54: Chapter 54 The minor clans are stirring; a storm is brewing.

The Jade Slip's projection cast a cold light in the dark cavern; in the footage, twelve mechas were arrayed like stars, and before the sword's edge even fell, the stone pillars had already shattered.

A mountain breeze snuck through the crevices, causing the flame to flicker and casting its light on three tense faces.

"One person controlling twelve machines... and even vibrating the target pillars into powder?" The representative of the Wang family spoke with a trembling voice, his fingers gripping the edge of the stone table tightly. "This isn't sword practice; he's using machines as Puppets!"

The elder of the Zhao clan said nothing, merely rewinding the playback of the "Star-Breaking Slash" once more.

At the moment Chen Xiaodao waved his hand, the twelve mechas resonated in sync, making it seem as if a hole were being torn in the air. His throat bobbed as he swallowed:

"If this were aimed at a person, who below the Nascent Soul stage could withstand such a strike?"

The young deacon of the Li family sneered, "Their Chen family isn't 'cultivating immortality' anymore; they're 'creating gods'."

Silence fell over the cavern for a few moments after those words. No one refuted them.

A moment later, the Zhao elder slowly stood up and walked to the still-flickering projection, reaching out to pause it at the instant Chen Xiaodao sheathed his sword.

"Three days ago, we could still sit at the negotiating table to discuss the distribution of the Spirit Spring." He said in a low voice, "Three months from now, I'm afraid we won't even be qualified to enter their mountain gates."

"So?" The Li family deacon raised an eyebrow. "Are we really going to wait until their mechas cover the Eastern Wasteland and then beg on our knees for a sip of water?"

"Not beg." The Zhao elder's gaze turned cold. "We take it back."

The three looked at each other; no more words were needed. The Wang family representative took out a communication talisman, channeled spiritual energy with his fingertips, and whispered an order: "Increase the scouts. Keep a close eye on the Artifact Refining Workshop and the energy ports of the Clan-Protecting Formation. Report three times a day. Furthermore—"

He paused. "Contact the Sun, Zhou, and Wu families. Tell them... the Chen family's new path is moving too fast. As old neighbors, we need to discuss how to keep up."

The communication talisman flashed with a faint light and vanished from his palm.

At the same time, inside the study of the Chen family's main city, the candlelight burned steadily, the wick not flickering once.

Chen Wuwang leaned back in his chair, two fingers of his right hand lightly tapping the tabletop in a steady, unhurried rhythm, as if counting heartbeats.

A deacon stood before him, sweat on his brow, speaking in a very low voice:

"Traces of spying were found on the southeastern ridge. The other party left cleanly, but there are residual fluctuations from a communication talisman. The direction points toward the temporary camp of the Three Borderland Clans."

"Let them watch." The corner of Chen Wuwang's mouth curled up, but there was no hint of a smile in his eyes. "The more clearly they see, the better."

The deacon was stunned. "The Family Head doesn't plan to drive them away?"

"Drive them away?"

He gave a light chuckle and swept his gaze over the other man. "I spent so many resources creating this sword formation for what? To make the clansmen happy? For my own satisfaction?"

He stood up, cloak unfastened, his silver hair reflecting a cold tone under the candlelight.

"I want everyone to know—the Chen family can not only fight, but fight with their brains. Now that they've seen it with their own eyes, they're panicked, they're in disarray, and they're starting to band together."

He paced to the window, looking toward the faint spiritual mist rising from the direction of the Artifact Refining Workshop. "This is only the beginning."

After speaking, he turned toward the door. "Go and call Tiezhu here."

A quarter of an hour later, Chen Tiezhu pushed open the study door, still carrying the burnt scent of the furnace, his sleeves stained with runic ink.

The first thing he said upon entering was: "Is there a problem with the sword formation? I just checked the main control chip; there's no issue."

"It's not about the mechas." Chen Wuwang handed him a cup of hot tea and motioned for him to sit. "It's about people's hearts."

Chen Tiezhu took it with a frown, blew on it, but didn't drink.

"The three clans have already begun to coordinate."

Chen Wuwang's tone was calm, as if discussing the day's weather. "Someone recorded the demonstration just now and has already sent it out. In the coming days, more eyes will be on us—not just to watch the show, but to look for weaknesses."

Chen Tiezhu set down the teacup, the porcelain base making a crisp clack against the table.

"Then let them look. I dare say right now that in the entire Eastern Wasteland, no one understands better than us how to run Spiritual Energy Pipelines most stably or where to carve runes to save the most material. They want to steal our techniques? Fine, let them first learn how to run ten furnaces simultaneously without blowing them up."

"I'm not worried about them learning," Chen Wuwang shook his head. "I'm afraid they'll be driven to desperation."

The two were silent for a moment.

The sound of the patrol team's footsteps came from outside the window, rhythmic and uniform, approaching from afar and then gradually fading away.

"Listen carefully," Chen Wuwang said suddenly, his voice dropping. "The Artifact Refining Workshop is to suspend trial production of new models. Divert all manpower to reinforce the energy core of the Clan-Protecting Formation. Especially the two main supply lines on the west and south sides—replace them all with double-layered protective pipes and install monitoring Spiritual Glyphs at the joints. Inspect them twice daily and keep records."

Chen Tiezhu's brow furrowed into a knot. "The formation's energy has always been stable; nothing has happened in three years. Why move it now? If it causes a fluctuation..."

"It won't." Chen Wuwang interrupted him. "I've already calculated seven rounds of data. The optimal construction window is today and tomorrow. Just do as I say."

"But..." Chen Tiezhu still wanted to argue.

"Don't make it too obvious." Chen Wuwang raised a hand to stop him. "Treat it as routine maintenance. Tell the public it's an early overhaul to prepare for the spring thunderstorm season. Don't let anyone see who we're defending against."

Chen Tiezhu stared at him for a few seconds before finally nodding. "Fine. I'll go back and arrange it now."

He stood up to leave but was called back.

"One more thing." Chen Wuwang leaned back again, his fingers resuming their tapping. "Install Neural Induction Locks on all maintenance passages. If unregistered personnel approach, trigger an automatic alarm. Oversee this yourself."

"Understood." Chen Tiezhu complied and turned to leave, his footsteps a bit heavier than when he entered.

The study became quiet once more. The candlelight flickered slightly as a breeze snuck in through the window gap.

Chen Wuwang didn't move, still sitting there, the sound of his fingers tapping never stopping—once, then again, like some kind of countdown.

Meanwhile, in the underground section of the Artifact Refining Workshop, the lights were brightly lit.

Chen Tiezhu stood before the first main energy pipeline, dipping an iron pen into Red Copper Ink, and wrote the words "Complete Level 3 protection upgrade within seven days" on a stone slab.

The firelight reflected on his face, half bright and half hidden in shadow.

"Master," a young artisan approached. "Do we really have to dismantle this section? This is a new pipe we just replaced last year; it's perfectly fine."

"If the Family Head says to move it, there must be a reason." Chen Tiezhu didn't even look up as he forcefully carved the final stroke. "Just do as you're told."

He straightened up and looked around at the core artisans who had gathered:

"Starting tonight, we work in three shifts. The west district pipelines take priority, and the backup furnaces in the north district are to be on standby at all times. If anyone slacks off—"

He patted the heavy hammer at his waist. "I'll use this to reason with him."

Everyone fell silent and dispersed to carry out their orders.

Chen Tiezhu stayed behind alone, squatting down and pressing his palm against the cold metal wall of the pipe.

He closed his eyes to sense it for a moment, his brow twitching slightly—the spiritual flow was steady, with no abnormalities at all.

But he knew that some things had not yet surfaced.

Outside the mountains, the night was as dark as ink.

A scout from the three clans huddled deep in the dense forest, his Jade Slip playing that "Star-Breaking Slash" footage once more.

When the footage ended, he exhaled deeply, tucked the Jade Slip into his robe, and whispered to himself:

"The news has been delivered. Next... we'll see how they fight."

He looked up toward the Chen family's main city; the lights there were sparse, appearing tranquil.

But he knew that some gears had already begun to turn quietly.

Chen Wuwang was still sitting in the study, the candlelight unextinguished. His right hand stopped tapping, but his left hand slowly gripped the corner of the table.

Outside the window, a night owl swept past the eaves, its wings cutting through the silence.

There was no wind, no omen, only an impending weight hanging heavy in the air.