The flames of war between the Righteous and Demonic Daos in Mizhou did not die down with the passage of time. Instead, they burned ever more fiercely.

On the side of the Righteous Dao, a Core Formation True Man from the Righteous Alliance was cornered in a valley by several old demon Core Formation cultivators. His Golden Core was shattered, and he was brutally besieged and killed.

This marked an escalation in the war’s intensity, raising it to a new level.

Core Formation True Men entered the fray one after another, seeking out opponents to fight to the death. Some even shamelessly attacked Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining juniors.

In just a few short days, the casualties surpassed the total from the previous three months combined.

At this point, even the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, which had always remained neutral, was dragged into the conflict.

The ceaseless fighting had already destroyed three of their Beast Taming Bases.

Before the Supreme Elder of Ten Thousand Beasts Sect achieved his Dao, he had once received a favor from the Righteous Alliance. After deciding to join the war, he immediately sided with the Righteous Dao.

With the help of Mizhou’s number one sect, the tide of battle immediately turned.

After all, every disciple of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect had a Lifebound Spiritual Beast, effectively doubling their combat power.

Take their Supreme Elder, for example. With his Late-Stage Core Formation Cultivation paired with his Tier Three Late Stage Lifebound Spiritual Beast, the Gold-Devouring Earth Dragon, he could even fight a Perfect Core Formation Cultivator.

The Demon Path immediately fell into a disadvantage, suffering several consecutive defeats. They could only barely hold on by relying on their Grand Arrays.

The Bai Family’s merchant caravan was nearly caught up in the war. A retreating squad of Demon Path Cultivators happened upon the Qingfeng Sect’s Spirit Ship and immediately turned into Tribulation Cultivators.

A fierce battle broke out. Fortunately, two Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Qingfeng Sect were present on the Spirit Ship. With the ship’s arrays fully activated, they managed to fight their way back to Black Mountain County, but it was a close call.

Meanwhile, the massive influx of Cultivators in a short period caused public order in Black Mountain County to deteriorate rapidly.

The Qingfeng Sect could finally sit still no longer. They issued a Decree, announcing it to all.

All Cultivators entering Black Mountain County must remain within designated areas. They are not permitted to move about freely, and they are strictly forbidden from engaging in Combat or quarrels that might affect Mortals.

Violators will all be expelled from Black Mountain County.

At the same time, Master Yangg personally led large groups of Qingfeng Sect disciples to spread out and maintain order.

This two-pronged approach succeeded in stabilizing the situation.

What followed were lengthy negotiations on how to handle the over one thousand new Cultivators.

...

The turbulent changes in the outside world made the local Cultivation Families of Black Mountain nervous.

The most obvious sign of this was the increasing frequency of visits and interactions between these clans.

Meanwhile, in the Market, the prices of items that could directly enhance one’s combat strength, such as Arrays, Magical Artifacts, and Talismans, saw a significant increase.

’Sixteen years old... According to the Mortal customs of Black Mountain County, I’m already at the age to start my own household and get married.’

Bai Zichen slowly ceased his cultivation, the sharp glint in his eyes gradually fading back to calmness.

The Magical Power emanating from him was clearly that of the Qi Refining Sixth Layer!

After cultivating the Chang Chun Skill to the peak of the fifth level, he had taken another Qi Replenishing Pill and broken through naturally, without any need for a Barrier-Breaking Elixir.

’This breakthrough was expected. After all, it’s just a single small realm within Mid-Stage Qi Refining, hardly a major bottleneck... The next stage, Late-Stage Qi Refining, is the real test!’

Reaching the Qi Refining Seventh Layer would place one among the top ranks of the Black Mountain Loose Cultivators; even within a Cultivation Family like the Ink Bamboo Bai Family, it was considered a core fighting strength.

The vast majority of low-level Cultivators were stuck at this bottleneck for their entire lives, dying of old age without ever taking that next step.

Take Bai Jiu’an, for example. Before being granted a Barrier-Breaking Pill, he had been stuck at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer for four or five years.

If not for the aid of the elixir, allowing him a lucky breakthrough, it would have been normal for that hurdle to hold him back for another decade or more.

Bai Zichen got up and pushed open the door of his room, which was located inside a Cave Mansion that had been partitioned into several Cultivation Chambers.

A Spirit Gathering Array had been used to raise the Spiritual Qi inside the Cultivation Chambers to Tier Two Mid Grade.

One could say that aside from the secluded cultivation spot of the Clan Leader, Bai Xianzhong, this was the place with the most abundant Spiritual Qi in the entire Bai Family.

’The conditions here are much better than in my own courtyard, and it’s far safer... This was contribution well spent. I’ll have to rent it again next time.’

This Cave Mansion was originally built by the previous Clan Leader. After he passed away, it lay vacant for decades before being converted into five Cultivation Chambers and one Alchemy Room ten years ago. Clan Cultivators in need could rent them for a period of time by spending clan contribution points.

However, the rental fee of fifty clan contribution points per month meant the Cultivation Chambers in the Cave Mansion were vacant most of the year.

Only clan members at the critical moment of breaking through a bottleneck, hoping the abundant Spiritual Qi here would increase their chances, would grit their teeth and rent a room.

An act like Bai Zichen’s—renting a chamber for two whole months just for normal cultivation—was completely unheard of.

The Bai Family had consolidated its forces, gathering the main clan members on Hanxiu Peak, which greatly enhanced their security.

There was just one downside: the personal space for each Cultivator had shrunk. Gone were the days when one person could occupy an entire mountain, free to build and design as they pleased. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Bai Zichen wanted some peace and quiet to stabilize the Magical Power from his recent breakthrough. He was taking a stroll through the bamboo forest when a few boisterous youths came running over recklessly.

"Hurry! Hurry! If we’re late, we’ll miss the show!"

"That pretty boy from the Chen Family is so annoying! He’s got a sharp tongue and hits so hard. I heard he even broke Bai Wei’s arm!"

"Someone went to tell Sister Ling! There’s no way he’s stronger than her!"

Bai Zichen stood behind a stalk of Profound Ink Bamboo, listening to the boys yelling as they ran. His brow furrowed, and he shouted at the one in the middle, "Bai Qiguang, stop right there!"

"Brother Chenn... what a coincidence."

The tall youth who had been called out skidded to a halt. The excitement on his face vanished, replaced by the look of a child caught misbehaving by an elder.

Bai Qiguang was the very same Four Spirit Root Immortal Seedling that Bai Zichen had brought back from the Spirit-Guiding Ceremony last year. His Spiritual Root had only been discovered two years late due to a serious illness.

In reality, the two were close in age. But since Bai Zichen was the one who had guided Bai Qiguang onto the Immortal Path, and was also the clan’s most famous genius, Bai Qiguang naturally regarded himself as being of a junior generation.

The two times they had met, he had always been exceedingly respectful, observing all the proper etiquette of a junior.

"You’ve all become Cultivators, yet you’re still shouting and making a ruckus without any decorum. You’ll be in for it if you run into an Elder!"

Bai Zichen didn’t actually intend to scold his younger clan brothers. It was normal for youths to be playful and seek entertainment.

When they would finally awaken and devote themselves to cultivation depended on their own individual karma.

"You said Bai Wei’s arm was broken? What happened... by an outsider, no less. Was it a friendly spar or a deliberate provocation?"

"Brother Chenn, let me tell you! I was there from the very beginning. I only ran off just now to get help. I saw the whole thing!"

A skinny, monkey-like youth next to Bai Qiguang, with bright, clever eyes, spoke up first.

After Bai Zichen’s sharp reprimand, the four youths stood obediently in place, too intimidated to move a muscle.

In the few short years since joining the clan, his cultivation had progressed with divine speed. He had surpassed Bai Wei to claim the spot for the Five Mountains Temple’s Inheritance Stele, and had then dominated the younger generation of Black Mountain, making a considerable name for himself.

Coupled with the fact that Bai Zichen was a recluse focused solely on cultivation, his image had become all the more mysterious.

In the hearts of the Bai Family’s younger generation of Cultivators, he had unknowingly established such a powerful presence.