Kun Sang nodded at once."Good, that is no problem. I will make arrangements now and guarantee that not a single evil cultivator escapes Kunyu City."
On this point he had confidence. The Kun clan had governed Kunyu City for generations and held the city lord's seat without fail. They had their own extraordinary means.
Wei Yunxi cupped her hands with a smile. "In that case, I must trouble City Lord Kun. May our cooperation be smooth, and may we crush the evil cultivators' scheme in one stroke."
"Good. A pleasure to work together."
With matters settled, Kun Sang personally escorted Wei Yunxi out of the City Lord's Manor. Many cultivators saw it and began guessing at the identity of the guest worthy of the city lord's personal send-off.
A sharp-eyed onlooker spoke up at once. "That seems to be a disciple of the Wei clan. From her robe, she is from Haoran Sect. For the city lord to escort her himself, she should be the Wei clan's newly advanced Yuányīng Zhēnjūn, Wei Yunxi."
"Really? No wonder I could not make out her features just now," someone breathed.
"My eyes are sharp. I would not mistake it."
"But did the Wei clan not relocate to Haoran City?"
"Their roots are here in Kunyu City. I wager they do not want to abandon this place, so they had Wei Zhēnjūn come back for a look. Besides, some of the clan are still here…"
"Tsk. When will our family produce a Yuányīng Zhēnjūn? Then I could strut sideways down the street and even earn the city lord's respect."
"Stop daydreaming. Worry about breaking through to Golden Core first."
The chatter swelled and soon wandered off topic.
Hidden among the crowd, several figures traded glances, then continued to play the part of melon-eating onlookers as they watched Wei Yunxi enter the Wei manor from afar. The next instant, they slipped out of the crowd.
Wei Yunxi's arrival delighted those guarding the manor. They hurried forward and received her with reverence.
Wei Yunxi's expression did not change. She spoke to the man bowing at her side. "Third Elder, gather everyone in the manor here. I have something to say."
"Yes."
The Third Elder obeyed and went out to notify all.
One incense stick later, all members of the Wei clan who remained in Kunyu City had gathered before the main hall, standing in respectful rows. From time to time they snuck glances at Wei Yunxi seated at the head. She was the pillar of their clan now.
Wei Yunxi swept the hall with her divine sense, then asked the Third Elder, "Is everyone here?"
"A few are outside on training journeys and not in the clan."
"When did they leave?"
The Third Elder thought it over. "Reporting to Zhēnjūn, five Wei disciples left a year ago and have yet to return. Three left one month ago. Today, two more registered departure and just left the manor."
Wei Yunxi nodded, locking her target on the five who left a month ago and today. Then she said, "This time, I have returned to take you all to Haoran City."
At that, whispers broke out below, mingled joy and surprise.
The Third Elder frowned and asked,"Zhēnjūn, does the clan intend to give up everything in Kunyu City?"
"Yes. I have clashed with evil cultivators several times. They have gained nothing and have now turned their blades toward the Wei clan. Your staying here is no longer safe. If they suddenly make a move against you, I fear my arm will be too short to help."
Wei Yunxi did not hide the truth.
The Third Elder's eyes widened. He sensed there was more to it than she had said and was about to ask further when she raised a hand to stop him.
"You have one incense stick's time to pack, then return here to assemble. We depart at the Wei hour, between one and three in the afternoon." She waved for everyone to hurry.
The Third Elder also rushed to tidy the clan warehouses.
Only then did Wei Yunxi ask softly, "Do you smell it?"
Dian Dian poked a tiny head from her sleeve and twitched his nose. "I smell it. Seven or eight have slipped in. They are probably busy sending messages to their friends outside."
Wei Yunxi spread her divine sense. In an instant she had every person in the manor pinned down. The corner of her mouth curved. With a wave, she released her portable medicine garden. Her divine sense unfurled, and she flung all untainted Wei clansmen into the garden. She sent a quick voice transmission to the startled Third Elder, then handed the garden's core to Dian Dian.
"Take them to the City Lord's Manor. Be careful not to be noticed by the evil cultivators."
"Yes. You be careful too. Do not get trapped here."
"I know."
Dian Dian gulped down the garden, now shrunken to a bead, then dived into the ground and streaked away.
Moments after Dian Dian left, a blood-red light shield covered the entire Wei manor. Those whom Wei Yunxi had abandoned discovered in horror that their spiritual power was draining away. They scrambled and crawled in search of her.
Wei Yunxi's face was cool. She looked at the few before her and said coldly, "Since you have already sent word to your companions outside, you should know this end was coming. What are you begging me for now?"
They jerked their heads up, fear in their eyes. "H-how did you know?"
"I knew the moment you sent your messages. What, you never thought your own people would give you up?"
Her tone dripped with mockery.
One Wei woman who had been taken over by an evil soul said through clenched teeth, "If you will not save us, will you not at least save yourself? Once the Spirit-Draining Formation is activated, it will not stop until it has sucked away all spiritual power and Shengji within its bounds."
"Oh. So this is called a Spirit-Draining Formation. I have learned something."
She lifted a hand. The woman was yanked into her palm. Wei Yunxi began a soul search. The others bolted in panic, but the formation covered the entire manor. Where could they run?
Her search was swift. Once she had what she needed, her figure began to turn transparent.
"Tsk. What a vicious formation. No wonder it could annihilate the Xiao clan."
Though unwilling, she ultimately faded completely from the Wei manor.
Outside the array, the evil cultivators tending it were swapping out the top-grade spirit stones, now swollen with spiritual power. Unfortunately, after only a few were changed, the array drew no more energy.
"What is going on?"
"It should not be like this. She is a Yuányīng Zhēnjūn. Draining her dry should fill at least a thousand top-grade stones."
"Is there a problem with the formation?"
"No. This array has been tested many times. There is absolutely no issue."
The last speaker's tone was adamant.
"Then is there not one other possibility, that I never entered your array at all?"
A woman's voice cut in, sudden and clear.
"Impossible. I saw her go in with my own eyes…"
The man speaking froze, then turned and saw Wei Yunxi smiling at him. He reflexively tried to crush the array disk in his hand, but he had underestimated her. Before he could move, his vision went black and he slumped into unconsciousness.
Wei Yunxi netted all the cultivators operating the Spirit-Draining Formation and carried the unconscious lot back to the City Lord's Manor. In the next breath, the city-protection grand array over Kunyu City drew together and sealed shut, announcing that the city had been closed.
The cultivators within were left confused. An instant later, a powerful pressure spread across the entire city, followed by a clear female voice in every ear: "Since you dared plot against me, be prepared to bear my wrath."