The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

As the radiant noon sun blazed overhead, its light pierced through the veil of mist shrouding the jagged, sword-like peaks. Gradually, the protective formation surrounding the Dan Ding Sect ruins began to dissipate, revealing a clear and inviting path into the ancient grounds. The sight ignited a frenzy among the gathered rogue cultivators and clan heirs, all of whom surged forward, eager to claim their share of fortune within the ruins.

"Everyone's heading into the ruins," Yun Yan Tian remarked, his gaze scanning the crowd.

"Yan Tian, would you and your sister like to join us?" Wang Li Yuan asked with a courteous smile.

"We'll wait and observe the situation from the outside for now. No need to rush," Yun Yan Tian replied, a polite but firm smile gracing his lips.

"Well then, I'll take my cousin and younger brother inside to seek our fortunes first."

Understanding Yun Yan Tian's hesitance, Wang Li Yuan chose not to press further. After all, he had already made arrangements. The moment the siblings entered the ruins, his hired rogue cultivators would ensure their demise. To Wang Li Yuan, the Dan Ding Sect ruins were little more than a burial ground for the Yun siblings.

As Wang Li Yuan and his companions vanished into the ruins, Yun Yan Shuang's expression darkened. "Yan Tian, Wang Li Yuan is plotting to kill us."

"I know. That's why I refused to join him or cooperate," Yun Yan Tian said calmly.

"How did you figure it out?" Yun Yan Shuang asked, her bright eyes filled with curiosity.

"It's because of Wang Li Long," he replied simply.

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"Oh?"

"Wang Li Yuan and Wang Li Zhu are adept at concealing their true intentions, but Wang Li Long lacks their finesse. Though he tried to hide it, I noticed the deep hatred and murderous intent buried in his eyes when we first met."

Before stepping into the path of cultivation, Yun Yan Tian had spent years assisting his father in running a martial arts school in Yunzhang County. His experience dealing with all kinds of people had sharpened his ability to read others, far surpassing Yun Yan Shuang's. It was during their initial meeting at the inn that Yun Yan Tian discerned Wang Li Long's hostility, which raised his suspicions and made him wary of Wang Li Yuan's overtures of cooperation.

"That makes sense," Yun Yan Shuang murmured, nodding in realization.

Unbeknownst to her, Yun Yan Tian's insights had been corroborated by her elder brother, Yun Yan Shui. Disguised as a nameless rogue cultivator, Yun Yan Shui had secretly followed the siblings into the inn. While Yun Yan Shuang and Yun Yan Tian shared a meal with Wang Li Yuan's group, Yun Yan Shui had been quietly observing from the common room, blending in with the other travelers.

Later that evening, after the siblings had retired to their rooms, Yun Yan Shui overheard a revealing conversation between Wang Li Yuan and his companions. It was then that Yun Yan Shui warned Yun Yan Shuang of the impending danger.

However, it seemed Yun Yan Tian had already pieced things together on his own.

"That said, we don't need to worry too much about Wang Li Yuan and his companions targeting us," Yun Yan Tian reassured her.

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Wang Li Yuan may find himself in greater peril than us. Earlier, I noticed Lu Shang Lin speaking in hushed tones with Ye Xiao Lin on a distant peak. They occasionally glanced toward Wang Li Yuan. It seems the Three Great Clans are conspiring against him.

"If Wang Li Yuan's group crosses paths with the heirs of the Three Great Clans, they'll be too preoccupied with survival to bother with us."

"So that's why you refused to enter the ruins with Wang Li Yuan?" Yun Yan Shuang's eyes lit up with understanding.

"Exactly. If we had joined him, we'd risk being caught in the crossfire when the Three Great Clans made their move. We'd face attacks from both sides—Wang Li Yuan's treachery on one hand and the clans' wrath on the other. It's best to steer clear of unnecessary danger."

His calm analysis eased Yun Yan Shuang's worries. She gazed at her brother with renewed admiration, marveling at his composure and foresight. For now, their best course of action was patience and vigilance, watching as the web of rivalries and conspiracies unfolded around them.

The protective formation of the Dan Ding Sect ruins dissipated fully, and all around, the chaotic energy of opportunistic greed surged. As Yun Yan Tian and Yun Yan Shuang cautiously observed from their vantage point, they saw countless cultivators scrambling into the ruins, driven by a frenzy to seize the elusive fortunes hidden within.

"We'll enter now," Yun Yan Tian said with a firm resolve. "But only on the outskirts. Our goal is survival, not reckless ambition."

"Understood, Yan Tian," Yun Yan Shuang replied, following him with determined steps as they descended into the ruins' periphery.

In the ruins' outer grounds, a middle-aged rogue cultivator jubilantly unearthed a crumbling but intact alchemical recipe.

"I've struck gold!" he exclaimed, marveling at the ancient material that had miraculously withstood the ravages of time.

Yet his joy was fleeting. A cold flash of steel streaked through the air, and in an instant, his headless body crumpled to the ground. A shadowy figure snatched the recipe from his lifeless grasp before vanishing as quickly as they had appeared.

Elsewhere, conflicts erupted like wildfire. Groups of cultivators vied for relics—a fractured cauldron here, an aged jade slip there. Blood was shed without hesitation, trust dissolved amidst treachery, and greed reigned supreme. The so-called "mountain immortals" displayed the ugliest facets of humanity.

Watching it all unfold, Yun Yan Shui—disguised as a nondescript rogue cultivator and going by the alias "Wu Daoyou"—stood amidst the carnage. His sharp spiritual sense captured every betrayal, every ambush, and every drop of blood spilled for a fleeting taste of power.

"How pathetic," he muttered, his black robes fluttering lightly in the bitter wind. The ugliness of those who called themselves cultivators couldn't have been more transparent.

"Wu Daoyou, any luck in your search?"

The voice came from Xue Yan, a middle-aged man clad in dark robes, accompanied by four other cultivators. These were companions Yun Yan Shui had met at the inn the day prior, their alliance formed out of mutual necessity.

"Yes," Yun Yan Shui replied with a faint smile, holding up a newly acquired alchemical recipe. "This, from one unfortunate soul who couldn't hold on to it."

The sight of the recipe made Xue Yan's group collectively inhale sharply. The gleam of desire shone in their eyes, but so too did caution. Wu Daoyou's profound cultivation aura warned them against trying anything foolish.

Xue Yan chuckled nervously. "Impressive, Daoyou. But of course, this is your spoils—yours to hold. Once we've secured more treasures together, we can distribute everything fairly."

Yun Yan Shui nodded coolly, well aware of the unspoken tension. This fragile alliance was held together by necessity, but it wouldn't take much to break it apart.

"Very well. Let's continue. The outskirts still hold opportunities for those with sharp senses and quick hands."

As the group pressed deeper into the ruins' perimeter, Yun YanShui's sharp gaze remained vigilant, his mind calculating each step. For now, he would play along—but he knew, in a place where survival was a constant struggle, trust was a luxury he couldn't afford.