A day had passed since Huo Chen arrived at the Emerald Valley.

  He looked around. The place was packed—far more crowded than when he'd first come. Cultivators stood everywhere in groups, Foundation Establishment experts leading their clan members.

  Most of the cultivators were older, people in their thirties, forties, even fifties. A few younger faces scattered through the crowds, but not many.

  Not far from where Huo Chen sat, two groups faced each other. Foundation Establishment experts stood at the front of both sides, their clan members behind them.

  The first expert looked across.

  "Jin Fang. I see you brought nearly your entire clan."

  His eyes swept slowly over the disciples standing behind Jin Fang, lingering on their numbers with quiet calculation.

  "I wonder how many of them will still be breathing when the realm closes."

  Jin Fang's expression didn't shift. "Worry about your own, Li Huan. The beasts inside won't care about old grudges—they'll just tear through whoever's weak enough to die."

  Li Huan's voice dropped lower. "The Emerald Void is famous for swallowing entire lineages. I'd hate for you to return to an empty clan hall because you were too greedy today."

  Jin Fang's face stayed cold. "Greed is only a problem for those who lack the strength to keep what they take. Watch your back, Li Huan. The 'beasts' inside sometimes wear human faces."

  They turned and walked back to their groups without another word. ?

  Huo Chen watched them walk away from each other. He didn't need anyone to tell him what was coming. Looking at the way these people were staring at each other, the slaughter inside the realm was going to be crazy.

  It’s going to be a total bloodbath, he thought.

  ---

  Another day passed.

  Huo Chen noticed the voices in the valley had suddenly gone low.

  He looked up and saw a massive warship coming from the distance, cutting through the sky.

  Dark red wood reinforced with black metal, formations glowing along its hull.

  The spiritual pressure hit first. Heavy and oppressive pressing down on the entire valley like a weight settling over everything.

  Huo Chen felt it and his first thought was clear—if that thing released an attack, this whole place would be leveled.

  The ship had to be at least Grade 3, carrying Golden Core level attack power. A banner hung from its bow—crimson with a blood moon dripping.

  People around him started reacting.

  "The Blood Moon Hall."

  "They're here."

  The warship descended slowly and landed on the western edge of the field. The ramp extended and figures began descending.

  A peak stage Foundation Establishment expert came first, his robes dark red with black patterns.

  "Elder Wu Heishan the vice sect leader of the Blood Moon Hall."

  Other Foundation experts followed behind him—two at late stage, three at mid stage, their movements smooth and controlled.

  Then a young man appeared at the top of the ramp. He looked to be in his early twenties and his cultivation was at the ninth layer of Qi Refining.

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  He walked down with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression calm but his eyes sharp, taking in the valley like he was assessing everything at once.

  His robes were darker than the other disciples', silver thread woven across the chest.

  When his gaze swept across groups of cultivators, some shifted uncomfortably. Others looked away entirely.

  Behind him came more Blood Moon Hall disciples dozens of them , all Qi Refining, moving in formation.

  Near Huo Chen, a group of Qi Refining cultivators was talking. An older man—maybe mid-fifties, eighth layer cultivation, gray starting to show in his hair—was speaking to three younger clan members.

  "That's Yan Mo," the elder said quietly.

  One of the younger cultivators, a woman in her thirties, glanced toward the young man. "Yan Mo? The one they've been talking about?"

  "That's their founder's grandson," the elder said. "The kid is a monster. He’s got that Demonic Yin Physique everyone talks about—they've been sharpening him like a blade since he could walk."

  A second cultivator, a man in his forties, frowned. "What does that mean for us?"

  "It means stay out of his way if you see him inside," the elder said simply.

  Huo Chen looked at Yan Mo again, then turned his attention back to his wolf without saying anything.

  Foundation Establishment experts from smaller sects and clans began approaching the Blood Moon Hall's position, bowing respectfully. Elder Wu Heishan and the other experts greeted them in turn, exchanging brief words.

  An hour passed.

  Another warship appeared in the distance, coming from a different direction. This one was lighter—pale wood with green and gold accents, formations carved along its sides.

  The banner showed a tree with spreading roots. The Mu Family's ship descended and landed on the opposite side of the valley from the Blood Moon Hall.

  The pressure was also Grade 3, Golden Core power, but the energy itself felt different. It was so refined it felt vibrant, almost like the air was vibrating with a power that was too pure to touch.

  The ramp extended and a peak stage Foundation Establishment expert led the way—a man in white robes with gold trim, his bearing composed. Other experts followed behind—three at late stage, one at the mid stage.

  Then another young man stepped out. Maybe in his mid twenties, also at the ninth layer of Qi Refining. He wore white robes with jade ornaments hanging from his belt, his posture straight, his head slightly raised.

  When he looked across the valley, his gaze seemed to pass over people rather than see them, as if the crowd didn't warrant his full attention.

  Qi Refining cultivators followed behind him in disciplined formation.

  The group of cultivators near Huo Chen continued talking, and the elder's voice carried over clearly.

  "Mu Rong," he said. " The Mu Family's heir."

  The woman looked toward the Mu Family group. "Is he like Yan Mo?"

  "Different talent," the elder replied. "He's got a Heaven-grade Wood Spirit Root—natural affinity so strong it's almost ridiculous. The Mu Family's been cultivating him since birth."

  The man in his forties shook his head slowly. "So both of them are the Golden Core seeds of the eastern domain."

  "They are," the elder agreed. "But don't mistake that for safety. The western domain has their own—Azure River Sect and Gale Sword Sect brought their geniuses too. Those four powers are going to tear into each other the moment they meet inside. It's going to be brutal."

  Huo Chen absorbed the information. Yan Mo and Mu Rong—both ninth layer, both with rare advantages. And western domain geniuses waiting inside.

  He felt the realm would be very interesting.

  They were talented, no question. Worth paying attention to.

  The two groups—Blood Moon Hall and Mu Family—settled into their respective areas.

  After a short time, Foundation experts from both sides met briefly in the center of the valley. Elder Wu Heishan and the Mu Family's peak expert spoke for a few minutes, too distant for Huo Chen to hear. Then they separated and returned to their groups.

  The valley stayed quieter after both powers arrived.

  ---

  The next day, Huo Chen was still meditating when he heard it.

  CRACK—

  A sharp, sudden sound, like reality breaking. He looked toward the center of the valley and saw space fracturing—cracks spreading outward from a single point, widening, tearing open.

  Then the entrance appeared. A massive opening materialized from nothing, twenty meters wide and fifteen high.

  Through it, Huo Chen could see inside—tall trees stretching upward, birds flying between branches, beasts moving through the undergrowth.

  A beam of light shot upward from the entrance, piercing the sky with green energy spiraling around it.

  The crowd reacted immediately. Some cultivators laughed, unable to contain their excitement. Others tried to stay composed, but their hands tightened on weapons, their eyes locked on the entrance.

  No one rushed forward. The Blood Moon Hall and Mu Family experts gathered their people and spoke briefly.

  Then both groups began moving toward the entrance. Disciples from both powers surged forward together, Yan Mo and Mu Rong leading them.

  Within moments, both groups had disappeared through the opening.

  Then the rest of the valley moved. Cultivators ran from every direction—some on spirit beasts, others on flying artifacts, many just sprinting.

  The noise was deafening.

  Huo Chen had already climbed onto the Shadow Wolf's back. A small smile touched his face. He didn't want to wait another second. The wolf started moving, picking up speed quickly.

  It reached the entrance as the wave of cultivators pushed through, then leapt forward.

  The world shifted.

  A brief pull.

  Then they were inside.