It took only a half a days worth of leisurely flight for Curo and his Squad to reach the Ji Clan. When Curo arrived, he couldn’t help but whistle when he saw the enormous city in front of them. Although they hadn’t abandoned their territory in Myriad Beasts World, all of the Core Forces of the Ji Clan had been moved here.

This was going to become the new headquarters of Ji Clan, that sat on top of one of the few Top Grade Qi Stone Mines in the Realm. All around the City Walls, the Banners with the Ji Clan Insignia, a dragon rising to the skies, were proudly fluttering in the sky. When Curo and the rest arrived at the City Gates, Uncle Zheng, Ji Long, Qing Zhao and Jing Fang were already waiting for him there. When the five landed, they all cupped their hands towards the four. However, the coldness in his Uncle Zheng’s eyes didn’t escape Curo, when the other had seen Mo Hao.

Although they had been polite on the surface, Curo glanced at Mo Hao and saw guilt, bitterness and helplessness. Qing Zhao then said, “Come rest inside for a few days, then follow me back to the Academy.” The four cupped their hands and acknowledged the order with a “Yes sir!” Ji Long had also noticed the interaction between his Brother Zheng and Mo Hao but he didn’t say anything. He instructed, “Brother Zheng, please, lead the guests inside and show them to their courtyards, where they can get some well needed rest.”

Uncle Zheng nodded coldly and gestured for the four to walk in. The four cupped their hands towards Curo and said, “It has been an honour working with you Captain Ji.” Curo gave them a nod and also cupped his hands. He didn’t ask for the Protective Artefacts back. When the four had left, following Uncle Zheng, Ji Long sighed and said, “Follow me.”

Curo nodded his head and followed Ji Long and company to the office space. When the four arrived there, Qing Zhao asked, “Exactly what the hell is going on inside that head of yours?” Curo tilted his head as he asked back, “What do you mean exactly?” A vein popped on Qing Zhao’s forehead as he forced through grit teeth, “We asked you to cause a small commotion, serving as a distraction.”

He then took a deep breath before yelling in a booming voice, “How the fucking hell did you get the idea of going to flip the Han Clan’s Imperial City upside fucking down? Not to mention just turning it upside down, you dragged their faces through shit by even putting our Alliance Emblem at their front gates and surrounding it with Protective and Restrictive Talismans!”

He then pointed a finger towards Curo and asked, “Do you have any idea how fucking badly you stirred this entire situation up? If it hadn’t been for me and the eight rest Peak Heavenly Sovereigns going to step in their way, their Sovereigns would have ripped you to shreds already.” Ji Long and Jing Fang were quiet throughout the shouting, Curo however, his face turned cold the more Qing Zhao yelled. “Are you done?” Curo asked when he saw that Qing Zhao was huffing and puffing already. It seemed like it took a lot out of him to not slap Curo into kingdom to come.

Hearing this question, the three were shocked. Curo then asked in a cold voice, “Are we in a war or are we just in a friendly competition?” Hearing this, Ji Long answered immediately, “We are at war.”

Curo then asked them, “Then what do you care what methods I use or what I do. In the end, it is either we all die or they die, what use is there for leaving them face?” Hearing this, both Qing Zhao and Jing Fang were startled as they glanced at each other.

Curo was right, this was war, one side lived while the other was annihilated. There was no need for face and cordiality between them.

Ji Long however sighed, “You can’t just go and flip their Clan upside down like that. This kind of a mission would have had a much better impact if we had done the same thing to the other Eight Clans as well.” Hearing this, Curo’s face slightly turned less cold while Jing Fang and Qing Zhao looked at Ji Long in shock. Before either of them could ask why the fuck he was taking Curo’s side here, Ji Long continued, “However, had a Sovereign or a Saint discovered what you were doing, there would have not been a way out for you any more.”

Curo shook his head and answered, “Each of us was always clutching the Transport Talisman, the moment they felt something was a miss, they were to use the talisman and teleport to a rendezvous location.”

Ji Long sighed, “But seriously, where did you get the idea to do something like this?” Curo crossed his hands on his chest and explained, “When I saw the mountains of Talismans sent over by those two. There were exactly enough to use them as a foundation for the [Heaven and Earth Upheaval Formation]. I was asked to cause a commotion, so what bigger commotion than to flip one of our enemies back yards upside down can I create?”

The three could only sigh as Qing Zhao said, “This is truly…. You are a ruthless person….” Curo however only answered with a weak smile, “This is war. It doesn’t matter how I do it, all that matters is that I do it. Results matter, not the way the result was achieved.” Hearing this, Qing Zhao gave Curo a long look before he sighed and waved his hand, “Okey enough. What is done is done. Although, we are all extremely happy that you did what you did. Next time, don’t risk your own life like that.”

Hearing this Curo gave a smile but Qing Zhao could understand that Curo would do something like that again without a second guess. Qing zhao then said, “From today onwards, you will be the Roaming Dragon Deputy. Your base of operations will be here and you are to manage the Squads that come here to rest, trade materials and so on.”

Hearing this, Curo raised his brow as he asked, “Will you give me some people from the Academy as well to help manage them?” Qing Zhao nodded and said, “They have already arrived here and have set up their headquarters. From today onwards, all the Roaming Dragon Squads that are on the front lines are under your command and jurisdiction. You have every right to punish any one of them if they break the rules and give rewards based on achievements.”

Curo nodded his head as he listened to his new responsibilities. Qing Zhao then added, “Since this had become the most forwards base we have, both me and Jing Fang will be in closed door meditation here. However, unless their Sovereigns attack or this place is doomed to fall, we will not raise a muscle.” Hearing this, Curo nodded his head in understanding. Once a Heavenly Sovereign from either side made a move, the War will progress to it’s final stage. Neither side wanted to push for that just yet.

First, they wish to weaken one another as much as they can. Also, you may never know, some people may break through to the Sovereign Realm purely by the help of the stimuli from the war. Any added Sovereign to their side was a welcomed feat. Curo then chatted a bit more with Ji Long and Qing Zhao and Jing Fang about the details of his new appointment.

At some point, Uncle Zheng rejoined the four in the office. His face was not cold any more but in his eyes, there was a complex look. Everyone in the room noticed it, however, none of them pointed it out. Seeing as the sun was about to set, Curo excused himself to go rest and cultivate. He had also been on the edge this entire time, he could use some rest as well. Uncle Zheng followed Curo out of the door and then guided Curo to his new courtyard. It was in the Main House as well and besides Ji Long, Curo and Uncle Zheng, there were only servants. No one else lived in this big house.

When Curo reached his courtyard, he was slightly taken a back by the beauty of it. It had a gorgeous and spacious garden with a small fake mountain, a pond, a stream and even some flowers planted here and there. What Curo liked the most was the gigantic, slanted willow tree that stood right next to the pond. Curo sat down on the porch that was in front of his room and admired the small courtyard. Uncle Zheng then asked, “May I sit as well Young Master?”

Hearing this, Curo frowned but gestured for Uncle Zheng to sit down next to him. Without another word, he then produced two wine cups and a wine flask. He quickly filled the cups and Uncle Zheng could only smile wryly to this gesture. Uncle Zheng took a sip and then asked, “Does Young Master know that Mo Hao is my Father?”

Curo sighed as he knew this was going to be about this. He nodded his head and Mo Zheng asked, “Did it ever strike you as odd that I follow your Father while my own is a Heavenly Saint?” Curo let out an embarrassed laugh as he slowly nodded his head. Mo Zheng then asked, “Did my Father tell you why I left the Mo Clan?”

Curo nodded his head and said for the first time, “These are the matters between the two of you. If you wish to tell me, you can but I won’t stick my nose into it if you don’t wish for me to.” Hearing this answer, Uncle Zheng gave a smile. He then looked at the sky and said, “This was shortly after I graduated the Hidden Dragon Academy. I found the love of my life, Qin An.”

Curo intently listened and didn’t hurry him along. Uncle Zheng then continued, “We fell in love, travelled the world, tempered ourselves. It was years later when Qin An fell pregnant that I decided to go back to the Clan and settle down with her. However, when we returned to the Clan, a Heavenly Saint’s son from the Main Branch saw Qin An and took a fancy to her.”

Reaching this far, Curo didn’t have to hear the rest of the story to figure out what had happened. Uncle Zheng’s eyes then turned moist as he continued, “I wasn’t planning on letting some Main Branch brat take the love of my life away, especially since he was a realm below me in terms of cultivation, so I trashed him. However, when his Father arrived, so did mine. When the other Heavenly Saint demanded that I hand over my wife and cripple my future path, I declined. However, my Father just stood there motionlessly by the side.” Hearing this, Curo furrowed his brows even further.

Uncle Zheng then looked down at his wine cup and said, “Just as she was about to be snatched away by the other Heavenly Saint, a figure appeared in the sky. The person who appeared was an old lady, more precisely, she was Qing An’s Master. She had always kept watch over the two of us. When before she tactfully approved of our relationship, then now...”

He let out a deep sigh and said, “Although she commended me on my bravery of not backing down, she could not leave her in a place like that. So, she took her away. She then said to me, “If you wish to see your wife and son again, become a Sovereign and you will definitely see them again. Until then, I will watch over the two myself.”” Hearing this, Curo sucked in a deep breath and asked, “Do you know who she was?”

Uncle Zheng gave him a wry smile and said dejectedly, “Heavenly Phoenix Empress, Li Xing.” Hearing this name, Curo was stunned. The Heavenly Phoenix Empress Li Xing was one of the Four Primordial Beasts like Jing Fang.

Uncle Zheng then said, “After she took them away, I left the Clan. As I wandered on my own, I met your Father. After he bested me in combat, I swore my allegiance to him. The rest from there you should know already.” Curo was quiet for a moment before he let out a deep sigh. Although he had known that it wasn’t some trivial matter, this was truly something serious. He could not blame his Uncle Zheng one bit for leaving his Clan.

He would have probably done the same thing in his shoes. Uncle Zheng then put down his cup and rose to his feet. Just as he was about to exit the courtyard, he said, “I don’t know what my Father told you but I suggest you don’t count on him or rely on him too much.” Curo nodded his head and seeing that Mo Zheng left the courtyard.

Now that Curo was all alone in the courtyard, he let out a deep sigh. “Things truly are more than meets the eye.” After saying so, he finished his cup of wine. When he was done, he gave the pond, that was reflecting the moon on it’s still surface, one final glance before he stored the wine cups and flask and headed into the room. Although, cultivators didn’t need to sleep and could replenish their energy and relive their tiredness with cultivating, sleeping was something Curo needed more now. If he slept, he could relax all the tensions that had been in his body these past few months.

The benefits of having a good nights sleep were several times better than cultivation this time and Curo honestly needed to rest. After he changed into some light clothes made for sleeping, he laid down on his two person bed and closed his eyes. For the first time in over a year, his mind completely relaxed and fell into a deep sleep.

Unknowing to him, his body started to subconsciously rotate the Qi according to the [Dragon Human Unification Art].