White City.

This was one of the thirty major cultivation cities under the jurisdiction of the Shen clan. While its overall strength was slightly inferior to the main city, it still ranked within the top five, serving as the central hub for several surrounding cities.

At the same time, it was also the region most severely plagued by demonic cultivator activity.

Several months ago, a large number of demonic cultivators had appeared in Azure Province. Their purpose remained unknown, yet they had thrown the entire province into chaos. To combat this, the two major sects, the three great teachings, and the ten great longevity families had all done their utmost to eradicate them.

Shen Li had been dispatched here specifically to take charge of the demonic cultivator issue.

Half a month had passed since his arrival. Under his governance, the demonic cultivators had quieted down considerably.

Today, in the main hall of the City Lord’s Manor, Shen Li sat upon a sandalwood chair, clad in dark brocade robes. His usually stern and icy countenance, however, now held a trace of awkward deference.

The reason was simple: seated in the position of honor was the Shen family’s eldest son, Shen Xing.

This bearer of the Innate Dao Body, this future Immortal Venerable, had just destroyed a demonic cultivator stronghold. Passing by on his way back, he had decided to check in on his second brother.

“Elder Brother, would you care to stay a few more days?” Shen Li’s voice carried a note of careful ingratiation.

He lowered his head slightly, his gaze falling upon the warm, glowing mutton-fat jade pendant at Shen Xing’s waist. He dared not meet those deep, tranquil eyes directly.

Since childhood, he had worshipped this elder brother immensely, always putting him first in everything. A significant reason for his previous hostile actions against Shen Xian stemmed from his belief that his elder brother disliked that useless sibling.

“That will not be necessary,” Shen Xing replied flatly. A faint golden spiritual light shimmered around his fingertips, illuminating his handsome, jade-like profile as he slightly raised his eyes. “There are important matters to attend to in the south.”

“Elder Brother, do you require my assistance?” Shen Li asked, a hint of eagerness in his voice.

“You need only continue handling the demonic cultivator matter. For this other affair, the family will provide support,” Shen Xing stated calmly.

His journey was not solely for dealing with demonic cultivators. The key reason was that the clan elders had discovered an ancient cave mansion. Though it had not yet fully manifested, its appearance was imminent. He needed to go and help the family secure control over it.

A flicker of disappointment passed through Shen Li’s eyes.

Then, he heard Shen Xing continue, “Regarding the demonic cultivators… you have done well, Second Brother.”

A slight smile touched Shen Xing’s lips. His tone was gentle, his gaze carrying a trace of approval.

Since Shen Li’s arrival, the demonic cultivators around White City had clearly become much more subdued. In terms of capability and execution, this second brother of his rarely disappointed.

Shen Li felt overwhelmed by the unexpected praise. He hurriedly said, “You flatter me too much, Elder Brother. I merely performed my duty.”

To receive praise from his elder brother was already a tremendous blessing in his eyes.

Shen Xing gave a slight nod and chuckled softly. “However… you are too cautious. A pack of rats in the gutter—just kill them. Why waste time?”

His tone remained elegant and composed, yet the aura within his words caused the air to tremble slightly.

In his view, his second brother’s meticulous layering of plans and constant scheming regarding these demonic cultivators was truly a waste of time.

Shen Li’s heart jolted.

“Elder Brother’s instruction is correct,” he said respectfully, bowing his head.

He understood clearly that a dazzling figure like his elder brother disdained resorting to schemes and plots. In Shen Xing’s eyes, everyone else was merely an ant; why would one need to exhaust their mind devising methods to deal with them?

But… was Elder Brother only referring to the matter of the demonic cultivators?

“Still, it is quite commendable,” Shen Xing’s voice sounded again, now carrying a note of encouragement. “You are the future family head. Father places great hopes upon you as well. Do not disappoint him.”

Shen Li’s posture became even more deferential.

Faced with his elder brother’s encouragement, joy rose in his heart. Yet, he also recalled the reason he had been sent here in the first place, and a wave of embarrassment washed over him.

He was supposed to be the future family head, someone upon whom his elder brother placed high hopes. And yet here he was… exiled…

Immediately, the face of the instigator floated into his mind—Shen Xian.

It was all because of him! If not for that waste, he would never have suffered such humiliation!

A slow-burning fury ignited within Shen Li’s heart. His fingernails dug into his palms until his knuckles turned pale white. His hatred for that useless younger brother grew even more intense.

At that moment, he recalled what his elder brother had just said.

A pack of rats in the gutter—just kill them!

Then kill him!

His resolve finally hardened into genuine killing intent towards Shen Xian.

After offering a few more words of encouragement to his second brother, Shen Xing strode away.

Shen Li saw him out of the great hall with utmost reverence. Watching as the other stepped onto a spirit sword and vanished into the distance, his previously docile gaze abruptly turned icy and sinister.

“Shen Xian… this is not over!”

The spring sun shone high in a cloudless sky.

On this day in Azure Province, a violent disturbance suddenly erupted. Immediately after, radiant colors filled the heavens as the indistinct phantoms of divine beasts coalesced in the air above an area south of White City. They lingered without dissipating, and the powerful energy fluctuations roused many cultivators from their secluded meditation.

They emerged from their retreats one after another, rushing towards the source of the phenomenon.

There, they saw an ancient cave mansion manifesting out of thin air, standing silently upon the earth before them.

Outside the entrance of the cave mansion, dazzling auroras suddenly burst forth. Countless streams of auspicious energy cascaded down like waterfalls.

Amidst churning clouds and mist, the images of divine beasts gradually solidified—scales and claws gleaming fiercely, whiskers and manes bristling with power. With each breath they seemed to take, the spiritual energy within a hundred-mile radius began to seethe and boil.

Countless cultivators gazed upon the scene with fervent heat in their eyes, their expressions twisted in intense excitement.

The emergence of an ancient cave mansion often signified that heaven-defying opportunities awaited inside.

Though no one knew what realm its original master had reached, judging by these manifestations alone, it was undoubtedly extraordinary.

Numerous streaks of escaping light shot through the air like meteors chasing the moon across the night sky, all aiming for the entrance. Yet, they all came to a screeching halt roughly a hundred miles away from the phenomenon itself.

The Shen family cultivators were already arrayed and waiting.

Dozens of Golden Core Realm masters stood poised in mid-air, their sleeves flapping loudly in the wind. Moreover, several Nascent Soul Realm True Lords sat atop the clouds, their oppressive might as deep as an abyss and as vast as the sea, causing the surrounding air itself to feel as if it had congealed into solid ice.

Beside the cave mansion, seventy-two black array banners hovered in mid-air. Golden light flowed between them, weaving together into a dazzling spectacle.

This was the Shen family’s foremost great array—the Heavenly Cycle God-Slaying Array!

“The Shen Clan of Azure Province is conducting business here!”

Clad in cyan brocade robes, Shen Xing stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His voice was as resonant as a temple bell. The mutton-fat jade pendant at his waist shot forth a beam of cyan light, sketching out the family crest which spanned a hundred miles across the sky.

“All idlers and bystanders, disperse immediately!”

This number one genius of Azure Province, the bearer of the Innate Dao Body and future Immortal Venerable, possessed only a Golden Core cultivation, yet the aura radiating from his entire being made others dare not look directly at him.

Everyone present felt cowed and dared not act recklessly.

Boom!

However, several rogue cultivators who refused to believe the warnings attempted to sneak past. The result was instantaneous—barely touching the edge of the formation, they were blasted backwards by the rebounding force, spraying blood across the sky.

The Shen family’s Heavenly Cycle God-Slaying Array was famed throughout Azure Province as a fifth-tier formation; how could it possibly be easy to enter?

The first wave of arriving cultivators completely abandoned the idea of forcing their way through, but they did not withdraw either.

Because this was an ancient cave mansion—who knew what opportunities lay inside? Moreover, Azure Province wasn’t a place where the Shen family alone called the shots.

Not to mention the ten great cultivation families, the two sects and three teachings alone were enough to give them serious trouble. They couldn’t possibly allow such an opportunity to be controlled solely by one family.

Finally, the immortal sects arrived.

In the distance, the clouds shimmered with emerald green light. The faint silhouette of a divine tree materialized, inspiring awe in all four directions.

The Patriarch of the Divine Wood Sect had arrived personally!

“This cave mansion was discovered by the Shen family; they possess the right of first exploration! One month later, the cave mansion will open to the public!”

The Divine Wood Sect ranked first in overall strength within Azure Province. With the Patriarch personally speaking this endorsement, naturally, no other forces dared to covet the location further.

The crowd had no choice but to disperse and wait until a month later, when the cave mansion would fully open its doors.