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Their purpose was not plunder or conquest, but something far more sinister. It was to gather the bones of the villagers.

This was because these bones, once stripped clean of flesh and marrow, would serve as the macabre building blocks for a monumental project – a demonic array formation in the form of a towering altar.

This ritual, steeped in ancient symbols, was designed to achieve two objectives.

Firstly, it would enhance the cultivation potential of an entire generation of White Bone Sect disciples, granting them a twisted power fueled by the stolen life force of the innocent.

Secondly, the ritual would serve as a crucible, selecting a single disciple to be anointed as the Holy Son – a champion destined to lead the White Bone Sect to dominance over the righteous sects.

The news of this atrocity spread like wildfire, igniting a storm of outrage across the land.

The slaughter of a village, especially one under the supposed protection of the Emerald Sea Palace, a prominent Righteous Sect, was a slap in the face to all who sought to maintain order.

The general public, already simmering with discontent, erupted in anger. This wasn\'t just about a single village; it was about the blatant disregard for human life displayed by the demonic sects. Fear gripped the hearts of many, a chilling reminder that even under the watchful eyes of the Righteous Sects, no one was truly safe.

The economic repercussions were swift and severe. The flow of resources – rare ores, precious herbs, and even powerful artifacts – that flowed from the common folk to the Righteous Sects began to dwindle. People, unwilling to invest in their supposed protectors who couldn\'t even safeguard villages, tightened their pouches.

The pressure was immense. The Righteous Sects couldn\'t afford to turn a blind eye. They had a responsibility, a duty to uphold the balance between light and dark. This demonic ritual, this perverse attempt to empower an entire generation of darkness, had to be stopped.

War of words began to circulate.

Meetings were held, strategies discussed.

The Righteous Sects knew they had to act, and act decisively.

The fate of the land, the very balance between good and evil, hung in the precarious balance of their response.

The morning sun cast a golden glow across the Xia Family Manor, its rays peeking through the intricately carved windows of Xia Bingling\'s chamber. Inside, the woman sat at her mahogany desk, a scowl etched onto her face as she scanned scrolls filled with tedious reports of regional squabbles and minor resource disputes.

Beside her lay a crumpled newspaper, its headline a stark reminder of the unsettling event that had transpired the night before.

"White Bone Sect Slaughters Village! Emerald Sea Palace Faces Public Scorn," the bold letters declared. Xia Bingling had skimmed the article earlier, the details of the atrocity leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. However, the chaos it caused seemed a distant concern, a problem for the sanctimonious Righteous Sects and their fumbling attempts at control.

Suddenly, the chamber door creaked open, and Wang Li entered, his usual playful demeanor replaced by a furrowed brow. Gone was the teasing glint in his eyes, replaced by a seriousness that made Xia Bingling raise an eyebrow in surprise.

She had expected the usual morning greeting – a playful hug, a whispered innuendo, a brush of his hand against her bare arms.

Instead, he walked straight to her bed and sat down, his gaze fixed on her.

For a moment, Xia Bingling expected him to lean in, his lips searching for hers. But he remained seated, his hand tapping rhythmically against the silk bedspread. The silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable.

"Bingling," Wang Li said finally, his voice devoid of its usual charm. "Did you read the news?"

Disappointment flickered across Xia Bingling\'s face. "Of course I did," she replied, her voice a touch sharper than usual. "The White Bone Sect\'s barbarity is no secret."

"Exactly," Wang Li said, his voice rising slightly. "Don\'t you see the potential here? This isn\'t just some unfortunate event, it\'s an opportunity for the Xia Family."

Xia Bingling scoffed. "Wang Li, darling," she said, her tone laced with amusement. "We\'re not equipped to get involved in the squabbles between those self-righteous sects and the demonic scum. Let them clean up their own mess."

Wang Li leaned forward, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Who says we have to get involved in a battle? Think bigger, Bingling. The key isn\'t in fighting the White Bone Sect; it\'s in capitalizing on the public\'s reaction to their actions."

Xia Bingling narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"The people are furious," Wang Li explained, his voice a low rumble. "They distrust the Righteous Sects, see them as weak and ineffective. This is our chance to win their favor, to position ourselves as the true protectors of the region."

A flicker of curiosity piqued Xia Bingling\'s interest. She tilted her head, her gaze intrigued. "And how exactly do we do that?"

Wang Li sighed inwardly. He couldn\'t help but think that most of Bingling\'s food seemed to go straight to her curves rather than her brain. He curbed the urge to voice that thought, however.

"Simple," he said, his voice patient. "We exploit the public\'s outrage. While the Righteous Sects are busy scrambling to respond, what if the Xia Family takes a strong stance against demonic cultivators? Even a small public display of force, purging a minor demonic organization plaguing a nearby town, would garner massive support."

His words struck a chord in Xia Bingling\'s mind. The public\'s discontent could be leveraged, used as a tool to bolster the Xia Family\'s image. "Intriguing," she admitted, a slow smile creeping across her face. "But wouldn\'t that just be a temporary boost? Public opinion can be fickle."

Wang Li shook his head. "True, but it\'s a start. Think bigger, Bingling. While the public\'s support is hot, we move strategically. We can \'reclaim\' some of the strategically important locations currently held by the Righteous Sects in this region."

He explained further, detailing a plan to seize control of vital resources – mines rich in rare materials, spiritual veins, and even key defensive outposts. With the public on their side, any retaliation from the Righteous Sects would be difficult, forcing them to negotiate from a position of weakness.

As he spoke, Xia Bingling\'s initial curiosity blossomed into full-blown excitement. Her eyes shone with a predatory glint, the thrill of a well-executed plan evident. "Wang Li," she purred, a dangerous smile playing on her lips, "you clever devil. This could be the key to solidifying the Xia Family\'s dominance in this region for years to come."

Wang Li leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Imagine, Bingling," he said, "the Xia Family, standing as a beacon of hope, the protector of the innocent against the darkness. An influential image among the public, wouldn\'t you agree?"

The excitement in Xia Bingling\'s eyes crackled like a live wire as Wang Li laid out his grand plan. However, a flicker of doubt eventually dimmed her enthusiasm. "What about the Great Elders of the Righteous Sects?" she interjected, a tinge of worry creeping into her voice.

Those old geezers wouldn\'t just stand idly by while we snatch the important locations of their sects that provide them lots of resources. They\'re all Soul Integration Realm cultivators, a whole realm above us!"

Wang Li, however, remained unfazed. A confident smile graced his lips. "That, my dear Bingling, is precisely why we need a multi-pronged approach." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "First, we need Xia Qingwu to become a Core Disciple of the Jade Lotus Palace."

Xia Bingling\'s eyes widened. "A Core Disciple?"

"Exactly," Wang Li confirmed. "Qingwu is already an Inner Disciple there, highly regarded for her talent. If she can pass the Core Disciple challenge, defeating a current disciple in a duel... well, that changes everything."

A slow grin spread across Xia Bingling\'s face. "That way, Qingwu and by extension, the Xia Family, would be under the Jade Lotus Palace\'s protection." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "As long as we contribute a fair share of the profits from these… liberated locations, the Jade Lotus Palace wouldn\'t be too thrilled about the other sects trying to snatch them back, would they?"

Wang Li chuckled. "Bingo! They\'d be more likely to intervene on our behalf, especially if the alternative is the Righteous Sects becoming stronger. It\'s a clever bit of maneuvering, playing them against each other."

Xia Bingling felt a surge of excitement. While ambitious, Wang Li\'s plan presented a real opportunity for growth. Of course, there was risk involved, potential for failure and devastating losses. But she couldn\'t help but feel optimistic. Her confidence stemmed from witnessing Qingwu\'s recent breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm.

Witnessing her daughter\'s prowess in battle fueled her belief that Qingwu had the potential to become a Core Disciple.

"And," Xia Bingling added, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "remember she has Senior Sister Liu Xue as a friend and mentor at the Jade Lotus Palace. Those combined factors significantly increase her chances of success."

Wang Li gazed at Xia Bingling, his own smile turning a bit predatory. "Indeed," he agreed, "your daughter\'s progress is impressive. But," he leaned even closer, his voice dropping to a husky whisper, "there\'s another way we can further solidify our position and minimize the risk of repercussions from the Righteous Sects."

Xia Bingling raised an eyebrow, a flicker of curiosity sparking in her eyes. "Another way?"