Yun Xi narrowed her eyes slightly, having understood what Dian Dian meant.
"I'll have the Flying Mist Butterfly keep an eye on the Wei family. Wei Nanfeng doesn't have much time left. Even if he turns malicious, he won't be able to threaten me."
Dian Dian's beady black eyes darted around before it asked cautiously "Master, is there something wrong with the rejuvenation elixir you gave him?"
Yun Xi smiled. "Of course. That was a batch of 'Huayan' personally refined by me. It'll make sure he dies at the peak of his beauty."
"Master, you poisoned the Ancestor on the first day the Wei family arrived. Isn't that risky if someone finds out?"
Yun Xi waved the concern away. "No harm done. His lifespan was already nearing its end. No one would think to suspect me."
Dian Dian tilted its head, thinking, then asked again, "What about the Patriarch and your father?"
"One received my Golden Core Formation Pill and is now the real power behind the Wei family. Why would he betray me? As for the other—there's no need to talk. Just crush him with brute force. Besides, with Wei Lingyue's cowardly and selfish nature, even if he has doubts, he wouldn't dare speak up."
Yun Xi had everyone figured out to a precise degree. Honestly, if the entire Wei family hadn't moved to Haoran City, she wouldn't have even considered using Wei Nanfeng to test the effects of Huayan. But circumstances unfolded, one after another, until it reached this point.
Wei Nanfeng had once cultivated in the Haoran Sect. There were bound to be old acquaintances in the sect, not to mention Wei Chenyin had already warned her—Zuo Qiu Zhēnjūn, a powerful figure in the sect, still hadn't shown himself.
Yun Xi absolutely could not allow these people to reconnect with Wei Nanfeng. Even more so, she wouldn't let them become allies to Wei Yunqing. Anyone with sense could guess how dissatisfied Wei Nanfeng was with her. The only reason he was acting docile now was that he couldn't confront her directly.
So it was obvious what Wei Nanfeng's next move would be—he would use her on the surface, suppress her in secret, and gradually shift the family's resources toward Wei Yunqing.
There was no way she'd let that happen.
Letting her opponent grow stronger using resources she provided? She'd have to be a fool. So, she chose to strike first—while he had just arrived in Haoran City, still unguarded, even trying to cozy up to her.
She began with the major surprise of the Millennium Shouyuan Fruit, sending Wei Nanfeng into euphoric disbelief. Then came the rejuvenation elixir, with special emphasis that it was the only one of its kind. Even if he grew suspicious and wanted to test it on someone else, he'd be too reluctant to waste it.
To seal the deal, she brought out the formula of the rejuvenation elixir as a final reassurance. That completely disarmed his wariness, and he drank the Huayan willingly. Once he saw the immediate effects with his own eyes, he had no room left for doubt.
Even if, afterward, he grew uneasy about his rashness and wanted to double-check the elixir's effects, he wouldn't find a trace of anything wrong. The poison arts of the Yixian Gate were the sect's ultimate safeguard—and completely undetectable by outsiders.
Things unfolded just as Yun Xi had anticipated. Once Wei Nanfeng returned to his quarters and calmed down, he started regretting his earlier impulsiveness. He immediately sat cross-legged and used his divine sense to examine every single meridian in his body.
He confirmed again that the elixir was still nourishing his body. His physical form was undergoing visible rejuvenation. Apart from the unchanged age of his bones, the rest of him looked no different from his eighteen-year-old self. Only then did he relax.
Wei Nanfeng concluded that Yun Xi's sudden flattery was simply an attempt to mend their strained relationship. Besides, back when the family was still in Kunyu City, they were too far to offer her support. Now that the family had relocated to Haoran City, helping her would be much easier. If Yun Xi wanted the family's backing, of course she had to curry favor with him.
He convinced himself this was all perfectly logical, and in a very good mood, slipped into cultivation. He had to keep himself in peak condition until he obtained the Longevity Pill.
Wei Lingtiao, after receiving the Golden Core Formation Pill, finally felt reassured. He threw himself fully into arranging accommodations for the clan. Later, Elder Han from the Haoran Sect's inner circle lent a hand. Many matters were settled smoothly without much trouble—though the necessary spirit stones were still paid in full.
Even so, Wei Lingtiao was sincerely grateful. With Elder Han personally accompanying them, those families that usually judged by appearances gave the Wei family some respect. They managed to secure housing for over six hundred people and even purchased two storefronts—solid starting points for the Wei family's foothold in Haoran City.
It took a full half month before everything was properly settled. From here, the Wei family could begin planting roots and growing.
To express his gratitude, Wei Lingtiao gifted Elder Han a storage pouch. Although the elder had only helped because of Yun Xi's influence, as the family head, Wei Lingtiao understood that ignoring such social niceties would only hasten the family's decline.
Elder Han gladly accepted the pouch. When Wei Zhēnrén had asked for his help, she'd told him clearly that whatever the Wei family offered, he could keep without guilt. He had indeed gone out of his way to smooth over several complications for them, so he took the gift without reservation.
After sending Elder Han off, Wei Lingtiao returned to his own quarters. He was preparing for closed-door cultivation and had decided to temporarily hand over family matters to the elders. Now that the Ancestor's condition had improved, they could consult Wei Nanfeng when difficult decisions arose. This way, he could focus entirely on achieving Golden Core formation.
Just then, Wei Lingyue paid him a visit. After some small talk that wandered all over the place, and just as Wei Lingtiao was beginning to lose patience, Wei Lingyue finally got to the point.
"Lingtiao, was there a Golden Core Formation Pill in the storage pouch Yun Xi gave you? If there is, I hope you can give it to me. I want to form my core as soon as possible—I don't want to embarrass Yun Xi."
Wei Lingtiao's eyes glinted. So his own elder brother had hurt that girl so badly that she would rather give the pill to her second uncle than her own father. Of course, he had no intention of betraying Yun Xi's intentions.
He shook his head. "What Yun Xi gave me were spirit stones, basic pills, and talismans ranging from first to third grade. A Golden Core Formation Pill is incredibly valuable—there wasn't one. She did give you a storage pouch too. I thought she prepared one separately for you."
Wei Lingyue's face darkened, clearly uncomfortable with that answer. But he could only shake his head.
"She didn't."
He then fixed a sharp gaze on Wei Lingtiao, as if trying to judge whether he was lying.
Wei Lingtiao's eyes flashed with disdain, and he made a direct vow. "I swear, there was no Golden Core Formation Pill in the storage pouch Yun Yun Xi gave to the family. If I'm lying, may I never form my Golden Core, even in death."
As soon as he finished speaking, the laws of heaven responded, sealing the vow. Wei Lingyue, who had still harbored doubts, looked awkward and embarrassed. He knew full well that if his younger brother dared to swear on his Golden Core formation, he must be telling the truth.
Wei Lingtiao didn't bother hiding his irritation and picked up a teacup to see his guest off. What he said was the truth, and he felt no guilt. That pill had been given to him personally by Yun Xi, and there had indeed been none in the pouch.
Wei Lingyue had no choice but to return to his courtyard, disgruntled. He began thinking about how he might subtly ask Yun Xi for a Golden Core Formation Pill—though he still couldn't bring himself to swallow his pride.
A month later, the news that Wei Lingtiao had successfully formed his Golden Core finally forced Wei Lingyue to let go of that pride.