"Clan Leader, I still think asking Zhiran to lead the clan isn't the right thing. This guy is very erratic and hot-headed. He cannot be trusted."

When Mo Tianyu saw Zhiran leave the meeting room, he finally opened his mouth and complained slightly.

He felt that he alone was enough for everything, and there was no need for another leader, especially if that person was Mo Zhiran.

"Haha… Tianyu, this isn't the time for nitpicking others. This is the time to unite and fight for the family."

Mo Jian heard his complaint and laughed, as if he didn't care what Tianyu thought of Zhiran.

In truth, what he wanted was a fighter anyway. As long as Zhiran could kill a few monsters for the family, it was enough.

He would just give him a few mid-grade spirit stones as a reward, as an investment.

In fact, his thoughts were very similar for Tianyu too. The only reason he was more invested in him was because of Yan Xi and her true background.

That was also the reason why he gave a secret mission to him, unlike Zhiran, who was only told to fight for the family.

"Tianyu, forget about these things. In fact, fighting monsters isn't even our priority. But the mission I gave you is even more important. Are you sure you are confident?"

Mo Jian suddenly changed the topic and asked lightly. Although he personally checked Tianyu's strength before giving such a heavy task, he was still uncertain.

If not for those damn clan leaders on his back, he would have done it himself. Unfortunately, after today's discussion, it seemed impossible.

So, at last, he could only rely on Tianyu, who could withstand the force of a Foundation Establishment cultivator without a scratch.

"Clan Leader, rest assured. Since you are sure of that place, I will definitely retrieve what you want from there. If there are no Foundation Establishment cultivators around, nobody is a match for me."

Tianyu said lightly, his eyes shining slightly.

He had even almost killed a Foundation Realm cultivator before. What was there to worry about in such a small mission?

It was just whether he would really give that thing to Mo Jian after retrieving it that remained to be seen.

"Then, that's good. Haha… I knew I could count on my nephew."

Mo Jian nodded happily at his words. As long as he got that treasure, he could finally climb to the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

With that done, he still had hope of attempting the Gold Core stage.

'Definitely!'

**

'Clan Leader is surprisingly generous. He even gave me middle‑grade spirit stones.'

Zhiran looked at the ten raw mid‑grade spirit stones in his storage ring and thought.

For a Qi Condensation cultivator, ten such stones were truly a windfall.

And seeing how raw and unpolished they were, he already understood what Mo Jian was trying to do.

It was nothing more than attempting to entice him into fighting with his life on the line.

After all, if he could get ten of these before even fighting, how much could he get afterward?

To be honest, if Zhiran had been naive and loyal to the clan, he might really have thrown everything he had into this battle like Mo Jian wanted.

'This guy really knows how to lure others.'

Zhiran shook his head and pushed aside such thoughts.

Instead, he took out the jade array Elder Yan Yue had given him and activated it, covering the entire room in a transparent shield.

After making sure nobody could spy inside, Zhiran finally took out a few items from his mana ring.

There were several white jades exuding a sharp, visible coldness; a piece of dark metal radiating demonic energy; some unknown soil; a dew‑like substance; and a bottle containing oil.

'Fortunately, I bought these things beforehand. Hopefully, they're enough to make Yin Soul Beads.'

Zhiran thought solemnly.

After the incident with Han Luo, he had become extra cautious. There was no way he would enter a battle involving a Foundation Establishment cultivator unprepared.

Although he was strong, his normal means weren't enough to fight someone a whole realm above him.

While he was confident he could escape with his life, he lacked any technique or weapon that could directly harm a Foundation Establishment cultivator, at least not with a righteous method.

'Let's see… to make a Yin Soul Bead, I first need to form the array.'

After laying out the materials, Zhiran began drawing an array on the ground using the Dark Moon Essence.

It wasn't complex, just something to help converge Yin energy at a single point.

Once the simple array was finished, Zhiran lifted a piece of white jade with his spiritual energy and placed it in the center.

This was the Yin Jade he had bought from a demonic cultivator in Azure Flame City.

If he wanted to make a Yin Soul Bead, a proper container was necessary.

With Yin Jade and Nether Cold Iron as the base, and Corpse Oil supplying demonic energy, he could easily form a bead capable of restraining a cultivator's soul for a short moment.

In essence, it was a cheap version of the Wuyin Puppet he had used before, just temporary and unstable.

But Zhiran didn't care as he wasn't trying to trap anyone this time.

He just needed something effective against someone in the Foundation Realm.

In Zhiran's view, if someone was stronger than him, the smartest method was to strike their weak point.

And the soul was undeniably the weakest point of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, wasn't it?

Especially if it also worked on that mysterious soul backing Tianyu.

'Kek… who knows? I might even be able to get some revenge on that bastard this time.'

Zhiran smirked and continued focusing on refining the Yin Soul Beads. He needed as many as possible before the expedition.

After all, in this battle, he wouldn't be lacking any resentful souls to complete the Yin beads, not to mention all the heads from which he could extract brains at the same time, hitting two birds with the same stone.

Just the thought of it made Zhiran feel even more invigorated.

**

[Outskirts of the Spiritfang Mountains]

Today was the day of the Mine Subjugation that the four clans of Mistvale City had agreed upon.

Even before the sun rose, all four clans had left their mansions and quietly entered the Spiritfang Mountains, gathering at a remote location.

All four clan leaders were already there, including Mo Jian, scouting the mountains ahead and planning the battle.

As the only Foundation Realm cultivators present, they had a crucial role: dealing with the Wolf King and its subordinates so the lower‑realm members could clean up the remaining mobs.

Zhiran was also here, alongside Mo Tianyu and the group of clan members they were tasked to lead. Similar formations could be seen in the other clans.

'Surprisingly, Yan Xi didn't tag along. Seems she didn't realize,' Zhiran thought, glancing behind Tianyu with curiosity.

After all, since Mei Xuan was present, there seemed to be no reason Yan Xi couldn't be here as well.

'Maybe Clan Leader warned Tianyu not to disclose this, so the Mystic Exchange Alliance wouldn't get wind of the mine… hmm. But why the hell is this girl still with him? What is she planning?'

He could understand Yan Xi not being present due to her strained relationship with Tianyu.

But Mei Xuan? She didn't have such a relationship with Tianyu either, not yet, in such a short time.

Then why was she part of this subjugation?

Not to mention, she had even changed her plans abruptly before.

'I need to be careful of this demoness,' Zhiran thought, recalling Mei Xuan's true identity.

If he could use dark forbidden methods as a bona fide demonic cultivator, there was no reason she couldn't as well.

Such a person was extremely dangerous, with countless unpredictable methods at her disposal.

"Hmm?"

Just as Zhiran was looking at Mei Xuan, as if sensing his gaze, she also looked in his direction.

Then, as if finding something amusing, she suddenly smiled mischievously, unlike her usual self.

Her playful look was a stark contrast to her timidity from before.

'Sure enough, this girl has some bad plans.'

Zhiran thought and then ignored her completely. Although he was cautious about her plans, if she really got in his way, he didn't mind killing her with his Yin Beads.

He was sure that even she might not have the ways to protect her soul.

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