Outside the Council Hall of the Iron Sword Sect.

Gao Yuanzhao stood solemnly before the cold stone steps, the murderous intent churning in his eyes threatening to spill out. The Earth Fiend aura around him, still unstable from his recent breakthrough, fluctuated uncontrollably.

He could never have imagined that during the months he spent in seclusion breaking through to the Earth Fiend realm, his clan, far away on Changshan Mountain, would suffer a catastrophic disaster—slaughtered to the last soul! And the murderer was none other than the Deputy Captain of the Jingwu Bureau’s G Camp, a man named Chen Sheng!

The moment he learned of the tragic news, he felt as if he’d been struck by lightning. Immediately, boundless grief and rage consumed him.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he suppressed the roiling emotions that threatened to tear him apart and came straight to the Council Hall, the heart of the sect, to request an audience with the Sect Leader.

This was a blood feud that could not be shared under the same sky!

The blood debt of the several hundred members of the Gao Family had to be paid with the head of their enemy.

Without his clan’s full support, how could he, Gao Yuanzhao, ever have hoped to join the Iron Sword Sect?

They had supported him wholeheartedly with Cultivation Resources. It was only because his clan had spared no expense to help him that he was able to purchase the Innate Spiritual Qi—that crucial Spiritual Object.

Because of this, for decades, Gao Yuanzhao, grateful for his family’s kindness, had been exceedingly cautious within the sect, careful never to make enemies, for fear of bringing disaster upon his clan.

His contact with his family had dwindled in recent years, not because his affection had faded, but because he knew he was nearly sixty. The risks of Condensing Evil were immense, and he feared he might not survive. He had intended for his family to adapt ahead of time, so they wouldn’t be overly reliant on him alone.

Who could have known that after he had risked everything and, by a stroke of luck, succeeded in Condensing Evil, just as he was about to bring glory to his family, he would be met with the shocking news of his clan’s annihilation?

If he did not avenge this feud, he, Gao Yuanzhao, would be unworthy of being a man, and would have no face to meet his ancestors in the underworld.

"Steward Gao, the Sect Leader will see you now."

A disciple in a green robe walked out of the hall and reported with a clasped-fist salute.

Gao Yuanzhao took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his churning qi, blood, and murderous intent. He ascended the steps with heavy feet, one by one, and walked into the solemn and stately Grand Conference Hall.

The great hall was empty, save for a figure seated on the main throne at the head of the room.

The man wore an embroidered robe with a cloud pattern. His face seemed ordinary, but his eyes held a natural authority as they opened and closed. His aura was as deep as the ocean. This was the Sect Leader of the Iron Sword Sect, Lu Qingsong.

"Gao Yuanzhao pays his respects to the Sect Leader."

Gao Yuanzhao bowed deeply, his voice slightly hoarse with suppression.

Lu Qingsong’s gaze fell upon him, calm and undisturbed.

"The sect was already aware of the Gao Family’s matter. We chose not to inform you because we were concerned it might disturb your state of mind during a critical breakthrough. Do you hold any resentment in your heart?"

"I would not dare."

Gao Yuanzhao bowed his head low, desperately holding back his surging emotions. Even if he was dissatisfied, he wouldn’t dare voice it now. He only said in a low voice, "I just wish to implore the Sect Leader to seek justice for the hundreds of wronged souls of my Gao Family."

Lu Qingsong shook his head slightly, his tone growing cold.

"If this were an ordinary Jianghu dispute, the sect might be able to mediate on your behalf. But this time is different. The actions of the Changshan Gao Clan have already crossed the Government Office’s bottom line. The previous County Captain of Changshan died while suppressing bandits, and the Gao Family’s shadow was behind it. That is a provocation against the authority of the court.

"Afterward, they showed no restraint, ultimately enraging the Prefecture Government Office and bringing its thunderous wrath down upon themselves. This was a path to self-destruction; they have no one to blame but themselves. Besides, how do you expect the sect to seek justice for you?

"Do you expect the Iron Sword Sect to completely break ties with the Ning’an Prefecture Government Office and execute a Deputy Captain of the Jingwu Bureau, all for a county-level family that defied the court?"

There has always been a tacit understanding and a clear boundary between the Government Office and the sects.

Minor frictions were constant, but both sides did their utmost to avoid large-scale conflicts.

Tearing all ties with the Government Office over a family that was already destroyed was not something the leader of a sect would do.

Moreover, before Gao Yuanzhao succeeded in Condensing Evil, he was nearly sixty, his potential almost exhausted. The sect was already unwilling to invest too many resources in him, let alone go to war on his behalf.

They just hadn’t expected him to actually succeed.

But even so, it was still not enough for the Iron Sword Sect to go to war for him.

After all, while Gao Yuanzhao was a steward of the Iron Sword Sect, the Gao Family could not even be considered a vassal of the sect.

"Sect Leader, I..." Gao Yuanzhao’s fists clenched, his knuckles turning white from the force.

"Enough."

Lu Qingsong cut him off, his tone softening slightly. "I know you are eager for revenge, but things have already come to this, and impulsiveness will not help. If you are willing to let go of this feud, the sect can grant you resources to help you rebuild the Gao Clan and continue your bloodline.

"As for revenge... that Deputy Captain of G Camp, Chen Sheng, is backed by the Jingwu Bureau’s Governor, Nie Xuanfeng. It would be best to let this matter drop."

Gao Yuanzhao’s face turned deathly pale, his eyes filled with indignation and despair. He abruptly looked up and said through gritted teeth:

"Sect Leader, without my clan’s support, I would have died without ever glimpsing the gate to the Innate realm. I am now nearly sixty, and my qi and blood have begun to decline. But that Chen Sheng is already Innate in his twenties, and he has earned Nie Xuanfeng’s favor.

"If he is given a few more years, I will have no hope of revenge in this lifetime! I implore the Sect Leader to grant me permission to leave the mountain and settle this blood feud!"

Hearing this, Lu Qingsong’s gaze grew indifferent.

"Have you thought this through?"

"This is a feud of blood as deep as the sea, one that cannot be shared under the same sky! I... have made up my mind!"

Gao Yuanzhao’s words were slow and deliberate, each one spoken with iron resolve.

Lu Qingsong was silent for a moment before he slowly spoke:

"If that is the case, then do as you wish."

A glimmer of hope had just appeared in Gao Yuanzhao’s eyes, and he was about to offer his thanks when Lu Qingsong’s next words plunged him into an icy abyss, draining all color from his face.

"There is no need to thank me. From this day forward, you, Gao Yuanzhao, are no longer a steward of the Iron Sword Sect. All your future actions have nothing to do with the Iron Sword Sect. Whether you live or die is your own responsibility."