Silver Star City.

Inside the City Lord's mansion, the City Lord listened to the latest developments with a deep frown etched on his face.

"What is really going on?" he muttered after the guard departed.

The situation around the region was growing more complicated with every passing day, and everything centered on the new Master Teacher profession.

Although the Gong clan and many others had labeled the two academies an evil force, they declared the heaven-blessing to be a lie that bore little resemblance to true heaven's blessing.

Yet those with intelligence knew this was not true.

The heaven blessing, in fact, was a genuine blessing witnessed by thousands of people.

But the sudden spread of a deadly disease around Mystic City and Frostwind City left everyone bewildered.

Many had tried to trace the source of the incurable illness but could not. Any village or town afflicted with the disease was as good as doomed.

Even though many did not know what to believe any longer, most people remained patient, waiting to see how everything would unfold.

And now, a new heavenly blessing had appeared, and this time it was not due to Jun Wu but to another girl who was barely known.

Her open lecture stood in stark contrast to Jun Wu's.

In fact, her discourse enlightened many people, especially when they learned that they were descendants of criminals banished to barren, forgotten lands.

This news alone had already sparked debates among scholars and warriors. Suddenly, a guard entered the main hall and bowed.

"My Lord, the Gu Patriarch is here to visit you."

The City Lord raised his head and looked at the guard. "Very well. Call him in."

With a deep bow, the guard departed, and after a few seconds, the Gu Patriarch entered the main hall with a bright smile.

"I've seen the City Lord," the Gu Patriarch said with a curt nod.

"Haha. Please, take your seat," the City Lord offered with an amicable smile, gesturing to one of the empty chairs. "I wonder what brings the Gu Patriarch to my humble abode."

"City Lord, you jest. You're the Lord of Silver Star City; how could your home be humble?"

After a bit of flattering banter, the Gu Patriarch got straight to the issue that brought him to the City Lord.

"City Lord, what do you think about the ongoing situation in our region?"

The amicable smile vanished from the City Lord's face. "Patriarch Gu, if you have anything to say, please say it directly."

The Gu Patriarch cleared his throat. "I think our city should support the Gong clan. As long as we back them, they promise to allow us to become a Master."

A Master!

The City Lord was stunned.

This was the realm he had pursued all his life. Why had he sent nearly all his clansmen to the Tier-2 Ruin?

Was it not for a chance to break through to the Master Realm?

Although the allure of the Master Realm was immense, he did not rush to respond.

The Gu Patriarch wore a knowing smile, for both their clans had lost miserably in the Tier-2 ruin.

He had even believed it would spell the end of his own lineage, but who would have guessed that the region would be thrown into turmoil afterward?

Everyone's attention had shifted from Mystic City to the Gong clan.

Although the fighting between powers was far from them, that did not stop him from following the news.

And yesterday, he had received an elder from the Gong clan.

Without hesitation, he had joined their faction. To him, only a fool would reject such a golden opportunity.

Now he had begun his mission, and his first target was the City Lord. As long as he could persuade the City Lord to join their cause, Silver Star City would be theirs.

Finally, the City Lord pulled himself from his thoughts and regarded the Gu Patriarch. "I don't mind joining their cause, but before I join their ship, I must have the opportunity to become a Master."

The room fell silent.

.....

Clear Wind City.

Clear Wind City was ruled by a Fourth-Tier clan: the Xun clan. For a clan to become a Fourth-Tier power, they must have an Expert Realm cultivator.

Inside the main hall, the Xun clan elders engendered a serious discussion that might determine the future of their clan.

"I advise we join the Gong clan," the Second Elder said after some thought.

"Nonsense! How can we align with those useless and selfish bastards?" the Third Elder shouted, uncaring about his words.

"Third Elder, watch your words," the Second Elder warned.

"For what?"

Looking at the two elders who often clashed for the umpteenth time since they became elders, everyone in the hall furrowed their brows in exasperation.

Not again!

"Enough!" the First Elder shouted.

Although she was a woman, her prestige was no less than that of their clan leader. Listening to her, the two elders glared at each other for a moment before they snorted.

Huh!

The Clan Leader breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at the First Elder. "First Elder, what is your thought?" he asked.

The situation was dangerous, and any rash decision could spell the end of their clan.

Everyone turned and looked at the First Elder. Her decision carried a weight that might determine the clan's fate.

"The Soaring Cloud Region has not faced such turmoil in nearly a century. And now the Gong clan is going all out to fight the two renowned academies. That alone is unsettling," the First Elder began slowly.

Almost everyone in the hall agreed with her, though they did not comment as they waited for her to continue.

"For the Gong clan to be so determined to uproot the academies merely because of the sudden appearance of the Master Teachers makes me wonder…"

"What is so special about these Master Teachers that they are willing to go to such lengths to eradicate them?"

"I will suggest we hold on a bit and try to discover what is so special about the Master Teachers, and whether they are evil as they claimed. Then it would not be too late to join their cause."

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