After the grand event at the Sword Profound Sect concluded, Xuan Yi led the Gui Clan and their companions on the journey back toward Half Moon City. The atmosphere was thick with emotions, a blend of relief, excitement, and newfound confidence.
The Sword Profound Sect's powerful backing now firmly behind them, the Gui family's spirits had been elevated in a way they hadn't anticipated. The once heavy weight of fear and uncertainty, which had gripped them tightly on their journey to the sect just two weeks ago, had been replaced with a growing sense of pride. The air around them seemed charged with this newfound energy, each step forward an affirmation of the strength they were beginning to realize they had at their disposal.
In contrast, far to the north, in Flying Feathers City—
[Flying Feathers City]
A clan meeting was underway within the Liao Clan's grand hall.
The Liao Clan, one of the eight great families of Flying Feathers City, exuded a formidable presence. At the head of the clan was Liao Tianxiong, a towering figure who had reached the peak of the eighth level of the Soul Condensation Realm. But it wasn't just him. The clan boasted another powerful member at the same level: the Liao Elder. Though slightly weaker than Liao Tianxiong, the Elder's strength was still more than enough to earn him a position of power in any major sect.
Surrounding them were no fewer than three peak seventh-level Soul Condensation experts, and the hall was filled with more than ten individuals at that very level. This was a force to be reckoned with, and it was clear from the gathering that the disparity between the Liao Clan and the Gui Clan was staggering. The Liao Clan's strength was overwhelming, a fact that had made them dismissive of the Gui family for years, especially since the deaths of the Gui family's ancestors.
Even the Wang family, the most powerful in Half Moon City, was little more than an insignificant presence in the eyes of the Liao Clan. As for the Gui family—well, they were nothing more than an afterthought.
"Clan leader, if I may be so bold, you'd be better off staying out of Half Moon City's business. Do not be too eager to help the Gui family. If you make a wrong move, the Witherwood Gate is not a power to take lightly," one of the elders spoke up, his voice filled with concern.
The majority of the Liao Clan's members shared this sentiment. The Witherwood Gate's immense power, particularly the Sea Expansion experts who ruled over the sect, made any potential conflict a perilous one. The risks were simply too great. If the Witherwood Gate's ire was drawn...
Liao Tianxiong, however, raised a hand, signaling for the room to fall silent. His face was set in a thoughtful expression as he weighed the situation.
"I will go," he declared at last, his voice firm but measured. "However, I have not promised to help them. If the Witherwood Gate is unwilling to give face to my Liao family, I will leave immediately. Do not worry. This will not cause any trouble for our clan."
His gaze swept over the assembled elders. "The matter with the Gui family will be handled by me alone. All of you will focus on the Purple Moon Secret Realm. The Second Elder will lead that effort, and the Grand Elder will oversee the clan's affairs while I am gone. Once I have finished with the Gui family's issue, I will head to the Secret Realm as well."
At these words, Liao Tianxiong's youngest daughter, Liao Xiaoyue, stepped forward, her voice sweet yet laced with mischief.
"Father, I want to go with you. I heard that Half Moon City is hosting a grand competition. It's the perfect opportunity to see it for myself." Her bright eyes sparkled with excitement.
Liao Xiaoyue, barely fifteen or sixteen, had been sent to Glory Province at a young age to cultivate within the prestigious Hundred Flowers Palace, a sect on par with the Witherwood Gate. Her recent return to Zhennan Province had sparked her curiosity about everything the region had to offer.
Liao Tianxiong couldn't help but smile warmly at his daughter's request, his affection for her evident in the gentle laugh that followed. "It seems someone has other plans in mind, doesn't it?" He shook his head, bemused. "But, since you've asked so nicely, I suppose I can't refuse."
"Thank you, Father!" Xiaoyue beamed, a rare lightness in her voice.
Meanwhile, on the road back to Half Moon City, the landscape felt different. The journey between the Sword Profound Sect and Half Moon City wasn't particularly long, but the Gui family had spent two weeks making their way to the sect. The treacherous roads, filled with danger at every turn, had forced them to take the longest, safest path.
There were countless hazards along the way—bandits lurking in the Yellow Sand Mountain Range, demon beasts roaming the Dark Forest, and other perils that demanded careful navigation. The Gui family had no choice but to tread cautiously, their every move weighed down by the knowledge of how easily disaster could strike.
But now, with the Sword Profound Sect's protection, everything had changed. The atmosphere was electric, filled with an undeniable sense of liberation. There was no fear this time. No longer did they tread carefully or wait for disaster to strike—they were free to soar, unburdened by caution.
The Dark Forest, once a terrifying place, now lay beneath them as they soared effortlessly above it atop the mighty Scarlet Flame Sparrow. This formidable creature—a rare, fully-grown flying demon beast—swept through the skies with power and grace, its fiery feathers glowing like embers in the wind.
For the second elder of the Gui family, the transformation was particularly poignant. Looking down at the demon beasts fleeing below, he couldn't help but marvel. Just days ago, they had been trembling in fear of these very beasts, forced to avoid them at all costs. Now, high above, even Soul Severing-level demons scattered in terror at the sight of the Scarlet Flame Sparrow's presence.
Strength. This was strength. The kind that commanded respect from all things, living and otherwise. With this power, they could move through the world unchallenged.
"What is that?" someone whispered in awe. "A Scarlet Flame Sparrow?"
"Are those people standing above it?" another voice murmured, disbelief and envy thick in the air.
As they passed over the Dark Forest, they caught the attention of several adventurers hidden within the trees below. Though the Dark Forest was a dangerous place, it also promised opportunity for the brave—if one could survive the many dangers within.
However, these adventurers were not accustomed to seeing anyone, let alone a group of people, flying so brazenly above such a perilous place.
"If we run into demonic beasts, we can only run from them, hoping they don't chase us," one adventurer said, watching in awe as the Scarlet Flame Sparrow sailed effortlessly overhead. "But they have it easy, don't they? Even the demonic beasts have to avoid them."
"Heh, if you have strength, you can run rampant," another adventurer chuckled, shaking his head.
"The Scarlet Flame Sparrow is an adult, at least at the seventh level of the Soul Condensation Realm," someone else added, awe lacing his tone.
Without any further obstacles, they continued their journey, their path completely clear under the powerful wings of the Scarlet Flame Sparrow. As they approached the Yellow Sand Mountain Range, the excitement within the group of travelers was palpable. The final leg of their journey was drawing near.
The Yellow Sand Mountain Range, a crucial trade route, was notoriously filled with bandits. It was a place where many merchant caravans faced danger daily. For the Gui family, however, this was just another milestone to conquer. No longer did they fear the bandits or the uncertainty of the mountain. With the Scarlet Flame Sparrow's imposing power at their side, they moved forward with confidence and anticipation.
Soon, Half Moon City would be in sight, and with it, the Gui family's future would be more secure than it had ever been.
Strength, after all, was the key to unlocking everything.