At their decision, Wei Yunxi was not surprised. Given how inseparable Zhang Lingrui and Lin Keyang were, if Zhang Lingrui went, Lin Keyang would certainly join the Five Region Grand Tournament too. Still, she reminded them, "Since you have decided, prepare defensive artifacts in advance. Knowing there is danger yet failing to take precautions would be foolish."
Zhang Lingrui nodded. "Rest easy. In a bit I will go with Keyang to the Disciples' Hall and convert all the sect points I have saved into protective artifacts, and I will exchange for a life-preserving secret art while I am at it."
Lin Keyang nodded in agreement, and the two took their leave.
The next morning, Wei Yunxi received Wei Chenyin back at the sect.
After looking Wei Yunxi up and down, Wei Chenyin said, "Zongyu sent me a message talisman. He said you took on two at once on Doufa Peak yesterday, and the arena was wrecked. Are you hurt?"
Wei Yunxi smiled, waved it off, and invited Wei Chenyin to sit before briefly recounting the previous day's spar.
Learning it had been a friendly bout among friends rather than a private grudge, Wei Chenyin relaxed. They turned to the soon-to-begin tournament. "Yunxi, this year's Five Region Grand Tournament looks dangerous. Are you truly set on going?"
"Do not worry, Great-Aunt. Master gifted me protective treasures. I can protect myself in a fight. If evil cultivators show up and I cannot beat them, I can still get away," Wei Yunxi promised.
"I know you have your own path to advancement. I only hope you do not demand too much of yourself. You are already outstanding. You are not only the pride of the sect but also the Wei Clan's confidence."
The praise came straight from Wei Chenyin's heart.
Wei Yunxi's apricot eyes curved in a smile. "Please rest assured. I know my limits. But if I am to compete in the Five Region Grand Tournament, then you will need to remain with the clan."
"It is fine. With my current strength, even if I participated, I would only be running along. It would mean little. Better I sit in the clan."
Wei Chenyin was clear-eyed about her own strength and had long planned her road of advancement. With Wei Yunxi's help, she had formed her Yuányīng ahead of schedule. Now she would slow down and cultivate steadily.
Conversation shifted to the clan's development, then to the Feng Clan that had moved to Haoran City.
"Feng Jiaqing is decisive," Wei Chenyin said. "With the Wei Clan's help he opened a pill shop, and business is good. I hear they want to take over the shop next door and expand."
Wei Yunxi smiled. "Uncle has always had a plan. The Feng Clan's disciples each have a skill. It is only a matter of time before the clan grows stronger.
When I last returned to Kunyu City, Ancestor Feng Feng asked me to bring them some cultivation resources. But the moment I came back to the sect a pile of matters fell on my head, and I have not passed the goods along. Please take this jade visiting card to Uncle and ask him to visit Haoran Sect when he has time."
She handed Wei Chenyin a jade card.
Knowing about Wei Yunxi's previous injuries, Wei Chenyin understood she had instructions for Feng Jiaqing and accepted the card, promising to deliver it.
Wei Chenyin stayed on Lingxue Peak for half a day. The next day she submitted a sect task and returned to Haoran City.
The following day, Wei Yunxi received Ancestor Feng Feng's reply, broadly describing the situation of the Wu Tribe descendants and conveying their wishes.
Wei Yunxi could already guess their thoughts. The Wu Tribe ancestress had likely hinted to Yong about Wei Yunxi's bloodline and identity. They naturally gravitated toward her. She had kept her promise and given them a path to live. No matter what, the Wu Tribe's descendants would stand by her.
So Wei Yunxi sent word to Ancestor Feng Feng to arrange for these people to go out and train in batches, with Haoran City's Feng Clan as their final destination. This would both let them learn the real cultivation world and allow a natural relocation from Kunyu City to Haoran City.
After sending the message, Wei Yunxi waited for Feng Jiaqing's visit.
On the next day, Feng Jiaqing arrived at Lingxue Peak with a visiting card.
At first sight he blurted, "Yunxi, your cultivation has advanced again?"
Wei Yunxi smiled and motioned for him to sit. "This time I advanced thanks to misfortune turning into blessing. My master Yu Ling Zūnzhě bestowed a dao name on me: 'Ran Xi.'"
Feng Jiaqing's eyes lit up and he grinned. "That is an excellent dao name. It evokes the first rays of rising sunlight, a new beginning and hope, and it even shares the character '曦' from your name. It is memorable."
Wei Yunxi nodded with a smile. "Master said it suited me best and decided on it on the spot."
"If Yu Ling Zūnzhě chose it, it must fit you."
After the pleasantries, Wei Yunxi asked about what happened after their brief meeting that day.
Feng Jiaqing outlined how they had rooted out the evil cultivators who had infiltrated their team and how he had acted in parallel with Ancestor Feng Feng to keep any fish from slipping the net. For now, the Feng Clan would focus on development, training juniors, and passing on the craft of alchemy. They had no desire to be drawn into any conflict.
Wei Yunxi sighed. "Uncle, the winds do not still just because the tree wishes for quiet. Some things cannot be avoided simply by not participating."
Feng Jiaqing's heart gave a thump. "Yunxi, has something major happened?"
"The evil cultivators have not given up. Their plot to overturn the Weiyu Realm has never stopped."
She handed him a jade slip to read for himself.
When he finished, Feng Jiaqing drew a sharp breath. So many clashes between righteous cultivators and evil cultivators had already happened out of sight. The methods outlined for subverting the Weiyu Realm made his skin crawl. Such a vicious, deep-laid scheme. If not exposed, it might truly have succeeded.
Seeing him fall silent, Wei Yunxi waved her sleeve to reclaim the jade slip and said gravely, "Uncle, the Feng Clan needs a Yuányīng Zhēnjūn to sit in town. Otherwise you will be pulled into the vortex easily."
Feng Jiaqing looked up. "Be at ease, Yunxi. The Feng Clan's affairs are for me and Ancestor to manage. Even if we have to pile up spirit stones to do it, we will produce a Yuányīng Zhēnjūn."
They would not be the ones holding her back.
Wei Yunxi smiled and pushed a pill bottle across the jade table."Uncle, these are the sect-issued Ningying Pill. I did not use them when I formed my Yuányīng. I am gifting them to the Feng Clan. Use them as you judge best, but the priority is to cultivate a Yuányīng Zhēnjūn quickly."
Looking at the bottle, Feng Jiaqing felt once again how much they benefited from Wei Yunxi. Given the present situation, he did not stand on ceremony and accepted. "Yunxi, the Feng Clan truly needs Ningying Pill right now. The times do not permit me to refuse your kindness, but treat these as purchased by the Feng Clan. I will send the spirit stones tomorrow. You must not refuse."
He did not want to leave Wei Yunxi with the impression that the Feng Clan begged endlessly. Even with blood ties, any relationship could be worn down by repeated taking.
Wei Yunxi understood his intention and answered with a single word, "Good," bringing the meeting to a close.
When Feng Jiaqing hurried back to Haoran City, a disciple tapped Wei Yunxi's barrier and delivered a visiting card.