Dawn broke over Qinghe Prefecture, bathing the Wen Clan's encampment in a warm glow. The previous night's attempted assassination weighed heavily on the atmosphere, yet not a single Wen disciple wavered. Instead, they trained harder, spoke in hushed but determined tones, and carried themselves with pride. They had faced death—and triumphed.
In the command pavilion, Wen Wuxing stood with his hands clasped behind his back, eyes fixed on the tactical formation map projected by the System. Each marker represented clan forces, potential enemies, and unknown elements within the city.
Ding! System Alert: Assassination threat neutralized. Veil of Shadows Pavilion gains 50 merit points. Unlock available: Tier 1 Intelligence Nexus.
Unlocking will enable wide-area surveillance within Qinghe Prefecture. Activate now?
"Yes," Wuxing responded mentally.
At once, a ripple of spiritual energy surged outward from the pavilion's hidden base, as dozens of Veil operatives, cloaked in anonymity, deployed Spirit Sigils that blended seamlessly with the city's existing formations.
Veil of Shadows Pavilion upgrade successful. Surveillance radius: 50 miles. Enemy activities will now be monitored in real-time.
Wen Qian, head of the Pavilion, entered moments later, a rare smile on her lips.
"Patriarch, the Zhao Clan is shaken. Their operatives have gone silent. They did not anticipate the reach of the Veil."
Wuxing nodded. "Good. Let them be afraid. Fear is the first step to destruction."
He turned to Wen Lei, who had arrived alongside Qian, his expression somber.
"The next round of the Assembly Tournament begins today. The Zhao Clan will send their elites. Ensure our disciples are prepared. Victory is not optional—it is our declaration to this realm."
Lei bowed. "By your command."
Hours later, the Grand Tournament Grounds roared with excitement. Thousands of cultivators from dozens of clans filled the seats, eager to witness the Wen Clan's next move.
Zhao Jian stood arrogantly at the center stage, flanked by two of his top disciples—both Nascent Soul realm cultivators, draped in Phoenix-patterned armor.
As Wuxing and the Wen disciples entered the arena, a hush fell.
The Royal Envoy, seated in the highest pavilion, raised his hand.
"Begin."
The first match was fierce. Wen Zhen, Lei's protégé, faced off against Zhao Jian's personal guard. The air pulsed with spiritual energy as sword met sword, fire clashing with water, each technique threatening to level the arena.
But Zhen's eyes gleamed with clarity, his movements sharp, precise. With a cry, he activated the Wen Clan Sigil, a flicker of spiritual light wrapping around him like armor.
He struck.
The Zhao guard flew backward, crashing into the wall.
Silence.
Then an explosion of cheers.
"Wen Clan wins the first round!"
Ding! Victory registered. Clan Reputation +5. Wen Zhen's cultivation stabilized at peak Core Formation.
Reward unlocked: Resource Package – Tier 3 Spirit Stones, Advanced Elixirs.
Zhao Jian's face turned crimson with rage. He motioned to his second disciple, who leapt into the arena with murderous intent.
But Wuxing raised his hand.
"I will fight."
Gasps echoed throughout the audience.
"The Patriarch himself?!"
"He's only here to spectate—this is unprecedented!"
Wuxing stepped into the arena, his ashen robes billowing, the Ashen Blade strapped across his back. His mere presence silenced even the Royal Envoy.
The Zhao disciple sneered. "You're nothing but an old relic."
Wuxing drew the blade.
It hummed.
He vanished.
A heartbeat later, the disciple was on his knees, blood pouring from a gash across his chest. Wuxing stood behind him, untouched.
Ding! Challenge complete. Opponent subdued. System Reward: Artifact Crystal Fragment x1. Unlock progress: 1/5.
"Victory—Wen Clan!" the judge shouted, his voice shaking.
Wuxing didn't spare his opponent a glance. He walked off the arena, eyes locked with Zhao Jian's, silent promise of retribution burning in his gaze.
That night, inside the Wen Clan residence in Qinghe, the elders gathered.
Wen Heng spoke first. "We have humiliated them. Zhao Clan's influence in Qinghe will suffer."
Wuxing was silent for a moment, then spoke.
"No. This is merely the opening move. Their true power lies in their connections—the puppet clans, the merchants, the military officers they've bought."
He turned toward Wen Qian. "Deploy the Veil. Target their allies. Smear their names, expose their corruption. Force them to retreat into isolation."
Ding! Mission Activated: Dismantle Zhao Network. Reward: Regional Dominance Title, System Enhancement – Clan Store Unlock.
Qian nodded. "Consider it done. By week's end, Zhao's reach will crumble."
Back in the Veil's Intelligence Nexus, operatives moved like shadows, intercepting communications, forging documents, leaking incriminating evidence. In a matter of days, the merchant guilds distanced themselves from the Zhao Clan, the city's elite canceling deals and contracts.
Inside the Zhao estate, panic brewed.
"Damn it! Who's behind this smear campaign?!" Zhao Wei roared, smashing a jade table with a flick of his hand.
Zhao Jian, bruised and humiliated, bowed. "It must be Wen Wuxing."
Wei's eyes narrowed. "No. He's not that clever… someone is feeding him this power."
In the Wen Residence, Wuxing stood atop Patriarch's Peak, overlooking the entire city. The peak glowed faintly, spiritual veins pulsing beneath the earth.
Ding! Patriarch's Peak Reward Activated: Guardian Spirit Awakening – Ancient Flame Sentinel (Nascent Soul – Peak).
Guardian loyalty: 100%. Tasked with clan defense, accessible only by Patriarch's command.
A fiery figure materialized beside him, a massive spirit guardian, clad in molten armor.
Wuxing's smile widened.
The clan's foundations were solidifying.
Behind him, a messenger arrived.
"Patriarch, the Imperial Envoy requests your presence. Privately."