As the guard departed, the grand hall of the Wang Clan fell into a low hum of discussion. The elders exchanged grave looks, their voices subdued yet laced with curiosity.

  “The Wu Family,” one elder murmured, “one of the Five Great Families of the Imperial City. Their current Patriarch, Wu Zhanfeng, shares sworn brotherhood with our previous Patriarch, Wang Lei.” The elders nodded, the old alliance still carrying weight even after the passing of years.

  Another elder said softly, “And the Radiant Cloud Sect—strongest sect in the Phoenix Wing Empire, unrivaled under the heavens. Their Sect Leader, a being of the King Realm, stands beyond the reach of ordinary men.”

  While their words echoed through the hall, footsteps approached, calm yet filled with imposing power. The discussion stopped at once.

  At the head of the group walked three elders, their steps steady and composed, radiating spiritual pressure that made the air itself ripple. Behind them followed a number of young disciples from the Radiant Cloud Sect, their eyes bright with reverence and restrained pride. Even the weakest among them stood proudly at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

  The one in the center, with a white beard and hair like frost, carried himself with calm dignity. All three were at the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm or even beyond, their presence commanding silence.

  Seeing their arrival, Wang Tian rose from his patriarch’s seat. His expression was respectful, his voice steady yet welcoming.

  “Welcome, esteemed guests, to the Wang Family. It is an honor to receive you in our humble hall.”

  The white-haired elder returned the gesture with a courteous smile. “Patriarch Wang is too polite. I am Elder Wu Sheng of the Wu Family. I greet the honorable Patriarch.”

  Before anyone else could speak, Wu Sheng gestured toward his companions. “And these are Elder Shen and Elder Mo from the Radiant Cloud Sect.”

  The two elders nodded in greeting. Elder Shen, calm and measured, possessed an aura that rippled faintly through the hall like distant thunder. His cultivation had already reached the early stage of the Soul Formation Realm. Beside him stood Elder Mo, his spiritual energy dense and steady—at the very peak of the Nascent Soul Realm, one step away from transcending to the next stage.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Greetings, Patriarch Wang,” Elder Shen said, clasping his hands with a faint smile. Behind him, the disciples of the Radiant Cloud Sect bowed deeply, their coordinated movement sharp as blades and refined as flowing water.

  Though the disciples appeared respectful, their eyes carried a trace of concealed arrogance. On the surface, they bowed with perfect etiquette, yet in their hearts, the Wang Family was merely a remote clan from a small city—hardly worthy of their regard. Their courtesy was given only because Elder Shen and Elder Wu Sheng stood present, not because of genuine respect.

  Elder Shen himself, calm as his expression seemed, felt little reverence for the Wang Clan. To one who had reached the Soul Formation Realm, a small-town family held little weight beneath the heavens. Yet, representing the Radiant Cloud Sect, he would not allow pride to stain his Sect’s dignity. His manner remained composed, his courtesy precise, though his heart remained unmoved.

  Elder Mo made no effort to conceal the disdain flickering in his eyes. His gaze swept across the Wang Family’s grand hall as though he were surveying a rustic courtyard far beneath him. Every movement, every breath he took carried the quiet arrogance of one who believed himself above all before him.

  Wang Tian noticed it clearly, yet his expression remained tranquil, untouched by anger. In his heart, Elder Mo’s arrogance was like the buzzing of an insect against the vastness of the heavens—insignificant, fleeting, and unworthy of attention. To him, a man who stood one step from the Soul Formation Realm was still but an ant before the true grandeur of destiny.

  “Welcome to the Wang Family, Elder Shen, Elder Mo, and the disciples of the Radiant Cloud Sect,” Wang Tian said with steady composure, his tone sincere. “Please be seated. Elder Chun, prepare tea and delicacies for our honored guests.”

  Elder Chun bowed and quietly retreated. Before long, a faint fragrance drifted through the grand hall, tea steam coiling upward like gentle clouds, blending with the aroma of freshly prepared delicacies. The once solemn atmosphere gained a touch of refined warmth.

  Even as polite exchanges continued, beyond the courtyard walls, rumors began to spread through Crimson Sky City like fire fanned by the wind. The arrival of the Radiant Cloud Sect and the Wu Family to the Wang Clan was soon known by all.

  In the mansions of the other three great families, elders gathered with uneasy expressions. Cups trembled slightly in their hands, brows drawn tight in concern.

  “The Radiant Cloud Sect and the Wu Family have both come to the Wang Clan?” one muttered.

  “This cannot be coincidence,” another replied grimly. “If the Wang Family wins their favor, the balance of our city will be broken. The Wang Clan will rise above us all.”

  Their voices grew tense, their faces shadowed by worry. In that moment, they realized the tide of power in Crimson Sky City had already begun to shift.