The forest swallowed sound the moment the carriage passed beyond the last worn road. Towering trees crowded together beneath a dim canopy, their roots coiled like living veins across the ground, pulsing faintly with spiritual energy. The air was thick, heavy with the scent of damp earth and unseen danger, and every breath carried the quiet pressure of watchful eyes. Spirit beasts moved beyond sight, their auras brushing against one another like predators circling unseen prey. As the carriage rolled deeper into the Verdant Wilds, Bo Mile stepped down onto the forest floor, his emerald blade humming softly at his back, knowing that this place would not welcome them gently.
Bo Mile turned back toward the carriage and addressed the driver calmly. "You may leave now. Wait for our signal." He reached into his sleeve and produced a small token, pressing it into the man's hands. Etched upon it was the Mile Clan emblem, with the character for Staff engraved beneath. "This is a Mile Staff Token. When we are finished here, it will guide you to where we are. Come then." The driver accepted it with both hands, eyes wide, and bowed deeply before urging the horses around. Within moments, the sound of wheels faded into the distance, leaving only the forest and the quiet certainty that what awaited ahead would be settled by blade and blood.
Yoon adjusted the straps on his swords as the last echoes of the carriage vanished. "What spirit beast are we hunting?" he asked, his voice steady despite the oppressive atmosphere. Bo Mile did not slow his steps as he answered. "A Golden Crown Serpent." The name alone caused Yoon's eyes to narrow. Bo continued, "According to the Mile records, one has been sighted in the Verdant Wilds, near an ancient willow tree."
Yoon hesitated before asking, "Why that serpent in particular?" Bo finally turned, his gaze calm but intent. "Because it is no ordinary serpent. The Golden Crown Serpent is intelligent, territorial, and capable of growth beyond its natural limits. If tamed, it will not only serve as a guardian, but as a foundation. A symbol." His eyes shifted toward the depths of the forest. "Every rising power needs something that others fear."
Five days prior, in the quiet of the newly restored mansion, Bo and Chen had a conversation. He had asked simply, almost casually, about dragons. Chen had been visibly startled, then shaken his head. "Dragons", he said, "had not existed in this world for nearly two hundred thousand years. Any records of them were ancient, bordering on myth, their disappearance tied to calamities so old that even the upper realms no longer spoke of them."
When Chen had asked why Bo was interested in such extinct beasts, Bo's answer had been measured and absolute. "Dragons are beast royalty. They were not merely powerful, but commanding by nature, rulers among spirit beasts. If even one could be tamed or bargained with, it would mean more than strength. It would mean authority. An army of spirit beasts would follow, not through force alone, but instinct and hierarchy." As the memory faded and Bo's gaze returned to the shadowed forest ahead, the logic remained the same. Serpents were not dragons, but some paths began with lesser crowns.
Bo continued walking as he spoke, his voice low and steady. "Unlike other serpents, a Golden Crown Serpent is not bound to a single bloodline. It can be born from any breed and share its essence with all serpents. Its venom can counter the poison of any other serpent, yet only its own venom can oppose it in return." Yoon listened intently as Bo went on. "A Golden Crown can also halt, or even reverse, its aging. Given time, it can live for as long as it chooses."
Bo finally stopped, turning to face him. "But that is not its most important trait." His eyes gleamed faintly. "The Golden Crown Serpent is a dormant dragon spawn. Its bloodline sleeps, suppressed by the laws of this world." A faint smile touched his lips. "And I know how to awaken it."
Yoon hesitated, then asked quietly, "How do you know all of this?" Bo did not turn as he answered. "I am simply blessed with knowledge." After a brief pause, he added, "The answer lies in the Mile Clan's crest." He gestured lightly, as if tracing it in the air. "The golden serpent and the lion are not symbols chosen at random."
He continued, his tone measured. "To preserve the existence of the royal beast bloodline, it was divided when spiritual energy diminished. A dragon can only be born within the Three Mortal Realms. Thus, the bloodline separated into two forms. The Golden Crown Serpent and the Golden Mane Lion." Yoon's breath stilled as Bo concluded, "Only when those two bloodlines are merged can the Dragon's Bloodline awaken. Certain members of the Mile bloodline are born with the knowledge of this truth, and how to carry it out. Why we are chosen is unclear. But this is how it has always been."
Bo's voice remained calm as they moved deeper into the Verdant Wilds. "It is instinct," he said. "When we draw close enough, the Golden Crown Serpent will present itself to me. It cannot help it." He continued evenly, "By nature, no venom, poison, or toxin can harm anyone with Mile blood. That law is older than this world itself. If we are able to find the Golden Mane Lion, it too will come willingly. Both bloodlines seek completion. They want to fulfill their destiny and return to their true form."
Yoon exhaled slowly, the implications sinking in. "A dragon would not only prove royalty to beasts," he said, his voice low with awe, "but to humans as well. Anyone bonded to a dragon would be recognized as an Emperor. It would reshape the power structure of the entire world." Bo finally laughed, a quiet sound filled with certainty. "That," he said, "is the point."
As they advanced along a narrow forest path, a violent surge of Qi erupted ahead. Two cultivators were locked in combat near a small clearing, techniques colliding recklessly without regard for their surroundings. A fireball tore free from the clash and hurtled straight toward Bo. Yoon reacted instantly, unsheathing one of his swords in a flash and cleaving the fireball apart before it could draw near. His voice rang out across the clearing. "Young Master Bo Mile is here." The words fell like a command. The two cultivators froze, disbelief flashing across their faces before they hastily lowered their weapons, bowed deeply, and apologized in unison.
Bo stepped forward calmly. "Why are you fighting?" he asked. One of them swallowed and answered quickly, "We were fighting over the Twelve Petal Lily at the heart of the lake." Bo followed the man's gaze and looked past the trees to a quiet body of water nestled within the clearing. At its center floated a pale lily with twelve distinct petals, resting upon the surface as if untouched by the world. A chilling aura radiated outward from it, the extreme Yin energy so dense that the air above the lake shimmered faintly, cold and pristine, marking it as a treasure far beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators.
The two cultivators exchanged uneasy glances before one of them spoke. "We are not from Myriad City," he said quickly. "We come from Brookfall City." He gestured to the man beside him. "I am from the Ruo Clan, and he is from the Sen Clan. We were heading to the Mile Clan." The other nodded stiffly. "On our way here, we felt the aura of the Twelve Petal Lily. Neither of us could ignore it." He clenched his fists. "We argued over who should take it, and in the end, words were not enough." The first cultivator let out a bitter breath. "So we decided to duel. Winner takes the lily."
Bo listened without interruption, then asked calmly, "And why were you traveling to the Mile Clan?" The two stiffened at the question, then answered at the same time, voices overlapping without hesitation. "An alliance." The clearing fell silent once more, the cold Yin aura of the lily drifting between them as the weight of that single word settled heavily in the air.
Bo extended a finger and sent his sword gliding forward. The emerald blade skimmed across the lake's surface without disturbing the water, lifting the Twelve Petal Lily cleanly from the Yin soaked depths. He spoke calmly as the sword returned to his side. "Fighting over this is pointless. Neither of your bodies could withstand the extreme Yin energy for long, and neither of you cultivates the sword." With a precise motion, he divided the lily into two equal portions, sealing each half into separate pouches with layered restrictions. He handed one to each cultivator. "Handle with care."
Bo then looked at them evenly. "Now tell me. What kind of alliance are you seeking?" The cultivator from the Ruo Clan stepped forward and clasped his fists. "My name is Rou Lan," he said. "An Immortal Soul Land is about to open. When it does, various factions will enter to compete for its resources." His expression hardened. "Both our clans can trust no one else but the Mile Clan to stand with us. We heard of the revival of the Mile Mansion, so we came to see for ourselves."
Bo's gaze lingered on Rou Lan for a moment, then shifted to the cultivator of the Sen Clan, measuring them both in silence. The forest seemed to still around them, the lingering Yin aura fading as the sealed pouches disappeared into their robes. "You came seeking an alliance," Bo said at last, "but alliances are not granted by words alone." He turned slightly, his presence pressing down with quiet authority. "You will return to Brookfall City and inform your clans that the Mile Clan is no longer a name of the past. When the Immortal Soul Land opens, you will stand with us, or you will stand aside. There will be no middle ground." His eyes sharpened faintly. "If you choose correctly, Myriad City will remember who its allies were when the world began to shift."
The two cultivators exchanged uncertain glances, clearly unsure of Bo's meaning, yet neither dared to question him further. They bowed once more, respectful and restrained, then turned and made their way back toward the forest path that led to Brookfall City. Their figures soon disappeared among the trees, the quiet of the Verdant Wilds closing in behind them.
Only then did Yoon speak. "Young master, what was that about?" Bo's expression did not change as he answered. "On their robes were beetle seals. Neither of them could see them. Their masters placed those seals to observe and listen through their eyes and ears." Yoon stiffened slightly as Bo continued. "Those two clans intended to borrow the Mile name while treating us as they do in Myriad City, with respect on the surface and disregard beneath it. Now, they will need to think twice." His gaze flicked briefly in the direction the two had left. "Those pouches will help them make their decision."
Bo gave a small nod. "Carry on," he said, and the two resumed their search, pressing deeper into the wilds in silence. Hours passed as they moved through dense forest and uneven terrain, the presence of spirit beasts growing stronger the farther they traveled. The air gradually cooled, and the trees thinned until the land opened into a broad valley bathed in pale light.
Every stone within the valley was smooth and white, as if polished by time itself. When their boots brushed against damp rock, a milky liquid seeped from the surface before evaporating into the air. Yoon frowned, unsettled by the sight. Bo's gaze sharpened as he took in the surroundings. "Milk Stone Valley," he said quietly. "It should be around here."
Bo continued forward without haste. "We only need to circle the valley," he said calmly. "If the serpent is here, it will come to me." Yoon nodded, though his hand had already drifted to his hilts. They had taken only a few more steps when instinct flared. Yoon unsheathed both swords in a flash and cleaved through a massive stone hurtling toward them from the left. The rock split cleanly in two, crashing harmlessly to either side. From the tree line emerged a man with a crooked grin, followed by two other men and a woman, all carrying crude weapons and the sharp confidence of those used to easy prey. "We'll be taking these milk stones," the man said, eyes glinting, "and whatever treasures you're carrying."
"Bandits", Bo noted to himself, his expression unchanged. "I wondered when I would encounter bandits from this world." Yoon stepped forward half a pace, blades angled low but ready. "Take the stones if you please," he said evenly, his voice carrying warning rather than threat. "But I advise you to leave the young master alone."
The bandits laughed. The leader rolled his shoulders and spat onto the pale stone ground, his gaze lingering on Bo's robes and the sword at his back. "A young master, is he?" he sneered. "That just means he's worth more alive than dead." The woman's eyes flicked to Yoon's blades, measuring the distance, while the other two slowly spread apart, attempting to encircle them.
Bo sighed softly and stepped past Yoon, his foot crunching against the milk white stones. "You chose the wrong valley," he said, his tone almost conversational. The air shifted the moment his words fell, the spiritual energy of the valley responding as if disturbed from sleep. Even the bandits felt it, their laughter dying in their throats as pressure crept over their shoulders. This was not prey. And whatever they had stumbled upon was about to remind them of that fact.
It was the first time Yoon had felt such an aura from Bo. The air itself seemed to collapse inward as a wave of dread swept across the valley. Images flooded the minds of the bandits, rivers of blood soaking the ground, screams echoing through endless darkness, the clash of swords ringing without end. It was not an illusion crafted by technique, but pure killing intent, vast and merciless. Yoon felt none of it himself, yet even he could tell what it was. This was an intent that only those at the Core Formation stage, and above, could normally emit. The bandits dropped to their knees as one, weapons clattering to the stone, voices breaking as they begged for mercy. Yoon's voice cut through the fear. "You challenged the majesty of the Mile Clan. That was only a preview of the consequences." One of them whispered in horror, "The Mile Clan? We did not know."
Bo stepped forward and let the pressure fade. "You are Foundation Establishment cultivators," he said evenly. "You were forced into this life by an unjust system. I will forgive you this once. But do not waste your cultivation like this." He produced a parchment, wrote a brief message with controlled strokes, and handed it to the leader of the group. "Take this to the Mile Mansion. Give it to Mile Lian. You will be given clothing and accommodation. You will work as guards for the Mile Clan. For a proper wage." The bandits stared at the parchment as if it were salvation itself, then bowed deeply, gratitude replacing terror. With sincere thanks, they turned and left the valley, their footsteps lighter than when they had arrived.
Yoon watched the bandits disappear into the forest, a quiet heaviness settling in his chest. Pride rose within him, steady and undeniable. To follow someone who wielded overwhelming power yet chose restraint was rare, especially in the Mortal Realms, where strength so often stripped away mercy. He turned to Bo and spoke with sincerity. "There aren't many with your status in the Mortal Realms who would have done that." Yoon bowed deeply, his voice firm as he added, "Thank you, on behalf of we renegades."
Bo lifted his gaze to the pale sky above the valley. "Those in the upper realms have chosen to forget their roots and act only for themselves," he said calmly. His eyes hardened just slightly. "We must not be the same."
A sudden hiss cut through the stillness of the valley. Yoon's hand moved to his sword as Bo turned calmly. From between the pale stones emerged the Golden Crown Serpent. It was small by spirit beast standards, barely seven feet long, its scales dull with youth, a faint golden crest visible atop its head. Bo's expression softened. "Come, little one," he said quietly. "Let us make history together." As the serpent drew closer, Bo noticed the blood matting its scales and knelt at once, placing a hand upon its body as gentle Qi flowed out to heal its wounds. "Who hurt you?" he asked.
The serpent lifted its head and hissed sharply toward the eastern edge of the valley, where a jagged mountain loomed in the distance. Bo's eyes followed its gaze. He rose and motioned for Yoon to follow. "We will settle this," he said simply. As they began to walk, Bo glanced down at the serpent. "You need a name," he said after a moment. "How about Joong?" The serpent hissed softly, pleased, its body relaxing. Joong then slid forward and coiled himself around Bo's emerald blade. The sword vibrated gently beneath the serpent's weight, as if answering the call, accepting him without resistance.
The moment Joong settled against the emerald blade, a subtle change rippled through the valley. The air grew warmer, the oppressive Yin that once clung to the pale stones receding as if pushed back by an unseen presence. Bo felt it clearly, a faint but undeniable resonance between the serpent, the sword, and his own blood. This was not a bond formed by contract or force, but recognition. Something ancient had stirred, however weak, however young.
Bo lifted his gaze toward the distant mountain to the east, his expression calm but resolute. "Whoever did this will answer," he said quietly. Joong tightened his coil in response, a low hiss vibrating through the blade. Yoon fell in step beside him without question, his grip steady on his swords. Together, they moved out of Milk Stone Valley, the forest parting before them, unaware that a path leading toward far greater upheaval had just been set in motion.
As they reached the halfway point toward the mountains, night descended quietly over the forest. The canopy swallowed what little light remained, and the wilds grew still beneath a veil of shadow. Bo felt no fatigue, his Immortal Body steady as ever, but he could sense Yoon's breathing deepen and his steps grow heavier. At his current cultivation, enduring the wilds without rest would dull his edge. Bo slowed and nodded once. "We stop here. We move again at dawn."
They stepped several feet off the trail and found a small clearing nestled between some trees, shielded from open sight. Bo traced precise lines into the earth and stone, activating an enlightenment formation known as Blessed Nature. A gentle, harmonizing aura spread through the clearing, calming the mind and sharpening awareness. "Meditate for one hour before sleeping," Bo instructed Yoon. He then turned to the small serpent coiled near his blade. "You as well." Joong hissed softly and settled into the formation's center, eyes half lidded as the natural Qi washed over him.
Bo left his emerald sword behind, unsheathed and resting upright at the heart of the formation, its presence steady and vigilant. Without another word, he stepped back into the forest to scout ahead, his movements soundless as he vanished into the darkness, leaving the clearing protected by formation and blade.
Bo moved through the forest like a passing thought, his presence barely disturbing the night. Branches and roots shifted subtly beneath his steps, the surrounding spiritual energy parting around him rather than resisting. He extended his senses outward, not in force, but in quiet awareness, mapping the terrain ahead, the flow of Qi, and the hidden paths spirit beasts favored after dark. Every sound carried meaning here, the distant rustle of leaves, the soft crack of bone beneath paw, the faint pulse of hostile intent buried deep within the mountain's shadow.
As he drew closer to the foothills, the air grew heavy with residual malice. Bo slowed, his gaze lifting toward the dark silhouette of the mountain rising against the sky. Traces of blood stained the ground, long dried but still warm to his senses, and the distorted remains of spirit beast tracks told a clear story. Something had been hunting carelessly, violently, and without restraint. Bo's expression hardened slightly. Whoever had injured Joong had not done so by accident. And before dawn arrived, Bo intended to learn exactly who, or what, had claimed this mountain as its hunting ground.
As Bo drew closer to the mountain's base, something unnatural caught his eye. Between two ancient trees stood a tall wooden post, and from it hung a banner, its fabric stirring faintly in the night wind. Bo stopped. Even in the dim light, the emblem stitched into the cloth was unmistakable. He recognized it instantly.
The Han Clan.
His gaze hardened as understanding settled in. This mountain was not merely a hunting ground claimed by chance. It had been marked. Controlled. Whatever had wounded Joong had done so under the banner of one of Myriad City's great families. Bo stood in silence for a long moment, the night pressing in around him. "So the Han Clan had already extended their reach this far beyond the city." Slowly, a cold smile formed. It seemed the banquet would not be the first place where the Mile Clan reminded Myriad City who truly held dominion.
Bo stepped forward and grasped the wooden post. With a single, clean motion, he cut it down. The banner bearing the Han Clan emblem fluttered briefly before striking the ground. Instantly, the forest erupted with movement. Figures emerged from the shadows, weapons drawn, blades and spears catching what little moonlight filtered through the canopy. Killing intent flared as the group closed ranks around him.
An older man moved to the front, his aura steady and oppressive, clearly an elder of the Han Clan. Behind him lay several freshly slain spirit beasts, their bodies partially dissected, essence already harvested. His gaze fixed on Bo, sharp and assessing. Before he could speak, Bo's voice cut through the tension, soft yet absolute. "Code Eight of the Myriad City Law forbids the occupation of land within the Verdant Wilds and the posting of banners." He took a slow step forward. "Code Eight, Section B, states that the corpses of spirit beasts are to be cremated or buried if not used or sold within the city. You have violated both."
Bo's eyes shifted briefly to the armed men behind the elder. "Additionally, city guards, regardless of clan affiliation, are forbidden from acting as personal guards. They may not leave the city unless in pursuit of a criminal or in defense of the city itself." His gaze returned to the elder, calm and unwavering. "That is two more laws broken." The forest fell deathly quiet as his final words landed. "How does the Han Family plead?"
A sharp voice broke the silence. "How dare you lecture Elder Han Zhou about the law," one of the guards shouted. "The Han Clan is the law."
The words had barely left his mouth when his body stiffened. A thin line appeared across his neck. A heartbeat later, his head slid free and struck the ground, followed by his collapsing corpse. The forest went still, shock freezing every breath.
Bo Mile withdrew his finger calmly. "Anyone else dares to speak?" he asked. He then produced a token and lifted it into the air. The Mile Clan emblem gleamed faintly as it hovered, carrying unquestionable authority. The city guards paled. Without a word, they stepped back, then retreated into the trees, weapons lowered, unwilling to remain even a moment longer.
Only the Han disciples and their elder remained. Elder Han Zhou's eyes narrowed, his aura surging as he steadied himself. He did not retreat. As a peak stage Golden Core cultivator, pride and power anchored him in place. The night wind stirred the fallen banner at his feet as he stared at Bo, fully aware that this confrontation had already crossed the point of return.