On the shore of the Sky Eye Lake, there was a group of four second-ranked Shen Clan elders, led by a third-rank elder. The group couldn't help but marvel at the enchanting beauty of the lake. It was night, and the black sky was filled with stars. The lake was clear, allowing the starlight to reflect onto its surface. In its center was a small, extremely beautiful island with soft, silvery sandy beaches and pure white trees with luminous golden leaves that illuminated the lake, giving it a captivating beauty. These trees were called "Golden Trees" and were one of the Gong Clan's resources. A small incision in the tree trunk would release a golden liquid called "Golden Blood." This liquid was used to refine the metal path and earth path Gu. Since the Gong Clan cultivated the air path, they exported it to other clans, and their largest customer was the Liu Clan. In addition to the Gold Trees, the Sky Eye Lake provided the Gong Clan with another important resource: heavenly birds. The Sky Eye Lake is home to approximately 30,000 birds. Heavenly! These birds were gigantic, six meters long, and some reaching nine meters, with long, sharp beaks. They were given this name because of their pure white color and four pairs of wings, their feet having evolved into wing-like structures. Upon seeing these birds, the four men trembled with fear and thanked the heavens for their peaceful nature, never attacking humans unless they were attacked. Without this, the three clans on Huang Jin Mountain would have been wiped out long ago. Because humans weren't born with wings, it was difficult for them to fly, and learning to fly took years. Furthermore, most first- and second-class flying gu were poor, so most Gu Masters never had the opportunity to fly. This gave flying beings a significant advantage in the world of Gu Masters. The Gong Clan took advantage of this by forming a squad of Enslavement Masters, enabling them to enslave a hundred Celestial Birds. Although this number may seem small, this was the strongest air force on Huang Jin Mountain. The pride of the gong clan.
In addition, it was an important resource for the clan, as her dream, blood, bones, and feathers were all useful parts of the gu of the air path.
The sound of the waves gently lapping against the shore of Sky Eye Lake was the only thing that disturbed the silence—until a voice, hesitant but curious, broke the stillness.
"Sir Hong Ting… do you think Old Mo Yao will accept the Gong Clan's alliance this time?"
The one who spoke was Shen Rui, a lean man in his mid-thirties with a long, pale face and eyes that always seemed half-closed, as though he were perpetually lost in thought. His voice was respectful, but there was a trace of unease in it, as if he feared the answer.
At the front of the group stood Hong Ting, the only third-rank Gu Master among them. A man in his late fifties, he was tall and broad-shouldered, with a neatly trimmed silver beard that gave him the appearance of a stern scholar. His robe, embroidered with emerald vines and golden talismans, fluttered slightly in the lake's breeze. His sharp eyes, golden and penetrating, remained fixed on the horizon for a moment before he responded.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he exhaled through his nose—a long, tired breath that carried years of frustration.
Mo Yao.
Just thinking of that name made his brow twitch.
"She's a headache," Hong Ting muttered under his breath, more to himself than to the others.
"She's more than a headache, sir," added Shen Rui with a nervous chuckle, trying to ease the mood.
Hong Ting's lips twisted in a grimace.
Mo Yao… the old matriarch of the Gong Clan. Rumor had it that she was already past 120 years old—an impressive feat for any mortal Gu Master. But age had not softened her. Quite the opposite. The years had hollowed her body and hardened her will.
She had grown grotesquely fat, her limbs swollen and her torso bulging like an overripe fruit. Her skin, once smooth and fair, now hung in folds, and the few strands of white hair left on her head clung desperately to her skull. Her eyes had nearly gone blind, but she still stared at everyone with terrifying intensity.
What unsettled Hong Ting most, however, wasn't her appearance.
It was her mouth.
Despite her ancient age, she still had every tooth, perfectly preserved—likely due to some rare Gu. But those teeth were stained a grotesque blood-red, not by disease or decay, but from her constant habit of chewing tobacco soaked in crimson nectar. The stench lingered around her like a curse.
She would grin with those blood-colored teeth as she argued endlessly about honor, tradition, and "the old ways." For Hong Ting, speaking with her felt like plunging into a swamp of madness, stubbornness, and unsolicited lectures.
And yet… this time…
"I think she'll accept," he said at last, his voice low and thoughtful.
The three second-rank elders exchanged glances. Even Shen Rui's sleepy eyes widened slightly.
"You really think so?" asked another of the elders, a stern-faced woman named Shen Bao Lan. Her hair was tied in a tight bun, and her gaze was always sharp, like a hawk searching for weakness.
Hong Ting nodded, though slowly.
"She's proud… but she's not a fool. The Liu Clan cutting off food supplies was not just a move against us—it was a signal. A declaration of intent. Mo Yao might be a relic of a bygone age, but she knows when the tide is turning."
He turned away from the lake, his eyes narrowing.
"She also knows that if Liu Bai Zu reaches the fifth rank… all our clans may be swept away."
For a moment, silence returned. The four of them stood there, the air heavy with tension. The tranquil beauty of Sky Eye Lake seemed almost mocking in its peace—because beneath the surface, war was brewing.
Hong Ting inhaled deeply, then adjusted the cuffs of his robe.
"Let's go," he said. "We have a meeting to prepare for."
And with that, the four figures began walking along the moonlit shore, toward the looming shadow of the Gong Clan's territory… and into the lion's den.
...
"So... as you can see, when the Fifth Clan Elder reached the fifth rank, he had already become the most powerful person in Huang Jin Mountain and could have wiped out the other clans. However, he was an example of the righteous path, a peace-loving man. Instead of conquering the other clans, he focused on the prosperity of the clan, bringing prosperity not only to us but to all of Huang Jin Mountain."
The academy elder paused, letting his voice fade into the silence of the large stone hall.
That elder was Elder Min Hao, the overseer of all academies across the Shen Clan's ten villages and the capital. He was a man in his forties, short in stature but solidly built, with a presence that demanded attention. His sharp, narrow eyes gleamed like blades under torchlight, cutting through laziness and ignorance alike. Even when standing still, his very posture radiated discipline.
The students sitting before him—nearly sixty teenagers, each dressed in gray robes bearing the Shen Clan's sigil—shifted slightly. Many had heard this tale before. The rise of the Fifth Clan Elder was a story often told, etched into every stone of the clan's compound. But this time, there was tension beneath Elder Min Hao's words. This time, the lesson was more than just history.
He scanned the rows of students, his gaze lingering briefly on Lan Shi, whose golden eyes seemed distant, thoughtful. Even here, even now, Lan Shi sat straight-backed, calm, as if the weight of the world couldn't touch him. He was used to being watched—by teachers, students, even Elders. But Elder Min Hao, for all his sternness, did not show admiration. Only expectation.
These are difficult times, the elder thought to himself. They must remember who they are… before the storm arrives.
He clasped his hands behind his back and resumed walking between the rows of seated students.
"The prosperity we enjoy today did not come without sacrifice. The Fifth Clan Elder could have ruled with an iron fist, but he chose diplomacy and unity. That is the spirit of our clan. That is what you must carry forward."
His voice grew heavier, more deliberate.
"And yet... the world is changing. The Liu Clan has shown their fangs. The Gong Clan wavers like reeds in the wind. And we… we must stand firm."
A few students straightened in their seats, sensing the shift in tone.
"You will soon graduate. You will enter a world where enemies may wear the face of friends, and peace is just a brief breath between battles. Never forget your roots. You are the blood of the Shen Clan."
He turned and stopped beside the stone window carved into the cavern wall. The soft light of morning filtered through the mist rising from the hidden mountain spring below.
"When the Fifth Clan Elder was young, he visited all the super powers of the Southern Border and saw their strength and huge cities. At that time, he swore that he would make our clan one of the super powers as well. So, when he reached the fifth rank, he expanded our village, turning it into a large city, the only city in Huang Jin Mountain, and turning it into an important trading center. He also brought in experts from everywhere to increase our clan's strength. Unfortunately, new days do not last. We do not know what happened to our clan elder. One day, he said that it was impossible for our clan to become a super power like this, then he neglected us and began searching for something, or rather some information, all over the southern border until he disappeared one day."
After saying this, he lowered his head and sighed.
"It is said that you know a person's true character when you give them strength. When our clan gained strength, they did not attack any other clans and maintained peace on Huang Jin Mountain. However, when the Liu clan leader managed to ascend to the fifth rank 58 years ago, he declared war on all the clans on the mountain. You may not know this, but in the past, there were two clans living on this mountain, in addition to the three clans currently present. The Liu clan eliminated them. Not content with that, they also wanted to eliminate our clan. It required our clan to unite with the Gong clan to eliminate the Liu clan leader and stop their evil endeavors. Unfortunately, despite defeating the ten Liu, we were unable to reclaim the lands they had occupied. As a result, we lost more than half of our lands, and our clan became extremely poor."
The academy elder gradually lowered his voice as an atmosphere of silence and sadness filled the hall.
But the academy elder quickly let out a cry of pride and hope.
"But here we are, 11 years ago. Lan Shi, the genius of Huang Jin Mountain and the pride of our clan, appeared. He, along with the clan elders, restored our clan to its former glory. The name of our clan spread throughout the southern border as the Masters of the Refinement Path. Our clan became richer than ever, and gu masters came from far and wide to seek our services. But here, history repeats itself. Here, another member of the Liu clan is trying to rise to the fifth rank. He wants to invade our clan. Will we allow him?"
"No."
All the students shouted in one heroic voice as they looked at Lan Shi, whose face had turned red with shame, as if they were waiting for his orders to attack the Liu Clan. Damn, I thought I'd get used to it after all these years.