Flying swiftly toward the southern side of the World of Creation, there lies a spatial rift, which serves as the exit from the World of Creation. This rift is tightly guarded by The Harper Family. The World of Creation is usually used only for cultivation; The Harper Family's foundation still lies in the mortal world. However, when external enemies invade King’s Ridge, The Harper Family can retreat into the World of Creation at any time. The Harper Family has been building the World of Creation for over sixty thousand years, and it has long been managed to the point of being impenetrable.

World of Creation, southern foothills.

This is a towering mountain range, tens of thousands of feet high, with sheer cliffs and jagged rocks. Amidst the swirling clouds at the summit, one can faintly see a magnificent and imposing Daoist temple.

The Harper Family follows Daoism, cultivating the path of immortals and gods. The heavenly way is vast and boundless; only immortals and gods are eternal and indestructible.

Looking up at the summit of the southern foothills, the continuous buildings give a sense of solemnity and awe. The winding mountain path stretches from the foot of the mountain all the way into the depths of the clouds. The Harper Family disciples come and go in an endless stream. Every thousand steps, they bow respectfully, just like devout pilgrims. According to several inner disciples of The Harper Family, these thirty-six thousand steps symbolize the boundless and infinite heavenly way, and everyone must hold a heart of reverence and awe toward it.

William Harper suddenly felt a desire to ascend to the summit of the southern foothills. Living an unremarkable life at the bottom was not William Harper's style. With his personality, he would either make this family shine brilliantly or turn it upside down—this is William Harper!

Outer disciples stop here! A sign stood at the start of the mountain path; ahead lay the spatial rift.

An inner disciple stood before the rift, specifically responsible for checking spirit talismans.

William Harper took out a yellow record spirit talisman from his Qiankun pouch.

“William Harper, eighty-six days, killed one thousand and two monsters, you may leave.” The inner disciple said expressionlessly, “Next.”

William Harper glanced at the distant southern foothills. I will be back! he thought, stepping into the spatial rift without looking back.

Xilian, formerly known as Longyi.

This is a grand city with a population of a million, a vital hub connecting north and south land routes, and also the intersection of east-west waterways. The river flows from west to east, winding past the southern part of Xilian City, moving slowly. Large and small passenger boats shuttle back and forth in an endless stream, a testament to the city’s prosperity.

This city is the political center of the northern lands, because it is dominated by a formidable family, the Xilian The Harper Family. The The Harper Family family is located at King’s Ridge, north of Xilian City.

The Xilian The Harper Family and the Tian family of Luoyi are known as the two great families of the era, ruling on either side of the great river. The Xilian The Harper Family is the undisputed king of the north.

It is once again July, the busiest time of year in Xilian City, as the city must receive envoys sent from various countries and accept their tributes. This is the city’s annual grand event and also when temple fairs are most concentrated. To thank The Harper Family for their benevolence to Xilian, the people hold all kinds of celebrations.

Xilian City is the only place in the north without taxes, and with no wars or disasters, the people have always lived in peace and contentment—truly a paradise on earth. However, becoming a citizen of Xilian City is not easy: one’s ancestry for three generations must be clear, the family must be upright and free of bad habits, and one must be a martial artist. Such is the custom, so the martial spirit in Xilian City is rarely seen elsewhere.

After leaving the World of Creation, William Harper arrived at Zifeng Street in Xilian City, strolling alone and leisurely, looking around at all the new sights.

“Second brother.” A boy of about thirteen or fourteen spotted William Harper and called out in surprise from the crowd.

Some memories surfaced in William Harper’s mind—this was Henry Harper, William Harper’s younger brother. Seeing this young teen, he felt both unfamiliar and somewhat familiar.

“Second brother, how did your mission in the World of Creation go?”

“Second brother, what’s in the World of Creation?” Henry Harper chattered noisily beside William Harper.

William Harper frowned slightly. He didn’t like to talk much and only responded perfunctorily. Henry Harper noticed that William Harper had become much colder than before.

As they walked down the street, the two boys stood out with their extraordinary bearing, dressed in white robes. The nearby townsfolk greeted them respectfully, for they wore a jade pendant at their waists inscribed with the character “郝.” This is the symbol of The Harper Family; in the eyes of the people, anyone wearing this jade pendant is an important figure.

Xilian, with a population of over a million, has more than twenty martial halls. These halls teach martial arts daily and select students through multiple rounds. Only those who reach the innate realm before the age of fifty have a chance to enter The Harper Family and be granted the surname Hao—no more than a hundred people each year.

This is all the common people know about The Harper Family. The The Harper Family clan numbers over ten thousand. Aside from a few disciples who travel outside, they rarely display their strength to the world, so little is known about them. However, every The Harper Family disciple who does go out is an extraordinary figure, so in the eyes of the people, The Harper Family is a mysterious and exalted existence, like a towering tree reaching into the clouds—they see only its roots.

In the eyes of mortals, all The Harper Family disciples live glorious lives, but in reality, their status varies. William Harper and Henry Harper are merely the most ordinary ninth-generation outer disciples. To put it nicely, they are ninth-generation disciples; in truth, they are just errand boys, doing all the heavy and tiring work in the sect.