Bloodline Tree – [Clan Building]

‘Finally. We’re here.’ Shu Yang thought as the huge city appeared in the distance.

After boarding the flying ship, he had been coming up on deck and eagerly watching the distant horizon for most of the hours of the day. Now that he was so close to finally finding his daughter, he found it hard to relax. He had to really fight his urge to use his Bloodline Ability to look for her, since he would probably need to make use of it later.

Shu Yang took a deep breath and hoped with all his heart for everything to go smoothly.

‘It has been two weeks since those Golden Core cultivators broke into the inheritance. They have probably gotten impatient after searching for so long without finding anything.’

‘There is a very real chance that there is someone waiting for me to arrive in Shenchu Immortal City and will immediately apprehend me.’

Shu Yang really didn’t think they would just ignore his existence forever; he just hoped they wouldn’t suspect him too much and divert all their attention to him. As long as he only had to deal with the subordinates of those Golden Core cultivators, he felt he should be fine.

He had tried getting his hands on a good disguise while waiting in Chenqi Immortal City, just in case people were looking for him. Unfortunately, he soon discovered that hiding from Foundation experts was not quite so simple. Any mundane disguise would immediately be seen through by them, and a disguise of spiritual nature was not something you could just buy, at least not one able to fool Foundation cultivators.

In the end, Shu Yang had decided to not disguise himself at all. He felt that fooling Qi Refiners was useless, and a disguise might just attract more attention from Foundation experts.

So if there were people looking for him already, he would probably be discovered as soon as he stepped off the flying ship.

‘Let’s just hope that they haven’t put too much thought into me yet.’

There was nothing else he could do; he needed to get Tianyi, and time was not on his side.

After a brief pause at the formation covering the city, the flying ship was let through. It didn’t take long for the ship to arrive at a tall building at the center of the city, where it landed.

Shu Yang stepped off the flying ship with the rest of the passengers and got ready to line up with them to process his entrance into the city.

But before he had a chance to walk over, he saw a young woman rushing toward him.

“Senior, welcome to Shenchu Immortal City. If you will, please follow me to the reception room,” The woman said, bowing her head.

Shu Yang lifted an eyebrow and asked, “I don’t have to line up?”

“Foundation experts have their own process,” The woman explained with a smile.

‘Oh. Looks like my strength has been detected.’

‘Is it through the formation here? Or is an expert keeping watch over the new arrivals?’

‘Was my strength seen through back at Chenqi Immortal City as well?’

Shu Yang thought it was pretty likely that it was.

‘Oh, well. I never expected to be able to hide it forever.’

“All right, then,” Shu Yang said with a nod.

He followed the woman and looked around curiously, but no one else appeared to inspect the flying ship.

‘Looks like Xiaorong is able to hide even from whatever process they used to identify me.’

Shu Yang had brought Xiaorong with him when he left. He had thought about meeting up with her later, on his way back home, as taking her with him carried some risks. But in the end, he figured Xiaorong would be too important in getting Tianyi away to leave behind, so he had asked her to hide to her full ability and taken her with him on the flying ship.

Luckily, Xiaorong’s bloodline did not disappoint, and no one seemed to be able to spot her.

Shu Yang was taken to a reception room where he was served with tea and snacks. The woman who had brought him there left, and Shu Yang was left alone. Though he assumed Xiaorong was still close by somewhere.

After a minute or two, an old man in luxurious robes stepped into the room. Shu Yang straightened his back slightly, as he could feel that the man was powerful.

‘A Foundation cultivator…and not at the early stage.’

“Please excuse the wait, young master. My name is Song Guang, and I’m the one in charge of receiving distinguished guests to our Shenchu Immortal City,” The old man spoke as he took a seat on the couch opposite Shu Yang. “I hope you don’t mind if I ask a few questions? It will only take a minute or two, and you will be free to explore the city at your leisure.”

“Of course not, go ahead,” Shu Yang said calmly, but he was slightly nervous inside.

“May I ask where you are from and what brings you to Shenchu Immortal City? A body cultivator is a rare sight, and I know of none in the Foundation stage in our Yuanchi Immortal Land,” Song Guang asked.

‘He can even tell I’m a body cultivator? That’s not good.’

Shu Yang had already planned a false identity, but that wouldn’t work if he was known to be a body cultivator.

A bunch of options ran through his mind, but no matter what he thought of, he felt it would be difficult to fool an old man with hundreds of years of experience in the world of cultivation.

‘I guess there is only one option.’

Shu Yang smiled slightly and answered calmly, “My name is Xue Jian. I’m a disciple of the Sword Sect. As for why I came to Shenshu Immortal City? I just felt like it.”

“The Sword Sect?” Song Guang asked, mouth open. “What an honor to have you visit. Would you allow me to see your disciple token?”

‘A disciple token. Of course.’

Shu Yang felt he had been a bit too hasty. But now wasn’t the time to hesitate.

Shu Yang grabbed his sword and released his sword intent. He didn’t attack or destroy the room; he simply made small cuts all around the room, in the air, so the old man could feel it.

“My sword intent is my disciple token,” Shu Yang said, letting go of his sword. “Or do you not recognize my master’s sword intent?”

“Your master is…?” Song Guang asked, looking a bit cautious, but also a bit doubtful.

“It seems you don’t,” Shu Yang said, crossing his arms and looking around the room with a slight frown. “I guess that’s to be expected. You guys don’t even seem to recognize the Sword Sect’s laws, after all. I heard that bloodline breeding isn’t quite as non-existent here as my Sword Sect would wish.”

“I assure you that bloodline breeding is not practiced; even without the word of the Sword Sect, no one would commit such evil. At least, I can vouch entirely for my Song Family. No such thing has ever, or will ever, occur in our family.” Song Guang hurriedly assured.

“That’s good,” Shu Yang said, “I really hope that’s the case. But just to be sure, you don’t mind me taking a look around the city myself, do you?”

“Of course not,” Song Guang answered.

“Then are we done here?” Shu Yang asked.

Song Guang hesitated for a moment before smiling, “Yes. Sorry to bother you, young master Xue. If you need a place to rest while you’re here, you are more than welcome to stay at my Song Family.”

Shu Yang got to his feet and nodded at the old man. “I’ll think about it.”

He was then guided outside the reception room and led down to the street. At every step along the way, Shu Yang was ready for another probing question, something that would finally expose him. But fortunately, nothing of the sort happened.

As one minute after the next passed, and Shu Yang got further and further away, he finally started believing that he had gotten away with it.

‘That was close! Thank goodness it worked.’

Shu Yang didn’t think it would work forever, though. That Song Guang was probably somewhat convinced by Shu Yang’s sword intent, so he didn’t dare push things too far. But he would definitely report this to someone as soon as Shu Yang left.

It was only a matter of time before someone who could expose him would show up, and by that time, Shu Yang needed to get out of here with his daughter.

Walking along the street, Shu Yang couldn’t help but think about Song Guang’s offer.

‘It’s quite a good opportunity, actually. It will let me enter the Song Family Mountain without issue.’

Shu Yang had only rejected Song Guang because he was a bit worried he would let something slip and expose himself. It was better to get away from Song Guang first and then go to the Song Family without being escorted by him.

‘I’ll head over there and see if Xiaorong can slip inside. If not, I’ll just go inside through the front gate. If I say I’m from the Sword Sect and was invited by Song Guang, they should at least allow me to enter the formation and let me wait in some kind of reception area.’

‘Then, Xiaorong can sneak off and find Tianyi. I’ll have her use a stealth talisman and sneak over to me. Then, we’ll all just leave through the front gates.’

Shu Yang started getting excited. He felt it could really work.

He had obviously bought a lot of things with his newfound wealth, and that included a few high-grade stealth talismans to aid Tianyi’s escape. As long as no Foundation cultivator looked, she should be able to escape easily.

“Shu Yang, what brings you to Shenchu Immortal City?” A familiar voice sounded, and Shu Yang turned around in surprise.

“Song Hongchi,” Shu Yang said, frowning.

‘What is she doing here? Has she been waiting for me to arrive?’

Shu Yang felt a bit uneasy. Even with a Blood Oath, he didn’t trust that woman.

“Who thought we’d meet so soon? Are you looking for someone?” Song Hongchi asked, taking a few steps closer.

‘She knows?’

“It’s your daughter, right?” Song Hongchi asked in a low voice, now just a foot away from him. “I can help you meet with her and make sure you get out of here.”

‘How does she know all of that?’

Shu Yang didn’t answer, keeping his mouth shut in case Song Hongchi made some connection and gained an advantage over him. She was too dangerous.

“Why don’t we go somewhere private and talk? Don’t worry, I can’t harm you or Tianyi; you should know that. I just want a small reward, a finder’s fee, and in no more than an hour, you’ll be on your way from here with Tianyi. What do you say? Can we talk?”

“Fine,” Shu Yang said. He didn’t know what else to do. If Song Hongchi knew he was looking for Tianyi, that changed everything. Tianyi might not even be at the Song Family anymore.

‘If she demands the inheritance in exchange for Tianyi, so be it. I’d rather get Tianyi away safely than those resources.’

‘With the Bloodline Tree, I’ll eventually reach the Golden Core stage either way.’

‘Still, I’d rather not lose either.’

Shu Yang narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched Song Hongchi leading the way.

‘Once I have made sure to put Tianyi somewhere safe, it’s not too late to get back whatever I’ve lost. I doubt Song Hongchi can keep watch forever.’

‘With Xiaorong to help me. I doubt anyone below the Golden Core stage can keep their stuff safe from us.’