Silence descended upon the entire hall as the echoes of the last words died away in the ears of the assembled elders.
"And how do you intend to accomplish this, Patriarch?"
Elder Ming Feng leaned forward toward the Patriarch, his expression a mix of perplexity and sharp curiosity.
"We shall—" The Patriarch began, preparing to clarify his plan, but Elder Tianmu cut him off before he could finish.
"Forgive my interruption, Patriarch, but it seems to me you've succumbed to the bias that the Peng Family is solely responsible for this attack!" She narrowed her eyes at him, her tone laced with suspicion. "Do you possess any concrete evidence to prove beyond a doubt that the Peng Family is truly the culprit?"
The Treasury Elder let out a harsh snort. "It is painfully obvious, Tianmu. Even if that wasn't their intention, let me ask you a question that clearly escaped your mind!" He leaned in slightly. "Do you have any idea how those insects bypassed our defenses in the first place, when the entire mountain is protected by the Mountain Array?"
Elder Tianmu’s throat went dry. The question hit her like a cold splash of water; the shock of seeing that ominous bug had indeed stripped her of all logic. Looking around, however, she wasn't the only one—several other elders exchanged sheepish glances, realizing they too had overlooked this crucial detail.
The Patriarch offered a cold, mocking smile. "Heh, precisely, Treasury Elder. That is the exact detail that confirmed my conviction."
Left with no defense, the remaining elders could only stare back awkwardly, trying to swallow the embarrassment slowly creeping through their veins.
"Tell me, Tianmu," the Patriarch continued softly, "what is the art in which the Peng Family excels above all others?"
"Array formations..." she replied, her voice faltering.
Elder Ming Tong gasped. "Don't tell me they breached our formation without us noticing?! Are they truly that formidable?"
Elder Yuan Jin of the Inheritance Pavilion waved his hand dismissively. "Nonsense! If they had the power to breach our array at will, we’d already be fish on a chopping block, entirely at the mercy of the other families."
"Precisely, Yuan Jin," the Treasury Elder said calmly, his eyes half-closed. "They merely tore a microscopic rift in the barrier—just enough to slip those vile insects through."
The Hunting Elder raised an eyebrow. "Is it not possible someone hired an array master from outside our territory?"
The Treasury Elder’s patience finally snapped. "Do you think Array Masters grow like wild weeds in this world? They are among the rarest beings alive! What would a true Array Master be doing in a desolate wasteland like ours? Do you honestly believe one would forgo thousands of spirit stones in the central provinces just for a few crumbs in a forgotten backwater?"
Elder Tianmu tilted her head, trying another angle. "Could the Sect not have intervened? It is teeming with elite talents..."
The Inheritance Elder let out a scoff at her naivety. "And do you truly believe the Sect interferes in the petty squabbles of its subordinates, little girl? If that were how things worked, the Golden Peak Sect wouldn't have maintained its independence for thousands of years. Every faction within it would have long been carved up by powerful clans."
His blunt response silenced the majority of the room. After a heavy beat, the Patriarch finally spoke up, addressing the issue she had raised. Every eye snapped back to him.
"You speak the truth, Elder," he said, his voice dropping an octave into an unyielding tone that brooked no argument. "We will not launch a foolish strike against the Sun Family as the Peng Family desires."
A dense silence settled over the hall.
"Do they not wish to cripple our elixir trade?" the Patriarch asked, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Then we shall give the world exactly what it expects to see. We will announce a severe cut in our elixir exports this season, citing heavy crop losses from this infestation. That alone will send shockwaves through the markets."
He paused, a dark humor touching his features. "In truth, this play works entirely in our favor. Have you all forgotten that the Beast Tide is a mere fifty years away?"
A collective shudder ran through the elders at the mention of that recurring nightmare—the terrifying catastrophe that brought utter devastation every two hundred years.
The Patriarch locked eyes with Elder Tianmu, his voice softening slightly. "As for the remaining supply, it will be moved quietly... through channels that do not bear our family's name."
He said no more.
No further explanation was offered, nor was it needed. The elders exchanged glances heavy with anxiety and burning curiosity. Most of them knew there was far more to this gambit, but not a single soul dared to push further.
"Hmph. Then let the game begin," the Treasury Elder muttered, his voice signaling the end of the council.
One week later...
Ling Hua stood at the edge of his field, his sharp gaze fixed on a small cluster of black beetles scuttling through the remaining weeds—the final five percent that had somehow survived the poison. With practiced speed, his hands wove a swift series of hand seals. Light flickered, and arrow after arrow shot forth, pinning the last silent pest to the dirt.
He wiped the sheen of sweat from his forehead and looked out over his land.
The spirit rice swayed gently in the mountain breeze, its vibrant emerald hue fully restored.
Reaching into his robe, he pulled out the tally token given to him by the Treasury Elder. The number 120 glowed faintly on its surface.
Heh. Who would have thought I’d end up with a haul like this? he thought, a small smile touching his lips. Since my rebirth, I’ve been confined to this mountain. It’s high time I stepped out and saw what this world has to offer.
With a lighter step, he headed toward the peak, entering the familiar, quiet hall of the Treasury.
It was as desolate as ever, with the Treasury Elder sitting at his usual spot, looking as ill-tempered as always.
"What brings a brat like you to visit these old bones today?" the elder grunted without looking up.
Ling Hua placed the token onto the desk, its glowing numbers illuminating the dim wood. "I’d like to exchange half of this for spirit stones."
The elder’s brows furrowed. "And what do you need that much wealth for?"
Ling Hua scratched his neck awkwardly, averting his gaze. "Well... I just want to explore the world a bit. I’ve reached the legal age to travel outside the family grounds, haven't I?"
The elder scoffed mockingly. "And where do you plan to go with that meager First-Layer cultivation of yours? Do you think the outside world is as cozy as the family estate?"
"Which brings me to my second reason for being here, Senior," Ling Hua said smoothly, bowing slightly. "Could you perhaps point me toward a safe destination?"
The Treasury Elder fell silent, tapping his fingers as he pondered. Finally, he nodded. "The safest place for you right now is the Market Town. Our Trade Elder is stationed there. If you go, pay him a visit—you'll be under his protection."
He leaned forward, his voice turning stern. "Head due north. It’s about five miles from here. Keep your eyes open on the road—bandits love greenhorns like you."
He handed over a heavy pouch of spirit stones.
Ling Hua took the pouch, gave a deep bow to the Treasury Elder, and turned toward the open world outside.