Purple Cloud Cave is located high in the mountains.
Dragons are naturally fond of water, and a magnificent and beautiful river flows across this mountain range, surging and flowing like a silver dragon. Because it flows through Zixia Mountain, this river is also jokingly called the "Immortal River" by the people downstream.
Now.
Outside the secret realm of Zixia Mountain, the Master of Purple Cloud Cave, dressed in a dragon-scale robe, stood with his hands behind his back, looking at a young man who was bowing respectfully before him, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes:
"Didn't I tell you to go to [Bright Moon Prefecture] the day before yesterday to find some blood food to start your vegetarian journey? Why are you still dawdling here?"
"Father..." The young man's face was pale, his head pressed tightly against the ground.
"I have no interest in food or drink; I only wish to stay by your side."
"Not interested at all?" the Master of Purple Cloud Cave asked with amusement.
"Zi Feng, do you think I've never seen you drool over blood food?"
"..." The young man Zi Feng's body trembled more and more violently, and he remained silent.
Even without speaking, his thoughts at this moment could not be hidden from Master of Purple Cloud Cave, who was his biological father.
The Purple-bearded Flood Dragon is Mutant Beast adept at sensing emotions.
"Your bloodline is already impure, and now you even resist blood food that is beneficial to cultivation. How can you shoulder great responsibilities in the future?"
Looking at the three children in front of him who were almost curled up in a ball.
The Master of Purple Cloud Cave frowned slightly, his tone turning icy cold. "My Zi Kun lineage of talented people with powerful bloodlines, how could we have produced such an unambitious bastard like you?"
"I deliberately sent the local garrison away that day so you could go to the prefectural capital for a feast, and what did you do!"
"Just because you have half- Human Race blood, you didn't dare to make a move, fine, but you even returned the top-quality blood food that I sent to your residence intact afterwards!"
"Look at yourself, so weak and incompetent! And look at your older brother!"
"Not only did he personally go to [Qinggu Prefecture] to select blood offerings for himself, but he also frequently inquired about news from the local Manager in charge of the Heavenly Supervision Department!"
"And look at your second sister! She's only five hundred years older than you, and she's only a thousand years old in terms of cultivation. She's currently in the Central Continent waiting to participate in the [Five Continents War] so that she can offer her father the method to reach the Divine Connection Realm!"
As he spoke, the Master of Purple Cloud Cave's face grew increasingly gloomy, and he seemed to have an urge to kill this good-for-nothing third son in front of him.
But he ultimately held back.
The current Wanjing Grand Commandery is very serious, and even the Minister of Justice has told them to behave themselves recently.
If news were to spread now that the master of Purple Cloud Cave had killed his own flesh and blood, it would likely attract the attention of the newly arrived Guest Elder would come to "have tea" with him.
The Master of Purple Cloud Cave secretly planned to eliminate him.
But the location would never be chosen at Purple Cloud Cave, and the timing would certainly not be when the other party planned to come to Purple Cloud Cave to investigate.
That's far too suspicious.
"Don't get in my way here! Get back to your residence and read your Shenzhou Sacred Canon!"
"From now on, unless it's absolutely necessary, you are not allowed to set foot here!"
He directly ordered the third son to leave, kicking him out as he was preoccupied with the affairs of the Central Plains.
He was alone when he reached the front of the secret place.
Only then did the Master of Purple Cloud Cave resume his steps and head towards the hidden cave ahead.
The desolate and empty cave exudes an eerie silence.
Crushed flesh and internal organs were scattered everywhere, emitting a nauseating stench.
Sunlight streamed in through the opening in the ceiling, illuminating the many figures.
"..."
Several young men and women appeared as if they had just experienced some great tragedy; their faces were deathly pale, their tattered clothes stained crimson, and their breathing was extremely weak.
They were all prodigies from Wanjing Prefecture had been tricked into coming here.
As the most powerful Mountain Gate in the county, Purple Cloud Cave was far from the idyllic place it was rumored to be; instead, it was filled with the stench of cannibalism.
After learning the truth.
The comrades who rose up in resistance were torn to pieces before their eyes by the Dragon Head, Human Body, human-bodied Master of Purple Cloud Cave, turning into pieces of flesh and blood in the Cave Abode.
Even a prodigy from the Sun Moon Realm known for his "resolute character and mature mind" was among them.
Upon seeing his father's bloodied arm, he also became taciturn and immediately agreed to the old dragon's request to "spend the rest of his life cultivating here."
As for why they were required to cultivate diligently, everyone knew the reason perfectly well.
They were simply treated like livestock, and once they reached a certain standard, they could be slaughtered.
But knowing it is one thing, feeling heartbroken is another.
With their highest level being the Sun Moon Realm Peak, what ability do they now possess to resist?
Resisting means certain death, while submitting means living a little longer.
"Maybe someone will come to rescue us soon..."
Inside the Cave Abode, someone uttered these words.
This immediately elicited a lot of self-deprecating laughter.
"Who can save us? The strongest in your family, or the people from the Heavenly Supervision Department?"
"Neither of them can be bigger than Purple Cloud Cave..."
The air fell silent again; despair had long since filled their hearts.
Until heavy footsteps came from outside the cave.
Despite having given up hope, the group of prodigies couldn't help but look towards the cave entrance.
Then despair returned.
Then the nightmarish Master of Purple Cloud Cave walked in, a trace of anger still lingering on his face, suggesting that something bad had happened that had affected his mood.
He ignored the reactions of the crowd.
He looked up at a young man in the corner and said calmly, "You're the one for today. Come out with me."
As True Person dragon cultivator at the Divine Connection Realm, one naturally cannot live like an ordinary Mutant Beast, eating raw meat and drinking blood.
The blood, flesh, bones, and tendons scattered throughout the Cave Abode are the best proof of this matter.
The oil in the wok is already heated to a perfect temperature; all that's left is to add the main ingredients before we can start eating.
"... knew."
Upon hearing this, the young man in the corner paused for a moment, then nodded blankly, slowly stood up, and walked towards the Master of Purple Cloud Cave.
Then I was enveloped by his icy yet fiery gaze.
The young man couldn't help but say, "Such behavior will surely be punished by heaven."
"Divine retribution?"
A smile appeared on the lips of the Master of Purple Cloud Cave. "Human beast, are you discussing divine punishment with a True Person of the Divine Connection Realm?"
Throughout his cultivation, he has survived countless so-called divine punishments and has lived to this day.
Moreover, it is only natural for dragons to eat people.
Where does this talk of divine retribution come from?!
The smile on the Master of Purple Cloud Cave's lips grew increasingly ferocious, and hard scales protruded from his skin, quickly transforming into a terrifying dragon head.
He suddenly wanted to punish this ant who had threatened him:
"You..."
"Father!"
However, at that moment...
The previously departed Zi Feng returned, relying on its own bloodline to directly pass through the restrictions and rush into the cave, roaring at the middle-aged man who had revealed his dragon head:
"Father! Something terrible has happened!!"
"Oh shit!"
The Master of Purple Cloud Cave, his mood ruined, was furious and abruptly turned around. "Didn't I just tell you! You're not allowed to set foot here!!"
"Father, please forgive me!"
Zi Feng knelt on the ground with a thud, his voice trembling. "It's my elder brother's Soul Tablet that's broken!!"
These words immediately attracted the attention of everyone in the cave, and all the geniuses of Wan Jing Mansion turned their heads to look.
"What?!"
The Master of Purple Cloud Cave was also stunned, his mind momentarily blank.
A broken Soul Tablet basically means death and the end of one's life.
However, the eldest son of the family possesses the cultivation of the seventh level of the Heaven and Earth Realm. In the entire Wanjing Grand Commandery, apart from the current Minister who Empowered by Wishes, who can kill him?!