"Yun Potian," Shi Yi declared, standing tall with confidence.
"A fine name—clouds piercing the heavens!" the Golden Wolf Tribe's middle-aged man praised.
"A mere junior, not yet fully grown, yet already skilled at concealing his strength," the Purple Mountain Clan elder remarked with a sigh.
"Hmph, sneaky brat, hiding like a coward," the Thunder Clan elder scoffed, reluctant to admit his misjudgment but not bothering to pursue the matter further. Targeting Shi Yi over something so trivial wasn't worth his time.
"Caution and discretion are the ways of survival. Our clan started the same way," the Jiao Clan elder said with a nod.
"The Great Wilderness isn't humanity's domain—it belongs to the four great beasts. His approach is sound," the Luofu Great Marsh man affirmed.
"Over countless years, only one human from the Great Wilderness succeeded in rising, founding Stone Country in the distant east," the Snow Clan elder mused, stroking his beard, his cloudy eyes filled with nostalgia.
Logically, in a gathering of major tribes in this small town, a sparring match among their prodigies would inevitably drag in an outsider like Shi Yi—especially in the tales of storybooks. But this wasn't a novel, and Shi Yi wasn't the type to court trouble.
What did he care about their prodigies' sparring matches? Would stepping in to dominate them make him seem formidable?
Indeed, with his Tenth Heavenly Passage, Shi Yi's true combat power was staggering. Aside from the elders present, he feared no one. But what would winning prove? Taking the precious blood that is meant for their heirs would only earn him enemies.
As a rational person, Shi Yi saw no need to make the world his enemy or sow grudges everywhere. Even if he disliked someone, there was no need to offend them to death.
Of course, humans were inherently flawed, and conflicts were inevitable. When enmity arose, he wouldn't hesitate—strike hard and end it decisively. But if one's actions led to universal hatred, it was time to reflect on whether their methods were too extreme, their conduct abnormal.
___
A Day Later
With the public sparring among the Golden Wolf Tribe, Luofu Great Marsh, Purple Mountain Clan, Jiao Clan, Thunder Clan, and Snow Clan concluded. The Thunder Clan dominated, the Snow Clan eked out a minor victory, and the rest were defeated.
"Brother Tian, that Thunder Clan girl hit me so hard, and you didn't even stand up for me," a Snow Clan girl whined, clinging to Shi Yi with a pout.
"That was a contest among the six major tribes. I'm not part of the Snow Clan—an outsider like me shouldn't interfere," Shi Yi explained calmly.
"Marry me, and you won't be an outsider," the girl huffed, her tone laced with faint resentment.
Shi Yi was exasperated. Why were these Snow Clan girls so persistent? Can't you consider reality? Do you think I'm capable of that right now? And you're all years older than me—calling me Brother Tian without a shred of shame!
Women. So hard to understand.
"Brother Tian, my chest hurts. Can you rub it for me?" the girl pleaded, her pitiful gaze stirring a protective urge.
A passing Snow Clan boy couldn't hold back. "You women can't handle the slightest pain. We fought the Thunder Clan prodigies until we were bloodied, and you don't hear us complaining. All you did was pull hair—what's there to hurt about?"
The girl, who moments ago had been delicate, planted her hands on her hips. "Mind your own business! Get lost! If you ruin my plans…"
She stopped mid-sentence, realizing her ladylike composure had slipped. With an awkward cough, she reverted to her woebegone expression. "Brother Tian, I was just upset, my blood surging. I'm not usually like this."
"No worries," Shi Yi said, his brows twitching slightly, opting to say no more.
This small town, nestled deep in the Great Wilderness, had long been a haven of peace under its guardian spirit's protection. But the arrival of the tribal clans shattered its tranquility.
The townsfolk were on edge, unnerved by the sudden influx of powerhouses. As the weak, they had no right to resist the strong and could only submit. Fortunately, the six tribes were merely passing through, uninterested in the town's meager resources, even its food. They would depart soon.
___
Town Entrance
"This town is called Isolated Mountain. Is its guardian spirit a mountain?" a Thunder Clan boy wondered aloud, idling at the entrance. He noticed a stone tablet inscribed with two characters: Isolated Mountain.
Peering inside, he realized the town sat on a mountainside—the mountain itself was the town's guardian spirit.
___
Within the Town
"Grandpa, this is a sentient stone mountain, likely revered for ages and offered countless beast sacrifices. Its core might hold true blood rivaling an archaic relic's. Kill it, and I'll use its blood to temper my body—it'll be a huge boon!" a Jiao Clan boy, bitter from his defeat, declared loudly, heedless of standing atop the guardian spirit or the nearby townsfolk.
His words horrified the residents. Killing their guardian spirit was tantamount to dooming them all—without its protection, they'd have long perished to beasts.
Thankfully, the Jiao Clan elder didn't indulge him. "Jiao Peng, one more reckless word, and I'll send you back to your father for discipline!" he snapped.
"It's not like we haven't done it before. Years ago, a village's long-worshipped guardian spirit yielded potent true blood," Jiao Peng muttered, unrepentant.
Instantly, an invisible pressure descended, heavy and suffocating. Already injured from the sparring, Jiao Peng spat blood, nearly succumbing to the terrifying force.
"Silence!" the Jiao elder roared, his eyes blazing like lightning. "Stone and mountain spirits must not be touched—they're backed by true deities."
He seized Jiao Peng's head, forcing it to the ground with resounding thuds, then knelt beside him on the cold earth. "Great Guardian Spirit, forgive my clan's ignorant child."
Half an hour later, as the pressure lifted, the elder allowed the bloodied Jiao Peng to rise. "Remember, in the Great Wilderness, things aren't always as they seem. Some villages and tribes may seem weak, but their guardian spirits are not to be trifled with."
___
Town Center, a Quiet Courtyard
"Old one of Isolated Mountain Town, guardian spirit, pays respects to the Upper Immortal!" an elder in green robes and white hair knelt before Shi Yi—or rather, before the delicate willow branch in his hand, bowing to Liu Shen, who stood behind him.
Shi Yi stood motionless, his expression neutral, while Liu Shen's presence, though invisible to others, radiated an aura that commanded reverence. The guardian spirit's deference wasn't to Shi Yi but to the divine being he carried.
Upper Immortal? Shi Yi thought, glancing at the willow branch. Teacher, you're racking up titles.
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