Ji Yuxing and Ji Yusheng sat, their impatience palpable, humoring a group of cultivators dressed in pale yellow robes. The two brothers clearly resented the uninvited presence of these Tianshi, engaging them with only half-hearted, disjointed responses.

This visiting group hailed from the Clear Bamboo Forest south of the valley, another Tianshi sect belonging to the Blood Rain Mountain region. This sect, known as the "Purple Radiance Rain," was roughly on par with the Ji Clan in strength, placing both among the weaker factions on Blood Rain Mountain. The Clear Bamboo Forest suffered from a scarcity of Heaven and Earth elemental energy, slightly better off than Xuanyuan Valley, but not by much.

On Blood Rain Mountain, there were countless Tianshi sects and families, all nominally part of the Blood Rain Alliance. However, these factions were strictly stratified based on their power.

The foremost were families like the He Clan, or sects such as Flowing Cloud Sand and Star Stone Sect—those boasting masters at the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm. Simply possessing one expert at this level secured a crucial position within the Blood Rain Alliance for any sect or family.

Although the current He Clan Patriarch, He Haoran, had not reached the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm, he had an uncle with that very cultivation. This lineage afforded the He Clan significant weight among the Blood Rain Alliance powers.

Across the entire Blood Rain Alliance, only the He Clan, Flowing Cloud Sand, and Star Stone Sect had masters in the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm. This power allowed them to remain at the apex, holding true authority within the Alliance.

Below these three major forces were the second-tier powers: families and sects anchored by masters at the Seven Stars Heaven Realm. The presence of just one such expert guaranteed recognition and a significant voice within the Alliance.

The third tier included factions like the Ji Clan and the Purple Radiance Rain. The strongest master in these sects only reached the Six Harmonies Heaven Realm, far short of the powers above. They were negligible in the Blood Rain Alliance and carried little political weight.

These bottom-tier families and sects received little attention and struggled to secure genuine cultivation havens. Only by accumulating true power could they earn such resources through merit alone.

Both the Ji Clan and Purple Radiance Rain fell into this category. Purple Radiance Rain was a Tianshi sect whose unique secret technique could conjure a fine, misty rain of purple motes, capable of pervasive, albeit limited, offensive power—a distinctive, if modest, sect.

“Haha, we are neighbors! We’ve been so consumed by cultivation that we only recently heard news of new arrivals to this valley,” the Purple Radiance Rain Sect Master, Yu Luan, boomed heartily, sitting very warmly with Ji Yuxing and Ji Yusheng. “With another addition to the Blood Rain Alliance, our union grows ever stronger…”

“Sect Master Yu, we understand your purpose; there is no need for further discussion. We believe the Ji Clan has every reason to strive for what is ours,” Ji Yusheng interjected, frowning, his cold demeanor pushing the visitors away.

After arriving, Yu Luan’s group first toured the valley, gathering intelligence on the Ji Clan by questioning a few collateral branch members. Only then did they explicitly request an audience with Ji Yuxing and Ji Yusheng. Once the brothers graciously welcomed them into the humble meeting hall, Yu Luan got straight to the point, immediately offering the Clear Bamboo Forest to the Ji Clan.

Initially, Ji Yuxing and Ji Yusheng were delighted, believing Yu Luan to be genuinely benevolent. Although the Clear Bamboo Forest was also resource-poor, it was better than Xuanyuan Valley. His proposal brought the brothers a fleeting moment of joy.

However, their happiness was short-lived. Yu Luan continued, stating his hope that the Ji Clan would abstain from participating in the upcoming Sect Gathering. According to Yu Luan, while the Purple Radiance Rain had no hope of claiming the three newly discovered cultivation treasures, they had a chance of securing cultivation land yielded by other sects.

Yu Luan argued that given the Ji Clan's low standing, they stood no chance of gaining any ceded lands even if they participated in the Gathering—better to avoid the humiliation entirely. As neighbors, if the Purple Radiance Rain succeeded in acquiring ceded land, they would then cede the Clear Bamboo Forest to the Ji Clan.

Yu Luan subtly hinted at securing a promise from the Star Stone Sect and boasted of having forged a Divine Weapon, putting his strength at the peak of the Six Harmonies Heaven Realm. In every aspect, he implied the Purple Radiance Rain held the advantage, subtly denigrating the Ji Clan in his speech.

“My two dear brothers, why the trouble?” Yu Luan shook his head, feigning goodwill. “With the Ji Clan’s current strength, even if you attend the Sect Gathering, you won’t gain anything of substance! It would be much better to take our Clear Bamboo Forest honestly. I offer this with the best intentions! Why don't you two reconsider?”

“We thank Sect Master Yu for his consideration, but there is no need to say more. We are still willing to take our chances!” Ji Yuxing stood up, his tone clipped. “Hao Guang, show our guests out!”

“Do you two truly believe that having the He Clan’s backing means you will reap benefits at the Sect Gathering?” Yu Luan’s composure cracked, his true colors showing. “Your own strength is insufficient. Neither of you has forged a Divine Weapon. Even if the He Clan wishes to help, what good is it if you are simply outmatched?”

“Finally, you speak your true mind!” Ji Yuxing’s face darkened as he stared at Yu Luan with a cold sneer. “Sect Master Yu, it seems you fear the He Clan’s support might enable us to challenge you, which is why you’re showing such sudden ‘kindness,’ isn’t it?”

“The Clear Bamboo Forest and Xuanyuan Valley are the two worst cultivation grounds. Even moving to the Bamboo Forest won’t fundamentally change much. We might as well fight for what’s ours!” Ji Yusheng declared resolutely, stepping to the hall entrance and making a gesture for Yu Luan and his retinue to depart.

With the situation settled, Yu Luan knew further talk was useless. The pleasant smile had long vanished from his face. He nodded stiffly, and as he walked out, he sneered dismissively, “As a clan head, you can’t even gather the materials to temper a Divine Weapon, yet you dare contend with the Purple Radiance Rain? Heh, laughable, truly laughable!”

Yu Luan let out a loud, booming laugh, clearly aiming the volume for effect. Once finished, he quickly led the Purple Radiance Rain sect members out of the Ji Clan residence.

Ji Yuxing’s expression was ashen. He desperately wanted to shout a rebuttal, even to stop Yu Luan for a fight, but in the end, he said nothing. He merely shook his head, let out a quiet sigh, and sat motionlessly in the patriarch’s seat, his spirit utterly defeated.

“Second Brother, do not stoop to argue with those petty wretches. If we secure a cultivation paradise this time, you will surely have the means to gather materials and temper your own Divine Weapon!” Ji Yusheng came to stand before him, offering solace.

“Third Brother, it is all my fault for being inadequate. This vast Ji Clan, under my stewardship, has fallen to such ruin! When my spirit finally dissolves, I will have no face to meet the ancestors in the Nine Springs!” Ji Yuxing hung his head, chastising himself with agonizing grief.

Ji Yusheng also sighed, finding little comfort to offer Ji Yuxing, for the truth was undeniable. A glorious, ancient family that once swept across all directions was now reduced to squabbling with an utterly insignificant sect over land ceded by others—and they looked like they might even lose that contest! The humiliation was so profound it made the two brothers feel as if they might vomit blood.

At the base of Blood Rain Mountain.

Deep within a thicket of dense foliage, Ji Changkong gave instructions to Mu Luo and the others. “Many Tianshi cultivate in this region of Blood Rain Mountain. Since the sects here were once heavily damaged by the Tianshi from the Southern Barbarians, the local cultivators are highly suspicious of outsiders. I must venture onto Blood Rain Mountain to speak with He Haoran and find out the precise location of the Ji Clan. You all must remain here. Mu Luo, keep a sharp watch. It is best if you avoid contact with the local Tianshi to prevent unnecessary trouble.”

“Leader, rest assured,” Mu Luo replied with a nod.

Mu Luo possessed cultivation at the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm; with even a modicum of caution, he could easily evade passing cultivators and prevent their trail from being discovered.

“Mmm,” Ji Changkong said no more, heading toward Blood Rain Mountain alone.

Under the brilliant sun, Blood Rain Mountain seemed to be shrouded in a faint crimson hue. The exposed rocks on the mountain displayed a dark red color. Elemental energy was rich across the slopes, growing denser the higher one ascended.

Along the way, ancient trees several men wide dotted the landscape. A myriad of flowers bloomed across the mountainside, and gentle-natured exotic beasts lay lazily basking in the sun, utterly unconcerned about being hunted.

Taking a deep breath of the fresh, high-altitude air of Blood Rain Mountain, Ji Changkong felt instantly refreshed. He suddenly realized that cultivating in such a blessed location greatly aided a Tianshi’s speed in gathering primal energy. Cultivating here over the long term would lead to much faster progress than in ordinary mountains.

Generally, places rich in Heaven and Earth elemental energy inevitably yield rare natural treasures, such as spirit-radiating origin stones or herbs and flowers imbued with marvelous properties. These spiritual treasures were immensely useful for Tianshi cultivation, aiding in the enhancement of internal elemental power.

Blood Rain Mountain was vast. Walking along the rugged mountain paths, Ji Changkong released his divine sense, feeling a sense of boundless expanse, impossible to fully grasp. The spiritual energy at the peak mingled with the clouds, creating a breathtaking, ethereal spectacle that lent the mountain a sense of misty immortality.

The He Clan, Flowing Cloud Sand, and Star Stone Sect—the three supreme powers of the Blood Rain Alliance—all cultivated atop Blood Rain Mountain. These three factions completely occupied the mountain, claiming this treasure trove for themselves. The younger generations within their sects and families cultivated rapidly here, often reaching realms far higher than their peers in the valleys below.

He Haoran’s son, He Zhizhang, was heralded as one of the three great young genius Tianshi of the Shuiyun Kingdom. It was rumored that several months prior, He Zhizhang had broken through again, reaching the Five Elements Heaven Realm.

He Zhizhang’s rapid advancement was due not only to the He Clan’s deep coffers but also significantly to the cultivation paradise of Blood Rain Mountain. Furthermore, several youths from the Flowing Cloud Sand and Star Stone Sect had also reached the Four Symbols Heaven Realm, making their progress noticeably faster than those cultivating elsewhere.

“Hey, boy, who are you?” While deep in thought during his ascent, Ji Changkong was abruptly jolted by a sharp shout.

Several youths, wearing garments adorned with Star Stone patterns, were slowly surrounding a beautiful young woman whose sleeve cuffs also bore the Star Stone emblem. The leading youth, sporting a short beard and a broad, powerful build, with crude features, glared with furious indignation, pointing a long, ape-like arm toward Ji Changkong.

The lovely maiden smiled sweetly, like a burst of vibrant flowers, causing the surrounding youths to display looks of utter infatuation, suggesting they all held deep affection for her.

However, in Ji Changkong’s view, the maiden’s beauty was only on par with the young girls Yi Jia and Yi Rou; she lacked the ethereal grace of Bai Qingya and was nowhere near the captivating allure of Ayiguli.

Given that the Ji Clan had recently relocated here, Ji Changkong did not wish to invite trouble upon his family before even returning. Seeing the group approach with ill intent, he smiled. “I am from the Ji Clan of the Blood Rain Alliance. I came up Blood Rain Mountain intending to speak with someone from the He Clan. Heh, it’s my first time on this mountain, and I seem to have wandered into the territory of your Star Stone Sect.”

“You haven’t taken a wrong turn. This is indeed our Star Stone Sect’s Hundred Herb Garden. Friend, is your purpose in visiting the Hundred Herb Garden perhaps to steal my spiritual herbs?” The short-bearded youth curled his lip into a mocking sneer, instantly labeling Ji Changkong a thief with that single sentence.

“The Ji Clan? Is there such a family in our Blood Rain Alliance?” The maiden frowned slightly, a look of genuine surprise on her face.

“I seem to recall there is one. They were strongly recommended by the He Clan Master to join,” the youth said dismissively, curling his lip. “… Junior Sister, never mind these low-status minor families. Master assigned us to guard the Hundred Herb Garden, and we must not fail. I care not if they are from the Ji Clan; anyone who dares trespass into this forbidden area will be detained first. Search him thoroughly, and then send word for the Ji Clan head to come claim him.”

“Senior Brother, don’t you remember when Yu Luan visited? He gifted Master a pair of Clear Jade Bracelets, begging for Master’s favor during the Sect Master Gathering… Yu Luan repeatedly mentioned the Ji Clan, claiming they were backed by the He Clan and might pose a threat…” Suddenly, a slightly younger youth seemed to recall something. He leaned toward the short-bearded youth, explaining in a low whisper.

This man’s voice was extremely faint, and his eyes darted toward Ji Changkong as he spoke. The beautiful maiden, listening for a moment, knitted her brows tighter. She subtly pulled the verdant jade bracelet on her left wrist further up her sleeve, a flicker of nervousness crossing her bright eyes.

Ji Changkong maintained his composed smile, saying nothing, simply watching the group with relaxed eyes. When they declared their intention to hold him captive in the Hundred Herb Garden, he remained unmoved, still smiling gently.

However, when the man hesitantly mentioned Yu Luan and the Ji Clan, the smile on Ji Changkong’s face slowly vanished, and his brow deeply furrowed.

“Does my Ji Clan have some grievance with you all?” After a moment, seeing the group still whispering conspiratorially about how to deal with him, Ji Changkong finally could not help but speak.

“No! We pay no mind to a small family like yours!” The maiden replied quickly, sounding somewhat anxious.

Ji Changkong’s expression turned cold. “If we have no feud, then why are you all going to such lengths to scheme against me? Heh heh, do you really think I’m deaf?”