The Yun household buzzed with unbridled joy—no disruptions, no chaos. And why would there be? The only ones likely to stir trouble, the Tianlong Gate, hadn’t even bothered to show up. Given the Yun family’s tight bond with the Yunjiang Dragon Palace, Yun Yuannan wouldn’t dream of inviting their rivals. With Ao Xuanwei and her crew already gracing the event, a Tianlong Gate appearance would’ve soured the mood faster than a storm cloud over a picnic.


    As Yun Duo completed her discipleship ceremony under Lu Qingmo’s guidance, Jiang Yanyao flashed a gentle smile. “So, Young Master Zhou, you’ll be joining Xuandu Temple too, won’t you?”


    “That’d be a real stroke of luck,” Wang Zai chimed in, grinning. “Xuandu’s always on the hunt for talent. Having a prodigy like Brother Zhou as a fellow disciple? That’s a win worth celebrating.”


    Suo Xian, the Feixian Dao prodigy, gave Han a sidelong glance and shook his head. “I see it differently. Brother Zhou’s still tangled in worldly ties—too many threads of fate and messy romantic knots. Hardly the type to settle down and meditate on the mysteries of the Dao.”


    Han blinked, caught off guard. “Wait, you read faces and fates too, Daoist?”


    Suo Xian shrugged. “Just a little hobby.”


    Cui Yaozhi burst out laughing. “Brother Zhou, you’re in the dark here. Our Daoist friend practices the Mortal Dust Immortal Scripture. It’s all about diving headfirst into the chaos of the world—savoring every flavor of human life, the good and the bad—before breaking free and ascending to immortality. He’s got an eye for people like nobody else.”


    “The Mortal Dust Immortal?” Han sucked in a sharp breath, momentarily floored. He’d just stumbled into someone who could’ve been ripped from the pages of a cosmic epic! Not that kind of immortal, of course—Lu Qingmo had explained it once. Feixian Dao rested on two foundational scriptures: the Supreme Immortal Scripture, a path of detachment and emotionless transcendence, free of worldly ties, and the Mortal Dust Immortal Scripture, which Suo Xian followed—a starkly opposite road. Most of Feixian’s chosen successors walked the latter path. After all, it’s easier to wade through the muck of life than to chase the lofty, elusive “Supreme” ideal. Those who pursued the Supreme rarely left the mountain—you wouldn’t catch them mingling out here.


    Once Yun Duo’s ceremony wrapped up, the guests began to trickle out. Han pieced it together: not everyone was here just for Yun Yuannan’s invitation. This was a rare chance to network, a gathering of talents from every corner of the realm in little Black Cloud Town. By the end, only a handful of Yun family allies lingered.


    Han and Ao Xuanwei slipped away to a quiet side courtyard. She didn’t waste time. “You got the details about the Mountain God’s trial, right? During the ceremony?”


    “Five days from now,” Han confirmed with a nod. Yun Yuannan had told him to keep it under wraps—except from those he trusted. With the Dragon Lord and Mountain God’s obvious connection, Ao Xuanwei clearly already knew the score.


    “Good you’re in the loop,” she said, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “The Yunjiang Dragon Palace is sending some aquatic kin to join the trial too—a little gift from the Mountain God. So, go easy on them, alright?”


    Han grinned back. “They’re the ones who’ll need to hold back.”


    Her tone had been light, teasing, and he matched it. “You joining in?”


    She shook her head. “Not my scene this time. I’m here to head into the mountain, dip into the Origin Spirit Pool, then watch you all tackle the trial.”


    “…Wait, you can just say that?” Han raised an eyebrow. “We haven’t even started competing, and you’re already cashing in? Nepotism much?”


    He could already picture it: Yun Yun, Yun Duo, and the rest of the family skipping the trial entirely, reaping the rewards early like Ao Xuanwei. To the Mountain God, Black Cloud Town’s folks were just neighbors—but the Yun family? They were blood. Naturally, they got first dibs.


    “I can tell you, at least,” she replied smoothly. “Don’t sweat it. The ‘Origin Spirit Pool’ isn’t some literal pond—it’s a manifestation of the Mountain God’s core power. Using it today or five days from now? Same difference, no impact on the outcome.”


    “Oh, and since Xuandu Temple’s people are here, they’ve probably approached you too, huh?”


    Han nodded. “Yeah, Senior Jiang from Xuandu had a word with me.”


    “Jiang… from the Hanzhou Jiang clan?”


    “Mo says so. You know them?”


    “Sure do,” Ao Xuanwei said. “They’re a decently big deal—got a Yellow Spring Realm expert in their ranks. More of a vassal family to Xuandu, though. Not quite top-tier, but they benefit plenty by sticking close to a powerhouse like that.”


    “Xuandu’s thriving, huh? A Yellow Spring Realm master’s a rare sight for me, but to Xuandu, they’re just another ally.” Han shook his head in awe.


    “Reach immortality, and you’ll have vassals of your own,” Ao Xuanwei teased. “But if Xuandu’s not your vibe, you could always swing by Yunjiang Dragon Palace. Once I set up my own domain, you and I could rule a stretch of waters together. How’s that sound?”


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


    Han chuckled. “Tempting. We’d start with one territory, build it up, make it unstoppable—then conquer the Four Seas, unite every aquatic tribe, and resurrect the dragon clan’s mythic glory. You’d be the Dragon Empress!”


    Their eyes met, and they both cracked up. Truth be told, if he had some cheat code for a slow-burn empire-building gig, teaming up with the dragon maiden wouldn’t be half bad. Too bad he didn’t—and even if he did, a month wouldn’t be enough to build squat.


    A moment later, Bai Ruoyue poked her head in. “Junior Brother!”


    The last of the Yun family’s close allies had chatted and left, and she’d come looking for Han to drag him back. “Go on,” Ao Xuanwei said. “I’m prepping to head into the mountain. Next time we meet—five days from now. Good luck out there.”


    “You too,” Han replied as he and Bai Ruoyue left the Yun estate. Lu Qingmo didn’t join them—apparently still tied up with something.


    On the way back, Bai Ruoyue smirked. “So, Junior Brother, while you were sneaking off with Ao Xuanwei…”


    “Whoa, hold up!” Han cut her off. “Senior Sister, watch your words. It was a normal chat, not some clandestine rendezvous.”


    “Oh, my bad,” she said, mock-apologetic. “I meant while you were cozying up with her.”


    “…Look, skip the ‘sneaking’ and ‘cozying’ part. Just get to the point.”


    “Fine, fine,” Bai Ruoyue relented. “The Yun patriarch just told me Taibai Martial Hall’s got a spot—one of us can head into Black Mountain today with Yun Duo and the others for a sweet perk.”


    Han perked up. “Oh?” He knew exactly what she meant: early access to the Origin Spirit Pool. But Taibai getting a slot? That was unexpected. Was it because of Bai Tian? Or something else?


    “Did the Yun family say what the perk is?”


    “Something called the Origin Spirit Pool,” Bai Ruoyue said. “Never heard of it, but they wouldn’t lie. They also mentioned you can snag the same benefit during the Mountain God’s trial later, so no rush.”


    Han nodded, smiling. “It’s a big deal, alright. I’ve heard of this pool.” Barely five minutes ago, sure, but still. Yun Yuannan had said it was fine to share with Taibai—they were family, after all. The Yun clan tossing them a spot just proved it.


    “Wait, you knew?” Bai Ruoyue’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, right—Ao Xuanwei clued you in. You two are tight, huh?”


    “Whatever you say,” Han brushed it off. “One spot…”


    He mulled it over. It wasn’t a small number—Yunjiang Dragon Palace only got one too, for Ao Xuanwei. “Let’s head back and talk it over with everyone.”


    At the martial hall, Bai Ruoyue laid it out for the group. One spot, seven Taibai disciples—on paper, it sounded like a fierce contest. But in reality…


    “I’m sitting this one out,” Han said with a grin. “If it’s something I can grab during the trial anyway, taking the spot now would just be a waste.”


    “Same here,” Bai Ruoyue added. Both were confident they’d ace the Mountain God’s trial and claim their share of the pool. With the trial still five days away, this early slot didn’t mean much to them—Ao Xuanwei had said one dip was enough, timing be damned.


    Bai Tian nodded approvingly. “I’m out too,” Shen Long declared, practically vibrating with excitement. “I’ve been training forever, plus Junior Brother’s been a huge help. I’m itching to test myself. I might not match those big-shot prodigies, but in Black Cloud Town? I’m not scared of anyone—except you two, of course.” His intent was clear: he’d earn his reward the hard way.


    The second tremor’s haul—rare herbs, the Dream Enlightenment technique, Creation Elixir, and that Fate-Defying Pill—had seriously boosted Taibai’s disciples. Shen Long’s confidence wasn’t baseless; among peers in Black Cloud Town, he had little to fear.


    Su Changan and He Feng exchanged a glance and smiled. “Guess it’s Little Fish’s turn then,” they said in unison. Shen Yu, who’d been silent, blinked in surprise. “Me?”


    “Yeah, you,” Bai Tian confirmed, settling it.


    Han wasn’t shocked. The moment he’d heard about the spot, he’d figured Shen Yu would get it. Youngest and weakest of the bunch, with only minor Muscle-Tendon mastery, she didn’t stand a chance in the trial. The Taibai seven were tight-knit—they’d naturally look out for her. With Han and Bai Ruoyue bowing out, Shen Long as her brother, and Su and He too decent to compete, it was a no-brainer.


    “I’ll take you to the Yun estate,” Bai Ruoyue said, pulling Shen Yu close. “Stick with Yun Duo when you get there—you two are buddies, right?”


    “Yep!” Shen Yu nodded eagerly. The two girls, close in age, had a solid friendship.


    With that settled, Han brought up another point. “For the trial, outsiders and Black Cloud locals will be tied together somehow. Shen, you three should team up with some external factions—boost your odds of scoring big.”


    “Han’s right,” Bai Tian agreed. “You’re all talented, but your resources can’t match the big sects. Teaming up benefits everyone.”


    Zhang Yuantao rubbed his chin. “A few groups have approached us about partnering lately. Since Junior Brother says so, let’s pick some. But if we’re doing this, we go straight for the top—like Xuandu Temple or the Cui clan. You three are Black Cloud’s best; you’ve got the clout to work with them in the trial, and they’ll want you.”


    Outsiders needed local partners for the trial—both sides faced the challenge together. The details were fuzzy, but it was clearly a mutual win. Everyone wanted a strong ally, and Shen, Su, and He would be hot picks—likely securing Origin Spirit Pool access at minimum.


    For Han and Bai Ruoyue, though, that kind of deal wouldn’t cut it. The Mountain God’s blessings went beyond the pool, and partnered outsiders wouldn’t share the juiciest rewards—they weren’t running a charity. Han and Bai Ruoyue were gunning for the top prizes, the kind no one would split.


    “I’ll reach out to the Cui folks, see if it works,” Han offered. It did. When he pitched it, Cui Yaozhi and the others jumped at the chance. They didn’t have Yun Yuannan’s intel, but ever since Zuo Tianzheng’s time, they’d known to snag Black Cloud’s talent early. Why settle for less when you could grab the best?


    Shen, Su, and He temporarily “joined” the Cui clan and other elite groups. That night, back at the peach grove, Lu Qingmo briefed Han on the trial, urging him to stay sharp. “One more thing,” she added. “That flower and purple crafting material you found in Black Mountain? Junior Brother Song got back to me.”


    “Oh?” Han’s eyes lit up. “What are they?”


    “The stone’s called Fallen Cloud Rock—legend says it’s a spiritual cloud that dropped from the heavens, fused with earthly power. Perfect for forging defensive treasures. The flower’s a fire-type rarity, Phoenix Perch Blossom. Pull it out.”


    Han did, and Lu Qingmo pointed to the red gel nestled inside. “The whole blossom’s just a shell for this—Phoenix Resin. Once you take it, the flower wilts instantly. Myth claims it’s left behind where phoenixes rest, boosting phoenix-related powers. Since you wield Phoenix Fire, refining this will amp up your Yang Earth Flame.”


    Han marveled. “A phoenix’s perch flower? How do I use it?”


    “Eat it.”


    No hesitation—Han plucked the gel free. Sure enough, the blossom shriveled into a husk. He popped the resin into his mouth. Huh. Tastes like… jelly?