“What!? Do you object the decision now!?” an old man shouted at the man in front of him. He even glared at that man as if his gaze could show his power.

“I don’t mean it. What I wanted to say is if we keep swimming in this muddled water, we will only end up losing. Just look at those behemoths, they are not in the slightest inferior to us in any way. So please tell me elder, in what way will we have a chance to safely pass this?”

The man calmly asked in a soft and comforting manner which could soften someone's heart. What they had discussed was the plan for them to preserve their power amidst the storm.

“I’m afraid we are doing unnecessary thing by attacking rural area. Worse, my intel told me that our representative bared their fang at a certain city in the southeast. Did elder know whose city is it?”

The old man kept silent. In fact, he could not come up with a good retort and lack of the knowledge of the situation. The man sighed helplessly, as he looked at the old man’s expression which showed all to him.

“Remember that in the previous war there were several people whose influence could bring the terror to enemies, whose presence could increase the morale of our people, but sadly most of them are not remembered by our generation.”

The man stopped to see the old man. The relation between them could be described as a senior and a junior so sometimes they had to show their opinion regarding important issue just like this time. But since the old man became the elder, the man had to call him elder as well.

“I know what you want to say, there is someone like that on the location you mentioned right?” asked the old man.

“Yes, and did Elder know that the location our representative pointed to Xuan City? The Xuan City located southeast from our position, that is where one of the figures during the previous war resided.”

The man then continued, “I’m afraid that we accidentally offended him, no! Not only him but also his family and the people of that city as well. Even I received a letter that some of the disciples are inside the city but cannot leave due to the rules.”

“Rules? Aren’t they the hostage now? What do you mean by that?” the old man was piqued by this information. He even raised his brows as his hand kept caressing his white beard.

“They’re the hostage because they are involved but from what I can gather, they are safe inside the city. Not only they don’t receive any kinds of harsh environment but also they don’t need to worry about themselves. Somehow, I think we must send someone to the location.”

The man said. But soon he had to add another sentence because he forgot something, as he remembered that another issue emerged from the intel.

“And one more thing, looks like some important people also mixed among those disciples. For example, there is this female disciple from Seven Color Sect that comes from Zhao royal family. Other than that, someone spotted the carriage which belongs to Yi clan. So what does Elder think about this?”

The man looked once again at the old man in front of him. He waited for a response but the old man kept his expression not showing on his face at the least. It was until some time passed that the old man raised his head a little that showed the decision he had to say.

‘That city, those people, Zhao royal family? Is there something coming from there? Southeast means that....right! That moment!’

This was what the old man think before he raised his head. He remembered the feeling of a great pressure coming from southeast when he meditated, around a few weeks ago. At that time, the energy gathered there like moth coming to the fire. There was no way he could forget that.

“Tell me, junior.....what else you know about that city?” the old man trembled for a bit.He gripped the man’s shoulder and astonishment could be seen on the man’s face. It was so long since they communicated that way because their position was already different.

“I don’t know anything else. Xuan City on the southeast of Wutian continent previously was just a wilderness in the middle of nowhere, nothing to be reckoned. But in the records of history, the place was blessed by both the famous goddess.”

The man said flatly. This made both of them stared at each other in confusion.

“Did anyone else know about this?” the old man asked. But the man smiled wryly as if expecting the question to come out from the start.

“Then just keep watching. As for the advance, you try to persuade more people to halt from outside while I will persuade other elders. I’m afraid something big is going to happen, it's just the question of when.”

-

“How did this happen?” on another place in a remote jungle deep inside the underground cave, a middle-aged man frowned while looking at the stone tablet he held. He kept staring at the tablet as if to confirm his own sight.

“I can’t accept this!” soon he clenched his arms, completely reducing the tablet to a tiny bit of dust.

“I meditated here for some time! I initially thought so, but when I checked the time I spent here....”

He spent at least forty years doing nothing but meditating inside the cave. He knew the time because he brought a cylinder which the inside was two different color. The color of red and yellow was originally separated but now half of them were already mixed together.

The middle-aged man then moved to the entrance of the cave that was filled with darkness and despite that, he knew where he was going. When he arrived at the end of the cave, he tapped the wall in front of him.

That action made the cracking sound and the crack appeared on the wall before it spread and crushed the wall. A light came from outside, slowly gave the entrance of the cave lighting.

“Should I go there or not?” the man hesitated. But in the end, he had not wanted to go there yet.

-

A caravan arrived at the city. This caravan belonged to one of the merchant family that became well-known throughout the vicinity. The important aspect someone needed to know was, the family’s merchant used faster and secure transportation method which was why they gained fame.

“Ah, you finally arrived!”

Someone said enthusiastically. When the group in the caravan heard it, they instantly raised their speed and shortly arrived in front of that person.

“So, how is your trip to the southern region? Is it good? How much you gained?” the person turned out to be a middle-aged man that wore a robe with the combination of yellow with silver, forming a unique artistic design on his robe.

This middle-aged man’s eye looked like an eagle that locked on to its target when he stared at the group of the merchant.

“It’s really good, even satisfying. But lord, something unexpected happened in our way when we left the southeast. Because of someone that tried to buy all of our items, we already sold out all of them to that person and we just followed your orders to return once we sold all of the items.”

The spokesperson said with nervousness all over his face and body.

“Who? The person who made a deal with you, can you tell me who that person is?” the middle-aged man asked with curiosity.

“That person said that if we’re interested to sell our items to him at a better exchange. Of course, I also tried to dabbling and negotiating with him. After the long talk, that person decided to take all of the items we had. Even something as worthless as a pebble in our eyes was selected.”

Then the situation turned into more awkward as both of them only stared for about two seconds without speaking.

“So do you just do your job and return here, that’s all?” the middle-aged man looked disappointed.

“Father, wait for a second! I have something to ask, this is important.” Suddenly from the middle-aged man’s behind, a young woman came and moved to the front.

“What is it that makes you excited like that?”

All of them, including the group of the merchant, knew that the young woman was the daughter of the middle-aged man they faced currently. When someone talked about the rise of the new merchant family, they would remember the name especially when the transportation was totally different.

And the young woman was beautiful from heads to toe, not to mention her cold expression made her beauty somehow increased in a certain aspect.

“Young Miss Shen, is..is there something you need to ask?” the spokesperson asked nervously as he even did not know what was happening. He could feel the energy emitted from her was like a cyclone.

“Do you really not know or are you feigning ignorance? Surely you should have heard about the movement from every large power, trying to use the chance before the opening of the Stone Door. Now tell me, is the person that bought all the items left just after that?”

That ‘Young Miss Shen’ asked with her eyes narrowed as if she was trying to see a certain reaction from the group.

“Yes, from the gesture of that person I know that the person wanted to move as soon as possible. But what does it mean?”

Both father and daughter stared at each other and sighed helplessly. This made the group wonder just what was their mistake, or perhaps what they were doing that wrong in their eyes.

“Someone just takes the bait or the opposite, they intentionally let us know that one of the items we are trying to sell is really priceless. If only we could control the treasure...”

The middle-aged man frowned because one of the items he had tried to sell was, in fact, a treasure that even cultivators coveted. But of course, the treasure could not be detected nor sensed so easily.

“It’s better this way, Shuang’er. Either if the treasure landed on someone that truly desired this entire situation or landed on someone with the right attitude to change all of this outcome, it doesn’t matter anymore because the least I can do is to keep this business going.”

The middle-aged man said softly to his daughter. He felt that his daughter of his was truly daring to go to a large sect, participating the examination period and got accepted. From there on, she became a cultivator and exceptionally good at that.

“But look at you, you are different from Father. You have a better chance than me, even than your grandfather in the past. I just hope that you still remember your intention well. Remember your intention and it will let you know the direction of your destination, lose it and you will be drowned in your own doings.”

The father told his daughter about this. The intention was rather important, especially when someone was confused about what he was doing and the reason why he acted.

“But Father, I still remember well my intention to become like this. Every day you tell me about this and I feel like the child that easily forgets something.”

She just disliked the routine advice but did not truly hate it.

“Mister Shen, if there is nothing else then we will take our leave. I’m sorry if there’s any inconvenience in my service, especially about this time.”

The spokesperson interrupted to let them know that there was still the group watching. Mister Shen coughed to cover his expression before he returned to normal state.

“You can leave.” He said. After gaining permission, the group felt relieved from that moment onwards.

“Ah Dai, you are really great aren’t you? That’s the head of Shen family, doesn’t it? And look at your calm face when talking, I can’t even be compared to you.”

One of the companions then placed his hands on Ah Dai’s shoulders. Ah Dai himself was the spokesperson for them, someone who bore the responsibility to explain everything in detail.

“Yes, Shen family is currently developing their trading business. And the astonishing news is the first daughter, which we had seen before become a cultivator. We all know the lineage of Shen family in the past has no cultivator in their family but now...”

Ah Dai looked back at the two figures behind him, trying to dig something else but he could only see the face of the father and daughter turned worse. He could not understand the problem but whatver it was, that problem was not good.

They talked with high spirit, as if the matter before was just a fleeting cloud in the sky. But it was different for Ah Dai, for he kept frowning. He felt that he had to prepare for the worst.

Only after those group left that the father and daughter of Shen family talked with more ease compared to before.

“Father, what should we do? I heard that even my sect now has moved to stabilize the situation but from the looks of it, I’m afraid that...” the Young Miss asked worriedly.

“Don’t worry so much. As far as Father knows, nothing will happen at the short moment at least on the surface.” Her father comforted bt he sighed while closing his eyes.

Every time he looked at his daughter, he felt proud. But other than that, he understood that he would not be able to see her basking in glory. He felt dejected because of this.

“But if this continues, no matter what kind of methods we try it will just futile. And Shuang’er, do you get the position for participating in the tournament for the Stone Door?”

“Yes, Father. I obtained it and when the time comes, I will go. That’s why I come here to spend my time before going there.”

-

“Now what are we going to do?” Ye Xiaobai asked. He realized that their position did not change and even stopped. What he meant ‘their position’ was the position of the nest. Although moving inside the space cracks was not safe but to suddenly stop midway made one anxious.

“Don’t know. Even I can’t tell exactly the problem?” replied Yue.

Strangely for Ye Xiaobai, he found out that Yue knew more things than him. This made him wonder whether she truly was a slave like she previously said or is it something else.

“There’s something preventing us from leaving this space. Maybe we should ask Sister Wu.” Li Ling suggested. She could not think more than that for this. Of course, someone instantly rejected that idea.

“Li Ling, do you want to let Elder Sister Wu go out without knowing outside? It’s dangerous you know that!” it was obviously Ye Yingyuan rejecting her idea.

“So what are you suggesting then!?” Li Ling grew impatient and when she felt her idea was rejected, she could not help but throwing her tantrum a little.

“I..need time it seems.” Ye Yingyuan could not explain properly about part of the knowledge he had obtained. That was why he hesitated to give his suggestion despite the fact that he had known that the nest was stopped by a massive array net inside the space!

“Looking at them quarreling makes me remember what Young Master often told me about you. He said that you two often arguing with each other when something happened.” Yue said while lowering her head.

“I...I’ll get to the Culture Core stage soon and will get my revenge.”

Ye Xiaobai looked at his cousin with his warm expression before his eyes showed a cold glint. He clenched his fist tightly while also gritting his teeth.

“Don’t use that, please.” Sensing the fluctuation of energy around Ye Xiaobai alarmed Yue greatly. She moved closer to him, placing her hands atop of his and at the same time releasing her own energy.

“My reason for coming to this place was for you! If not for that, I will just return to my home without coming here. How many times do I have told you!?” Yue angrily glared at him.

“But what can I do other than using my current methods of cultivation?” Ye Xiaobai shrugged his shoulder due to the helplessness.

“Eh? Cousin, you still using that cultivation method?” realizing that he forgot to tell something, Ye Yingyuan suddenly stopped and even ignored everything. This caused everyone to look at him.

“What? Do you have something to tell now?” Ye Xiaobai focused his attention on Ye Yingyuan without letting him out of his sight.

“Why don’t Cousin use the method I give to you previously? I told you that the effect is better than that trash given by those people!”

“Alright then if you insist!”

As soon as he tried the ‘different’ cultivation method, Ye Xiaobai could feel the difference clearly. He basically could fully grasp control over the energy inside his body! Usually, he could not even exert the full strength of his own energy without the energy going out of control.

This was just a part of their days inside the space cracks but after Ye Xiaobai cultivate, a loud sound came from outside.

“Someone appeared!” from the voice, even Ye Yingyuan knew that his brother said it loud. Ye Qingcheng stood at the borderline between the nest and the outside, looking at the top of his position where countless lines appeared.

“That’s..” suddenly Wu Qing appeared with astonishment.

“Did Elder Sister Wu know that person?” Ye Qincheng asked curiously. It was because the person he had seen was floating between the net, drifting slowly but surely to their place.

“Of course, that person is the official leader of Northern Ice Palace! Hmm, may I ask you to help her?” asked Wu Qing.

“Me?” Ye Qingcheng doubted it. There was no way for him to be the person to go out there to save a person, especially on their current location.

“What’s going on here?” soon several figures appeared and Ye Xiaobai was the first to notice that there was a person outside the nest. The nest let anyone in the outer place see the outside due to the structure so they could see that the net which trapped the nest around them.