Chapter 51 On the way back, opening the meridians and nourishing the spirit

After a brief exchange of pleasantries with the black market master, Arius left the underground black market and made his way back through the Three Immortal Market. Picking up a few miscellaneous items, he promptly departed from Ancient Origin City.

During his journey back to Purple River City, Arius maintained a heightened state of vigilance.

Fortunately, the thing he feared most never came to pass. Despite showing interest in him, the black market master made no attempt to pursue him or kill him for his treasures. This allowed Arius to finally relax his guard a little.

Even so, Arius was determined to avoid using the Five Thunder Talisman Treasures unless absolutely necessary. Their power diminished with every use, and once depleted, the talismans would be rendered completely useless.

Relying on the Solid Origin Pills, Arius pushed himself to travel at full speed on his way back to Purple River City.

The 2,000-mile journey between Ancient Origin City and Purple River City was fraught with danger.

The route was a treacherous one, cutting through rugged terrain, perilous mountain ranges, and swampy wastelands. It passed through the territories of other cultivator factions, crossed desolate wildernesses, and even wound through the towering peaks of the Boundless Mountains, where ferocious beasts lurked at every turn.

After several days of arduous travel, Arius finally reached the familiar gates of Purple River City.

Yet upon his return, he didn’t immediately rush to address the Silver Mine issue.

Instead, he planned to use the Mirror of Celestial Insight to upgrade and enhance the damaged Level 1 Pill.

His goal was to use the pill’s power to make a breakthrough into the Level 1 Realm in one decisive attempt.

The breakthrough would take no more than two or three days, regardless of success or failure.

And if he succeeded, his newfound strength would allow him to face the Blood Wolf Hall with far greater confidence and composure.

Entering his secluded courtyard within Purple River City, Arius wasted no time. He activated the Three Element Banner Formation, sparing no effort to ensure his safety.

Spending five spirit stone fragments, Arius fully unleashed the protective power of the formation.

As a banner-type artifact, the Three Element Banner provided defense similar to a formation array. Once activated, its protective shield blocked any external attempts at prying or probing.

Since the black market master had taken an interest in him, Arius couldn’t afford to be careless.

Given that his cultivation was at the peak of the Organ Tempering stage, Arius knew he wouldn’t detect it if the black market master secretly followed him.

Now that he was about to use the Mirror of Celestial Insight, he needed to be absolutely certain of his security.

Once he broke through to the Level 1 Realm, such vulnerabilities would no longer be a concern.

The hum of energy echoed as the Three Element Banner came to life. Gold, wood, and fire elements surged into motion, creating a powerful, layered defense.

Under Arius’s control, the wood element formed a protective barrier that enclosed the entire courtyard. Surrounding the barrier was a sea of fire, crackling and roiling with violent energy.

Finally, the gold element condensed into an impenetrable wall, circling tightly around Arius as the final line of defense.

Even after these precautions, Arius wasn’t fully reassured.

He silently affixed one of the Five Thunder Talisman Treasures to the back of his hand.

If the black market master did attempt to breach the Three Element Banner’s protection, Arius wouldn’t hesitate to retaliate.

Even if it meant depleting one use of the talisman’s power—or risking enmity with the factions backing the black market master—Arius was prepared to obliterate him on the spot.

Only after all these arrangements were in place did Arius retrieve the Mirror of Celestial Insight and begin the process of enhancing the damaged Level 1Pill.

In the world of cultivation, pills were generally divided into four grades: low, mid, high, and top grade.

A so-called damaged pill was essentially an inferior, substandard version of a low-grade pill.

Under normal circumstances, such pills would be destroyed immediately after they were deemed defective.

While damaged pills still retained their effects, they often carried unpredictable side effects, making them highly dangerous to consume.

Special pills like the Level 1 Pill or Level 2 Pill were exceptions to the rule when it came to damaged pills.

Due to the extreme difficulty of their refinement, even defective versions were often put up for sale.

For cultivators, such pills—despite their flaws and potential side effects—still represented a sliver of hope for breaking through bottlenecks.

Arius produced several dozen spirit stone fragments, placing them carefully onto the surface of the Mirror of Celestial Insight.

The moment the fragments were fully absorbed by the mirror, a soft, mystical radiance began to emanate from its surface.

Holding the mirror steady, Arius directed its light onto the damaged Level 1 Pill in his hand.

As the pill was bathed in the ethereal glow, the impurities on its surface began to disintegrate and vanish.

Simultaneously, the medicinal essence radiating from the pill surged dramatically, its potency climbing to new heights.

The pill’s exterior transformed, now encased in a delicate, shimmering aura of medicinal light.

For pills above the Level 1, the appearance of such an aura—known as pill essence light—was an indicator of quality:

• Damaged pills emitted no light.
• Low-grade pills typically formed one layer of essence light.
• Mid-grade pills formed two layers.
• High-grade pills formed three layers.
• Top-grade pills formed four layers.

Fueled by the infusion of over ten spirit stone fragments, the once-damaged Level 1Pill had now been elevated to mid-grade!

A mid-grade Level 1Pill could increase a cultivator’s success rate in breaking into the Level 1 Realm by 30-40%.

A high-grade pill, meanwhile, would boost the success rate to 40-50%.

As for a top-grade Level 1 Pill, it was said to guarantee a breakthrough, enabling a cultivator at the peak of Organ Refinement to ascend directly into the Level 1 Realm!

However, top-grade Level 1 Pills were extremely rare, their refinement requiring not only peak alchemical skill but also extraordinary resources.

Even low-grade Level 1 Pills were notoriously difficult to create. Many alchemists would fail to refine a single successful pill, even after consuming hundreds—or even thousands—of rare materials.

In the entirety of Pyrenees Mountain Prefecture, fewer than three factions had the capability to refine Level 1 Pills.

Arius gazed at the now-upgraded mid-grade Level 1 Pill, its glow softly illuminating his surroundings.

But he did not consume it immediately.

“Still not enough…” he murmured, his brows furrowed in thought.

Taking a moment to compose himself, Arius made a decisive move. He emptied the remaining spirit stone fragments from his storage and once again activated the Mirror of Celestial Insight, directing its energy toward the pill.

This time, the process took longer—two, perhaps three full breaths.

When the mirror’s glow finally subsided, the Level 1 Pill had undergone another transformation.

Encased in an elegant three-layered aura, it had now reached high-grade!

The surrounding air seemed to hum faintly as Arius held the pill in his hand, its power palpable.

Without further hesitation, Arius seated himself cross-legged, steadying his breathing. He closed his eyes, focused his mind, and swallowed the high-grade Level 1 Pill in one smooth motion.

The instant the pill entered his system, a potent surge of medicinal energy exploded within him.

Maintaining his composure, Arius carefully guided the energy, focusing all his attention on the crucial task at hand:

Opening his spirit meridians.

Only by successfully opening these meridians and reversing the flow of his qi to a state of innate purity could Arius truly ascend to the Level 1 Realm.

Yet the process of opening one’s spirit meridians was inherently perilous.

Any misstep could lead to disastrous consequences—failure at best, and instant death at worst.

 

Chapter 52: Early Stage of Level 1

Swish… Swish… Swish!

The potency of the high-grade Level 1 Pill unleashed its full force within Arius’s body, its medicinal power coursing through him like a raging tide.

It was a violent energy, cutting through his meridians like countless razor-sharp blades, carving open the spiritual pathways sealed deep within his flesh.

According to ancient texts, every living being is born with spiritual meridians, though they remain dormant and obstructed by layers of acquired impurities.

The journey through the four Body Tempering stages—from Skin Tempering to Organ Tempering—was essentially a process of purging impurities and forging the foundation of a celestial body.

Only after removing these acquired flaws and successfully opening the spiritual meridians could a cultivator achieve the state of “Returning Qi to Innate Purity” and step firmly into the Level 1 Realm!

But opening these spiritual pathways was an agony far beyond the torment of tempering one’s organs—a pain a hundred times more excruciating.

Cultivation was a path of endless trials. From the Body Tempering stages to the Level 1 Realm, one endured the torment of “breaking before rebuilding.” Ascending further—from Level 2 to true immortality—meant braving heavenly tribulations, demonic heart trials, and the perils of karmic retribution.

As one immortal had once said:

“Cultivation is a path that defies the heavens. Only those who dare to contend with the forces of creation itself can ascend to immortality and escape the cycle of reincarnation.”

Yet another sage had proclaimed:

“Cultivation is not defying the heavens but transcending oneself—walking forward step by step, discovering one’s true heart, and attaining enlightenment beyond the mortal coil.”

As Arius’s spiritual meridians opened one by one, these musings and insights on cultivation grew clearer in his mind.

The path of cultivation was not merely a transformation of life or an accumulation of power—it was also a journey of constant spiritual elevation.

Though Arius had lived over a century, his days had been filled with suffering, strife, and a blind pursuit of survival.

In his past life, he had drifted aimlessly, trapped in the mundane grind of an ordinary existence.

Even after reincarnating into this world and joining an immortal sect, his struggles continued. Were it not for the fortuitous acquisition of the Mirror of Celestial Insight, his life, too, might have been nothing more than a fleeting dream of mediocrity.

Now, as Arius approached the threshold of the Level 1 Realm, he found himself reflecting deeply on his past struggles.

“Without clarity of heart, one cannot grasp the Dao.
To perceive the Dao, one must first understand oneself.

But Arius also knew one truth above all else:

The road ahead is revealed only by walking it.
Step forward, and the unclear path will eventually unfold.

Two days passed in a flash.

When the final spiritual meridian within his body was finally opened, Arius’s aura underwent a profound transformation.

The Body Tempering stages, though labeled as part of the cultivation path, were in truth merely preparatory steps—refinements of the mortal body.

Even at the peak of Organ Tempering, with the strength to lift mountains, a cultivator’s essence remained bound by the mortal plane.

The Level 1 Realm, however, was different.

Breaking through to this realm was akin to casting off the shackles of mortality. It represented an evolution to a higher state of existence, one that transcended ordinary life.

Level 1 cultivators could sustain themselves without food, manipulate magical artifacts, and even soar briefly into the skies or descend into the depths of the earth.

“Is it… done?”

Arius muttered to himself as he felt the surge of vitality within him.

His meridians now flowed with faint traces of true spiritual energy, and his lifeforce had become incomparably robust.

This breakthrough had elevated not only his strength but also his lifespan—a vital boon for any cultivator.

From this day forward, Arius could expect to live another hundred years, even without any further breakthroughs.

Most Level 1 cultivators lived well past two centuries. Those who practiced life-sustaining techniques could even extend their lifespan to nearly three centuries.

However, Arius did not revel in his success.

Sitting quietly in his small courtyard, he remained calm and composed, aware of one undeniable truth:

The road ahead was still long.

The Level 1 Realm was merely the gateway to the world of cultivation.

Drawing a deep breath to steady himself, Arius began stabilizing his newfound realm. At the same time, he unfurled a well-worn manual from his storage pouch—The Scarlet Flame Dao Codex—and immersed himself in its teachings.

As Arius stabilized his newfound Level 1 Realm and delved into The Scarlet Flame Dao Codex, he meticulously practiced a few simple spells.

This manual, centered around fire cultivation, primarily recorded basic techniques like Fireball Technique and Fire Shield Technique.

Since it was his primary cultivation method, learning these spells came naturally to him.

Two more days passed, and Arius finally emerged from his meditative practice. His cultivation had solidified, and he had successfully mastered the Fireball Technique!

However, he understood that at the Level 1 Realm, spells were more of a supplementary tool in combat.

Level 1 cultivators did not possess enough spiritual energy to cast multiple spells continuously. Therefore, most battles at this stage relied heavily on magic treasures.

These treasures could draw power from spirit stones, allowing cultivators to unleash their full potential with only minimal control of their spiritual energy.

At the Level 2 Realm, spellcasting would become more prominent, as would the use of divine abilities. Yet even at that level, magic treasures remained an essential asset.

By the Level 4 Realm, some cultivators would abandon treasures entirely, relying solely on their profound mastery of spells and divine techniques. Others, however, would refine and wield hundreds—or even thousands—of treasures simultaneously.

In the boundless world of cultivation, countless paths existed.

There were even historical accounts of the enigmatic Scholarly Dao, which had flourished centuries ago in Aragon Kingdom.

Practitioners of the Scholarly Dao didn’t just write poetry and prose; they tempered their bodies and sought to challenge the heavens through sheer physical might.

Their philosophy dictated that only by achieving supreme physical strength could their writings manifest divine phenomena, suppressing all under the heavens.

Unfortunately, the Scholarly Dao was exceptionally difficult to cultivate, and over time, it had fallen into obscurity.

Having concluded his cultivation, Arius finally turned his attention to the Fragment of the Concealment Technique.

For Arius, this technique was no less important than his primary cultivation method!

According to the fragment, if fully mastered, the technique could enable him to mask his aura completely, disguise his appearance, and even alter his voice.

The title “Concealment Technique” hardly did it justice.

The Level 2 Realm master who created it had intended to use it to disguise himself as a Level 1 cultivator to avoid the deadly Three Disasters and Nine Tribulations that came with his level.

However, he ultimately failed in his attempt to deceive the heavens.

Even so, the technique was extraordinarily effective against other cultivators. When fully cultivated, Arius could mask his presence from anyone less than two or three great realms above him.

But mastering this Level 2-grade technique wouldn’t be easy. To restore and enhance the fragment using the Mirror of Celestial Insight, ordinary gold and silver would be far from sufficient.

“Let’s try with what little mundane gold and silver I have left,” Arius murmured with a sigh.

At the moment, his resources were practically exhausted.

Even the wealth he had amassed from the mortal world was dwindling rapidly.

The Mirror of Celestial Insight, while an extraordinary artifact, demanded vast amounts of resources to function.

Moreover, the mirror had a crucial limitation: resources enhanced by the mirror could not be re-used as input to further enhancements.

This safeguard made it impossible to infinitely recycle materials, forcing Arius to seek new sources of wealth and cultivation resources constantly.

With a deep breath, Arius laid out the fragment of the Concealment Technique before the mirror.

Though he had little hope of fully restoring it with his meager reserves of gold and silver, any progress would be worthwhile.

As the mirror activated, its surface shimmered with a faint, otherworldly light.

“Let’s see how far I can take this…” Arius muttered, his eyes resolute.

The journey ahead was still fraught with challenges, but Arius knew one thing for certain:

Every step forward was a step closer to survival, power, and understanding his ultimate path.

 

Chapter 53 Hidden Dragon in the Abyss, Carl’s Ambition

Gripping the Mirror of Celestial Insight, Arius activated its power, consuming a portion of his remaining mortal gold and silver. As the ethereal glow faded, the previously fragmented Concealment Technique underwent a miraculous transformation.

What was once a single-page fragment had now become a three-inch-thick book, its cover inscribed with five ancient characters: “Concealment Technique: Upper Volume.”

The Upper Volume of this technique was at level 2. When mastered, it enabled the practitioner to completely conceal their aura, appearance, voice, and cultivation level. Against most Level 5 cultivators and below, this technique could effectively render one invisible to their senses.

The Lower Volume, however, was truly extraordinary—a Level 4 technique. If perfected, it could deceive even those at the Level 5 stage or higher, making it nearly impossible for them to discern the practitioner’s true state.

The Level 4 cultivator who created this technique was undoubtedly a genius. He had designed the method to avoid the deadly Three Disasters and Nine Tribulations, hoping to outwit the heavens themselves. While his attempt ultimately failed, the technique’s efficacy against other cultivators was unparalleled.

Having upgraded the Concealment Technique, Arius carefully stowed it away. He chose not to begin practicing it immediately, as nearly a month had passed since he first departed for Tiddis City, and it was time to address the matter of the silver mine.

After deactivating the Three Talents Array that protected his courtyard, Arius opened the wooden gate and made his way to the De Molinos family’s main hall.

Now in the Level 1 Realm, Arius had developed spiritual sense, which allowed him to perceive everything within a radius of half a mile. Every blade of grass, grain of sand, and movement within this range was crystal clear to him.

As he approached the De Molinos family’s main hall, he noticed Simon sitting inside with a haggard expression, his brows furrowed in deep worry.

In Arius’s absence, the Blood Wolf Hall had fully occupied the silver mine just ten days after his departure. Not only that, but the hall had also seized control of the 200-mile radius surrounding Lunford Town.

Recently, emissaries from the Blood Wolf Hall had even attempted to extend their influence to Purple River City. While Simon had managed to stall them temporarily, he knew that the hall’s ambitions would not stop there.

The only reason the Blood Wolf Hall hadn’t outright taken Purple River City was because their focus was entirely on the lucrative silver mine. However, Simon was painfully aware that once the mine was nearly depleted in two or three months, the Blood Wolf Hall would turn its attention to the city.

Unlike the fractured and declining Song family, the Blood Wolf Hall was a unified force under the absolute control of its hall master. Even the three other Level 1 Realm elders within the hall dared not oppose his will.

“Such a calamity…” Simon muttered under his breath, his voice filled with exhaustion. “If we can’t overcome this crisis, the De Molinos family might have no choice but to retreat back to Lunford Town.”

He sighed deeply, his head in his hands. The more he thought about it, the more hopeless the situation seemed.

Fighting the Blood Wolf Hall was out of the question. The De Molinos family simply lacked the strength to oppose them. Unlike the Song family, the Blood Wolf Hall was a tightly-knit and ruthless organization.

Retreating to Lunford Town seemed like the only alternative, but even that was not a viable solution.

The De Molinos family’s finances were in shambles. Their coffers were so empty that they couldn’t even produce fifty taels of silver. The only reason they had managed to sustain themselves this far was due to the tax revenue from Purple River City and the surrounding villages and towns.

Returning to Lunford Town, with its modest resources, wouldn’t be enough to sustain the family’s growing numbers. Over the past six months, under Arius’s orders, the family had implemented an aggressive population growth strategy, doubling the number of newborns among their ranks.

Additionally, the De Molinos family had expanded its forces, raising an army of 10,000 armored guards and hiring numerous servants and laborers. Their rapid growth had turned them into an arrow shot toward the heavens—there was no turning back.

Simon massaged his temples, his mind racing to find a solution. Yet every avenue he explored seemed to lead to a dead end.

This was not just a challenge; it was a matter of survival for the entire De Molinos family.

At this moment, the doors to the main hall creaked open, and a steady, unhurried set of footsteps echoed through the room. Simon looked up to see Arius entering, his aura calm and composed, yet carrying a faint, indescribable pressure that hadn’t been there before.

“Ancestor…” Simon rose to his feet, his tone laced with a mixture of respect and desperation.

Without waiting for Simon to continue, Arius’s deep voice resounded through the hall:

“It seems the time has come for the De Molinos family to make a statement.”

Listening to De Molinos Carl’s impassioned speech, Simon’s weary expression softened slightly, though his skepticism remained. De Molinos Carl had always been a reclusive figure within the De Molinos family—quiet and withdrawn, with little involvement in family politics. His sudden entrance, armed with bold plans and a fiery determination, took the De Molinos family patriarch by surprise.

“Carl, your words are bold, and your observations are sharp,” Simon said, his tone measured. “But do you truly believe splitting the family will save us? Dividing our strength now, when we are already at our weakest, could spell disaster.”

De Molinos Carl’s eyes flashed with conviction. “Dividing strength isn’t failure, uncle—it’s survival. Our current strategy of consolidation only leaves us more vulnerable to the Blood Wolf Hall’s ambitions. You know as well as I do that the De Molinos family cannot endure a direct confrontation with them. The silver mine is merely the prelude to a far greater storm.”

Simon rubbed his temples, letting out a sigh. “And your plan to lead a portion of the family out into the world? It’s not that I doubt your resolve, but this is a dangerous gamble. The world beyond these lands is even crueler than the Blood Wolf Hall’s grasp.”

“I understand the risks,” De Molinos Carl replied evenly, his voice unwavering. “But I also understand the rewards. By venturing outward, we have the opportunity to establish alliances, gain resources, and perhaps even carve out a safe haven for the De Molinos family elsewhere. The current political climate in the Aragon Kingdom is a powder keg waiting to ignite. If we position ourselves correctly, we can emerge stronger from the chaos.”

Simon studied his nephew carefully. For a moment, the room fell silent, save for the faint rustle of leaves outside the hall. The weight of the De Molinos family’s fate hung heavily in the air.

Finally, Simon spoke. “Carl, if I were to permit you to take a contingent of the family’s people and resources, do you have any specific goals in mind? Where will you go? What resources will you seek?”

De Molinos Carl smiled faintly, the hint of a calculated plan glimmering in his eyes. “The central territories of the Aragon Kingdom. The ancient clans and sects there may be embroiled in their power struggles, but that chaos provides opportunities. If we play our cards right, we could forge alliances, earn favors, or even find refuge under a greater power.”

“And if you fail?” Simon asked pointedly.

“If I fail,” De Molinos Carl said, his voice steady, “then let my life be the cost of my ambition. But at least my failure won’t doom the entire De Molinos family.”

Before Simon could respond, steady footsteps echoed through the hall, cutting through the heavy tension. Both men turned toward the source of the sound to see Arius entering, his posture upright and his aura commanding. The pressure of his newfound Level 1 Realm cultivation filled the room, making both Simon and De Molinos Carl straighten reflexively.

“Ancestor,” Simon said, bowing deeply.

De Molinos Carl followed suit, his expression a mix of reverence and surprise. He had heard rumors of Arius’s strength but hadn’t expected such an overwhelming presence.

Arius’s sharp gaze swept over the two men. “It seems the De Molinos family has reached a crossroads,” he said calmly, his voice carrying an undeniable authority. “Simon, Carl, both of you have keen insights. But before we act, allow me to make one thing clear: The De Molinos family will not retreat to Lunford Town.”

Simon blinked in surprise. “Ancestor, do you mean—?”

“I mean we fight,” Arius interrupted, his tone resolute. “The Blood Wolf Hall’s ambitions are clear, and they will not stop until they’ve consumed everything. Yielding to them is not survival—it’s a slow death. But if we strike decisively, we can carve out a future for the De Molinos family.”

De Molinos Carl’s eyes lit up with approval. “And how do you propose we fight back, Ancestor? The Blood Wolf Hall has resources, numbers, and their leader is nearing Level 1 Perfection. Even with your strength, this is a steep mountain to climb.”

Arius’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Carl, you mentioned dividing the family to hedge our bets. I don’t disagree. But we won’t scatter like frightened animals—we’ll expand strategically.”

He turned to Simon. “Gather the elders and senior members. The De Molinos family will fortify its position here in Purple River City. We will not only reclaim the silver mine but establish our dominance over this region. Let the Blood Wolf Hall come. If they seek to test our strength, I will ensure they remember the De Molinos family.”

Turning to Carl, Arius added, “And you—your vision of venturing into the central territories has merit. Take a small contingent of trustworthy guards and ambitious young members of the family. Use this as an opportunity to build alliances, gather intelligence, and secure resources for the De Molinos family’s future. But remember, your success depends on your discretion. Don’t overextend, and don’t reveal too much about the family’s plans.”

Carl’s chest swelled with pride. “Understood, Ancestor. I will not disappoint you.”

As the meeting concluded, Arius’s orders set the family into motion. The elders and officers were summoned, preparations began for reinforcing Purple River City, and plans were laid for Carl’s expedition.

For the first time in weeks, a sense of purpose and unity swept through the De Molinos family. Under Arius’s leadership, they would face the coming storm—not as prey, but as a force to be reckoned with.

The Blood Wolf Hall had drawn first blood. Now, it was time for the De Molinos family to retaliate.

 

Chapter 54: Eve of Unrest, Protector of the Palace

Simon did not immediately respond to Carl’s proposal. As he deliberated on whether to agree, a voice, aged yet powerful, suddenly echoed from outside the De Molinos family’s main hall.

“Well said!”

“To strive, to dare—that is the spirit the younger generation of the De Molinos family should possess.”

“I grant your request.”

“However, our De Molinos family currently lacks wealth and provisions. The support we can provide you is extremely limited…”

“You claim you can rally the clansmen, the armored guards, and even the household servants to follow you? Then go forth and carve your own path!”

The speaker was none other than Arius.

As the figure in a flowing gray robe with silver hair cascading down his back stepped into view, both Carl and Simon felt a jolt in their hearts. Without hesitation, they quickly cupped their hands in salute.

“Greetings, Ancestor!”

“Greetings, Ancestor!”

Seeing their tense expressions, Arius waved a sleeve casually, his face carrying an air of ease.

“We are family—no need for such formality.”

His gaze then fell upon Carl, whose appearance was ordinary but whose eyes revealed unwavering resolve.

“You have ambition and foresight. That brings me comfort.”

“But before you embark on this path, I must remind you—venturing into the outside world is bound to be fraught with hardships and peril.”

“Even a mere mortal like yourself? No. Even cultivators of insufficient strength often meet their demise while attempting such endeavors.”

“Are you truly prepared?”

“To carve a name for yourself, mere passion is far from enough.”

Faced with Arius’s pointed question, Carl slowly raised his head. There was not the slightest hint of retreat in his heart.

With unwavering determination, he respectfully responded, “Ancestor, I, Carl De Molinos, am willing to expand our territory and bring glory to the De Molinos family.”

“This journey—I shall embark on without regret, even in death.”

Hearing these words, Arius nodded slightly, his voice calm as he spoke.

“Since that is your resolve, then go.”

“Remember, there are some things in life that cannot be forced.”

“If the situation becomes untenable, know that the gates of the family will always remain open to you.”

“The De Molinos family will always be your shield, always your safe harbor.”

Carl felt a subtle tremor in his heart.

Yes. No matter how perilous the road ahead, no matter how treacherous the journey—his family, his clansmen, and his ancestor would always stand behind him.

In this moment, his resolve solidified. In this great era, he would carve a name that resounded far and wide!

And when he returned home, it would be in triumph, bringing honor to his family name!

Silently, he swore this oath to himself.

With Arius’s approval secured, he did not linger in the De Molinos family’s main hall. Without delay, he ventured into Zichuan City, seeking to persuade his clansmen, retainers, and household servants to follow him—to set forth into the world, to establish his legacy!

After Carl’s departure, Arius slowly settled into a wooden chair, his gaze turning toward Simon.

“Changge…”

“Tell me in detail about the situation regarding the Silver Mine and the Blood Wolf Hall since my absence.”

His tone was calm, indifferent.

Although he had already prepared to take action against Blood Wolf Hall, he needed to fully grasp the current state of affairs first.

“Ancestor, after your departure, not only the Silver Mine but the entire territory surrounding Lunford Town has fallen into the hands of Blood Wolf Hall.”

“Our De Molinos family’s sphere of influence has now been reduced to a mere three hundred miles…”

“But Blood Wolf Hall’s ambition extends beyond just a single Silver Mine.”

A bitter expression crossed Simon’s face as he recounted everything that had transpired in Arius’s absence.

“So, the Aragon Kingdom truly is descending into chaos…”

After hearing the report, Arius slowly lifted the teapot from the wooden table and poured himself a cup of tea.

Simon nodded slightly at Arius’s words, his expression respectful as he responded, “The Ancestor speaks the truth.”

“The chaos in the Aragon Kingdom began years ago.”

“In the past, it wasn’t so obvious.”

“But in recent years, the Song Clan, Blood Wolf Hall… those with even a shred of foundation have been desperately expanding their influence.”

“Just as that child Carl said—the royal family of Aragon is in decline, and the great sects and noble houses have carved the land among themselves!”

“And now, with the demonic factions lying dormant, no formidable enemy looms overhead. That means the remaining forces… are destined to war among themselves.”

“If the royal family of Aragon were strong enough, they could suppress all internal turmoil.”

“But alas, the Three Prefectures and Seventy-Two Counties—half are controlled by the great sects and noble houses, while the other half are under the dominion of the Eight Kings!”

“The only force that could maintain balance, the Aragon Emperor himself, has not been seen nor heard from since he declared seclusion four hundred years ago.”

“I fear… he may have long since perished.”

“And the moment his death is confirmed… that will be the day the entire Aragon Kingdom is thrown into true upheaval.”

“The instability isn’t just within the kingdom. Beyond its borders… the supreme sects and ancient noble houses have already begun their hidden struggles.”

Simon’s brows furrowed deeper as he spoke, an ever-growing sense of dread gripping his heart.

Once the storm of chaos erupted, the arrival of an era of strife would be a calamity for most factions—and an unthinkable nightmare for ordinary people.

Those who spoke of ‘great heroes rising in times of turmoil’ or ‘troubled times birthing legends’… they were merely indulging in naïve fantasies!

Throughout the vast annals of history, every age of turmoil had seen countless lives extinguished, countless small factions utterly erased.

Great heroes and legendary figures? How many of them truly existed? When chaos descended, the fate of most beings was not one of heroism—it was that of mere cannon fodder.

The stories of those who rose from the ashes of strife belonged to the rarest of the rare—the infinitesimal fraction of the fortunate.

For the common folk, there was only despair and endless wailing.

Arius let out a quiet hum before speaking again.

“The rest… you need not concern yourself with.”

“From now on, focus only on the affairs within our De Molinos family. As for the outside world… I shall be the one to face it.”

His words had barely fallen when, in the distance, two streaks of light shot toward Zichuan City like blazing meteors!

One man and one woman. Judging by their appearances, they seemed to be in their early thirties.

The man wore a pale cyan Daoist robe, a whisk-like magical artifact in his hand, standing atop a pitch-black flying sword.

The woman was an intoxicating beauty, appearing around thirty-five yet still brimming with allure. Dressed in a sheer crimson robe, a long smoking pipe held lazily between her fingers, she lay sprawled across a floating disk with an air of utter indifference.

Both were cultivators at the Level 1 early stage!

As they neared Zichuan City, the seductive woman suddenly spoke, her voice languid yet laced with cruelty.

“Blood Wolf Hall is taking Zichuan City, yet the De Molinos family had the audacity to resist?”

“A mere insignificant clan, ignorant of its own insignificance. The De Molinos family’s members will do just fine.”

She let out a soft, eerie chuckle before exhaling a tendril of smoke.

“I also heard that the De Molinos family’s old ancestor, after being driven out of Albigensians Sect, experienced a meteoric rise in power and even reached the Organ Tempering stage…”

“He must be hiding some secrets.”

“When the time comes, I’ll take him alive and put him through a little… persuasion.”

As she spoke, her crimson tongue flicked out, licking her cherry-red lips.

“If he cooperates, I’ll grant him a pleasant death. If not… hehe…”

The woman giggled softly, her laughter carrying a twisted, maddening undertone.

Her face was adorned with a bewitching smile, as radiant and alluring as a fully bloomed rose.

Yet beneath her every word and movement lurked an unmistakable bloodlust and merciless cruelty.

She and her male companion—both were enforcers of Blood Wolf Hall, cultivators of the Level 1 realm.

 

Chapter 55: Soul Refining Banner, Lady in Red

“Junior Sister, you should restrain yourself…”

“Purple River City holds a population of over a hundred thousand—it is not some remote village or forgotten ancient town.”

“A village or a small town… even if you were to slaughter them all, Albigensians Sect would hardly care.”

“But if you massacre an entire city, Albigensians Sect will not stand idly by!”

The man in the pale cyan Daoist robe, standing upon his black flying sword, furrowed his brows as he gazed at the enchanting yet deranged woman before him.

That woman—Madam Scarlet Powder.

Despite her beauty, she had already razed multiple villages and ancient towns to the ground, leaving nothing but blood and bones in her wake.

She had not cultivated any demonic techniques, yet her actions were even more frenzied than those of true demonic cultivators.

If not for her entanglements with multiple Albigensians Sect deacons, she would have long since been purged.

“Hehehe… Don’t worry, Senior Brother. I know my limits.”

“I won’t slaughter the entire city—only the De Molinos family.”

She reassured him with a sultry voice, her lips curling into a playful smile.

As she spoke, a bloodstained Soul Refining Banner drifted from her fingertips, slowly unfurling in the air.

The banner’s surface was engraved with eerie, twisted scriptures, and within those sinister glyphs, countless tormented human faces writhed in agony.

If one listened closely, they could even hear the faint echoes of chilling wails—curses and cries of despair, eternally trapped within.

This was a demonic artifact.

To refine this banner, Madam Scarlet Powder had already sacrificed hundreds of thousands of mortal souls…

The man in cyan robes tensed at the sight of the banner, his brows furrowing further—but in the end, he said nothing.

The slaughter of the De Molinos family’s twenty to thirty thousand clansmen was insignificant. With the backing of Blood Wolf Hall and Madam Scarlet Powder’s Albigensians Sect connections, even if word leaked, the consequences would be negligible.

In this world, might makes right.

The Aragon Kingdom prided itself on being a land of righteousness. The Albigensians Sect proclaimed grand ideals of “Heavenly Justice” and “Eradicating Evil”. But those were just hollow words, spoken for the sake of the common folk.

Righteousness and wickedness? They were merely different expressions of power and ambition.

Of course, for most mortals, life under the so-called righteous factions was still far better than falling under the rule of the demonic sects.

Demonic cultivators herded mortals like livestock, treating them as nothing more than cattle and swine. Meanwhile, righteous sects—at least in name—offered some degree of protection.

Especially during the era of the Aragon Emperor. While he ruled, even a Level 2 cultivator dared not indiscriminately slaughter mortals, for fear of violating the kingdom’s laws.

Woooooo…

At this moment, the Soul Refining Banner drifted over the De Molinos family’s estate within Purple River City, casting its ominous shadow upon the land.

This demonic artifact—though not quite at the Level 2 level—had a range of over a mile.

It wasn’t enough to slaughter the entire De Molinos clan, but Madam Scarlet Powder was unbothered.

She preferred to take her time.

She relished the slow death—the gradual torment—the symphony of screams.

As the Soul Refining Banner fully activated, a chorus of wailing cries rang across Purple River City.

Within the swirling folds of the banner, one by one, ferocious, bloodthirsty wraiths emerged—twisted, spectral figures baring their fangs and claws!

Seeing these vengeful spirits, the De Molinos family’s clansmen fell into sheer terror.

In truth, most of these spirits were weak, but against ordinary mortals—even against trained martial artists—they were unstoppable nightmares.

“W-What is that!?”

“No… stay away from me!”

Within the banner’s range, countless De Molinos clansmen were seized and devoured by the spectral entities, their bodies ripped apart by unseen hands.

“ROAR!!”

Just then, a deafening beastly roar split the air!

From the depths of the De Molinos estate, a massive black tiger leaped forth, its fur bristling with raw power.

At a glance, the creature was now no larger than a house cat.

But the aura it exuded… was that of a primordial beast, a force of unstoppable might!

Its Body Tempering – Skin Tempering Mid Stage cultivation was evident.

And as a tiger demon beast, it naturally held innate dominance over creatures like these vengeful spirits!

Even though its cultivation was only at the Skin Tempering Mid Stage, the sheer force of its roar shook the very air.

Some of the strongest spirits, even those at the peak of the Skin Tempering Stage, trembled in its presence.

Within the De Molinos family’s main hall in Purple River City, Arius sensed the upheaval within the clan and the approach of two Level 1 realm auras. Without hesitation, his body transformed into a brilliant streak of light, shooting toward the area enveloped by the Soul Refining Banner.

Sssss!

Arius didn’t attack the vengeful spirits directly. Instead, he conjured a searing fireball and hurled it at the Soul Refining Banner hovering in midair!

As the blazing fireball soared upward, it was like a miniature sun rising—banishing the chill from the heavens and the earth. Though it was night, Purple River City was bathed in a brilliance as bright as daylight.

“The Ancestor!”

“The Ancestor has taken action!!”

Seeing Arius’s figure, the previously panicked De Molinos clansmen suddenly felt a surge of relief, as though they had taken a stabilizing pill.

Thanks to the swift intervention of Arius and the ferocious black tiger, Heishan, the De Molinos family’s losses were minimal—only a few buildings damaged, and just two or three unfortunate souls perished.

The fireball struck the Soul Refining Banner, instantly disrupting its blood-sacrifice ritual!

Had Madam Scarlet Powder been fully controlling this near Level 2-grade demonic artifact, disrupting the ritual wouldn’t have been so easy…

But she never anticipated that Arius had ascended to the Level 1 realm!!

“Crimson Flame: Heaven-Searing Inferno!”

With the ritual interrupted, Arius didn’t relent! Instead, he drew deeper on his inner reserves, channeling his mana to conjure an even more terrifying fire-element spell!

Boom! Boom!

A fireball, the size of a human head and dazzlingly radiant, coalesced in Arius’s palm!

“Go!”

With a flick of his mind, the fireball shot skyward, detonating in a massive conflagration around the Soul Refining Banner.

Accompanied by a thunderous explosion, flames consumed the sky, a burning sea of fire stretching dozens of meters high! It was as if Arius truly intended to set the heavens ablaze!

The consecutive assaults marred the surface of the Soul Refining Banner, leaving it scarred.

Although Madam Scarlet Powder’s artifact was close to Level 2 level, its defense was not its strong suit.

After all, it was fundamentally a ranged area attack-type treasure! In terms of pure defense, it was inferior even to lower-grade Level 1 swords or sabers.

“Ugh…”

Above Purple River City, as her natal artifact, the Soul Refining Banner, was damaged, Madam Scarlet Powder also suffered a backlash—blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, her aura weakening by a third…

A cultivator’s natal artifact was linked to their mind and spirit, so damage to the artifact also meant harm to its master.

“A Level 1 cultivator… The De Molinos family actually has a Level 1 cultivator!!”

Madam Scarlet Powder’s face was full of disbelief.

Seeing her artifact damaged, the man in the pale cyan Daoist robe beside her furrowed his brow even deeper.

Without a word, he began to quietly withdraw.

His instincts screamed at him—this Purple River City was no place for them to trifle with!

 

Chapter 56 If you don’t abandon me, I will take you as my master.

“Blood Wolf Hall?”

“You’ve come at just the right time…”

Arius’s divine sense locked onto Madam Scarlet Powder and the man in the cyan robe, his voice indifferent, his expression calm.

These two enforcers of Blood Wolf Hall were merely early-stage Level 1 cultivators. Even without relying on his Five-Thunder Talisman Treasure, Arius was confident he could face them in battle!

The Crimson Flame Dao Scripture he cultivated was, after all, a technique created by an Immortal! By using it to break through to the Level 1 Realm, Arius’s foundation and cultivation depth far exceeded that of ordinary cultivators at the same level.

However, to eliminate any risk, Arius immediately activated a Five-Thunder Talisman Treasure.

Against unknown opponents of equal realm, the safest strategy was always to strike with full force before they could react!

To seize the initiative was to seize victory.

BOOM!

Just as Madam Scarlet Powder was still reeling from her shock at the De Molinos family having a Level 1 cultivator, five brilliant streaks of heavenly lightning suddenly tore through the sky!

Each bolt was as thick as a mountain, its divine radiance shaking the very fabric of space itself…

CRACKLE!!

The thunder descended.

Madam Scarlet Powder had no time to react—nor the ability to evade.

Her pupils widened in terror, her crimson lips parted as though she wanted to beg for mercy…

But in the end, she made no sound.

Beneath the blinding radiance of Fivefold Divine Thunder, her body was instantly reduced to charred remains, then completely disintegrated into ash, scattering across Purple River City like melting snowflakes.

“Gulp… Gulp…”

The man in the pale cyan Daoist robe trembled violently, swallowing mouthfuls of air in sheer terror.

Had he not quietly retreated behind Madam Scarlet Powder just moments ago, those five divine bolts of lightning would have been aimed at him instead!

But now, Madam Scarlet Powder was dead.

Which meant… he was next.

He watched as Arius retrieved her storage bag and the Soul Refining Banner, then turned his gaze toward him.

The man did not flee.

He knew all too well… just how terrifying talisman treasures could be.

Forget that he was only an early-stage Level 1 cultivator—even if he were at peak-stage Level 1, without a top-tier artifact or a protective treasure, he would still be doomed against someone wielding such powerful talismans.

Seeing Arius prepare to strike again, sweat beaded across the man’s forehead.

After a brief but intense internal struggle, he made a decision—one that would defy the orders of his Hall Master.

THUD!!

The man leapt off his flying sword and knelt before Arius, bowing his head in deep submission.

“Senior, spare my life!”

“If Senior is willing, this lowly one— Goat Child —is willing to serve as your subordinate!!”

As he spoke, to demonstrate his sincerity, he decisively threw all of his treasures, artifacts, and storage bags before Arius!

Casting away all of his possessions meant that his life now rested entirely in Arius’s hands.

His instincts screamed at him—this was his only path to survival.

If he chose to run, or if he pretended to submit only to strike later, then his fate was sealed—he would be utterly annihilated.

“Please, Senior, have mercy! From this day forth, I, Goat Child, swear to serve you with unwavering loyalty—even if it means braving fire and death!”

“I am willing to swear an oath upon the Heavenly Dao!!”

“Senior may even plant a Soul Seal within my divine consciousness!”

The cyan-robed cultivator, Goat Child, prostrated himself on the ground, bowing repeatedly, his forehead slamming into the dirt in desperation.

A fellow Level 1 cultivator, now groveling like a mere mortal, discarding all dignity and pride.

Under normal circumstances, one would only refer to someone as Senior if they were at least an entire major realm above them.

But in this moment, dignity meant nothing.

Survival was everything.

Goat Child had spent over a hundred years cultivating, clawing his way step by step to early-stage Level 1—he had barely begun to enjoy the fruits of his labor.

He did not want to die.

As for betraying Blood Wolf Hall?

He no longer cared.

Betraying Blood Wolf Hall would undoubtedly put a death mark on his back.
The Hall Master would hunt him to the ends of the earth.

But that was a problem for the future.

Right now, all that mattered was surviving. What use was worrying about the storm to come, if he couldn’t make it past today?

“Senior… no, Master!”

“Master, please don’t kill me!”

“I still have value! I can serve you!”

Goat Child trembled violently, his body wracked with fear.

Moments ago, he had considered invoking the name of Blood Wolf Hall to intimidate Arius…

But then he recalled how Arius had killed Madam Scarlet Powder without even blinking.

This man was clearly a lunatic.

In the hands of such a madman, what use was dropping the name of Blood Wolf Hall?
Even if he shouted the name of Albigensians Sect itself, Arius probably wouldn’t care.

And even if Blood Wolf Hall was powerful, so what?

Arius was a Level 1 cultivator in his own right, and he wielded a Level 2-grade talisman treasure!

If it came down to an all-out battle, even if Blood Wolf Hall emptied its forces, they might not come out on top.

Arius studied Goat Child coldly, one hand gripping the Five-Thunder Talisman Treasure, the other pressing against the man’s head.

Feeling the heat from Arius’s palm, Goat Child’s terror reached its peak.

“Release your divine sense.”

Just as he teetered on the verge of panic-driven flight, Arius’s voice rang out once more.

Goat Child’s eyes lit up.

In that instant, he even felt his breathing relax.

Surrendering his divine sense and becoming a slave—that would strip him of his freedom.
But losing freedom was far better than losing his life.

In the face of life and death, those who chose death either had an unwavering faith or an unshakable conviction.

Goat Child had faith, too—but his faith was in survival at all costs.

Before stepping onto the path of cultivation, he had known only poverty and suffering, scraping through life like a rat in the gutters.

Now that he had power and status, he feared death more than anything.

Beauty, power, wealth… he had yet to enjoy any of it to the fullest.

If he pledged loyalty to Arius, even if it meant becoming a slave, he could still live comfortably, reaping the pleasures of the mortal world.

With this thought, he fully convinced himself.

Goat Child opened his divine sense, allowing Arius to imprint a Slave Seal onto his soul.

The moment the Slave Seal took hold, he felt an invisible chain lock around his very existence.

With this seal in place, Arius could end his life at will, subjecting him to eternal torment if he so desired.

The only way to remove this seal was for Arius to erase it himself…
Or for a cultivator at least an entire major realm above Arius to forcibly break it.

And as Arius’s cultivation grew, so too would the strength of the seal.

If Arius succeeded in reaching Level 2, only a Level 4 cultivator would be able to break it.

Even now, Goat Child would need a Level 2 cultivator to erase the seal—
And not even Blood Wolf Hall’s Hall Master could summon such a person.

Level 2 cultivators were exalted figures in Pyrenees Mountain Prefecture.
They rarely left their seclusion, and their movements shook entire regions.

After securing the Slave Seal, Arius forced Goat Child to swear a Heavenly Dao Oath.

Unlike the Slave Seal, the Heavenly Dao Oath was bound to the very laws of the world itself.

If one swore upon the Heavenly Dao and later broke that oath, the punishment was absolute—
The Heavenly Dao would erase them from existence.

However, such oaths only held weight for Level 2 cultivators and above.

For now, the oath meant little.

But if Goat Child ever reached Level 2, the oath would activate in full.

Even if he somehow managed to find a way to erase the Slave Seal, the oath would ensure he never dared break through past Level 2.

This was the final layer of insurance.

Had the De Molinos family possessed more cultivators, Arius would never have considered keeping Goat Child alive.

But he had no choice.

Ever since returning to the family and overseeing its expansion, every major task had fallen onto his own shoulders.

This could not continue.

As the Ancestor, his greatest duty was to remain in the shadows, silently amassing power and nurturing the family’s growth.

With the Treasure-Mirror of Celestial Appraisal in his possession, he had to be even more cautious.

The further he advanced, the more he needed to conceal himself.

If he exposed himself too frequently, if his rapid progress became known, it could draw the attention of greater powers—
And that was a risk he could not afford.

 

Chapter 57: Sends out cannon fodder to explore the way

As Arius slaughtered Madam Scarlet Powder and enslaved Goat Child, deep within Blood Wolf Hall, a darkened pagoda stood—its interior illuminated by four ever-burning soul lamps.

Suddenly, one of the lamps flickered and extinguished.

The disciple guarding the pagoda stiffened, his face draining of color.

These four soul lamps belonged to the four Level 1 cultivators of Blood Wolf Hall—a safeguard ensuring their continued survival.

A soul lamp extinguished meant only one thing—one of them had perished.

“Disaster… This is a disaster!!”

For a long moment, the disciple simply stared at the darkened lamp, unable to process what had just happened.

Then, his survival instincts kicked in.

A Level 1 cultivator had fallen—this was an earth-shattering event for Blood Wolf Hall!

Without daring to waste another second, the disciple stumbled out of the pagoda, nearly tripping over himself as he bolted toward the main hall of Blood Wolf Hall.

As the dominant force within a thousand-mile radius, the main hall of Blood Wolf Hall was an opulent, grand structure.

It spanned dozens of miles, its walls and rooftops inlaid with priceless jewels and jade.

When bathed in moonlight, the entire palace-like structure shimmered like a celestial fortress, an ostentatious display of wealth and power.

The Blood Wolf Hall Master was a man who indulged in extravagance.

During the hall’s construction, he had enslaved over a hundred thousand mortals, forcing them to labor for three years to complete the fortress.

By the time the main hall was completed, over ten thousand of those mortals had perished—either from exhaustion, accidents, or sheer cruelty.

The grand hall was built atop countless corpses, its foundation soaked in the blood of the innocent.

Normally, only the four Level 1 cultivators of Blood Wolf Hall were allowed to reside and train within the palace’s sacred halls.

Unlike great sects like Albigensians Sect, smaller factions such as Blood Wolf Hall placed extreme importance on status and spectacle.

This was evident in the inner sanctum of the main hall, where at any given moment, hundreds of attendants and concubines were present.

Even the Blood Wolf Hall Elders, those at Organ Tempering Realm, had to request an audience before meeting any of the Level 1 enforcers.

“The Grand Enforcer has granted you an audience.”

Outside the grand hall, the disciple was forced to wait for half a day before finally being allowed entry.

At the moment, the Hall Master was in seclusion, attempting a breakthrough to peak-stage Level 1.

Thus, all affairs of Blood Wolf Hall were being handled by the Grand Enforcer.

The Grand Enforcer of Blood Wolf Hall was a mid-stage Level 1 cultivator known as Venomous Sage.

His expertise lay in controlling venomous insects, making him so formidable that he could even contend with late-stage Level 1 cultivators in battle.

Yet, despite his strength, his title was laughable—

In the cultivation world of Aragon Kingdom, only Level 4 cultivators and above had the right to call themselves Sages or True Immortals.

Even Golden Core cultivators hesitated to use such titles.

Yet Venomous Sage, a mere mid-stage Level 1 cultivator, dared to style himself as a “Sage”.

Inside the Blood Wolf Hall’s Inner Sanctum…

Seated on an ornate prayer mat, Venomous Sage exuded an air of calm arrogance.

His jet-black hair cascaded naturally over his shoulders, and he wore a loose, flowing Daoist robe.

A ceremonial whisk rested in his hand, completing the illusion of an elegant, refined cultivator.

At a glance, one might mistake him for an ascetic sage, a figure of wisdom and restraint.

But the truth was far more vile.

Nestled in his arms was a stunning young maiden, and around him stood numerous concubines and servants—each one beautiful, each one terrified.

All around the lavish hall, mortal musicians played soft, enchanting melodies, their trembling fingers betraying their fear.

None of the attendants dared to show even a flicker of emotion.

To serve Venomous Sage meant living in perpetual terror.

At any moment, he might throw one of them into a pit of venomous insects for his own amusement.

Despite their horror, they forced smiles onto their faces, knowing that even the slightest display of fear could mean instant death.

For Venomous Sage was unpredictable—one moment charming and composed, the next, a ruthless butcher.

He had made it clear that he despised attendants with “unstable emotions.”

And so, they smiled.

Even as their hearts screamed.

As Venomous Sage addressed the kneeling disciple, his voice was calm, unhurried.

“To stand before this Sage… what matter compels you?”

The disciple, despite his fear, managed to steady himself.

After all, he was a cultivator—a warrior of Blood Wolf Hall!

He was at the Peak of Blood Tempering Realm, a step away from Bone Tempering.

And while Venomous Sage was cruel, he rarely killed fellow cultivators without reason.

In Blood Wolf Hall, those who possessed even the lowest levels of cultivation still held a degree of status.

Even the weakest Skin Tempering cultivator could lord over mortals, treating them as little more than livestock.

This was the difference between a great sect and a minor faction.

In Albigensians Sect, mortals were forbidden from entering the sect’s core areas—only disciples of cultivation lineage could set foot there.

But in Blood Wolf Hall, mortals were nothing but tools, their lives meant to serve the whims of their cultivator overlords.

The disciple swallowed hard, knowing that his next words could determine his fate.

Even in Albigensians Sect, Level 1 enforcers were accompanied by at most two Daoist attendants—
And even then, those attendants were cultivators themselves.

By contrast, Blood Wolf Hall treated mortal servants as nothing more than tools.

“Reporting to the Grand Enforcer…”

“The Third Enforcer’s Soul Lamp has extinguished.”

The disciple knelt on the ground, his voice trembling as he delivered the news.

Venomous Sage—who had been reclining comfortably on his prayer mat—suddenly shot upright.

“What did you say!?”

“Madam Scarlet Powder’s Soul Lamp… extinguished!?”

“Wasn’t she stationed at Lunford Town alongside Goat Child, overseeing the Silver Mine?”

“There are no other known Level 1 cultivators within ten thousand miles of our territory… How could she have perished!?”

A deep scowl formed on Venomous Sage’s face.

The death of a Level 1 cultivator was a crippling blow to Blood Wolf Hall.

“What exactly happened?”

“Could this be the work of the Song Clan?”

Muttering to himself, Venomous Sage’s gaze turned cold as he considered the possibility.

Within their territorial domain, only the Song Clan possessed the strength to challenge Blood Wolf Hall.

Though the Song Clan had been fractured by internal conflicts and was steadily declining, its ancient foundation remained intact.

For them to possess a hidden trump card capable of killing an early-stage Level 1 cultivator was not beyond reason.

However—

The Song Clan’s infighting made it unlikely that they would use such a trump card.
Even if they had the means, each faction within the clan would hoard it for themselves, refusing to waste it on outside conflicts.

Had the Song Clan been unified, their power would never have waned.

The current Song Clan Patriarch harbored ambitions of revival, yet his influence was insufficient to truly reverse their decline.

“No. The chances of the Song Clan being responsible… are low.”

Despite the shocking loss of Madam Scarlet Powder, Venomous Sage did not react in anger, nor did he recklessly rush to Lunford Town for answers.

Whoever had slain a Level 1 cultivator… was a threat.

Even if he traveled there personally and uncovered the truth, there was a real risk that he could end up dead as well.

And that, above all, was unacceptable.

After a moment of careful thought, Venomous Sage made his decision—

He would dispatch two Organ Tempering Elders to Lunford Town to investigate.

To him, his own safety took absolute priority.

The safest course of action… was to send lesser men to die in his place.

If the Organ Tempering Elders returned with useful information, it would be beneficial.

If they discovered nothing—or worse, if they were killed during the investigation…

It hardly mattered.

Blood Wolf Hall cultivated these Body Tempering warriors for one reason alone—
To serve as expendable pawns in times of crisis.

 

Chapter 58 Seizing the Silver Mine, the Youth’s Passion

Meanwhile, in Purple River City, within the De Molinos family’s estate—

Having become Arius’s slave, Goat Child quickly adjusted to his new role.

He stood submissively behind Arius, his posture humble and sycophantic, like a loyal lapdog.

“Master, since you have slain ‘Madam Scarlet Powder,’ Blood Wolf Hall will never let this go.”

“Currently, there are still two Level 1 cultivators remaining in Blood Wolf Hall!”

“The most dangerous of them is the Hall Master himself! However, he is currently in seclusion, attempting to break through to the peak-stage of Level 1. For now, he cannot interfere with outside affairs.”

“The other is Blood Wolf Hall’s Grand Enforcer—Venomous Sage.”

“Venomous Sage is a mid-stage Level 1 cultivator, renowned for his mastery over venomous insects. In a life-or-death battle, even ordinary mid-stage Level 1 cultivators are no match for him.”

As he spoke, a trace of anxiety flickered in Goat Child’s eyes.

His betrayal of Blood Wolf Hall—once exposed—would undoubtedly mark him for death.

For any faction, the defection of a high-ranking member was an unforgivable sin.

“Master, before Blood Wolf Hall learns of my defection…”

“Why not let me return and embed myself beside Venomous Sage and the Hall Master?”

“This way, I can provide you with continuous intelligence on Blood Wolf Hall’s movements. And if an opportunity presents itself… perhaps we could work together to ambush and eliminate another Level 1 cultivator!”

Goat Child’s eyes gleamed ruthlessly as he voiced his proposal.

He had no path of retreat anymore—his only choice was to follow Arius to the bitter end.

Though Blood Wolf Hall possessed deep foundations, after witnessing the terrifying power of Arius’s Five-Thunder Talisman Treasure, Goat Child had developed unwavering faith—not only in Arius but in the future of the De Molinos family itself.

If planned correctly, Blood Wolf Hall could be overthrown, and the De Molinos family could rise in its place, becoming the new dominant force in the region!

And when that day came—

As one of the only two Level 1 cultivators in the De Molinos family, his status and power would reach heights beyond imagination.

Hearing Goat Child’s proposal, Arius pondered for a moment.

Then, he took out an empty storage ring and a long sword, tossing them to Goat Child.

“Go.”

“If you prove your worth, I will grant you the title of Guest Elder within the De Molinos family.”

Arius’s calm voice carried an unshakable authority.

Goat Child’s eyes lit up instantly!

Being granted the title of Guest Elder—though it would not free him from the Slave Seal—meant that, at least in public, no one would know he was merely a servant.

It was a chance to reclaim some of his lost dignity and status.

With his mission clear, Goat Child immediately departed.

After Goat Child left, Arius summoned the Three-Talents Formation Flags, preparing to test his ability to fly.

Flight through artifact control—a hallmark of Level 1 cultivators.

As mana surged into the formation flags, a dazzling aura of golden, wood, and fire elements enveloped Arius’s body.

The three elemental forces intertwined, forming a foundation beneath his feet, lifting him into the sky as he soared toward Lunford Town.

“Changge…”

“Gather the clansmen. Prepare to march with me and reclaim the Silver Mine.”

Arius’s voice echoed across a hundred miles, resonating through the land like the decree of an emperor.

As they gazed upon Arius standing amidst the celestial radiance, Simon and the De Molinos family’s clansmen were left utterly shaken.

“The Ancestor has stepped into Level 1 Realm!”

Though Simon was only a mortal, he was well aware of the hierarchy of cultivation realms.

Artifact flight—this was the unmistakable mark of a Level 1 cultivator!

“Huaaa!!”

A great commotion erupted as Simon began assembling the De Molinos family’s elite guards.

With their Ancestor now in the Level 1 Realm, they no longer feared Blood Wolf Hall—for the first time, they had true confidence in battle!

In a distant corner, Carl clenched his fists tightly, staring at Arius’s soaring figure.

Just moments ago, had the Ancestor not intervened, he would have been slain by the vengeful spirits.

Now, he swore to himself—

One day, he too would reach such heights.

One day, he would wield true power.

One day, he would carve his own legend in this chaotic world!

At that moment, Carl made a decision.

No matter the cost—he would defy fate and carve his own path to immortality!

It was true—mortals without spiritual roots were generally barred from the path of cultivation.

But history had proven…

It was not impossible.

The Confucian Daoists of old and the ancient Body Refiners had once defied this limitation!

However, the path of Confucian Daoism required not just wisdom, but profound literary talent, a soul of boundless ambition, and the will to shape the heavens themselves.

Throughout history, though Confucian cultivators had appeared, only a handful had ever reached the Golden Core Realm.

As for Body Refiners—their path was no easier.

They rejected heaven and earth’s spiritual energy, abandoned spells and divine arts, shunned magical treasures and talismans—
They relied solely on their own flesh and blood to shake the heavens, forging bodies as eternal as the cosmos.

But the secrets of Body Refinement had been all but lost to time.

Even among the reclusive great sects, few possessed a complete Body Refinement technique.

If he did not choose Confucian Daoism…
If he could not find a Body Refinement path…

Then there was only one other road.

A road that was almost impossible to succeed in.

To forge a path of his own.

To create a cultivation system that belonged only to him.

Standing in the snow and wind, Carl fell deep into thought.

He possessed ambition and vision.
He refused to live his life in obscurity.

Spiritual roots were granted by fate, unchangeable by normal means.

But the path ahead… that belonged to him alone.

Like the Ancestor, he too would step into the ranks of cultivation.

He too would lead the De Molinos family into battle—conquering lands, expanding their legacy!

Time passed.

The snow continued to fall, the wind howled through the night—
And still, Carl remained motionless, lost in contemplation.

By the time the morning sun cast its golden light upon him, the storm had passed.

The wind had stilled, and the snowfall had ceased.

Shaking off the frost that clung to his robes, he turned and summoned his closest friends among the De Molinos clan.

With burning resolve, he revealed his ambition.

“Yaoyang… is this really possible?”

“Just the few of us? If we leave the family’s protection, survival itself will be difficult.”

A thin-faced young man, his hair brittle and dull, voiced his doubts.

And his concerns were not unfounded.

The Aragon Kingdom was not just a battlefield for cultivation sects—
The areas unclaimed by these sects were plagued by bandits and wandering warlords, their lands ruled by lawless chaos.

“We won’t know unless we try!”

“This journey will be filled with danger—certain death looms at every step.”

“This journey will be one of hardship, where suffering and struggle are our only guarantees.”

“But… throughout history, have any of the great figures who are remembered across the ages not walked such a path?”

“Every legend—every name that echoes in eternity—was forged in the crucible of life and death!”

“Without the family’s protection, we may perish along the way.”

“But so what!?”

“We were born into this world—why should we not strive to shake the heavens?”

“Our ambitions should reach beyond the eight wildernesses, beyond the farthest stars!!”

He had stood beneath the snowfall for an entire night, but his passion burned hotter than ever.

His fervor was contagious.

As he spoke, the fire in his heart spread to those around him.

One by one, his companions’ eyes lit up.

The hearts of the young are always filled with dreams.

With his closest friends convinced, Carl quickly gathered support from the clan’s retainers and warriors.

Some were drawn by his charisma.
Some were loyal followers from the beginning.
Some simply craved adventure.

Regardless of their reasons—

By the end of the day, his following had grown.

And so—under the helpless gaze of the De Molinos clan elders, Carl led his people out of Purple River City.

His force was small—

Eighteen elite warriors.
Thirty loyal retainers.
Twenty young cultivators of the De Molinos clan.

But together, they marched into the unknown, stepping onto a path that none could predict.

A path that would decide their fate.

A path that could end in ruin…

Or lead to the forging of legends.

 

Chapter 59 Someone has to sacrifice, the Wilson family ancestor

“Are we really just going to let them leave like this?”

Watching Carl and his followers disappear into the horizon, one of the De Molinos family’s elders frowned deeply.

“What else can we do?”

“The Ancestor has already granted them permission to venture out. Let those reckless youngsters go and suffer the hardships of the world.”

“Once they understand the cruelty of the outside world, they will return to the family soon enough.”

An elderly man with silver hair spoke calmly, his tone indifferent.

Once, long ago, he too had left the De Molinos family to explore the vast lands beyond.

Yet of all his companions who had set out with him, not one had survived the journey.

Only he had barely escaped with his life, returning to the family alone.

Venturing into the outside world?

It sounded simple.

But on these endless lands, even cultivators with insufficient strength feared wandering blindly, let alone mere mortals.

Hearing the elder’s words, the other De Molinos family seniors fell silent.

To them, Carl’s journey was a doomed endeavor.

None of them expected his group to succeed.
None of them believed he could make a name for himself.

If, by some miracle, three or four of them returned alive, it would already be an unbelievable achievement.

Only the white-haired elder watched them depart with a trace of hope in his eyes.

Because when he looked at Carl and his companions, he saw a reflection of his younger self…

And he saw the shadows of his fallen friends.

Ever since Blood Wolf Hall had taken control, Lunford Town had become a living hell for its people and cultivators alike.

To the enforcers of Blood Wolf Hall, both mortals and low-level cultivators were nothing more than disposable labor.

They killed at will, slaughtering anyone who dared defy them.

And to extract the maximum amount of silver, they had enslaved both the town’s commoners and its cultivators, forcing them into the mines.

For the cultivators, life in the mines was brutal—but survivable.

But for the mortals?

Their fragile bodies could not endure the endless toil.

Every day, dozens perished from exhaustion.

PAH! PAH!

Deep within the dark tunnels, the sharp crack of a steel whip echoed.

A Blood Wolf Hall cultivator stood with whip in hand, his eyes cold and merciless.

Nearby, a mortal worker had collapsed, his movements a fraction too slow.

“AHH—!”

The man screamed, writhing on the ground, his back torn open by the lash.

“Mercy, great Immortal!”

“Please, spare me!”

“I swear, I’ll work harder!”

He crawled forward, his face twisted in fear, his hands clasped together in desperate supplication.

But the Blood Wolf Hall enforcer merely sneered.

In this mine, half of the mortals died from exhaustion.

And the other half?

They were beaten to death.

“You filthy peasants!”

The whip-wielding cultivator snarled, his expression twisted in contempt.

“Because of you worthless wretches, I’ve wasted precious time that I could’ve spent cultivating!”

“Dig! Dig until your hands bleed!”

“If you haven’t excavated all the silver within two months…”

“You’ll all die!”

The one speaking was a horse-faced cultivator, his grip tightening around the waist of a frightened mortal girl.

With one hand, he held her in his embrace—and with the other, he mercilessly lashed the surrounding miners with his steel whip.

Even the cultivators of Lunford Town were not spared from his wrath.

The horse-faced enforcer was at the peak of Bone Tempering.

And in Lunford Town, the strongest resistance he could face was—

A handful of cultivators at the Skin Tempering stage.

And a single elder from the Wilson family at the Blood Tempering stage.

Even if they fought with all their might, they would never be able to defeat him.

And worse still—

The mine was not just guarded by one man.

Besides the horse-faced enforcer, there were multiple Blood Wolf Hall cultivators at the Blood Tempering and Skin Tempering stages.

And most terrifying of all—

Rumor had it that two Level 1 enforcers were overseeing the mine personally.

If the miners were only up against Bone Tempering or Organ Tempering cultivators, they might have stood a chance.

With a population of over twenty to thirty thousand, they could have staged an uprising.

Even if they couldn’t kill a cultivator at Organ Tempering, at least most of them could escape.

But now…?

That hope was a distant dream.

However, with Level 1 cultivators overseeing the mine, everything was different.

Even if twenty or thirty thousand mortals tried to flee in chaos, without discipline or strategy, they would all be slaughtered.

Blood Wolf Hall’s power was absolute.

Even if they massacred every single person in the mines, Albigensians Sect would not intervene.

Albigensians Sect only cared about major cities with populations of over one hundred thousand.

Villages and towns?

They were beneath their concern.

“Damn it all!!”

“Ancestor, why don’t I just rush out and fight them?”

“Rather than dying slowly under their torment, I’d rather die fighting!”

In a shadowy corner of the mine, a young man covered in grime, gripping a pickaxe, burned with rage.

His name was Robert Wilson, the young master of the Wilson family in Lunford Town.

He was born with a “False Spiritual Root”—a flawed gift that meant his cultivation potential was limited, but it still allowed him to enjoy the luxuries of noble status.

But when Blood Wolf Hall descended upon the town…

The Wilson family’s nightmare began.

Every member of the Wilson clan was enslaved.

Their women—many of them had already become playthings for Blood Wolf Hall’s cultivators.

Had the Wilson family’s Ancestor not secretly evacuated a portion of the clan, their fate would have been even more tragic.

“Hold it in!!”

“Small patience leads to great plans.”

Seeing his furious descendant, the Wilson Ancestor stretched out his calloused hand, gripping the boy’s arm tightly.

“If you rush out now, you’ll die for nothing.”

“Stay calm! You must learn to stay calm!”

“The future of the Wilson family rests on your shoulders.”

“A leader cannot afford to act on impulse!”

Despite his own battered and weary appearance, the Wilson Ancestor remained composed—even as Blood Wolf Hall humiliated them daily.

Because deep inside, he was always planning.

He had already accepted his own death—but if he could help Robert Wilson escape, it would all be worth it.

After all, his own lifespan was already nearing its end—he had five or six years left at most.

But Robert Wilson—

He had potential.

He had already reached Skin Tempering stage, and though his False Spiritual Root limited his future, there was still a chance.

If Robert Wilson could escape and grow stronger, then the sacrifices of the Wilson clan would not be in vain.

“I’ve been watching for over a month.”

“Every five to six days, Blood Wolf Hall rotates its guards.”

“When that time comes, I will create a distraction…”

“And you will use this Wind Talisman to escape.”

The Wilson Ancestor pulled out a worn, crumpled talisman, carefully tucking it into Robert Wilson’s hands.

“The farther you run, the better.”

His voice was low but firm.

“I told you before to escape through the underground tunnels, but you refused to leave!”

“If you had left, I could’ve used this talisman myself—to fight, to escape, to make them pay.”

“But now, because of you… I have no choice but to die here.”

Robert Wilson stared at the talisman, his chest tightening with emotion.

Though his ancestor’s words were harsh, there was no true blame in his voice.

If anything—

His last act was to give Robert Wilson a chance to survive.

“I accept my guilt!”

Robert Wilson bowed deeply, his fists clenched.

But then, he took the talisman and placed it back in the elder’s hands.

“But Ancestor, you must keep this talisman.”

“The Wilson clan cannot survive without you.”

“If someone must cause a distraction… let me do it!”

“I am the one who should take this risk!”

BANG!

Before he could say another word, the Wilson Ancestor kicked him in the chest, sending him stumbling back.

“Take it!!”

The elder’s voice was like steel, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.

“Even if I escape, how long do you think I can protect the Wilson clan?”

“Five years? Six years?”

“Every generation has its own responsibility!”

“The future belongs to you!”

“The future belongs to the young!”

 

Chapter 60: Enslaving All and Taking Back the Mineral Veins

Hearing his ancestor’s words, Robert Wilson fell silent, no longer refusing the Wind Talisman pressed into his hands.

The damp, dark mine tunnel remained filled with the sound of whips cracking and miserable screams, echoing endlessly.

As the Wilson Ancestor continued plotting how to buy time for his descendant’s escape, a sudden, earth-shaking explosion erupted from outside the mine!

In that instant, the entire earth trembled.

The sudden catastrophe sent waves of fear and confusion through the trapped miners.

Panic spread like wildfire.

Just as the miners’ unease grew, the sound of chaotic shouting rang out from above.

“Ahhh—! No! Senior, please have mercy!”

“Senior, what is the meaning of this?!”

“Blood Wolf Hall has never offended you! Please, stop this madness! Everything can be discussed—!”

BOOM!!

Above the mine, a silver-robed elder stood in midair, bathed in radiant light, hands clasped behind his back.

With a casual wave of his hand, fist-sized fireballs rained down from the sky, slaughtering Blood Wolf Hall’s cultivators in droves.

The fireballs’ speed was terrifying—even Organ Tempering cultivators could not react in time.

The moment they made contact, Blood Wolf Hall’s enforcers exploded into charred remains, reduced to blackened husks.

“Senior! If you insist on provoking Blood Wolf Hall, even as a Level 1 cultivator, you will face severe retribution!”

“Blood Wolf Hall’s two Level 1 enforcers are nearby!”

“If you cease this assault now, there is still a chance for negotiations!”

Among the slaughtered Blood Wolf Hall enforcers, a short, stocky man with a thick stubble-covered face shouted in desperation.

He was a peak Organ Tempering cultivator, the temporary overseer of the Silver Mine’s operations.

As the highest-ranked cultivator present, he had barely managed to survive two fireball strikes—only due to his Level 1-grade defensive artifact.

Even so, his skin was badly scorched by the sheer heat radiating from the flames.

If even one more fireball struck him, he would die on the spot.

Frantically, he invoked the name of Blood Wolf Hall, hoping to deter the attacker—

Hoping that the silver-robed elder would reconsider.

But Arius did not even spare him a glance.

BOOM! BOOM!

Fireballs exploded in the winter air, casting a scorching light across the land.

The bitter cold was instantly dispelled—within a thousand-meter radius, the air became as stifling as midsummer.

Standing at the peak of the heavens, Arius’s gaze was cold and indifferent.

To him, the Blood Wolf Hall enforcers were nothing more than insects.

He had no intention of leaving a single one alive.

That being said, he did not plan to wipe them all out immediately.

No—

The best way to handle them was to exterminate a large portion first, using sheer brutality to break the spirit of the survivors.

Once sufficient terror had been instilled, the remaining survivors would be forced into submission.

And if they refused?

Then they would either be executed—or refined into living elixirs.

Blood Wolf Hall had repeatedly trespassed upon the De Molinos family’s domain.

This time, Arius would not show mercy.

“Demon… You’re nothing but a demon!!”

A young Blood Wolf Hall enforcer, a scarred man in his twenties, had given up all hope of survival.

In his despair and rage, he cursed Arius with all the venom he could muster.

Yet, he had long since forgotten—

In just one month, he had personally executed hundreds of mortals without a second thought.

Now, faced with death himself, he was the one screaming and pleading.

THWACK!

A fist-sized fireball streaked through the night sky like a falling star, shattering the frigid air.

An instant later, it obliterated his skull, sending scorched bone and brain matter scattering into the wind.

Blood Wolf Hall had deployed nearly thirty cultivators to oversee the Silver Mine’s operations.

Yet in just moments, half of them had already perished.

“Sigh…”

Arius exhaled lightly, surveying the battlefield.

“I got too carried away testing the power of my Fireball Spell…”

Arius gazed down at the ruined battlefield, his expression calm and indifferent.

The Blood Wolf Hall enforcers who remained stood scattered and trembling, their fear almost tangible in the air.

“They still have some value…”

Perhaps as slaves, forced to toil in the mines.

Or perhaps, he could follow the methods of the Ashfell Clan’s old ancestor, refining them into living elixirs.

The surviving Blood Wolf Hall cultivators shivered as Arius spoke, a chill running down their spines.

They had seen slaughter and cruelty countless times before.

But only from the other side—as the executioners, not the executed.

It wasn’t killing that they feared.

It was the realization that they were the ones about to die.

“All remaining Blood Wolf Hall cultivators, step forward.”

“Do not try to run.”

“Do not try to blend in.”

Arius’s voice echoed coldly across the land.

“I do not like trouble.”

“And if any of you cause me trouble—”

“I will kill you where you stand.”

As he descended from the sky, his Three-Talents Formation Flags shimmered with a faint glow.

The moment his voice spread, the remaining Blood Wolf Hall enforcers flinched in terror.

Their survival instincts overrode all else, and one by one, they stepped forward, their heads bowed, their bodies trembling.

They knew the truth—

Before a Level 1 cultivator, they had no chance of escape.

Even the Organ Tempering enforcer, the stocky, bearded overseer who had barely survived thanks to his high-grade defensive treasure, knew the truth.

He might be able to resist for a breath or two—

But after that?

He would burn like the rest.

As for the others?

One fireball would reduce them to ash.

They formed a silent line, standing before Arius.

None dared speak.

None dared look him in the eye.

None dared show even a hint of defiance.

All they could do was obey.

“Good.”

Arius’s gaze swept across them, his expression unreadable.

“Now, release your divine senses.”

“You will all bear my Slave Seal.”

“From this moment forward, you are slaves of the De Molinos family.”

“And this mine… You will be the ones working it from now on.”

His tone was flat, emotionless, as if their fates had already been set in stone.

Had Arius not been ruthless enough, these cultivators would have resisted.

But now?

Now, they were too terrified to defy him.

The charred corpses around them served as a warning of what happened to those who refused.

And in the end—

A slave could still live.

Perhaps, if they proved useful, they could even rise again.

Perhaps, if they worked hard enough, they could one day reclaim their freedom.

But if they refused…

They would join the dead in the dirt.

As the Slave Seals were burned into their souls, the air around them seemed to grow heavier.

High above the mine, a gathering of mortals and cultivators—former prisoners of Blood Wolf Hall—stood watching.

These people had suffered under Blood Wolf Hall’s cruelty for over a month.

They had been beaten, enslaved, humiliated, and worked to death.

And now—

The same enforcers who tormented them had become enslaved themselves.

For the people of Lunford Town, the sight was deeply satisfying.

If not for Arius’s presence, some of them might have rushed forward, eager to tear into their former captors with their bare hands.

“Senior…”

A dust-covered, exhausted figure climbed out from the mines.

It was the Wilson Ancestor.

The moment he saw Arius, he froze in shock before hurriedly cupping his hands in respect.

He recognized Arius immediately.

When the De Molinos family first settled in Purple River City, he had personally led the Wilson clan to pay respects.

“No need for formalities.”

Arius waved dismissively.

“Go back to your people. Return to your homes.”

Unlike Blood Wolf Hall, Arius had no intention of forcing the people of Lunford Town to continue mining.

The De Molinos family sought to govern and cultivate their domain, not destroy it.

Blood Wolf Hall had relied on brutal oppression, seeing only immediate profit while sacrificing long-term stability.

Arius would not make the same mistake.

Blood Wolf Hall had viewed villages and small towns as nothing more than savages and livestock.

To them, only the major cities had value.

But Arius knew better.

Power was built not just on strength… but on the loyalty of the land and its people.

And that loyalty would belong to the De Molinos family now.