Main Continent.


    Baiyun City.


    In a grand chamber adorned with opulent tapestries and ornate furnishings, an elderly man sat upon a magnificent seat carved with intricate designs.


    His visage was etched with the weight of years, and his brow bore a deep frown, lines of concern furrowing his aged features.


    Dressed in rich, time-worn robes that spoke of a lifetime of leadership, he exuded an air of authority and wisdom, even as the heavy frown revealed his current state of unease.


    His silver hair, once vibrant, had dulled with the passage of time, and it cascaded down to his shoulders.


    By his side, a withered man, bearing the physical marks of age, stood attentively. He was a loyal advisor and confidant.


    "What do you think of what my daughter reported?" The Wang patriarch inquired, his voice tinged with indifference.


    The withered old man beside him didn''t respond immediately. His sparse white hair swayed as if moved by an unseen breeze, a testament to his advanced age and years of experience.


    "The young master went to the barrennd and never came back. Now, the elder miss tried to rescue him but encountered a mishap from which she barely managed to survive before sending for help…" he began, his words measured and thoughtful.


    "This can''t be the work of our enemies. They wouldn''t make such a rookie mistake," he concluded, a hint of conviction in his tone.


    The Wang patriarch nodded slightly, acknowledging the old man''s analysis. He then continued,


    "Send the shadow assassins to investigate the situation. If it aligns with what she described, they should eliminate those barbarians and rescue my son and daughter. However…"


    His voice trailed off, the unspoken portion of his message hanging in the air. The withered old man understood the unspoken implications and nodded in solemn agreement.


    Meanwhile, in another part of Baiyun City, within a magnificent restaurant, a group of young men and women were seated around avishly adorned table.


    A sumptuous feasty before them, but their attention was fixed on the two individuals upying the main seats.


    These young men and women belonged to the most powerful ns in Baiyun City, and their respective patriarchs held positions as elders within the formidable Crimson Jade Pavilion.


    The Chang and Liu ns had formed an alliance through marriage, consolidating their influence within Baiyun City.


    As a result, they held an intimidating presence. However, one n challenged their dominance on multiple fronts—the Wang n.


    The Wang n''s patriarch was a formidable cultivator whose strength left other ns in awe and trepidation.


    Despite this, he found himself constrained under the enormous pressure exerted by the Liu and Chang ns.


    The fierce rivalry between these ns had grown more brutal and merciless over time, particrly during the selection of the heir or heiress of the Crimson Jade Pavilion.


    Those two sitting on the main were a couple. Cheng Hong and Liu Fu.


    "Have you heard the rumors about Wang Baozhai''s disappearance?" Liu Fu inquired, a tone of superiority in his voice.


    The young masters and mistresses from lesser ns didn''t seem surprised by the arrogant tone in Liu Fu''s question. Instead, they chose to respond to his inquiry while wearing their most pleasant smiles.


    "Yes, it seems Wang Baozhai ventured into the barrennd and never returned. I wonder what might have prompted her to go there," Cheng Hong remarked, her voice filled with a honeyed sweetness that did little to conceal the pride beneath it, a pride matching that of Liu Fu.


    "No one seems to know why Wang Baozhai led her men into the barrennd. But there''s spection that a heavenly treasure might have appeared there, which would exin her journey," a handsome young man responded respectfully.


    The mention of a heavenly treasure drew the attention of Cheng Hong and Liu Fu. They exchanged subtle nces, maintaining their calm, prideful expressions. If there was any truth to this rumor, they knew they needed to act swiftly.


    As Cheng Hong and Liu Fu contemted their next steps, young masters and mistresses from various smaller ns were also making their ns.


    In theing weeks, the barrennd would be far from peaceful.


    On the southern sea, the magnificent ship sailed resolutely towards the direction of the Crystal Ind.


    As the ship approached the seashore, smaller boats and ships with patrolling guards moved back and forth along the coast. However, when they saw the iing massive ship, they halted in their tracks and stared for a few moments.


    The guards were more cautious and quickly sent a message to the ind chief. Their faces held a hint of panic and nervousness.


    Even though they knew which n wasing, rumors about the n growing stronger had spread far and wide across the southern sea.


    The Huang n.


    The massive Huang n ship docked at the seashore, and the nervous guards swallowed hard as they waited at the ship''s entrance.


    Creak!


    The ship''s door creaked open, and a series of heavy footsteps echoed on the ancient wooden dock.


    Dozens of powerful soldiers, their bodies augmented with Metal Bone Constructs, marched out.


    Their intimidating presence sent the stupefied guards instinctively taking a few steps back.


    Trembling hands and legs betrayed their anxiety under the suffocating pressure of the approaching soldiers. If not for the Huang n g fluttering in the breeze, they might have thought the ind was under attack.


    Despite the serious expressions on the soldiers'' faces, the guard captaincked the courage to step forward and request identification.


    The soldiers, numbering in the hundreds, formed a disciplined formation. Following them, a middle-aged man in a in gray robe emerged with an air of indifference.


    "Who would have expected such a small ind to possess such a precious gem…" he muttered, strolling casually towards the guards.


    The appearance of this ordinary middle-aged man gave everyone the impression that this was all, but their expectation was challenged when a figure appeared in the ship''s entrance: Huang Yin.


    Upon seeing her ethereal presence, everyone collectively sucked in a cold breath, momentarily losing theirposure. It wasn''t until they heard a powerful grunt from Elder Su Feng that they snapped out of their stupor.


    "Where is your ind chief?" Huang Yin asked, her cold, chilling voice sending shivers down the spines of all who heard it.


    "n master," a plump middle-aged man rushed to the seashore, his face drenched in sweat from the effort.


    Behind him, a crowd of ind residents looked on with puzzled expressions. Why would their ind chief be in such a hurry, as if they were under attack? Then they saw a stunning beauty standing in the ship''s entrance.


    Among the onlookers was Wang Baozhai, her gaze shifting with various conflicting emotions. Amid the whirlwind of feelings, jealousy seemed to dominate.


    "Don''t worry," she muttered through gritted teeth, her face filled with hatred, "I''ll make sure to destroy everything."