The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

Year 356 of the Yue Calendar, Early Spring

The kingdom of Wu invaded Yue, ravaging twelve border cities, leaving a trail of fire and death. Over 360,000 soldiers and civilians were slaughtered, and more than 720,000 were forced to flee, becoming homeless refugees.

That same year, Yue's army of 300,000 clashed with Wu's forces at Lu Zhantai. The battle was fierce, with both sides suffering 100,000 casualties. Despite the heavy losses, Yue successfully reclaimed its twelve lost cities and stationed over 200,000 troops to guard the border. Even cultivators from both nations joined the fray, resulting in mutual fatalities at Lu Zhantai.

During this conflict, Xiao Lin of the Canglan Ye clan achieved enlightenment on the battlefield, breaking through the Qi Refining Realm. In a single ferocious battle, he slew twenty itinerant cultivators at the eighth level of the Embryo Breath Stage, earning a fearsome reputation.

Lin Yifeng of the Wangyue Lin clan, a rising star only eighteen years old, ascended to the peak of the ninth level of the Embryo Breath Stage. He cut down six renowned figures of Wu, becoming a legend in Yue.

Lu Shangsheng of the Chuanyin Lu clan, a newly anointed prodigy, rivaled Lin Yifeng in fame. At Lu Zhantai, he defeated three powerful itinerant cultivators from Wu, his might reverberating across both nations.

Wang Lilong of the Yulin Wang clan took up the banner of his family's younger generation. After a decade of relentless cultivation, he broke through to the Qi Refining Realm, slaying Wu's seventh prince in a fit of fury and cementing his name in glory.

Yue Kingdom, Imperial Capital, Imperial Garden

"These years have truly seen the rise of the younger generation from the ten great clans," Bai Li Xi murmured, seated by the lakeside with a jade fishing rod in hand.

It had been a decade since the ten clans last gathered at the Yun Cang Yun clan to celebrate the union of his royal son and the prince consort. Under Bai Li Xi's leadership, the royal court had maintained peace among the clans, temporarily halting their usual fierce rivalries.

Instead, over the past ten years, each clan had secretly focused on its growth. Their prodigies had achieved extraordinary progress, and together with the royal army, they had defended Yue against repeated invasions by Wu, slaying numerous celebrated cultivators and earning countless accolades.

"Indeed," agreed Li Qing, standing nearby, his tone filled with admiration. "The growth of the younger generation—Ye Xiaolin of the Ye clan, Lin Yifeng of the Lin clan, Lu Shangsheng of the Lu clan, Wang Lilong of the Wang clan—has been nothing short of astonishing."

Bai Li Xi chuckled. "I'm curious, though—what of the Yun clan?"

"The prince consort has already broken through to the Qi Refining Realm," Li Qing said with reverence. "He once slew a venerated Wu immortal at Lu Zhantai. Frost, too, has broken through to Qi Refining, killing a Wu princess in battle. Moreover, several other prodigies from the Yun clan have shown exceptional promise."

"Oh?" Bai Li Xi raised an eyebrow as the fishing float dipped slightly. He tugged the rod, pulling up a brilliantly colored dragon carp.

Li Qing quickly stepped forward to remove the hook and placed the dragon carp into a basket before continuing, "Firstly, Yun Wenxuan, the grandson of Yunyang and the son of Yun Yanling and Qin Zhan. At just eighteen, he has reached the pinnacle of the eighth level of the Embryo Breath Stage. He is a master of spear techniques, personally taught by the prince consort. Last year, he single handedly charged into enemy territory at Yue's border, slaying a thousand foes and beheading their general, emerging unscathed.

"Secondly, Yun Wenyu and Yun Wenrun, twin granddaughters of Yun Yunlin and daughters of Yun Yanying. At seventeen, they have both reached the peak of the sixth level of the Embryo Breath Stage. Though weaker individually, together, they form an unstoppable duo. The elder sister wields a sword, while the younger wields a blade. Their combined might once defeated two itinerant cultivators at the peak of the sixth level from Wu.

"Thirdly, Yun Wenlong and Yun Wenfeng, the eleven-year-old twins of Yun Yansong. Both are at the fourth level of the Embryo Breath Stage.

"Fourthly, Yun Wenyuan, the only son of Yun Yanbai, has reached the peak of the third level of the Embryo Breath Stage at just ten.

"Lastly, Yun Wenxin, the daughter of Yun Yandong and granddaughter of Lord Lu of Yunzhang County, has also reached the peak of the third level at age ten."

Li Qing smiled warmly. "And then there is His Majesty's grandson."

"Ha! Wen Zhan, you say?" Bai Li Xi burst into hearty laughter at the mention of his grandson.

"Indeed. Wen Zhan's spiritual root talent is second-grade, far surpassing all other prodigies of the Yun clan…"

Even the prince consort and Frost, despite their remarkable lineage, could not rival his talent in spiritual roots.

"Now, Wen Zhan's cultivation is advancing at an incredible speed. Among the direct descendants of the main family, he is the youngest, yet his progress surpasses them all."

"That boy… I haven't seen him in years. He must be nearly nine by now, isn't he?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"And his cultivation level?"

"He has already reached the pinnacle of the sixth level of the Embryo Breath Stage."

"What a marvel!" Bai Li Xi exclaimed, his tone tinged with amazement. "Yan Tian and my Snow have truly produced an extraordinary qilin child!"

Hearing of his grandson's prodigious achievements, Bai Li Xi could not help but marvel inwardly. He knew that Wen Zhan's future accomplishments would undoubtedly be even greater.

"Hahaha! Indeed! The younger generation is surpassing the old in every way—it leaves this humble servant in awe!" Li Qing remarked with a warm chuckle.

"Enough talk! Come, let us sit in the pavilion. I'll have the imperial kitchen prepare the dragon carp, and we can eat and drink to our hearts' content," Bai Li Xi declared, rising with a hearty laugh.

"Your Majesty's command is my honor."

Yunzhang County, Yun Family Manor

"In total, our clan now numbers over 2,650 members. As for those with spiritual roots, there are currently thirty-eight."

"In accordance with your instructions, Clan Brother Yunyang, I've had a new residential area constructed on the vacant land outside the manor to accommodate future clan members."

"Moreover, over the past years, the Sun brothers, Fenglin and Fengli, have successfully revitalized the Blue Lin Sun clan under Sun Congyun as their head. The Sun clan now boasts ten members with spiritual roots, ranging in cultivation from the third to the sixth level of the Embryo Breath Stage. The most exceptional among them is Sun Congyun's eldest son, who possesses a third-grade spiritual root."

"Our newly established marketplace in Blue Lin County has begun operations under the management of Sun Congyun and his family, while the marketplace in Yunzhang County continues to be overseen by the Sun brothers."

"Finally, the clan's financial records and the status of spiritual fields and plantations have been compiled into a detailed report, which I will present to you shortly."

Within the ancestral hall, Yun Yunrui reported the state of the family's affairs with precision.

"You've done well," Yun Yunyang said with a faint smile. Over the years, the Yun clan had flourished, its strength growing steadily. The number of those with spiritual roots had risen from just Yun Yan Shuang and Yun Yan Tian to an impressive thirty-eight, a remarkable achievement.

He was confident that the Yun clan's future would be even brighter.

"By the way, how is the construction of the martial training grounds progressing?" Yun Yunyang asked, recalling another critical matter. With the increasing number of spiritual-rooted descendants, there was a pressing need for additional training facilities.

"It's nearly complete. As per your instructions, we've constructed ten training grounds along with a large cultivation chamber. The chamber contains over a hundred rooms, sufficient for the current needs of the family," Yun Yunrui replied with a smile.

"Excellent. Remember, whether a descendant is of the main branch or a collateral branch, we must treat all equally. Resources allotted to the main branch must also be made available to those from collateral lines. Favoritism is a poison we cannot afford."

Yun Yunyang's expression turned solemn as he continued, "We must avoid the mistakes of the Tongshan Xia clan ten years ago. Their unequal distribution of resources sowed discord among their descendants, ultimately leading to internal strife and their downfall at the hands of other clans."

"We will remember your words, Clan Brother Yunyang," replied Yun Yunrui, Yun Yunxun, Yun Yunlin, and the other senior members of the clan, nodding in agreement.

The prosperity of the clan required unity—not just among the elders, but also among the younger generation. Only through solidarity could the clan achieve invincibility.

This principle had always been at the core of Yun Yunyang's beliefs: every member, whether of the main branch or a collateral line, deserved equal rights and resources. No one was to be deemed more or less valuable. Any hint of hierarchy would breed dissatisfaction and jealousy, fracturing the clan from within.

Should discord arise, the family would inevitably crumble, succumbing to division and ruin.

Outside the Yun manor, under the sprawling canopy of a massive willow tree, a group of children from the Yun clan sat around an old blind Daoist. Among them was a boy with bright, intelligent eyes, gazing up at the elder with a look of longing.

"Master Xiazi, are you really leaving us?" the boy asked, his voice tinged with sadness.

This boy was none other than Yun Wenzhan, the son of Yun Yan Tian and the most gifted prodigy of the Yun Cang Yun clan. Though only nine years old, his talent was unparalleled among the clan's spiritual-rooted descendants.