behind his back, gazing out toward the distant Xia family ancestral land.

In the distance, he could faintly make out the figures of experts from the Upper Three Families and other cultivation clans storming the Xia family's stronghold.

Even within the city, rogue cultivators had begun moving toward Xia family properties and cultivation marketplaces, preparing to plunder them.

"The Xia family's marketplaces include some shops owned by our Wang family. Now, many rogue cultivators are targeting Xia family-owned businesses.

"Should we send someone to keep an eye on things to prevent any reckless behavior?" Wang Liyuan asked as he stood beside Wang Qinglin.

"Don't worry. Days ago, our family already closed the shops and brought the resources back to our clan," Wang Qinglin replied.

"I see," Wang Liyuan nodded.

"The Xia family has fallen beyond recovery," Wang Qinglin murmured, gazing toward the Xia family's ancestral land, where a fierce battle was already underway.

"To think, one of the Seven Great Clans is now facing extinction."

Wang Liyuan watched as rogue cultivators under the Wang family's banner joined the Upper Three Families and other cultivation clans in attacking the Xia family. He couldn't help but sigh.

"This has all been sanctioned by His Majesty," Wang Qinglin remarked.

"Sanctioned by His Majesty?" Wang Liyuan asked, startled.

"Yes. The Xia family is part of the imperial lineage. Even though their patriarch is dead and the Eastern Palace Consort has been relegated to the Cold Palace, their royal status has not been formally revoked.

"If His Majesty had wanted to protect the Xia family, do you think we of the Three Families and Six Clans would dare risk offending the royal court to attack them?"

Wang Qinglin's words sent a chill through Wang Liyuan's heart.

Since their own patriarch's death, the Wang family's influence had waned significantly.

Although they hadn't fallen to the same dire straits as the Xia family, their decline was still apparent.

This wasn't just true for the Wang family. The deaths of the patriarchs of the Upper Three Families and several other clans had dealt severe blows to their respective houses.

In the past, each of the Three Families and Seven Clans had a patriarch to oversee their affairs. Their strength was at its peak, and they feared neither the imperial court nor His Majesty.

But now, with the patriarchs gone, all the clans felt the looming threat of the royal court—particularly His Majesty's.

Without His Majesty's tacit approval, the Three Families and Six Clans wouldn't have dared to unite and strike against the Xia family.

"To think His Majesty could be so ruthless," Wang Liyuan said bitterly.

"If you were in his position, you'd do the same," Wang Qinglin replied with a wry smile.

"From different positions come different priorities. It's not about ruthlessness—it's about pursuing one's own interests."

Hearing this, Wang Liyuan nodded in agreement.

Indeed.

For years, the Three Families and Seven Clans had posed a significant threat to the imperial court.

To protect his dynasty, His Majesty had made several attempts to suppress the clans, but he had been unable to act decisively while the patriarchs were still alive.

Now that the patriarchs were gone, the ten great mountains weighing on His Majesty had disappeared.

If Wang Liyuan were in His Majesty's position, he too would have taken decisive measures to ensure the stability of his reign.

By targeting the Xia family—the weakest of the Seven Clans—His Majesty could send a powerful message to the others.

"Our Emperor is no ordinary man," Wang Qinglin remarked.

"By orchestrating the Xia family's downfall, he removes a thorn in his side, sends a warning to the other clans, and secretly supports the Yun Cang Yun family to take the Xia family's place.

"This allows him to balance the power of the Yulin Wang family, the Upper Three Families, and other clans.

"And given our current situation, we have no choice but to covet the Xia family's accumulated resources to stabilize our own standing, lest we become the next target of His Majesty's blade.

"Such a deep and intricate plan!

"Ever since the Hundred Clans Assembly, when my elder brother and the patriarchs of other clans mysteriously died, the tide has turned against us."

"To this day, I still suspect that my elder brother's death is tied to the imperial court," Wang Qinglin added, his tone dark.

"But we have no evidence. No truth to uncover."

"Even if we knew the truth, our clans can now only bow their heads and endure. None of us dares to defy the royal court lightly."

The death of Wang Qingshan and the patriarchs of other clans had always been shrouded in mystery.

Wang Qinglin had long suspected that the royal court was behind it, but he had no evidence and couldn't uncover the truth.

As events unfolded, culminating in witnessing the impending destruction of the Tongshan Xia family, his suspicions only grew stronger.

He was now almost certain that the deaths of his elder brother and the others during the Hundred Clans Assembly were part of the imperial court's machinations.

But what could they do, even if they guessed the truth?

With the patriarchs gone, who would dare oppose the imperial court?

Since the Hundred Clans Assembly, the once-mighty Three Families and Seven Clans were no longer what they used to be.

"When our family grows stronger, when my grandson grows more powerful, I will one day march on the imperial court and demand the truth from that despicable emperor!"

Wang Liyuan shared this sentiment. He too believed the royal court had orchestrated his patriarch's death.

Even though the royal family's own patriarch, Baili Qingsun, had also died in that so-called accident, it all felt too calculated.

If the truth couldn't be found, then he would seek justice himself.

But before that could happen, his family needed to grow stronger—he needed to grow stronger.

In this cruel world, without strength, there could be no justice.

"I am pleased to hear such resolve," Wang Qinglin said with a faint smile.

"Surely, others among the clans feel the same. For now, patience and quiet development are the wisest course."

Tongshan County, Xia Family Marketplaces

The Xia family marketplaces were in chaos. Rogue cultivators had broken in, looting, burning, and destroying everything in sight. Cultivation resources were stolen indiscriminately.

Shops under the Xia family banner were particularly targeted, becoming prime marks for the marauding rogue cultivators.

Among the looters, conflicts quickly arose as they grew envious of each other's gains, leading to violent clashes.

In a secluded alley, Yun Yanshui, clad in a black robe and wide-brimmed hat, stood with one foot on the chest of a Wang family rogue cultivator.

The immense pressure of his foot caused the man's ribs to snap one by one. Blood gushed from his mouth, and after a few futile struggles, his body went limp.

Crouching, Yun Yanshui stripped the man of his clothing and took the storage pouch from his waist.

Summoning the Golden-Eyed Beast, he fed it the rogue cultivator's corpse.

He then donned the rogue's clothes, swallowed a Disguise Pill, and transformed himself into the dead man's likeness.

"Shuang'er, Brother Yantian, and Xuan'er are still safe," Yun Yanshui muttered, sensing the three soul imprints in his sea of consciousness.

"With their abilities, most of these rogue cultivators wouldn't pose much of a threat," he said to himself, glancing toward the alley's entrance, where rogue cultivators were still fighting viciously.

"I should deal with Wang Liyuan first."

Regaining his focus, Yun Yanshui prepared to leave.

"According to that rogue cultivator, Wang Liyuan and his patriarch, Wang Qinglin, are at the Ascending Moon Pavilion. The direction should be…"

Emerging from the alley, Yun Yanshui scanned his surroundings, looking for the pavilion's location.

Whoosh!

A rogue cultivator, hiding in the shadows, suddenly launched an attack, using a Daoist technique to strike him.

Unfazed, Yun Yanshui released a burst of aura that effortlessly neutralized the attack.

With a flash of light, a short blade appeared in his hand.

Swish!

The rogue cultivator's head flew off in an instant, rolling far down the alley before coming to a stop.

Even in death, his eyes were wide with disbelief at Yun Yanshui's overwhelming strength.

"That should be the direction," Yun Yanshui murmured, stepping over the body and identifying the pavilion's location.

With a flick of his hand, he summoned his dark green battle bow.

Spreading his divine sense outward, he calculated the distance to the Ascending Moon Pavilion and confirmed Wang Liyuan's position.

From his dantian, the Yin-Yang Diagram rotated, releasing a surge of spiritual energy. Drawing the bowstring, he formed an arrow imbued with the energy of yin and yang.

The oppressive aura radiating from Yun Yanshui surged outward, sweeping through the area.

In the marketplace, many rogue cultivators who had been engaged in combat suddenly froze, their attention drawn to Yun Yanshui. Fear filled their eyes.

"What an overwhelming presence… is that… a Qi Refining cultivator?"

"Who is that man?"

"Judging by his attire, he looks like a Wang family rogue cultivator!"

"When did the Wang family produce another Qi Refining cultivator?"

"Wasn't Wang Qinglin supposed to be their only Qi Refining expert left?"