My Descendants Are My Power

Chapter 306 This is going to be interesting

"Alright then," Joseph said, gesturing for Katie to crouch beside his wheelchair.

Autumn was in full swing.

As Joseph gently ruffled Katie's hair, she beamed up at him with a carefree grin.

Then, together, they ventured deeper into the heart of the Sunshine Clan's territory.

[Your descendant, Joseph, believes that acting openly as the Blackwoods of Azure Cloud would only provoke the ire of the imperial court. Inspired by Michael's example, he has chosen to conceal his true identity and instead manipulate events from the shadows, using AI Bionic Robots as his agents to gradually seize control of the Sunshine Clan.]

[He has eliminated the Silver Ridge County branch of the Sunshine Clan's Blackwood family, a lineage with a century-long history. Now, disguised as descendants of the Sunshine Blackwoods, he and Katie journey to the main branch of the Blackwood family, a lineage with a history spanning millennia, to claim their supposed birthright.]

[Acquired Trait: Mastermind]

"What?"

Back in Glory City, Ethan stared at the notification in disbelief.

"A Michael 2.0?" he finally breathed, shaking his head in astonishment.

"To think, this was the same boy who was once swindled out of all his resources by Edward and the others. I thought he'd turn out like Julian. The paths people take in life are truly fascinating."

Joseph and Katie had successfully infiltrated the Sunshine Blackwoods.

The boy had even gone to the trouble of forging bloodline records and identity documents.

He had even planted witnesses near the Silver Ridge County estate to vouch for their legitimacy as Sunshine Blackwoods.

Ethan marveled at Joseph's meticulous planning and cunning.

He was indeed a worthy descendant, carrying a spark of Michael's strategic genius within him.

As time went on, Ethan followed the siblings' progress through the Sunshine Clan's territory.

The Sunshine Blackwoods were based in the central province's capital city.

Compared to the bustling heart of the Sunshine Clan, Cloudview County, despite its reputation as a haven for cultivators, seemed like a backwater province.

The Emerald Empire was divided into eighteen provinces, each further subdivided into seven to twelve counties.

The Sunshine Province originally encompassed eight counties, but with Azure Cloud, Starlight County, and Maple Grove County now under Druid control, only five remained.

However, this loss had done little to diminish the Sunshine Clan's prosperity.

The remaining five counties, along with the surrounding areas of Sunshine Province, were known as the "Dragon's Favored Lands."

Since ancient times, the Sunshine Clan's territory had been blessed with an abundance of hidden realms and ancient ruins.

They even had strict laws in place to prevent the reckless exploitation of energy veins and the overharvesting of spirit mountains, prioritizing sustainable development above all else.

They also placed great emphasis on righteousness and decorum.

Even before engaging in a duel, cultivators were expected to debate the merits of their respective positions.

As a result, the Sunshine Clan boasted a high concentration of scholarly and artistic cultivators.

Academies and private schools were commonplace, their halls echoing with the sounds of diligent study and the gentle melodies of stringed instruments.

The border counties were a different story.

As far as Ethan could recall, in Cloudview County, might made right.

Resources were there for the taking, and strength was the only law that mattered.

As for scholarly pursuits...

The most "cultured" place in Cloudview County was now Glory City, thanks to the efforts of Raymond, a fifth-generation descendant of Jeffrey's line.

Inspired by Olivia, Raymond had dedicated himself to the scholarly path, but his chosen field of study was combat spells.

His introductory lesson involved traveling to the border and personally slaying a Druid under the guidance of his instructors.

Even their musicians were a different breed.

One of them was currently plotting to desecrate the ancestral tombs of the Crimson Gate Syndicate, seeking revenge for Lucas's injury.

In retrospect, Cloudview County's poverty and barbarity were hardly surprising.

Perhaps Michael's radical approach had been the right one after all.

Sadly, even after tens of thousands of years, the mindset of Cloudview County's cultivators remained stuck in the past.

"When will Cloudview County ever achieve such splendor?" Joseph sighed, gazing out at the bustling streets of the Sunshine Clan's capital from his vantage point atop the Blackwood estate.

Everywhere he looked, he saw opportunity, peace, and prosperity.

The citizens were content, their lives free from the constant threat of war and deprivation.

It was a stark contrast to the harsh realities of his homeland.

Katie, however, remained unimpressed.

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"I don't know about splendor, brother," she said, her nose wrinkled in distaste.

"They all seem so... soft. We've been here for two months, and I haven't seen a single ounce of fighting spirit in any of them."

"The Sunshine Blackwoods are no different," she continued.

"Their younger generation is too busy squabbling amongst themselves for the position of clan head. They'd be better off settling their differences with swords and spells. I bet if the Druids ever reached this place, they'd all turn tail and flee."

"You can't have it both ways," Joseph said, chuckling.

"Celestial should be arriving from Cloudview County any day now. It's time to set our plan in motion."

The Sunshine Blackwoods weren't a particularly large clan, their lineage stretching back a mere four centuries.

Their branches had spread throughout the land, their influence diluted with each passing generation.

Their current patriarch was only at the early stages of the Competent Force level, and their elders, numbering no more than twenty, were constantly vying for power.

Every century, the younger generation engaged in a bloody struggle for control of the clan, their infighting weakening them from within.

It wasn't long before Joseph and Katie encountered the Celestial Star Swordmaster, disguised as a humble coachman, within the Blackwood estate.

"Greetings, Celestial," Joseph said, bowing respectfully.

Only a handful of Blackwoods had accompanied Joseph on this mission: George, Justin, Donna, and forty of Jeffrey's descendants.

The rest were either too well-known or too valuable to risk exposing.

The Celestial Star Swordmaster's presence was a testament to his loyalty to Lucas.

He had been wracked with guilt ever since witnessing his "sworn brother's" humiliating defeat at the hands of the Crimson Gate Syndicate patriarch.

He had spent the past three years ranting about the insult to his honor, vowing to avenge Lucas's injury.

"Your father instructed me to follow your every command," the Celestial Star Swordmaster said, grinning at Joseph.

His gaze drifted towards the bustling street beyond the estate's gates, a wistful expression crossing his features.

"This is a fine place, but it lacks a certain... spark without Olivia."

"Without her gentle smile, my heart knows no peace," he sighed dramatically.

"..."

Joseph and Katie exchanged exasperated glances.

The old swordsman had only met Olivia's great-grandmother twice, and that was over thirty years ago.

And now he fancied himself a lovesick poet, pining for a woman he barely knew.

"This is going to be interesting," Joseph muttered under his breath.

Ignoring the Celestial Star Swordmaster's lovelorn ramblings, Joseph and Katie retreated to their chambers.

They retrieved their Forebearer Psychic Positions and contacted Ethan.

[What are your plans now?]

Ethan inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity.

Joseph had informed him of his plan to install a puppet leader within the Sunshine Blackwoods.

Three months had passed since the Blackwoods' arrival, and their agents were now scattered throughout the Sunshine Clan's territory, blending seamlessly into their surroundings.

The more Ethan learned about the Sunshine Clan, the more he realized the sheer scale of their power and the complexity of their internal politics.

Could the Blackwoods truly hope to seize control of such a formidable force?

It seemed like an impossible task.

Unless they rallied the entire might of Cloudview County, enlisted the aid of the six Druid tribes from the Endless Forest, and persuaded Lester and Shane to join their cause, their chances of success were slim to none.

Joseph knelt on one knee, his expression earnest.

"Forebearer," he said, his voice filled with respect, "the Sunshine Clan is vast and powerful. Even within this single city, there are countless families with Competent Force level cultivators. Unlike Cloudview County, they are ruled by a governor who answers only to the emperor himself."