Chapter 179

Chapter 179: Planning Before Acting

The Wei Family Head could only cough lightly and did not respond. This was about Ancestor, and he was not in a position to judge.

Yun Xi placed another piece, but she thought to herself that the matter was probably not as simple as the Family Head had said. There had to be more between Wei Nan Feng and Wei Chen Yin. Otherwise, Ancestor Chen Yin would not have traded a technique for the sect to drive Wei Nan Feng out.

There was no need to ask why she was so sure Wei Nan Feng was the one abandoned by the sect. Ancestor Chen Yin still cultivated in the sect, while Wei Nan Feng stayed behind in the clan, nearing the end of his lifespan.

And from Yun Xi’s brief clash with Wei Nan Feng, it was easy to see that some of his beliefs had taken root deep in his bones. That was why he defended Wei Yun Qing without hesitation, simply because Yun Qing’s talent was better than Yun Xi’s.

“Second Uncle,” Yun Xi asked, “my father and mother’s marriage alliance – was it also proposed by Ancestor?”

The Feng Family Head nodded. “Yes. Back then, Ancestor had just advanced to Golden Core, and Ancestor Chen Yin hadn’t returned to the clan. The clan’s situation was difficult, so we wanted to form an alliance with the Feng Family.”

Yun Xi thought for a moment, then said, “Let me guess. Ancestor Nan Feng did this not only for the clan. He wanted the Feng Family’s alchemy, or rather, he wanted to raise an alchemist who could refine pills for him to increase cultivation and extend his lifespan.”

With a sharp snap, the white piece in Wei Ling Tao’s hand fell onto the board and landed in a poor position. He looked at Yun Xi, unsure whether to nod or deny.

Yun Xi did not care whether his piece landed where he wanted. She placed her own piece and smiled. “Second Uncle, I guessed right.”

The Wei Family Head could only explain stiffly, “There was that consideration back then. But because of your mother’s death, the matter ended.”

Yun Xi thought for a moment, then said, “Refining longevity pills isn’t hard. Any Third Rank alchemist can do it. The only hard thing is finding the main ingredient, the longevity fruit.”

“Uncle once told me that longevity fruit can only be found in secret realms now. The longevity fruit in the Vast Cosmos Realm has basically been picked clean by cultivators, which is why longevity pills are so precious.”

“And the older the longevity fruit, the longer the lifespan extension from the longevity pill. Even if it can’t exceed a hundred years, it can still help a cultivator at the end of their life find a chance to break through.”

Wei Ling Tao nodded. “You’re right. Second Uncle knows you learned the Feng Family’s alchemy. If…”

Yun Xi sent him a voice transmission. “Second Uncle, after Ancestor Nan Feng’s lifespan ends, I’ll persuade Ancestor Chen Yin to return to the clan and take a seat. I will not refine a longevity pill for Ancestor Nan Feng.”

Wei Ling Tao’s heart jolted. He sent a voice transmission back. “Why?”

Yun Xi replied domineeringly, “Since Ancestor Nan Feng can’t lead the clan to prosperity, he should step down. More importantly, I don’t support him being the clan’s leader.”

Wei Ling Tao could only sigh. He found himself stuck in the middle, and the biggest problem was that his own strength was not enough to be forceful.

Yun Xi continued to send voice transmissions. “Keep this in your heart. Don’t tell Ancestor Nan Feng. If he asks, tell him that as long as we find longevity fruit, I’m willing to refine a longevity pill for him, as an apology for being rude earlier.”

Wei Ling Tao could only nod. He rummaged in the piece box for a long time before he finally grabbed a piece and placed it absentmindedly.

While Yun Xi and the Family Head were talking, Wei Nan Feng also sent someone to summon Wei Yun Qing to his courtyard.

Wei Yun Qing was still close to Ancestor. Earlier, Ancestor had come out of seclusion to defend her, so the moment she saw him, she bowed respectfully. “Wei Yun Qing greets Ancestor. Thank you for stepping out to defend me earlier.”

The Wei Family Ancestor nodded in satisfaction and waved his sleeve for Wei Yun Qing to rise.

“Yun Qing,” Wei Nan Feng said, “at your age, with your cultivation, you’re already among the best of your peers. There’s no need to belittle yourself.”

“Wei Yun Xi’s only advantage is that she took a Nascent Soul True Lord as her master. As long as you’re outstanding enough, you’ll naturally be able to take an even better master.”

“This matter – Ancestor will help you. Keep your mind steady and cultivate well.”

Wei Yun Qing’s heart leapt. It felt as if her chance had arrived. She immediately bowed again. “Thank you for considering Yun Qing, Ancestor. I won’t disappoint your expectations.”

“Good,” Wei Nan Feng said.

He then gave Wei Yun Qing a storage bag and dismissed her.

With a storage bag in hand, Wei Yun Qing managed to recover some losses.

After Wei Nan Feng sent Yun Qing away, Wei Ling Tao came to see him.

Wei Nan Feng said unhappily, “What did you and Yun Xi say?”

Wei Ling Tao lowered his gaze. “Ancestor, I didn’t say much. I only explained Ancestor’s difficulties and persuaded Yun Xi to refine a longevity pill for you.”

The moment Wei Nan Feng heard “longevity pill,” his expression finally improved. “What did she say?”

“Wei Ling Tao replied, “Yun Xi said that as long as we find longevity fruit, she will personally refine a longevity pill for you. The misunderstanding with you earlier was also because of Yun Qing’s baseless accusation.”

Those words soothed Wei Nan Feng well. A faint smile finally appeared on his wrinkled face, and he asked casually, “Yun Xi has a heart. My tone was a bit harsh before, so she naturally thought I was biased toward Yun Qing. It’s good that the misunderstanding is cleared up.”

“Why haven’t I seen Ling Yue?”

Wei Ling Tao replied, “My eldest brother was injured while attempting to break into Golden Core. Luckily, we had the healing medicine Yun Xi brought back. He’s in seclusion to recover. Ancestor doesn’t need to worry.”

Wei Nan Feng frowned. “Both his daughters are back, yet he just happens to be in seclusion. He doesn’t value the younger generation’s development enough.”

“Ancestor, don’t worry,” Wei Ling Tao said. “I’m their Second Uncle. I’ll take care of them.”

“Fine,” Wei Nan Feng said. “Tell me about the major events during my seclusion.”

“Yes…”

After Yun Xi separated from the Family Head, she returned to Zhuohua Courtyard. Once she opened the formation array, she looked into the wooden token space at the Fei Xia Butterfly eggs that were being hatched.

Immortal Spirit Grass truly delivered. Under its nourishment, all ten butterfly eggs had hatched. Ten lotus-pink, pearl-gloss Fei Xia Butterflies tried to land on Immortal Spirit Grass’s leaves, but Immortal Spirit Grass rejected them coldly.

It only considered hatching the eggs to be the completion of its task. It refused to waste even a thread more spiritual energy. So when Yun Xi’s divine sense entered the space, Immortal Spirit Grass told her to take Little Fei Xia Butterfly out.

Yun Xi pressed her lips into a smile. She brought the ten Little Fei Xia Butterfly out of the space, then summoned Fei Xia back and handed the Little Fei Xia Butterfly to it for training.

When the Third Rank Fei Xia Butterfly returned to Zhuohua Courtyard, it immediately sensed the familiar bloodline connection. It then saw the ten Fei Xia Butterflies and flapped its wings, rushing to their side.

Yun Xi explained, “These are the butterfly eggs Dian Dian rescued. They hatched. From now on, they’re under your care.”

“Thank you, Master,” Fei Xia Butterfly said.

Fei Xia Butterfly regretted that there were only ten, but having some was better than none. It then busied itself training its offspring.

Yun Xi had already accomplished what she came back to the clan to do, and she did not plan to waste more time, especially with Wei Nan Feng, that Ancestor with twisted values, now out of seclusion. Yun Xi had no patience to deal with him.

So the next day, after sending a voice transmission talisman to the Wei Family Head, Yun Xi left Kun Yu City.

However, this time, she left behind one Little Fei Xia Butterfly to monitor Wei Yun Qing, keeping track of Wei Yun Qing’s movements at all times, so Yun Xi could step in and sabotage Wei Yun Qing’s opportunities.