The Middle Realm spanned a vast territory, rich and fertile, dotted with numerous nations of varying sizes. Among them, the three most powerful and geographically extensive were the Tianwu Kingdom, the Great Chu, and the Shuiyun Nation.

These three great powers claimed the majority of the Middle Realm’s land. Tianwu lay nestled against the Western Regions, Great Chu faced the northern barbarians, and Shuiyun occupied the south, separated from the Nine Tribes of the Southern Barbarians only by the Misty Marsh.

Beyond Tianwu, Great Chu, and Shuiyun, the Middle Realm contained many smaller states. However, in terms of national strength and territorial size, these minor states were far inferior to the Big Three, leaving them no choice but to pledge fealty to secure their survival, sending annual tributes to their suzerain state.

Among Tianwu, Great Chu, and Shuiyun, the Tianwu Kingdom possessed the strongest military, the Great Chu held the widest territory, while the Shuiyun Nation was by far the wealthiest.

Since they did not need to guard against incursions from the Nine Tribes of the Southern Barbarians, the people of Shuiyun had lived in abundance and comfort for years, far more comfortably than those in Tianwu, who constantly had to reinforce their borders against the Western Regions, or those in Great Chu, who perpetually fought the northern tribes.

Shuiyun boasted six cities: Tianshui, Gaoyang, Taian, Luohe, Lingyun, and Qingyan. Tianshui City served as the capital, positioned centrally, encircled by Gaoyang, Taian, Luohe, and Lingyun Cities.

Lingyun City bordered the south, lying immediately adjacent to Qingyan City. Mount Wu rested within the jurisdiction of Lingyun City. Qingyan City and Lingyun City were separated by five to six hundred li, with Mount Wu situated to the west, between them.

Riding her horse and carrying Ji Changkong, Ji Wanyun spent the better part of the day traveling until the approach of dusk, finally reaching the foot of Mount Wu.

The sky was oppressive and dark, heavy clouds pressing down as if a downpour were imminent.

Mount Wu towered far above Qingyan City, perhaps over seven hundred zhang high. At a glance, the mountain seemed to stand erect beneath the dark clouds, its grandeur mirroring the gloom of the weather, imposing a profound sense of pressure upon the soul.

“Aunt, can the Old Mother of Mount Wu truly help me gather the Primordial Force of Heaven and Earth?” Looking up at the towering peak, Ji Changkong’s heart thrummed with excitement. He had asked this question no less than ten times on the journey here.

Having suffered the most devastating blow of his life over the last three months, Ji Changkong had pinned all his remaining hope on Mount Wu. The closer they drew, the more intense his eagerness and urgency became, impossible to restrain.

“She certainly can! Your Aunt desperately wants to see the fruits of your cultivation once you manage to gather the Force. Changkong, rest assured, no matter what method is required, your Aunt will ensure the Old Mother of Mount Wu accepts you as a disciple!” Ji Wanyun’s expression was resolute; these words served both to comfort Ji Changkong and to steel her own resolve.

“Aunt, as long as I can truly gather the Primordial Force, I will cultivate with more effort than anyone else. Sooner or later, I will find a way to erase the scar on your face. If I become strong enough one day, I swear I will kill the person who left those four scars on your face, whoever they may be!” Ji Changkong’s expression was grave, and a chilling glint flashed briefly in his clear eyes.

“No!” Seeing his look, Ji Wanyun’s expression turned anxious, and she hurried to speak, “Your Aunt only wishes to see you become a Celestial Squire. I don’t want you risking yourself for me. After all these years in the Ji family, your Aunt has long forgotten what vengeance means. Do not mention revenge again, do you understand?” By the end of her speech, Ji Wanyun’s tone had become uncharacteristically stern.

Ji Wanyun’s countenance, a mixture of dread and worry, appeared utterly vulnerable and helpless in Ji Changkong’s eyes…

In that instant, Ji Changkong’s hatred for the person who had harmed Ji Wanyun intensified to its zenith!

Ji Changkong understood that Ji Wanyun feared he might let hatred cloud his reason, fearing he would be killed by that person. He said no more, but in his heart, he silently swore an oath…

—Swore to pursue strength with all his might! Swore that one day he would bring Ji Wanyun to confront that person, flaying him alive and tearing out his bones! To make him suffer ten times the pain!

“Aunt, let’s go. We’re going up Mount Wu!” Taking a deep breath, Ji Changkong forced himself to stop looking at the alarm etched onto Ji Wanyun’s face. With stubborn determination, he walked past her toward Mount Wu.

Ji Wanyun sighed softly and shook her head in resignation, hurrying to catch up.

Did she not also wish for vengeance?

Any woman treated with such malicious cruelty would seek justice, regardless of her temperament! Moreover, she had been a victim from beginning to end.

However, the perpetrator was far too powerful; the entire Ji family had to swallow their pride. What ripple could a child who could not even gather Primordial Force possibly create?

…

A fierce wind howled, the clouds hung low, and just as the heavy rain began to fall, Ji Wanyun brought Ji Changkong to the summit of Mount Wu.

On the peak of Mount Wu were several wooden huts of varying heights, interspersed with elegant small towers constructed from bamboo. Before these towers lay a broad training ground, its surrounding weapon racks stocked with all manner of implements—swords, sabers, hooks, forks, bronze hammers, and iron staffs…

Around the practice field were numerous boulders taller than a man, polished smooth and clean, suggesting frequent use.

“Who goes there?”

Before they could even approach the training ground, a sharp, wary grunt sounded from behind a large stone to the left, and a middle-aged man clad entirely in blue appeared.

“We have long admired the fame of the Old Mother of Mount Wu. I have brought my nephew all the way from Qingyan City, hoping she might accept him as a disciple. We trouble you, esteemed elder, to announce our arrival.” Ji Wanyun’s voice was solemn. She bowed slightly with reverence, then produced a pouch of Yuan Stones and respectfully offered it.

Yuan Stones were peculiar stones imbued with the Primordial Force of Heaven and Earth.

Common Yuan Stones could temper divine weapons, while specialized ones could be directly absorbed by Celestial Squires to enhance their power.

There were also precious Yuan Stones that held unique properties. For example, the Flame Yuan Orb that Nie Yuanshan had gifted Ji Wanyun when they were at Qingyan Mountain was a type of Yuan Stone; it could enhance communication between Ji Wanyun and the Vermilion Bird Sacred Beast—such a stone was exceedingly rare.

The Ji family was not wealthy, so the Yuan Stones in Ji Wanyun’s pouch were only the most basic kind, suitable merely as ‘fuel’ for tempering divine weapons, not especially valuable.

Yet, Ji Changkong knew that the pouch contained her savings accumulated over many years.

She had been hoarding them, hoping to use them someday when she advanced to the Six Harmonies Realm to temper her own divine weapon. He never expected Ji Wanyun to empty her years of savings all at once, using it as a mere calling card to seek an audience with the Old Mother of Mount Wu.

“Aunt!” Ji Changkong was instantly agitated, his heart trembling. He reached out as if to snatch the pouch back, attempting to stop Ji Wanyun.

Ji Wanyun quickly used one hand to firmly restrain Ji Changkong, preventing movement, and shot him a fierce glare, signaling him to remain silent. Only then did she face the middle-aged man and resolutely extend the bag containing her life’s savings.

“It is late today. By regulation, we should not disturb the Old Mother. However, seeing your sincerity, I shall reluctantly pass on your message. But whether the Old Mother agrees to see you, I cannot guarantee…”

The middle-aged man subtly accepted the pouch containing Ji Wanyun’s savings; only then did his perpetually stern expression relax slightly. Without waiting for further protest from Ji Wanyun, he strode past the training ground toward the elegant small towers.

…

“Aunt…” As soon as the man left, Ji Changkong became frantic, his eyes red.

“Changkong, as long as you can gather the Primordial Force, your Aunt will sacrifice anything, let alone these basic Yuan Stones?” Ji Wanyun’s voice was firm. She released the hand gripping Ji Changkong and stated seriously, “Do not act rashly! Once you gather the Force and become a Celestial Squire, one day you will possess far more precious Yuan Stones. Then you can simply repay your Aunt, can’t you? Now, be quiet! Do not speak unless I give you leave!”

“I…”

“Promise me you won’t speak easily in a moment!” Before Ji Changkong could finish, Ji Wanyun suddenly let out a sharp, reprimanding cry, her demeanor brooking no refusal.

“I understand…” Ji Changkong seemed to deflate, losing all strength, and agreed with a crestfallen look. However, the hands clasped behind his back clenched tighter and tighter, his fingernails digging deep into his flesh—he couldn't even feel the pain…

“Come here. The Old Mother wishes to see him first,” just then, the middle-aged man who had taken the pouch called out from a distance.

Ji Wanyun hurriedly whispered a few urgent instructions to Ji Changkong about keeping quiet, then took his arm and led him over.

Inside one of the wooden huts, a slightly plump old woman emerged. She leaned on a slender staff topped with a snake’s head. Her eyes shone with piercing light, sharp and spirited. She wore a loose gown of black silk, the cuffs embroidered with white star patterns.

“Don’t you kneel and greet the Old Mother!” Before Ji Wanyun and Ji Changkong were even close, the middle-aged man snapped.

“We pay our respects to the Old Mother.” Ji Wanyun bowed respectfully, then tugged at Ji Changkong, urging him to offer a docile greeting as well.

Pulled by Ji Wanyun, Ji Changkong reluctantly bent his body in a bow and said, “We pay our respects to the Old Mother!”

“Hmph…” The Old Mother of Mount Wu nodded lightly, her face impassive. Her piercing eyes fixed on Ji Changkong, beginning to examine him from head to toe.

A chill went down Ji Changkong’s spine; he felt deeply uncomfortable. The Old Mother’s gaze felt almost tangible; as her eyes swept over him, Ji Changkong felt as if a venomous snake were crawling over his skin, giving him a hair-raising sensation.

Forcing down his discomfort, Ji Changkong did not cower or lower his head. His clear eyes met the Old Mother’s gaze directly, then, mimicking her, he scanned her figure, as if trying to counteract the unsettling feeling with this reciprocal examination.

…

“Remarkable courage, but his physique is too weak; he lacks any foundation for cultivation, perhaps even weaker than an ordinary person. Furthermore, his age is a bit too advanced…” After her serpent-like gaze had thoroughly roamed over Ji Changkong, the Old Mother frowned and slowly delivered her judgment.

Judging by her demeanor, she seemed decidedly unimpressed with Ji Changkong.

“My nephew is naturally intelligent. Though his body is somewhat frail, I believe with your guidance, Old Mother, once he has Primordial Force supporting him, he will certainly strengthen rapidly.” Seeing the Old Mother’s attitude, Ji Wanyun’s heart tightened, and she quickly spoke up on Ji Changkong’s behalf.

After Ji Wanyun’s plea, her face shifted between complex emotions as if she were hesitating over something.

Her hesitation lasted only a breath. Then, with a slight tremor in her arm, Ji Wanyun reached into the small pouch closest to her body and pulled out a fiery red orb. Lowering her head, she presented the sphere, murmuring softly, “This is a Flame Yuan Orb I acquired by chance. I hope it meets with the Old Mother’s approval.”