37. Envoy of the Bai Family

(6 Months later, Somewhere in the Golden Prosperity City)

Mo Tian's return to Golden Prosperity City was met with a mixture of curiosity and indifference. The city had changed in the time he was away. He could feel the subtle shifts in the air, the undercurrents of tension between the families, the whispered rumors of power plays and shifting allegiances.

He had been gone long enough to know that things would not be as they were when he left, but the city still held its allure, the center of influence, the pulse of power.

The streets were crowded as he moved through the bustling city, and despite the chaos of daily life, there was an eerie calm about Mo Tian. His eyes scanned the surroundings, always observing, always calculating. He could feel the presence of the informants of the 3 families, their eyes on him in subtle ways, waiting for him to make his next move.

The black merchant network he had begun to build over the last year had grown exponentially, but it still lacked the strength it needed to rival the more established forces in the city. He had relied on the beggars and his network of spies to gather information, but that alone wouldn't secure his place. He needed more. He needed to expand, consolidate his power, and push against those who would stand in his way.

As he left the inner city, the familiar sights of the high gates and towering buildings greeted him. His eyes suddenly narrowed.

As Mo Tian walked through the crowded streets of Golden Prosperity City, he couldn't shake the feeling that someone was tailing him. The sensation was subtle at first, a faint prickling on the back of his neck, but it quickly solidified into certainty. His instincts, honed through years of survival and cultivation, told him he wasn't just being paranoid. Someone was following him.

He glanced to his right, casually scanning the bustling market stalls, before his sharp eyes flicked toward a figure a few paces behind him. A man in a dark cloak, face partially obscured, moved with the kind of quiet precision that could easily be mistaken for just another city dweller going about his business. But Mo Tian knew better. The man's movements were too calculated, too deliberate.

A slight smirk tugged at the corner of Mo Tian's mouth as he changed his pace. The figure, likely thinking he hadn't been noticed, mirrored his movements. Mo Tian's lips pressed together in a thin line, but he didn't break stride. Instead, he made a series of sudden turns, leading the follower deeper into the more abandoned sections of the city. He wound his way through narrow alleyways, past empty warehouses, and into the crumbling part of the slums, where the buildings were older, the streets narrower, and fewer eyes were on him.

Finally, he stopped in front of a dilapidated building, its once-proud walls now covered in ivy and grime. The roof was partially caved in, and the windows were boarded up, but the place was still standing, just barely. Mo Tian entered the building through a hidden door on the side, which swung open with a creak.

As he stepped inside, he closed the door behind him quietly, but with certainty. He had lured the tail here.

He waited. The sounds of footsteps echoed outside, growing closer as the figure approached the entrance. Mo Tian remained still, his senses sharpened. The door creaked open.

Mo Tian's senses were on high alert as the figure stepped into the room, the shadows cloaking both of them. The moment the door creaked shut behind the man, Mo Tian's eyes glowed with a focused intensity, ready for whatever encounter lay ahead. He was already planning his next move, every inch of the building already calculated in his mind.

The man, cloaked in black, stopped just inside, not daring to approach too quickly. Mo Tian's presence was undeniable, suffused with a quiet power that made the air thick with tension. Without a word, Mo Tian's eyes narrowed, locking on the man. "What do you want?" Mo Tian asked, his voice low, carrying a sharp edge.

The man flinched, but quickly regained his composure. His voice was steady as he spoke, although it still held a thread of uncertainty. "It's not a matter of what I want," he replied, keeping his distance. "It's Lord Bai of White Lotus City. He sent me. He wants to negotiate... but I'm not authorized to discuss the specifics with you. He believes face-to-face is best."

Mo Tian raised an eyebrow, intrigued, but his expression didn't change. The Bai family had many connections, and their reach was vast, but White Lotus City? A place filled with its own network of schemers and power plays. What could they want with him?

"Lord Bai?" Mo Tian repeated slowly, letting the name roll off his tongue. "Why would he come to me? What's his interest in my business?"

The man hesitated, glancing around the dimly lit room, unsure whether he should speak further. He finally settled on his answer. "I don't know the specifics," he said, his voice quieter now. "Only that Lord Bai wishes to meet with you. He believes there's... potential for cooperation. That's all I was told to convey."

Mo Tian's mind raced as the implications swirled. The Bai family might have been looking to move into Golden Prosperity City more aggressively. White Lotus City was a center of commerce, but that meant there were always power struggles in play. Lord Bai could be trying to consolidate control, or perhaps he was merely sensing an opportunity with the Black Merchant network. Mo Tian's gut told him it was more than just some simple business proposition.

"Tell Lord Bai I'll consider it," Mo Tian finally said, his tone cold but composed. "But if he wants my attention, he will have to come to me. I don't make the first move."

The man nodded quickly, eager to depart. "I will tell him your answer. You can expect him soon."

Mo Tian didn't even watch him leave, already stepping away from the entrance and back into the shadows of the building. His mind was spinning with the possibilities. There was always something hidden behind words and veiled offers, and the Bai family was known for its subtlety.

As the man slipped out of the room, Mo Tian's thoughts settled into place. Lord Bai wanted to negotiate, but Mo Tian wasn't one to simply bow to demands. He would need to play his cards carefully. White Lotus City was a long distance away, but there were always ways to maneuver. He'd need to learn more about Bai's true intentions before walking into anything blindly.

But one thing was certain. If Lord Bai wanted a seat at the table, he would have to prove that he was worth sharing the feast.

Mo Tian turned, his eyes cold and calculating. It was time to make some preparations. If his strength was not enough than they would walk right over a kid like him.

After making sure he was not followed again, Mo Tian went back to his house in the slums.

…

(1 Hour later, somewhere in the slums outside Golden Prosperity City.)

Mo Tian entered his secret chamber, the air thick with the quiet hum of power. It was a place where he had spent countless hours performing movements and refining his cultivation, a sanctuary that had become a part of his very being. Today, however, it was different. Today, he was on the verge of breaking through to the next realm. His body had reached the peak of the Marrow Tempering Realm, and now after 1,5 years since his last breakthrough, he stood on the precipice of what lay beyond: the Viscera Tempering Realm.

He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. The marrow within him was alive with power, yet it had not fully transformed. It needed one last push, one final refinement. He had already tempered his bones to their maximum potential, and now it was time to focus on the very essence of his lifeblood.

Mo Tian closed his eyes and sank into deep meditation. He could feel his marrow, the very core of his body, and the lifeblood coursing through his veins. He focused on the essence of the marrow, the foundation of the blood that gave him strength. This was the heart of his power. As the marrow birthed his blood, it also sustained him, supplying him with endless energy and vitality.

His mind began to focus, his thoughts laser-sharp. He was no longer just aware of his body; he could feel the intricate flow of energy that moved through every inch of him. The marrow was the source of it all, and by tempering its very essence, Mo Tian knew he could unlock a greater potential than ever before.

He began to channel his inner energy, directing it deep into the marrow. His focus was absolute as he sought to accelerate blood production, pushing his marrow to evolve further. The blood that would flow through his veins would be nothing short of extraordinary. With each pulse, he could feel his body being infused with vitality, an endless tide of energy that surged through his being, strengthening his body with every heartbeat.

The marrow pulsed in response to his command, adapting, evolving. With each cycle of energy, the blood it produced grew more refined, more potent. Mo Tian's stamina surged beyond limits, his very body growing stronger, more resilient with every passing second. He could feel the regenerative power coursing through him, each wound healing faster than the last. Every cut, every bruise, mended almost as quickly as they appeared, as if time itself was bending to his will.

His mind sharpened as well, the energy that flowed through him feeding his focus, sharpening his instincts. His senses expanded, becoming more acute. He could feel the slightest changes in the air, the rhythm of his heartbeat, the pull of gravity on his body. His physical form, his very being, was no longer just flesh and bone. It had become an instrument of resilience, an unstoppable force.

Each pulse of blood that surged through his veins carried regeneration, each beat of his heart fed his resilience. His body was no longer simply a vessel; it was a machine, an entity forged by his will, tempered by the marrow that birthed him. He felt like he could endure ceaseless battle, never faltering, never tiring. His energy was unending, his body's regeneration limitless.

The transformation continued, his body growing stronger with each passing moment. Mo Tian felt the final barrier within him dissolve as the marrow's essence fully refined. His veins pulsed with power, the blood he carried now capable of sustaining him through any hardship.

As he performed the movements, the transformation complete, Mo Tian opened his eyes. His body was no longer just human, it had become something more. The marrow's essence had been perfected, and now, he was ready to move forward. With one last deep breath, he knew that he was prepared for the next step, the Viscera Tempering Realm. But that would have to wait for another time.

For now, Mo Tian stood tall, his body a monument to his hard-earned power. Every drop of blood within him, every pulse of his heart, now carried a force that could endure anything. He was no longer bound by the limitations of his former self. His next challenge awaited.

Seeing that the breakthrough was successful, Mo Tian went out again.

…