Wang Yin
"No Third Elder, It is Patriarch to you." Wang Yichen replied coldly to his younger brother's attempt to speak cordially.
Wang Yin also knew that his attempt wouldn't work, but with how bad of a situation he was in, it was worth a shot.
"Yes, Patriarch, my apologies." Wang Yin spoke with an insincere bow.
Wang Yin was one of the Elders who weren't convinced of Wang Yichen's appointment to Patriarch. Even though Wang Yichen was the most talented in his generation, Wang Yin, The Third Elder, The Second Elder, and the First Elder all also had Peak Yellow Grade Martial Veins. So even if Wang Yichen was faster than them to reach the peak of the Domain Lord Realm, he didn't have any hopes of advancing like his three brothers.
"So, Third Elder, I assume you know your mistake. Would you like to repent for your sins willingly, or do you want me to force you?" Wang Yichen asked coldly.
"Wait, Patriarch! The servants didn't inform me of what I had done. Can you please grace me with the knowledge of my mistake?" Wang Yin spoke hurriedly.
Though he knew he had made a mistake, Wang Yin assumed it to be a tiny fault. But hearing the solemn words coming from Wang Yichen, Wang Yin knew it wasn't the case. And since he couldn't get out of punishment, he would rather know why it was happening than be in the dark.
While Wang Yichen ruled with an iron fist and was ruthless to any man, he was still a stickler for rules. So after hearing Wang Yin plead ignorance, he pulled out a notebook from his spatial ring.
"10 Years ago, I ordered you to poison Xue Bai, son of Duke Xue Feng, with a High Yellow Grade Vein Swallowing Worm. However, you cheapened out and only fed Xue Bai a Middle Yellow Grade Vein Swallowing Worm. As I didn't believe that Xue Bai would awaken a High Black Grade Martial Vein, and your services to the clan are extensive, I only then punished you by having you assassinate two Peak Domain Lord Realm cultivators. You completed the task successfully, but I warned you then that if Xue Bai does awaken a High Black Grade Martial Vein, you'll regret it." Wang Yichen spoke coldly.
Since Wang Yin could infer where Wang Yichen was going from the first sentence, he had long since turned pale from fright. But out of respect and fear, Wang Yin let his older brother finish his words before speaking.
"Then Patriarch, that Xue Bai awakened a High Black Grade Martial Vein?" Wang Yin asked tentatively.
"Not only that, it even has a Fire Element affinity! Third Elder, so now that you know your crimes are you willing to repent, or do you want me to force you?" Wang Yichen berated as he slammed the armrest of the chair he sat in, turning it into dust.
Wang Yin wanted to fight for himself. However, even though they were both in the same Realm and Stage, Wang Yichen's Domain was much stronger than his own. And a fight would only serve to anger Wang Yichen even more while being beaten into submission.
It was a lose-lose.
So gritting his teeth, Wang Yin knelt down and spoke, "This Elder is willing to repent for his sins."
"Smart man. Then I'll give you your task now. Since you've already made a mess, you should take responsibility and clean it up yourself." Wang Yichen spoke as he stood up from the chair he was in.
"Wait! Patriarch, you don't mean you want me to.." Wang Yin spoke. But before he could finish his sentence, Wang Yichen cut him off.
"You aren't a child. You know what my words mean—no need to say it aloud. You also aren't allowed back into our Wang Clan Estate to ask any Wang Clan members for help or use any Wang Clan resources until you have completed your mission. This includes arrays, formations, and even pills." Wang Yichen spoke as he strode off into the core region of the estate.
Wang Yin, in the courtyard, was now feeling a wealth of anger. Back when he had to assassinate the Peak Domain Lord cultivators 10 years ago, it was much easier. As not only was he allowed to recruit help from the Wang Clan, but he also could use the Space-Sealing Formation of the Wang Clan.
The Space-Sealing Formation of the wang Clan was a Middle Black Grade formation that they had received from their Demonic Sect backer. What it did was seal the space inside the formation. Making whatever was inside sealed inside until the formation was either turned off or broken.
The array was useful for assassinations and sealing powerful beasts that the Wang Clan couldn't defeat. It was only through the Space-Sealing Formation that Wang Yin was able to kill such high-profile cultivators without being chased by their backers.
However, now Wang Yichen told him he wasn't able to use the only treasure that allowed him to complete the last mission. The pills weren't a problem, while not being able to recruit help increased the difficulty a little, but without the Space-Sealing Formation, Wang Yin had no confidence to kill Xue Bai.
Xue Bai was a known shut-in in The Great Xuan Empire. He spent almost all of his life in the Duke Estate. There he was protected by two Peak Domain Lords but also more than a dozen Law Manifestation Realm cultivators too.
And on the off chance that Xue Bai wasn't in the Duke Estate, he was in Snowy Wind City, where Li Huo lived. Li Huo was also a Peak Domain Lord Realm cultivator.
At the minimum, this mission would take a few years to complete, either that or an immense stroke of luck.
Thinking that far, Wang Yin went back to his courtyard to try and finalize a plan before Wang Yichen kicked him out of the Estate.
Xue Feng's Dukedom
Unaware that a Peak Domain Lord Realm Cultivator was now targeting him, Xue Bai was in his room cultivating. Now that he had decided to cultivate the Purification Stages, he planned to waste no time.
Xue Bai gave himself a goal of reaching the Bone Strengthening Realm by 13. But now that he decided to cultivate the Purification Stages, he had 8 more stages on his way to reaching his goal.
And even with his High Heaven Grade Bloodline and Low Heaven Grade Martial Veins, Xue Bai wasn't very confident of advancing 22 stages in 18 months. As even though he was cultivating extremely fast now, the higher his realm got, the slower his cultivation speed would get.
However, the dilemma only served to harden his will even further, and Xue Bai put twice as much effort into his cultivation schedule.
Away from Xue Bai's room, Xiao'er was currently in Li Rou's personal courtyard speaking with her.
"So Bai'er really said all of that?" Li Rou asked with a little bit of shock.
Xiao'er had just explained Xue Bai's confession to her, and hearing it, Li Rou was somewhat at a loss for words. Either her son was a natural-born playboy or a die-hard romantic, but either way, Li Rou was still confused.
Blushing as she remembered Xue Bai's romantic words to her, Xiao'er answered, "Yes, he even gave me a kiss."
Li Rou seeing Xiao'er look like a maiden in love, was feeling a myriad of emotions. But instead of projecting, she walked over to Xiao'er and said, "Xiao'er, even though his words were a confession to you, he said some other cryptic words along with them. He has told Xue Feng and me that the next few decades will be chaotic, to say the least. And with your personality, it's going to be a hard time for you."
"Even so, Mistress, I love Young Master with all of my heart!" Xiao'er couldn't help but interrupt.
However, Li Rou shook her head softly instead of getting angry.
"Xiao'er, sometimes emotions can make humans do unimaginable things. Like how pressure can speed up cultivation or anger can sometimes make us burst out with more power. But love, love doesn't give anything. It's as much a burden as it is a blessing. Bai'er is destined to be a dragon soaring through the heavens. And to stay by his side, you are going to have to find some use. Bai'er even said it himself. He is not sure if he will stay faithful only to you. And even if he promised never to abandon you, sometimes being ignored while being so close to your love is even worse than being thrown away." Li Rou said seriously.
Xiao'er, hearing her words turned pale. Everything that Li Rou said was true and an extremely likely scenario. But to Xiao'er, it was a nightmare. She knew that Xue Bai was most likely going to have more than one wife and was fine with it as long as she was by his side. But what Li Rou said terrified her.
If she stayed her useless self, even if she stayed by his side, Xue Bai wouldn't give her the same amount of attention as he does now.
Xiao'er was confident in her looks and appearance, but throughout the entire Baishen Plane, even if she were in the top 1% of looks, there would still be millions of other women who were more beautiful than her. And there were bound to also be more talented than her in that group as well.
So it wasn't unlikely that a more beautiful, more talented, and more obedient woman would fall into Xue Bai's life.
"Then, Mistress, what do I do?" Xiao'er spoke as she tried to hold back tears. "I don't want to be ignored by Young Master."
"Simple Xiao'er, learn something that is useful!" Li Rou answered.
"Like what, Mistress?" Xiao'er asked as she looked puzzled.
"Hehe, come into my room Xiao'er. We'll talk there." Li Rou spoke mysteriously.
And as confused as Xiao'er was, she could only follow her Mistress.