"A Cultivation Family?" Han Yi's eyes flickered with interest. He neither refused nor accepted the idea outright, but waited for Luo Yunzhou to elaborate.
"Exactly," Luo Yunzhou said through gritted teeth.
"The Luo Clan, to which I belong, is a Cultivation Family in Daofu City, Luofeng County. While we have no Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators, my father, the Clan Head, is a Ninth Layer Qi Refinement cultivator. Among the Cultivation Families in Daofu City, we fear no one."
"However, recently my father ventured out and was ambushed by Robber Cultivators. He barely escaped with his life, but sustained severe injuries."
"Now, the other two Cultivation Families in Daofu City are pressuring us to hand over our Spirit Fields—the very foundation of our clan. Without them, the Luo Clan will decline into a mundane family within a century. Worse still, our Magic Artifacts might attract covetous eyes, leading to our clan's annihilation."
"The Great Qian authorities in Daofu City, unwilling to allow a three-way conflict that would destabilize the region and endanger the mortals, have agreed to mediate. The Arbitration Council is scheduled for one month from now."
"My father's letter summoned me back to the clan. Whether we can retain our Spirit Field hinges entirely on the three-clan Arbitration Council in a month."
"And as you might guess, the Arbitration Council operates on the principle that might makes right."
"I've exhausted all other options, which is why I'm seeking Junior Brother Han's assistance."
Han Yi frowned, still perplexed. "Senior Brother Luo, your master is a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator. Why not ask her to intervene? That would guarantee success."
This was Han Yi's natural question.
Unlike him, Luo Yunzhou actually had a master, and his master, Bai Wanqing, was indeed a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator.
If Bai Wanqing were willing to intervene, a single trip to Daofu City should swiftly resolve the Luo Clan's predicament.
After all, the disputes in Daofu City only involved Qi Refining Stage cultivation families, not Foundation Establishment Stage ones.
Luo Yunzhou sighed. "Junior Brother Han, you're unaware of the Sect's regulations."
"The Sect has strict rules prohibiting Elders and higher-ranking members from interfering in any affairs involving the cultivation families of Sect disciples."
"In fact, this isn't just a Profound Pill Sect regulation. It's an unspoken agreement among all Sects throughout the Great Qian Realm."
"Every Cultivation Family in the Great Qian Realm has disciples in the Great Cultivation Sects. If any conflict arises, they can easily call upon their sect's backing, escalating into sectarian warfare that could ultimately destabilize the Great Qian itself."
"Of course, if the Cultivation Family involved happens to be this Elder's own, his intervention would be a private matter unrelated to Sect affairs, and thus permissible."
Luo Yunzhou's explanation clarified everything for Han Yi.
After careful consideration, Han Yi slowly nodded.
The trip wouldn't take more than a month, and as long as Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators didn't get involved, he feared no one—except perhaps Legendary Qi Refining experts like Han Xuxiao of the Blood God Sect, who could withstand Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Refusing Luo Yunzhou's earnest plea out of mere reluctance to leave the mountain would be deeply improper. Such a decision would inevitably damage his Dao Heart, making the Heavenly Demon tribulation during his next breakthrough all the more perilous.
However, Han Yi's acceptance wasn't solely due to concerns about his Dao Heart. Their friendship mattered too; having known each other for so long, he couldn't simply abandon a friend in need.
Seeing Han Yi's nod of agreement, Luo Yunzhou's face lit up with relief, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
"With Junior Brother Han's help, victory is assured! The Luo Clan is saved!"
"Rest assured, Junior Brother Han. If we weather this crisis, the Luo Clan will offer you ten years' worth of Spirit Field yields as gratitude for your invaluable assistance."
Han Yi shook his head. "Let's not discuss that now. We'll talk about it once we reach Daofu City."
That same day, Han Yi accompanied Luo Yunzhou to the White Tiger Market, where a Transcending Calamity Immortal Ship was docked.
"Don't misunderstand, Junior Brother Han," Luo Yunzhou explained. "I couldn't afford to rent this Immortal Ship on my own. But it happens to be heading to Luofeng County, and the city where it lands is close to Daofu City. I figured it would be worth paying for passage to get there in just three days."
Luo Yunzhou paid three hundred Spirit Stones for both their fares—an amount he could easily afford. Though Han Yi was wealthy, he didn't offer to pay, as this was a matter of principle.
After boarding, they waited an hour before the Transcending Calamity Immortal Ship slowly ascended, piercing through the sea of clouds and setting course eastward.
Three days later, two figures entered Daofu City and hurried straight to the Luo Clan.
Seven days later...
Daofu City, Imperial Observatory. All three clans had gathered: the Luo Clan, the Liu Clan, and the Tang Clan, who were contesting for the Spirit Field. Both the Liu and Tang Clans were Qi Refining Stage Cultivation Families, with their strongest members at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement.
Presiding over the Arbitration Council was a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator from the Imperial Observatory, an official organization of the Great Qian Dynasty.
The elderly cultivator had a white beard that reached his chest, and his eyes held a calm composure, lacking the distinctive spiritual aura typically associated with the Foundation Establishment Stage.
This Foundation Establishment cultivator has reached the twilight of his path, his strength waning as he approaches the end of his lifespan, Han Yi suddenly realized.
Sensing Han Yi's gaze, the old cultivator glanced at him. Seeing only a Seventh Layer Qi Refining cultivator, he quickly dismissed him and turned his attention back to the assembled clans.
"Very well," the old cultivator announced.
"Everyone is present."
"As per regulations, no further disputes will be tolerated after this Arbitration Council. Any clandestine battles will be met with the full force of the Imperial Observatory."
At that moment, the nearly decrepit Foundation Establishment cultivator radiated an imposing aura. The cultivators from the three clans felt a chill run down their spines and respectfully acknowledged his decree.
"Then, let the proceedings begin."
With that, the elderly Foundation Establishment cultivator fell silent and closed his eyes to meditate.
...
His words had barely faded when...
A middle-aged cultivator from the Tang Clan stepped forward and stood in the center of the arena.
"Esteemed guests," he began, his voice trembling with emotion, "today, after consulting our ancestral records, the Tang Clan has discovered that the Luo Clan's Spirit Field rightfully belonged to us three centuries ago. However, the Luo Clan, wielding their superior power, forcibly seized it."
"For three long centuries, the loss of that Spirit Field has led to our gradual decline. More tragically, no member of our clan has been able to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage since. Now, after years of bitter regret, the Tang Clan has resolved to reveal the truth and reclaim what is rightfully ours. We implore you all to bear witness to this righteous endeavor."
As the cultivator continued, his voice grew increasingly impassioned, tears streaming down his face. His performance moved many in the audience to tears.
Han Yi, standing behind the Luo Clan members, remained unmoved. He saw through the charade, his expression calm and his heart untroubled.
In the Cultivation World, disputes were settled by a single principle: might makes right. Whoever possessed the greater strength dictated the truth.
No sooner had the Tang Clan cultivator finished speaking than a young man from the Luo Clan angrily retorted, "Tang Xiangyu, you slanderous liar! Ancestral records? Our Luo Clan's records even claim the Tang Clan was founded by the illegitimate son of one of our ancestors! Are you saying the Tang Clan is merely a branch of the Luo Clan? Would you believe such a thing?"
The young man, Luo Wuzhou, had been introduced earlier by Luo Yunzhou as his elder brother. The Clan Head of the Luo Clan had two sons, Luo Yunzhou and Luo Wuzhou, and this was Luo Wuzhou. Within the Luo Clan's power structure, he ranked third, surpassed only by the Ninth Layer Clan Head, Luo Zhiguang, and their paternal uncle, Luo Anyang.
Patriarch Tang Xiangyu of the Tang Clan merely glanced at him disdainfully, refusing to engage in debate. He simply retorted, "Facts speak louder than words. This is the truth."
At that moment, a middle-aged man from the Liu Clan cleared his throat. "Tang Xiangyu, you can spout nonsense, but you can't twist history."
"Your Tang Clan's founder was nothing more than a rogue cultivator. When he established your clan, the Daofu City Garrison's records documented it. The Tang Clan is barely 180 years old. Where does this 300-year claim come from?"
"Enough," the man continued. "Today, I'll reveal the truth to everyone, so you all know the true owners of that Spirit Field."
"Long ago..."
The middle-aged man couldn't finish his sentence. A soft cough interrupted him.
"Enough with the pointless chatter," Luo Zhiguang said, his face slightly pale as he calmly observed the Liu and Tang Clans' performance. "The Spirit Field rightfully belongs to the Luo Clan—everyone here knows that. You two only dared to plot its seizure because of my injury."
"In the Cultivation World, might makes right. Continuing this charade is a waste of time. Why bother with such affectation?"
Luo Zhiguang, the Clan Head of the Luo Clan, had been watching the Liu and Tang Clans' theatrics with a composed expression.
Liu Heng chuckled, his smile brimming with murderous intent. "Since Clan Head Luo proposes such a straightforward course, I, Liu Heng, have no objections."
"This aligns perfectly with my intentions," Tang Xiangyu said, clapping his hands in approval.
Behind Luo Yunzhou, Han Yi had been anticipating some fabricated justification from the Liu Clan. He was surprised by how quickly their pretense had been abandoned.
He glanced at Luo Zhiguang's back. The slightly dejected middle-aged man before him must have been a decisive and vigorous leader in his prime—no wonder he had managed to uphold the entire Luo Clan.
The prelude had ended, and a new act was about to begin.