In the depths of the great hall, memorial tablets honored the ancestors who had made outstanding contributions since the Bai Family established itself in the Black Mountain Range. Flanking them were twenty-four Longevity Candles, each as thick as a human arm, their dim light causing the tablets to flicker.
Seated in the center of the hall was the current Clan Leader of the Bai Family, a middle-aged man named Bai Xianzhong. With his Early-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation, he had led the Clan for twenty years, and his prestige had grown immensely. It was no exaggeration to say he alone held up the sky for the Bai Family.
To his sides sat four men and one woman, all of them Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivators. They were the five Elders of the Clan, responsible for managing the Bai Family's various holdings.
Below them, numerous rows of people were arranged by their respective duties and cultivation levels. The hall was a sea of black-haired heads; nearly every Bai Family Cultivator currently residing in the Clan's territory was present. The hall was utterly silent, the atmosphere heavy and solemn.
Bai Zichen and Bai Ying stood at the very back. They were short, so even on tiptoe, all they could see were the layered shoulders of the adults in front of them.
'Uncle is in the second row. His status in the Clan must be pretty good. After all, he's just one step away from Late-Stage Qi Refining. Once he breaks through, he'll be a core fighting force for the Clan.'
At their age, they would never have been qualified to enter the great hall. The only reason they were here was because this was a full-clan assembly, where every Bai Family Cultivator could attend regardless of age or cultivation. Even so, they were merely decorations. No matter what was being discussed, it would never be the place for two ten-year-old children to interject, and no one was paying them any mind.
Chubby craned his neck, looking excited. He lowered his voice and whispered, "Brother Chenn, did you hear the Clan Leader? Even the Qingfeng Sect confirmed that it's the Cave Mansion of the Five Mountains True Man! If our Bai Family can unearth a treasure or two this time, we'll be set! In a few years, we might even take a spot among the Five Great Cultivating Families!"
Three hundred years ago, Chen Taige, the Five Mountains True Man, was known as the number one Loose Cultivator in Mizhou. A Late-Stage Golden Core Cultivator, he had once been considered a promising candidate to reach the Nascent Soul Realm and was renowned throughout the Liang Country.
After returning to his hometown of Black Mountain County in his twilight years, his presence alone was enough to make the Qingfeng Sect gasp for air. Although the sect's Supreme Elder was also a Golden Core Master, he was a far cry from Chen Taige, the top Loose Cultivator in Mizhou.
Chen Taige's Lifebound Magical Treasure was a heavy set of five mountain-shaped Magical Treasures, from which he derived his title. When all five peaks were unleashed together, the number of cultivators who died by this Magical Treasure was immeasurable.
However, the True Man seemed to have no successor. After he passed away, his followers quickly scattered to the winds. Yet, several of his Magical Treasures, including the Five Mountains Divine Peaks, were never found.
At the time, people speculated that the Five Mountains True Man had another, truly hidden Cave Mansion for his treasures. This sparked a treasure-hunting frenzy in the century following his death. Only after much time had passed did the craze slowly die down.
As Bai Zichen carefully recalled the records of the Five Mountains True Man from the Black Mountain County Chronicles, his mind filled with a sense of wonder.
"The matter of the Five Mountains True Man's Cave Mansion hinges on the Qingfeng Sect's attitude. It would be best if they're willing to let us have a share. But if they try to monopolize this opportunity and exclude all the other Cultivation Families, our Bai Family will likely suffer a double loss, even if we go all-in."
Grand Elder Bai Shoushun, whose hair and beard were white but whose face was ruddy, spoke with a voice like a booming bell. Not only did he possess a Qi Refining Great Perfection Cultivation, but he was also one of the most senior members of the Clan. "Honggu," he said, "your Jian Lian is from the Qingfeng Sect, and his master is an elder in the Talisman Hall. Has he heard any news from inside the Sect? What do those bigwigs intend to do?"
Within Black Mountain County, the Qingfeng Sect's word was law. They controlled the best and most abundant resources, and a subtle tension existed between them and the other Cultivation Families.
But after so many years, their affairs had become deeply intertwined.
Take the Bai Family for example: over the generations, more than ten of their children had joined the Sect. Elder Honggu's own Dao Companion had been an Inner Sect Disciple of the Qingfeng Sect. While not adept at combat, his Talismanic Technique was renowned far and wide, and he had already become a Tier One Top Grade Talisman Master.
The only woman among the five Elders, a handsome, middle-aged woman with a full figure and a hint of world-weariness in her eyes, paused for a moment before speaking slowly. "Brother Liangg sent a message just yesterday. The Qingfeng Sect Elders have decided to cooperate with several Cultivation Families. They plan to first cordon off the Five Mountains True Man's Cave Mansion and drive away the Loose Cultivators, then develop it slowly…"
"As long as there's a chance to cooperate, we're in a good position. Our family offers a significant tribute of resources to the Qingfeng Sect every year and we always respond promptly to their requests. They shouldn't leave us out this time, right?"
"It's hard to say. Those five families are formidable. If they were to truly join forces, even the Qingfeng Sect would have a headache. They'll certainly have to take their views into account."
Though it was called a full-clan meeting, it was really just a discussion among the five Elders. Bai Xianzhong, the Clan Leader, would occasionally add a sentence, at which point everyone would immediately fall silent to listen, only resuming once he was finished. None of the other Clan members, regardless of their status, dared to speak out of turn unless an Elder specifically addressed them.
Bai Zichen hid at the back, leaning against a pillar and listening with rapt attention. 'How could I ever learn this much about the other families in Black Mountain County, or the inner workings of my own Clan, just from reading books? These are all things I'll need to remember when I venture out into the Cultivation Realm one day.'
"...Then it is settled," the Clan Leader declared. "Tomorrow, Honggu and Bai Lu will lead a team of Clan members and depart with me for the Cave Mansion of the Five Mountains True Man. The Grand Elder will manage the Clan's affairs. Furthermore, the patrol teams are to be on high alert. Increase your manpower and the frequency of your patrols. Use extreme measures if necessary. With so many Loose Cultivators gathering lately, we can't have some blind Tribulation Cultivator getting ideas about our Bai Family."
With Clan Leader Bai Xianzhong's final word, the Bai Family's course of action was decided.
With a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, two Elders, and a team of elite Clan Cultivators all leaving at once, the Bai Family's internal defenses would be significantly weakened. Bai Zichen suddenly realized the Clan wasn't as safe as he had thought. 'My original plan for steady progress might have to change,' he thought. 'I'm still too weak.'
He was just a boy who had recently succeeded at Qi Refining. He hadn't learned any Magic and had no life-saving treasures. Even a few able-bodied men with weapons could pose a threat to him.
...
"Chenn'er, here are five Vajra Talismans, five Fireball Talismans, and five Divine Movement Talismans. I taught you how to use them last night, so make sure you remember everything."
Bai Jiu'an said earnestly, ruffling Bai Zichen's hair. "While I'm away, don't wander off. Stay here on Clear Wind Cliff and live with Bai Ying's family. Don't go back to Fufeng Ridge for now."
"I know, Uncle," Bai Zichen replied, nodding obediently.
As soon as the clan assembly dispersed yesterday, Bai Jiu'an was notified that he had been chosen for the twelve-person team accompanying the Clan Leader to the Cave Mansion of the Five Mountains True Man.
A command from the Clan could not be disobeyed. Besides, great risk was naturally accompanied by great opportunity.
As a cultivator with Four Spiritual Roots, he had less than ten years before he turned fifty and his vitality began to wane. If he ever hoped to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, how could he succeed without risking his life?
But he couldn't stop worrying about his young nephew, who had just set foot on the Immortal Path. While the Bai Clan Territory was protected by a Grand Array centered on Hanxiu Peak, the outer edges of the territory only had basic warning and concealment functions. Only the Array around the main peak offered true lethal protection.
After much thought, he decided to entrust Bai Zichen to Bai Ying's parents. They were both Mid-Stage Qi Refining Cultivators and would have the strength to protect themselves if they encountered Tribulation Cultivators, at least long enough for the Clan's patrol to arrive.
At the same time, to give his young nephew a way to protect himself, he had also pressed a stack of Talismans on him.
'They say relationships in the Cultivation Realm are fickle, that in the face of personal gain, friends, clan members, even Dao Companions and masters and apprentices can betray one another.' But from his uncle, Bai Zichen still felt genuine warmth and concern.
After explaining matters and saying goodbye to Bai Ying's parents, Bai Jiu'an departed in a hurry. Watching his uncle's retreating figure, Bai Zichen's heart suddenly felt heavy.
He was worried for his uncle, whose future on this journey was uncertain. He was anxious about his own low cultivation. And he felt lost, thinking of the Bai Family's fate, caught in the eye of a brewing storm.
'A Clan disciple like him, if he ever lost the Clan's protection, would have a future no different from the lowest of Loose Cultivators—drifting and homeless, exposed to the elements.'