As the eve of the Elder Conclave drew near, Wang Lin, escorted by the Dark Scorpion Clan and the Cloud Dwellers, arrived at the periphery of the Emperor Star. His gaze fell upon the strange, cultivated world, and his eyes narrowed in contemplation.

The Emperor Star was enshrouded in an ethereal mist, its features obscured and blurred. A palpable aura of malevolence swirled around it, and within the illusory haze, immense fissures rent the fabric of reality like gaping maws, poised to devour all that strayed too close.

Woven within the ephemeral mist were countless threads of grey, flickering and fleeting. Upon closer inspection, these were not material strands but manifestations of a potent magnetic repulsion, tearing at the very essence of existence.

Even before drawing near, Wang Lin sensed a formidable power emanating from within the veil, a force capable of cleaving the heavens and shattering the earth, dissolving even the most potent of magical arts and collapsing the mightiest of artifacts.

This was no creation of man nor magic, but a raw, untamed power of the cosmos itself, a testament to the forging hand of creation.

Wang Lin’s pupils constricted as he observed the spectacle with careful scrutiny, halting his advance just beyond the misty shroud.

Here, a multitude of cultivators had already gathered. Clustered in groups of dozens or hundreds, they were scattered across the void, with many engaged in hushed conversations among trusted allies.

A sea of faces met the eye, and the arrival of Wang Lin’s party drew a wave of curious scrutiny. However, the probing gazes retreated as they swept over the Dark Scorpion Clan and the Cloud Dwellers, recognizing their insignificance.

As for Wang Lin, his true stature remained concealed from most, hidden behind a veil of power.

His countenance remained impassive as he coldly observed the scene before him.

“Venerable One,” the Chieftain of the Dark Scorpion Clan murmured, “each Elder Conclave is held on the Emperor Star, but the magnetic tears present an impassable barrier. Only when all the participants have arrived will a unified passage be opened from within, granting access to all.”

“We are not late, it seems. The passage should open soon,” the Dark Scorpion Chieftain added, his voice hushed.

Wang Lin offered a subtle nod, his gaze sweeping over the assembled cultivators. Tens of thousands were gathered here, yet they seemed but motes of dust against the vast canvas of the cosmos.

“I never thought the Cloud Dwellers would stoop so low as to consort with the cave-dwelling Scorpion Clan, even adopting them as vassals! How amusing!” a grating voice sliced through the air. From a group of nearly a thousand, a man clad in azure robes stepped forward.

His features were unremarkable, but his eyes glinted with a viperish cold, and a serpentine sigil marked his brow, lending him an air of sinister intent.

His words dripped with derision as he paused, his gaze sweeping over Wang Lin’s company.

The Dark Scorpion Chieftain, standing beside Wang Lin, visibly stiffened, fixing the azure-clad man with a scornful glare.

“That is the Great Elder of the Soul Serpent Clan. During the last Elder Conclave, they clashed with the Cloud Dwellers, achieving neither victory nor defeat. There is old blood between them,” the Dark Scorpion Chieftain whispered.

The Chieftain of the Cloud Dwellers, who stood beside Wang Lin, remained impassive, his head bowed, and he offered no retort to the Soul Serpent Elder’s words.

“I heard tell that the Cloud Dwellers had secured the services of Greed Wolf as a patron. With him at your side, surely your victory in the Conclave is assured! Yet, where is the esteemed Greed Wolf?” the azure-clad man said with a feigned smile.

His voice was not loud, yet it carried the weight of his cultivation, resonating through the air.

The tens of thousands of cultivators gathered here were all members of lesser clans, vying for a seat on the Elder Conclave. Every clan with a chance of securing such a position viewed all others with suspicion and hostility.

Any insight into their rivals’ strengths or weaknesses could prove invaluable. Thus, the Soul Serpent Elder’s words drew the attention of the surrounding clans, all eyes turning towards the Cloud Dwellers.

The name of Greed Wolf was renowned throughout the lands. His patronage would elevate the Cloud Dwellers above their peers.

“Indeed, I have heard that Greed Wolf has become a patron of the Cloud Dwellers. In years past, he extended aid to me, and I have long sought an audience. Cloud Dweller,” an elderly man clad in violet robes spoke, his voice booming. His face was gaunt, and three crescent markings adorned his brow, like ripples upon water.

“The esteemed Greed Wolf has departed on urgent business and will not return. Spare yourselves the speculation!” the Chieftain of the Cloud Dwellers said coldly.

His words did not linger in the air long before he cast a furtive glance at Wang Lin, his intentions difficult to decipher. After delivering his lines, he lowered his head, opting to not offer any further statements.

The elderly man, a member of the Cloud Dwellers, noticed this glance and his eyes narrowed.

“The River Clan Chieftain, a branch of the Five Elements Water Clan. The current Thirteenth Elder of the Conclave!” the Dark Scorpion Chieftain whispered, sharing the details of the situation with Wang Lin.

Wang Lin remained unfazed, offering only a slight nod.

“Who dares speak my name?” The River Clan Chieftain and Thirteenth Elder of the Conclave turned his gaze towards Wang Lin and the Dark Scorpion Chieftain, his expression cold.

“Insignifcant creature of the Scorpion Clan! Kneel before me!” the River Clan Chieftain said, his gaze focusing on Wang Lin.

The Dark Scorpion Chieftain’s expression shifted as the River Clan Chieftain demanded he kneel before the gathering.

The events taking place drew the attention of surrounding onlookers.

The Soul Serpent Clan’s middle aged elder revealed a smile as he shook his head and said, “Scorpion Clan. Always choosing the wrong option. It is not wise for you to follow the Cloud Dwellers! But, I cannot blame you as you spend your lives in caves!”

“What? Are you defying me? Then you, come here and kneel!” the Thirteenth Elder of the Conclave, Chieftain of the River Clan, reached his hand out at Wang Lin.

As the Chieftain of the River Clan demanded Wang Lin kneel, the Chieftain of the Dark Scorpion Clan’s face shifted, a hint of ridicule began to creep into his expression. The Chieftain of the Cloud Dwellers lifted his head, a sense of hidden glee was visible.
A smile played upon Wang Lin’s lips as he regarded the aged elder who had spoken. “Your name,” he inquired, his voice a slow, deliberate drawl, “is it forbidden to utter?”

The Thirteenth Elder of the Fallen Origin Society’s eyes narrowed. He had glimpsed the subtle glance the Cloud Evader Clan Chief had cast at Wang Lin, noting also the man’s placement, as if the elder were subordinate to him. Hence, he had spoken out.

As the Thirteenth Elder, seeking re-election in the upcoming selection, he needed to establish his authority. Though the Shadow Scorpion Clan was small, the Cloud Evader Clan was not, and the presence of Greed Wolf as their famed patron made them an ideal target for a display of power.

In the elder’s estimation, Wang Lin was undoubtedly an emissary sent by the absent Greed Wolf. To make an example of Wang Lin was akin to challenging Greed Wolf himself! Yet, the mocking glances he perceived in the eyes of both the Cloud Evader and Shadow Scorpion Clan Chiefs sparked a seed of unease within him.

“This one is certainly sent by Greed Wolf. Though Greed Wolf is powerful, I am, for now, still an elder of the Fallen Origin Society, and fear him not!” With this thought, the elder snorted coldly and declared, “Only those with worth may speak such words. I wonder, do you possess such worth?”

The assembled elders and clan chiefs of the surrounding tribes, cunning and seasoned as they were, had largely reached the same conclusion as the Fallen Origin Society elder. Most believed Wang Lin to be an envoy of Greed Wolf.

“You are surely not of the Fallen Land,” the Grand Elder of the Soul Serpent Clan interjected, his eyes gleaming. He had instigated this conflict and delighted in seeing the Cloud Evader Clan become the Thirteenth Elder’s stepping stone. “I advise you to kneel swiftly. Even your master, Greed Wolf, would be forced to kneel in such a gathering!”

“Worth…” Wang Lin chuckled softly.

“Who dares claim this esteemed one lacks worth?!” A booming roar echoed from afar, shaking the very heavens. A stream of vibrant light, carried by a thousand cultivators, hurtled towards them from the distant stars.

At the forefront was a young man, flanked by several elders weathered by the trials of the Heaven-Man Five Decays. Their arrival thundered with power as they positioned themselves beside Wang Lin and his companions.

The young man, with utmost respect, bowed deeply before Wang Lin, clasping his hands and raising his head. “Junior, Clan Chief of the Dragon Armor Clan, pays homage to this esteemed one!”

Behind him, the thousand members of the Dragon Armor Clan, their faces etched with reverence and a hint of fear, mirrored his gesture. In unison, they bowed and proclaimed, “We pay homage to this esteemed one!”

This sight sent ripples through the assembled crowd. Their expressions shifted dramatically.

“The Dragon Armor Clan!”

“The Dragon Armor Clan of the Ninth Elder!”

“Rumor has it that the Dragon Armor Clan Chief was dismissed from the Fallen Origin Society Ninth Elder position months ago, and the Dragon Armor Clan has chosen a new chief!”

“The dismissal of the Ninth Elder is a closely guarded secret. Few know the reason behind it!”

“The Dragon Armor Clan is small in number, yet formidable. They rank among the top ten of the three hundred and seventy-two clans of the Fallen Land!”

“Who is this man that he commands such reverence from the Dragon Armor Clan?!”

“Could it be that he has no connection to Greed Wolf?”

The Soul Serpent Clan man was taken aback, his eyes flashing with renewed interest. The elder of the River Clan, however, grew pale. He stared at Wang Lin, then at the Dragon Armor Clan members, noting their fear. A terrifying realization dawned upon him.

The thought struck him like a plunge into icy water, leaving him trembling, his eyes wide with horror, disbelief, and a flicker of denial.

“It cannot be… It must be my imagination!”

Just then, the ethereal mist of magnetic Yuan force swirling outside the Grand Emperor Star stirred violently. Muffled rumbles echoed within, growing louder with each passing moment. A passage ripped open from the heart of the swirling fog, revealing a path outwards.

From the passage emerged dozens of stern-faced cultivators, led by the Emperor Envoy who had appeared on the Dragon Armor Clan cultivation star. He disregarded everyone around him, making a beeline for Wang Lin.

The Thirteenth Elder’s heart plummeted in his chest at the sight.