13: Chapter 13 Gathering in Hongtian, Searching

Within two months, the fate of the Fang Clan of Heming Township was no longer an isolated incident.

First, it was the Liu Family of Liuzhuang in Qinghe County; out of twenty-six Cultivators, only four survived the night.

Immediately after was the Zhao Clan of Cuiping Township; over seven thousand people, Mortals and Cultivators alike, were lost as the entire town was burned to the ground, with not a single survivor.

Then came the Zhou Clan and the Ma Clan of Mingxi County, meeting their disaster on almost the same day.

The Communication Talismans from White Cloud Temple arrived every three days; the wording changed from "heighten vigilance" to "prohibited from going out," and finally to "every county for itself, White Cloud Temple is apprehending the Demonic Cultivators."

Apprehending.

Shi Jian lay prone on a giant boulder on the back mountain. Hearing those two words, a puff of white steam snorted from his nostrils; they had been "pursuing and apprehending" for two months already.

Five more small Qi Refining families had been wiped out, yet White Cloud Temple hadn't even caught a glimpse of the Demonic Cultivators' shadows.

Either they were incompetent, or they simply didn't care.

To a Golden Core Sect, the life or death of a few Qi Refining ants probably wasn't worth their full effort; if they died, they could just be replaced.

There were plenty of Loose Cultivators willing to offer up Spirit Stones to buy those Rank One Spiritual Veins.

To use them as a Family Foundation.

"Old Ancestor!"

Elder Rat scurried out from the grass, followed by two slightly smaller black-furred Rat Demons—young monsters who had gained intelligence in the last two years.

"Thirty li outside the city, a large group of people is heading toward Hongtian City."

"How many?"

"Eight groups, one after another. The closest has reached the northern official road, and the furthest is still twenty li away. I reckon they'll arrive within a few hours."

Elder Rat gestured with his tail. "It's all Qi Refining Cultivators leading Mortals on the run, bringing their whole families. The smaller groups have a few hundred people, the larger ones several thousand. It's as chaotic as a marketplace."

Shi Jian lifted an eyelid. "Which eight families?"

"From the north come the Feng Clan of Yongping Township and the Lyu Clan of Qingshi Town. From the east come the Qian Clan of Shiqiao Township and the He Clan of Bailu Town."

"From the south are the Chen Clan of Lihuawu and the Liu Clan of Tiejianggou. There are two more groups from the west: the Xu Clan of Luoyan Township and the Zheng Clan of Fenglin Town."

Elder Rat finished in one breath, paused for air, and added, "These eight are all small families stationed in the townships under Hongtian City's jurisdiction. Their highest cultivation is only at the seventh or eighth level of Qi Refining, not much different from Sun Boan."

Shi Jian said nothing, his claws lightly tapping twice on the boulder.

Eight townships, eight small Qi Refining families, all fleeing.

This meant the townships surrounding Hongtian City had been completely pierced by the panic of the Demonic Cultivators, and the defensive lines had utterly collapsed...

But it also meant—

Eight Legacies, eight groups of labor, and the savings of eight families were being packaged and delivered right to his doorstep.

"Go call Sun Boan."

---

Half an hour later, Sun Boan knelt before the giant boulder. After hearing Shi Jian's arrangements, the expression on his face shifted from shock to wild joy, then settled into respectful obedience.

"Does the Old Ancestor mean... to take them all in?"

"Take them in. But not for free."

Shi Jian rolled over, resting on a different leg. "Go tell them three conditions."

"First, they may enter the city, but every Family must submit a copy of all their books, Cultivation Technique Jade Slips, and technique Legacies to the Sun Clan."

"Second, of the Spirit Stones, spiritual materials, and Medicinal Pills they brought, they must first hand over sixty percent as a 'protection fee,' keeping the remaining forty percent for themselves."

"Third, the Cultivators of each Family will be temporarily incorporated into the Sun Clan Outer Court and follow the Sun Clan's orders. Mortals will be managed under the Sun Clan's household registration; those who should farm will farm, and those who should have children will have children."

Sun Boan noted them down one by one, his heart racing more with each point.

This wasn't protection; this was annexation.

But he didn't raise a single objection.

After years of being trained, he had long understood one truth: the conditions Shi Jian set were never negotiations, but notifications.

"Old Ancestor, what if someone doesn't agree?"

"Not agree?"

Shi Jian let out a yawn while lying down. "If they don't agree, let them keep running. The Demonic Cultivators outside are waiting; I'm sure those Demonic Cultivators would be very happy to have a few more rations."

A chill ran down Sun Boan's spine, and he quickly nodded. "This Junior understands."

"Also."

"During the negotiations, don't mention that I said this. Just say these are the Sun Clan rules. Whoever enters Sun Clan territory must follow Sun Clan rules."

"You are the Sun Clan Chief. For this kind of matter, it is enough for you to step forward."

Sun Boan took a deep breath and withdrew to carry out the order.

---

The negotiations took place in the Sun Clan Meeting Hall.

The Clan Chiefs of the eight families were crowded in the hall, travel-worn and weary. Some were covered in dust, others still wrapped in blood-stained bandages, each with a sallow face.

Their eyes were filled with the terror of survivors.

Sun Boan sat high in the main seat, with six Cultivators standing on either side of him—the last presentable facade the Sun Clan could muster.

He laid the three conditions out on the table.

The hall was silent for three breaths.

Then, it erupted.

"Sixty percent? You, Sun Boan, are a predator who doesn't even spit out the bones!" Feng Shoude, the Feng Clan Chief, was the first to jump up. At the eighth level of Qi Refining, he had the highest cultivation among them and the fiercest temper.

"Our Feng Clan's wealth, accumulated over three generations, and you ask for sixty percent the moment you open your mouth?"

"And we have to hand over our technique Legacies? This is trying to sever the Feng Clan's roots!"

The Clan Chiefs of the Lyu and Qian Clans also began to shout, their emotions running high.

Sun Boan picked up his teacup and took a sip, unhurried.

Only after they had argued enough did he set the teacup back on the table. His voice wasn't loud, but the hall fell silent instantly.

"Everyone, I advise you to realize one thing."

"You are here to beg for protection, not to be guests."

"The Sun Clan holds Hongtian City, with Spiritual Veins, city walls, and a Foundation Establishment Old Ancestor presiding. These things didn't come for free."

He swept his gaze over them. "Out there, you were hunted by Demonic Cultivators like stray dogs. Now you come to Sun Clan territory wanting food, shelter, and protection—why should you get them for nothing?"

Feng Shoude's face turned beet red. "But your conditions are just too..."

"Think it's too expensive?"

Sun Boan stood up, walked to the hall doors, pushed them open, and pointed at the pitch-black night outside. "The door is right there. You can leave at any time."

"The Demonic Cultivators outside don't charge a fee. They'll kill you without a burial—it's quite a bargain."

Feng Shoude's words caught in his throat. His lips trembled for a long time, but in the end, not another word came out.

From a seat on the east side, a white-haired elder spoke slowly. It was Chen Wangshan, the Clan Chief of the Chen Clan of Lihuawu, at the seventh level of Qi Refining and over seventy years old.

"Patriarch Sun, I am willing to transcribe a copy of my clan's Legacy to offer to the Superior Clan. That the Superior Clan is willing to protect us is already a blessing."

Sun Boan looked at him with newfound respect; this old fellow knew how to handle things!

"Elder Chen, rest assured, my clan keeps its word."

Once this precedent was set, even if the other clans were unwilling, they couldn't stop the inevitable tide. To save their lives, they could only agree one by one.

"My Liu Clan is willing."

With the Liu Clan following suit, the He, Xu, and Zheng Clans expressed their agreement in succession.

Chen Wangshan sighed and nodded as well.

Feng Shoude gritted his teeth, his whole body trembling as he stared at Sun Boan for a full ten breaths.

Finally, he slumped back into his seat and muttered sullenly:

"My Feng Clan is also willing to hand over a copy of our Legacy."

---

That night, Sun Boan brought the results of the negotiations to the back mountain.

Shi Jian flipped through the list of Cultivation Technique Jade Slips submitted by the eight families, feeling quite satisfied.

Although the Legacies of the eight Qi Refining families couldn't be considered High Grade, they were comprehensive in variety. Pieced together, they were quite valuable.

Some were skilled in water-based techniques, some in drawing Rank One Talismans, some studied Artifact Refining, and one even specialized in Earth Escape Techniques.

They were varied but not profound, yet when combined, they perfectly filled the gaps in the Sun Clan's Legacy.

"Well done," Shi Jian praised, a rare occurrence.

Sun Boan was overwhelmed by the favor. "It is all thanks to the Old Ancestor's guidance."

"Don't be so quick to flatter me."

Shi Jian closed the list, his smile fading. "Among these eight, that old fellow Feng Shoude is the only one who isn't being honest. Keep a close eye on him."

"Yes."

After Sun Boan withdrew, Elder Rat crawled out from a crack in the boulder beneath Shi Jian.

"Old Ancestor, I have something to report, though I don't know if I should say it."

"Cut the nonsense."

"In the Earth God Temple thirty li outside the city, my pups found some traces." Elder Rat lowered his voice. "The smell of blood is very strong—at least several hundred people's worth."

"But that place is over seventy li away from the nearest slaughtered township."

Shi Jian's eyes snapped open.

Blood Sacrifice traces from seventy li away appearing just thirty li from Hongtian City.

What did this mean?

Demonic Cultivators were approaching.

And they weren't just passing through; they had established a base.

"Watch that Earth God Temple closely. Report back immediately if there's any movement."

"Yes, Old Ancestor."

Elder Rat complied and vanished into the night in a flash.

Shi Jian slowly stood up, his four limbs tensed as his sharp claws dug into the giant boulder, leaving eight deep gouges. A savage aura continued to boil.

"Come."

"He hadn't consumed any Great Medicine in a long time!"