Lu Qingmo’s stern expression made Han half-wonder if his days were numbered.


    “What’s going on?”


    “Today, Tianlong Gate’s grand deacon—a Manifestation Realm heavyweight named Fang Zhenxing—paid me a visit. He brought up you,” she said.


    In a faction like Tianlong, grand deacons were the big shots—Manifestation or Marrow-Washing Realm powerhouses. Day Roaming or Bone Forging types? Just regular deacons. Above them sat the elders, Yin God or True Blood tier.


    Lu Qingmo went on, “Fang Zhenxing mentioned your scrap with their disciples. Gave you quite the glowing review.”


    Han grinned. “Guess I did you proud, huh, Aunt Mo? Any reward for me?”


    “Focus,” she snapped, barely resisting the urge to yank a peach tree out of the ground and whack him with it.


    Reward this, reward that—all he thinks about is himself!


    “Fang Zhenxing said you’re every bit the Black Cloud top genius—no one in town can touch you,” she continued, her tone growing heavy. “He made a request—hopes you’ll consider teaming up with them down the line.”


    “They won’t shortchange you.”


    “Teaming up?” Han paused, piecing it together. He got Fang Zhenxing’s angle—and why he’d say it.


    They’re after my shine.


    “Looks like Tianlong’s playing the same game as Zuo Tianzheng—roping in Black Cloud’s homegrown talent for their own ends.”


    “They’re gunning for the Mountain God’s favor too!”


    “No doubt about it,” Lu Qingmo nodded, backing him up. “You and Ruoyue—your reputations are too loud. Anyone eyeing the Mountain God’s blessings is bound to zero in on you.”


    “You’re right in the storm’s eye.”


    That’s why she’d warned him so gravely.


    If the Mountain God’s favor—or its trial—came with a locals-only clause, Han and Bai Ruoyue stood out like beacons.


    Two generations of Black Cloud’s finest, miles ahead of the pack.


    Even if the blessings spread wide, there’d be tiers. A trial meant the best and brightest would catch the god’s eye.


    No way around Han and Bai Ruoyue.


    Han mulled it over. “When the enemy comes, I’ll block. When the flood hits, I’ll dam it.”


    “I chose this path—can’t dodge the spotlight.”


    Unless he went full hermit, staying low-key wasn’t an option.


    “Teaming up? No chance—not with Zuo Tianzheng, Tianlong Gate, or whatever else rolls in later.”


    “Unless one person can snag multiple blessings from the Mountain God, I’m not playing ball.”


    “They want us hunting Sky-Mending Vine in Black Mountain? That ship’s sailed. The only shot now is through the Mountain God.”


    “Its trial and favor—that’s the golden ticket. I’m not passing it up.”


    The best—maybe last—chance at the vine.


    Lu Qingmo gazed at him, her heart a tangle, her eyes softening.


    He’s doing this for me.


    “Aunt Mo, these big factions want stuff from the Mountain God’s favor,” Han said. “With their power, couldn’t they just wait for it to fall and grab what’s left?”


    “Why bother with the trial at all?”


    “You’re oversimplifying,” she replied, shaking her head. “The Mountain God’s a top-tier force—stronger than some sect leaders and family heads. Even the elites fear it.”


    “Even if it falls, it’ll likely leave traps or contingencies to screw them over.”


    “Plus, post-fall chaos means facing off against heavy hitters. No one’s guaranteed to snag what they want—could even piss off the wrong crowd or get caught in a high-stakes mess.”


    “But the trial? Low risk, young blood handles it—no danger to the big shots. They score the goods, claim them clean, and other factions usually back off.”


    One’s a dogfight in a wolf pack—shady spoils, no invincible champ. The other’s a straight shot from the source—easy, legit, and anyone stealing after that’s begging for war.


    Han got it. Why slog through eighty-one trials when you can shortcut to paradise?


    “If that’s the case,” he said, “this Mountain God trial—still up in the air—might have some twists coming.”


    “It compromised once, letting outsiders into Black Mountain. I’d bet the trial won’t be Black Cloud exclusive either.”


    “Too much pressure for the god to hold that line.”


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    “You’re right—lots of folks think the same,” Lu Qingmo agreed. “But word from the Yun family says Black Cloud natives will get an edge. That perk, that identity—it’s what the outsiders need.”


    “Fair point.”


    Compromise cuts both ways.


    You got your people into Black Mountain, but nothing above Night Roaming or Viscera.


    I’ll let you in on the trial, but I’m looking out for my hometown crew—it’s only right.


    The real prizes—locals or outsiders? No contest.


    Han sighed. “Hope this trial kicks off soon, before more Tianlong-tier players pile in.”


    Lu Qingmo pondered a beat. “If you want, you could lay low for a bit.”


    “Lay low? Where?”


    “Evil cults and rogue cultivators are popping up across Tianyue’s counties. You could hunt them down—drop off the radar of anyone watching.”


    “That’d leave Senior Sister holding the bag at Tai Bai alone,” Han said, shaking his head. “Plus, running around out there’d slow my training.”


    “I’ll stick around Black Cloud. Tianlong’s punks don’t scare me.”


    He was in prime pill-popping cultivation mode—bouncing around outside would waste time.


    Sure, he was under the spotlight, riding the storm’s crest.


    But the bigger the waves, the fatter the fish.


    For the next three days, Han buried himself in training, making solid gains.


    Midday on the third, Bai Ruoyue strolled back in, her clothes dusted up—not the pristine look she’d left with.


    Han raised an eyebrow. “Senior Sister, what happened?”


    “Caught a Bone Forging jerk ambushing a Viscera martial artist—snatched his spatial pouch and bolted,” she said. “I stepped in, took him down. Meant to haul him to the Martial Order Division, but ran into Black Cloud Guards on the way and handed him off.”


    The Guards overlapped plenty with the Ghost God and Martial Order Divisions—perfectly fine to pass the guy to them.


    “Out-in-the-open murder? That’s gutsy,” Han said, shaking his head.


    When martial might breaks the law, that’s the game.


    “Lucky for him, he ran into you—fate’s way of cashing him out.”


    He grinned. “Senior Sister, you’re a badass!”


    “Hmph, obviously,” she said, chin high, practically radiating imperial swagger. “Just a Bone Forging newbie—I handled him like nothing.”


    Good deed done, spotlight stolen—she was riding high.


    “Oh, and those pills you gave me? Insane,” she added. “No side effects, no taint—just pure gains for my body and qi.”


    “Glad they’re a hit—keep using ‘em. All premium stuff,” Han said.


    As they chatted, someone else stepped in from outside. Han looked up, startled.


    “You? When’d you get back?”


    “Just got in from Qingzhou today—came straight here.”


    It was Ao Xuanwei, the Dragon Lady who’d been off in Qingzhou!


    She smiled warmly. “Heard you swung by Yunlong City looking for me. Once I got wind of it, I had to rush over—or I’d be letting down my ‘Highness’ title.”


    Han caught her drift and chuckled. “Back then, it was a weird spot—I couldn’t just blurt out your name in front of the Yunjiang aquatics. They’d have nabbed me on the spot.”


    She was teasing about how he’d called her “Highness” when he’d checked in with the Yunjiang crew in Yunlong.


    Her smile deepened—just a playful jab.


    “Bai Ruoyue, good to see you again,” Ao Xuanwei said, nodding her way.


    Bai Ruoyue forced a smile back, though her gut twisted a bit.


    Heard he came looking and raced over? Cozy, huh.


    No helping it—she couldn’t muster a glare at Ao Xuanwei. They’d met before, after all.


    Guess I’m just too soft-hearted, she sighed inwardly.


    “Come on in,” Han said, leading Ao Xuanwei to a quiet room. Bai Ruoyue tagged along.


    She’d just watch, keep quiet—two women alone with a guy might raise eyebrows, but three together? No issue.


    “Didn’t expect you’d zipped off to Qingzhou when I hit Yunlong,” Han said.


    “Yeah,” Bai Ruoyue cut in. “Qingzhou’s a haul.”


    She remembered her dad—young, brash, chasing fortune in Qingzhou. Nearly died there too. Almost no her.


    “Some trouble brewed along the Yunjiang in Qingzhou—I went to sort it out,” Ao Xuanwei said, letting out a sigh. “What a mess.”


    Before Han could ask, she continued, “The Supreme Dao’s Azure Sky Divine Lord and the World-Crossing Path’s Wheel King clashed at the Yunjiang’s edge. Mountains crumbled, rivers split, the earth sank—hundreds of miles trashed.”


    “I went with my father’s decree and his artifact to clean up the fallout.”


    “Holy—” Han sucked in a breath. “Those two are that strong?”


    Hundreds of miles—peaks toppled, waters severed, land swallowed.


    He’d never seen power like that. Manifestation Realm couldn’t touch it.


    And those titles—Divine Lord, Wheel King.


    When he made his mark, he’d need a name that badass too.


    Tai Bai Sword Immortal? Or Emperor Zhou Tian?


    “They’re legends—top-tier powerhouses,” Ao Xuanwei said. “Supreme Dao’s a righteous sect. Centuries back, they had a figure on the Mountains and Rivers Roster—passed on now.”


    “World-Crossing Path’s an evil cult. Azure Sky Divine Lord was purging them, so Yunjiang Dragon Palace couldn’t complain.”


    “But since Supreme Dao’s legit, they sent folks to stabilize the land, clean up the battlefield, and paid reparations to Yunjiang for the mess.”


    “Otherwise, I’d still be stuck there.”


    “The outside world’s wild,” Bai Ruoyue said, eyes glinting.


    Ao Xuanwei smiled. “With your gifts, you’ll get there someday.”


    “So, why’d you swing by Yunlong last time?”


    Bai Ruoyue nudged Han with a look—his turn.


    “Wanted to ask if Yunjiang Dragon Palace has any alchemists,” he said.


    “You need refining?” Ao Xuanwei nodded. “Yeah, Turtle Chancellor’s a master at it—seriously skilled.”


    “What’re you after? I can talk to him.”


    “Already hit Tianyue City—got Master Mu to whip up some cultivation boosters,” Han said.


    “Shame I couldn’t help,” she replied.


    Han thought a sec. “I could use some herb seeds, though—planning a garden at Tai Bai. Might come in handy later.”


    “Can I buy some from Yunjiang? Regular ones are fine.”


    Aquatic herbs differed from land ones. Ripening a batch could beef up his stockpile—and make An Lang’s day.


    “Sure, no big deal,” Ao Xuanwei agreed without a beat. Seeds? Easy.


    “Nothing too rare, and don’t just give ‘em to me,” Han said firmly. “Let’s trade fair—I don’t want you losing out.”


    He wasn’t here to mooch off her.


    “Got it,” she said.


    Both women admired his stance.


    Switching gears, Han asked, “You know Tianlong Gate’s in town?”


    “Yeah,” Ao Xuanwei nodded, unfazed. “Partly why I’m here.”


    “Our friendship’s no secret—they might target you over it.”


    “Tianlong’s thick with Western Sea Dragon Palace—full allies, always against us at Yunjiang.”


    “My dad’s got history with Western Sea.”


    “I’ve heard,” Han said, thanks to Lu Qingmo.


    Ao Xuanwei paused, then nodded—made sense.


    “Highness, they’ve already hit Tai Bai,” Bai Ruoyue cut in. “Told Little Junior Brother to ditch Yunjiang, threw some shade his way.”


    “He fought one off, and they backed off.”


    Ao Xuanwei’s brow furrowed. “Typical overbearing nonsense.”


    “Sorry I dragged you into this.”


    Han waved it off. “Dragged? We’re friends—I’m not about to ditch you over a few threats and blame you.”


    She studied him, warmth growing. She’d picked a winner—talent, strength, rare bloodline, and solid character.


    “I brought you something,” she said, pulling out a glossy white scale shimmering with light.


    “A dragon scale—top-notch defense. It’ll shield you in a pinch till help arrives.”


    “With this, if Tianlong comes at you—even if their old-timers play dirty—you’ll make it through.”


    Han stared, tempted to refuse, but she cut him off like she’d seen it coming.


    “We’re friends, right?”


    “You’re catching heat from Tianlong because of me—I’m not leaving you hanging.”


    Her resolve was clear—he wasn’t dodging this gift today.


    Still, it was too precious. Blocking grand deacon-level attacks? Priceless.


    Han turned to Bai Ruoyue. “Senior Sister, we haven’t even offered tea.”


    “Huh?” She blinked, then caught on. “Oh! Highness, sorry—I’ll get it.”


    She darted off in a flurry.


    Ao Xuanwei smiled. “Sending her off—what’s up?”


    Time to sweeten the deal.