The aftermath of the clan gathering left Chen City abuzz with whispers, the unmasking of Madam Hu a spark that ignited tensions within the City Lord's family. Jian's silence during the confrontation had spoken volumes, his Cultivation Rank 7 peak aura a coiled serpent, ready to strike. Huo, his Cultivation Rank 7 mid brother, had retreated to his border town, his jealousy a festering wound, but the City Lord's words—"Chen City needs your heart"—had solidified Liang Wei's standing. The third son's family, now free of Madam Hu's poison, prepared to visit the City Lord's manor for a private audience, a chance to mend familial bonds and strategize against the traitor's network.
Tian Zun observed the preparations from the courtyard, his Cultivation Rank 8 ki a steady hum beneath his servant's guise. Liang Wei packed provisions with a gentle smile, his Cultivation Rank 8 peak aura a beacon of calm. Lady Xiu folded Meilin's favorite shawl, her voice soft as she reassured the girl, "Grandfather will be kind, my dear." Tianyi darted about, his wooden sword swinging, his excitement infectious. "Will there be a feast, Papa?" he asked, his eyes bright. Liang Wei chuckled, ruffling his son's hair. "Perhaps, but we go to speak of serious matters—stay close." The family's love was a quiet strength, a contrast to the storm brewing in Tian Zun's mind.
The Shattered Epoch's whisper—"Epoch"—echoed in his soul, a call to greater truths. Jian's involvement in the traitor's plot was clear, but the aberrant ki in Lotus Vale, the fountain's shadow, and the dimensional wall pointed to a deeper mystery. Tian Zun's Primordial Chaos Foundation pulsed, its silver-black vortex urging him to grow stronger. The Law of Space, one of the supreme laws of the cosmos, beckoned—a force that governed existence itself, a key to shattering dimensions. If he could forge a technique rooted in this law, he'd take a monumental step toward his goal.
Before the family departed, Tian Zun slipped away to the forested cave, its ancient runes now a familiar comfort. He sat cross-legged, the cave's ki resonating with his own, and closed his eyes. His soul, a silver flame that had made heavens bow, reached for the Law of Space. It was elusive, a shimmering thread in the cosmic tapestry, but his nine trillion lives had taught him patience. He drew on the Primordial Chaos Foundation, its chaotic energy a bridge to the void, and visualized the law—a boundless expanse where distance and form bent to will.
The cave trembled as his ki surged, a silver glow enveloping him. The Law of Space unfolded in his mind—a web of invisible threads connecting all things, a law that could fold realms, traverse dimensions, or rend the fabric of reality. He channeled this law into his foundation, a process that seared his meridians with white-hot pain. His Cultivation Rank 8 ki strained, but his will held firm. A technique took shape, one he named Void Step, a rudimentary move that let him shift a single step through space—a flicker of movement that defied distance. It was a mere spark of the law's potential, but a spark that could one day sunder the dimensional wall.
As he stabilized the technique, a vision flashed—crimson skies, a figure cloaked in mist, a blade of shattered light. The Shattered Epoch again, but this time, the figure turned, its ember-eyes locking with his. "Seek the Vale," it whispered, its voice a chorus of broken stars. Tian Zun's eyes snapped open, his breath ragged. Lotus Vale held answers, but the family's journey to the City Lord's manor came first.
He returned to the manor just as the family prepared to leave, their horses saddled, their faces a mix of resolve and hope. Liang Wei noticed him, his kind eyes narrowing. "Lin Zun, you've been… different since the gathering. Join us—Father will want to meet the boy who unmasked a traitor." Tian Zun nodded, concealing the silver glow beneath his skin. The journey to the City Lord's manor, a grand estate at the city's heart, was uneventful, but the air grew heavy as they approached.
The manor's gates loomed, guarded by Cultivation Rank 6 sentinels, their ki-blades at the ready. Inside, the City Lord awaited in his private study, a chamber lined with ancient scrolls and a map of Jinshui Province. His Cultivation Rank 4 mid aura filled the room, a steady pressure that made Tianyi fidget. Mei, the City Lord's daughter, stood beside him, her Cultivation Rank 6 low ki a quiet presence, her eyes sharp with curiosity. "Liang Wei," the City Lord began, his voice a rumble, "Madam Hu's betrayal runs deep. Jian's silence at the gathering… I fear he's involved."
Liang Wei bowed, his voice steady. "Father, I'll protect my family, but we must root out the traitor's network. The bandit attack, Madam Hu—they're pieces of a larger plot." The City Lord nodded, his gaze shifting to Tian Zun. "You, boy—Lin Zun. Your actions saved my son's household. What do you know of this?"
Tian Zun met his gaze, his golden eyes unblinking. "The traitor's web spans beyond Jian," he said, his voice low. "Lotus Vale holds answers—ancient ki, tied to the Shattered Epoch. I've seen it." The City Lord's eyes narrowed, but before he could respond, a tremor shook the manor, a pulse of aberrant ki that made the air crackle.
The family rushed to the courtyard, where a cloaked figure stood, its ki a storm of wrongness—Cultivation Rank 5 mid, but twisted, as if it tore at the stars. "The Epoch stirs," the figure rasped, its voice a hiss. "Chen City will fall." It raised a hand, summoning a Fractured Star Lance, a spear of dark light that shot toward Liang Wei. Tian Zun reacted, his Void Step flickering, shifting him in front of Liang Wei. The lance grazed his shoulder, drawing blood, but he stood firm, his Primordial Chaos Foundation flaring.
The figure vanished, leaving a chilling laugh. The City Lord's face darkened. "The Shattered Epoch… it's no myth." Tian Zun's mind raced—Lotus Vale was the key, and his Law of Space would lead him there. But first, he'd protect this family, a beacon of light in Hongmeng's darkness.