Han’s mind raced, weighing his options in mere moments before coming to a decision.


    He couldn’t let this accusation stick. He wasn’t about to take the fall for this.


    “Lord Zuo, he’s slandering me! This is blatant defamation!” Han cried out, his voice ringing with mock indignation. “My admiration for the Emperor’s Academy is boundless—like a river that never stops flowing. If I weren’t so attached to my hometown, I’d have followed you to Yujing without a second thought. You know me, Lord Zuo—I’m an honest man. Everyone present that day heard what I said. But this Duan Jin? He’s making things up, stirring trouble for no reason. I suspect he’s got ulterior motives, trying to drive a wedge between Tai Bai Martial Hall and you. I say we seize him and interrogate him—see if he’s been bought by some evil cult!”


    Zuo Tianzheng’s expression remained unreadable, but Long Tianchong, a subordinate, jumped in immediately. “Han, watch your tongue! My Tenglong disciple may have spoken out of turn, but colluding with dark forces? That’s absurd. He just wants to spar with you, Heiyun’s so-called top genius, that’s all.”


    “Yeah, Han,” Duan Jin added, his tone sharp as he emphasized, “I’m asking you to enlighten me.”


    That “asking” came out heavy with intent.


    Duan Jin eyed Han, surrounded by his Tai Bai peers, and recalled his hall master’s orders. A flicker of excitement sparked in his chest. Sure, given Han’s past cultivation pace, Duan Jin knew he likely wasn’t a match. But that didn’t matter—he was just here to “seek guidance.” After this, he’d catch Lord Zuo’s eye, and his future would soar. Maybe in Yujing, he’d even glimpse the Marrow Cleansing Realm and join the Great Qi royal ranks. True Blood of the Martial Path, Soul of the Yin Spirit—those were realms that governed entire provinces, vital assets even to the royal family. A Marrow Cleansing Saint who wanted to pledge loyalty would be welcomed with open arms and given due respect. Even Zuo Tianzheng, an imperial envoy, had only a Marrow Cleansing Saint as his guard.


    Facing Duan Jin’s renewed challenge, Han paused, then said, “Today’s focus is the tournament. I didn’t join, so stepping in now feels out of place.”


    “No matter,” Zuo Tianzheng interjected. “Since Duan Jin’s so eager for your guidance, go ahead and give him a lesson. Let him see that, despite winning first in the Sinew Realm, he’s still miles behind a genius like you. It’ll keep his ego in check.”


    Han sighed inwardly. “Well, if that’s the case, I’ll make a fool of myself then.”


    The onlookers buzzed with excitement. They hadn’t expected this bonus showdown.


    “Duan Jin’s challenging Han? Can he even handle it? That guy’s Heiyun’s top genius!” one spectator mused.


    “Pfft, I bet that ‘top genius’ title’s overblown,” another sneered. “Why else would he skip the tournament?”


    “Makes sense. Duan Jin’s the strongest Sinew Realm fighter in Heiyun now. Even if Han wins, it’ll be a slog.”


    “Being strong for a moment doesn’t mean you’ll stay that way. Han only started cultivating at twenty-two. Sure, he shone early, but who knows about his future?”


    The crowd chattered away, many tossing out snide guesses. It wasn’t personal—they just loved seeing the flawless tarnished, dragging gods off their pedestals. Besides, they weren’t the ones fighting. They were just shooting their mouths off—something anyone could do. In Han’s old world, they’d be the keyboard warriors.


    Duan Jin, itching to start, gripped his long blade. “Draw your sword, Han.”


    He doubted he’d win, but he figured he could at least trade a few blows. Sinew Realm, after all—how strong could it get? There had to be a limit.


    “Little Brother, your sword,” Shen Yu offered, holding out her Hundred-Forged weapon.


    Han shook his head. “No need. You make your move, Duan Jin.”


    “Fine!”


    Duan Jin lunged, blade flashing with speed, the air shrieking as he swung.


    The crowd marveled—this was power they could never match.


    Han shifted his right foot, kicking up a pebble. With a flick of his hand, he struck it.


    Whoosh!


    The stone shot out, too fast for mortal eyes to follow.


    Duan Jin’s face paled. He swung his blade to block, but an unstoppable force slammed into him.


    Bang!


    His weapon clattered to the ground as he was hurled back over thirty feet by a single pebble.


    Han didn’t spare him another glance. “Anything else, Lord Zuo?”


    Zuo Tianzheng’s gaze lingered on the fallen Duan Jin before settling on Han, a hint of admiration in his eyes. “Your skill is remarkable. How about a match with the Viscera Realm novice winner from the tournament?”


    Han hesitated, deflecting politely. “Lord Zuo, you’re too kind, but I’ve only been cultivating for a short time. I’m no match for someone in the Viscera Realm—I wouldn’t dare tangle with them. Surely you wouldn’t force me into a fight I can’t win?”


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    “Of course not,” Zuo Tianzheng replied. “I won’t push you.”


    “If there’s nothing else, we’ll take our leave.”


    “Safe travels,” Zuo Tianzheng said with a nod.


    As Han and his group departed, Zuo Tianzheng’s expression cooled to indifference.


    “Lord Zuo, Han’s strength…” one of his men began.


    “We’ll discuss it back at the residence.”


    He strode off, his guards trailing close behind. As for Duan Jin, writhing in pain and moaning after his defeat, Zuo Tianzheng didn’t so much as glance his way.


    Once the factions cleared out, the stunned crowd lingered. Eventually, someone sighed, “Heiyun’s number one is still number one—no one else comes close.”


    “Exactly! Duan Jin overestimated himself. Who does he think he is, challenging Heiyun’s top genius?”


    Typical keyboard warrior flip-flopping.


    At the Town Garrison, Zuo Tianzheng sat alone, flanked by his three guards: two Saints and one Marrow Cleansing warrior. One Saint stood out, shrouded entirely in a black robe—a rarity he’d brought from Yujing, one of his last three elite protectors. The rest had fallen to ambushes by the Tianmu Sect and Wuchang Hall. In Heiyun Town, though, these three were more than enough to ensure his safety. One of them, a hidden ace, hadn’t shown himself since arriving—known only to those present.


    The envoy’s retinue wasn’t just these four, of course. A few Bone Refinement Day Roamers and Viscera Realm practitioners had survived as well, though their strength paled beside Zuo Tianzheng’s. They were more errand-runners than guards.


    Abruptly, he asked, “Master Chu, Master Li, could you discern Han’s realm?”


    Master Chu, the unrobed Saint, shook his head. “There’s something odd about him—hazy, hard to pin down. He didn’t even go all out.”


    Master Li, the Marrow Cleansing warrior, agreed. “I couldn’t tell either. Ignoring his soul, just in martial prowess, it’s tough to say what realm he’s at. But he’s definitely hit Viscera Realm—otherwise, he couldn’t have crushed a peak Sinew Realm fighter so easily.”


    “I concur,” Chu nodded. “In just a few months, his martial progress is staggering. With Lu Qingmo’s guidance, his soul cultivation must be solid too—likely Night Roamer level.”


    They hadn’t seen Han train his soul, but it was an easy guess. If he wasn’t honing his soul while constantly visiting Lu Qingmo, what else would he be doing? Pruning peach trees?


    Zuo Tianzheng’s gaze darkened. “Bai Ruoyue, not even twenty, is already at peak Viscera Realm, able to challenge Bone Refinement fighters. Han, after three or four months of training, has Viscera-level strength. Two generations of Heiyun’s top geniuses, both from Tai Bai Martial Hall, both tied to Lu Qingmo. If the Black Mountain God truly bestows blessings, how can the rest of Heiyun’s rabble compete with them? How am I supposed to secure the Heaven-Mending Vine? And yet Tai Bai has the gall to reject my generosity.”


    Master Chu pondered, then suggested, “Why not be upfront with Lu Qingmo? If the Mountain God blesses Heiyun in the future, ask Bai Ruoyue or Han to request the Heaven-Mending Vine. If they succeed, we could trade for it at a fair price.”


    “I’ve got nothing tempting enough to sway Lu Qingmo,” Zuo Tianzheng countered. “Even offering Han and Bai a spot in the royal ranks wouldn’t outshine joining Xuandu Temple. She’s a disciple there—proud and stubborn. She won’t do me any favors. And you know her situation. If she hears about the Heaven-Mending Vine, even if it can’t fix her problem, she’ll be tempted. That’d just complicate things.”


    Master Chu sighed. “How does a backwater like Heiyun produce such freaks? It defies reason.”


    “The root’s probably Tai Bai’s master,” Master Li growled. “Word is, he traveled in his youth, came back stronger, with a daughter in tow. He must’ve stumbled onto some fortune out there. ‘Bai Tian’—never heard that name before.”


    Silence fell. Then Master Li’s face hardened. “If this won’t work, and that won’t either, why not just eliminate Han and Bai Ruoyue? Get them out of your way. The Heaven-Mending Vine’s what matters.”


    Zuo Tianzheng’s eyes flickered, but he said nothing.


    Back at Tai Bai Martial Hall, Han’s first words were, “Zuo Tianzheng’s testing my strength.”


    “How so?” Zhang Yuantao asked.


    “Is Duan Jin the reckless, hotheaded type?”


    Zhang shook his head. “Not really.”


    “There you go,” Han explained. “If he’s not some impulsive fool, why would he challenge me right after the tournament? He’s Zuo’s pick for Sinew Realm first. Losing to me would embarrass Zuo. Yet Zuo pushed me to fight—not just Duan Jin, but even offered a Viscera Realm opponent. Logically, since we’ve already turned him down, my strength shouldn’t matter to him.”


    The others mulled it over.


    “Makes sense, Little Brother,” Shen Yu nodded.


    “Wait—why’s he not testing me?” Bai Ruoyue piped up.


    Han gave her a wry look. “Senior Sister, you fought Tenglong’s Bone Refinement guy last time. Your strength’s no secret.”


    “Oh, right,” she conceded.


    Han fell silent, lost in thought. The only reason he could fathom for Zuo’s probing was the rumored Mountain God trial. Did Zuo want something from it? If so, could Han claim something too? But a trial meant competition—some would shine, others would falter. He and Bai Ruoyue… well, he wasn’t bragging, but in Heiyun, no one matched their talent or combat prowess in their realms.


    “From now on, we play it safe,” Han said suddenly. “Stick to Heiyun Town. Second Brother, if the Heiyun Guard assigns any out-of-town jobs, turn them all down.”


    Zhang Yuantao’s eyes widened as it clicked. “Little Brother, you think…?”


    “I can’t say for sure, but better safe than sorry. I’ve never shied away from assuming the worst of people.”


    That night, Han shared his suspicions with Lu Qingmo, who nodded in approval.


    “By the way,” she asked, “when do you plan to unlock the Three Yin Legacy?”


    Once Han or An Lang reached Day Roamer, they could revisit Three Yin Valley and access it. Han already met the mark.


    “Hold off for now,” he replied. “With a Day Roamer monk and a Bone Refinement fighter dead, the Huang family’s on high alert. Three Yin Valley’s probably crawling with experts. I’ll wait till my cultivation’s stronger—and until next month’s cheat refreshes. Three days from now, I’ll get my sixth cheat since arriving. Might come in handy.”


    “Fair plan,” Lu Qingmo agreed. “Oh, about the Three Yin Mountain God—my junior brother Song dug up some intel at Xuandu Temple.”


    Han perked up. “What’s this god like?”


    “It’s been active for at least three hundred years—a secretive entity. One of our temple前辈 stumbled onto it during a trip to Black Mountain and logged it in our records.”


    “A god from three centuries ago,” Han mused. “Wonder if Tianyue County’s factions know about it.”


    “Hard to say,” Lu Qingmo continued. “This Three Yin Mountain God ascended as a Yin Spirit but never broke past its limits. It fell early. Gods live longer than cultivators, but their cultivation’s a slog. Few Yin Spirit monks choose divinity unless they’re desperate—and even fewer have the chops to pull it off. Ascending with a human body’s no picnic either. It takes prep, luck, and raw power. Divinity’s just another path to the Dao, but it’s a bumpy one.”


    Han’s thoughts drifted to the Moon Goddess. What kind of being was she?


    “The key detail about the Three Yin Mountain God,” Lu Qingmo added, “is that it’s a ghost god.”


    “Ghost god?”


    “Yep. It ascended as a ghost, not a living person.”


    The fog in Han’s mind cleared. No wonder An Lang bore that seven-pointed star mark—turns out, she and the Three Yin Mountain God were cut from the same cloth.


    Han smirked inwardly. Looked like he’d need to light a fire under An Lang. A ghost ascended to godhood, and here she was, napping her days away. Time to whip that lazy spirit into shape!