"Look, the soul token of Elder Youming isn't shattered!"
"Hiss, so it really was Elder Youming?"
The Nascent Soul cultivator guarding the library hurriedly said, "Yes, it really was Elder Youming. I saw it with my own eyes! Not only did he clear out the entire library, he even wounded me."
Suddenly, someone shouted, "Bad news! Quick, go check the treasure vault!"
Since Feng Youming had already emptied the library, could anything still be left in the treasure vault?
Hearing this, everyone was horrified. Clearly, they had the same thought and hurried toward the vault. With the Feng family already fallen, they had to think about themselves. It wouldn't hurt to grab some treasures for their own safety!
But when they arrived, their worst fears were confirmed. The vault doors were wide open...
Their hearts sank and their bodies trembled uncontrollably.
Finally stepping inside, they saw that what was once a treasure trove was now completely swept clean. Not a single item remained.
"Ahhhhh—"
At that moment, everyone nearly lost their minds.
"What exactly is Feng Youming doing? Why did he clear out the vault? Where did he hide all the treasures?"
"Quick, go find Feng Youming!"
People shouted but none dared to move. The Patriarch and elders had all been killed by Feng Youming. Who would dare go seek death?
Eventually, silence fell over the vault. Despair filled their faces. Their spirits were completely drained. Who could have imagined that once mighty as they were, they would fall so low...
Now the only option was to keep this news secret, buying some time to regroup.
The news about the elders and Patriarch of the Feng family being killed was concealed by a Nascent Soul elder, but it was soon discovered.
It started because Qi Pingting of the Qi family couldn't contact her son Feng Youming at all.
With no choice, she went to investigate the Feng family, only to find every Divine Transformation cultivator gone.
Frowning, she was about to question them when a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Feng family pulled out a recording stone. It showed Feng Youming ransacking the library.
Then someone complained that Feng Youming had slaughtered the entire treasure vault, leaving no treasures behind.
Qi Pingting eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn't believe her own son would do such a thing. But the recording clearly showed him, and the aura was identical.
How could this be?
She couldn't understand why her son would do this.
But with the Feng family in crisis, she had to report back to her clan and seize the Feng family's resources. Suppressing the complex, chaotic emotions inside, she sent a message to the Qi family Patriarch. If it really was her son's doing, she would find a way to protect him.
"Son, you must hide well. Don't let anyone find you."
On the other side, the Qi family Patriarch heard the bad news and thought Qi Pingting was joking. After confirming repeatedly, he rushed to the Feng family.
The Secluded Land's balance shifted dramatically overnight.
Song Wanníng returned to the cave with a heavy haul, a smile on her face as bright as the sun. She thought about how carrying so many treasures was unsafe and sent her intention to her main body.
Soon, her clone returned to the entrance and handed over all the spoils.
Looking at the many storage rings, Song Wanníng was deeply impressed and gave her clone a thumbs-up.
She had practically emptied half the Feng family!
She had to carefully select the rare treasures to keep and give the rest to her father.
"Wanníng, we have to prepare for the worst. This incident will surely draw the attention of other families. I can't kill every Feng disciple either. Feng Jinchuan is trying to break the restriction, which will definitely be exposed.
If other families unite, no one knows how long the restriction can hold. Don't be stingy with the treasures. Let everyone get through this crisis first."
Magical treasures and inheritances greatly increase disciples' strength. The Song family urgently needed to raise its status. When other families appeared, the Song family could then stand tall and lead them to resist enemies.
"I know. Don't worry."
Song Wanníng nodded. No matter how many treasures, holding onto them was useless. She wasn't that naive.
"What about you? Planning to stay inside longer?"
"Yeah, I'll wait a few months and then come out with Bai Yang. He'll have to take the brunt when the time comes."
Her clone covered her mouth and smiled, knowing she had cleverly used Bai Yang.
His protagonist role was well deserved.
"Alright, be careful."
Song Wanníng smiled back.
They parted ways, each busy with their own tasks.
The clone returned to the cave again. Bai Yang was still unconscious.
Song Wanníng fed him a pill, and Bai Yang slowly woke.
Seeing he was still alive, tears welled in his eyes. "Master, I thought I'd never see you again!"
At that moment, he truly believed he wouldn't survive. He even felt anger toward his master, though he knew she only cared. If she hadn't shouted, Feng Jinchuan would never have thought of him. But upon waking and seeing her worried expression, all resentment vanished.
"You're awake, that's what matters. It's my fault for not protecting you."
Song Wanníng's tone softened, showing rare guilt.
"Master, it's not your fault. I'm just too foolish. Luckily, I didn't drag you down."
Bai Yang was delighted. His master finally cared for him like before!
From now on, he would never disappoint her again.
For a moment, master and disciple shared a warm scene.
Three days later, when Bai Yang's injuries were fully healed, Song Wanníng proposed to take him around.
With months left before the time window opened, it was a good chance to make use of Bai Yang's value.
After he went out, it would be time to plan the final move.
In the following days, the Secluded Land was thrown into chaos. Song Wanníng took Bai Yang to explore, searching for treasures. Bai Yang's luck held strong, often yielding rewards.
Meanwhile, the power dynamics shifted greatly.
The Qi family had swiftly taken over the Feng family, using the pretext of sheltering Feng family members to seize all their resources.
By the time other families found out, everything was already under Qi's control.
Rumors said the other families came to claim part of the spoils, causing several families to descend into bloody chaos.
Yet, when Song Wanníng heard the news, she and Bai Yang slipped into other families' domains, infiltrating their treasure vaults and libraries.
This stirred even more commotion.
For a time, Feng Youming became a hated figure throughout the Secluded Land.
The Feng family's attempt to break the restriction was also exposed. Strangely, this revelation did not cause much reaction.