Mother's Vengeance Avenged, Ten Years of Planning the Conquest of Chu

The words of Qin De echoed in Qin Yu's ears like a thunderclap. The truth about the Ying Clan bloodline weighed upon his heart like a massive boulder. Looking at the grief and expectation in Qin De's eyes, and recalling the years he had spent under the "Qin" surname, enduring grueling training at Cloud Mist Villa, the shock in his heart gradually transformed into an indescribable sense of mission—he was not merely the Third Prince of the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion, but a descendant of the First Emperor Qin and the heir to the Ying Clan bloodline.

"Father, I... I understand." Qin Yu's voice was slightly hoarse, yet exceptionally firm. "Our Qin Family are the descendants of the Ying Clan, the descendants of First Emperor Qin."

Qin De nodded heavily, a glimmer of relief flashing in his eyes. "Good child, it is enough that you understand. For the past hundred years, the Qin Family has endured in silence, taking root in the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region to accumulate strength while secretly searching for an opportunity to one day restore the glory of the Ying Clan and overthrow the enemies who destroyed the Qin Dynasty and hunted down our kin."

"Enemies?" A sharp glint flashed in Qin Yu's eyes. "Father, do the enemies who destroyed the Qin Dynasty still exist today?"

Xu Yuan, standing to the side, slowly closed his folding fan and spoke with a grave expression. "Third Prince, those who destroyed the Qin Dynasty were the remnants of the Six States led by the Xiang Clan. The current royal family of the Chu Dynasty, the Xiang Family, are the direct descendants of that very Xiang Clan, and they were the most ruthless enemies who hunted down the Ying Clan! The founding emperor of the Chu Dynasty was an ancestor of the Xiang Clan, and the current Chu Emperor, Xiang Guang, is even more vicious and ambitious. For years, he has been eyeing our Qin Family, wishing to eliminate us at any cost."

Qin Feng added, "Third Brother, the reason our Qin Family has been able to stand firm in the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region all these years is, firstly, due to the foundation left by our ancestors, and secondly, due to Father's strategic planning and the assistance of the immortal Feng Yuzi. However, Xiang Guang has never abandoned the idea of annexing our family. He has secretly caused us many setbacks over the years, and border frictions have never ceased."

Qin Zheng also said in a deep voice, "What is even more hateful is that Xiang Guang is cruel and treats human life like grass. Within the Chu Dynasty, he oppresses the people and exploits the villages. Countless loyal officials have been persecuted by him, and from the court to the common folk, people dare to be angry but dare not speak."

Qin Yu listened quietly, the fire of rage gradually igniting within him. He had never imagined that the Qin Family and the Xiang Family of the Chu Dynasty shared such a deep blood feud, or that his ancestors had suffered such brutal persecution. Yet, he still had one question, a question buried for twelve years that he could no longer hold back. "Father, there is one more thing I do not understand. My mother... how did my mother, Jing Yi, actually pass away?"

As these words fell, the atmosphere in the great hall turned heavy. Qin De's face instantly darkened, his eyes flashing with intense grief and guilt. He clenched his hands so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and the aura around him became chaotic. Qin Feng and Qin Zheng lowered their heads with sorrowful expressions, while Xu Yuan shook his head gently, his eyes filled with pity.

Seeing this, Qin Yu's heart tightened, and an ominous premonition surged within him. "Father, could it be... could Mother's death also be related to the Xiang Family?"

Qin De slowly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot. His voice was hoarse and heavy, every word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth. "Yes. Yu'er, your mother's death was not an accident; she was murdered by that dog Xiang Guang!"

"Boom!"

This sentence struck Qin Yu's heart like a thunderbolt. He stood up abruptly, his body trembling slightly, his eyes filled with disbelief as he roared, "Father, what did you say?! Mother was murdered by Xiang Guang? That's impossible! Mother died of illness; everyone in the mansion said so!"

"Died of illness?" Qin De let out a miserable laugh, the grief in his eyes threatening to overflow. "That was what I intentionally had people say! Your mother came from a noble family and was gentle and virtuous. We were deeply in love, but that dog Xiang Guang coveted her beauty. He summoned her to his chambers under the guise of a banquet, intending to humiliate her. Your mother was strong-willed and refused to submit, so he killed her in a fit of rage. Feng witnessed it with his own eyes at the time."

"Feng told me this later; otherwise, if he had burned everything to the ground back then, we would never have known the truth." Qin De's voice choked. "I was burning with rage and wanted to raise an army to crusade against Xiang Guang immediately, but the Qin Family's power was not strong enough then, and the Xiang Family had cultivators backing them. If we had started a war, the Qin Family would have been wiped out. I had to endure it, lying that your mother died of illness, just to preserve the family, to protect you, and to wait for a chance at revenge!"

Qin Yu stood rooted to the spot, his body cold and his mind blank. He felt as though he had never truly known his mother; her face appeared only vaguely in his mind. He had always believed she died of illness, and while he felt regret, he had never imagined she had been cruelly murdered—and that the culprit was the current Emperor of the Chu Dynasty, Xiang Guang!

A sky-high rage erupted from the depths of his heart, instantly sweeping through his entire body. This fury was even greater than the anger he felt upon learning of the Ying Clan's persecution, and more intense than the hatred for the blood feud between the Qin and Xiang families—it was the pain of losing a mother, the grief of a loved one being harmed, and an irreconcilable hatred!

"Xiang Guang!" Qin Yu gritted his teeth, enunciating the name syllable by syllable. His eyes were bloodshot, and his Xiantian aura surged wildly, nearly spiraling out of control. "I, Qin Yu, swear here: in this life, I will execute Xiang Guang, destroy the Chu Dynasty, avenge my mother, avenge my Ying Clan ancestors, and avenge everyone who has been harmed by the Xiang Family!"

His voice was resonant and powerful, carrying an unshakable determination that echoed through the empty council hall, moving everyone present.

Seeing Qin Yu's grief-stricken appearance, Qin De felt a mix of guilt and relief—Qin Yu had grown up; he possessed the mettle of a Ying Clan descendant and the resolve for vengeance. He reached out, patted Qin Yu's shoulder, and said in a deep voice, "Yu'er, Father knows the pain and anger in your heart. I, too, want to avenge your mother immediately, but the Xiang Family's power is vast, and they have powerful cultivators behind them. We cannot be impulsive."

"Impulsive?" Qin Yu turned his head sharply, a flash of urgency in his eyes. "Father, must we continue to endure? Are Mother's vengeance and the ancestors' vengeance to be forgotten just like that? I cannot wait; I want to avenge Mother now!"

As he spoke, the image of Yun Ce flashed through his mind. His master was a powerful expert at the Nascent Soul Late Stage, with unfathomable strength. If his master took action, the mere Chu Dynasty and the mere Xiang Guang would be nothing but dust!

"Father, Big Brother, Second Brother, I have a way!" Qin Yu said with a glimmer of light in his eyes and an urgent tone. "My master, the immortal Yun Ce, is a Nascent Soul Late Stage expert with heaven-defying strength. As long as I implore him to act, he can directly destroy the Chu Dynasty by force and execute Xiang Guang. Revenge will be within reach!"

At these words, everyone in the hall brightened. A glimmer of hope flashed in Qin De's eyes—he had already witnessed the strength of the immortal Yun Ce; he was an unfathomable Nascent Soul expert. If they could persuade him to act, destroying the Chu Dynasty would indeed be no difficult task. Qin Feng and Qin Zheng nodded repeatedly, their faces filled with anticipation, and Xu Yuan's eyes flashed with a thoughtful glint.

"Good! Good!" Qin De said excitedly. "Yu'er, quickly, return to Cloud Mist Mountain at once and implore the immortal Yun Ce to act! As long as the immortal is willing to help, the Qin Family will exhaust all its resources to repay his kindness!"

Qin Yu did not hesitate in the slightest. He turned and ran toward the door, calling out as he went, "Father, Big Brother, Second Brother, wait for me! I am going to ask my master to act, and I will be back soon!"

Watching Qin Yu's hurried departure, Qin De's heart was filled with expectation, and Qin Feng and Qin Zheng were equally excited. Only Feng Yuzi frowned slightly and whispered, "Your Highness, the immortal Yun Ce is a great expert of the cultivation world. Will he truly take action?"

Hearing this, the excitement in Qin De's heart cooled slightly, and his brow furrowed. He had been so focused on revenge that he had forgotten what he learned through Feng Yuzi: the more powerful a cultivator, the less interested they are in mundane affairs. Would the immortal Yun Ce really make an exception?

Back at Cloud Mist Villa, in Qin Yu's small courtyard.

Yun Ce was still sitting cross-legged, his spiritual energy circulating slowly as he enjoyed his leisure time. Sensing Qin Yu's hurried return—and feeling his aura, which was chaotic and filled with grief and urgency—Yun Ce slowly opened his eyes, a flicker of confusion crossing them.

"Master!" Qin Yu rushed into the courtyard and fell to his knees before Yun Ce, his eyes filled with tears, his voice choking. "Master, I beg you to act! Please, help me take revenge!"

Seeing Qin Yu's grief-stricken state, Yun Ce felt a slight stir in his heart and raised a hand to signal him to rise. "Yu'er, what has caused such agitation? Speak slowly."

Qin Yu stood up, wiped the tears from his face, and told Yun Ce everything he had learned—that the Qin Family were descendants of the Ying Clan, their blood feud with the Xiang Family, and the truth about his mother, Jing Yi, being poisoned by the Chu Emperor, Xiang Guang.

After finishing, Qin Yu bowed to Yun Ce again, his tone incredibly earnest. "Master, I beg you to act! Use your power to destroy the Chu Dynasty and execute Xiang Guang to avenge my mother and my Ying Clan ancestors! With your strength, destroying the Chu Dynasty would be nothing more than a flick of your finger!"

Yun Ce listened quietly, his eyes devoid of ripples. Destroying the Chu Dynasty and executing Xiang Guang was indeed easy for him. With his Nascent Soul Late Stage strength, a single strand of spiritual energy would be enough to raze the Chu imperial palace to the ground, and Xiang Guang, a mortal emperor, would be even more vulnerable.

Subconsciously, he wanted to agree—Qin Yu was his disciple, the Child of Destiny he was deeply bound to; his disciple's enemies were his own. Moreover, destroying the Chu Dynasty posed no difficulty for him and would not consume much of his spiritual energy.

But just as he was about to agree, the unspoken rule of the cultivation world surfaced in his mind—a consensus implicitly followed by all high-level cultivators: "Cultivators shall not participate in the wars of the mortal realm."

Yun Ce shook his head slowly and said in a calm tone, "Yu'er, I cannot agree to this."

"What?" Qin Yu looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief, the anticipation on his face instantly replaced by disappointment. "Master, why can't you agree? Xiang Guang murdered my mother and persecuted countless loyal officials. Destroying the Chu Dynasty would be an act of justice for the people! And with your strength, it would be effortless, so why can't you act?"

Looking at the confusion and grief in Qin Yu's eyes, Yun Ce showed no impatience. His tone was gentle yet carried a sense of gravity as he explained, "Yu'er, it is not that I am unwilling to help you take revenge, but there is an iron law in the cultivation world—a rule followed by all high-level cultivators: cultivators must not participate in the wars of the mortal realm."

"Why?" Qin Yu asked urgently. "Master, you are a cultivator with great power; can you not decide the fate of mortals? Xiang Guang is cruel and unrighteous; destroying his dynasty is a good thing!"

"You do not understand," Yun Ce said, shaking his head gently. "Cultivators and mortals do not exist on the same plane. Once we reach the Nascent Soul Realm or higher, we can summon wind and rain, move mountains and fill seas; with a mere gesture, we can destroy cities and topple nations. If we intervene in the wars of the mortal realm and act at will, it will inevitably lead to devastation, leaving corpses across the land and causing countless innocent mortals to perish."

"Furthermore, the rise and fall of mortal regimes have their own destiny; they are part of the cycle of the Heavenly Dao. If a cultivator forcibly intervenes and alters the fate of the mundane world, it will disrupt the order of heaven and earth, causing an imbalance that could even trigger divine punishment and invite the backlash of the Heavenly Dao." Yun Ce's tone grew increasingly grave. "Therefore, high-level cultivators at or above the Nascent Soul Realm generally follow the unspoken rule of 'non-interference in mortal politics.' Even when they witness the strife of the mortal world, they do not act lightly."

Qin Yu listened quietly, the grief and urgency on his face gradually replaced by calmness. Although he remained unwilling, he understood Yun Ce's predicament—his master was not unwilling to help, but could not violate the rules of the cultivation world, trigger divine punishment, or cause countless mortals to suffer an unjust fate.

"But, Master..." Qin Yu's voice carried a hint of a sob. "Does this mean my mother's revenge will just be forgotten? Can that dog Xiang Guang just continue to roam free?"

"Of course not." Yun Ce looked at Qin Yu, a sharp glint in his eyes as he said firmly, "While I cannot act directly to destroy the Chu Dynasty or intervene in the mortal war, I can help you eliminate the cultivators of the Xiang Family. The Xiang Family is able to stand firm in the Chu Dynasty and suppress other factions not only because of their mortal armies, but more importantly, because they have cultivators backing them."

A glimmer of light instantly flashed in Qin Yu's eyes, and he asked urgently, "Master, what do you mean?"

"The Xiang Family has three core cultivators," Yun Ce said slowly, his tone calm yet carrying absolute confidence. "The Xiang Family ancestor, Xiang Yang, is a Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator and the pillar of the Xiang Family. Wu Xing is a Golden Core Mid Stage cultivator, and Wu De is a Golden Core Late Stage cultivator; his strength is even greater than Wu Xing's, and they are the two top combatants under Xiang Guang."

"In the future, if your Qin Family and the Xiang Family of the Chu Dynasty go to war, you must resolve the mortal conflicts yourselves; I will not interfere. However, if these three cultivators of the Xiang Family dare to intervene in the mortal war and harm the people of the Qin Family, I will take action and execute them one by one." Yun Ce looked at Qin Yu and promised solemnly, "With me here, the cultivators of the Xiang Family will never be an obstacle on your path to revenge!"

Upon hearing this, hope ignited in Qin Yu's eyes, and the disappointment on his face vanished instantly. He bowed deeply to Yun Ce, his tone filled with immense gratitude: "Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master! With your word, disciple can finally rest easy! As long as the cultivators of the Xiang Family are removed, the Xiang Family will lose their greatest backing. Our Qin Family will surely be able to overthrow the Chu Dynasty and avenge my mother!"

Yun Ce nodded slightly: "Hmm. But you must remember, the path of vengeance cannot be rushed. The Xiang Family has managed the Chu Dynasty for many years; their influence is vast and their military strength is formidable. Even without cultivators guarding them, they cannot be toppled overnight. You need time to prepare, to accumulate strength, and to wait for the perfect opportunity."

"Disciple understands!" Qin Yu nodded heavily, his eyes full of determination: "Master, I will return now to tell my father. Our Qin Family is willing to prepare slowly, accumulate strength, and wait for the moment of vengeance!"

Having said this, Qin Yu bowed to Yun Ce once more, turned around, and hurried down the mountain to return to the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion.

Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion, main council hall.

Qin De, Qin Feng, Qin Zheng, and Xu Yuan were waiting anxiously for news from Qin Yu, their expressions varied, filled with both anticipation and worry.

"Father, why hasn't Third Brother returned yet? Could it be that Immortal Master Yun Ce is unwilling to intervene?" Qin Zheng could not help but ask, his tone tinged with concern.

Qin De's brows were tightly locked, his heart filled with unease: "It is hard to say. The rules of the cultivation world are strict; perhaps the Immortal Master is truly unwilling to break precedent. If the Immortal Master refuses to act, it will be difficult for us to overthrow the Chu Dynasty and exact our revenge."

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from outside the hall. Everyone immediately looked up to see Qin Yu walking quickly into the hall, his face devoid of any disappointment, filled instead with determination and hope.

"Yu'er, how did it go? Is Immortal Master Yun Ce willing to help?" Qin De asked eagerly, leaning forward slightly, his eyes full of expectation.

Qin Yu walked up to Qin De, bowed, and said slowly: "Father, although Master cannot directly intervene to overthrow the Chu Dynasty or meddle in the wars of the mortal realm, he has promised us that when we go to war with the Xiang Family in the future, he will help us eliminate the three cultivators of the Xiang Family—the Xiang Family ancestor Xiang Yang, at the Nascent Soul Early Stage; Wu Xing, at the Golden Core Mid Stage; and Wu De, at the Golden Core Late Stage."

As soon as these words were spoken, the eyes of everyone in the hall lit up, and the worry on their faces was instantly replaced by joy.

"Good! Good!" Qin De stood up excitedly, his tone filled with immense fervor: "With this promise from Immortal Master Yun Ce, it is enough! The cultivators of the Xiang Family are their greatest backing. As long as these three are removed, the Xiang Family will be like an eagle with broken wings, no longer able to suppress our Qin Family!"

Qin Feng also said excitedly: "That's right, Third Brother! With the help of Immortal Master Yun Ce, we have no more worries! That dog Xiang Guang will surely die this time!"

Xu Yuan slowly closed his folding fan, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes as he said in a steady tone: "Prince, Third Prince, although we have the help of Immortal Master Yun Ce to remove the Xiang Family's cultivators, we must not let our guard down. The Xiang Family has managed the Chu Dynasty for many years; their military is strong and their foundation is deep. If we wish to overthrow the Chu Dynasty, we still need time to prepare."

"Uncle Xu Yuan is right." Qin Yu nodded and said: "Master also told me that the path of vengeance cannot be rushed. We need time to accumulate strength and wait for the best opportunity."

Qin De took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, his expression becoming solemn: "Xu Yuan speaks the truth. The Xiang Family's influence is vast; we cannot act impulsively. From today on, our Qin Family will accelerate the Conquest of Chu plan and prepare in secret."

His gaze swept over Qin Feng, Qin Zheng, and Qin Yu as he said sternly: "Feng'er, you are responsible for reorganizing the troops of the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region, training new recruits, and increasing the combat effectiveness of the army. At the same time, secretly contact the anti-Xiang forces within the Chu Dynasty to accumulate strength."

"Yes, Father!" Qin Feng bowed and accepted the order.

"Zheng'er, you are responsible for managing the Qin Family's industries, gathering grain, weapons, and funds to prepare the supplies for the war against Chu. Meanwhile, secretly investigate the Xiang Family's troop deployments and movements to gather intelligence."

"Yes, Father!" Qin Zheng also bowed and accepted the order.

Qin De's gaze finally landed on Qin Yu, his eyes full of expectation: "Yu'er, you continue to cultivate with Immortal Master Yun Ce and improve your strength as quickly as possible. Ten years—I give you ten years. I hope that after ten years, you can grow into a powerhouse and join us in leading the army to conquer Chu, overthrow the Xiang Family, and avenge your mother and the ancestors of the Ying Clan!"

Qin Yu looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with resolve. He bowed deeply to Qin De, his tone ringing with strength: "Father, rest assured! This child will not fail the mission! Within these ten years, I will surely cultivate diligently to improve my strength. Ten years from now, I will lead the army to conquer Chu, slay Xiang Guang, overthrow the Chu Dynasty, and complete the great cause of vengeance!"

Qin Feng and Qin Zheng also bowed in unison: "Please rest assured, Father! We will do our utmost to prepare. Ten years from now, we will conquer Chu, exact our revenge, and restore the glory of the Ying Clan!"

Xu Yuan also bowed to Qin De: "Prince, this subordinate will surely assist with all my heart, devising strategies for the Qin Family's conquest of Chu, and serve until my dying breath!"

Qin De looked at everyone before him, his eyes filled with determination. He knew the path of vengeance was destined to be filled with obstacles and hardships. He had been preparing for a long time, and with ten more years of preparation, he believed that as long as the Qin Family worked together, coupled with the help of Immortal Master Yun Ce, they would surely be able to overthrow the Chu Dynasty, exact their revenge, and restore the glory of the Ying Clan ten years from now!

The setting sun shone through the windows of the hall, casting a golden glow upon their determined faces.

In the small courtyard on Cloud Mist Mountain, Yun Ce watched the direction in which Qin Yu had departed, a profound look flashing in his eyes. He knew that Qin Yu's path of vengeance was also his path of growth, and as Qin Yu grew, his own cultivation realm would continue to rise, bringing him ever closer to the goal of shattering the void and roaming the universe.

Ten years was enough for Qin Yu to grow into a powerhouse, and enough for the Qin Family to accumulate formidable strength.

The Xiang Family of the Chu Dynasty, Xiang Guang, Xiang Yang, Wu Xing, Wu De... A sharp glint flashed in Yun Ce's eyes as he thought to himself: "You have already paved your own path to destruction."