“Father, even though our The Sullivan Family is a family of the Immortal Clan, there are only about a hundred Core Formation elders, and including the clan leader, only five Nascent Soul experts. As for the Great Ascension stage, there is only the Grand Elder. This shows just how difficult cultivation becomes after Foundation Establishment. But precisely because of this, the accumulation during the Foundation Establishment stage is all the more important—only by laying a solid foundation can the road ahead be smoother. Father, you need not worry. Among the new generation of disciples in the clan, there is only one among the three sons whom I consider a true rival. As for Evelyn, though her innate talent is not bad, she is, after all, a girl. After Core Formation, I will leave her far behind.” The tall, young man spoke with confidence.

“Well said. But as far as I know, your greatest rival, Samuel Sullivan, has been in seclusion for a whole year. If I remember correctly, before he went into seclusion, he had already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment. Now, with such a long period of seclusion, could it be that he is cultivating some powerful technique?” The pale-faced elder, after showing a look of approval, frowned and spoke.

“That is very likely. That place should be about to appear, right? Samuel Sullivan, like me, has been suppressing his cultivation and has not yet formed his Core. He is also waiting for that place to open.” The young man said thoughtfully.

“That place, huh? Judging by the time, it should be soon. But the dangers within…” The pale-faced elder, hearing the young man’s words, fell into contemplation, his expression a mix of joy and worry.

※※※

At the same time, in a simple stone house of the The Sullivan Family, Grant Sullivan stood by the bedside, frowning as he looked at the handsome young man lying there with eyes closed, one shoulder wrapped in thick white gauze.

“Brother Grant, what should we do? After the third brother used the Blood-Burning Art, he then repeatedly used secret techniques to fight the enemy. Even though the healer has used spiritual medicine, his vital blood is insufficient to support the reattachment of the severed limb. If this goes on, after two or three months, I’m afraid this arm will truly be crippled.” Beside him, Victor Sullivan whispered anxiously, as if afraid to wake the handsome youth.

“Didn’t Dr. Parker say it already? To save third brother’s arm, only a blood ginseng or similar spiritual item over five hundred years old, which greatly replenishes vital blood, will do. Other things are unlikely to work. Only the Blood Fat Pill is available within the clan.” Grant Sullivan said slowly, looking at the young man who had been unconscious since returning.

“But even within the clan, the Blood Fat Pill is extremely rare. Unless one renders great service or buys it with a sky-high price in spirit jade, how could the elders possibly agree to use it for third brother’s treatment?”

“I’ll think of a way regarding the Blood Fat Pill and other spiritual medicines. I will never let third brother become disabled. But compared to this, I’m more worried about the matter with Edwin Sullivan.” Grant Sullivan said gravely.

“Edwin Sullivan? You mean his elder brother, Leonard Sullivan? But on the Life-and-Death Arena, life and death are one’s own responsibility. Even if he is one of the three sons, what can he do?” Victor Sullivan asked, suddenly realizing.

“Heh, you’re thinking too simply. On the surface, third brother is naturally not at fault, but if Leonard Sullivan really wants to cause trouble for him, wouldn’t it be easy? Have you forgotten their father is an elder of the clan? At that time, he could easily assign third brother a dangerous task, deliberately withhold cultivation resources, or even have someone challenge him again on the Life-and-Death Arena. All of these are very possible.” Grant Sullivan chuckled.

“Their family would stoop to such despicable things? What should we do! Brother Grant, do you have any good ideas?” Victor Sullivan was shocked after hearing this.

This time, Grant Sullivan’s expression was uncertain, and he did not answer directly.

……

In Tiannan, Qiongyao Lake stretches for hundreds of miles, and the central area of the lake is so deep that the bottom cannot be seen, known as the number one lake in Tiannan.

At a certain spot on the lake, a dozen or so small boats were weaving across the picturesque surface. The fishermen on the lake would occasionally cast their nets and then haul them up with effort, laughter of great harvest echoing from time to time.

Suddenly, a sound of something breaking through the air came from high above in the distance. A sharp-tipped wooden boat, entirely emerald green, shot through the sky, and several miles behind it, more than a dozen two-headed monstrous birds shrieked as they gave chase relentlessly.

On the wooden boat, five or six people in silver brocade robes could be vaguely seen standing, while each of the monstrous birds carried a black-clad rider. Both sides hurled curses at each other across the air, and from time to time, fireballs, ice spikes, and other spells clashed in midair…

In the blink of an eye, the group arrived above the fishing boats, not sparing a single glance at the mortals below.

“This is bad, Immortal Masters are fighting! Everyone, hide in the cabin—no one is allowed to come out!” On one of the small boats, the oldest man, seeing the situation in the sky, turned pale and shouted sternly at the others.

The fishermen, hearing this, abandoned their nets and rushed into the cabins like a startled herd of animals.

At the speed of the wooden boat and the monstrous birds, they would likely fly past above the fishing boats in an instant.

At that moment, a sudden thunderclap rang out in the clear sky. Higher up, the sky abruptly became blurred and hazy, the void twisting and wrinkling like a rag. Several of the monstrous birds in the rear failed to dodge in time, and with miserable cries, were instantly torn apart by the spatial ripples, exploding into clouds of blood mist.

The others, who had been fighting, were shocked. Whether on the wooden boat or the monstrous birds, they all immediately ceased fighting and fled into the distance.