Chương 139: Chapter 32: The Gathering

"Entry into the Wood Marquis Kingdom requires a toll of three low-grade spirit stones per person." At the city gates, a dozen sentinels in leather armor maintained a cold, rigid order. A purple-robed elder reclined in a wooden chair nearby, his eyes narrowed into thin slits. Though he appeared lethargic, sharp glints of predatory light occasionally flickered from beneath his heavy lids. Reyn's brow twitched as a flash of astonishment crossed his features.

The elder was a Foundation Establishment expert in the middle stage. Even more startling were the leather-clad guards; their cultivation levels hovered around the sixth level of Qi Condensation, with the two leaders having reached the eighth. Judging by their youthful vitality, they were barely older than Reyn himself. In the backwater of Beiyue State, such talents would have been named True Inheritance disciples or groomed as core pillars of their respective sects. Here, they were reduced to mere gatekeepers.

"The Mu Family's foundation is truly terrifying," Reyn mused silently, his face remaining a mask of indifference. He paid the three stones without a word and merged into the flowing crowd entering the city. Behind him, the purple-robed elder's eyes snapped open, his gaze locking onto Reyn's retreating back for several heartbeats. Eventually, he shook his head slowly, sinking back into his listless stupor. Inside Eastern City, the ground was paved with massive bluestone slabs.

Unknown flora lined the thoroughfares, their vibrant emerald leaves contrasting with delicate white blossoms that exhaled a faint, intoxicating fragrance into the breeze. The avenues were vast, wide enough for ten carriages to pass abreast without crowding. Grand, imposing structures flanked the path, their attendants shouting boisterously to lure in the passing trade. As Reyn walked, his internal shock deepened. The density of high-level cultivators here was staggering.

Beyond the common Foundation Establishment experts he encountered, he had just sensed the fleeting, soul-crushing pressure of a Golden Core master emanating from the city's heart.

"Compared to this place, Beiyue is a primitive wasteland. A single city here likely possesses enough strength to raze our entire cultivation world." Yet, the higher the standard of the Wood Marquis Kingdom, the more Reyn's anticipation burned. Perhaps the solution to his unique Foundation Establishment crisis truly lay within the Mu Family's grasp.... Deep within Eastern City stood a sprawling estate covering over a thousand acres.

It was a masterpiece of celestial architecture, often veiled in rising mists that made it appear like an immortal paradise. Four white jade pillars, each thirty meters tall, stood at the main entrance like the gates to the high heavens. Black-armored guards were stationed there in grim silence, their eyes cold and predatory. The thick, visceral killing intent radiating from their bodies was so intense that ordinary cultivators preferred to take long detours rather than walk past them.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Reyn gazed at the manor, feeling a surge of awe. Compared to this, the Reyn Clan was a mere footnote. This was a legacy forged over millennia, a depth of power that no upstart clan could hope to replicate. He took a deep breath to steady his racing thoughts and stepped forward.

"The Mu Family Villa is restricted. Those who enter without a command jade slip shall be executed!" The black-armored guards turned in unison, their gazes pinning Reyn like physical weights. A low growl echoed as killing intent coalesced in their eyes. This was no idle threat; Reyn felt the fine hairs on his neck stand on end. He halted immediately.

"I am Reyn of the Xuanxiao Sect, hailing from Beiyue State. I have been invited by the Holy Land. Here is my jade slip." The lead guard snatched the slip, pressed it against his forehead, and swept it with his Divine Sense. He handed it back, his voice a rasping growl.

"Wait." He then turned and disappeared into the estate. Moments later, the guard returned, followed by an elderly man in loose yellow robes. The newcomer looked ancient and frail, his gait slightly unsteady, yet his aura was unmistakably that of the Late Foundation Establishment stage.

"Greetings, Second Steward." The guards bowed deeply, their eyes filled with genuine reverence. The steward waved them off dismissively, his eyes landing on Reyn. A sharp, analytical light flickered in his pupils before vanishing into a calm, stagnant pool.

"Since you are an invited guest, follow me." Reyn felt a cold shiver. The steward's gaze was so piercing it felt as if his secrets were being stripped bare. Fortunately, the old man said nothing more and led him into the depths of the villa.

"There are many forbidden zones within this villa. Do not wander without permission. If you stray and meet with an 'accident,' the Mu Family bears no responsibility." After dropping the cold warning, the steward led him to a room and departed. Reyn sat cross-legged on a prayer mat. He swept the room with his Divine Sense, then frowned, his eyes locking onto a beast-head ornament above the door.

"A surveillance restriction placed by a Golden Core master. If I forcibly break it, I'll draw unnecessary attention. Better to endure for now." Reyn's brow smoothed. He retrieved several Peiyuan Pills from his storage bag, swallowed them, and sank into meditation. Deep within the villa, in a shadowed tower, an old man watched a shimmering orb of light. It reflected the interior of Reyn's room.

"The boy's expression shifted. Did he notice the seal?" The old man muttered, waving a hand to dissipate the light. The tower fell back into darkness. For three days, Reyn remained in seclusion. The sensation of being watched did not return, and he eventually put the matter out of his mind. Suddenly, Reyn's eyes snapped open. A transmission talisman hovered before his face, igniting into a green flame.

"Noon today. Proceed to Taiji Hall immediately." Reyn rose, straightened his robes, and stepped out. A black-armored guard was already waiting. Without a word, the sentinel turned and led the way....

"Daoist Yang Dawei, tomorrow we depart for the Holy Land. Why hasn't your fellow disciple, Mo Huahua, arrived? Surely nothing... unfortunate has happened?" Inside Taiji Hall, nineteen young cultivators sat in two rows. Their gazes clashed in the air, thick with cold hostility and suppressed power. Xing Tianxie of the Pomie Sect spoke, his eyes glinting with a sharp, mocking light. Opposite him, a refined young man in white—Yang Dawei—felt a surge of murderous intent, but he maintained his gentle smile.

"Thank you for your concern, Daoist Xing. My junior brother is prone to distractions, but he understands the gravity of this gathering. He is likely already at the gates."

"I hope so." Xing Tianxie smirked, his voice dripping with malice.

"But I have a premonition. Perhaps your junior brother won't be coming at all." A heavy silence descended upon the hall. The other cultivators watched with predatory amusement. To them, a clash between these two giants was a welcome spectacle.