In the end times, many children bring more blessings. I pick up a goddess every day.

The night was as dark as ink... Liu Yang's figure sped through the forest... Yin-Yang spiritual energy condensed into a pale golden vortex beneath his feet... Each leap covered several meters... He returned to the village in less than half an incense stick's time. A faint candlelight shone through the paper window of the west wing... Su Qingyao sat at the table... her fingers unconsciously stroking the teacup... clearly worried about him.

Hearing a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy outside the window, Su Qingyao looked up sharply, quickly walked to the window, and opened it. Seeing Liu Yang return safely, her heart instantly settled, and a hint of joy appeared in her eyes: "Master...you're back! Did you encounter any danger?"

"It's alright... The Li family's defenses are looser than expected... We weren't discovered." Liu Yang leaped into the room, closed the window, and said in a serious tone, "I overheard their plot outside the Li family's main hall—Li Hong will summon the Wang family and other families to the Li family's residence tomorrow under the guise of a 'City Lord's Mansion meeting'... In reality, he's setting up an ambush... to take advantage of the situation and eliminate the Wang family... while luring us out. Moreover, the Black Wind Valley people have already laid a trap around Qingyang City... As soon as we show ourselves... we'll be surrounded and attacked."

Su Qingyao's expression changed slightly: "Wouldn't the Wang family be in danger? They're still in the dark... If they really go to the Li family's base... they might fall into a trap."

“That’s right…so we must deliver the message to the Wang family before tomorrow’s meeting.” Liu Yang said in a deep voice…“The Wang family and the Li family are cooperating on the surface…but in reality they are wary of each other…as long as they know that Li Hong wants to annex the Wang family…they will definitely not sit idly by. At that time, the Li family will be attacked from both sides…and our pressure will be greatly reduced.”

Su Qingyao nodded... but quickly frowned again: "But the Wang family must have spies in the Wang family's territory... How can we meet Wang Kun, the head of the Wang family? And Wang Kun might not believe us... After all, we are now 'criminals' wanted by the Li family."

This is indeed a difficult problem. Liu Yang pondered for a moment... his gaze fell on the Ice Thunder Token in his storage bag—Zhao Qian had given him the Ice Thunder Token before his death... and as a token recognized by the four major families of Qingyang City... it might be the key to gaining the trust of the Wang family.

“Got it.” Liu Yang took out the Ice Thunder Token… The token glowed with a faint bluish-green light under the candlelight… The lightning and ice patterns on its surface intertwined… emitting a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy… “This Ice Thunder Token was a gift from Zhao Qian… As one of the four great families… the Wang family must recognize this token. As long as we can take the Ice Thunder Token to Wang Kun… and tell him about the Li family’s collusion with Black Wind Valley… he should believe us.”

Su Qingyao's eyes lit up: "This method is feasible! The Ice Thunder Token carries enough weight... For the sake of his family's safety... even if Wang Kun has doubts about us... he will send someone to verify the information."

"There's no time to lose... let's head to the Wang family's base now." Liu Yang carefully put away the Ice Thunder Token... then took out the Yin-Yang Sword from his storage bag—the blade gleamed with a pale silver light... the moment he grasped the hilt... ice and fire elemental energies flowed through his palm... "The Wang family's base is located east of Qingyang City... about thirty miles from here... we need to hurry... and try to see Wang Kun before dawn."

Without further delay, the two quietly pushed open the door and, after confirming that the old woman in the courtyard was fast asleep, leaped over the wall and sped off towards the east side of Qingyang City. The mountains and forests were silent in the night, with only the two figures cutting through the air, leaving faint trails of spiritual energy.

Half an hour later... the outline of a cluster of buildings vaguely appeared ahead—that was the Wang family's residence... the walls were made of blue bricks and stones... slightly smaller than the Li family's residence... but more ancient. There were no obvious restrictions around the residence... only a few early Foundation Establishment cultivators patrolling at the gate... appearing exceptionally low-key.

Liu Yang and Su Qingyao hid behind a large tree not far away, observing the situation at the Wang family's stronghold. "The Wang family's defenses are more lax than the Li family's...it seems they haven't realized Li Hong's plot yet," Liu Yang whispered. "Let's climb over the east wall...there are fewer patrolling cultivators there...it'll be easier to infiltrate."

Su Qingyao nodded... and followed Liu Yang toward the eastern wall. The two circulated their spiritual power... suppressing their aura to the lowest level... and like two shadows, they swept across the ground... silently vaulting over the wall, which was about three zhang high... and landing in the courtyard of the Wang family's residence.

The courtyard was planted with many precious medicinal herbs... a faint medicinal fragrance permeated the air... clearly the Wang family was skilled in alchemy. The two walked along the shadows of the corridor... towards the main hall deep within the compound—the main hall was brightly lit... obviously Wang Kun was still inside handling affairs.

Just as they reached the vicinity of the main hall... a cultivator dressed in a blue robe suddenly emerged from around the corner... bumping right into the two. The cultivator's cultivation was at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage... upon seeing Liu Yang and Su Qingyao... a hint of wariness flashed in his eyes... just as he was about to call out... a wisp of Yin-Yang spiritual energy thrown out by Liu Yang sealed his throat.

"Don't make a sound... We're here to see Patriarch Wang Kun... We mean no harm." Liu Yang lowered his voice... He injected a wisp of spiritual energy into the cultivator's sea of ​​consciousness... conveying goodwill... "If you can help us see Wang Kun... we can tell you a piece of news that concerns the survival of the Wang family."

A struggle flashed in the cultivator's eyes... but he finally nodded—he could feel the faint pressure emanating from Liu Yang... and knew that the other's cultivation was far superior to his own... so resistance would be futile.

The cultivator led the two around to a side hall behind the main hall... then quickly walked towards the main hall... clearly to inform Wang Kun. A moment later... a slightly plump, kind-faced middle-aged man followed the cultivator into the side hall... he was wearing a brocade robe... a jade pendant engraved with the character "Wang" hung at his waist... his body was surrounded by the spiritual energy fluctuations of the late-stage Foundation Establishment peak—it was none other than Wang Kun, the patriarch of the Wang family.

Upon seeing Liu Yang and Su Qingyao, Wang Kun's eyes flashed with a hint of doubt, which quickly turned into wariness: "Who are you? Why are you breaking into my Wang family's territory in the middle of the night?"

Liu Yang didn't waste any words... He directly took out the Ice Thunder Token and placed it on the table: "Senior Wang... I am Liu Yang... This Ice Thunder Token was entrusted to me by Senior Zhao Qian before his death. I came here tonight... to inform you of a major matter—Li Hong is colluding with the rogue cultivators of Black Wind Valley... Tomorrow, under the pretext of a meeting... he will lure you into the Li family's territory... and take the opportunity to annex the Wang family!"

"The Ice Thunder Token?" Wang Kun's gaze fell on the token... his pupils contracted slightly—he had known Zhao Qian for many years... so he naturally recognized the token. But upon hearing the news of "Li Hong colluding with Black Wind Valley"... he still frowned... his tone carrying a hint of doubt... "You say Li Hong colluded with Black Wind Valley? Do you have any evidence? And since you possess the Ice Thunder Token... why are you wanted by the Li family... and accused of 'murdering Zhao Qian'?"

“Li Hong issued a warrant for my arrest... to seize the Ice Thunder Token... He fabricated the rumor that I killed Zhao Qian... just to have a pretext for his actions.” Liu Yang said in a deep voice... “As for the evidence... Last night, I infiltrated the Li family's territory... and personally overheard Li Hong's conversation with the leader of Black Wind Valley—Black Wind Valley sent fifty rogue cultivators... who have already laid an ambush around Qingyang City... Tomorrow during the meeting... they will coordinate from within and without... to attack the Wang family. In addition... Li Hong also promised Black Wind Valley five hundred high-grade spirit stones... as long as they help capture me... and obtain the Ice Thunder Token.”

Wang Kun remained silent, his fingers lightly tapping the table, clearly weighing the veracity of the news. His collaboration with Li Hong to suppress the Zhao family was originally aimed at seizing power in Qingyang City. Now, hearing that Li Hong wanted to annex the Wang family, he couldn't help but feel wary—he had long been aware of Li Hong's ambition, but he hadn't expected the other party to be so impatient, even colluding with the rogue cultivators of Black Wind Valley.

“If you don’t believe me, senior… you can send someone to investigate near the Li family’s residence… most of the rogue cultivators in Black Wind Valley wear black and act ostentatiously… making them easy to identify,” Liu Yang added. “Moreover, Li Hong will definitely have cultivators lying in ambush around the residence for tomorrow’s meeting… as long as you observe carefully, senior, you will be able to find clues.”

Just then... a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the side hall... a Wang family cultivator strode in... and said in a panic, "Patriarch... something bad has happened! The disciple we sent to scout near the Li family's residence has returned with news... saying that there are many black-clad cultivators lying in ambush around the Li family's residence... those people are wearing the Black Wind Valley's insignia!"

Wang Kun suddenly stood up... a flash of shock and anger in his eyes—this news confirmed Liu Yang's words... he finally believed that Li Hong had indeed colluded with Black Wind Valley... and was plotting something sinister.

"That Li Hong! How dare he scheme against my Wang family!" Wang Kun gritted his teeth... then looked at Liu Yang... his tone softened considerably... "Thank you for informing me of this, young friend Liu... if it weren't for you... my Wang family would probably have fallen into Li Hong's trap."

“Senior, there’s no need to be so polite… I’m only doing this to protect myself,” Liu Yang said. “Li Hong’s target isn’t just the Wang family… but also the Ice Thunder Token in my possession. Now that we have a common enemy… why don’t we join forces to break this deadlock? We’ll have a meeting tomorrow… Senior, you can bring enough cultivators to the Li family’s base… I’ll secretly cooperate… Once Li Hong and the people from Black Wind Valley make their move… we’ll attack them from both sides… catching them completely off guard.”

Wang Kun pondered for a moment... then nodded and said, "Alright! We'll do it your way! My Wang family has twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators... three of whom are in the late Foundation Establishment stage... Although Black Wind Valley has fifty people... most of them are rogue cultivators below the mid-Foundation Establishment stage... As long as we coordinate properly... we might not be unable to win a battle."

Then... the two began to discuss the specific plan: Wang Kun would, as agreed, take the Wang family cultivators to the Li family's residence for a meeting tomorrow... pretending to be completely unaware... while secretly having the cultivators prepare for battle; Liu Yang, along with Su Qingyao, would sneak into the dense forest near the Li family's residence in advance... waiting for the right moment—once Li Hong gave the signal to attack... Liu Yang would immediately launch an attack... restraining the rogue cultivators of Black Wind Valley... while Wang Kun would lead the Wang family cultivators to counterattack... attacking from both inside and outside... dismantling Li Hong's ambush.

After the discussion, dawn broke. Wang Kun arranged for his cultivators to prepare for battle, and at the same time gave Liu Yang a Wang family identity token: "With this token, you can move freely near the Li family's base tomorrow without being accidentally harmed by my Wang family's cultivators."

Liu Yang accepted the token... and bowed, saying, "Thank you, senior. I will now go to lie in ambush near the Li family's base... and wait for your signal tomorrow."

“Alright.” Wang Kun nodded…and personally escorted the two to the back gate of the Wang family’s residence…“Be careful…Tomorrow’s battle…is related to the survival of the Wang family…and also to your safety.”

Liu Yang and Su Qingyao bid farewell to Wang Kun and headed towards the Li family's residence. It was already dawn, and pedestrians began to appear on the official road. The two changed back into gray cloth robes, disguising themselves as ordinary rogue cultivators, and slowly made their way along the road to avoid attracting attention.

Half an hour later... the two arrived at a dense forest near the Li family's encampment—about a mile away... the trees were thick... perfect for an ambush. Liu Yang chose a higher hillside... planted the Yin-Yang Sword beside him... and began circulating the "Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Unity Technique"... to recover the spiritual energy consumed during the night's journey. Su Qingyao stood guard nearby... while simultaneously refining the Qingyuan Pill that Liu Yang had given her earlier... to consolidate her late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.

The sunlight gradually rose higher... filtering through the gaps in the leaves and casting dappled shadows on the ground. Around 3:45 AM... a series of orderly footsteps echoed in the distance—Wang Kun was leading twenty Wang family cultivators... towards the Li family's encampment. The Wang family cultivators wore long blue robes... with "Wang" tokens hanging from their waists... their expressions were calm... showing no sign of abnormality... clearly ready for battle.