After nearly an hour of silent waiting amidst the towering trees near the border of the inner Tiger Mountain, Xiao Wei's eyes narrowed as movement caught his attention. Emerging from the rugged mountain path, a sizable group approached. It was the Hu Clan, flanked by more than fifty Cultivators.
Only about half of them wore the signature attire of the Hu Clan. The others bore no emblems or familial markings, clearly rogue Cultivators, likely hired for their strength and expendability. Among the Hu Clan group, two powerful auras stood out unmistakably they were Martial Grandmasters. One of them, Xiao Wei instantly recognized—Hu Sun.
A slight smirk crossed Xiao Wei's face. Without hesitation, he removed the black cloak concealing his identity and rubbed dirt across his face, dulling his features and making himself unrecognizable. Adopting the demeanor of a wandering rogue Cultivator, he subtly merged into the tail end of the group.
The combined force moved steadily into the dense forest of the inner Tiger Mountain. The undergrowth was thick and the canopy above blocked much of the sunlight, casting the path in intermittent shadow. The group trudged on, blades drawn, occasionally dispatching the monsters that strayed into their path.
"Elder Hu, how far is the cave?"one of the rogue cultivators asked, glancing around warily.
"We will reach it soon"Hu Sun replied in a firm voice, his gaze focused on the winding trail ahead.
As they moved, a young voice broke the silence again.
"Elder Hu, I heard your clan's first Young Master is a disciple of Mystic Mountain"a boy with sharp, eagle-like eyes said, his tone casual, yet confident.
Hu Sun chuckled, clearly pleased.
"Hahaha... This little one is truly well-informed. Not many in Mo City know of that. What is your name, boy?"Hu Sun asked.
"I am Shi Feng"Shi Feng replied evenly, his voice flat without respect for a Martial Grandmaster Realm Cultivator.
He held himself with an air of independence and seemed entirely unaffected by the Hu Sun praise.
"You are so young, and you've already reached the Ninth Layer of the Martial Master Realm. Surely, you must also belong to a prestigious sect?"another Hu Clan elder chimed in, curious.
Shi Feng offered no response, his silence clearly intentional.
Hu Wen, the Hu Clan's second young master, interjected with a half-smile.
"Forget about it. If he doesn't want to tell us, that's fine."Hu Wen said.
Shi Feng finally gave a nod to Hu Wen.
"Thank you for understanding, second Young Master."Shi Feng said with a smile.
The group pressed further into the inner region. The monsters grew more ferocious and frequent, but none strong enough to slow the determined party. Working in coordination, they slew any monster that crossed their path.
Eventually, the trees began to thin slightly, revealing a large clearing ahead. The area buzzed with activity—several other groups were already gathered near a massive cliffside entrance, partially hidden behind thick vines and moss. It was the cave they sought.
"We've reached our destination. Let's rest for a bit before entering."Hu Sun announced.
As the group began to settle, a cold voice cut through the clearing.
"Hu Sun, you finally arrived. But you won't be entering the cave so easily."
All eyes turned toward the speaker. Four figures stood a short distance away, each exuding powerful pressure that explains that each one of them is Martial Grandmaster. Two wore robes bearing the insignia of the Xiao Clan, the other two were from the Mo Clan.
Hu Sun's eyes narrowed as he stepped forward.
"What do you mean I can't enter? This mountain belongs to no one."Hu Sun said, his tone was angry.
One of the Mo Clan elders stepped forward, his tone matter-of-fact.
"This cave has become the lair of a Tier 3 Level 7 Armored Snake. It's guarding the entrance fiercely. None of us have entered yet. We need to defeat it together before we can even think of going inside."he explained.
The mention of the monster sent murmurs through the gathered Cultivators. A Tier 3 Level 7 monster was no trivial opponent—it was equivalent to a high-level Martial Grandmaster in strength, and the Armored Snake's tough scales and poison made it especially dangerous.
Hidden among the rogue Cultivators, Xiao Wei's mind was already calculating. He remained silent, eyes locked on the dark mouth of the cave in the distance.
Amidst the leaders, Hu Sun crossed his arms and furrowed his brows.
"An Armored Snake? Its defense is nearly impenetrable. I've heard that even peak Martial Grandmasters struggle to leave a scratch. I'm not certain we can kill such a beast."Hu Sun repeated, doubt lacing his tone.
One of the Xiao Clan's senior Martial Grandmasters, stepped forward with a calm, confident look.
"Don't worry. With your Hu Clan adding two Martial Grandmasters to our strength, we'll have six in total. That should be more than enough to handle a single Armoured Snake, even a Tier 3 Level 7 one."he explained.
Hu Sun narrowed his eyes, unconvinced.
"I believe you, but before we charge in blindly, let's settle some things. If we do kill it, who claims the Armoured Snake Monster Core? Who takes the body? And what about the treasure hidden inside the cave?"Hu Sun asked slowly.
The elder from the Mo Clan stepped in, his tone firm but fair.
"The rules are simple. The Armoured Snake Monster Core and body will belong to the clan whoever lands the killing blow on the Armored Snake. As for the treasures within the cave, they belong to whoever finds them first. It's a free-for-all once we're inside."he explained.
Hu Sun stared hard at the elder for a moment, then finally nodded.
"Fair enough. I agree to the terms."Hu Sun said.
"Then let's rest for a short while, recover our Spiritual Energy, and then begin the assault"one of the Elder from the Mo Clan said.
With the formal agreement in place, the leaders turned to rally their own forces.
The atmosphere near the cave entrance was thick with tension as the elders from each major clan discussed the upcoming battle. The Cultivators rested in groups, polishing blades, meditating, or adjusting their armor.
Back at the Hu Clan group, preparations began immediately.
"Everyone, get ready! We'll be entering the cave soon. Check your weapons, recover your strength, and stay close to your teams."Hu Wen, the Hu Clan's second Young Master shouted, pacing through the ranks.
The group stirred into motion. The rogue Cultivators shifted uneasily. Some checked their weapons; others refine pill or silently meditated, their eyes flickering with anxiety and anticipation. Conversations buzzed with nervous energy as the gravity of the situation set in.
Xiao Wei, still disguised as a nameless rogue Cultivator, stood quietly among them. His dirt-smeared face blended in with the rest. He had been carefully listening to every word from the clan elders while observing the people around him.
Now, glancing around, he counted over 200 Cultivators gathered near the cave. The crowd had grown substantially as word spread. It was a chaotic mix of power and desperation—veteran Martial Masters, ambitious Martial Apprentices, and even a few Alchemist hoping to harvest rare herbs inside the cave.
Out of everyone present, only six were at the Martial Grandmaster Realm, all hailing from the three major clans of Mo City—the Hu Clan, Xiao Clan, and Mo Clan. The rest were made up of Cultivators: seasoned Martial Masters, many around the Fourth or Fifth Layer, and a larger group of Martial Apprentices, some barely strong enough to survive in the outer area of the Tiger Mountain.
Xiao Wei's sharp eyes moved from group to group. He could see some subgroups forming—rogue Cultivators bonding together for safety, clan members watching their surroundings with prideful arrogance, and others who seemed ready to backstab at a moment's notice. It was exactly the kind of volatile situation he expected. Everyone here had the same goal: to enter the mysterious cave of the legendary archer, and to claim whatever treasures it held. But few would leave unscathed.
Nearby, several rogue Cultivators whispered about the powerful Cultivator who this cave belong to.
"I heard the senior who killed the peak Tier 4 Level 9 Fire Tiger used a Tier 5 Bow"
"Tier 5 bow? Ha! Even if that weapon is still in the cave, do you think we can take it? Carrying that thing is like painting a target on your back. The clans will tear us apart before we can even use it."
"I don't want the bow. I just want a piece of his inheritance. If he left behind a Cultivation Technique or even his notes, that alone could change my fate."
"Treasure? I'd be happy with a single spirit herb that hasn't rotted and help me breakthrough to Martial Master Realm."
Standing a little apart from them, Xiao Wei kept silent. He listened carefully, but his gaze remained fixed on the cave's dark entrance.