334: Chapter 334 Surrounding Forces, Ready to Make a Move

The setting sun dipped low; the wind atop the mountain peak swirled gravel between the crevices of the rocks.

The Elder of the Chuanyun Sect stood at the edge of the cliff, squinting toward the distant region that everyone had once regarded as a wasteland—

Now, several beams of Spiritual Qi pierced the twilight, driving into the sky like nails.

"Three years ago, there wasn't even a living blade of grass here," he said, his voice raspy. "Now, look at this: mechs are running day and night, and they've nearly dug through the Spiritual Vein."

The Supreme Elder of the Leiyin Pavilion sneered, flicking the whisk in his hand. "They've already deployed automated mining and refining lines at the North Mine. I hear they're using Formation-controlled runes, so even Mortals can operate them. This isn't Artifact Refining; it's rebellion."

The High Priest of the Chiji Ridge leaned on his bone staff, slowly pacing to the edge of the cliff. "The Western Desert is not peaceful either. Last night, the scouts I sent to explore returned saying there were sword Formations moving through the ancient battlefield ruins, making quite a commotion. What are they trying to dig up? A Brood Mother Core? Or an ancient military Formation?"

"Who cares what they're digging!" The Chief of the West Desert Sand Clan slammed his hand onto the scimitar at his waist. "The point is—they are moving! If we don't move, once they occupy all three lines, we old clans will just become decorations!"

The crowd fell silent. The campfire crackled, casting shifting, uncertain expressions upon their faces.

After a long while, an Elder of the Cangling Clan spoke slowly. "Do you all remember the fall of the Cangling Clan? Back then, the Lei Family only held five cities, but what happened? Three months later, the entire Eastern Slope was surnamed Lei. The Chen Family's momentum now... is even more ruthless than that."

"But we are not the Cangling Clan," the Clan Chief of the Northern Plains Sun Clan scoffed. "No matter how strong the Chen Family is, they are just a newly risen small clan with a very shallow Foundation. If we truly clashed, ten Chuanyun Sects could crush them."

"Shallow?" The Elder of the Chuanyun Sect sneered. "Go look at those three star gates to their south. Gates that had been dead for three hundred years are now starting to resonate weakly. They have the keys in their hands, and they've already started attempting to open them."

"So what?" The Clan Chief of the Northern Plains Sun Clan narrowed his eyes. "You want us to join forces and go block their gates?"

"Not block," the Elder of the Chuanyun Sect turned around, his knuckles tapping heavily on the stone table with the rhythm of war drums. "It's to suppress. Suppress them little by little, to snuff out their burgeoning arrogance."

The Supreme Elder of the Leiyin Pavilion stroked his chin. "How do we suppress them? If we act openly, the Alliance rules won't allow it. If we ambush them in secret, I'm afraid of becoming the first target and ending up being purged by him one by one later."

"Who said anything about using force?" The High Priest of the Chiji Ridge suddenly smiled. "We don't have to use force. Spread rumors—say they use machines for Alchemy, ruining the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi; cut off trade routes—make the surrounding small clans afraid to trade with them; then incite a few vassal tribes to rebel, and make his own backyard catch fire."

The Chief of the West Desert Sand Clan's eyes lit up. "Brilliant! We can keep him occupied without spilling a drop of blood. When he's overwhelmed, we can talk 'cooperation,' and the price will be much higher than it is now."

"You still want to talk cooperation?" The Clan Chief of the Northern Plains Sun Clan mocked. "I think you want to defect, don't you?"

"I am chasing profit," the Chief of the West Desert Sand Clan said without hesitation. "Following whoever is strongest is the way to survive in these chaotic times. The Chen Family is fierce now, but what do fierce people fear most? A cold arrow in the back."

"But who will shoot this arrow first?" The Elder of the Cangling Clan looked around the circle. "No one wants to be the first. Afraid of bringing trouble upon themselves, right?"

No one answered. The wind swept through the stone hall, blowing the flames askew, twisting shadows on the rock walls into the shapes of beasts.

The Supreme Elder of the Leiyin Pavilion suddenly stood up and paced to the center. "Then don't expect anyone to be the first to act. Let's try another method—synchronous pressure. The same day, in different places, everyone acts. Those who spread rumors, spread them; those who cut off roads, cut them off; those who incite rebellion, incite it. By the time the Chen Family realizes what's happening, they'll be leaking from all sides."

"Brilliant," the High Priest of the Chiji Ridge nodded. "After it's done, we all share the credit; if it's exposed, no one bears the responsibility alone. Anyway, they won't be able to find out who led it."

"That's exactly what I'm afraid of—that they won't be able to find out," the Clan Chief of the Northern Plains Sun Clan sneered. "That kid Chen Wuwang, his brain is faster than a blade. If he turns around and casts out an intelligence network, our little movements won't even be enough to fill the gaps between his teeth."

"That's why he cannot have an intelligence network," the Elder of the Chuanyun Sect said in a low voice. "I have already had my subordinates change the communication codes, and all transmission jade talismans are triple-encrypted. You all should change yours as soon as possible, too. Don't let him catch wind of this."

"It's not just about hearing," the Elder of the Cangling Clan said slowly. "I heard the Chen Family has recently been recruiting Loose Cultivators, especially those who understand Formations and are proficient in mechanisms. It's hard to guarantee that none of our own people have been bought off."

"Then purge them," the Chief of the West Desert Sand Clan's eyes turned cold. "I'll check when I go back tonight. Anyone who has had private contact with members of the Chen Family will be detained without exception. It is better to kill by mistake than to let one slip through."

"Kill?" The Supreme Elder of the Leiyin Pavilion frowned. "Isn't that too ruthless? What if it shakes the morale of our troops..."

"Ruthless?" The Chief of the West Desert Sand Clan sneered. "Look at those light beams over there! They are building day and night, and we're here talking about benevolence and righteousness? By the time he fills the Eastern Wasteland with mechs, what will you have left to talk about?"

The campfire popped, sending a spark onto the hem of the robe of the Clan Chief of the Northern Plains Sun Clan. He didn't brush it off, letting it burn a small hole.

"It's not that I don't want to act," he stared at the flames. "I'm afraid—afraid of acting in the wrong direction. The path the Chen Family is taking, we don't understand it. Machine Alchemy, Formation-controlled runes, Mortals wielding immortal arts... Is this an evil path, or a new Dao?"

"Who cares if it's new or old!" The Elder of the Chuanyun Sect looked up abruptly, cold light shooting from his eyes.

"As long as it shakes our Foundation, it is our Mortal enemy! We people rely on Bloodline Legacy and the rules of our ancestors. And them? Letting an outsider madman lead a group of craftsmen, orphans, and wild girls to create some 'Technology Dynasty'? Hah! If this trend continues, what will remain of the orthodox cultivation world?"

"Right! It must be curbed!" The High Priest of the Chiji Ridge slammed his palm onto the ground. "If we let them grow today, tomorrow will be the time we are annexed!"

"Join forces..." the Elder of the Cangling Clan added in a low voice.

"Join forces," the Supreme Elder of the Leiyin Pavilion repeated.

"Join forces," the Chief of the West Desert Sand Clan grinned.

The Clan Chief of the Northern Plains Sun Clan finally sighed. "Fine. I will join in too. But let's make it clear—only pressure, no force. I want profit, not to risk my life."

"Who wants to risk their life?" The Elder of the Chuanyun Sect's mouth curled upward. "We are just... going to show them a thing or two."

Under the reflection of the firelight, seven figures sat in a circle, their shadows merging together like the low growls of a pack of beasts before a hunt.

The Elder of the Cangling Clan suddenly asked, "What do you think Chen Wuwang is doing right now?"

No one answered.

At this moment, inside the main control hall of the Technology Workshop on Qiming Plain, Chen Wuwang was standing before a star map, his fists clenched tight, the fire of ambition burning in his eyes.

He did not yet know that a storm was already brewing in the shadows.

And the source of the storm was quietly spreading from this stone hall.

The Elder of the Chuanyun Sect took one last look at the light beams in the distance, and as he turned to leave, he left behind a sentence: "Tomorrow morning, everyone go back and prepare. Seven days from now, we act simultaneously."

"Remember—" he paused, "the wind hasn't risen yet, but the water underneath is already boiling."

Everyone stood up one after another, their figures disappearing into the night. The stone hall returned to silence, leaving only the embers of the fire to slowly fade out.

A crow flapped its wings and flew past, landing on an empty stone chair. It tilted its head to look at the residual ash marks, then flapped its wings and flew away.