Wen Wuxing stood atop the highest peak of the Wen Clan's ancestral grounds, the morning mist swirling around him like a shroud. His robes, dark as midnight and trimmed with silver thread, fluttered in the wind. Behind him, the vast Wen Clan residence unfurled across the mountainous terrain—a sprawling domain of stone and jade, tiered peaks, cascading streams, and fortified walls that gleamed faintly with embedded runes. A sight of majesty, yes, but Wuxing knew it was but a husk compared to the glory he envisioned.
Below, the clan members bustled with activity. The main training grounds were alive with the clash of blades and the surge of qi. Disciples sparred with focused determination, overseen by elders who bore the marks of age and power. The Wen Clan, once respected, had become a shadow of its potential—complacent, stagnant, and vulnerable. It was time to awaken them. To forge them anew.
Wuxing's gaze sharpened. His fingers brushed the jade sigil at his waist—a simple talisman bearing the Wen insignia: a soaring crane wreathed in flame, symbolizing elegance, longevity, and unyielding strength. But this sigil was more than symbolic. With the completion of his last mission—a perilous endeavor that nearly cost him his life—the System had triggered its awakening.
A flicker of light pulsed beneath his robes.
Ding! Wen Clan Ancestral Sigil awakened.
Activating Clan-wide forcefield: Defensive Array Level I deployed.
Clan-wide protection increased by one major realm.
Sigils bound to all direct clan members. Additional perks scale with rank.
A translucent ripple surged across the peaks, invisible to the untrained eye but sensed by all cultivators within. Cries of surprise echoed through the compound as disciples instinctively activated their sigils, discovering the new protective barrier that now shielded the entire Wen territory.
Wuxing smiled faintly. "Let them wonder."
A messenger approached at a run, bowing deeply.
"Patriarch, the elders have gathered in the Grand Hall, as you commanded."
Wuxing nodded. "Good. Let none be absent."
The Grand Hall was a structure carved from spirit-forged jade, massive pillars inscribed with the Wen lineage dating back generations. As Wuxing entered, silence fell. The Council of Elders, a dozen wizened figures, sat in semicircle formation—each bearing a distinct aura of power. Among them were his father's old confidants and even rivals. They bowed low as he ascended to the Patriarch's seat, the throne of blackwood and gold.
He did not sit. Instead, he paced slowly before them.
"The Wen Clan has drifted for too long," Wuxing began, voice calm but resonant. "We have defended borders, hosted tournaments, and traded with nearby sects. Yet when was the last time our name struck fear or awe? When did we last advance the realms of cultivation?"
Silence. None dared answer.
"We have become complacent. That ends today."
He gestured to the sigil at his waist.
"You have felt the change. This sigil has awakened a legacy forcefield—a protective array that enhances the defense of every clan member by one major realm. This is but the beginning."
The elders' eyes widened. One dared to speak.
"Patriarch… how is this possible? Such power has not been seen since the era of Founder Wen Lian."
"I have my means," Wuxing replied, eyes glinting. "And I shall use them to lead the clan into a new golden age. But I will not carry this burden alone."
He swept his hand, and a detailed map of the Wen peaks appeared mid-air—projected from the sigil's energy.
"From today onward, the Wen Clan shall be divided into Peaks of Merit. Each peak will be designated to a group of members based on merit, contribution, and strength. As you rise in rank, your peak will be upgraded—with new defensive arrays, cultivation resources, and mission-linked rewards. The Patriarch's Peak, mine, shall be the highest of them all—capable of influencing the others and safeguarding the entire clan."
Gasps echoed.
"Furthermore, I hereby establish the Veil of Shadows Pavilion."
A stunned silence greeted his words. Wuxing continued, voice like iron.
"This Pavilion will operate autonomously—detached from clan politics, yet its purpose is to gather secrets, deduce heavenly mysteries, and sell intelligence at steep prices to outsiders. It will be populated by beings of absolute loyalty, born of the same force that awakened our sigils. You will not know them, nor will they know you. But through them, the Wen Clan will accumulate power unseen."
Behind the scenes, Wuxing's System flickered.
Veil of Shadows Pavilion initialized.
First Agents deployed: 10.
System loyalty: 100%.
All income will be redirected through Wen Clan coffers, under guise of external trade.
Wuxing's words carried a gravity that could not be refuted. The elders looked at one another, then knelt as one.
"We follow the Patriarch's will."
As the council dispersed to enact his orders, Wuxing retreated to his peak. At the summit stood his meditation chamber, surrounded by a spirit herb garden and protected by arrays that pulsed with raw energy. The System activated again.
Mission Complete: Clan Reformation Initiated.
Reward: Minor Guardian Beast unlocked.
Summoning…
Beast Assigned: Azure Flame Qilin (Infant stage)
A burst of light erupted, and a small qilin—scales shimmering with azure fire—appeared before him. It bowed.
Wuxing raised an eyebrow. "A guardian already?"
Clan residence enhancement unlocked. Guardian assigned to Patriarch's Peak.
All members of the Wen Clan gain increased cultivation absorption by 5%.
He chuckled. "Let them think it coincidence."
Later that night, Wuxing stood at the Cliff of Ancients, gazing into the night sky. His thoughts turned inward.
The System was a mystery—a fragment of cosmic origin that had fused with his soul. He didn't know its creator, nor its final goal. But for now, it served him. Through it, he would elevate his clan, build a legacy, and control kingdoms from the shadows.
Below, his clan's residence glowed faintly, lights flickering across the various peaks. Disciples trained late into the night, their qi growing steadily. The elders were planning recruitment drives, and several merchant caravans had arrived—eager to trade with the now-rumored "awakened Wen Clan."
A new era had begun.
As dawn approached, the System chimed once more.
New Mission: Secure territory. Defeat encroaching Black Viper Sect.
Reward: Medicine Field (Tier 1), Clan Protection Array (Level 2), Bonus: Potential Genius Descendant.
Progress: 0%.
Wuxing's eyes glowed. "One enemy at a time. Let's begin."