My Descendants Are My Power

With a sigh, she closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep.

Meanwhile, the Blackwood clan had arrived at the Forebearer's shrine.

They knelt before Ethan's Psychic Position, their heads bowed in reverence.

"Forebearer," Nathan intoned, his voice filled with respect and determination, "today, our family marches forth from Azure Cloud. We beseech your protection!"

[Granted]

Ethan responded through his Forebearer Psychic Position.

He had witnessed the Emerald Empire's increasingly oppressive behavior towards Cloudview County over the years.

And he knew more than they realized.

Olivia, from her distant outpost in the Fallen Stars Clan's territory, had kept him informed.

Not only had the Emerald Empire failed to provide support, but those loyal to National Advisor Lance had been secretly communicating with the Druids, urging them to conquer Cloudview County.

They claimed the empire had no intention of defending the region.

The Emerald Empire had caught wind of the Blackwoods' growing power.

The restrictions imposed on Cloudview County by the Sunshine Clan, particularly the ban on resource trading, were a deliberate attempt to stifle their growth.

If not for Cloudview County's ongoing war with the Druids, a conflict that painted them as heroes defending the realm, and the rumored protection of the Grand Tutor's faction in the north, who opposed Lance's schemes, the Blackwoods might already be fleeing for their lives.

"We have to strike back!"

With Ethan's blessing secured, the Blackwood clan, each clutching their Forebearer Psychic Position, began their preparations.

The elders, having weathered countless storms throughout their long lives, remained calm and collected.

Only the younger generation, the descendants of Jeffrey's line, buzzed with excitement, eager to prove themselves alongside their legendary elders.

...

[Special Event - Unleashing the Beast]

[Driven by dwindling resources and fueled by the injustice of Lucas's injury, your clan can no longer tolerate the oppression of the Emerald Empire and the Sunshine Clan. Led by Nathan, they have resolved to break free from the empire's shackles and strike back, beginning with the Sunshine Clan!]

As the special event unfolded, Ethan's consciousness merged with his descendants, granting him a firsthand view of their actions.

They were not acting recklessly.

For decades, Dawn, a clandestine organization operating under the Blackwoods' banner, had been planting spies throughout the Emerald Empire.

Over the past ten years, Joseph had focused his efforts on expanding the Heavenly Justice Hall's Covert Branch's reach within the Sunshine Clan's territory, gathering intelligence and establishing a network of informants.

Now, Joseph was the first to venture beyond Cloudview County's borders, evading the watchful eyes of the Sunshine Clan's psychics stationed at the border.

"Brother, do you have to go yourself?" Katie asked, her voice laced with concern.

She had matured into a capable young woman, her Sparkly Unicorn Bow, now radiating the aura of a mid-grade ability weapon, a testament to her growing strength.

However, as she grew older, she found herself less inclined to spar with the younger generation in Cloudview County, her protective instincts towards her brother taking precedence.

"Great-grandfather Daniel and Great-aunt Jessica are occupied with the Druids at the border," Joseph replied, his eyes still closed.

"Our elders can be a tad impulsive. It's best if I oversee things personally."

"How long will you be gone?" Katie asked, her gaze lingering on her brother's face.

She had achieved a considerable level of mastery in her cultivation, having bested every opponent her age in Cloudview County during her youth.

She had planned to challenge the older generation, hoping to earn her brother's praise and cement her legend within the Blackwood clan.

She had even come up with a nickname for herself: "Azure Cloud's Blooming Flower."

But before she could realize her ambitions, her brother was leaving.

"Remember the old Wind Duke's Mansion?" Joseph asked, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

"How could I forget?" Katie shuddered.

"That wretched excuse for a grandfather."

"He was a visionary, in his own right," Joseph mused.

"I have to admire his ambition. He spent centuries plotting to seize control of Cloudview County. He may have failed, but I intend to learn from his mistakes. I'll succeed where he failed and achieve even greater things."

"..." Katie glared at her brother playfully.

"Don't even think about marrying me off to some stranger to forge an alliance, or Father will have your head!"

"It depends on the price," Joseph teased.

"I swear, I'll push you into a ditch!"

"..." Experience tales at m v|l e'm,p| y- r

A fortnight later, Joseph, clad in the simple robes of a scholar, opened his eyes, their usual playfulness replaced by a steely glint.

"Katie," he said, his voice low and serious, "what I'm about to do... it might be considered cruel. Far crueler than anything you've witnessed today. If you can't stomach it, then turn back now and return to Cloudview County."

Katie glanced behind her.

They stood before a modest estate in a small county town within the Sunshine Clan's territory.

The nameplate above the gate bore the inscription: "Blackwood."

Several figures, assassins from the Heavenly Justice Hall, melted into the shadows, disappearing over the estate's walls.

"I'm not afraid, brother," Katie said, her voice firm.

"You've always protected me. Now it's my turn to protect you."

She grinned, her eyes shining with unwavering loyalty.

Everyone in the family claimed her brother was wicked.

His reputation as the master of the Heavenly Justice Hall's Covert Branch had spread throughout Cloudview County, striking fear into the hearts of even the naughtiest children.

But Katie knew better.

No matter what anyone said, no matter how ruthless his actions might seem, her brother always had their best interests at heart.

After all, there was no one else in the world who would protect her as fiercely and unconditionally as her brother.

"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.