Night fell upon the Wen Clan's stronghold like a velvet curtain, shrouding the towering peaks and ornate residences in ethereal moonlight. The air was thick with qi, the Wen Clan's cultivators gathering it in reverent silence, meditating beneath starry skies that shimmered with faint traces of constellations long forgotten. Crickets sang in the shadowed groves, and within the depths of the clan's Sacred Medicine Fields, glowing herbs pulsed with life, nourished by the newly upgraded Heavenly Earth Nourishment Array—a reward from the system after the successful expansion into the Eastern Ridge.
Wen Wuxing stood in the highest chamber of Wen Tian Peak, staring out at the peaks below. His gaze was calm, but behind his eyes, calculations danced like flickering flame. Another system notification had just echoed in his mind.
Ding!
Clan member Wen Zhenyu's wife has given birth to twin daughters.
Rewarding the Patriarch: +1 Mystic Jade Stone, +1 Spirit Gathering Flag (Minor Grade).
Accumulated Clan Births: 9. Triggering Minor Milestone Reward: +1 Nascent Qi Pill, +1 Mid-tier Guardian Beast Egg (Storm Falcon).
Another surge of progress. The rewards may seem small individually, but collectively, they built a foundation no sect could shake. Each child born into the Wen Clan not only bolstered their bloodline but deepened the system's connection to Wen Wuxing's ambitions. And today, with the ninth clan birth under his leadership, he had crossed a threshold that would grant yet another boon.
In a flash of light, the Guardian Beast Egg appeared before him—a mottled blue shell veined with gold. Within it, the faint crackling of lightning could be heard, as though the Storm Falcon was impatient to emerge.
A knock echoed through the hall. Wen Wuxing turned.
"Enter."
A young elder, Wen Qingshan, stepped forward, bowing low. "Patriarch, the emissaries from the Crown Prince's court have arrived. They await your audience."
Wen Wuxing's eyes narrowed slightly. The kingdom's ruling clan had been watching their meteoric rise with keen interest, and now they had sent envoys? It was inevitable—but it was also a test.
"I will meet them in the Hall of Resplendent Jade," Wuxing said. "Ensure all peak-level elders are in attendance. Let us show the Crown Prince the weight of the Wen Clan."
"As you command."
As the elder departed, Wen Wuxing flicked his sleeve, summoning the Guardian Beast Egg into a hidden compartment beneath his throne. Everything was falling into place. The clan's power, its influence, its growing mystique—it was the result of meticulous planning, aided by the unfailing system that whispered potential and opportunity only to him.
Down below, in the Hall of Resplendent Jade, the grand chamber pulsed with the subdued energy of cultivators. Every peak elder stood in their ceremonial garb, radiating pressure as potent as storm clouds. The hall was adorned with treasures—crystal lamps infused with light qi, jade pillars engraved with the Wen Clan's sigil, and at the heart, the throne of the Patriarch.
Wen Wuxing entered, and silence fell. His presence was like a blade—calm, sharp, and inevitable. Every gaze turned toward him, eyes filled with reverence.
From the entrance, three robed figures stepped in, led by a man adorned in golden silk. His robes bore the mark of the Crown Prince's Seal, and his smile was cordial, though his eyes flicked across the room with quiet calculation.
"Patriarch Wen," the envoy greeted, bowing. "I bring the Crown Prince's regards. He congratulates your clan's achievements and offers a gift in acknowledgment of your contributions to the kingdom's stability."
A servant approached, carrying a box of red lacquer. Wen Wuxing motioned for it to be opened. Inside lay three Fire Spirit Crystals, rare resources ideal for cultivation and forging. A generous gift—on the surface.
"My gratitude to the Crown Prince," Wuxing said, tone even. "And to what do we owe the honor of his envoy?"
The man smiled. "His Highness is preparing a Grand Sect Tournament to be held in the capital within the year. The Wen Clan's participation would bring glory to the event—and perhaps greater rewards to your people."
There it was. An invitation veiled as an order.
Wen Wuxing nodded, understanding the implications. The Crown Prince wished to gauge their strength. Perhaps more. But Wen Wuxing saw further. The Grand Sect Tournament would gather the region's most promising talents, attracting sects, clans, and kingdoms. It would be a stage. And the Wen Clan would not merely participate—they would dominate.
"We accept," Wuxing said. "Our talents will not disappoint."
Later that night, within his meditation chamber, Wuxing summoned the system.
Ding!
Quest Triggered: Rise at the Grand Tournament.
Objective: Secure 1st Place in Team and Individual Categories.
Reward: +1 Supreme Grade Artifact, +1 Secret Realm Access Token, +1 Enhanced Bloodline Upgrade for All Clan Descendants.
His eyes gleamed. The rewards were staggering. An artifact of supreme grade alone could change a sect's fate. A secret realm—those were portals to ancient lands holding long-lost legacies. And a bloodline enhancement? That would propel every Wen descendant to new heights.
He immediately summoned Wen Ming, Wen Ruoyan, and several other core geniuses of the clan. It was time to begin specialized training, accelerated by the system's newly unlocked Time Compression Pavilion—a space where time flowed ten times slower, a reward from a completed mission last month.
As the young talents trained, Wen Wuxing himself delved deeper into the cultivation manuals obtained from the Pavilion's intelligence network. One such manual described an ancient technique: the Thousand Threads Formation, capable of sealing entire battlefields. With this, he could control any encounter, ensuring their victory.
The days passed in a blur of preparation. The Guardian Beast Egg hatched, revealing a Storm Falcon that imprinted upon him instantly. Its power was formidable, a sign of the system's long-term plan.
At dawn, he stood upon the Patriarch's Peak, gazing into the horizon. In the distance, the first banners of the Qilin Sect and Black Jade Pavilion fluttered—their scouts come to observe.
Let them come, Wen Wuxing thought. Let them see the rise of a hidden clan, forged in shadow, destined for dominion.