Wang Xuhan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Tianmo, you are at the Fifth Stage of Foundation Establishment! You can't possibly think of fighting a Soul Formation cultivator! That is madness!"
That's a suicide mission.
Tianmo didn't offer his father a comforting smile or a reassuring pat on the shoulder. Instead, he turned his gaze upward, his eyes turning golden, and pupils dilating vertically like a reptile's.
The air around him grew heavy, the temperature plummeting as if a void had opened up in the center of the courtyard. The aura of dragon might and supreme erupted from his body.
Wang Xuhan felt his breath get stuck in his throat, not from fear of the enemy, but from the sheer, overwhelming density of the aura radiating from his own son. It was like standing next to a collapsing star. The spiritual energy in the air twisted violently, forming invisible vortexes that sucked the light from the surroundings.
Woosh!
A middle-aged man and a young man landed on the ground.
The impact was cataclysmic.
The moment their feet touched the earth, the defensive formation of the Wang Estate, a shimmering dome of jade-green light that had protected the valley for generations, shattered like glass struck by a hammer.
Crack! Boom!
Shards of spiritual energy rained down, dissolving into the air. The shockwave swept through the courtyard, flattening the spirit herbs and overturning the stone tables. Wang Xuhan had to brace himself, his Golden Core aura flaring desperately just to remain standing.
The dust settled, revealing the two people clearly in a cinematic style.
The middle-aged man, Elder Wa Dai Xue of the Bloodmist Sect, stood with his hands clasped behind his back. He wore robes the color of fresh blood, embroidered with silver thread that formed patterns of screaming skulls. His face was gaunt, his skin pale as parchment, and his eyes were entirely black—no whites, no irises, just endless pits of void.
The young man was the complete opposite clad in pristine azure robes, his long white hair cascading down his back like a waterfall of silk. He was handsome, possessing an ethereal, almost feminine beauty, with a slender body, thin waist, and wide butt, but his eyes held the same chilling void as his elder.
He carried a sheathed sword at his waist, the hilt shaped like a silver coiled dragon.
Elder Xue swept his gaze across the trembling Wang family members, his lip curling in disdain. Finally, his black eyes landed on Tianmo.
"Hoh?" A low, rasping chuckle escaped his throat. "A little whelp with a bit of backbone. You intend to stop me, boy? With that meager cultivation?"
He took a step forward, and the pressure of the Soul Formation realm crashed down like a mountain range collapsing.
Dragon might and Aura of the supreme?! The identity of this brat isn't simple. Without knowing the depth of the sea, it's better not to offend the other party. He looked at Tianmo from top to bottom and bottom to top.
Tianmo met the suffocating pressure without flinching. The air around him distorted, the golden light in his eyes intensifying until it seemed to burn with the heat of a dying star.
"Interesting... State your background," Elder Xue demanded, his voice echoing like the grinding of bones. He didn't attack immediately; caution was a trait that kept one alive in the cultivation world, especially when facing an anomaly.
Always remember: Bully the weak and fear the strong.
Wang Tianmo knew he had no background to speak of that would deter a Soul Formation cultivator from a demonic sect. To reveal his identity as a direct disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect would be a death sentence in this lawless valley; the Bloodmist Sect would slaughter him simply to prevent future reprisals, and the Azure Cloud Sect would not go to war over a single disciple, no matter how talented.
A fallen genius isn't a genius. He can't cultivate. He can't shape the world. He is just another dead body. However, it seems this Elder isn't unreasonable. He was simply testing how deep the water was.
A sinister smirk appeared on Tianmo's face, his expression twisting into a mask of cold confidence. "You aren't qualified to learn my background."
He didn't shout. The words were spoken softly, yet they carried the weight of a mountain crashing into a lake.
Elder Xue's black eyes narrowed slightly. The air around him began to vibrate with a low, humming sound, the precursor to a storm of violence. "Good! Good! Good! When one is young, one is destined to be arrogant..."
It seems this guy's background isn't simple. Could he be the hidden Young Master of powerful clans? Indeed, look at that attire... The celestial robe seems to be made out of silk from the silkworms of the Spirit Moon Lake, and his face is like pure natural jade without any hint of impurities, with a cold mannerism detached from the mundane world.
"Young Master, with the order of the Sect Master of the Bloodmist sect, this old master is here to take the Earth Vein," he spoke politely. He wasn't afraid of the man before him but the unknown protector. Such a rich young master generally has a secret protector protecting them from the shadows.
'That Old sect master... How dare he push me into a problem? I thought it was merely a Wang family standing before Earth Vein, but who would have thought a hidden dragon was lying here?!' Elder Xue thought, his gaze flickering with uncertainty.
'However, if I retreat now, my reputation will be ruined. I must at least test the waters. If he is truly a hidden dragon, I can apologize and leave. If he is a paper tiger... Hehe.'
A cold glint appeared before his eyes, only to vanish the next moment. He turned to the handsome young man beside him.
"This here is my disciple Bai, he is 46 this year, belonging to the newer generation," he introduced his disciple.
"Greetings! I wonder if I can learn a thing or two from Young Master..." Disciple Bai cupped his fist, his Golden core aura covering his entire body. He was at the Mid-Third Stage of the Golden Core realm.
His voice was gentle, his smile polite, but his eyes were cold and calculating.
Tianmo looked at the handsome man, his expression unreadable. "You want to learn from me? You are not qualified."
The words were like a slap in the face. Disciple Bai's smile froze, the air around him rippling with a sudden, sharp spike of killing intent. The temperature in the courtyard dropped several degrees, the spiritual energy turning turbulent.
'Huh?! Where am I?' A deep fear came from the depths of his soul. All his senses were suppressed and he found himself in the dark void.
The darkness was absolute. It wasn't merely the absence of light; it was the absence of existence, a void where the concepts of space and time dissolved into nothingness.
'What's this?!'
'What's going on?'
'Wait... Who am I?!' Panic, cold and primal, began to claw at the edges of his consciousness. The memories of forty-six years of cultivation, the slaughter in the Bloodmist arenas, the warmth of blood on his hands—they were fading, dissolving like ink in water.
In the real world, Disciple Bai stood frozen, his hand hovering over the hilt of his sword. His eyes were wide, unseeing, his pupils dilated to the point of engulfing the irises. A bead of cold sweat trickled down his temple, yet he did not blink.
Elder Xue's black eyes narrowed. He sensed nothing: no spatial fluctuation, no spiritual pressure, no killing intent. It was as if his disciple had simply... ceased to exist in the flow of the Dao.
Is this absolute bloodline suppression? How interesting. To think a golden core realm cultivator can't even stand the suppression of a Foundation stage cultivator.
He waved his hand, instantly turning his disciple into blood mist.
"It was an honor to meet Esteemed Young Master, the rudeness of my disciple can only be repaid by death," Elder Xue said, his voice smooth, lacking any remorse. He flicked a speck of blood from his sleeve, the red droplet sizzling as it hit the stone floor.
The casual execution of his own disciple sent a fresh wave of terror through the Wang Family. Wang Xuhan's face was pale, his hands trembling uncontrollably. This was the demonic path—ruthless, pragmatic, and utterly devoid of sentiment.
Tianmo remained unmoved, his eyes still fixed on the Elder. "You are quick to discard your pawns, Elder. But it seems you have finally learned to look before you leap."
How can a mortal withhold the suppression of the Primordial dragon?! Even immortals have to kneel before the might of a true dragon.
Elder Xue chuckled, a dry, rattling sound. "Survival is the only truth in this world, Young Master. Now that the nuisance is gone, perhaps we can discuss the Earth Vein? The Bloodmist Sect is willing to pay a handsome price for the territory. We have no desire to make an enemy of... your backing."
He was probing. The display of absolute suppression had shaken him, but his greed for the Earth Vein and the fear of returning empty-handed to his Sect Master warred within him, because he too is but a pawn on the board. He will meet the same fate as that disciple if he can't bring a satisfactory explanation.
Sensing the hesitation, Tianmo understood that this Old man can't return empty-handed, pushing further might actually backfire. He needs to make sure Elder can get an answer so, he can return and report it back to higher-ups and encounter no problem.
"Discuss?! What's there to negotiate? The Earth vein belongs to the Dragon court, not your Bloodmist sect."
Elder Xue's pupils contracted into needle-thin slits. The Dragon Court?! Just what kind of name is it? He has never heard such a force before. Could it be a new force trying to get a foothold here? Maybe the power balance within Azure Land is going to change. This matter needs to be revealed to the Sect Master only then, can things progress further.
"Thank you for your mercy, Esteemed Young Master, this old man shall take his leave," Elder Xue said, his voice devoid of the earlier arrogance, replaced by a cautious, oily deference. He bowed deeply, the motion fluid and practiced. "I shall convey the will of the Dragon Court to my Sect Master. To offend such a hidden power... it would be a calamity my Bloodmist Sect cannot afford."
He did not wait for a dismissal. With a flick of his sleeves, the blood-red aura around him condensed, and with a sound like a tearing sky, he shot into the air, vanishing into the clouds as quickly as he had arrived.
The oppressive pressure that had crushed the courtyard evaporated, leaving behind a silence that was deafening.
Wang Xuhan slumped against the stone table, his legs finally giving out. He slid to the ground, his chest heaving as he gasped for air, his robes soaked in cold sweat. "S-Son... What is Dragon Court? We might encounter their wrath for using their name."
Tianmo didn't bother responding. It's just borrowed cloth, there is no certainty that a powerful force named such as Dragon Court exists here. It was merely to buy time and avoid direct conflict. The Bloodmist Sect was cautious, not suicidal. They would verify the information before making a move.
However, lie, lie, lie until lie becomes truth. If Dragon Court doesn't exist, he will create one.
"Father... Spread rumours that a mysterious Dragon court has decided to recruit the Wang Family as their vessel family. The more vague the rumors, the better. Fear breeds caution, and caution buys us time."
Vessel family simply means a pawn for someone higher, and by making the Wang Family a vessel family, the world knows, that the Wang Family is important, but not the source. Based on Tianmo's calculation, even the Azure Cloud Sect won't touch the Wang Family without knowing the height of the Dragon court.
"Also release the news that the Mysterious old man descended tearing apart the void and decided to bless the Wang Family with Spirit Awakening Fruits, cultivation resources. And Earth Vein is merely a gift from the heavens to the vessel family," Tianmo added, his voice calm, yet it carried the weight of a decree that could topple empires.
He looked at his father, whose face was still pale, the adrenaline fading into a bone-deep exhaustion. "Make sure to provide a few servants with Spirit awakening fruits... It will certify our claim... And send a few to the Azure cloud sect as a token of gift."
As long as the blessing is verified to the world, but they can't find the answer regarding the Dragon Court, only fools would dare to mess with the Wang Family.
Wang Xuhan stared at his son, the gears in his mind turning slowly, grinding against the fear that had settled in his gut. The logic was sound, in a terrifying sort of way. To lie to a Soul Formation cultivator was to dance on the edge of a blade; to lie to the entire cultivation world was to juggle those blades while blindfolded.
His son wants to fool the entire world but it's completely possible. As long as others can verify the claims but not the power, it's enough to put them in fear.
Wang Xuhan stared at the space where the demonic elder had vanished, the lingering scent of blood and ozone still stinging his nostrils. His heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird. He was trembling with excitement.
"Good! Good! Good! Consider this matter to be done..."
But before they could leave, Tianmo added. "Try to add more servants, make their pay 5 mid-grade spirit stones per month, I will cover it all. Also, don't reveal what happened between you and me, to the elder or wives..." Saying that, Tianmo handed a jade box to his father.
"This is a soul-shattering pill... The truth must never be revealed, if you are ever caught by demonic force, erase your soul lest they abstract the truth for you by soul search or hallucinating method." He tapped his father's shoulders.
"Remember Father... The Wang family is your legacy, your creation, I hope you will remain loyal to the family against all odds and won't be a coward. Your son trusts you Father... You son trust you."
Wang Xuhan gripped the jade box tightly, the cold edges digging into his palm. The weight of it felt heavier than the responsibility of the entire valley. How did things even reach here? It's all because of Earth Vein.
Soul-shattering pill, the ultimate mercy in a world where secrets were tortured out of screaming minds. To think he would be carrying one of them with him. Sigh. There is really no going back anymore. It's all a test of heaven.
He looked up at his son. The boy standing before him was no longer the child he had watched grow up in the shadows of his more talented siblings. This was a monster wearing human skin, a calculating entity that viewed the world as a chessboard and people as pieces to be sacrificed or promoted.
"I understand," Wang Xuhan said, his voice hoarse but steady. He tucked the box into his robe, right against his heart. "I will carry this secret to my grave. The Wang Family will become the vessel of the Dragon Court, and I will be the faithful keeper of its gates."
Tianmo nodded with a satisfied smirk.