Location: Shaw Clan – Sky Palace Hall
Far from the Qin estate, high above a mountain range covered in clouds, stood the massive Sky Palace of the Shaw Clan.
Inside its central hall, the atmosphere was tense.
Five enormous thrones were arranged in a circle.
Each throne represented one of the Five Great Families that ruled the cultivation world for centuries.
The leaders had gathered urgently.
The reason was simple.
Qin Huaian had returned.
The Shaw Patriarch
At the center throne sat the Shaw clan leader:
Shaw Zhenwu.
His presence alone filled the hall with terrifying pressure.
Cultivation:
10th Realm – Heavenly Dao Sovereign
His eyes burned with anger.
A messenger knelt before him.
"Reporting to the patriarch… General Shaw Tianmo has been defeated."
Silence spread across the hall.
The messenger continued nervously.
"The Qin cultivator defeated him without releasing visible spiritual energy."
The leaders of the other clans exchanged glances.
This report was disturbing.
The Pei Clan Speaks
From the second throne, a tall woman leaned forward.
She was Pei Lingyun, the matriarch of the Pei clan.
Her voice was cold.
"Years ago we believed Qin Huaian died during the Void Rift expedition."
"Now he returns with power strong enough to defeat Tianmo."
She tapped the armrest slowly.
"That means his cultivation has reached a level we did not predict."
The Zang Clan's Concern
The third throne belonged to Zang Wuchen, leader of the Zang family.
Unlike the others, his expression was calm.
"The Qin clan has always produced dangerous cultivators."
"But Huaian is different."
He looked around the hall.
"If he truly mastered the Void Cultivation Path, then this problem cannot be ignored."
The Song Clan's Silence
The fourth throne belonged to the Song family.
Their representative today was Song Tianru, an elder of the clan.
He had remained quiet the entire time.
But inside his mind, a storm was forming.
Because the Song clan possessed a secret.
Their young lady…
Song Yueru…
had once been promised to marry Qin Huaian in a political alliance many years ago.
If that alliance were revived, the balance of power could shift drastically.
Song Tianru decided not to reveal that information yet.
The Fifth Throne
The final throne remained partially hidden in shadows.
This seat belonged to the mysterious Zhao Clan.
The man sitting there was Zhao Xuantian.
He had been silent the entire meeting.
Finally he spoke.
His voice was calm, but the hall trembled slightly.
"One man defeating a Heavenly Sovereign is impressive."
"But it does not mean he can challenge the five great families."
He leaned forward.
"Unless… we allow him to grow."
The Decision
Shaw Zhenwu slammed his fist against the throne.
"Then we will not allow that!"
His aura exploded across the hall.
"The Qin clan must be erased before Huaian becomes stronger."
Pei Lingyun nodded slowly.
"Agreed."
Zang Wuchen sighed quietly.
"War between the families will destroy half the cultivation world."
Shaw Zhenwu replied coldly:
"Better that than allowing a Void Sovereign to rise."
The Secret Order
The five leaders finally reached a decision.
They would send someone far stronger than Shaw Tianmo.
Someone whose name terrified even the strongest cultivators.
Shaw Zhenwu spoke the name quietly.
"Summon… Shaw Huangdi."
The hall suddenly fell silent again.
Even the other clan leaders showed serious expressions.
Because Shaw Huangdi was known as:
The Butcher of the Eastern Continent.
Cultivation:
11th Realm – Half-Saint
A being standing just below the realm of immortality.
Meanwhile – Qin Estate
Back at the Qin estate, repairs had already begun.
Wounded disciples were being treated while elders rebuilt the defensive formations.
Inside the main courtyard, Qin Huaian stood quietly with Fenglan and Meiyue.
Fenglan asked directly:
"Father… what level is your cultivation now?"
Huaian looked toward the distant mountains.
"High enough that most enemies are no longer important."
Meiyue tilted her head.
"That sounds like you're hiding something."
Huaian smiled faintly.
"Some answers are better revealed later."
But inside his mind, he knew something important.
The Void cultivation path had already brought him close to its ultimate stage.
The 12th Realm.
A realm that no one in the current cultivation world had ever reached.