Primordial Godking

"I see... so how long before it hatches?"

Li Tianyan stood, brushing the dust off his elegant green robes. His gaze fixed on Zhao Ming, who was seated serenely by the altar.

"A few years from now," Zhao Ming replied, rising gracefully to her feet. "For now, I will seal it within your dantian. Once you reach the Nascent Soul realm, you'll be able to remove it. But bear in mind, you'll need to share a portion of every strand of qi that enters your dantian to nurture the egg."

Li Tianyan's expression darkened. "My dantian? Are you mad? Do you want me dead?" He took an instinctive step back, dread creeping into his voice.

Zhao Ming's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Don't worry. Just reach the Nascent Soul realm quickly, or… let's just say the egg might hatch before you get the chance."

His dread turned to indignation. "How am I supposed to do that if I'm forced to share my cultivation with it?"

"You don't have a choice." Her words were final, the calm tone belying her deadly resolve.

Before Li Tianyan could react, Zhao Ming vanished, reappearing behind him in an instant. Her palm struck the back of his head with practiced precision. His vision blurred, and the world spiraled into darkness.

---

DEMON FOREST

A lone figure clad in green robes stood at the mouth of a wide, foreboding cave. In his hands was a goat-skin map, its edges worn with age.

"Why would a Void Tribulation realm expert leave their inheritance in such a desolate place?" Li Jianfeng muttered, his sharp eyes scanning the cave's entrance. His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden presence of three foreign auras.

His hand reflexively went to his spatial ring, summoning a double-edged green sword. "Who goes there?" he demanded, his stance ready for battle.

"Relax, old friend," came a calm, mocking voice. "We're not here to fight, just to share in your good fortune."

From the shadows emerged three men clad in deep purple robes. Two were middle-aged, their demeanor subservient, while the leader—a wizened old man with an air of authority—smirked confidently.

"Old man Mo," Li Jianfeng greeted coldly, his grip tightening on his sword. "What business does the City Lord have here?"

Old man Mo chuckled, though his eyes remained sharp. "No need to be so hostile, Patriarch Li. After all, you're a genius of the Li clan—someone who could slay a Nascent Soul realm cultivator with a single sword strike. Truly remarkable, it's such a shame you couldn't inherit your clans formidable eye bloodline."

The two subordinates exchanged uneasy glances.

"Sir, is that even possible?" one murmured.

The other's face paled. "Unless... unless he's not actually at the Core Formation realm."

Li Jianfeng sneered. "Don't underestimate me, old man. I don't need a bloodline inheritance to handle the likes of you." He sheathed his sword, but his stance remained poised. "Now, speak. What do you want?"

The second subordinate stepped forward, his tone brash. "Don't get cocky just because you got lucky! You're speaking to the City Lord!"

"Watch your mouth," added the first subordinate, his voice laced with venom.

Li Jianfeng's eyes narrowed, a cold smile forming on his lips. Just as he took a step forward, Old man Mo barked: "Enough! Do you want me to silence you myself?"

The two subordinates immediately shrank back.

"Humph," Li Jianfeng scoffed. "So? Are you here to insult me, or is there another reason?"

Old man Mo straightened, his mocking tone replaced with cold calculation. "Did you really think you could discover this ruin unnoticed? The inheritance of a Void Tribulation realm expert? Of course, myself and the other City Lords would find out."

Li Jianfeng's expression darkened. "What are you implying?"

"It's simple," Old man Mo said, his sly smile returning. "The ruin's restrictions are clear—only cultivators below the Foundation Establishment realm can enter. Naturally, we'll be sending our younger generations to share in the spoils."

"And if I refuse?"

Old man Mo's tone turned icy. "You won't. Thirty days from now, we will jointly open the ruin. Don't try anything foolish, Patriarch Li, or you'll regret it." With a flick of his sleeves, he turned, leading his men away, leaving as quickly as he appeared.

Li Jianfeng stood still, his fists trembling. Blood seeped from his clenched hands, dripping to the ground as his fury erupted.

"ARGH!" he roared, the sound echoing through the desolate forest.

------

TIANYUN CITY

The grand hall of Tianyun City buzzed with the quiet murmur of voices, the air thick with an unspoken tension. It was a place of opulence, adorned with intricate tapestries and golden chandeliers, but tonight, the grandeur seemed to only highlight the unease among the gathered guests. The soft clink of wine glasses and the delicate rustle of silk robes masked the underlying currents of hostility and ambition.

At the center of the hall stood a long, polished table, laden with fine wines and exquisite delicacies. The scent of roasted meats and rich spices filled the air, but it was overshadowed by the weight of the discussions yet to unfold. Around the table sat a group of ten men—city lords of the surrounding cities, all except Qinglong City. Their faces were unreadable, yet their auras pulsed with power, each one eager to assert his position in the coming power struggle.

An empty chair at the head of the table remained, reserved for the last arrival—Old Man Mo, who had gone to confront Li Jianfeng, the patriarch of the Li Clan, about the ruins. His absence hung over the meeting like a cloud.

"Great city lords, you have all traveled far to attend my humble banquet. I am deeply honored," the host, a portly man in richly embroidered robes, said with an air of practiced humility. His voice was warm but tinged with the faintest edge of impatience. The words were polite, but the eyes of everyone present spoke of underlying agendas and secret ambitions.

Despite the outward cordiality, the tension was palpable. Every movement, every glance, seemed calculated. These were not men who gathered merely for pleasantries. The ruins discovered in the Demon Forest had set the stage for a conflict, and everyone here knew that they were competing for something far more valuable than gold or power. Whoever controlled the ruins, or even just the secrets within, would shift the balance of power among the twelve cities.

Old Man Mo's absence only served to heighten the uncertainty.

"Ah, Old Man Mo is late, as always," muttered one of the city lords, his voice dripping with contempt. His fingers tapped impatiently on the armrest of his chair, eyes narrowing as he glanced toward the empty seat. "I wonder what could be so important that he'd keep us waiting."

"Perhaps he's still busy… negotiating with the Li Clan," another city lord remarked with a knowing smile, his tone laced with sarcasm. There was no love lost between the city lords and the Li Clan, and the mention of Li Jianfeng only served to deepen the tension in the room.

A third lord, a tall and lean man with sharp features, cleared his throat. "Regardless of his delay, we must proceed with the matter at hand. The ruins—what is our course of action?"

The conversation shifted, and the room grew quieter. The eyes of the city lords were now fixed on one another, each silently calculating the others' moves.

"Indeed, the ruins," the host said, his smile widening slightly. "It's no secret that we all have our eyes on the treasures left behind by the Void Tribulation realm expert. But as you know, the rules are clear. Only cultivators below Foundation Establishment may enter. The question is, who among us can make the most of this?"

A low murmur spread through the group. Some of the younger lords, eager to prove their worth, exchanged glances, while the older, more seasoned ones weighed their options carefully. But there was one thing everyone agreed upon: no matter how the rules were enforced, the spoils would be enormous.

"What of the Li Clan?" The tall city lord spoke again, his gaze narrowing as he leaned forward. "I heard whispers that Li Jianfeng was not… particularly thrilled about the ruin's discovery. Do we have to worry about his involvement?"

A moment of silence followed, the tension thickening. The mention of Li Jianfeng's name caused several of the lords to stiffen, their eyes flickering nervously. The patriarch was known for his ruthlessness, and the Li Clan was not a force to be underestimated.

"Li Jianfeng is a fool," one of the middle-aged lords scoffed, though his words were carefully measured. "He'll be a thorn in our side, no doubt. But he can't stop us from claiming what's ours. We've already made arrangements."

"Arrangements?" The host raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "And what arrangements might those be?"

Before the lord could respond, the doors to the hall creaked open, and a figure appeared in the doorway. Old Man Mo had finally arrived, his cloak trailing behind him as he strode into the room. His eyes scanned the table, settling briefly on the empty chair before locking onto the host.

"Apologies for the delay," Old Man Mo said, his voice smooth, but with an edge of authority. "I trust the conversation has not veered too far without me?"

The other city lords fell silent, their gazes shifting between each other. Old Man Mo had a reputation for both his cunning and his ability to turn situations in his favor.

"We were just discussing the Li Clan," the tall city lord said, his tone polite but careful. "And how their patriarch may pose a problem for us."

Old Man Mo's lips curled into a sly smile. "Ah, Li Jianfeng. A man who knows his place... but we shall see if he remains in line."

He moved to the head of the table, settling into the empty chair with a quiet grace. The meeting had just taken a turn, and everyone knew that from here on out, the stakes would only rise.