The Wen Clan's training fields pulsed with intense energy. Dozens of cultivators moved in perfect unison, their formations sharp, movements fluid and lethal. The sound of clashing weapons and the hum of qi reverberated across the valleys, echoing through the towering peaks that surrounded the clan's sprawling residence.
On the Patriarch's Peak, the highest and most fortified of them all, Wen Wuxing stood before the Clan Assembly Hall, his robe billowing in the early morning breeze. The recent visit from the Crown Prince's envoys had set the entire clan into motion. Every peak, every elder, every disciple—none were idle.
Wuxing's gaze swept over the fields below. A faint smile played on his lips. Though to the outside world he appeared calm and composed, within, he could feel the system pulsing with anticipation.
Ding!
New Peak Completed: Windhowl Peak – Intermediate Grade Peak.
Assigned Guardian: Wen Tianhai (Elder) – Realm Advancement Reward: Mid-Tier Nascent Soul Breakthrough.
Clan Reward: Expansion of Guardian Formation + New Defensive Array Unlocked: Windhowl Barrier.
Patriarch Reward: +1 Ancient Cultivation Manual – 'Nine Heavens Ascension Sutra.'
Additional Reward Triggered – Clan Peak Milestone (10 Peaks): Wen Clan Residence Level Up (Mid-Tier Fortified Stronghold). Clan-wide cultivation speed increased by 10%.
Wen Wuxing's fingers tightened at the notification. This was no minor reward. His clan's residence had advanced once more, unlocking an upgrade in the protective arrays, cultivation density, and overall mystique of the Wen Clan in the eyes of their allies—and enemies.
He summoned the Ancient Manual, and a glowing scroll materialized in his hand. The 'Nine Heavens Ascension Sutra'—its pages shimmered with dense golden runes, exuding a pressure that could bend the will of any lesser cultivator.
Wuxing read the preface with sharp eyes. The technique was a legacy of a long-fallen celestial clan, lost during the Eternal Night Calamity. To think that the system would offer him such a technique now, as his clan prepared for the Grand Sect Tournament, was yet another sign—one of countless—that the Wen Clan's rise was inevitable.
He descended from the peak, his presence drawing the attention of cultivators far and wide. Whispers followed him, reverent and hushed.
"The Patriarch walks among us…"
"He hasn't left Patriarch's Peak in days. What's happening?"
"Every time he descends, something changes for the clan…"
Wuxing didn't speak, didn't acknowledge them. His figure passed through the central courtyard like a phantom of destiny, enshrouded by mysteries that none could pierce.
In truth, this was deliberate. Let them speculate. Let them believe he was touched by the heavens. The system's existence was his alone to know, and it was the foundation upon which he orchestrated the Wen Clan's rise to dominance.
At the training fields, Wen Ming, the clan's most talented youth, greeted him with a deep bow. Behind him stood Wen Ruoyan, Wen Liang, and several other key figures in the younger generation—all selected for the upcoming tournament.
Wuxing observed them carefully. Their cultivation had improved significantly under the Time Compression Pavilion's influence. Weeks within equated to mere days outside, and their growth had surpassed his expectations.
"Show me," he said, his voice a low command.
Without hesitation, Wen Ming stepped forward, his hands forming a complex seal. Golden flames erupted from his palms, coalescing into the form of a phoenix that soared skyward, leaving trails of fire in its wake. Wen Ruoyan followed, her sword slicing through the air with such speed and precision that the wind itself screamed. Each strike left behind arcs of silver light, slicing cleanly through massive stone targets lined along the field.
Wen Liang, not to be outdone, stomped his foot, summoning a massive earth golem that roared to life, its fists smashing into the ground, shaking the field.
Wuxing nodded slowly. "Good. But not enough."
Their faces stiffened, but none dared speak.
"You must not only surpass your peers," Wuxing continued, "you must crush them. The tournament is not merely a contest of skill—it is a battlefield of dominance. Do not aim for victory. Aim for absolute supremacy."
He waved a hand, and a small talisman appeared. It burned with blue fire before shattering into motes of light.
Ding!
Clan-Wide Mission Unlocked: 'Heavenly Youth Ascension.'
Objective: Cultivate Clan's Youth Elite to Golden Core Realm before Tournament.
Rewards: +3 High-Tier Cultivation Artifacts, +1 Divine Beast Egg (Random), +1 Elite Guardian Spirit for the Patriarch's Peak.
Additional Reward: Increased Clan Reputation in the Region.
The pressure was mounting, but Wen Wuxing embraced it. Pressure forged diamonds. And pressure would elevate the Wen Clan to a realm beyond all others.
Later that night, within the Veil of Shadows Pavilion, hidden beneath layers of illusion and spatial arrays, Wuxing convened with the Pavilion Master. The cloaked figure bowed low, his face hidden beneath a silver mask—his loyalty absolute, his existence created by the system.
"My lord," the Pavilion Master spoke. "Intel from the Qilin Sect reveals that they are preparing a joint alliance with the Black Jade Pavilion. They aim to eliminate the Wen Clan during the tournament."
Wuxing's eyes sharpened. "Expected. Prepare countermeasures. Leak false information—suggest we are on the verge of internal collapse. Let them underestimate us."
"As you command."
He walked through the pavilion's grand hall, past rows of informants, agents, and shadows. All were born of the system, all were his instruments. Their reach extended across the kingdom, sowing chaos, gathering secrets, and feeding him power.
Wuxing paused, then turned to the Pavilion Master once more. "Begin spreading rumors of a hidden guardian within the Wen Clan. A cultivator who surpasses me in strength. Make them fear shadows they cannot grasp."
The master bowed again. "It shall be done."
As he returned to Patriarch's Peak, Wen Wuxing stood beneath the moonlight, hands clasped behind his back. Beneath him, his clan thrived. Around him, his enemies schemed. And above them all, he rose, unseen, unheard, but inevitable.
The Wen Clan would ascend. And none would stand in their way.