It hadn't even been an hour since the Ten Thousand Lifetimes Soul-Sinking Array had been activated when Tang Wenhua, Shui Yingrou, and the elders of various clans and sects arrived. Shui Yingrou was mainly worried that Tang Yue might be at a disadvantage or punished too harshly. Tang Wenhua, however, was truly furious—likely even more enraged than the grumpy nobleman stuck inside the array's illusion.
The City Lord and his wife, along with several elders, first dispersed the surrounding onlookers. After all, news of a conflict between the City Lord's daughter and the elite disciples of prestigious families would sound quite scandalous if it got out.
Those present were all prominent figures—patriarchs and clan leaders. Yet even they didn't dare lay a hand on Tang Yue, not with both the City Lord and Lady Shui present. Tang Wenhua was a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, third level, and Shui Yingrou was at the peak of the Tenth level. Both were heavily equipped with powerful treasures. Even if it came to a fight, the outcome was uncertain. And beyond that, these people still had to live under their governance in Kunwu City.
One patriarch remarked sarcastically to Shui Yingrou, "Madam Shui, you've certainly raised a fine daughter—she's managed to trap all these elite disciples inside the Ten Thousand Lifetimes Array. Is this your way of crippling the younger generation and tightening your grip on our clans' futures?"
Shui Yingrou kept her tone measured. "Elder Meng, our City Lord's residence has always treated the city's sects and clans generously. We'd never intentionally do such a thing. A'Yue was merely frightened—so many people targeted her at once that she reacted without thinking."
Clan Leader Meng, already at his limit, snapped, "So you're saying the fault lies with our juniors? My son Yangxing is always honest and upright. He merely stood up for his friends, and yet someone had the nerve to unleash such a sinister array in a city that's known for its peace! He was caught off guard—how could this be his fault? Why should he suffer for that?"
Tang Wenhua quickly tried to pacify him. "Brother Meng, please calm down. I promise you, we will give you a proper explanation afterward. Right now, our priority is to release Yangxing."
Knowing this was reasonable, Clan Leader Meng turned to Tang Yue. "Release the array and let them out. Now."
Tang Yue remained motionless, eyes closed. Shui Yingrou realized that her daughter had used almost all her spiritual consciousness to control the array—she couldn't hear anything from the outside world. So bold... Fortunately, her own disciple was guarding nearby. If any ill-intentioned person had been around, Tang Yue's soul might have been harmed.
Shui Yingrou gently extended her divine sense into the array and slowly awakened Tang Yue, speaking softly, "A'Yue, release the array now. I can't hold these people off much longer."
Tang Yue opened her eyes and greeted them cheerfully, "Greetings, esteemed elders! Your disciples are currently training inside the array, tempering their hearts and refining their Dao. Once they emerge, they'll be all the better for it!"
A woman behind Clan Leader Meng couldn't bear it any longer. "Let my Yangxing out! What 'tempering'? That array is lethal—what if something happens to him?"
Unfazed, Tang Yue began explaining calmly, "Madam, please allow me to explain. Last winter, my father lamented how many city cultivators lived in hardship, wearing patched robes. He said those of us in better circumstances should help the less fortunate. Qinghua Hall was tasked with issuing subsidies to struggling cultivators.
"The people are the foundation of Kunwu City. Only when they live comfortably can they focus on cultivating. Stronger cultivators mean a stronger city. This is the path to prosperity."
Tang Wenhua's brow twitched. This robe thing again…
"Tang Yue," he snapped, "must you keep going on? Just release them already!"
"Father, please, I'm getting to the point," she replied solemnly. "It was precisely to support struggling cultivators and mortals that Mother and Senior Brother reviewed the city's finances. And what did they find? Kunwu City has been running a deficit for years—constantly borrowing to maintain operations. We don't even have enough spirit stones to last a month."
Tang Yue continued, pained, "So I persuaded Mother to implement the new policies to cut waste. The saved resources could go to supporting the common people. But the elite disciples disagreed. They gathered at Qinghua Hall, obstructing official business, worsening the city's financial woes.
"Still, I didn't think it was because they lacked morals or were shameless. I figured they simply didn't understand the situation. So, I used the Ten Thousand Lifetimes Array to show them what hardship really means. I hoped this would help them empathize with the people and truly support the new laws. I acted out of good intentions!"
"Enough already!" interrupted an elder from Zixiao Sect. "So we lose a bit of compensation—was that worth making such a scene? We agree to the reforms. We won't let our disciples cause trouble again. Now release them!"
Tang Yue tilted her head innocently. "Then… do the rest of you agree to support this virtuous policy as well?"
"We agree. Just let them out." They knew that relying on Shui Yingrou's private wealth to prop up the city's finances wasn't sustainable. Still, they'd figured they might as well enjoy the benefits while they could.
Satisfied, Tang Yue focused and deactivated the array. The trapped disciples were released. Some looked dazed, others pale. One female cultivator even fainted.
The elders rushed to check on their disciples. Fortunately, none were seriously harmed—just exhausted. With a bit of rest, they'd recover.
Clan Leader Meng said grimly to the City Lord, "I hope you'll give us a proper explanation for this." But concern for his son took priority, so he left in a hurry, skipping any mention of punishing Tang Yue.
The dazed blue-robed disciple who had played the servant in the illusion was none other than Meng's sole heir. He looked utterly out of it, supported by his father into the carriage.
Tang Yue also returned to the City Lord's residence by carriage. Wei Hongyun accompanied them. He rode with Lady Shui and Tang Yue, while Tang Wenhua walked back alone—he needed time to calm down or he'd risk hitting someone.
On the way, Wei Hongyun explained Tang Yue's actions to Shui Yingrou, stressing that she had acted for the sake of implementing the reforms and easing Qinghua Hall's financial pressure. He hoped she wouldn't be too harsh on Tang Yue.
Shui Yingrou, of course, knew that her daughter had done this for her sake. She only scolded her for endangering her soul so recklessly.
Once they reached the residence, Tang Wenhua greeted them with a stormy face. "Tang Yue, look at the mess you've made. You've offended so many clans and sects—how do you expect your mother and me to face them now?"
Tang Yue immediately burst into tears. "Father, I didn't know they were different from you. You have a kind, charitable heart. I thought everyone cared about the people's struggles and hoped to use their wealth to help others. That's why I wanted to show them the hardships of the world—to inspire them to join in doing good."
She sniffled. "Doesn't everyone have the heart to 'assist the world when one has achieved success'? Or… were they really just trying to take advantage of Kunwu City?"
Tang Wenhua was speechless. So what if they were? And yes, I tacitly allowed it… He felt his daughter used to just be naïve—but now she seemed utterly clueless. All she talked about was charity.
Trying to change the subject, he said sternly, "Regardless, you've caused a major incident. You must accept punishment to show the people this won't be tolerated."
"I agree, Father," she said meekly. "Why don't I be confined at home for six months to reflect?"
Tang Wenhua nearly laughed in disbelief. That's it? So easy? But Shui Yingrou cut in, "Those disciples weren't harmed. A few days of rest and they'll be fine. Why punish A'Yue so harshly? She's solved the city's financial problem—it should be considered a contribution."
"Or… are you suggesting I should keep subsidizing Kunwu City?" She gave Tang Wenhua a sidelong glance. He, after all, was good at accepting favors and then pretending to be noble.
Tang Wenhua faltered. That again… He looked guilty. "Don't say that. Kunwu is our home—it's our shared responsibility. But if we don't punish Tang Yue, how do we explain this to the clans?"
Shui Yingrou replied coldly, "Explain what? Haven't they taken enough from me already? Want me to ask for it back?"
Only then did Tang Wenhua realize her attitude had truly changed—she wouldn't tolerate endlessly footing the bill. He remembered how she'd endured the nobility for his sake. If he pushed her further, she might actually go demand repayment. "Fine. I'll handle it."
Shui Yingrou simply huffed and dismissed him. Tang Wenhua suddenly felt a deep sense of crisis. If her affection was truly gone, many things would become difficult. He'd have to work hard to win her back.
If Tang Yue knew what her father was thinking, she'd definitely call him shameless.
Before leaving, Tang Wenhua warned Lady Shui not to give Tang Yue any more high-grade treasures. "If she causes another mess, I won't be able to cover for her!" The mother and daughter, of course, silently ignored him.
Shui Yingrou went to a small pavilion near their residence. In the space between the rock garden and pond, she opened a hidden formation. A glowing portal appeared—an interspatial treasure vault. High-level cultivators liked storing their wealth in such miniature realms, not just for convenience but to free up physical space.
Tang Yue had often come here to browse. Together they checked the first level. Seeing that there were no more overly dangerous arrays lying around, Shui Yingrou left the other treasures alone.
As they exited, she asked, "A'Yue, are you interested in formations? Willing to put in the hard work to study them?"
Tang Yue nodded seriously. She did want to improve her microscope with array scripts, and she was also curious about how illusions like those in Ten Thousand Lifetimes were made. "I do, Mother. I'd love the opportunity to study formations."
"Then I'll pass Ten Thousand Lifetimes Soul-Sinking Array down to you. Outsiders only know it can temper one's will. What they don't know is that it also greatly benefits the array master, helping them comprehend the Dao and improve their formation skills."
As she spoke, Shui Yingrou opened her palm, and a landscape-patterned spirit glyph floated out. It drifted through the air into Tang Yue's waiting hand.
Tang Yue was surprised—so arrays could be passed on like this? Not just through blood recognition?
She asked, "Mother, since you were the array's master before, how was I able to use it?"
Shui Yingrou replied, "Because I willed it so. If someone else tried to use it without permission, I could've used my divine sense to destroy them."
Tang Yue broke into a cold sweat. Thank goodness her mother had allowed it—otherwise, she could've died using the array.
She spent some time learning techniques and principles for controlling arrays from Shui Yingrou.
An array master could immerse their soul in the array without undergoing trials themselves—more like watching a drama. That way, the soul would remain unharmed.
Another advantage: time inside the array flowed much slower than outside. A hundred years within might only be half an hour in the real world—great for spiritual comprehension.
Shui Yingrou also explained how Ten Thousand Lifetimes helped enhance one's formation skill. The heart of any formation lay in crafting convincing illusions. A skilled array master needed deep insight into worldly affairs and human nature. By watching or experiencing the simulated lives within the array, the master could sharpen this understanding, creating ever more powerful illusions.
Though Tang Yue didn't fully grasp it yet, she carefully recorded everything for future study and reflection.