A sudden female voice interrupted Yunxi just as she was about to unleash her powerful technique. This time, she obediently withdrew her summoned clone with slight regret, reabsorbing it into her body before flickering into the air. She cupped her fists respectfully:
"Ancestor Hao Yi, you have returned?"
Hao Yi glanced over Yunxi, confirming she was unharmed, then turned her cold gaze to the stiffly standing male cultivator below. Her voice was indifferent: "Leave. Hua Tong Daoyou has canceled your mission."
The Nascent Soul male cultivator knew he had kicked an iron plate today. The opponent was not someone he could contend with. Bowing with cupped fists, he said:
"I overstepped. I will take my leave."
As soon as he finished speaking, the identity jade token in his storage ring trembled violently. Enduring the dull ache in his sea of consciousness, he took out the token. His expression changed after reading it. Without hesitation, he crushed a teleportation talisman and vanished before the two women.
Once Yunxi saw him escape, she waved her sleeve, restoring the mountain peak leveled by their battle. Then she asked cautiously:
"Ancestor, who was that man? Why did you stop me from killing him?"
"He is a cultivator from Huaxian Gate of the Central Region, sent specifically to track you. They suspect you refined the secret realm of Baohua Mountain and wanted to capture you to confirm it."
Yunxi blinked and instantly regretted holding back too quickly. Even if she couldn't kill him, she should have crippled him.
Seeing her blink, Hao Yi already knew what she was thinking. With a helpless tone, she said:"I just left Huaxian Gate. Hua Tong promised to withdraw all cultivators monitoring you. There's no need to clash with Huaxian Gate now. Our greatest enemies are the evil cultivators."
"Yes, I understand," Yunxi replied readily. "I will prioritize the bigger picture."
Satisfied with Yunxi's sincerity, Hao Yi changed the subject:
"Your injuries have healed."
"Yes," Yunxi said honestly. "Thanks to the inheritance of Yixian Gate, I've fully recovered. I even stabilized my cultivation at the mid Nascent Soul stage. This trip is to return to the Wei family and handle some family matters."
"Good. Go on. Before the Grand Competition of the Five Regions, you should stay within the sect."
"Yes, I will remember."
Hao Yi nodded and disappeared into the sky.
With her pursuer shaken off, Yunxi resumed her journey toward Haoran City.
A stick of incense later, she appeared before the gates of the Wei Residence and knocked on the crimson doors.
The one who opened it was a Foundation Establishment cultivator with white hair and beard. Recognizing Yunxi's face, he joyfully cupped his fists:
"Welcome back, Miss Yunxi!"
He quickly released several message talismans that flew across the Wei Residence.
Crossing the threshold, Yunxi asked:
"Has the Wei family been well during my years of seclusion?"
"All well, all well. With Haoran Sect's protection, our Wei family has grown steadily in Haoran City."
As he finished speaking, Wei Lingtao and Wei Lingkai arrived with the elders of the clan.
No one was more excited than Clan Head Wei Lingtao. Yunxi's emergence from seclusion meant the Wei family's pillar of support had returned.
Sensing the pressure of Nascent Soul cultivation emanating from Yunxi, they all bowed in unison:
"Greetings, Wei Zhēnjūn!"
With a wave of her sleeve, Yunxi lifted everyone up:
"There's no need for formality. We are family. You are my elders, so just call me Yunxi."
Surrounded by the crowd, she entered the Wei family's council hall, this time taking the main seat without hesitation.
Wei Lingtao spoke first:
"Yunxi, have your injuries fully healed? Are there any hidden wounds? Will this affect your future cultivation? We've collected some high-grade spirit plants; feel free to take what you need from the treasury."
"Thank you, Patriarch, but there's no need to worry. My injuries have completely healed, and I have no hidden wounds. I even stabilized my cultivation at mid Nascent Soul. It was a blessing in disguise."
Upon hearing Yunxi had advanced to mid Nascent Soul, everyone grinned ear to ear. Wei Lingtao even repeated "Good!" three times in excitement.
Wei Lingkai stood by with a smile as well. Ever since Yunxi rescued him from Xiaohe City, he had been recuperating in the sect, barely managing to restore his depleted Shengji. Not long ago, he finally formed his Golden Core.
After forming his core, he learned that Yunxi had braved a Divine Transformation tribulation on behalf of Zunzhě Yu Ling, suffering heavy injuries and being sent to the back mountain to recover. Wei Lingkai then took on a five-year assignment stationed in Haoran City, effectively staying with the Wei family.
With Wei Lingkai's return, the Wei family's foundation grew more secure. Now, Yunxi's return put Wei Lingtao's mind completely at ease.
Yunxi first discussed the Wei family's current situation with those present. She learned that Dan Peak had signed an agreement with the Wei family under the sect's name, collecting only twenty percent of the profits from Rejuvenation Liquid in exchange for sect protection. It was a fair deal.
She then dismissed the elders with a wave of her hand, keeping only Wei Lingtao and Wei Lingkai. With a flick of her sleeve, she placed two jade slips before them.
The two men exchanged glances, each picking up a slip and probing it with their divine sense.
Moments later, they withdrew their senses, their faces turning grim. Neither of them had expected evil cultivators to lurk so close by. The peaceful façade of Weiyu Realm was already turbulent beneath the surface. No one knew when the evil cultivators would strike, leaving them defenseless.
As they returned the jade slips, Yunxi reassured them:
"Don't worry, the sky won't fall yet. The sect and all Divine Transformation Zūnzhě have already taken action. Our Wei family's foundation is shallow, and our ability to withstand crises is limited. We'll need to make some adjustments for the clan's future development."
"Speak, Yunxi," Wei Lingtao said immediately. "We'll follow your lead."
Knowing he would say that, Yunxi wasted no time: "First, increase the distribution of clan resources so disciples who are just a step away from a breakthrough can advance. We must increase our Golden Core cultivator numbers.
Second, I'll have Dian Dian assist you in thoroughly screening every member of the Wei family. We cannot allow evil cultivators to infiltrate us, whether here in Haoran City or among those stationed in Kunyu City.
Third, I'd like the Feng family to move some of their members to Haoran City to form a mutual support alliance with us."
"Understood. I'll record everything and start arranging it right away. Anything else?"
Yunxi shook her head: "That's all for now. If there are new developments, I'll send you message talismans."
She then tossed Wei Lingtao a storage ring: "These are cultivation resources I prepared for the clan. Don't let them gather dust. Put them to use. Improving cultivation is the ultimate truth."
"Good," Wei Lingtao replied decisively.
"Also, I didn't use the sect-prepared Pills for direct disciples when forming my Yuányīng. I've prepared those pills for you. It's up to you to decide when to use them."
Smiling, Yunxi dangled an enticing promise.
Wei Lingtao rubbed his hands excitedly: "Good. Yunxi, don't worry, I'll fight for this pill no matter what."
In Kunyu City, he never imagined he'd one day get a chance to consume a Nascent Soul Pill. This was a prize worth striving for.
Turning to Wei Lingkai, Yunxi added: "Great-Aunt Chen Yin is already in seclusion to form her Nascent Soul. Once she emerges, she'll be able to safeguard the Wei family. You can't afford to fall behind, Uncle."
Before Wei Lingkai could respond, a flash of red darted into the council hall.