'That's strange. Based on how long I've been practicing, my talent for the Wood God Skill is average at best. It should take three to five years of the Water Grinding Skill to make even a little progress. But I feel like my spellcasting today is slightly more effective than last week. Is it just my imagination, or have I really improved?'
Bai Zichen stared at the Spirit Field before him, lost in thought for a moment. He was jolted from his reverie by Chubby's distant shouts and decided not to dwell on it.
'Maybe I'm one of those unconventional geniuses who struggle to get started but then advance by leaps and bounds once they have a breakthrough.'
Chubby had a shovel slung over his shoulder and a large bag filled with all sorts of small contraptions on his back, which made him look even more bloated.
"Brother Chenn, we're going to make cages behind the cliff to catch golden pheasants today. I brought all our gear. Let me tell you, the meat from these pheasants is incredibly tender, and their tail feathers are beautiful. We can get my mom to make them into shuttlecocks for us. They even glow when we kick them at night!"
In the short time since they had gotten up, Chubby had already planned out their entire day's activities.
Bai Zichen nodded slightly. He was still young with a low Cultivation, so he couldn't practice the Chang Chun Skill for more than an hour each day, or his body wouldn't be able to take it.
After finishing his morning practice, he really had no other official tasks until sunset. There was no harm in going with Chubby to unwind a little.
"Alright, but we can't go too far. Aunt Song specifically told me we're not allowed to leave a one-li radius of Clear Wind Cliff. Otherwise, she'll ground us for three days straight."
"I know, I know. We'll just be right behind the cliff. I've already found two good spots to set up the cages."
Chubby was still a bit intimidated by his mother, so he readily agreed. "Last time, that golden pheasant got away, but this time, with you here, Brother Chenn…"
BOOM!
A massive explosion cut Chubby's excited chatter short. The two boys looked up toward Clear Wind Cliff, where the sound had originated.
"What was that? It's broad daylight and there's no thunder. Did someone's magic experiment go wrong and blow up a house?"
Bai Zichen and Bai Ying stared at each other. Just as they were about to sprint toward home, Bai Zichen pulled his friend to a halt.
"What's wrong?"
"Something's not right. Look over there!"
Bai Zichen's heart tightened. He pointed toward a peak where a thick plume of black smoke was rising, looking like a massive fire.
Just then, a figure flashed in the distance. It was Aunt Song, rushing down from the cliff. She had completely lost her usual composed and dignified air. Her gossamer dress had a large hole torn in it, and one of her shoulders hung at an unnatural angle, her arm dangling uselessly at her side.
"Bai Ying, Brother Chenn, run!" Seeing the two boys, Aunt Song stopped dead in her tracks. A look of grim resolve flashed in her eyes as she spun around. "Run! Get to the main peak! Now!"
"Mom, what's happening?"
Chubby was terrified. He frantically dropped the things he was carrying, scattering them on the ground, and started to run toward Aunt Song.
"Don't come over here! Didn't you hear me tell you to go to the main peak? Or do you want to be locked in the Quiet Chamber for three days again!"
Without turning her head, Aunt Song summoned a piece of red gauze. It unfurled in the wind, expanding to several zhang square. "Brother Chenn, you're the sensible one. Take Bai Ying and run!"
"Where do you think you're going? All of you are staying right here!"
Three men in black clothes with their faces covered by black scarves charged down from Clear Wind Cliff. Watching the scene unfold, their leader snarled viciously.
"Setting up linked defensive Forbidden arrays around her own home... I was almost ambushed by some broad!"
Aunt Song forcefully struck her chest, spitting a mouthful of Essence Blood onto the red gauze. The seemingly thin fabric managed to ensnare the three men, making it impossible for them to break through for a moment.
'This is bad—it's Tribulation Cultivators!'
Bai Zichen's mind went blank. He never imagined that his worst fear would come true: Tribulation Cultivators had invaded the Bai Clan Territory. From the looks of it, this wasn't just a few stragglers but a large, organized force. The patrols hadn't sounded any alarm, which meant something must have happened to them as well.
After nearly a month of peace, everyone's vigilance had waned. It was inevitable that they had let their guard down.
Though these thoughts flashed through his mind, Bai Zichen's actions didn't slow. With a flick of his wrist, two Divine Movement Talismans appeared in his hand. He slapped one onto himself and the other onto Chubby, then grabbed him and sprinted toward Hanxiu Peak.
'Two novices at the Qi Refining First Layer like them would be completely useless here. They might even hinder Aunt Song and cause her to be distracted. Right now, the best option was to obey their elder and get to the main peak.'
As a Tier Two Mid Grade Spirit Vein, Hanxiu Peak was home to the Clan Hall, Council Hall, Library Pavilion, and other important locations. It was, in essence, the very heart of the Bai Family.
It was also where the Clan's main Array was at its strongest. If they wanted to survive, getting there was their only way out.
Chubby looked like he was scared out of his wits. Dazed and silent, he let Bai Zichen drag him along at a full sprint, his body running purely on instinct.
They had just reached the foot of Clear Wind Cliff when they heard an enraged roar from up the mountain. A quick glance back revealed the red gauze shattering into countless pieces that drifted down from the sky. Aunt Song had collapsed, a long polearm pinning her to the ground. Blood quickly soaked the earth beneath her.
"Aunt Song!"
A mournful cry echoed in Bai Zichen's heart. This soft-spoken and methodical elder, who cooked delicious meals for her family every day. With her husband constantly away on business, she had managed the household all by herself, keeping everything in perfect order.
It was this seemingly delicate Female Cultivator who had displayed such astonishing courage when facing three Tribulation Cultivators. She had not retreated a single step, buying the two of them precious time.
'Aunt Song was at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer. Even when she risked her life, using her Essence Blood to power her Magical Artifact, she only managed to delay those three Tribulation Cultivators for a moment before being killed. Those three must all be Mid-Stage Qi Refining Cultivators, maybe even with a Late-Stage Qi Refining cultivator among them.'
The brief moment of grief passed. A throbbing pain pulsed in Bai Zichen's head, but his thoughts grew sharper and clearer.
'Even with the help of the Divine Movement Talisman, it will take the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to get to Hanxiu Peak. There's a high probability that the Tribulation Cultivators will catch up to us. And who knows if we'll run into others along the way. My only advantage is that I know the paths within the clan territory better than these intruders!'
Bai Zichen hadn't forgotten the smoke he'd seen rising from the neighboring peak. It was clear there was more than one squad of Tribulation Cultivators around.
'This is a planned, premeditated raid targeting the Bai Family!'
Seeing a forked gravel path ahead, Bai Zichen pulled Chubby and ducked into the rockery beside it. Their figures were quickly concealed by the dense, overlapping rock formations.
'Taking this detour instead of the main road would add several li to the journey, but outsiders wouldn't be familiar with the paths through the rockery. It would be a much safer and more hidden route.'
"Senior Brother, those two little runts are fast. Should we go after them and finish them off?"
"What kind of loot are you going to get from two little bastards? We're searching the rooms up there for valuables first!"
The leader, the one they called Senior Brother, pulled his halberd Magical Artifact from Aunt Song's body. Then, as if recalling something, he added, "However, the Elder did say before we set out that we should kill as many of these Cultivation Family members as possible. I'll leave those two little bastards to you. They're probably just kids who've barely started their Cultivation. It should only take one slash each. Go catch them, and we'll regroup at the objective!"
"Yes, Senior Brother." The man who had asked the question sounded resentful, but he clearly didn't dare to disobey his senior brother's order. He could only head off in the direction Bai Zichen and his friend had fled.
'"Elder's orders," my ass! You just want one less person to split the loot from these corpses with! Just you wait. After this trip, when I finish refining my Hundred Ghosts Banner, I'll make you pay. You'll be the first soul to feed my main banner!'