The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

"Word is spreading that Wang Liyuan has once again gained a celestial fortune within the ruins. Now, he's become a target for everyone."

Around a crackling campfire within the ruins of the Dan Ding Sect, Lu Shanglin sat alongside Ye Xiaolin and Lin Tiansheng, recounting the latest intel brought by their scattered cultivators.

"Isn't this just perfect? Our three families have long sought to eliminate Wang Liyuan in secret. Let the rogue cultivators and heirs from other families take the lead, draining him of his resources and spiritual power. Once he's weakened, we can seize the opportunity to strike and claim the celestial fortune he's obtained."

Ye Xiaolin toyed with a wooden stick, prodding the flames while the mountain winds tousled his hair. A faint smile tugged at his lips.

"What intrigues me is whether Wang Liyuan really obtained another celestial fortune. How credible is this news?"

Lu Shanglin frowned deeply.

If Wang Liyuan had truly acquired yet another celestial fortune, even a combined assault by rogue cultivators and heirs from rival families might not weaken him enough for their ambush to succeed.

"Does it even matter whether it's true or not?" Lin Tiansheng, cradling a long sword in his arms, broke his silence.

"Tiansheng is right," Ye Xiaolin agreed, nodding with a grin. "Whether Wang Liyuan obtained another celestial fortune or not is irrelevant. There are plenty of jealous individuals who will test him for us. Let them probe the truth on our behalf."

Lu Shanglin clenched his teeth, his eyes cold and venomous. "If that bastard truly has another celestial fortune, I'll never accept it!"

"Have we stationed someone to keep tabs on Wang Liyuan's movements?"

"Our scattered cultivators are monitoring him closely. Wang Liyuan's whereabouts remain firmly within our grasp," Lu Shanglin assured him.

"Good. Then let's wait and watch for the right moment before we act."

Deep within the ruins of the Dan Ding Sect, concealed within a shadowy cave:

"This is infuriating! Who spread these rumors, painting us as public enemies?"

"Brother Yuan, could it be those despicable fools from the three great families?"

In the dimness, Wang Lilong's voice seethed with rage as his eyes darted to Wang Liyuan, who sat silently on a stone, methodically wiping blood from his sword.

"Not impossible," Wang Liyuan replied calmly.

"I doubt the three families would stoop so low as to employ such underhanded, contemptible methods. The culprit spreading these rumors is likely someone else," Wang Lizhu interjected from the side, her delicate brows furrowed as she pondered the situation, a bandage wrapped over a shoulder wound.

"We'll find out soon enough by investigating quietly," Wang Liyuan said as he finished cleaning his blade and sheathed it with a practiced motion. His cold gaze swept across the cave, lingering on the lifeless bodies of rogue cultivators strewn across the floor.

"Brother Yuan, I'm certain the rumors were spread by the three families to tarnish us deliberately," Wang Lilong argued. "If they want to use underhanded methods, let's return the favor. We could spread word that the heirs of the three families have acquired fragments of celestial fortune within the ruins, shifting the rogues' attention away from us."

"This plan won't work," Wang Liyuan countered.

"Why not?"

"If we circulate such rumors now, everyone will suspect it's a ploy—our attempt to divert attention. It would be as good as admitting that I, Wang Liyuan, truly did obtain another celestial fortune. Not only would it fail to distract the rogues and other heirs, but it would also attract even more greed. Our situation would worsen, leaving us in greater peril."

"So what do we do, then? Just accept this and wait for the rogue cultivators and heirs to harass us endlessly?" Wang Lilong's voice rose with frustration. "Today alone, we've been ambushed countless times. If this continues, those heirs from the three great families lying in wait will surely strike when we're at our weakest."

"Have we heard back from the heirs of the Six Clans?" Wang Liyuan asked quietly, his tone as cold as the shadows enveloping the cave.

Wang Liyuan didn't immediately respond to Wang Lilong's words. Instead, his gaze turned thoughtful as he inquired about the situation with the heirs of the Six Clans.

To escape their current predicament and guard against the relentless pursuit of Ye Xiaolin, Lin Tiansheng, Lu Shanglin, and the other heirs of the three great families, the only feasible solution was to ally with the heirs of the Six Clans.

"Not yet," Wang Lilong replied after a pause. "I'll send someone to press them for an answer."

"That won't be necessary. From here on, we might have to rely on ourselves alone," Wang Liyuan said decisively, his tone leaving no room for debate.

"Why?" Wang Lilong's face twisted in confusion.

"The heirs of the Six Clans haven't responded, which likely means they've fallen for the slanderous rumors as well. At this point, they're probably plotting just like the heirs of the three great families, waiting to see us falter and seize the so-called 'celestial fortune' from me," Wang Lizhu explained patiently from the side.

"Damn it!" Wang Lilong's expression paled at her words, and he couldn't help but curse under his breath. If that were true, the situation for their small group had just worsened significantly.

"Quiet. Someone's coming!" Wang Liyuan's sharp spiritual sense suddenly detected faint footsteps approaching from outside the cave. His expression darkened as he conveyed a silent warning to his companions.

Wang Lizhu, despite her injuries, gripped her spiritual weapon tightly. Wang Lilong's eyes turned cold, and his gaze fixed on the cave's entrance, where the approaching footsteps grew clearer with each passing moment.

"Master Liyuan, please don't act. It's me," a voice called out urgently just as Wang Liyuan was about to leap into action. The speaker, sensing the suffocating killing intent aimed at him, quickly revealed his identity.

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"Elder Li?" Wang Liyuan and his companions relaxed slightly at the sight of the visitor.

The man was none other than Li Wuchang, one of the Wang family's rogue cultivator retainers.

"Sit," Wang Liyuan commanded curtly.

"Thank you, Master Liyuan." Li Wuchang cupped his hands respectfully before finding a spot to sit in the cave. His body was covered in blood, with numerous wounds visible—some so deep that bone was exposed, and flesh hung in ragged strips.

"Elder Li, weren't you leading a team against the two heirs of the Yun Cang Yun family? How did you end up in such a state? Are the two heirs of the Yun Cang Yun family truly that formidable?" Wang Lilong frowned as he questioned the heavily injured retainer.

Li Wuchang, at the ninth stage of the Embryo Breath realm, should have easily overwhelmed the two heirs, even if Yun Yanshuang was the strongest among them and had comprehended sword intent. This kind of defeat seemed implausible.

"I wasn't injured by the heirs of the Yun Cang Yun family."

"Then who did this?" Wang Lilong pressed further.

"Other rogue cultivators and heirs from various families," Li Wuchang said bitterly, a wry smile appearing on his pale face.

Before entering the ruins, Li Wuchang had received orders from Wang Liyuan to ambush and eliminate the heirs of the Yun Cang Yun family the moment they entered. However, after the rumors began to spread—claiming that Wang Liyuan had obtained another celestial fortune—not only did Wang Liyuan and his companions become targets of relentless pursuit, but even Li Wuchang and the team of rogue cultivators he led were hunted without respite.

The entire day had been a grueling struggle for survival. The endless assaults from rogue cultivators and heirs left him no chance to even encounter the Yun Cang Yun heirs. Only through sheer strength and a desperate effort did he manage to break through the encirclement and reach Wang Liyuan alive.

His subordinates, however, were not so fortunate.

"What about the other rogue cultivators under your command?" Wang Liyuan asked grimly.

"They're all dead," Li Wuchang replied with a heavy sigh.

"You've suffered enough. Take this healing pill and rest. From here on, we'll have to take things one step at a time," Wang Liyuan said, tossing a healing pill to the injured man. His voice was icy and laced with fury. "But mark my words—if I find out who spread those vile rumors and caused our family to be targeted like this, I'll see them torn limb from limb."

Wang Liyuan's expression was grim as his fingers clenched tightly. Whoever had orchestrated this slander had thrown the Wang family into chaos, painting them as enemies to all. This grudge would not go unanswered. He would find the culprit, no matter the cost.