Exterminate the Yu Clan (Bonus Chapter)

"I still think clans are graded by population. But the greatest difference is that small clans have peak strength of Qi Sea, mid clans are often Half-Step Soul Forging, and the Kingdom should only have Mid Soul Forging Realm cultivators"

"Then we are a mid-clan?" Yu Yan asked feeling confused.

"Well, no, because your Half-Step Soul Forging Elders are gone," Hei Ying teased.

"Actually it's because they can't sustain that power for long. And if they go any higher to use their intent, they'll die. The categorization follows cultivation realms, not battle Prowess. The Imperial Palace, for example, has an old woman whose strength reaches peak soul forging. Fought her to a standstill"

Yu Yan was just about to apply seasoning to the chicken when he froze.

"When?" he asked.

"Don't worry, she'll never recognize me." Hei Ying brushed him off.

Soon, the Red Maidens sent an announcement through the clan inviting all to gather before the Eternal Courtyard to listen to the Patriarch's address.

Yu Yan walked up the step of a newly created platform, his form gentle and ethereal like the day he first appeared before the crowd.

There were fewer people in the clan now. Mostly those who had peaceful lives and no ambition. There were still a select few who were playing the waiting game and acting as spies for those who already left.

Sitting on the elevated platform, Yu Yan waved for Number 8 to read from a scroll he provided her.

"Henceforth, the Yu Clan is no longer involved in mortal affairs. We will seal the mountain and no longer involve ourselves with the ways of the world. Anyone who leaves within the next moon cycle is no longer a member of the clan."

Number 8 paused glancing through the speechless crowd before continuing.

"The difference between direct Bloodline disciples and external disciples has been eliminated. All are Direct Descendants of the Yu Clan. Anyone marrying outside the Clan must maintain the family name of Yu, and any outsider marrying into the clan can be brought up the mountain, and their descendants will be treated as one of us."

"A new Hall will be opened. The Hall of Exchange. Here our new clan currency will be exchanged for resources. To earn Clan Points, you must complete missions posted by the Hall of Exchange. Points will be recorded in your Identification Tablet along with your name and information, if you lose your tablet, report immediately to the Disciplinary Hall."

"Entry into the Hall of Records now requires an Entry Token which can be purchased from the Hall of Exchange. Entry Tokens can also be given to outsiders to allow them entry into Yu Mountain. All Tokens except In-law Tokens have an expiration timer and holders must exit the clan or Hall of Records after expiration."

"Tokens can be acquired from the Hall of Exchange after a full moon cycle"

Number 8 finished, and the procession of Black Guards and Red Maidens instantly faded into darkness and disappeared, stunning the crowd.

Everyone returned home feeling baffled, excited, or worried. A moon cycle was only a few days, not enough time to hatch a scheme.

Two days later within the Capital, a meeting was held in the Upper Room of a luxurious lodge. Here dignitaries of the Divine Blood Empire gathered together with some representatives of a few large clans.

There were sixteen people in the room and two figures wearing oversized dark robes.

Everyone knew these figures were from the Imperial Palace's Inner courtyard, but no one knew who they represented; they could only speculate.

"What do we do now? The Emperor is adamant in reserving the mine for the Yu clan." one of the figures exclaimed.

"Has anything been discovered about the formation around the Yu Mountain?" a skinny old man asked, his gaze fixed on the Chu Clan Elder Feng.

Shifting uncomfortably at the attention of so many powerful people, Elder Feng cleared his throat.

"The formation is not very powerful but it is also growing in power over time. Now it should take the combined force of three Qi Sea Realm cultivators to break it. But the problem will still be facing the consequences from the Emperor after the fact. If we allow more time to pass, we might not be able to get into the Yu Clan once the new changes are implemented" Elder Feng feigned confidence as he replied. After all, his clan had marital ties with a power from the Central Continent.

"Schemes won't work this time, there is not enough time. If there is no Yu Clan, the Empire will have no choice but to reclaim the mountain and the mine in it. Then we can all discuss how to split the mining," Another figure wearing the Imperial Censor, Robes, commented, his tone expression his urgency.

"First we need to find out why the Emperor is restrained before them"

"That's not a secret. The Yu Clan has talent in cultivating intent but also has a curse limiting their Qi Cultivation; otherwise, none of us would qualify to even mention their name. The clan Protectors can display battle prowess equal to Half-Step Soul Forging Realm but they'll die after. Even quicker if they use the intent of above Half-Step " one of the dark robes explained.

"But we have absorbed all their Protectors and some Elders in preparation for a full-blown attack" the second robed figure added.

"How can you be sure they won't strike out to defend the clan in the last moment?" the Imperial Censor member asked.

"They have no reason to, we've helped them break their oath. Only the clan Patriarch has a true binding oath. But the curse still remains; they left their clan because they don't want to die; why will they forfeit their lives now?"

"Are we doing this or not?" The Imperial Censor asked, his tone stretched higher.

"We'll send one mid-stage Soul Forging Realm Cultivator," one of the robed figures spoke out.

Everyone was shocked by this. Why use an axe to kill a chicken? But they also understood that by doing this, they had a higher share of the Yu mine.

"Two Late stage Qi Sea" the Imperial Censor quickly added. The better fighters one sent, the more share they would get from the cake.

"One Early Qi Sea..."

"Two..."

The others continued to vote and a date was soon set and agreed on for the attack.

As long as no evidence was found that they were responsible, there was nothing the Emperor could do other than order the reclamation of the Mountain. Stealing from the Empire was easier than stealing from the Yu Clan. After all, they would be the ones in charge of it. It was just a matter of exaggerating or reducing numbers. Nothing they weren't already doing.

With the Imperial Censor involved, there won't be any serious investigation and even if there was, they still had the support of the back Palace. Not that any evidence would be left behind anyway.

Time passed and it was soon a day to the end of the moon cycle. A lot had happened in the Yu Clan this time. All those with ulterior motives left as they already knew of the impending attack.

Those remaining were those who remained loyal to the clan and those who had no prospects of reaching greater heights outside it. Since wherever they could go was equal to the Yu Clan, there was no need to leave the clan in the first place.

Even if they left to join a sect, the sect would not throw resources at them for no reason. They would still get as many resources as they were already getting now, so what was the point?

Sitting cross-legged in his courtyard, Yu Yan slowly opened his eyes and turned to Hei Ying who wore a bright smile on her face and a sword in hand.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked curiously.

"Your world and fighting techniques are more than a few levels below mine, what do you think?" Hei Ying asked back.

Based on the difference in Cultivation Techniques alone, she was fully confident in herself. Not to mention the bloodline abilities and intent she had cultivated. Even if the opponent was a whole realm higher than her, in this world, she was fully confident.

"Need help with the strays?" Yu Yan continued to ask.

"Just sit there and look handsome for me" Hei Ying winked before fading into the darkness.

Red and embarrassed, Yu Yan rubbed on his nose bridge. His eyes caught Number 8, who stood by his side. Although he couldn't see her eyes, he could hear them saying, "You are married"

Forcing himself to wear a stoic expression, he looked up at the night sky counting the stars.

"I won't tell," Number 8 suddenly said, and his expression faltered.

While they joked, Hei Ying appeared in front of a group of black robes figures attacking the barrier to Yu Mountain by the stream.

Their eyes widened in shock at her sudden appearance from the darkness.

"Hello," Hei Ying greeted wearing a smile.