“Everyone, settle down,” Wang Hao said, his voice cutting through the anxious murmurs of the clan hall. “Think about it. According to the scouts, six families have mobilized to attack Green Bull Market. That is over twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators, backed by a late-stage expert from the Burning Heaven Sect.”

He swept his gaze across the room, ensuring the gravity of the situation landed.

“If they split their forces to hit us individually, we might manage. But what if they concentrate their power on just a few of us? Who could withstand that? The Wang Clan holds the heritage of alchemy; we are a beacon of wealth in their eyes. We will likely attract the toughest opponents.”

Wang Yanzhao fell silent, brow furrowed in deep thought. After a long moment, he looked up at Wang Hao. “Are you suggesting the five families of our alliance should also combine our forces into one stronghold?”

“Exactly,” Wang Hao nodded. “Whether the enemy splits or concentrates, if we are united, they cannot break us easily.”

“I am afraid that won’t work,” Wang Longyou interjected, shaking his head. “This isn’t just about us. Even if we are willing to abandon our clan grounds, convincing the other four families will be impossible.”

Wang Hao paused. It made sense. Cultivators could run, but resources could not. Spirit fields and medicinal gardens were the lifeblood of a clan, cultivated painstakingly over decades or even centuries. Asking a clan to abandon their foundation was asking them to sever their own limbs.

Furthermore, if the five families did merge, where would they go? They would need a base. Which family’s mountain would be chosen? The bickering would be endless. Crucially, all five families occupied Second-Order Spirit Mountains. None possessed a Third-Order vein capable of sustaining such a massive concentration of cultivators.

Wang Hao sighed, a heavy weight settling in his chest. “In that case, we have no choice. We must take the initiative. We have to strike first and cull their numbers. Only then can we break out of this passive position. If we sit and wait, the initiative—and our lives—will remain in their hands.”

“I believe this plan is feasible,” Wang Longyou said, the first to voice his support. “The other four families surely know that defending separately is a death sentence, yet they cannot bear to abandon their lands. A preemptive strike is the only middle ground.”

Wang Yanzhao, Wang Yanzhi, and the other elders nodded in agreement.

“We must act quickly,” Wang Hao said, his tone decisive. “Uncle Sixth, please go and contact the other three families. I will handle the Li Clan. We need a commitment: two Foundation Establishment cultivators and ten late-stage Qi Refining clansmen from each family. With such an elite force, even if the attack fails, we can retreat safely.”

The Wang Clan moved with terrifying efficiency. Having already captured the enemy scouts, they had blinded the opposition. The other four families, having also intercepted spies, needed little convincing. They understood the stakes. While the Ye Clan and their allies waited for the Burning Heaven Sect’s official command, unaware of the doom looming over them, the Green Bull alliance was already sharpening its blades.

Years of fighting demon beasts side-by-side had forged a tacit understanding between the five families. Facing a crisis of survival, no one dared to hold back. Every clan dispatched their strongest lineup.

The Wang Clan sent three Foundation Establishment experts: Wang Hao, Wang Longyou, and Wang Yanzhi. Leading the Qi Refining squad was Wang Yanpeng, a Perfection-stage cultivator who had survived a failed attempt at Foundation Establishment.

To ensure the safety of the rear, Wang Yanzhao and Wang Wenyuan remained behind. Wang Yanzhao’s vast experience was the bedrock of the clan’s defense; with him manning the protective formation, the clan could hold out even if attacked while the main force was away.

The Li Clan dispatched Li Yaozu and Li Derong.

Li Yaozu arrived with a bitter expression. In recent years, the Li Clan’s fortune had been enviable; they had obtained several Foundation Establishment Pills and six clansmen had successfully broken through. If given a few decades of peace, the Li Clan would have experienced a golden age. They wouldn’t have needed the Ye Clan to start a war; the Li Clan would have been the ones expanding their territory.

But time waited for no one.

Currently, three of the Li Clan’s Foundation Establishment experts were overseas. Of the five remaining at home, two had only recently broken through using pills Li Derong had brought back. Their cultivation was unstable, and their combat power limited. Thus, Li Yaozu had no choice but to bring the experienced Li Derong, leaving the weaker members to guard their mountain.

The coalition gathered at a secluded rendezvous point.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, we have discussed it,” Lei Liheng said, his eyes narrowing into a smile that didn’t quite reach them. “We must move like lightning. If we can crush two or three of their families, this crisis dissolves. As for the spoils of war… whoever contributes the most, takes the most. What do you think?”

The six families of Maple Leaf Market were not weak. Years of accumulation made them a juicy slab of meat. However, Lei Liheng knew the Green Bull alliance lacked the appetite—and the teeth—to swallow the entire market whole. This was a raid, a smash-and-grab operation.

In Lei Liheng’s mind, he was a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Even if the Wang Clan sent three experts, their combined weight might not tip the scales as heavily as he did alone. The Lei Clan intended to take the lion’s share.

“Very well, I agree,” Wang Longyou replied, his face a mask of righteous solemnity. “However, our primary goal is survival, not plunder. Fellow Daoists, do not lose sight of the priority. Let us not make fatal errors for the sake of trivial resources.”

Wang Longyou’s stance was calculated. With Wang Hao by his side, the Wang Clan technically fielded one more expert than the others. This ensured they would receive a hefty share regardless, but also allowed them to manage any unexpected variables. He wasn’t afraid of the others pulling stunts.

Lei Liheng smiled and nodded, accepting the terms.

“Is everyone here?” Wang Longyou scanned the group. “We must act before the Maple Leaf families can gather. If they fortify their positions, we lose our window. Even if we breach their walls, they will just counterattack later if their main forces remain intact.”

“The Zhao Clan has not arrived,” Li Yaozu noted.

Lei Liheng’s expression remained placid. “Is that so strange? The Zhao Clan is the furthest away. The journey likely delayed them. Let us wait a bit longer.”

The political lines were already being drawn. Since the Wang and Li Clans had grown closer, the other three families had formed their own bloc. Through frequent intermarriages, the Lei Clan had subtly positioned itself as the leader of this trio. Naturally, Lei Liheng would cover for the Zhao Clan.

“Senior Lei is correct! The road was long, and we were delayed. My apologies.”

A boisterous voice rang out as Zhao Gaofang and Zhao Gaoquan strode into view, leading a contingent of Zhao cultivators.

“Good. We are all here,” Wang Hao stepped forward, taking charge of the briefing. “Let us discuss the attack route. According to our intelligence, the Ye Clan of Double Dragon Mountain is the spearhead of the enemy coalition. It is highly likely they host reinforcements from other families. We should not risk striking a hardened target.”

He pointed to a map floating in the air with spiritual energy.

“Of the remaining five, the Xu Clan of North Mountain, the He Clan of Fengcheng, and the Gu Clan of Red Maple Lake are the strongest. They will likely form the main assault force against us. My proposal is simple: we decapitate one of them. We have eleven Foundation Establishment cultivators, plus Senior Lei, a late-stage expert. Even the Gu Clan, the strongest of the lot, cannot stand against us.”

Wang Hao spoke slowly and clearly. As the architect of this strategy, he commanded the room’s attention. The Wang and Li Clans backed him implicitly. The other three, sensing the logic, offered no resistance.

After an hour of debate, a consensus was reached.

Phase one: Crush the Gu Clan of Red Maple Lake. They were close and powerful. Phase two: Sweep west to obliterate the adjacent Si Clan. With only two Foundation Establishment cultivators, the Si Clan would be easy prey. Phase three: Adapt. If the rest of Maple Leaf Market remained in disarray, they would hit the He Clan. If the enemy rallied, the alliance would take their spoils and retreat.

Crippling two families and killing six enemy Foundation Establishment experts would shift the balance of power decisively. Unless the enemy commander was brainless, the war would end before it began.

The Gu Clan of Red Maple Lake boasted a heritage spanning eight hundred years, older than any of the five families of Green Bull Market. Their estate hugged the shores of the massive lake, their wealth flowing from the water itself.

It took the coalition ten days to reach the Gu territory. The need for stealth had slowed their march significantly.

Lei Liheng stepped forward, his aura flaring slightly. He volunteered the Lei Clan to spearhead the assault on the main residence.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, Fellow Daoist Li,” Lei Liheng said, pointing to two subsidiary peaks on the map. “The Gu Clan’s Black Wind Mountain and Clear Dew Peak both possess Second-Order Spirit Veins. Your families are powerful; why not take these two locations?”

Wang Hao exchanged a glance with Wang Longyou. It was a predictable move. Just as the Wangs wouldn’t put all their eggs in one basket, the Gu Clan wouldn’t keep all their experts in the main hall. They would station guardians at their core resource points.

Dividing the forces was necessary. The Lei Clan wanted the glory—and the treasury—of the main peak. Wang Hao didn’t mind. The side peaks would offer less resistance, and potentially, safer profits.