Chapter 1 The Shaoyan Clan

Shortly after Ji Ning arrived at Yishe Lake, a large crowd had gathered around the tall teleportation array in the Chilong Mountains of Anchan Commandery, far away.

Each one exuded a powerful aura, clearly extraordinary.

Beishan Hu stood beside a tall, thin man, transmitting his voice: "Father, who exactly are you dragging me here to see? In Anchan City you wouldn't let me ask, insisting on waiting until we reached this Yinglong Guard outpost to tell me."

The tall, thin man wore a black luxurious robe and a tall crown, his eyes deep and profound, with a chilling glint that startled anyone when they opened or closed.

This man was Beishan Hu's father—Beishan Yin!

Among the candidates for the next Marquis of Anchan, the most vocal were Beishan Yin and Beishan Blacktiger. Their temperaments were completely different. Beishan Blacktiger was like an ancient primordial beast, exuding an innate domineering air... that chilled the soul at first sight. He acted with overwhelming force and had many followers.

Beishan Yin, however, was a true schemer skilled in forbearance. No one could fathom what Beishan Yin was thinking; he was an enigma.

"If I had told you in Anchan City, given your nature, it would be disastrous if it leaked out," Beishan Yin shook his head. "This matter is of great importance, and very few know of it. Look at the East Stone Immortal from the Yinglong Guard outpost waiting over there; though he brought a group of subordinates, I suspect only he himself knows who we are waiting for."

Beishan Hu's curiosity was piqued.

To have the East Stone Immortal and his father personally wait, with such secrecy, even keeping it from his own son—who could it be?

"Who is it?" Beishan Hu yearned to know.

"It is Shaoyan Nong of the Shaoyan clan," Beishan Yin transmitted.

Beishan Hu's expression changed instantly, revealing shock as he transmitted back in exclamation: "Shaoyan Nong, one of the Four Young Masters of the Grand Xia royal capital? How could he come to our Anchan Commandery? This, this is impossible!"

"Now you understand why I kept it from you all along," Beishan Yin glanced at his son.

Beishan Hu nodded repeatedly.

He understood.

Of course he understood.

Although the Beishan clan of Anchan was a marquisate, immensely ancient and powerful, within the Grand Xia Dynasty there were still forces more powerful than the Beishan clan. For instance, the most powerful Grand Xia royal clan, and the other most powerful tribes that had supported the Grand Xia royal clan 'Xiamang' in unifying the realm.

The Shaoyan clan was a pillar minister assisting the Grand Xia royal clan.

Legend had it that in the age of gods and demons, the Shaoyan clan was as ancient and powerful as the Grand Xia royal clan 'Xiamang', their history stretching back to the most primitive and ancient times of this major world.

Later, the Shaoyan clan submitted to the 'Xiamang' clan! They followed Xiamang in conquering the realm, becoming one of the most powerful tribes under Xiamang's command. Clans like the Beishan clan joined gradually later, and in terms of strength, they were far inferior to the Shaoyan clan.

And now...

The patriarch of the Shaoyan clan was honored as 'Feather Divine Duke', and within the Shaoyan clan there were also three marquises! Their three fiefdoms were vast, far larger than Anchan Commandery. After all, the Grand Xia Dynasty had 3,600 commanderies, each varying in size. Anchan Commandery was merely average. Some超大 commanderies could be equivalent to dozens of Anchan Commanderies.

The arriving 'Shaoyan Nong' was the young leader of the Shaoyan clan. Barring accidents, the next patriarch, the Feather Divine Duke, would be succeeded by Shaoyan Nong!

Of course, the leadership of such an ancient tribe could not be one hundred percent certain; it required a series of trials, but these trials were usually passed easily.

One could say that Shaoyan Nong's status within the 'Shaoyan clan' was like Ji Ning's status in the West Prefecture City when he was still an infant!

He was almost the designated leader, the 'Feather Divine Duke'.

A figure of power who could influence the entire Grand Xia Dynasty in the future. That such a figure would come, with Beishan Yin and the East Stone Immortal personally welcoming him, and with such secrecy to avoid others knowing, was no longer surprising.

...

"He's here."

"He's here."

Everyone's eyes lit up. The teleportation array shimmered with light, and then a group of people appeared within it.

The leader wore green robes that seemed simple, but upon closer inspection, one could see that the threads of the green robes were refined from the dragon whiskers of the 'East Sea Divine Dragon'. A faint smile always lingered on his face, yet all those who came to welcome him could sense the natural nobility of this green-robed youth!

It was the true nobility cultivated only in the next leader of an ancient tribe like the Shaoyan clan!

Someone of Shaoyan Nong's status was called one of the Four Young Masters in the Grand Xia royal capital. Even the imperial princes and grandsons of the Grand Xia royal clan had to be of sufficiently high status to associate with him as equals. Some with empty royal titles but no real standing were not even qualified to befriend Shaoyan Nong.

"Young Master Shaoyan," Beishan Yin greeted with a bow.

"Young Master Shaoyan," the East Stone Immortal also bowed.

Shaoyan Nong glanced at the two and nodded: "Beishan Yin, East Stone, it's been a long time since I last saw you in the royal capital. This time I come to Anchan Commandery, and I must trouble you. I am truly ashamed."

"To be able to help Young Master Shaoyan is our honor," Beishan Yin and the East Stone Immortal said in turn.

Both couldn't help but glance at the person beside Shaoyan Nong. Standing beside Shaoyan Nong was a middle-aged man with dark, gaunt skin and narrow, long eyes. The aura he emitted made Beishan Yin and the East Stone Immortal secretly startled.

"A god."

"A god."

Beishan Yin and the East Stone Immortal quickly confirmed.

But keeping a god was nothing for an ancient tribe like the Shaoyan clan. After all, such ancient tribes had flourished shortly after this major world was formed, and they had long captured countless gods. Though gods were proud, many would submit in the face of death.

"Young Master Shaoyan," the East Stone Immortal pointed to the group behind him, "These are all people I have instructed and can be absolutely trusted. There are two Wanxiang Adepts and a hundred Zifu Disciples. If Young Master Shaoyan has any tasks, feel free to command them. Oh, these two Wanxiang Adepts are also Two-Claw Yinglong Guards of our Yinglong Guard."

"Two-Claw Yinglong Guards?" Shaoyan Nong nodded upon hearing this. Being a Two-Claw Yinglong Guard meant they could at least match ordinary Daoists of the Primordial Dao, so they were somewhat useful. As for the hundred Zifu Disciples? They were merely cannon fodder.

"Bu You greets Young Master Shaoyan," a disheveled-haired youth said respectfully.

"Xue Hongyi greets the young master," a red-robed youth also bowed respectfully.

Shaoyan Nong nodded lightly: "I will trouble you two this time."

"To be able to serve Young Master Shaoyan is also our honor," Xue Hongyi and Bu You both said modestly.

On the other side, Beishan Yin, seeing this, also spoke: "I have also arranged ten Wanxiang Adepts and a hundred Zifu Disciples. They are all death warriors, utterly loyal. The ten Wanxiang Adepts may not match Xue Hongyi and Bu You, but if they join forces... even a Daoist of the Primordial Dao would have to retreat."

"Death warriors?" Shaoyan Nong's eyes lit up, and a smile appeared on his face.

It was very difficult to make cultivators into death warriors. Usually, one first trained death warriors and then cultivated them into cultivators! But the mindset of death warriors made it very hard to progress far on the path of cultivation... So Beishan Yin's gift of ten Wanxiang Adept death warriors was definitely a great gift.

After all, although the East Stone Immortal of the Yinglong Guard outpost had arranged for Xue Hongyi and Bu You, they were clearly only there to help him, not to serve as death warriors.

"This is my son, Beishan Hu. He has never met Young Master Shaoyan and has long heard of your great name. He insisted on coming with me to see you," Beishan Yin said with a smile.

"Greetings, Young Master Shaoyan," Beishan Hu said excitedly.

Shaoyan Nong nodded lightly: "Beishan Hu, I remember you."

That simple sentence made Beishan Hu ecstatic.

"My coming to Anchan Commandery this time is a minor trial set by my clan," Shaoyan Nong looked at the East Stone Immortal and Beishan Yin. "So it is not suitable to make a big show. With the manpower you two have given me, my chances are greater. I cannot afford to be careless in this trial, so I will not linger here. You need not see me off."

"Then we wish Young Master Shaoyan a victorious return, and we will celebrate your success," Beishan Yin and the East Stone Immortal watched as Shaoyan Nong and his large group departed.

Only Beishan Yin, Beishan Hu, and the East Stone Immortal remained by the teleportation array.

There were also some old servants responsible for maintaining the formation, but during the conversation, the East Stone Immortal had naturally drawn upon the power of heaven and earth to isolate the sound, so those old servants had no idea who had arrived.

"Father, we gave death warriors, and Young Master Shaoyan just left like that?" Beishan Hu blinked.

Beishan Yin glanced at his son: "That he accepted is already your luck. He is still undergoing trials and needs manpower, so he will accept. In the future, when he becomes the 'Feather Divine Duke' and a pivotal figure in the Grand Xia Dynasty, what we give him now will be beneath his notice. A gift now is worth a hundred or a thousand times more than a gift in the future!"

Beishan Hu seemed to understand.

"Let's go, back," Beishan Yin ordered.

...

A huge, dark-red warship, ancient and simple, flew high in the sky.

On the warship were six hundred Zifu Disciples and over a dozen Wanxiang Adepts. Shaoyan Nong and the gaunt, narrow-eyed middle-aged man stood by the railing, gazing at the vast land for thousands of miles.

"Xue Hongyi, Bu You," Shaoyan Nong asked, "Are there any formidable figures in your Anchan Commandery? Forget Daoists of the Primordial Dao and immortals."

"Excluding immortals and Daoists of the Primordial Dao..." Xue Hongyi said, "Among the Wanxiang Adepts in Anchan Commandery, the truly strong are first the most outstanding ones from the Black-White College, where geniuses gather. Of course, the Fissure Sword Sect, Mulberry clan, and Hunter Dragon clan also have some elite cultivators, but these are the true seeds of these powers. Making them take risks would be difficult."

Shaoyan Nong nodded lightly.

Xue Hongyi was the most outstanding of the younger generation of Snowdragon Mountain. Since Snowdragon Mountain was a minor sect in the Grand Xia Dynasty, Xue Hongyi was willing to be a pawn.

But those more outstanding might not be so willing.

"Eh?" Bu You's eyes lit up. "It seems we are approaching the Yan Mountain region. In Yan Mountain, there is a peerless genius, truly the top among the Wanxiang Adepts of the Black-White College—the Beiming Adept, Ji Ning."

Hearing the name Ji Ning, Xue Hongyi frowned.

"Ji Ning?" Shaoyan Nong also showed curiosity.