In the Central Cloud Continent, within the Imperial Capital, stood a courtyard less than a thousand qianzhang from the Imperial Palace.

A refined middle-aged man stood there, deep in contemplation, gazing at the jade slip held in his hand.

Inscribed text lay within, each piece of information sinking gently into his spiritual consciousness.

"Qiantian, Zong Shou, the Blood Cloud Cavalry? I did not expect this world to produce another man of such decisiveness. Whether this is a blessing or a curse for my Shi family..."

Frowning, the middle-aged man's eyes held a veiled concern. He rose and began to pace within the garden, lost in profound thought.

When seated, he exuded an air of scholarly grace. But when he stood, his figure proved unnaturally tall, nearly reaching a zhang high, radiating an imposing pressure. Dressed in the official robes of a First-Rank military general, he appeared utterly dignified, majestic, and upright.

After pondering for a moment, the middle-aged man suddenly stiffened, his attention snapping to his rear. Standing ten zhang behind him, a youth clad in azure armor stood with a cheerful grin.

Around seventeen or eighteen years of age, his features were not strikingly handsome, but his bearing was heroic and extraordinary, possessing a refined, jade-like luster. The armor he wore was marred by dozens of deep slashes—whether old wounds upon the azure mail or evidence of something else entirely.

The middle-aged man started, then immediately put on a stern face to chastise him: "Just where have you been running wild these past days? You finally decided to return today?"

The youth merely smiled faintly, entirely unconcerned. First, he adopted a serious expression and bowed to the middle-aged man: "This child pays respects to Father!" He then walked directly to the stone table, sat down, and grabbed a piece of fruit, biting into it ravenously, consuming one piece with each swift bite as if starved.

The military general sighed in resignation and moved to the edge of the stone table, gazing at the youth before him, a flicker of paternal affection softening his eyes. He then looked again at the azure armor, at the dozens of white scores, several of which had penetrated the mail halfway through, some even all the way through.

The cuts were smooth, clearly the result of immense power, a sight startling to behold.

"Yue'er, are the outer territories truly so perilous?"

His own child, possessing his martial strength, had nearly suffered a fatal, grievous injury.

"Not entirely so!"

The youth named Shi Yue shook his head slightly. "I drifted along the Boundary River, visiting over a dozen worlds. The sights and customs were vastly different from our Cloud Realm. Most worlds possessed no spiritual energy whatsoever; martial arts and spirit techniques had not even appeared, only the crudest forms of combat. Let alone finding anyone comparable to this child's strength. However, some worlds boasted extremely flourishing martial traditions, though their cultivation methods differed somewhat from the Cloud Realm's. Amusingly, a few worlds held legends of our Cloud Realm, claiming it was some sort of Immortal Realm! It was rumored that many years ago, anyone who reached the Void Shattering realm could enter our Cloud Realm. I specifically checked the records there—it was merely the Seventh Tier, yet they dared call it Immortal. Laughable—"

"Hmm? Such oddities exist? Though in ancient times, the spiritual energy of our Cloud Realm was legendary, the crown of all realms. It's not strange it was called the Immortal Realm!"

The middle-aged general also shook his head slightly, finding the anecdote quite humorous. But in the next instant, his voice grew solemn.

"Then, to whose hands do you owe these injuries?"

Shi Yue glanced at his chest, then explained with utter nonchalance, "This time, I went to pursue Yuan Wushang, but he slipped away again. By some twist of fate, I ended up in a world occupied by the Night Demon Clan. I fought a fierce battle with a Commandant from the Night Demon army. He stabbed me three times, and I took his head!"

"Night Demons?"

The middle-aged general’s hand trembled slightly. He knew of the Night Demon Clan; they had once ravaged the Cloud Realm during the Cloud Barrens Era. In the outer territories, they held dominion.

It was said that the military system of the Cloud Realm was modeled after the Night Demons: a Commandant led a battalion, but the soldiers in a Night Demon battalion were all above the Fourth Tier!

This equated to the Innate Martial Cultivators and Nascent Soul Spirit Masters of the Cloud Realm.

A Commandant of a battalion was at least at the Half-step Spirit Realm, a veteran hardened by countless bloody battles, vastly different from the pampered cultivators of the Cloud Realm.

Such an individual, if facing him directly, could be crushed with a single finger. But facing his son—he didn't know whether to worry or rejoice.

"Those Night Demons have poor temperaments. If they cannot defeat one, they prefer to swarm and attack relentlessly until death. I had no choice, and for this past year, I had to flee eastward and westward. Just two months ago, I managed to set a trap and kill a Night Demon Commander, finally earning my escape."

What was an extremely perilous ordeal, the youth narrated as if it were trivial and unworthy of mention.

The military general frowned slightly. A Night Demon Commander would certainly be at the Spirit Realm.

Looking across at his son, he sensed that the youth possessed more than just a hint of killing intent in his eyes. The vital energy within him was now inscrutable even to the general.

It was clear that the year spent being hunted had led to considerable growth. Though he hadn't broken through to the Spirit Realm, he was only half a step away.

His Martial Dao intent had likely entered the Soul Realm as well.

Relieved, a slight smile touched the corners of the middle-aged man's lips. "There cannot be a next time for such things! It matters little to me if one or two of you three brothers perish. But your mother, she has been constantly anxious these past days! Do not let her grieve—"

"Yes! It is this unfilial child who has caused Mother worry!"

Shi Yue’s demeanor, previously flippant, hardened instantly upon hearing the general’s words, replaced by an expression of deep filial affection.

"Oh, yes! Two months before I intended to return to the Cloud Realm, I encountered people from the Lu family. One, an attendant, specifically sought me out to inquire about news. They asked nothing else, only about a person in our Cloud Realm named Zong Weiran. Unfortunately, I only heard that this individual established a great city called Qiantian in Donglin; I know nothing else—"

"The Lu family? The one reputed to manage eight hundred worlds?"

"Which else could it be? Naturally, the Burning Heaven Lu family."

The middle-aged man leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing. He had long heard rumors that Zong Weiran of the Donglin Cloud Continent had, by some twist of fate, become intimate with a direct descendant woman of the Lu family.

Now, it seemed these rumors were not baseless.

Then, the current Demon King of Qiantian Mountain also possessed Lu family blood—this matter was genuinely interesting.

"A few days ago, I also ran into members of the Nine-Tailed Snow Clan. They were lurking outside, seemingly plotting something. I paid them no mind, but I surmise that the royal descendants of those ancient demon races will soon flock back to the Cloud Realm. The day this world descends into chaos seems truly not far off!"

Saying this, Shi Yue showed a touch of curiosity. "When I left, wasn't Jue Yu planning to challenge all the sects to hone his sword dao? What is the result now? This person is called the Three Absolutes Sword, supposedly only a shade less formidable than Yuan Wushang. I am curious if this man managed to challenge every sect. He should have sought out the Five Great Sacred Lands by now?"

"He was defeated by Tan Qiu of the Cang Sheng Dao three months ago!"

A simple sentence that caused Shi Yue’s pupils to widen in surprise. He had not expected Jue Yu to lose, and to someone entirely unknown to him.

Just who was this Tan Qiu?

"It is said that battle was absolutely breathtaking. Some say it was the most exciting sword fight in the Cloud Realm in three thousand years; images of it spread across the entire realm. When this Tan Qiu was only at the Seventh Tier, he condensed his soul body. He fought Jue Yu using his primordial soul form and finally defeated Jue Yu after more than sixteen thousand sword exchanges! Your second brother went to watch it personally; if you're curious, you can ask him yourself."

Shi Yue let out a dry chuckle. "This world is truly overflowing with talent. The most splendid sword fight in three thousand years. I must see this battle. Father, did Jue Yu visit the other Sacred Lands?"

The middle-aged general shook his head. "He did not! It is said that after that battle, Jue Yu went into seclusion."

Shi Yue paused, then sighed with regret. "What a pity. In the Myriad Sword Vault, there is the Sword Young Master Jue Yu, and there is also Feng Taiji, who achieved Spirit-Martial Unity at the Sixth Tier. In the Myriad Buddha Vault, there is said to be a remarkable young monk. As for the Dao Spirit Vault and the Heavenly Demon Vault, needless to say. It is rumored that three individuals have achieved Spirit-Martial Unity. These people have always piqued my interest. Isn't Jue Yu afraid that others will call him a coward for retreating?"

The middle-aged general smiled without answering. Indeed, there had been such rumors lately.

That Jue Yu feared the method of Spirit-Martial Unity and was intimidated by those few individuals, choosing to retire when he was ahead.

However, at this moment, he wasn't concerned with it and couldn't be bothered to comment.

At this point, Shi Yue’s gaze settled back on the jade slip on the stone table. Without hesitation, he picked it up, probing it with his spiritual sense while saying, "Forget it! I am not a martial fanatic like Yuan Wushang, who would dare storm into my Great Shang military camp just to test his sword, killing over a dozen high-ranking generals. Hmm? This Zong Shou is quite formidable. He actually destroyed the Shangxiao Profound Spirit Sect. Blood Cloud Cavalry, Sword Intent Soul Realm, Spirit-Martial Unity? If I had equally elite troops, I would be confident of victory, but unless absolutely necessary, I truly don't wish to fight such a character. The sword masters among my peers in the Cloud Realm will likely look to this man as the leader! Right, Zong Weiran’s son—isn't he the person the Lu family is concerned about—"

A hint of gravity flashed across his eyes, and he then asked his counterpart, "Father has been wearing a worried expression. Is it because of this person?"

"This person is indeed extraordinary. He is the foremost of the Six Absolutes of the Cloud Realm, undoubtedly. Qiantian Mountain has already unified the atmosphere of the Donglin Cloud Continent. With four thousand Blood Cavalry and the protection of Dragon Shadow, even my Great Shang cannot provoke them casually."

Having said this, the middle-aged general let out a small, bitter laugh, his eyes filled with unresolvable melancholy. "However, although Qiantian is strong, it is tens of thousands of li away! It has little to do with our Central Earth, or my Shi family. What worries your father is the internal situation of my Great Shang Dynasty! My Shi family, though appearing immensely powerful now, stands on a razor's edge. One wrong step could lead to utter ruin. Your father lives every day as if treading on thin ice."

"How could this be?" Shi Yue's eyes instantly showed bewilderment. "My Shi family shares weal and woe with the nation, loyal and steadfast for over several centuries, trusted deeply by every emperor of the Great Shang. Though our power is not at its peak, we command military authority. The territories under our control are still prosperous. Could it be someone in the court is plotting against my Shi family?"

The middle-aged general sneered slightly. "Yue'er, do you know about the matter of the Divine Emperor?"