"You don’t recognize me?"

Having failed his sneak attack, the handsome youth grew indignant. He had been spoiled rotten by his clansmen his whole life, and a look of displeasure now crossed his face.

Bai Zichen was baffled. In terms of looks alone, this person and Chen Xiu were the two most striking cultivators he had ever seen.

By comparison, Chen Xiu was more refined and graceful, while this person had a softer, more delicate air. Each had his own appeal.

’If I’d met him before, there’s no way I would have forgotten.’

"My name is Mo Changfei. Remember this name, for you will live in its shadow from now on! When I reach Foundation Establishment and Core Formation while you are old and decrepit, only then will you know how vast the gap between us truly is!"

Mo Changfei tossed out the harsh words, and as he turned to leave, his red robes billowed, making it seem as if the lifelike Fire Phoenix on them had come to life. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

This person had Dual Spirit Root Talent and also possessed a trace of an ancestral bloodline. He had always been arrogant and never paid any mind to the cultivators of his generation in Black Mountain.

Back then, at the Five Mountains Temple’s Inheritance Stele, Mo Changfei was found to possess a Mid Grade Cyan Simurgh bloodline and obtained a Secret Technique for bloodline purification.

It was with this Secret Technique that Mo Changfei completed his first bloodline advancement during the Qi Refining Stage, reaching a bloodline concentration comparable to the Mo Family’s Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

But even with such talent, he still failed to trigger any phenomenon from the Inheritance Stele and simply completed the inheritance process normally.

This made the extremely proud Mo Changfei burn with jealousy and resentment toward the three peers who had triggered phenomena from the Inheritance Stele.

Su Li and Chen Wei were both disciples of the Qingfeng Sect, which was one thing. But for a disciple from some unknown Cultivation Family to also outshine him was something Mo Changfei could never get over.

The moment he entered the banquet hall, he spotted Bai Zichen’s hateful face. Mo Changfei acted on impulse, wanting to make a sneak move and humiliate him in front of everyone.

Who would have thought that even though Bai Zichen was clearly in a daze, he dodged it easily, as if he had eyes in the back of his head.

"How ridiculous!"

Bai Zichen rubbed his nose, unable to recall where he could have possibly run afoul of this person. The man seemed a little unhinged.

However, after seeing the dazzling Fire Phoenix on the other man’s robes, his origin became clear.

’A disciple of the Fire Phoenix Mo Family. They certainly have the capital to be arrogant... I just wonder, once the Pioneer Decree is issued and the Pioneering War is over, how many Foundation Establishment cultivators will your family have left?’

Bai Zichen watched Mo Changfei’s figure with cold eyes as he followed a burly old man built like a lion and took a seat in the front row.

One Clan, five Foundation Establishment Cultivators, two thousand Qi Refining Cultivators.

Even among the Top Five Families, the Fire Phoenix Mo Family was already showing signs of becoming the undisputed leader.

A sufficient foundation of cultivators allowed the Fire Phoenix Mo Family to have a large number of Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivators, giving them ample manpower to claim all the Cultivation Resources around their clan’s territory.

The Qingfeng Sect would never allow such a Cultivation Family to expand further. The Sect’s Pioneering War presented an excellent opportunity to weaken the Fire Phoenix Mo Family.

According to ancient records, it was perfectly normal for a pioneering war to last anywhere from six months to a year, depending on the strength of the Demon Beasts.

During this time, vast amounts of Spirit Stones and countless resources would be poured into the front lines, and the lives of many cultivators would be ground up in the process.

The Qingfeng Sect was already showing a tendency to suppress the Fire Phoenix Mo Family. During the Pioneering War, they would surely arrange dangerous missions to take the opportunity to drain the Mo Family’s strength.

The cultivators in the hall were chatting amongst themselves, building connections and exchanging cultivation insights. Bai Zichen even saw two Foundation Establishment Cultivators complete a trade on the spot.

As a junior, Bai Zichen followed behind Bai Xianzhong, having to introduce himself and bow to everyone he met. After meeting a couple of people, he grew tired of the tedious formalities and simply sat down at his seat, pouring himself a cup of Spirit Wine.

’Plum-flavored. Not bad at all... Even the dried fruits on the table are Spiritual Objects. The Qingfeng Sect really is loaded!’

Bai Zichen took two small sips and felt the Spirit Wine transform into two warm currents in his stomach, causing his Chang Chun Skill to circulate automatically. After he refined the energy, he realized it was equivalent to ten days of his own arduous cultivation.

Moreover, the few plates of dried fruit on his table also contained a hint of Spiritual Qi when he bit into them.

Just the Spirit Wine and Spirit Fruits in front of each guest were worth dozens of Spirit Stones, not to mention the decorations of the banquet hall and the Spiritual Cuisine to come.

A one-hundredth birthday, for a mortal, would naturally be a joyous banquet celebrated in grand style.

But for a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator who had a chance at reaching Core Formation, it was merely a milestone birthday with some commemorative significance.

However, the one celebrating his birthday was of esteemed status, and it so happened that several new powers had just entered Black Mountain. The Qingfeng Sect took the opportunity to hold a grand event, providing a chance for those few Cultivation Families to integrate.

Among the cultivators who came to offer birthday congratulations, some were reserved, quietly remaining in their seats and not moving an inch.

Some were skilled socializers, like the few charming and beautiful Female Cultivators from the Hundred Flowers Sect. Each was surrounded by many cultivators, becoming the center of attention with their playful pouts and laughter.

Some, considering themselves of noble status, disdained conversation. The representative from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, for instance, sat at the head table, head bowed as he stroked a large golden dog in his lap. Someone, coveting the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect’s power, tried to approach and offer greetings, but was sternly blocked by two Qi Refining Great Perfection disciples standing behind the representative.

There were also several Foundation Establishment Cultivators whose bearing and attire were completely different from those of the local Black Mountain Cultivators. They had constant smiles on their faces, appearing friendly to everyone they saw. They were clearly representatives from Cultivation Families that had migrated from other prefectures to escape the war between the Righteous and Demonic Dao.

These Foundation Establishment Cultivators set aside their lofty status, even speaking pleasantly for a moment with any Qi Refining Cultivators who approached them, adopting an extremely humble attitude.

They also actively sought out cultivators from the native Black Mountain clans, setting up times for visits with earnest words.

"Purified Water Bottle, a Mid-Grade Magical Artifact. It can collect lake water and be used for both attacking enemies and protecting oneself... This person is quite generous. You can accept it."

Bai Xianzhong tossed a small Jade Bottle over.

A dark-faced Foundation Establishment Cultivator from one of the five immigrant Cultivation Families had just approached the Bai Clan. The gist of his words was that their few families had left their homes and only wanted to find a Spirit Land to settle down in and live peacefully, and would absolutely not infringe on the Bai Clan’s interests.

At the same time, he arranged to pay another visit next month.

Before leaving, as was customary, he heaped praise on Bai Zichen and also casually gave him a Mid-Grade Magical Artifact, saying it was a meeting gift for a junior.

Bai Zichen held the Purified Water Bottle. It was only palm-sized, but surprisingly weighed over a hundred pounds. When he gave it a gentle shake, he could hear the sound of water sloshing inside.

He only had the Ink Bamboo Sword on him, so he naturally wouldn’t refuse any Magical Artifact. He happily put it into his storage bag.

"Black Mountain already had the Top Five Families, and now the Qingfeng Sect has let in five more Cultivation Families... If you told me this wasn’t intentional, I wouldn’t believe you. Things are going to get lively from now on!"

Bai Xianzhong said softly, then advised Bai Zichen.

"To win the trust of the Qingfeng Sect, these five families will definitely send their outstanding clan members into the Sect to strengthen ties. But their thorns in the side will only be the Top Five Families. They will only try to win over and show goodwill to mid-tier families like our Bai Clan. When you get into the Sect, you don’t need to be wary; just interact with them normally."

"I understand."

Bai Zichen recalled that among the targets the five new Cultivation Families had frequently visited, the Fire Phoenix Mo Family, the Qingxi Huang Family, and the other Top Five Families were indeed absent. Understanding the thinking of these families, he gave a slight nod.

"Sect Leader Wei has arrived!"

Just then, a loud, clear announcement rang out from outside the hall. As a series of jade chimes were struck, the guest of honor, for whom all the guests had been waiting, finally made his entrance.