Jun Long did not respond immediately. His gaze had hardened, his eyelids slightly narrowed. A subtle coldness settled in his expression. He weighed every word, every element, refusing to be swept away by anger or sorrow. Jun Tian… that uncle he had never considered a threat. Discreet, loyal, moderate in everything. But now, the chain of events and the speed of his rise gave rise to serious doubts.
He finally spoke in a deep voice, tinged with resolution:
"I want proof. Not guesses, not suspicions. Names. Witnesses. Concrete facts. If Jun Tian is truly behind this tragedy… then even if I have to travel through every village, every city, every mountain in this county, I will find him and destroy him with my own hands."
A heavy silence fell. Wu Shan, who had remained impassive until then, briefly lowered his eyes, as if absorbed in thought. His gaze darkened slightly, but he said nothing. Beside him, Shen Tu Jian gave a faint, almost ironic smile, as if he had been expecting this reaction.
"I like this side of you, younger brother…" he said calmly. "But I suggest we don't act just yet. Let's wait."
Jun Long slowly turned his head toward him, surprised.
"Wait? Why? May I know why my elder brother, usually so quick to act, now proposes restraint?"
Shen Tu Jian slightly shrugged, a calm smile on his lips.
"Have you forgotten? In less than two weeks, the disciples' competitions will take place. It's an important time for the entire sect. I've applied to become a core disciple. And you, if I remember correctly, aim for the elite disciple rank. You see where I'm going with this? We must be at the top of our form. If we waste energy or lose focus now, we risk compromising our chances."
His voice was calm but firm. Beneath his words lay an unshakable logic. Jun Long, after a few moments of reflection, slowly nodded. It wasn't bad reasoning. The journey to the city of Fenyan was long, potentially dangerous, and they would need strength — great strength — to face whatever they might discover there.
"I see. You're probably right, elder brother. No need to rush. These competitions are also an opportunity to improve. And if I want to uncover the truth, I'll need far more power than I have now. So I'll follow your recommendation. I'll do everything to obtain the elite disciple title."
In most sects of this world, disciples were strictly ranked according to their potential and performance. The classification was divided into four main categories: outer disciples, inner disciples, elite disciples, and finally, core disciples. The higher the rank, the more resources, training, and attention from the sect's top elders were given.
Thus, as a core elder of the Red Sun Sect, Wu Shan held considerable authority. He did not accept just anyone as a disciple. To be chosen, one had to prove not only talent, but also determination and ambition.
Wu Shan, observing his two disciples with a keen eye, suddenly burst out laughing, breaking the heavy atmosphere.
"You're ambitious, and you're right to be! I wouldn't expect less from my disciples, ahaha!"
He leaned forward to grab a steaming cup of tea near him, took a sip, then continued in a more composed tone:
"Jun Long, don't make this an obsession. As long as you grow stronger, as long as you cross the world's boundaries, you may one day find a way… to bring your family back."
Jun Long froze. He blinked, slightly shaken by those words. Resurrect his family? He had never considered such a possibility. To him, death was irreversible. Unjust, brutal, but final.
"Master…" he said in a hesitant voice. "Do you have such power? Do you possess a secret technique that can bring back the dead?"
Wu Shan gave an enigmatic smile, slowly placing his cup back on the table.
"Ignorant boy… You still know nothing of this world's vastness. I am merely at the Profound Realm. Enough to be considered a master in this county, but on the scale of greater powers… I am but an insect."
He paused, his gaze drifting into the void for a moment.
"Beyond this county, there are kingdoms, which group several counties. And above those kingdoms lies the dynasty — ours is called the Azure Dragon Dynasty. In this vast world, there are lost techniques, ancient laws, forgotten secrets held by those old monsters. I once heard the sect master say that hundreds of years ago, a powerful expert at the Martial Dominator level managed to resurrect his father and mother, whom he had lost as a child."
Jun Long listened in silence, arms crossed, his gaze solemn.
Wu Shan continued, more seriously:
"Our sect is only a rank 3 sect. Sects are ranked from 5 to 1, based on their strength and resources. And that's only one kind of classification. Above rank 1 sects, there are holy lands, regional or dynastic academies, and even religious sects of unimaginable power. If you're talented enough to reach one of those places, anything could be possible for you."
A long silence fell again. Jun Long stared at his master, stunned, but also filled with a new inner fire. What he had believed to be the end might just be a beginning. There was a path… however narrow it may be.
He clenched his fists, his gaze more determined than ever.
"Then I will become strong, Master. Strong enough to reach those lands. And once I'm there… I'll bring back those who were taken from me. No matter the cost."
"It won't be as simple as you think," Wu Shan replied, sipping another cup, "but there's no need to torment your mind over that now. Focus on the competition. As long as each of you achieves your goal, I'll give you a reward."
His disciples were thrilled to hear that, and moments later, they left the hall.
A few days later, in the city of Fenyan, in the Jun clan's residence.
In his room, Jun Xiao appeared to be peacefully asleep, lying on his bed, eyes closed. But in reality, his mind was elsewhere. He was within the system space — a spotless, infinite place bathed in constant white light. There, in the silent void, Jun Xiao sat cross-legged in meditation, eyes closed.
After a moment of stillness, his eyelids slowly opened, revealing a sharp gleam in his gaze.
"Good, I've finally reached the third level of Spirit Incarnation Realm ," he murmured with a satisfied smile. "My physical strength has taken a leap. I can now release a force of 500,000 jins. Against a mid-level Profound Realm cultivator, I'll no longer be at a disadvantage."
A certain excitement vibrated in his voice. This progress, though subtle to the outside world, represented a significant leap in his cultivation.
But soon, his smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. He crossed his arms, lost in thought.
"In this ruthless world, everyone has a weakness. And often, that weakness… is family. Enemies don't always aim for the head — sometimes they strike the heart. If I want to protect mine, I need overwhelming strength, or influence great enough to deter anyone from acting."
He sighed softly. His gaze, though ambitious, was clear-headed. He knew such power wouldn't come overnight.
"In the short term, I can't protect them myself. That's why I'm left with two viable options. Either I find a master powerful enough to make my enemies tremble… or I join a great force, a high-ranking sect or organization, that can serve as a shield."
He paused, then added in a lighter, almost amused tone:
"And I must say… the second option sounds far more interesting. A great force also means resources, allies, and why not… a few pleasant encounters."
A slight smirk formed on his face.
"Meeting beauties from all walks of life, forging bonds, forming alliances, maybe even taking a few concubines along the way… nothing strange in a world where power attracts everything."
As he was still lost in thought, a voice suddenly echoed in the system's white space — clear and emotionless:
[Alert: Someone is about to enter your room. Estimated time before door opens: 7 seconds.]
Jun Xiao's eyes instantly reopened in the real world. His body rose fluidly from the bed, still partly connected to the system's space. He had no time to speak before the door slid open gently.
Jun Tian entered with his usual calm demeanor, dressed in a long blue robe. He paused a moment upon seeing his son already awake, as if he had expected him to be asleep.
"I see you're already up," he said with a slight smile, hands behind his back.
Jun Xiao bowed respectfully. "Father. Yes."
Jun Tian nodded, then his expression grew more serious.
"Good. Get ready. We must leave today."
Jun Xiao raised an eyebrow. "Leave? Where are we going?"
"We must go to the prefectural city of Linghai," Jun Tian replied calmly. "As the new lord of Fenyan City, it is my duty to officially have our authority recognized by the prefectural administration. It's a matter of legitimacy. Without it, our position remains unstable, and other forces may take advantage to challenge our rule."
Jun Xiao immediately understood the gravity of the situation. Even if their family had seized control of Fenyan, until it was validated by the prefecture, the foundations of their power were fragile.
"I see. And how long will it take?" he asked.
"The round trip will take about six days, if all goes well. Once there, we must complete several formalities, meet some prefectural officials, and ensure the transition is properly recorded in the imperial registry." Jun Tian replied.
He paused, then looked at his son with meaningful intent.
"You'll come with me, Xiao'er. It's time you see more of the world. The Tongli County is large, like most counties. To make up for administrative shortcomings, prefectural cities are established by the county governor to manage each region. It'll be a good experience for you to see the outside world."
Jun Xiao nodded. A smile formed in his mind — this was exactly the opportunity he had been seeking.
"Very well, father. I'll prepare immediately."