“Jian, to strengthen our grasp over the secluded spirit crystal vein mountain, I ask you to travel there and monitor the extraction!” The Family Master said once again returning to a stern and authoritative mood.

“I was guessing this was the main reason for your sudden visit” Jian said as he remained calm and collected not breaking the gaze of the Family Master. One had to know that the Family Master was a busy person even more so now that he had been in secluded meditation for months. The family master coming over just to congratulate and praise someone was highly unlikely.

“Did you breakthrough?” Jian said with a modest smile creeping up on his face.

“Hmph, yes, obviously otherwise I wouldn’t have been here” The family master said with complete confidence.

“Good!”

“With the family master in top shape, our position should only strengthen in the future” It was indeed true. The Family Master’s cultivation was unfathomable, to such degree that he was actually slowly but surely approaching the Sage stage. The Sage Realm, a legendary cultivation realm that less than a hundred people in the entirety of the empire had reached, was a surefire way to gain a strong position in any major city. Cultivation was therefore always a top priority aspect in any person’s life and even more so in families trying to protect their position.

“I will go immediately!”

The Family Master only nodded in response as he turned around and continued to travel down the slope.

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An extravagant flying ship flew above a never-ending forest. The ships size could only be described as breath taking, spawning almost a hundred meters in length. On the flag a fierce and overbearing white wolf howled, this was the crest of the Bai family. The wolf represented their ancestors, said to be descendant of powerful wolf beings that once roamed the world. These flying ships was a common magic treasure used to traverse large distances, the Jing Long Empire was just too large to travel on foot and treasures such as these was therefore a necessity. The flying treasure of the Bai family was by no means normal though, its price would account for almost a million mortals yearly salary combined. Its speed was vastly superior to normal flying ships which most mortal would never even own.

The ship continued to speed across the vast forest. On several occasions would they come across smaller ships in the distances but everybody would stay clear knowing that this was the ship of someone they couldn’t offend.

“Young Master “An elderly person said knocking on the most extravagant chamber in the entire ship.

“Enter” The white haired youth said as he awakened from his cultivation.

A sharp gaze met the elderly person as he walked into the chamber.

“Your cultivation is progressing nicely” The elderly person noted.

“Thank you, Elder Lin!” Elder Lin was a man even Jian as a successor had to respectful of. The position of elder represented that he had the highest cultivation base in the entire clan excluding the Family Master. His authority was actually about the same as Jian but this particular elder cared not for status. Elder Lin was a firm supporter of prosperity of the Bai family and the young master in front of him had showed both talent and diligence, obviously he wouldn’t treat the youth bad.

“Even my talented grandson can’t compare” Elder Lin couldn’t help but sight in response. His grandson was indeed talented in the ways of cultivation but his talent was rather far off from Jian’s.

“I’ve heard of young master Jun, his cultivation talent is nothing to underestimate, I will definitely be depending on him in the future” Jian was referring to when he would take up the position of Family Master.

“I’m glad to hear that!” Elder Lin smiled sincerely in response.

“So what did you seek me out for Elder Lin? Have you received an intelligence report?” Jian knew that the secluded spirit vein mountain was at least a couple of hours of travelling away. The most likely option was that the intelligence report he had requested had arrived. Obviously the Bai Family had already stationed several soldiers in the secluded mountain beforehand, to scout out the area and set down camp for the extraction project.

“Indeed, the intelligence report has arrived”

“A tribe with the name of Ko lives in its vicinity, their size is estimated to be around a thousand.”

“Surprisingly enough the entirety of the tribe had been subjugated to slavery by a local bandit clan by name of Erest for the last twenty years. The bandit tribe did not however extract the spirit crystals from the mountains”

“Most likely because they weren’t aware of its resources. Instead the tribesmen worked on other more trivial matters such as farm work.”

“The bandit clan was not happy once our soldiers arrived but Captain Hong eliminated any bandit who went against us. The bandits were terrified in response and left the area in a hurry.”

A small smile appeared on Jian face as he heard the report.

“So they did not extract the spirit crystals.. Seems that luck was once again on our side”

“and this Ko tribe might be useful for extraction” The coy smile continued to lay itself on the young masters face.

“Should I get things in order?” Elder Lin was obviously aware of the fact that the villagers could be used as a labor force in the extraction of the spirit crystal and was moments from suggesting it himself.

“No hold off on that. There is something that I wish to see before continuing” The coy smile continued to wear on his face as the ship flew across the sky.

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As Jian left the flying ship accompanied by fifty soldiers and Elder Lin his gaze laid itself down on the so called secluded mountain.  It was actually two separate peaks with a massive tear running across the middle. It was a mesmerizing sight to be seen, this once mighty mountain had actually been cleaved in two, or at least that it was the giant tear appeared to be.   

“The mountain radiates vast amount of Heavenly Ki” Jian noted as he and everyone else stared on to its twin peaks.

“It’s the location of a spirit crystal vein after all. A vein only appears in location with vast amount of Heavenly Ki, when it accumulates over eons spirit crystals are formed” Elder Lin noted as he continued his stroll towards the mountain. Moments after Jian and his entourage woke from their daze and followed close behind.

“Elder Lin, wouldn’t cultivating in areas such as these improve cultivation speed?” Jian asked. It was a logical thought since absorbing Heavenly Ki was the fundamental step to enter the Ki Realm and beyond.

“Yes, but the Heavenly Ki array in the Bai Palace is just as effective” The heavenly Ki array was the location where Jian would usually train.  It was a resource only available to those of status in the Bai Family, an ancestor from long ago had laid the array in the Bai Palace as his legacy to the younger generation.

“The reason I ask is because the Heavenly Ki here is actually very thick.” Jian murmured to himself as they continued to walk towards the mountain.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“Not even in the Ki realm and you can already feel it to such a degree” Elder Lin could only smile, this youngster’s talent was not to be underestimated. Those who were at Ki Realm were naturally sensitive to Heavenly Ki and could feel its presence in the air but the young master was not even there yet and could already feel the differences.

As the group was nearing the mountain twenty or so soldiers with the white wolf crest on their chest approached from a nearby camp. When the group laid their eyes on the people present they couldn’t help but grasp. The white haired youth had crimson red eyes and his every step was dignified, his gaze unwavering; beside him was a man known by all as Elder Lin.

Before approaching and introducing themselves Captain Ling turned around and faced his subjugates as he spoke in a low voice

“The young lord in white coat is the successor and future Family Master” Captain Hong was obviously aware that this young lord was no other then Bai Jian, the successor of the entire Bai family, but most of his soldiers did not. The Bai Family had close to three hundred thousand members and the position of successor changed quite often.  The name Bai Jian had been established in consequence to recent events so most people were aware of his name but had not seen him in person. This was mostly because Jian never appeared in public, he was a rather private person by nature and would only flaunt his power if it was necessary.

“Captain Hong greet successor Jian!” The baby-faced middle aged man said as he bowed deeply.  The men behind him did the same.

“Captain Hong please show me the villagers” Jian said.

“Right this way young master” Captain Hong said as he signaled towards the west.

“Did you receive the intelligence report young master?”

“Yes, I heard the situation here has been rather chaotic” Jian said as he continued to walk towards what now could be seen as a small village.

“Not at all, the cultivation level of those bandits was only average and we easily fended them off with the [Diagram of White Sky]!” [Diagram of White Sky] was a cultivation method exclusive to the Bai family and consisted of an array of high level techniques.  At least that what was the average soldier was led to believe; the technique in itself was only estimated to be an above average cultivation technique by the royal courts standards.   Never the less [Diagram of White Sky] was considered amazing for the majority of the empires population.

Jian only nodded in response to Captain Hong’s remark. As they entered an area beside the village a massive gathering of villagers stood clumped together. They had an array of pitiful clothing on their bodies, their faces and bodies was mostly covered in dirt. Most of them were so thin that they would put a skeleton to shame. The stench of sweat and feces made some of the Bai soldiers wave their hands and frown in response. As soon as the villagers laid eyes on the approaching people they grasped in surprise. The clothing worn by Jian and Elder Lin was too shocking to the remote villagers; they imagined this was what gods would wear if they ever decided to venture in the human world.

“Look at that white haired youth!” A young boy said in a low voice. Everyone grasped, white hair and crimson red eyes was indeed a shocking combination. Fear could actually be seen in the eyes of the villagers, as thoughts of evil wandered across their mind

“Is he a demon?” a young lady said as he was mesmerized by his charm.

Before the whisper could continue Captain Hong opened his mouth

“This is Lord Jian and Elder Lin of the great Bai Family. As I said before this valley is now under the control of the Bai family! And your faith lies in these men’s hands”

Moment passed as the villagers continued to gaze towards Jian and the elder. The villager’s faces turned sourer by the moments as they knew that their fate once again lied in the hands of others. Jian couldn’t help but whisper towards Elder Lin.

“Elder Lin can you feel it?” A bright teeth less smile covered Jian’s face as he continued to gaze in the villager’s direction.

“What do you mean?”

“Hatred. The air is theming with it, it’s like a million needles keeps piercing my skin” The soothing smile continued to brim on the young lord’s face.

“Especially the young man in the left corner” Jian said as he redirected his gaze towards a black haired youth. The youth was not very old, by estimates the same or a year older then Jian himself.

“He is actually directing his killing intent against me”

The elder could only frown. He could not feel even the slightest of killing intent or hatred but had heard that this youngster had a talent for reading moods. So much so that he could actually know if someone was approaching from afar. Senses so sharp could only be described as a heavenly gift.

As the Elder redirected his gaze towards the black haired youth he was shocked

“Young Master, that youth’s cultivation level is actually as high as yours” Elder Lin was shocked to the core. It should be known that successor Jian had access to the family’s resources and could therefore progress at much greater speed then the average cultivator, but this youth grew up in the wilderness and was actually his match?! The talent this youth pocessed was amazing even in the eyes of someone that had lived for over three hundred years.

“Haha” Jian laughed slightly. He was indeed shocked but by no means to a core shaking degree.

“He might even be a match for Jong Lian and Chun Ra!” Jian couldn’t help but smirk at the youth as he gazed in his direction. Jian was actually impressed; a youth from the wilderness was actually meeting his gaze head on without breaking off even a moment.  Jong Lian and Chun Ra was the undisputed geniuses of Yunkai and even Jian had to admit they were superior.

“With the right resources, that might be the case” Elder Lin said honestly. To be able to match their young master without any resources was indeed amazing, what would happen if he had access to resources then?

“Young Jian, I think it would be wise to reel him in as a retainer” Someone with such martial talent could end up in being very fortunate for the Bai family.

“Indeed!” Jian could only agree. He had rather quickly took a fancy to the youth, someone that could match him equally or even above him in cultivation talent and was courageous enough to challenge him even though he was repressed to the fullest was interesting to say the least.

“But someone like him will be bothersome”

“Why?” Elder Lin asked.

“His determination and hatred is the strongest in this entire crowd. He might accept my offer but he will never accept me as his master”

Jian turned around and face a stern middle aged man behind him.

“Mister Lu, keep an eye on that black haired youth and report everything note wordy”

Jian once again turned around and faced Captain Hong

“Captain Hong, continue with the extraction, use the villagers as the main work force!” 

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The first two chapters is mostly world buildning, the story will progress rather quickly soon :)

Comments and encouragement is appreciated!