Chapter 24: Brewing Storm
Chapter 24: Brewing Storm
The night grew heavier, swallowing the world in its cold embrace. The moon hung lazily in the sky, partially shrouded by thin veils of drifting clouds. A gentle wind swept through Clear Water City, rustling leaves and caressing rooftops. The once-bustling city had now fallen silent—merchants retired, street lamps flickered weakly, and only the distant howls of wild dogs or the occasional hoot of an owl echoed through the dark.
Within the Xiao Family compound, a small courtyard sat in isolation. Dew had begun to settle, coating the leaves and stone pavements in a sheen of silver. Lanterns dimly lit the corners, flickering uncertainly as though unwilling to disturb the solemn air surrounding it.
Inside the modest room at the heart of the courtyard, Xiao Chen sat quietly upon his simple wooden bed, his back resting against the cold wall. His brows furrowed, deep in thought, while his fingers rhythmically tapped against his lips—tap… tap… tap…
The youthful cultivator had remained there for hours, unmoving, lost in his sea of contemplation.
"I have made my choice."
His voice was barely a whisper, yet it carried the weight of a lifetime's decision.
"The Martial Path I will tread… shall be the Path of Trinity."
His eyes gleamed under the pale moonlight filtering through the window—resolute, calm, and unwavering.
"Energy… Body… Soul… I will cultivate all three. Only then will my foundation be unshakable."
He had always known this path wouldn't be easy, but it was only now, with his heart calm and his mind clear, that he saw the mountain standing before him.
"The elements… I seek to bend all of them to my will. It might sound insane, but… with my Exceptional Yin-Yang Affinity and the Heavenly Refining Art… I was enlightened that it is possible."
He exhaled deeply, his breath fogging in the cold air.
"But what qualifications must I meet? What trials await? Perhaps… the Mystic Beast Forest holds the answers I seek."
Xiao Chen's eyes narrowed. The Mystic Beast Forest was treacherous, home to countless spirit beasts and mysteries, but it also harbored treasures and ancient inheritances.
"Had I walked the path of Energy Cultivation alone, things would've been easier. I could've relied solely on the Heaven Refining Art. But now… Body and Soul Cultivation… Both pathways will demand resources and treasures beyond what I currently possess."
He smirked bitterly, his fingers tightening into fists.
"The Elemental Dao Sect... If I prove my potential, they will not hesitate to invest heavily in me. After all, they value talent above all else. I can only take the gamble."
The night air carried a sense of foreboding, but also—opportunity.
Xiao Chen's mind dissected the cultivation systems laid bare before him:
Energy Cultivation:
Martial Disciple, Martial Apprentice, Martial Adept, Martial Core, Martial Soul, Martial Master, Martial Grandmaster, Martial Lord, Martial King, Martial Monarch, Martial Emperor, Martial Saint Realm.
Body Cultivation:
Body Tempering, Body Refinement, Blood Purification, Primal Core, Viscera Forging, Bone Forging, Marrow Evolution, Primal Lord, Primal King, Primal Monarch, Primal Emperor, Primal Saint Realm.
Soul Cultivation:
Soul Initiation, Soul Tempering, Soul Refinement, Soul Core, Soul Manifestation, Soul Master, Soul Grandmaster, Soul Lord, Soul King, Soul Monarch, Soul Emperor, Soul Saint Realm.
"Energy and Soul… these two complement each other well enough. With the Holy Martial Scripture, my Soul Cultivation shouldn't be too difficult, especially if I can find the right resources… but Body Cultivation… that will be the true test."
Xiao Chen's lips curled into a slow, determined smile.
"Tempering my flesh, evolving my marrow, forging my very bones and viscera… Walking the Body Path is not for the weak. It is the most brutal, the most painful. But… it offers the greatest reward."
He stood up slowly, staring out into the night sky, where the moon now shone bright and unyielding.
"I shall temper myself in blood and tribulation… and perfect my existence."
His words echoed softly within the room, swallowed by the night.
No hesitation. No fear. Only resolve.
Tonight, the winds of fate shifted. Somewhere far beyond the walls of his courtyard, a new journey awaited.
The Trinity Path—Energy, Body, and Soul—was born.
---
Meanwhile…
Miles away from the secluded Xiao Family Ancestral Estate nestled within the sacred embrace of Serene Spirit Mountain, another colossal influence loomed silently in the night. It stood proudly amidst the cityscape of Clear Water City, its towering structures a stark contrast to the tranquil elegance of the Xiao family.
This was the Luo Family—a clan of fierce martial warriors, their history stretching back over six hundred years. Though their foundation was not as ancient as the Xiao Family, which reigned for nearly nine centuries, their power had quietly ascended in recent decades. On paper, they were the second most powerful influence in Clear Water City, largely due to their intricate relationship with the royal family. However, in truth, they had already surpassed the Xiao Family in many aspects, now standing as a Peak Grade Two Influence—dangerous, ambitious, and hungry.
Their estate was grand—vast walls, towers scraping at the night sky, each building radiating strength and might. Unlike the serene discipline of the Xiao family, the Luo estate brimmed with ruthless intensity. Here, strength was the only law. Offenders were not punished—they were eradicated. The weak were not tolerated—they were culled. Mediocrity was a curse, and slackers, a stain.
In this place, the phrase "survival of the fittest" was not just a saying. It was the iron rule.
At this silent hour, within the heart of the Luo estate, a towering building rose above the rest. Upon its dark stone balcony, a lone figure stood, cloaked in flowing black robes. His aura was perfectly restrained, so much so that even the night seemed unwilling to disturb him. He became one with the shadows—silent, watchful, dangerous.
A sudden flutter of wings cut through the still air. A raven, black as ink with deep red eyes, descended from the sky and landed deftly upon the man's outstretched arm. In its beak, a letter—folded crisply, sealed not with wax, but with secrecy.
The cloaked man took the letter wordlessly, his gloved fingers tracing the fine paper. With narrowed eyes, he unfolded it.
The moonlight caught the few, hastily scrawled words. Yet, despite the brevity, the message struck with the force of a blade.
---
"Xiao Chen is no trash… He is as tricky as that old fox of his, Xiao Hao. Just yesterday, I made a revelation… Xiao Chen actually awakened a Peak Grade Heaven Rank Divine Beast Spirit and is already at the peak of the Martial Soul Realm. As for that dog father of his… he broke through to the Peak of Martial Lord Realm. These two are your greatest threats. You know what to do."
---
There was no name. No seal. No trace of the sender. A message born of betrayal, carefully crafted to leave no trails, carried only by the raven.
The cloaked figure stood motionless, but the faint tremble in his hands betrayed the turmoil within.
Xiao Chen… Peak Grade Heaven Rank Spirit… Martial Soul Realm… and Xiao Hao… Peak Martial Lord?
The words echoed like thunder in his mind.
A low, cold chuckle escaped his lips, carried away by the midnight breeze.
"Xiao Yang…" the man's voice was deep, laced with contempt and intrigue. "It seems… you're growing more desperate than I imagined."
The cloaked figure crushed the letter in his fist, his eyes flashing coldly.
His gaze drifted toward the distant horizon where the Xiao Family's mountain loomed faintly beneath the moonlight. The pale light spilled across his face, revealing sharp features long hidden by the night.
He was a middle-aged man—handsome, with short brown hair and piercing light brown eyes. A long French mustache framed his lips, adding an air of noble grace and cold authority.
"Interesting… Very interesting." His voice was low, almost a whisper carried by the wind.
The night grew darker, as though the heavens themselves were listening.
The storm had begun.