Feng Mountain, Feng Family Residence.
In a solemn hall adorned with intricate decorations, several empty chairs lined both sides, creating an atmosphere of authority and grandeur. Seated in the center, facing these vacant seats, was a middle-aged man clad in a simple white robe.
From afar, he appeared unassuming, with an ordinary face that bore no remarkable features. However, his presence exuded an aura of dominance, and his demeanor commanded unquestionable authority.
With a calm yet commanding voice, he asked, "What is the situation right now?"
An elderly man, seated in one of the chairs nearest to him, responded with the utmost respect.
"Ancestor, the remnants of the settlement we built near the mine have been successfully rescued. Unfortunately, many of our clansmen perished in the attack, including the Fourth Elder."
The white-robed man was none other than Feng Taishan, the Foundation Establishment ancestor of the Feng Family, one of the three Immortal Families.
Hearing this, his face momentarily flushed red with rage, and the veins on his forehead bulged, clearly revealing his suppressed fury. Yet, he did not interrupt and allowed the elderly man to finish his report.
Once the report was fully conveyed, he finally let out his pent-up anger.
"How dare those lowly commoners kill our clansmen! I will slaughter their entire bloodlines. Those peasants...!"
After taking a few deep breaths, he stopped himself and forced his emotions to settle. The truth was, despite his fury, he was powerless to act recklessly. He could easily annihilate the entire gang, but there was one person he dared not face head-on.
The mastermind behind the gang and the cause of this conflict, Crimson Blade True Cultivator.
His real name was Wu Sheng.
Unlike ordinary rogue cultivators, this man's title was not just for show. He was an Innate Stage Martial Master from a mortal dynasty who had come to Cloud Market in pursuit of greater strength.
His rise from the Qi Refining Realm to the Foundation Establishment Realm was a tale drenched in bloodshed.
Feng Taishan had once encountered him,back then, Crimson Blade had just stepped into the Foundation Establishment Realm while he himself was already at the Second Layer. The result? A crushing defeat.
"If not for my talisman, I might have had to sacrifice one of my arms just to escape."
When Feng Taishan first discovered the spirit stone mine near the border of his family's territory, he had been overjoyed. Without hesitation, he ordered his clansmen to establish a settlement nearby and commissioned an earth master to inspect the mine's structure.
But the findings left him speechless.
While the entrance of the mine was indeed within Feng Family territory, nearly seventy percent of its veins extended into Crimson Blade Gang's domain.
This put him in a dilemma. Share the mine? Absolutely not, he was the one who discovered it.
Before he could formulate a plan, disaster struck. Somehow, the information had leaked, and the settlement was attacked by the Crimson Blade Gang.
Now, he had no choice but to face his old adversary once again. But this time, he could not afford to go alone.
The last time he had encountered Wu Sheng was a decade ago at an auction. Back then, he had been stunned to discover that Crimson Blade had already advanced to the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment. He suspected that by now, his cultivation had only grown stronger.
Feng Taishan, who had remained stuck at the Second Layer for decades, felt frustration gnawing at him. To stand against such a formidable foe, he sought an alliance with the other two Immortal Families.
The results were disappointing.
The Li Family, immovable as Mount Tai, outright rejected his invitation. Although he had anticipated this outcome, he could not hide his disappointment.
The Li Family was renowned for their mastery of talismans. Though they had only one Foundation Establishment cultivator, they possessed three Second-Rank Talisman Masters.
It's an astonishing feat considering two of them had attained this rank while still in the Qi Refining Realm. Rumors of a second Foundation Establishment cultivator emerging within the Li Family had also circulated, but without any official confirmation, he dismissed it as speculation.
Still, there was hope.
The Mu Family had neither rejected nor accepted his request for an alliance. Their hesitation was telling as they were waiting to see his resolve.
If Feng Taishan showed a strong determination to confront the Crimson Blade Gang, they might step forward. If not, they would remain as mere spectators, watching the drama unfold from the sidelines.
"I only have one chance. I must plan this carefully."
The weight of this battle loomed over him like a storm cloud. One wrong step, and not only would he fail to reclaim the mine, but he might also doom the Feng Family itself.
.....
In a small courtyard, Lan Rui continued his relentless training, oblivious to the brewing conflict stirring within the market.
"Haa… After four days of seclusion, I'm finally ready to face the threats of the outside world," he muttered, his entire body drenched in sweat.
Of course, these were just words meant to bolster his confidence, but at the very least, he no longer felt as powerless as before. He had successfully cultivated the Geng Metal Sword Technique to the Beginner Level without using any Comprehension Points. However, something else caught his attention.
Geng Metal Finger Technique (Minor Achievement 201/300)
His proficiency had jumped by a hundred points the moment the Geng Metal Sword Technique reached the Beginner Level.
Although the two techniques hadn't merged into one, the unexpected progress still left him satisfied.
After cleaning himself up, Lan Rui stepped out of his courtyard, making his way directly toward the market.
.....