The entire street fell silent.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on just one spot—Shen Xuan and Mo Tianho.
Even the air seemed frozen.
Mo Tianho's rage erupted as he stepped forward, his aura surging violently of late stage Qi Condensation. Faces in the crowd shifted to shock; they all knew a fight was about to break out.
Just as Mo Tianho reached out to grab Shen Xuan's collar, a sudden laugh echoed through the street.
Heads turned instantly.
A young man approached, dressed in a white-and-green robe, a folding fan resting in his hand. Two followers trailed behind him. His appearance was striking, even more charming than Mo Tianho's arrogance-laced face.
The young man chuckled, his words sharp as blades:
"Well, well… isn't this Mo Tianho? The young master of Mo Clan. Just as I've heard—shameless as ever, bullying others whenever you please. Truly, as expected of Young Master Mo!"
The crowd stirred. They wanted to laugh but fear of Mo Tianho held their voices back.
The newcomer was none other than Jiang Feng, the youngest son of the Jiang Clan's head.
Mo Tianho's face flushed with rage. His voice trembled with suppressed fury:
"Jiang Feng! This has nothing to do with you. Stay out of it!"
But Jiang Feng simply twirled his fan and smiled.
"Wrong. This is Emperor City. Anything that happens here concerns every clan including mine."
Those words hit hard. The people's hearts stirred, admiration flashing in their eyes, though they dared not voice it.
Mo Tianho's fists clenched. His heart screamed to crush Jiang Feng's mocking smile right there, but he couldn't. Jiang Feng, too, was on the verge of awakening his Heavenly Spiritual Roots, and the Jiang Clan ranked fourth among the Emperor Clans.
The Mo Clan? Merely tenth.
That truth burned Mo Tianho alive inside.
Grinding his teeth, he spat coldly:
"Enjoy your arrogance for now, Jiang Feng. Three years later, during the Gathering, I'll make sure to break that smug face of yours!"
Jiang Feng snapped his fan shut, his calm smile unwavering.
"I'll be waiting."
Mo Tianho let out a cold snort and stormed away, his pride bleeding with every step.
The crowd, however, felt a wave of disappointment. They had been hoping for a fight.
After Mo Tianho stormed off, the tension slowly dissolved. The silence of the street was broken by a light chuckle.
Jiang Feng, still wearing his elegant smile, walked closer to Shen Xuan. He lightly tapped his fan against his palm and said,
"It seems fellow cultivator is new to the city. That must be why you didn't know about Mo Tianho. But there's no need to worry he's nothing but a bully who only dares to bark at those weaker than him."
Shen Xuan gave a small nod. His usual cold voice carried no emotion as he replied,
"...Thanks, for stepping in."
Jiang Feng waved his hand casually.
"This? A small matter. But may I know the name of the fellow cultivator I had the honor of helping?"
For a moment, Shen Xuan's eyes flickered with thought, but he shook his head slightly. His tone remained calm, almost distant.
"There's no need. If fate allows us to meet again, I'll tell you my name then."
Hearing this, Jiang Feng was taken aback before bursting into laughter. His fan snapped shut as he said,
"Interesting! Truly interesting. I've never met someone like you before."
Shen Xuan didn't linger. He simply gave a brief glance, then turned and walked away, his back straight and cold as ever.
One of Jiang Feng's followers frowned, clearly dissatisfied. He leaned toward his young master and muttered,
"Young Master, this person is far too arrogant. You spoke so kindly, yet he didn't even tell you his name. How disrespectful!"
But Jiang Feng only shook his head with a calm smile. His eyes, however, held a trace of intrigue as he murmured,
"No… don't worry. That wasn't arrogance. That was confidence. Mark my words—we will definitely meet him again. And when we do, I want to know just how deep this fellow runs."
The follower fell silent, though suspicion lingered in his eyes. Meanwhile, Shen Xuan's figure soon vanished into the bustling streets of Emperor City
Shen Xuan walked calmly through the bustling streets, his cold gaze fixed ahead. After some time, he arrived before a massive stone platform etched with countless runes—the Lu Clan's transmission array.
At its edge stood a young cultivator in Lu Clan robes. Clearly an outer disciple, he was responsible for managing the array. Seeing Shen Xuan approach, the disciple's tone was indifferent, but still carried a trace of authority.
"Two thousand spiritual stones, brother. If you wish to enter the Lu Clan's domain, that's the fee."
Shen Xuan silently nodded, without the slightest change in expression. From his storage ring, he drew out a pouch and handed it over. The disciple quickly inspected the stones, his eyes flickering in approval.
"Good. Step onto the array."
With practiced ease, the outer disciple pressed several hand seals. Instantly, the runes engraved across the array began to glow, spreading out like ripples of light. The ten-foot-wide circular formation pulsed with a profound energy, as if the very fabric of space itself was being stirred awake.
A low hum echoed, and waves of spatial energy wrapped around Shen Xuan's body. The brilliance of the runes intensified until they blazed like miniature suns. The crowd nearby instinctively backed away, shielding their eyes from the radiance.
Shen Xuan stepped onto the glowing formation. His expression didn't change, but he felt the crushing weight of space pressing against him, distorting the air. Then
Woosh!
In an instant, his figure vanished, swallowed whole by the roaring brilliance of the transmission array. The platform dimmed once more, the runes flickering faintly before settling back into silence.
A wave of dizziness struck Shen Xuan as the spatial force wrapped around him. When his vision cleared, he found himself standing in an open world unlike anything he had seen before.
The air was fresh, brimming with pure spiritual qi. Lush greenery stretched in every direction, and the sound of flowing streams blended with the distant cries of spirit beasts. For a moment, the scenery was so tranquil it felt like paradise itself.
Yet, just as he took a single step forward
The world shifted. The serene wilderness shattered like glass, and in the blink of an eye Shen Xuan stood within a quiet room.
An old man sat cross-legged at a wooden desk, his long white beard swaying slightly as he flipped through an ancient book. His hair, also snow-white, framed a face lined with age, but his aura was sharp, steady, and deep like an endless ocean.
Without hesitation, Shen Xuan clasped his hands and spoke in his calm, cold tone:
"Senior, I was instructed to head to the Thousand Flower Peak of the inner clan."
At first, the elder's brows furrowed. His ears almost refused to believe the words of such a young man. But then, Shen Xuan raised a simple token.
The instant the elder's gaze landed on it, his expression shifted. The character "Zhen" etched upon its surface radiated an undeniable aura, majestic and overwhelming. A flicker of respect appeared in his eyes.
"So… you carry his token."
The elder stood up, his posture straightening as though he was now addressing someone far above the outer disciples.
"Follow me."
With a single wave of his sleeve, the elder led Shen Xuan outside.
The moment the doors opened, Shen Xuan's breath caught.
Before him stretched countless towering mountain peaks, each shrouded by drifting clouds. Disciples soared through the skies on flying swords, leaving streaks of light behind them. The sheer grandeur of the clan's domain revealed itself—an isolated realm carved out by the Lu Clan's ancestors, a world within the world.
As they traveled, the elder spoke in a steady voice:
"Remember this well. The Lu Clan is divided into two domains—the Outer Clan and the Inner Clan. Those without Lu bloodline, no matter how talented, remain in the outer clan. Only those of true Lu lineage may reside in the inner clan."
Shen Xuan silently absorbed every word, his cold eyes sweeping across the magnificent scenery.
Finally, after passing through several grand halls and watching countless disciples training and sparring, they reached the towering gates of the Inner Clan.
Within, six sacred peaks rose proudly into the heavens:
Lingxiao Peak, Dan Peak, Canglong Peak, Thousand Flower Peak, Yanxia Peak, Tianxing Peak
The elder pointed toward the towering mountains ahead.
"Among the six peaks you see, the one in the center is the Thousand Flower Peak. You are the first one without the Lu surname or bloodline to step into the inner clan. From here on, your path is your own."
With those words, the elder departed, leaving Shen Xuan alone at the threshold of the inner clan.
From a distance, Shen Xuan gazed at the peak that pierced into the clouds. The Thousand Flower Peak stood tall and majestic, its stone stairway spiraling upward like a celestial ladder. He exhaled deeply. Since he was still in the Qi Condensation realm, he could not soar on a flying sword—he would have to climb step by step.
Just as he placed his foot on the first stair, a sharp voice rang out behind him.
"Wait."
Shen Xuan turned. A young man in a crimson robe approached with steady, confident steps. His features were refined, his posture brimming with pride, and his aura surged with the pressure of a mountain. He was already at the late stage of Qi Condensation, and his presence drew the attention of passing disciples.
This was Lu Zhenyu, one of the Lu Clan's five heavenly geniuses. At only twenty-seven, his name carried weight throughout the clan, both for his talent and for his arrogance.
Stopping in front of Shen Xuan, Lu Zhenyu's eyes narrowed slightly, his tone sharp.
"The Thousand Flower Peak is not a place just anyone can enter. Don't tell me you didn't know that?"
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