"Speaking of family," Daniel said, his tone softening, "you''ve been on the front lines for years. Haven''t seen much of your boy Sam back in Jonesport, have you? He''s grown into a fine leader. You''ve even got a great-grandchild now. You should pay them a visit. No need to tire yourself out here."


    Daniel, childless and unmarried, held a special affection for Jessica.


    She was the brightest of the fourth generation, sharp as a whip and decisive in battle, a testament to Olivia''s tutge.


    Having her lead the troops on the border allowed him to focus on the bigger picture, strategizing against the Druid Apostles and elders.


    Jessica shook her head, her gaze still fixed on the endless expanse of the Endless Forest.


    "Thank you for your concern, Uncle. I spent my younger years away from the family, in Jonesport. I thought I was there for the family''s benefit, but I let my guard down, made foolish mistakes, trusted the wrong people like that snake, Jack."


    A shadow flickered across her face, the memory still painful.


    "I won''t make that mistake again. I helped Sam secure his position as leader, ensured the Jonesport line continued. That''s all the closure I need."


    She turned to face him, her expression resolute.


    "These past few years have opened my eyes, Uncle. I''ve seen our home nearly destroyed, our people almost driven from theirnd. I''ve seen enough. The world is a dark ce, and ckwood is not yet strong enough to protect its own. I won''t stand by while others suffer the same pain, the same betrayal I endured."


    "As long as the Druids remain a threat," she dered, her voice ringing with conviction, "Jessica will not rest!"


    Daniel smiled, pride swelling in his chest.


    He offered her a Storage Ring filled with treasures, but Jessica politely declined.


    "Uncle, my duty is here, on the border. My path is paved with the blood of my enemies. This is thew I''vee to understand. The greater the carnage, the stronger my tribtion will be. And I won''t stop until I''ve conquered the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribtion!"


    Her words were spoken with a chilling calmness, as if discussing the weather.


    Daniel chuckled, stroking his beard thoughtfully.


    "Well said, my dear. I''ll see to it that you have the elixirs and artifacts you need to ovee your tribtion. You focus on the enemy. Leave the rest to me."


    [Your descendant, Jessica, has sworn to ovee the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribtion. Her trait, Druid yer, has evolved into – Druid''s Bane.]


    [By ying ten million Druids, Jessica can challenge the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribtion. Current progress: 11%. Druids'' fear towards her has increased by 40%. Damage dealt to Druids increased by 20%.]


    "Good children," Ethan murmured, a wave of warmth washing over him.


    "They''re all good children."


    He watched Jessica with pride.


    Like Marcus, she possessed an unyielding spirit, a burning ambition that pushed her to strive for greater heights.


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    Both sought to conquer the legendary Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribtion, a feat few had ever achieved.


    He would ensure they had everything they needed to seed.


    His gaze shifted to the other ckwood descendants scattered throughout Sunshine Mansion.


    Five years had passed since they had embarked on their mission, infiltrating their enemy''s ranks.


    They had integrated seamlessly, their true allegiances hidden behind masks of normalcy.


    Joseph, in particr, had exceeded his expectations.


    [Your descendant, Joseph, has spent years cultivating hiswork within Sunshine Mansion, never revealing his true strength or ambition. He has befriended countless influential figures, using his feigned disability and his sister Katie''s prodigious talent to gain their trust.]


    [Joseph''s charm and intellect, coupled with his carefully crafted persona of a humble, tragic figure, have earned him the sympathy and respect of Sunshine Mansion''s elite. He has be a trusted advisor, subtly manipting events from the shadows. He has gained the trait: The Pitiful One.]


    [Joseph''s perceived vulnerability increases the likelihood of others showing him mercy by 30%. Revealing the tragic tale of his family''s destruction and his parents'' deaths increases the likelihood of others feelingpassion for him by 50%.]


    "Ancestor," Joseph''s voice echoed in Ethan''s mind, filled with quiet confidence.


    "Katie is already recognized as one of Sunshine Mansion''s brightest talents. In ten years, she''ll have the attention of their elders. We''ll have a foothold in their society, a foundation to build upon. Slowly but surely, we''ll rece them from within. Sunshine Mansion will be ours."


    Ethan chuckled to himself.


    He had been observing Joseph''s progress with a mixture of amusement and admiration.


    Initially, he had expected something more... dramatic.


    A ssic tale of the underdog rising to power, fueled by righteous fury and fueled by the support of his loyal followers.


    After all, Joseph was no ordinary youth.


    He had strength, intelligence, and the full backing of ckwood.


    Ethan had envisioned grand pronouncements, secret meetings in shadowy corners, whispers of rebellion spreading through the ranks.


    He had half-expected Joseph to gather his followers and dere himself the rightful heir to Sunshine Mansion, igniting a glorious revolution.


    Instead, Joseph had chosen a far more subtle path.


    He had befriended his enemies, earned their trust, and manipted them with whispers and smiles.


    He had even identified and eliminated potential threats, those foolish enough to challenge him before they were ready.


    "Remember, Ancestor," Joseph had once said, his voiceced with chilling pragmatism, "power without support is fleeting. Those who rise too quickly, without a solid foundation, are destined to fall."


    ...


    Two years passed.


    The sky above Cloudview County darkened as storm clouds gathered, a metaphorical reflection of the tension gripping thend.


    In Glory City, ckwood''s warriors emerged from seclusion, their faces grim, their eyes hardened by years of constant vignce.


    Across the county, the various factions that had rebuilt their strength under ckwood''s banner prepared for war.


    "The time hase," Ethan murmured, watching as streams of cultivators soared into the sky, their silhouettes stark against the storm clouds.


    "The battle for Starlight County has begun."


    Glory City had transformed in the years since the Druid invasion.


    Gone were the days ofcency and naivete.


    Every household had felt the sting of loss, the terror of war.


    Now, cultivation was not just a path to power, but a necessity, a way of life.


    Families sent their children to train, to fight, to protect their homnd.


    Those who remained behind dedicated themselves to supporting the war effort, their hearts filled with a fierce determination to never again experience the horrors of that invasion.


    This spirit, this unwavering resolve, had spread throughout Cloudview County.


    Even the refugees who had fled the Emerald Empire, seeking safety within ckwood''s borders, had been swept up in the tide.


    They had witnessed ckwood''s resilience, their unwaveringmitment to protecting their own.


    They had seen firsthand the strength that came from unity, from shared sacrifice.


    And slowly but surely, they had begun to embrace ckwood''s values, their hopes for the future aligning with those who had offered them sanctuary.


    Cloudview County had be a crucible, forging a new generation in the fires of war.


    They were no longer the scattered, vulnerable county they had once been.


    They were ckwood, united and strong, ready to face any challenge, any enemy, to protect what was theirs.