Beyond Black Mountain, the Mountain God’s blessings shower all!


    With the Yun family spreading the word, the news zipped through Black Cloud Town’s cultivation circles in no time flat. After months of rumors and upheaval, even the locals had caught wind that the Mountain God would bless the town at some point. Now that it was official, excitement erupted. People scrambled out of Black Cloud Town, racing toward Black Mountain in droves.


    Of course, not everyone bolted. The local authorities stayed behind, keeping watch over the town while it emptied out.


    At the Cui family’s temporary outpost, Elder Cui Xian furrowed his brow. “The Mountain God’s making a move today? That’s unexpected.” They hadn’t been clued in on the trial’s exact timing—it felt like it’d come out of nowhere.


    Cui Yaozhi stood up, chuckling as he headed out. “It was bound to happen sometime. Sooner’s fine by me—means we wrap this up quicker. Whenever it comes, what’s there to fear?” The other Cui disciples jumped up and trailed after him.


    Elsewhere, sharp-eyed, spirited young cultivators strode through the streets, all bound for Black Mountain. Over the past five days, a few more factions had trickled into town, though none were top-tier traditions.


    At Taibai Martial Hall, Han and his crew marched out, brimming with determination. Whatever the Mountain God threw at them, they were ready.


    Outside Black Mountain, a chaotic sea of people gathered—clusters of small groups dotted the landscape, buzzing with energy. “So many people,” Bai Ruoyue marveled, scanning the crowd. All she could see were heads bobbing everywhere.


    “Wonder what kind of trial the Mountain God’s got in store,” Shen Long mused, more focused on what lay ahead.


    Zhang Yuantao shrugged. “Even the Yun family’s in the dark. We’ll find out soon enough.”


    Han, meanwhile, had pieced something together over the past few days. The Yun family wasn’t even taking the trial—so why would they care about the details? It didn’t affect them. No wonder the Mountain God hadn’t spilled the beans—there was no need to tip them off.


    Just then, the Yin God Venerable who’d entered the Yun estate reappeared, Yun Yuannan at his side. The younger generation—like Yun Duo—was nowhere to be seen. “Tianhe Venerable?” someone called out, voice tinged with shock. It was Cui Xian. “You’re with the Yun family?”


    Tianhe Venerable, a middle-aged figure, glanced at Cui Xian and smiled. “Elder Cui, it’s been a while. I am indeed from the Yun family. Hiding that wasn’t intentional—forgive me.”


    Cui Xian shook his head, awe in his tone. “Unbelievable. Who’d have thought the Tianhe Venerable—who took down the True Blood Great Demon of the Salvation Dao in Qingzhou—hailed from here?”


    The crowd erupted at his words, especially those less in the know. The Yun family had a Yin God Venerable—and one who’d made waves out in the world? The Gao and Lin families were floored. They’d known the Yun clan had some hidden strength, but this deep? It was a safe bet Tianhe wasn’t the only ace up their sleeve.


    The Lin family head could only think one thing: How’s a middling clan like ours, capped at Day Roaming and Bone Forging, supposed to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Yun family as one of Black Cloud’s big three? We’re way out of our league.


    “Guess it makes sense the Yun family’s hidden power’s been active elsewhere,” Shen Long said, still processing.


    Han nodded, his initial surprise fading. “Once you leave this place, the line between shadow and spotlight blurs.” The world was vast—who knew how many powerhouses roamed out there? A Tianzhou expert could stroll into Hanzhou, slap on a new face, and start over. Unless you were infamous or had some glaring tell, like Bai Tian back in his wandering days with a fake name and a mask, no one would clock you. Lu Qingmo, though? One flash of her Thunder-Fire Seal, and disguise or not, everyone’d know it was her.


    Tianhe Venerable swept his gaze over the crowd and raised his voice. “Fellow cultivators, you’ve come from afar, and the Yun family knows why.” His words silenced the chatter—no one dared interrupt. “Our ancestor is merciful, choosing now to bless all around, extending grace to Black Cloud while hoping to glimpse the brilliance of the younger generation. If he can spot a few standout talents, it’ll warm his heart. Thus, he’s set a trial. Pass it, and he won’t skimp on rewards.”


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    “But our ancestor was born and raised in Black Cloud, and even now, he holds his homeland dear. This trial reflects that. Black Cloud’s a small pond compared to the wide world out there—our local talents can feel outmatched. So, he’s laid down a rule: any outsider wanting in on this trial must team up with someone from Black Cloud. This is his decree, set in stone.”


    The moment he finished, noise exploded again. Most of Black Cloud’s locals lit up with joy—happiness had hit them like a lightning bolt. To them, this rule was a godsend, a jackpot! After getting humbled by Tianlong Gate’s disciples, the town’s native talents had learned the hard way: there’s always a bigger fish. Compared to the prodigies of major sects, they were outclassed. A straight-up free-for-all trial? They’d get steamrolled, no chance—well, except for a certain pair of freaks.


    But this twist flipped the script. Suddenly, they had a shot. Couldn’t beat the outsiders? No problem—they could join them. The Mountain God’s hometown favoritism was blatant.


    The outsiders, though, weren’t shocked. They took the rule in stride, like they’d seen it coming. Early rumors—nobody knew from where—had even claimed the Mountain God’s blessings were for Black Cloud locals only. Outsiders’ only play was to back a local talent, bribe them with perks, and ride their coattails. Zuo Tianzheng had tried that route. Compared to that, this new setup—letting them join the action—was a win. If they’d been stuck on the sidelines, what was the point? Who could outmuscle Taibai’s Han with just local grunts? Those “bugs” wouldn’t topple that mountain.


    Factions like the Cui family got it: the Mountain God had compromised, giving them room to flex. But whoever’d negotiated with the god had bent too, letting Black Cloud get extra love. Both sides had given ground, so the deal was locked—complaints wouldn’t change a thing. To the big shots, this was small potatoes—just a chance for their disciples to grind and grab some loot. A generational skirmish, not worth a showdown with a deity.


    Han’s expression didn’t flicker—he’d known this was coming. “Brother Shen, you guys head over.”


    Shen Long and the other two nodded, stepping into the ranks of the Cui family and their allied factions. For now, they were part of the top-tier crew! Other Black Cloud talents followed suit, linking up with their pre-arranged partners. The outsiders knew the locals would get a leg up—no one was dumb enough to sit it out.


    Some outsiders approached Han and Bai Ruoyue, testing the waters for a team-up. They got shot down fast. Whatever they could offer, Han didn’t need.


    “With this, Brother Shen and the others should snag some decent gains—smooth their path forward,” Han said.


    “No worries,” Bai Ruoyue added, her eyes darting around the crowd. “Even if luck’s not on their side and they flunk the trial, the Cui folks will still toss them a bone.” Pulling Black Cloud talents into the fold came with perks—it was a tradition Zuo Tianzheng had kicked off, later turbocharged as factions vied for local allies. With so many outsiders and options, why wouldn’t a local pick a group dangling real rewards? Empty promises and big talk didn’t cut it—tangible benefits did. Shen Long’s trio had signed on with the Cui clan and scored solid assurances.


    Bai Tian chimed in, “The road’s theirs to walk. Opportunity’s here, but how they seize it is up to them.”


    Soon, Black Cloud talents peppered every faction. Others, like Han’s group, stood solo, ready to fight for themselves. Then, a stir rippled through Black Mountain. Under everyone’s gaze, a few figures emerged—not the Yun family heavyweights they’d expected, but Yun Duo and her crew, Shen Yu among them.


    Spotting her Taibai crew, Shen Yu’s eyes lit up. She murmured something to Yun Duo and jogged over. “Little Fish, you were in there a while,” Bai Ruoyue teased with a grin.


    Shen Yu’s cheeks flushed as she whispered, “Senior Sister, check this out.” She held out a hand, inviting Bai Ruoyue to feel it. Bai Ruoyue gave it a squeeze, her eyes widening. She glanced at Han and Bai Tian, mouthing silently—Han caught the gist: Muscle-Tendon Mastery.


    Shen Yu had broken through, just like that. Han ruffled her hair. “Pretty impressive results.” The Origin Divine Pool lived up to its hype—something only a god could conjure, hoarded until their fall. Black Mountain’s god, peak of the divine path in a world without immortal gods, had failed its tribulation but still transformed its essence. Cultivation was a slog, but this god’s power was a real, game-changing boost. No wonder top traditions sent their disciples here—the payoff was massive.


    Just then, Jiang Yanyao’s voice slipped into Han’s mind. “Taibai’s hiding a gem like her, Young Master Zhou. How about she teams up with us for the trial?” Han’s eyes sparked—another perk for Shen Yu! He quickly relayed it to her. She nodded, sold on the idea—on the way out, Yun Duo had tipped her off to “squeeze” some extra juice from the outsiders. She’d already tapped the pool, and if she passed the trial, she could even sell that chance to Suzhen Palace. Deal sealed.


    After a long wait, Tianhe Venerable spoke again, but his words blindsided everyone. His gaze locked onto a specific direction, sharp as a divine bolt. “Tianlong Gate, what are you still doing here? Black Mountain doesn’t welcome you—go back to your Haizhou!”


    The crowd jolted. Straight-up kicking Tianlong Gate out? That was bold! Was a fight brewing?


    The dragon maiden stood with the Yun family, her cold eyes fixed on Tianlong Gate’s crew. West Sea mutts—too naive for their own good.