Today is a momentous day in Emberfall city, one that will be etched in the memories of its inhabitants for years to come. The long-standing feud between the Watson and Hawthorn families has finally reached its boiling point, and the city is bracing itself for an epic clash.

The animosity between these two great families has been simmering for quite some time, with tensions steadily mounting. The fight for supremacy over the city holds the key to unrivaled control over the economy and military might. The potential rewards for either clan are immense.

A fateful event unfolded today when a skirmish erupted on the streets, igniting the long-dreaded war. Both families were evenly matched in strength and had been cautiously waiting for the opportune moment to strike and vanquish their rivals. However, the tragic events of today, resulting in loss of life, have propelled them into action.

In this unforgiving world, there is no room for complacency. It's a constant struggle to move forward or risk being pushed back, or even obliterated. The Watson and Hawthorn families have reached a critical juncture in their development. The resources within the city are simply not sufficient to sustain both families' ambitions for advancement and prestige.

As the saying goes, two tigers cannot reign over a single mountain.

Given the scale of this momentous battle, it was deemed unfitting to wage it within the confines of the city. Thus, a designated location a few miles away was chosen as the battleground.

Two opposing factions now face each other, emanating an aura that sends shivers down one's spine. They may be mortals, but their presence exudes an air of palpable intensity.

In their quest for strength, mortals have honed their skills in various martial arts techniques and meditation, hoping to attain the coveted innate level. This level is divided into three stages, ranging from innate stage 3 to innate stage 1.

Amidst the dense atmosphere of impending bloodshed, all participants on this battlefield have attained the innate realm. Each person fixates their gaze on their adversary, their eyes filled with determination. While hesitation lingers, none of them desire a hollow victory that would leave them vulnerable to exploitation.

The strength of the two clans is evenly matched, except for the fact that the Hawthorn family possesses one more member at the formidable innate stage 1 level than the Watson family. Nevertheless, the Watson family is not at a disadvantage, as one of their members faces off against two from the Hawthorn family.

Wren Watson, a mere thirty-five years old, already holds the esteemed position of an elder within the clan, having reached the pinnacle of the innate stage 1. Despite being the youngest elder, he is also the strongest, earning him the title of a prodigy. It's worth noting that most martial artists who attain the innate stage 1 level are typically in their seventies and can live up to 150 years. Wren's remarkable achievement at such a young age leaves no room for doubts about his extraordinary talent.

Radiating confidence in his own abilities, Wren remains composed even in the face of the two adversaries before him. His unwavering gaze locks onto them, mirroring their serious expressions.

Before long, the battle commences, drawing the attention of observers positioned on a distant hill. These onlookers, belonging to families of lower status within the city, wisely choose to keep their distance, not wanting to be mistaken for enemies.

As they watch in awe, they can't help but marvel at Wren's awe-inspiring prowess, as he effortlessly sweeps through the battlefield with unmatched momentum. His movements are a blur, and the speed of his saber is nothing short of astounding.

A myriad of martial arts styles are on display, creating a chaotic symphony of combat. The sounds of battle reverberate across the field, and injuries begin to accumulate, with a few lives already lost.

Thus far, Wren has managed to claim victory over one of his two opponents. His dominance on the battlefield is unquestionable.

With the current state of the battle, it seems inevitable that the Watson family will emerge triumphant.

Wren stood triumphant over his fallen opponent, yet before he could claim victory over the next martial artist from the Hawthorn family, a sudden force descended upon him, suppressing his movements. A swift and powerful sword strike came hurtling towards him, threatening to end his life.

Just as the blade was about to strike, another sword appeared, blocking the attack with equal strength. The clash sent shockwaves through the air, propelling Wren backwards. Relief washed over him as he realized that he had narrowly escaped a fatal blow.

Suddenly, a commanding voice echoed across the battlefield, calling out the Hawthorn family's patriarch for his dishonorable actions. An old man with gray hair, a distinguished mustache, and a flowing green robe materialized in the sky. His piercing gaze locked onto a specific spot, where another old man emerged, exuding an air of hostility.

The two patriarchs locked eyes, their tension palpable. The Hawthorn patriarch arrogantly dismissed Wren as a mere mortal, insisting that Wren's victory would have no impact on the overall outcome. However, the other patriarch chuckled, exuding confidence in his own abilities.

In response, the Hawthorn patriarch unleashed a powerful attack infused with water energy, directing it towards his opponent. The water surged forward with unstoppable force, giving rise to water swords that clashed with wind swords emanating from the Watson patriarch. The collision of wind and water created a tempestuous storm, their clash reverberating with the sound of clashing metal within the storm.

The intensity of the battle forced the combatants on the ground to retreat, their voices echoing with shouts of retreat. Above, the weather transformed dramatically, shrouded in mist and punctuated by rumbling thunder.

Wren watched with awe, fully aware that he was witnessing the extraordinary abilities of heavenly body realm experts. In this world, these experts harnessed the power of heavenly essence to refine their bodies and wield incredible powers. The heavenly body realm cultivators possessed ethereal beauty, prolonged youth, heightened senses, and mastery over elemental forces. The display of power before Wren served as a stark reminder of the vast chasm that separated him from such formidable experts. As a mere innate stage 1 cultivator, he was far from reaching such heights.

He recalled from his knowledge that some individuals were born with the innate ability to sense and harness heavenly essence, enabling them to naturally refine their bodies. However, Wren belonged to the group of ordinary individuals who had to undergo rigorous martial arts training to unlock their innate potential.

The innate realm consisted of three stages, granting individuals a lifespan of up to 150 years. However, to aspire to comprehend the heavenly body realm, one had to reach the pinnacle of the innate stage, known as stage 0. Only at this stage could they absorb heavenly essence and refine their physique at a higher level.

In the Watson and Hawthorn families, only the two ancestors currently engaged in battle had achieved the coveted heavenly body realm. They had lived for centuries, and no one had managed to reach their level since. This fact served as a testament to the immense difficulty of attaining such a realm.

Wren remembered that physique laws were categorized into different grades, ranging from low, high, earth, heaven, king and then emperor, based on their potential and the heights they could help individuals reach. The physique laws cultivated by the two ancestors belonged to the low level. They were derived from a higher physique law called the sword fiend body. Though considered formidable, their derivative forms had weakened to some extent.

The ranks of physique laws were determined by their potential and the extent to which they could propel individuals towards greatness.

Wren was on the cusp of reaching the coveted innate stage 0, and his eagerness to embark on this journey consumed him. Since his youth, a burning desire to grow stronger and reach the pinnacle had resided in his heart. He had never abandoned this dream and vowed to never give up.

Despite being recognized as a genius within his family and the Emberfall city, Wren paid no heed to such accolades. After all in the eyes of the strong, what difference did it make if an ant was larger than its counterparts? He was acutely aware that true geniuses in this world were born with the ability to naturally cultivate, and he couldn't fathom the immense strength they possessed at his age. Killing him would be as effortless as slaughtering a chicken.

The earlier attack served as a stark reminder of his vulnerability. If not for the timely intervention of his ancestor, Wren would have been reduced to mere fragments, shredded apart by the lethal sword energy.

Meanwhile, high above the ground, a fierce battle raged on, eliciting fear from all who witnessed it. Amidst the clash of energies, two elderly men stood motionless, their robes fluttering in the tumultuous atmosphere. Their unwavering presence defied the chaos surrounding them.

"I see you've made progress, Ethan," one of them remarked.

"As have you, Alex," replied the other,

The one who spoke first was none other than Alexander Watson, the patriarch of the Watson family.

Gradually, runic patterns materialized on their bodies, signifying the transformation they were undergoing. They were returning to their true forms, having cultivated their unique physique laws.

When their power peaked, anyone within a two-kilometer radius was no longer safe.

"Ethan, why do you insist on fighting me? For years, we have maintained a delicate balance and ruled over this city. We are the sole hegemony in this region. But now, your actions have resulted in our descendants fighting and killing each other," Alex questioned, his voice carrying a hint of frustration.

"You know that only my family's junior, Wren, is worthy of such an opportunity in this entire city. Why do you resist? Must you continue down this path?"

"Hahahaha, old Watson, do you think I am unaware of this? What will become of my Hawthorn family when your family produces another heavenly body realm expert? We will be overshadowed, reduced to a second-rate family within this city. I cannot allow that," Ethan Hawthorn responded, his laughter tinged with bitterness.

Upon hearing Ethan's words, Alex began to retract his aura, finally understanding the root of the problem — security.

A solution immediately sprang to Alex's mind, and a smile formed in his thoughts. "Old Hawthorn, calm yourself. I believe I have a solution to this predicament. Choose a talented girl from your family and have her marry Wren. In this way, he will never be able to move against your family. What do you think?"

Ethan Hawthorn pondered the proposal for a moment, a smile gradually spreading across his face. Withdrawing his aura, he nodded in agreement.

The two figures vanished from the sky without engaging in a full-blown battle, but the destruction left in their wake was considerable.

Back on the ground, the martial artists stood in astonishment, unsure of their next course of action.

"Return and see me," a voice commanded.

Wren and the other elders recognized it as the voice of their ancestors. It was evident that an agreement had been reached between the opposing sides.

Wren couldn't help but wonder about the outcome. Nevertheless, he made his way back to the family grounds, eager to hear the decisions the ancestors had made.

Disappointment could be seen amongst the onlooking crowd who had gathered to watch the two clans destroy each other.

Who will tell them that the battle that took place today and all tensions between the two families was not to fight for control over the city but something else entirely?

The vision of these two families had long transcended this city and the politics within no longer concerned them.

Wren and the other elders soon returned to the city and hurriedly made their way to the ancestral manor where they saw an old man sitting on the main seat.

His eyes a little closed like he was sleeping but they all knew he was aware of their presence and just waited silently for him to speak.