Wei Zonghao took one look at Yunxi's expression and knew something had come up. He spoke first: "Wei Yunxi Zhēnjūn, if you have urgent business, go ahead. I will explain things to Ancestor Chenyin."
Yunxi swept her sleeve, put away the message talisman, and said in a low voice: "My master summoned me for an important matter, so I cannot accompany you to Fa Peak. This is the congratulatory gift I prepared for Ancestor Chenyin. Please give it to her for me. As for the family matters, once she returns to Haoran City she will understand everything."
With that, she handed a storage pouch to Wei Zonghao.
After accepting it, Wei Zonghao said: "I understand. Go handle your affairs. If anything comes up, send me a message talisman."
Once they passed through the sect gates, they parted ways. Yunxi headed to the Hive, while Wei Zonghao went to the inner sect's Fa Peak.
Yunxi entered the Hive smoothly and met her own master, Yu Ling Zūnzhě.
"Master, I received your talisman the moment I returned to the sect."
Yu Ling Zūnzhě set down the jade slip and spoke directly: "Although Xiao He said he brought new information to the Western Region, what he really wants is to see his younger sister, to make sure Haoran Sect truly rescued her. You know both siblings well. This task is better done by you. Arrange a meeting for the two of them and bring the information back. Be careful not to be marked by evil cultivators."
"Yes, Master. I will depart at once."
Yunxi accepted the order. After receiving a token from Yu Ling Zūnzhě, she returned to Lingxue Peak. Xiao Lei was still recuperating there, under a half-restricted watch.
Yunxi flashed into the small courtyard where Xiao Lei was housed. Xiao Lei happened to be cultivating and had not yet finished her circulation. Yunxi did not disrupt her. She sat at the jade table in the courtyard and began planning the route ahead.
On the other side, Wei Zonghao had already reached the summit where Wei Chenyin resided on Fa Peak. Landing from his light, he cupped his hands with a smile: "Congratulations, Ancestor Chenyin, on forming your Yuányīng."
Because she had advanced to Nascent Soul, Wei Chenyin looked younger again. At a glance she seemed like a girl at the bloom of her twenties, only the calm depth in her eyes revealing her maturity.
Wei Chenyin returned the greeting with a smile: "Congratulations to you as well. Wei Zonghao, forming a Golden Core before thirty places you above what your Ancestor achieved back then. Forming your Yuányīng should only be a matter of time."
Wei Zonghao chuckled, then presented Yunxi's congratulatory gift and explained why Yunxi could not come in person.
The corners of Wei Chenyin's lips curved up. In good spirits, she said: "Yunxi is thoughtful. We are all family. There is no need for such formality. She has important sect duties to complete. There is no need for her to make a special trip to Fa Peak. We are both in Haoran Sect, and there will be plenty of chances to meet."
"Ancestor is right."
Because Wei Zonghao had been with Yunxi, he was among the first Wei clan disciples to learn that Wei Chenyin had emerged from seclusion. He arrived early, then simply stayed at Fa Peak to help Wei Chenyin receive fellow sect members who came to offer congratulations.
Three days later, all Wei disciples not away on training converged at Wei Chenyin's peak. Together they returned to the Wei family in Haoran City. The large procession drew considerable attention from passing cultivators.
No one was happier about Wei Chenyin's return than Wei Lingtao, the Family Head. He arranged a small banquet, invited several family heads on good terms with the Wei clan, and officially spread the news that the Wei family now had a second Nascent Soul Zhēnjūn.
The Wei disciples cultivating in Haoran Sect stayed at home for three days to lend presence, then resumed their routines. Those who needed seclusion entered seclusion. Those slated for external training departed for training. Those with sect missions continued their missions.
Before leaving, each disciple received the clan's care package, one storage pouch per person, prepared with life-saving pills, emergency spirit stones, and a spiritual artifact.
Of course, those who had joined the sect—Yunting, Zonghan, Zongjin, and others—were already informed of what happened in Kunyu City, where the Wei disciples left behind had been implanted with Gu by evil cultivators, driven into mutual slaughter, and wiped out.
Their faces had shown shock and anger in equal measure. If not for Yunxi's foresight in relocating the family from Kunyu City to Haoran City, they would now have become clanless wanderers.
Wei Chenyin spoke evenly: "I tell you this for two reasons. First, do not stand aside as if this has nothing to do with you. Second, take it as a warning. Whether you go out to train or make friends, be prudent again and again. Do not lightly reveal that you are of the Wei family.
Yunxi crossed paths with evil cultivators not for selfish gain. She acts uprightly, and her dao heart is steady. What I fear is that some clansmen, narrow of mind, will vent their anger on Yunxi because of this incident."
Here, Wei Chenyin paused and swept her gaze across the council hall. Seeing no abnormal expressions among the Wei disciples present, she continued: "Half of the cultivation resources in your hands were returned to the clan by Yunxi. Do not be so base as to forget your debt."
"Yes, Ancestor."
Everyone answered in unison.
Seeing her points made, Wei Chenyin added one more line: "I will remain with the clan for a time. If you have questions about cultivation, come to me at any time. Advancement in cultivation is your foremost task right now. Do not confuse priorities."
"Yes, Ancestor. We will remember."
Only then did Wei Chenyin wave the clan disciples away. Afterward, she spoke at length with Wei Lingtao, setting the Wei family's development plan for the near future. She then took up residence at the clan for the time being and did not return to the sect.
Wei Zonghao, having met Yunxi and delivered his own gift as well, felt reassured now that the clan had Ancestor Chenyin to hold the fort. He returned to Dan Peak to enter seclusion with a quiet mind.
Because he had explored the puppet master's cave with Wei Zonghao and Song Ke, Zongjin did not receive the inheritance, but he still caught a ladle of soup. Added to the private support from his father Wei Lingtao, he also went into seclusion upon returning to the sect.
Zongyu, having comprehended the threshold of sword intent, was still in seclusion when Ancestor Chenyin returned to the clan, and so he missed the gathering. He was currently attempting to condense a sword intent uniquely his own.
Yunting and Zonghan chose to leave the sect together for further experience. Both were still at late Foundation Establishment, not yet at Golden Core. Knowing their own limits, they were in no rush to break through. After a careful disguise, they accepted several missions that required leaving the sect and departed Haoran Sect.
Among them all, Yun Ying had the lowest cultivation, though she had already advanced to mid Foundation Establishment. She felt her siblings were all cultivation fanatics and knew she could not keep up. She adjusted her mindset and cultivated at her own pace. With several strong backers behind her now, she had no fear of being bullied in the sect.
After seeing Wei Chenyin, who had successfully formed her Yuányīng, Wei Lingkai took the list of spiritual plants required to refine "Susheng" and began gathering the listed herbs.
Wei Lingtao, doting on his younger brother, discussed with Ancestor Chenyin and the elders, then turned the clan treasury upside down. They managed to assemble twenty-five of the spiritual plants on the list, giving Wei Lingkai substantial support.
After explaining the situation to Ancestor Chenyin, Wei Lingkai also accepted a sect mission and set out to find the remaining herbs.
There was nothing here that required Yunxi's constant attention. She kept in contact with Wei Chenyin via jade messaging slips. Once she confirmed the clan was stable, she took Xiao Lei and set out for Qianling City.