The gates of the City Lord's residence swung open, revealing a courtyard bathed in the golden light of midday, its jade tiles shimmering beneath the feet of the arriving family. Liang Wei led his wife and children forward, his Cultivation Rank 8 peak aura a steady anchor amidst the nervous excitement. Lady Xiu held Meilin's hand, whispering assurances, while Tianyi clutched his wooden sword, his eyes wide with awe at the towering spires of the estate. Tian Zun followed, his Cultivation Rank 8 ki a quiet hum, his golden eyes scanning every detail with the precision of a predator. The Primordial Chaos Foundation pulsed within, its silver-black vortex a testament to his recent soul fusion—a harmony that tempered his arrogance with caution, a balance that made him an unstoppable force in this frail body.
Inside, the grand hall of the City Lord's manor was a spectacle of power and legacy. Jade pillars rose to a vaulted ceiling painted with celestial murals, and banners bearing the golden crane crest fluttered in a gentle breeze. At the hall's center, the City Lord, Liang Chen, sat on an obsidian throne, his Cultivation Rank 4 mid aura a heavy presence that commanded silence. His weathered face, lined with the scars of battles past, softened as he beheld Liang Wei's family, but his eyes held a storm of unresolved tensions.
Flanking him were his three wives, each a pillar of influence in their own right. To his right stood the main wife, Lady Feng, a statuesque woman with sharp features and a Cultivation Rank 5 low aura, her crimson robes a symbol of her authority. She was the mother of Jian and Huo, the eldest sons, and her gaze carried the weight of ambition—her sons were her legacy, their rise her triumph. To his left sat the second wife, Lady Yun, a gentle beauty with a Cultivation Rank 6 mid aura, her soft blue robes reflecting her nurturing spirit. She was Liang Wei's mother, her kind eyes mirroring her son's warmth, though a flicker of worry creased her brow as she glanced at the third wife.
The third wife, Lady Mei-Xing, stood apart, a figure cloaked in mystery. Her Cultivation Rank 5 mid aura was veiled, a shadowy ripple that defied scrutiny, much like her daughter Mei, who stood beside her father on the dais. Lady Mei-Xing's violet robes shimmered with an otherworldly sheen, and her face was half-hidden by a silken veil, her eyes—dark and fathomless—darting across the room with a cryptic intensity. Whispers among the servants painted her as an enigma, a woman who had joined the family under mysterious circumstances, her origins tied to a distant sect rumored to wield forbidden arts. Mei, her daughter, shared her mother's cryptic air, her Cultivation Rank 6 low ki a quiet storm, her expression unreadable as she watched the proceedings.
"Liang Wei," the City Lord began, his voice a deep rumble that silenced the hall, "you've honored our family by unmasking Madam Hu. But the traitor's network runs deeper—Jian's silence at the gathering speaks volumes." His gaze shifted to Lady Feng, whose lips tightened, her maternal pride a shield against the accusation. "Feng, your eldest son's ambition threatens our unity. Speak."
Lady Feng stepped forward, her voice cold and measured. "Jian seeks greatness, my lord, as is his right as your heir. Liang Wei's softness invites weakness—Madam Hu acted of her own accord, not my son's." Her words were a dagger, aimed at Liang Wei, whose face remained calm, though Lady Yun's hands clenched in her lap, her maternal instinct warring with her composure.
Tian Zun observed, his soul—a silver flame that had transcended eternity—dissecting the undercurrents of drama with the precision of a master strategist. Lady Feng's defense of Jian was fierce, but her denial was a fragile facade; Jian's involvement was clear, and her ambition for her sons had blinded her to their flaws. Lady Yun's silence spoke of loyalty to her husband, but her worry for Liang Wei was palpable, a mother's fear in a den of vipers. Lady Mei-Xing, however, was a puzzle—her veiled gaze flickered across the room, her mysterious aura a challenge Tian Zun noted with interest. But her schemes, if she had any, were child's play to a Supreme who had orchestrated the fall of empires across nine trillion lives. He saw through her in an instant, her cryptic demeanor a mask for something deeper, perhaps a hidden agenda tied to her sect's forbidden arts.
The City Lord's eyes darkened, his voice a growl. "Enough. Jian will face scrutiny, but we must secure Chen City first. The bandit attacks, the discord—they're pieces of a larger threat." He turned to Liang Wei, his tone softening. "You'll lead an expedition to the border towns, root out the traitor's allies. Take Lin Zun—he's proven his worth."
Before Liang Wei could respond, a commotion erupted at the hall's entrance. A messenger, his Cultivation Rank 7 low ki flickering with exhaustion, stumbled in, his robes torn and bloodied. "My lord!" he gasped, falling to his knees. "The eastern mines—they're under attack! Cultivators, at least Cultivation Rank 6, bearing no crests—they've killed the overseers and taken the jade reserves!"
The hall erupted into chaos, nobles shouting, servants scurrying. Lady Feng's face paled—those mines were her family's legacy, a source of her power. "Jian must lead the response," she insisted, her voice sharp. "He's the eldest—he'll crush them!" Lady Yun's gaze darted to Liang Wei, her worry deepening, while Lady Mei-Xing remained still, her veiled eyes glinting with an unreadable emotion.
Tian Zun stepped forward, his voice cutting through the din like a blade, his presence a storm that silenced the room. "I'll go," he said, his golden eyes locking with the City Lord's, his tone leaving no room for debate. "The mines are a diversion—the traitor's allies want chaos. I'll end it." His words carried the weight of a Supreme, a being whose schemes were unseen, whose power was unmatched. The City Lord, despite his Cultivation Rank 4 mid strength, felt a chill—Lin Zun was no mere servant, and his confidence was unshakable.
The City Lord studied him, then nodded, a flicker of respect in his eyes. "Liang Wei, take Lin Zun and a squad of guards. Depart at dawn." Liang Wei bowed, his face resolute, though Lady Yun's hands trembled as she clutched his arm, whispering, "Be safe, my son." Tianyi and Meilin clung to their father, their fear a stark contrast to Lady Feng's cold calculation and Lady Mei-Xing's cryptic silence.
As the family dispersed to prepare, Tian Zun lingered, his gaze sweeping the hall. Lady Mei-Xing approached, her movements fluid, her voice a whisper that carried a hint of curiosity. "You're a storm in a servant's guise, Lin Zun," she said, her veiled eyes searching. Tian Zun's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile—her words were an attempt to probe, but she was a child playing at intrigue before a Supreme. "And you're a shadow with secrets," he replied, his voice low, his golden eyes piercing through her veil. "Keep them well, for I see all." She froze, a flicker of unease in her aura, before turning away, her violet robes trailing like a shadow.
That night, as the manor settled into an uneasy quiet, Tian Zun stood in the courtyard, his silver hair catching the moonlight. The Law of Space hummed within, its threads a map to greater power. The mines would be his proving ground, a chance to crush the traitor's allies and rise further. Hongmeng World was vast, but he would conquer it—one step at a time, his schemes unfolding like a cosmic game only he could play.