He casually found a building and rested there for the night.
The next day, he set out again, wandering through the town.
Following the map, he searched the area systematically.
Not a single vicious beast he encountered survived.
That also greatly increased the Life Energy he gathered.
Meanwhile.
Crimson Cloud City.
A lavish manor was bustling with activity today. Guests streamed in without end, raising their cups in celebration.
Anyone well-traveled would have noticed that many heads of the major families in Crimson Cloud City, seldom seen together, had gathered here today, along with quite a few Generals.
At the most prominent spot stood a man whose face beamed with delight.
That man was Xue Long.
Today was his Ascension Banquet.
Every faction of any standing in Crimson Cloud City had come to offer their congratulations.
The congratulatory gifts were piled high, a dazzling array of treasures.
Watching the lively scene around him, the ever-present smile on Xue Long's face gradually faded.
Though no one else could tell, the few people gathered around him couldn't help breaking out in goosebumps.
Among them was the head of the Luo Family.
At that moment, he was cursing furiously inside.
"Damn little bastard. The Gray Mist Zone is perilous at night. How could he be so bold as not to return?"
"I promised the lord I'd present that little bastard's head today. If he doesn't come out, I'm done for!"
Just as he cursed under his breath, his body suddenly stiffened, as if some terrifying vicious beast had fixed its gaze on him.
"Luo Wenchang, where's the congratulatory gift you promised?"
Xue Long stared coldly at the man in front of him, who was past fifty, a flicker of displeasure in his eyes.
Hearing this, the head of the Luo Family, Luo Wenchang, trembled and hurried to explain:
"Please forgive me, sir. That little bastard didn't come out of the Gray Mist Zone last night. But rest assured, the moment he shows himself, he'll be as good as dead."
"With them on the job, catching a mere martial artist-level nobody will be a piece of cake."
At that, Xue Long snorted.
"See that it is!"
Just then, the people around them suddenly fell silent and turned toward the entrance.
A middle-aged man in a blue robe, with delicate, almost effeminate features, strode inside.
Xue Long's expression shifted at the sight of him. He hurried forward, a smile spreading across his face.
"I didn't know the City Lord would be coming. I failed to welcome you properly. Please forgive me, sir."
"Not at all! Your rise to War Venerable shows that you have decent martial talent. As long as you perform well from now on, the Huang Family won't treat you poorly!"
The man set down the gift he had brought and spoke with a genial smile.
"Yes, I won't disappoint you, City Lord!"
A flash of delight crossed Xue Long's face at the words of Huang Heyu, the City Lord.
The Huang Family!
They were one of the peak families in Vermilion Bird King City, with more than ten War Venerable-level experts. They practically ruled the skies over Vermilion Bird King City.
For a Rogue Cultivator like him, joining such a powerful family was a stroke of incredible luck.
As for the Divine Firmament Martial Arts Hall in Crimson Cloud City—
For naïve young hotheads who knew nothing of the world, it really was their first choice.
But he didn't think much of it.
It was true that the organization had been founded by Li Yunxiao, the strongest man in Huaxia Nation. But its headquarters were too far from Vermilion Bird King City, so compared to the powerful local factions, the Divine Firmament Martial Arts Hall held little advantage.
If not for Li Yunxiao's reputation, it was debatable whether the Divine Firmament Martial Arts Hall could even have established itself in Crimson Cloud City.
"The Gray Mist grows ever more violent and surging, vicious beasts run rampant, and the king cities carve up the land. Rather than chasing an empty title, I'd be better off attaching myself to the Huang Family. Perhaps I'll live a little longer in these ever more brutal times."
Xue Long sighed inwardly.
"Congratulations! I never expected you to be the first to break through, Brother Xue Long. Let me offer you my congratulations!"
A hearty laugh suddenly rang out from the entrance.
The newcomer was none other than Wang Xu, the head curator of the Divine Firmament Martial Arts Hall.
"Oh? The City Lord is here too. My apologies for not noticing!"
Wang Xu glanced at Huang Heyu, the City Lord of Crimson Cloud City, then cupped his hands toward him as well.
"So it's Curator Wang. Please, come over here!"
Xue Long forced a smile and gestured for him to join them.
His younger brother had been killed by a member of the Divine Firmament Martial Arts Hall. How could he possibly smile?
Still, out of regard for the Divine Firmament Martial Arts Hall, he kept his expression from turning too ugly.
A short while later.
The banquet began, and everyone raised their cups in merriment, enjoying themselves.
After several rounds of drinks, Huang Heyu suddenly looked at Xue Long curiously.
"On such an important day, why isn't your younger brother, Xue Qing, here? It's been a while since I've seen him. Has he broken through to General yet?"
At that, Xue Long's expression stiffened.
"That's right! Where is your younger brother? You've broken through to War Venerable, such a joyous occasion for you as his elder brother, yet he's nowhere to be seen?"
Wang Xu turned to look at him too, a trace of confusion in his eyes.
He had come to win Xue Long over, so he'd looked through some information about him beforehand.
But the information he'd found seemed to be out of date.
He hadn't seen anything about Xue Qing getting into trouble.
Besides, the death of a mere high-level martial artist was such minor news that it wouldn't have caught his attention.
So...
The moment he said this, he suddenly felt a chill beside him.
A powerful aura of intent enveloped him.
He looked over in surprise, only to see Xue Long glaring at him coldly, both eyes blazing with fury.
"Curator Wang! Are you trying to humiliate me?"
Wang Xu was completely baffled by the question.
Huang Heyu was just as confused; he had no idea what was going on either.
"Brother Xue, what do you mean by that?"
Wang Xu spoke in a low voice. A trace of his own aura of intent rose around him, holding back Xue Long's pressure.
"Heh! Very well! Curator Wang, I meant to treat you as a guest, but I never expected you to be so shameless. My younger brother was killed by someone from your Divine Firmament Martial Arts Hall, and now you dare ask where he is? You've gone too far!"
"Get out! You're not welcome here!"
With that,
Xue Long pointed toward the entrance, making it clear he was throwing Wang Xu out. His expression was grim as he stared at him.
At the sight, Wang Xu's expression shifted.
"Brother Xue, could there be some misunderstanding? I..."
Before Wang Xu could finish, Xue Long waved him off again.
"Whether it's a misunderstanding or not, you'll find out after I butcher that little bastard Ye Cang!"
Ye Cang?
At the name, Wang Xu's heart jolted.
Wasn't that the peerless genius who had just joined their Divine Firmament Martial Arts Hall a few days ago?
He had comprehended intent at only the martial artist level.
He was already a prospective War Venerable candidate.
If Xue Long was telling the truth, then with the power of intent, Ye Cang might indeed have been able to kill Xue Qing.
That thought flashed through Wang Xu's mind.
What he didn't know was that Ye Cang had killed Xue Qing with mental energy.
Watching the cold resolve on Xue Long's face, as unyielding as iron, Wang Xu's expression turned cold as well.
"I know nothing about this, but Ye Cang is already a member of my Divine Firmament Martial Arts Hall. His life and death aren't yours to decide."
As the two men faced off, the surrounding guests gradually fell silent and turned to watch.
After several moments of silence, Huang Heyu's soft voice suddenly rang out.
"A life for a life. That's only right!"
"Even a member of the Divine Firmament Martial Arts Hall is no exception!"
He fixed his gaze on Wang Xu, his eyes cold.
"Heh! City Lord Huang, this has nothing to do with you. Why meddle in it?"
Facing a veteran War Venerable, Wang Xu possessed only the strength of a peak General, yet still stood tall, his presence no weaker in the slightest.
"Xue Long has agreed to become an Attendant of my Huang Family, so his younger brother Xue Qing counts as half a member of our family too. Tell me, does this concern the Huang Family or not?"
At that, Wang Xu's expression grew even darker.
"Since that's the case, there's nothing more to say!"
Wang Xu snorted, flung his wide sleeves, and strode toward the entrance.
"Xue Long, becoming a War Venerable is only the beginning. If anything happens to Ye Cang, even the Huang Family won't be able to protect you!"
"Arrogant!"
Watching Wang Xu's departing figure, Xue Long's anger surged. A startling aura burst out of him, as if he were about to attack.
Suddenly, an even stronger aura rose beside him, pressing his power back down.
"He may only be a General, but he's still the head curator of the Divine Firmament Martial Arts Hall here. We can't touch him yet!"
Huang Heyu shook his head slightly.
"But he's only a martial artist-level member..."
As he spoke, he looked down at the heads of the various families watching them.
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