Inside a majestic palace, a woman in simple robes sat high above, her slender phoenix eyes narrowed as she looked down upon the two figures kneeling before her. Her voice was detached, "Tell me, what news is there of the Ji family?"

"Your Majesty, the Ji family is secretly recruiting masters from all corners of the realm in Xuanyuan Valley. Such actions clearly betray intent to rebel. If Your Majesty does not act now, the Ji family will grow ever more unscrupulous!" Chancellor Wang stated gravely. He had the appearance of a scholar, tall and thin, seemingly frail enough to be knocked over by a gentle touch.

"Sister, Ji Changkong dares to slaughter people in the City Lord's Manor of Qingyan City, clearly showing no regard for our Huangfu family. Xuanyuan Valley is now teeming with masters—the Ghost Sect, experts from the Xiao family—and now they are frantically recruiting more. All signs point to the Ji family actively opposing us, the Huangfu family!" Huangfu Jingwei ground his teeth in anger.

Huangfu Yue, seated high upon the throne, showed a detached expression and nodded gently. "The Ji family's actions do indeed suggest a change of heart."

"Sister, Xuanyuan Valley has truly become a tumor in the Shuiyun Kingdom; it must be removed!" Huangfu Jingwei pleaded earnestly.

"Your Majesty, Xuanyuan Valley is indeed a hidden danger. If this continues, the Shuiyun Kingdom will see the rise of another power that overshadows imperial authority! The Qiankun Sect already severely restricts Your Majesty's grand plans. With another power like the Ji family in Xuanyuan Valley, Your Majesty's ambition to conquer the Southern Barbarians will face even more obstacles."

"Furthermore, I hear that Ji Changkong has extremely deep ties with Zhongli Jingyi, the chieftain of the Chi Yi tribe of the Southern Barbarians. Recently, news spread that Zhongli Jingyi was summoned to Heavenly Wolf Mountain by the Divine Archer Gong. Judging by the Divine Archer Gong's demeanor, he seems inclined to cultivate Zhongli Jingyi. If this trend continues, Zhongli Jingyi is highly likely to become the Southern Barbarian Saint Lord, and he is allied with Ji Changkong," Wang Pai said thoughtfully.

Huangfu Yue's brow furrowed upon the high platform. After closing her eyes in contemplation for a moment, she finally said, "I understand. You may both leave now."

"Sister!" Huangfu Jingwei urged anxiously.

Huangfu Yue showed no reaction, remaining silent with a knitted brow.

Wang Pai tugged at Huangfu Jingwei, giving him a look. Huangfu Jingwei sighed helplessly, bowed low, and retreated with Wang Pai.

After the two left the great hall, they proceeded directly to Wang Pai's Chancellor's Residence. Upon entering, they found Jiu Lingxue, clad entirely in white, waiting for them.

"Grandfather," Jiu Lingxue called out softly.

The sight of the girl immediately lifted Wang Pai's spirits. The Wang family had lacked any truly outstanding younger generation over the years, causing Wang Pai much melancholic discontent until he discovered this granddaughter, bringing him immense joy.

Once Wang Pai realized this granddaughter was a cultivation prodigy rarely seen in a century, he immediately poured all his hopes for the next generation onto Jiu Lingxue. And Jiu Lingxue did not disappoint him; her cultivation speed left Wang Pai utterly dumbfounded.

This only further endeared Jiu Lingxue to Wang Pai, who treated her as his most cherished possession. For her sake, he scoured the world for rare heavenly treasures suitable for her cultivation, sought out secret techniques tailored to her path, placing all his hopes upon her.

"Little Xue, rest assured, the Ji family's good days are numbered. I promise you, I will avenge your parents!" Wang Pai consoled Jiu Lingxue. His expression suddenly turned icy as he snorted, "Ji Changkong is unbelievably arrogant. He even dares to kill my people! I will personally execute that brat sooner or later!"

"Grandfather, I want to strip his skin myself!" Jiu Lingxue's tone was flat, yet anyone could discern the burning hatred in her eyes.

"Alright, alright, your grandfather and I will kill that brat together," Wang Pai gently patted Jiu Lingxue's shoulder, then glanced at Huangfu Jingwei. "Prince, let's go inside and talk."

Huangfu Jingwei nodded silently, glancing at Jiu Lingxue. He praised, "Chancellor, you are truly blessed. I see that the girl Lingxue's cultivation has improved again. Compared to her, the so-called cultivation geniuses of the Shuiyun Kingdom are truly overshadowed."

"Haha, this girl is just like that—she cares so little for her life when cultivating, truly reckless. But she is exactly like me when I was young. Without that single-minded dedication, I never would have reached the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm," Wang Pai beamed with pride when praising Jiu Lingxue.

"Compared to Lingxue, my own son seems rather useless. Ah, he gives me such trouble. Heh heh, with a girl as outstanding as Lingxue, I wonder which young man in the Shuiyun Kingdom will be fortunate enough to claim her…" Huangfu Jingwei hinted meaningfully.

"This girl's sole focus is avenging her parents. After she settles that score, we'll see what her heart desires. Heh heh, I dare not interfere with her affairs," Wang Pai chuckled, thinking inwardly, How could your low-ranking son possibly be worthy of Little Xue?

Huangfu Jingwei frowned slightly, musing, This old fox truly cherishes this cold girl. He's even letting her decide such matters on her own. The old fox holds immense sway in the court and is highly regarded by my sister; it won't be easy to pressure him. I must have a good talk with Zhu'er when I return and make sure he finds a way to secure this girl.

Wang Pai and Huangfu Jingwei, each harboring their own schemes, walked away smiling.

Jiu Lingxue stood motionless where she was, gazing into the distance toward Blood Rain Mountain. Killing intent radiated from her eyes, and an aura of chilling coldness spread outward, causing even the nearby residence guards to instinctively keep their distance, apparently deeply fearful of her.

Behind the Imperial Palace of Tianshui City was a secluded courtyard. Its security was even tighter than the palace itself. Anyone approaching this courtyard would be immediately warned and questioned by numerous hidden experts; a single misstep could result in utter annihilation of body and spirit.

After dismissing Wang Pai and Huangfu Jingwei, Huangfu Yue secretly used her private passage to reach this courtyard, emerging from a highly concealed fissure in the rockery.

"Your Majesty," came a low whisper from the shadows.

"I wish to see the Clan Head," Huangfu Yue stated.

"Your Majesty, please allow me to report," the hidden figure replied softly before falling silent.

A moment later, a voice returned from the darkness: "Your Majesty, the Clan Head requests your presence."

Huangfu Yue nodded, stepped out of the rockery fissure, and vanished in a single stride.

In the pitch-black darkness, a faint light suddenly appeared. It was a sealed stone chamber where Huangfu Tong sat upon a cushion, observing Huangfu Yue, who was bowing before her. "Little Yue, what brings you here?"

"Aunt, Xuanyuan Valley is powerful. Ji Xuan in the Ji family murdered a City Lord in the Qingyan City Lord's Manor," Huangfu Yue said in a low voice.

"I know all this," Huangfu Tong nodded, frowning. "What do you intend to do?"

"Xuanyuan Valley cannot remain placid like the Murong or Chen families. We must eliminate this threat early on!" Huangfu Yue declared decisively, without the slightest hesitation.

"You should know that Ji Changkong was raised and taught by Li Hentian since childhood. You should also know Ji Changkong's relationship with that person on Mount Tianshan. Moving against Ji Changkong... have you truly considered the consequences?" Huangfu Tong asked with a solemn expression.

Suddenly looking up, Huangfu Yue met Huangfu Tong's gaze with eyes as sharp and cold as knives, showing no fear. She stated firmly, "Aunt, my true objective in targeting Xuanyuan Valley is precisely to force Mount Tianshan to intervene!"

Huangfu Tong's body trembled, filled with shock. "Little Yue, so that's..."

Huangfu Yue's eyes suddenly blazed with a pathologically insane fervor, yet her tone remained as smooth as water. "Aunt, while the Huangfu family nominally rules the Shuiyun Kingdom, in reality, we are shackled in everything we do. Even the matter of conquering the Southern Barbarians is not ours to decide. Aunt, you are the Head of the Huangfu family, and I am the Empress of the Shuiyun Kingdom, yet every year we must journey to Mount Tianshan to pay respects. Don't you find that pitiful?"

Huangfu Tong frowned without speaking. After a long pause, she said, "Little Yue, I do not oppose your ambition. In fact, the reason I passed the throne to you back then was precisely because I saw your ambition to never submit to others! However, you must understand, ambition without sufficient strength to support it is just as pitiful."

"I have received confirmed intelligence that Gu Ya sustained severe injuries during his battle with You Lan!" Huangfu Yue interrupted Huangfu Tong, a knowing, slightly sharp smile playing on her lips. "Aunt, I would not dare act lightly without absolute certainty."

"Oh?" Huangfu Tong finally seemed intrigued. She sat up straight, looking directly at Huangfu Yue. "How much certainty do you have?"

"Seven parts," Huangfu Yue replied.

"Enough, that is enough!" Huangfu Tong's eyes lit up, and she laughed. "Little Yue, I know you are not one to act recklessly. Tell me, what method do you have... what method do you have to deal with an injured Nine Palace Heavenly Master?"

Huangfu Yue chuckled softly. "So Aunt is the same as I am."

"Impudent girl, tell me your method. If I deem the method unfeasible, I absolutely will not permit your recklessness," Huangfu Tong gave a dry laugh before stating seriously, "However, if I find your method viable, I will stake the fate of the Huangfu family on your madness!"

"Regardless of whether he is injured or not, he has one weakness," Huangfu Yue smiled coldly and began to explain slowly. "The matter between him and Li Hentian—others may not know, but you and I certainly do. No matter how much Li Hentian stirs up trouble, he will never betray him. Li Hentian left Mount Tianshan, went into hiding, and guarded that boy for so many years, which fully proves that the person he truly cares about is Ji Changkong. And Ji Changkong is his greatest weakness!"

Huangfu Tong nodded. "Indeed, Ji Changkong is now his only remaining kin. Targeting Ji Changkong is the right path. But how do you plan to use Ji Changkong to deal with him?"

"My thought is..." Huangfu Yue whispered her explanation.

After Huangfu Yue finished, Huangfu Tong pondered for a while, then nodded. "Good. Then I will stake the fate of the Huangfu family on this gamble with you!"

Xuanyuan Valley.

Since Ji Changkong's return, the Ji family, the Ghost Sect, and the Xiao family of Xuanyuan Valley had unified their future direction. Disregarding the opinions and attitudes of others, they dedicated themselves to recruiting masters from across the realm to bolster Xuanyuan Valley's strength.

The Ji family now had Ji Changkong. According to Xuanyuan legends, Ji Changkong was destined to become a Nine Palace Heavenly Master. With this guarantee, many could foresee the limitless future of the Ji family. Aligning themselves with the Ji family as retainers now meant they would fear no threat in the future.

Although the Ghost Sect's fame was not widespread, anyone who had visited the Gloomy Mountain Range knew that the Ghost Sect was the most formidable power there. They also knew the Ghost Sect had resided in the Gloomy Mountain Range for many years, controlling vast resources. The Gloomy Mountain Range was rich in produce, with countless rare cultivation materials. Gaining a connection with the Ghost Sect would make obtaining those resources for Heavenly Masters incredibly easy.

The Xiao family, being one of the Seven Great Families of the realm, was known to possess immense financial and military strength. Having the Xiao family as a truly powerful force within Xuanyuan Valley naturally attracted many individuals.

Once the Xiao family released the news of Xuanyuan Valley's recruitment drive through their intelligence network, within a month, several dozen cultivation masters responded to the call. Among them were over thirty at the Five Elements Heaven or Six Harmonies Heaven realm, and even two Seven Star Heavenly Masters had arrived.

The Ji, Ghost Sect, and Xiao families adopted a rather unique strategy regarding recruitment. Rather than strict enlistment, they essentially gathered unaffiliated cultivators from outside to train in Xuanyuan Valley, without imposing harsh terms to restrict these incoming practitioners.

Any outsider who came to cultivate in Xuanyuan Valley and received recognition from the Ji family, Ghost Sect, or Xiao family was considered part of Xuanyuan Valley. Here, these external cultivators could enjoy a portion of the resources belonging to the three factions, though, naturally, if Xuanyuan Valley faced any trouble, all resident cultivators were expected to stand united.

In essence, this was a relaxed cooperative model similar to the Blood Rain Alliance of Blood Rain Mountain. The difference was that the Blood Rain Alliance targeted a sect or a specific faction, whereas the approach in Xuanyuan Valley was even more accommodating, applicable to individuals.

This method of gathering external cultivators to train together and improve collectively quickly gained acceptance. Many solitary, unaffiliated cultivators, hearing the news, flocked to Xuanyuan Valley, seeing it as their ideal training ground.

Cultivating alone as a lone wanderer offered freedom but brought numerous inconveniences. An individual's strength was inherently limited. If a lone cultivator ran into disputes with members of powerful families, the cultivator was inevitably the one to suffer losses, even if their realm was high; they could still be besieged and killed by the family's experts.

Furthermore, solitary cultivation rarely allowed for good exchanges of cultivation insights, and resource acquisition was often insecure. Even when searching for materials needed by Heavenly Masters in famous rivers and mountains, they risked having those resources stolen.

For this reason, many unaffiliated cultivators chose to become retainers for large families. Although they sacrificed freedom, they gained greater space to survive and a more peaceful cultivation environment.

The reason the recruitment news from Xuanyuan Valley attracted so much attention was twofold: firstly, the assurance provided by the three powerful forces—the Ji family, the Ghost Sect, and the Xiao family—within the valley; and secondly, the relative freedom offered. The Heavenly Masters cultivating here were not slaves to the three factions; they possessed their own status and were not ordered about at will. They received the respect they deserved.

Freedom and respect—though intangible, these were two things many people could not abandon. Because of this, Xuanyuan Valley became a sanctuary in the eyes of many lone cultivators. They traveled thousands of miles not for material gain, but for these two intangibles that many others overlooked.

In just a few short months, Xuanyuan Valley gained several dozen more residents. As the valley space was limited and the number of lone cultivators kept growing, the Ji family, Ghost Sect, and Xiao family held consultations and opened a new gathering area in the dense forest behind Xuanyuan Valley, building simple bamboo houses for the visiting cultivators.

For the cultivators who had traveled far, the most important aspect of the training environment wasn't the lodging; having a place to settle was enough. What they truly needed was this friendly atmosphere for cultivation.

It had to be admitted that the Ji, Ghost Sect, and Xiao families showed great foresight. As the number of visiting cultivators increased, Xuanyuan Valley truly began to feel cramped. At this point, the bamboo houses in the rear mountain served their purpose, accommodating later arrivals in the dense woods.

Unbeknownst to them, Xuanyuan Valley grew increasingly vibrant. Because of the large concentration of cultivators, Xuanyuan Valley began holding regular gatherings to discuss challenging cultivation problems and even organized small-scale trading fairs, using various means to strategize for everyone's advancement.

Xuanyuan Valley was now filled with masters, boasting nearly ten experts at the Eight Trigrams Heaven realm. Sometimes, Eight Trigrams Heavenly Masters like Xiao Xing or Gui Hai would even offer guidance on difficult cultivation issues. The insights shared by Eight Trigrams Heavenly Masters held fatal attraction for many; perhaps a single sentence from Xiao Xing or Gui Hai could save them years of misguided effort.

The sects around Blood Rain Mountain, upon hearing that Xuanyuan Valley had Eight Trigrams Heavenly Masters answering cultivation questions and held regular trading fairs, began to shamelessly drop by. Afterward, they would enthusiastically spread the word about Xuanyuan Valley's benefits.

Consequently, the sects and families surrounding Blood Rain Mountain came to recognize the unique advantages offered by Xuanyuan Valley. They started visiting frequently, flocking there whenever they encountered cultivation hurdles, and only left after gaining new insights.

The area that should have been the cultivation hub, Blood Rain Mountain, was gradually forgotten. Over the past few months, aside from members of the He family and the Star Stone Sect, very few outsiders were seen near Blood Rain Mountain.

Suddenly, Xuanyuan Valley had become the center of attention for the Blood Rain Mountain area. Except for the He family and the Star Stone Sect members, experts from all other families and sects would periodically visit Xuanyuan Valley.

"This is too much! If we hadn't taken him in initially, how could the Ji family have gained a foothold on Blood Rain Mountain? Now look, they have occupied Xuanyuan Valley and are strutting around Blood Rain Mountain, completely disregarding us!" He Xuefeng of the He family roared.

"Now people from the surrounding sects and families visit Xuanyuan Valley daily, as if they suddenly have nothing to say to our two families. If this continues, what standing will the He family and our Star Stone Sect have within the Blood Rain Alliance!" Hao Chengdong of the Star Stone Sect exclaimed.

Inside the He family's great hall, the members of the He family and the Star Stone Sect were all indignant, appearing utterly furious.

He Haoran and Baili Ke exchanged wry smiles, watching the shouting match, unsure of what to do.

"The rise of Xuanyuan Valley is also a good thing for our Blood Rain Alliance. This way, no other sect will dare disrespect our Blood Rain Alliance," He Liying muttered quietly. "Besides, I haven't seen anyone from Xuanyuan Valley acting arrogant. They remain just as humble and polite when dealing with us. After Ji Changkong returned to Xuanyuan Valley, he visited Blood Rain Mountain the very next day; his conduct has been exemplary."

"What do you know?" He Xuefeng glared at He Liying and snorted, "No matter how polite they are on the surface, they definitely look down on us underneath. Especially with the Xiao family involved in Xuanyuan Valley. As one of the Seven Great Sects, the Xiao family is superior to our He family and the Star Stone Sect in every aspect. With the Xiao family there, how could those people possibly regard our two families highly?"

"Those who can force out Liu Yunhaifeng are truly not to be trifled with," Hao Chengdong said with a bitter smile, shaking his head. "Compared to Liu Yunhaifeng, Ji Changkong is even more cunning and treacherous. Without anyone noticing, he has won over the surrounding sects and families of Blood Rain Mountain, effortlessly seizing control of the Blood Rain Alliance—something Liu Yunhaifeng tried to do for years but failed."

"Yet, in his hands, it appears so easy. One must admit, Ji Changkong is far superior to Liu Yunhaifeng! To possess such means at such a young age, we truly underestimated him before!"

"Ji Changkong never forced anyone; those people willingly threw themselves at his feet," Baili Xiu frowned and huffed.

"That is precisely his brilliance," Hao Chengdong's smile grew increasingly bitter. "Alas, one must concede this brat is talented, yet he is so refined and polite that it leaves us absolutely no excuse to act out."

"Father, look, what should we do?" He Zhizhang shook his head. "This cannot go on. All the sects and families around Blood Rain Mountain only have eyes for Xuanyuan Valley now, completely ignoring Blood Rain Mountain, ignoring our He family and the Star Stone Sect!"

"Sect Master, make a decision; what should we do?" Hao Chengdong also looked at Baili Ke.

"What should we do?" He Haoran glanced at Baili Ke, then glared at He Zhizhang. "Do you know how many Eight Trigrams Heavenly Masters are in Xuanyuan Valley? Do you know how many Seven Star Heavenly Masters like your father are there? Do you know that both the Ghost Sect and the Xiao family possess the strength to defeat us? You tell me what we should do! Should I teach you?"

"Th-this," He Zhizhang stammered, finally managing to choke out a sentence after a long pause: "The Ji family's foothold in Xuanyuan Valley was entirely thanks to my father's assistance. While the Ji family has become powerful now, they must not forget their origins!"

"How have they forgotten their origins?" He Haoran snorted. "The Xuanyuan Valley has never proactively tried to seize anything of ours. Regarding the matters of the Blood Rain Alliance, Xuanyuan Valley has never voiced any opinion. When has Xuanyuan Valley ever objected to decisions made between us and the Star Stone Sect?"

"All this talk boils down to the fact that you simply cannot stand seeing others become powerful. You must realize that with the current strength of Xuanyuan Valley, they could thrive spectacularly no matter where they settled outside of Blood Rain Mountain. If they left Blood Rain Mountain now, they would only be better off than they are currently! The fact that they haven't left already is already a sign of nostalgia. Must you push such a powerful ally away before you are satisfied?"

"Without Xuanyuan Valley, without the Ji family, you! You! You! All of you would likely be nothing more than captives of the Mani Cult, the Setting Sun Island, or the Flowing Cloud Sea Peak! And yet, you all have the audacity to shout so loudly here, even the elders among you. To actually stop the younger generation from going to Xuanyuan Valley—I truly don't understand what any of you are thinking!" He Haoran pointed at the assembled He family members, berating them without restraint.

Baili Ke smiled and nodded: "Indeed."

With He Haoran and Baili Ke having spoken, quite a few people fell silent. However, some, still harboring resentment, continued to find ways to criticize Xuanyuan Valley. Several of these individuals held seniority over both He Haoran and Baili Ke, making it difficult for the two to overtly disregard them, causing them both internal frustration.

After a session of unproductive discourse concluded, He Haoran and Baili Ke, faces drawn with worry, made their way to the edge of a waterfall on Blood Rain Mountain. The deafening roar of the cascading water ironically made the spot an excellent place for a private conversation.

"It seems many in both the He family and the Star Stone Sect are dissatisfied with Xuanyuan Valley. This is perhaps unavoidable; the narrow-minded are, after all, the majority. There are some we cannot easily criticize, and this matter is truly becoming troublesome. What if, what if they do something rash and genuinely provoke those few individuals in Xuanyuan Valley? That would be a massive headache," Baili Ke sighed, shaking his head.

"I've already spoken with Changkong. Even if some people from our two families act rashly, Changkong will only teach them a lesson, not truly strike them hard. Ah, perhaps those fellows deserve a lesson; it might just make them behave," He Haoran chuckled.

"I hear He Liying has been secretly visiting Xuanyuan Valley frequently lately? Was this something you deliberately arranged?" Baili Ke's eyes flickered as he suddenly changed the subject. "That girl is quite promising. If she managed to become involved with Ji Changkong, it could resolve the friction between the He family and Xuanyuan Valley—"

He Haoran grinned widely and burst into laughter: "And isn't your girl often visiting Xuanyuan Valley looking for him? Heh heh. Are you planning to force your girl into that young man's embrace? If you secured a son-in-law like that, even if you lost the Star Stone Sect, no one in the entire world would dare disrespect you!"

"Ah ha ha, I merely thought it was a way to resolve the conflict between Blood Rain Mountain and Xuanyuan Valley. You old rogue, who said you are coarse and brainless? Your own scheming is probably no less than mine!" Baili Ke offered a dry laugh.

He Haoran’s mouth curved into a smile as well. Having fought fiercely for many years, they were intimately familiar with each other, naturally understanding the true intentions behind the other’s words.

After leaving the main hall of the He family, He Liyu thought it over and decided she must make a trip to Xuanyuan Valley. She intended to inform Ji Changkong of the He family members' dissatisfaction, hoping he could devise a suitable method to resolve the situation.

Deep down, He Liyu strongly approved of Xuanyuan Valley's actions and greatly admired their assistance to the rogue cultivators. She felt the cultivation atmosphere within Xuanyuan Valley was the most suitable environment for practitioners to gather, and she held a favorable impression of the generosity and magnanimity shown by the Ji family, the Ghost Sect, and the Xiao family in Xuanyuan Valley.

He Haoran had sought her out for private conversations before, sharing certain matters with her to relay to Ji Changkong. He Liyu knew that although some in the He family were intensely displeased with Ji Changkong and Xuanyuan Valley, she also understood the relationship between He Haoran and Ji Changkong, which had never wavered due to these issues.

Weighing how to approach the matter when she met Ji Changkong, she worried that if she spoke too harshly, Ji Changkong might grow to resent the He family members. Conversely, if she spoke too lightly, Ji Changkong might not take the matter seriously, leaving them blindsided when events transpired.

He Liyu frowned, inwardly cursing the He family members for their lack of foresight. It was obvious to everyone that Xuanyuan Valley's power far surpassed that of Blood Rain Mountain, yet they insisted on trying to smash a rock with an egg—truly overestimating themselves and putting her in a difficult position.

"Oh, isn't this Sister Ying?" At that moment, Baili Xiu's voice drifted from the distance. Baili Xiu approached with a sweet smile, quickly walking up to He Liying, asking playfully, "Sister Dong, where are you off to?"

Suddenly snapping out of her deep thought, He Liyu frowned and glanced at the strangely smiling Baili Xiu: "Little Xiu, where are you running off to now? Isn't your father still over at the He family residence? Why did you leave alone ahead of him? Isn't your father worried you might be abducted on the road?"

"Who dares cause trouble on Blood Rain Mountain nowadays?!" Baili Xiu puffed out her chest proudly. "Even people from the Chen family or the Murong family treat Brother Ji with utmost courtesy when they come to Blood Rain Mountain. When Brother Ji killed someone in the Azure Rock City Lord's Mansion, the Huangfu family didn't dare say a word. With Brother Ji here on Blood Rain Mountain, no one dares cause trouble!"

"Always talking about Brother Ji, Little Xiu. Are you perhaps on your way to see your Brother Ji?" He Liyu interjected.

"Yes—ah? No!" Baili Xiu realized she had let something slip and quickly corrected herself: "I am going to Xuanyuan Valley to ask someone about some difficult cultivation problems. I’m not going to see him, truly!"

"Your father is so learned and versatile; what problem could he not solve? Why must you make a special trip to Xuanyuan Valley? Little Xiu, asking questions is just an excuse; you're going to see family, aren't you?" He Liyu stated plainly.

Baili Xiu pouted slightly, then said suddenly, "What about Sister Ying? Are you also going to ask about cultivation problems? Heh heh, are you specifically going to ask Brother Ji?"

"No!" He Liyu firmly denied it.

The two women, each harboring her own secret agenda, walked side-by-side, constantly probing and sparring with veiled barbs. Before they even reached Xuanyuan Valley, they nearly started a shouting match on the road.

The Big Dipper Star Domain. Tianban Star.

On the 'Yin Peak,' a mountain suspended in the void and towering into the firmament, the souls of a group of East Sea Heavenly Soldiers had gathered. They communicated with one another through soul thoughts.

"The fellow who just drove us off the 'Yin Peak'—where did he say he was from?"

"I think he mentioned Xuanyuan Valley."

"Xuanyuan Valley? Never heard of such a place. It's clearly not some formidable sect or family, or we would know of it."

"That fellow was quite bold to attempt cultivation on the 'Yin Peak' alone. Hah, he was extremely lucky to find such a peak. It’s a pity he’s just a rogue cultivator without the power to claim it; it ended up being a cheap prize for us."

"Indeed. He's quite amusing, too, claiming he would return for revenge. A pitiful wretch, a mere minor rogue cultivator daring to oppose the Heavenly Soldiers of the Seven Islands. Truly someone who doesn't know the meaning of death."

"Yes, if he comes back, ha ha! We can ask him exactly what this Xuanyuan Valley is."

For several days, the souls of the Heavenly Soldiers communicated smugly via soul thought.

After an unknown period, a faint, firefly-like speck of light gradually materialized in the distance, rapidly flying toward them.

"I am here. I discovered this 'Yin Peak' by chance. While I was cultivating peacefully, I was surrounded by these Heavenly Soldiers calling themselves the East Sea Seven Islands. Not only did they seize the 'Yin Peak,' but they immediately demanded I leave. When I refused, they ganged up on me, and my soul was nearly destroyed here," Ling Xiao's soul thought surged outward.

Ling Xiao was one of the rogue cultivators who had come to Xuanyuan Valley to cultivate three months prior, possessing a cultivation level of the Seven Stars Heaven Realm. Previously, cultivating alone, he was constantly forced to flee and hide while wandering the Divine Roam Star Domain. On several occasions, he encountered cultivators from the Northern Barbarians and nearly had his soul scattered.

Upon arriving at Xuanyuan Valley, Ji Changkong had said that in the future, when facing trouble in the Divine Roam Star Domain, they could face it together, emphasizing that mutual aid was more necessary in the Star Domain. Anyone from Xuanyuan Valley encountering an enemy there should stand united against them.

After being driven from the "Yin Peak," Ling Xiao's soul chanced upon Ji Changkong, who happened to be cultivating on Tianhui Star at the time. Ling Xiao did not recognize Ji Changkong. However, Ji Changkong, whose soul had recently advanced, recognized Ling Xiao through the marvels of the Star Cloud Soul Refining technique. After inquiring about the situation, Ji Changkong immediately declared that he would accompany Ling Xiao back to the "Yin Peak" to take revenge on those East Sea Seven Island Heavenly Soldiers.

In the Big Dipper Star Domain, Ji Changkong held the deepest dislike for the Heavenly Soldiers from the East Sea and the Northern Barbarians. Upon hearing that the ones who drove Ling Xiao from the "Yin Peak" were again from the East Sea, Ji Changkong didn't hesitate, dragging Ling Xiao along as they rushed over.

"Uh, Young Master Ji, are you certain you can handle them?" Ling Xiao’s soul flickered, appearing somewhat uncertain. "There are seven of them!"

"Relax. Even if I weren't certain of victory against them, I am certain I can get you out easily. I will take responsibility for this matter!" Ji Changkong soothed Ling Xiao. With a flicker of his soul, he materialized before the 'Yin Peak,' and intense soul fluctuations suddenly emanated outwards.

"Were you the ones who laid hands upon someone from my Xuanyuan Valley just now? Are you the brave heroes?"

"Ha! Someone actually came back for revenge!" A soul drifted over. "Not bad. I was the first one to make a move. What about it?"

"I participated too! What can you do about it?" Another mass of soul matter drifted over.

"Those who actively seek death, I always grant their wish one by one!" Ji Changkong’s soul rippled outward. His soul suddenly surged towards the two figures.

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