155: Chapter 155 A Secure Position, a Regional Powerhouse

Morning light spilled onto the stone steps, and the characters carved last night remained in the gaps of the bluestone. The blood had already dried, its color deepening as the dew dampened its edges.

A deep gouge ran across the center of the plaza, stretching all the way to the east. It lay across the ground, and it weighed heavily on the people's hearts.

Chen Wuwang stood at the edge of the high platform, his back to the crowd below. His silver hair caught the wind, swaying gently.

He didn't move, nor did he look back. He raised his right hand and wiped the frame of his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye with his thumb. A blue light flickered once before fading.

The sound of patrolling mechs drifted from overhead. After three circuits, they landed on the distant training field. The engine noise gradually died down, and silence returned to the surroundings.

Three hovercars drove along the foot of the mountain. The insignias on the vehicles were clear: Qingyan Sect, Wind Howl Valley, and Red Ridge Fortress.

The car doors opened, and three people stepped out in succession.

They wore formal ceremonial robes with Family totems embroidered on the cuffs. They walked lightly, as if afraid of disturbing something.

They stopped at the edge of the plaza, staring at the words on the ground that hadn't been wiped away—"Strong Root," "Expand Territory," "Establish Power." Some were written in blood, others scratched in with stones; they were crooked, but written with great force.

The envoy from the Qingyan Sect whispered, "Look at the bronze plaque in that child's hand... I heard the Head of the Family gave it personally. If they can recognize three hundred characters, they can enter the training field."

The Elder from Wind Howl Valley stared at the silhouette on the high platform, his voice even lower: "It's not just the children. I checked the border trade records last night—the Chen Family's Medicinal Field production has doubled, and the Artifact Refining Workshop delivered three hundred Talisman Swords in seven days, all of which passed inspection. This isn't luck; it's a plan."

The son of the Red Ridge Fortress Chief said, "My father said if we don't form an alliance soon, our share of the mineral veins might be squeezed out by next year."

He paused, looking at Chen Wuwang's standing figure. "But look at him, he doesn't even come to greet us... instead, it makes one even more afraid to act rashly."

The three exchanged glances and said no more. They straightened their clothes and slowly walked forward.

Their soles stepped on the bluestone, making a rhythmic sound.

Reaching three steps before the high platform, they all stopped at once.

"By order of our Sect Master, we have come specifically to pay our respects to the Head of the Chen Family." The Qingyan Sect envoy spoke, his tone steady but respectful. "We wish to forge a covenant, share resources, and jointly protect the peace of the Eastern Wasteland."

Only then did Chen Wuwang slowly turn around.

He did not walk down, nor did he approach. He raised his right hand and gave a light wave.

Three holographic projections lit up on the ground, floating in the air.

On the left were the details of the medicinal herb trade between the Qingyan Sect and the Chen Family over the last three months, with every transaction clearly marked.

In the middle were the spirit ore procurement records for Wind Howl Valley, accompanied by inspection reports.

On the right was the border defense coordination schedule for Red Ridge Fortress, with even the nightly patrol routes listed clearly.

The data scrolled silently, yet it exerted a palpable pressure.

Chen Wuwang spoke, his voice neither loud nor cold, as if stating something already decided: "What you see are the patrolling mechs. What you don't see is that every piece of land is monitored by a Formation, and every clansman knows what they are fighting for."

He looked at the three of them. "Want to cooperate? Fine. But remember—the Chen Family doesn't want empty etiquette, only genuine sincerity."

Sweat broke out slightly on the trio's foreheads.

The Wind Howl Valley Elder lowered his head and said, "The Family Head is right. Our visit this time is by no means just going through the motions."

"Then don't just stand there."

Chen Wuwang said indifferently, "Go back and tell your Sect Masters that if you want to cooperate, you must first trade three things: first, access to shared border maps; second, a blood oath document promising not to privately expand mineral veins for three years; and third, each Family must send ten young disciples into our joint training camp to learn how to survive."

The Young Lord of Red Ridge Fortress was stunned for a moment. "This... isn't it a bit too heavy?"

"Heavy?" Chen Wuwang let out a cold laugh, pointing at the gouges on the ground. "The words my clansmen wrote in blood haven't even been wiped away, and you think the conditions are heavy? Three days ago, who believed the Chen Family could stand up? Now that you've come, you aren't here to give charity; you're here to talk about the rules."

The Qingyan Sect envoy quickly cupped his hands. "The Family Head's lecture is correct. We will return and report immediately, without another word."

Chen Wuwang said no more, only nodding slightly. Then he turned back around, continuing to look at the sun rising in the east.

The sunlight shone on the three scars on his left cheek, casting a faint red glow.

The three looked at each other, bowed deeply, and retreated down the steps one by one. Their footsteps were slower and heavier than when they arrived.

A child squatted by the stone steps, holding a piece of rubble and writing stroke by stroke on the open ground: "Strong... Root..." He wrote with great effort, his little face flushed red.

A woman from the Medicinal Field walked by holding a baby, saying softly, "Don't cut your hand."

The child shook his head. "I want to carve! When I can enter the training field, I'm going to pilot the biggest mech!"

The woman smiled and said nothing more, only gently patting his back.

An old craftsman stood in the corner leaning on his hammer, his eyes fixed on the high platform. He didn't speak, but the hammerhead in his hand trembled slightly.

A young soldier was sharpening his blade, his movements more earnest than before. He knew that from today on, others would look at him differently.

He wasn't just a soldier of the Chen Family; he was a member of a powerhouse Family.

Two more hovercars slowly approached the distant mountain gate. The insignias were different, but their posture was just as cautious.

The vehicles stopped outside the plaza; they didn't get out immediately, but observed for a while first.

Inside the car, a middle-aged man asked in a low voice, "How is the situation inside?"

An attendant replied, "Representatives from the Azure Rock, Wind Howl, and Red Ridge families just entered not long ago. When they came out, their expressions weren't relaxed, but they were all very respectful."

The man was silent for a moment, then tore up a note that read "wait and see," replacing it with a new one: "Prepare gifts and request an audience with the Family Head. We are willing to sign a five-year resource exchange agreement."

He closed the box and looked toward the high platform.

Chen Wuwang still stood there, motionless, like a mountain.

Sunlight covered the entire plaza, shining on that gouge and casting a long shadow. The wind blew through, swirling a few fallen leaves before they settled back in place.

A young girl ran past clutching a newly copied Cultivation Technique booklet. As she passed the stone steps, she deliberately slowed down, looking at the blood-written words and gouges, then suddenly stopped.

She pulled a charcoal pencil from her robe and wrote on the empty ground nearby: "I want to become strong too."

After writing, she let out a breath and looked up at the high platform.

Chen Wuwang tilted his head slightly, as if sensing something, but he didn't look at her. He raised his hand and touched the scars on his right cheek.

Then, he turned back again, facing the east.

The sun rose higher.

The sound of patrolling mechs rang out once more. This time, it came from all directions.