"He appears to be a younger generation cultivator. He said his name is Wuming, but I suspect it's a false name," Zhao Tingxue said.
"Wuming?"
"Real or not, it's certainly a distinctive name," Zhao Laoba sighed.
"He also has a friend, a martial cultivator. Though weaker than him, the friend does have some strength."
"Zhao Cangjin fought him and only barely won," Zhao Tingxue added.
"Oh? What's his name?" Zhao Laoba asked.
"He's a stutterer. His name is Wude," Zhao Tingxue said.
"Wude?"
"That doesn't sound like a proper person's name at all. If they're friends, then they must be two of a kind. Distinctive names, perhaps, but their character is highly questionable," Zhao Laoba laughed.
At this, Zhao Zhuyin and the others all chuckled.
They could all tell that Zhao Laoba was just joking. That was simply his personality.
As for being stiff and formal, that was their own issue. Take Zhao Zhuyin, for example — in front of her own father, she was never the least bit reserved. On the contrary, she was quite bold and unrestrained.
After traveling for some time, the grand fleet of warships came to a halt.
From outside, an elder's voice rang out: "Reporting to the Patriarch — we've found it."
"Move out."
Zhao Laoba set down the bamboo chopsticks in his hand and led everyone outside.
Before them stretched an endless expanse of mountain peaks.
Zhao Laoba swept his palm across his Universe Bag, and a scroll appeared. He unfurled it, revealing an image of eighteen or nineteen peaks.
One sat at the center, while the other eighteen surrounded it like guardians, shielding it within their midst.
Though the landscape before them now seemed to be nothing but an endless, densely packed sea of mountain peaks, they could still pick out the formation that matched the one in the scroll.
This was what they had been searching for.
"Set up the formation!!!"
At Zhao Laoba's command, the Zhao Immortal Clan elders — who had long been standing by in readiness — immediately sprang into action.
They began working on the eighteen surrounding peaks, but notably, not a single move was made toward the central peak that they were meant to be guarding.
Zhao Laoba and the others fixed their gaze upon that central peak.
Because that peak was their true target.
"Father, is this the peak you so carefully chose for me?" Zhao Zhuyin asked.
"That's right. Are you satisfied, Zhuyin?" Zhao Laoba replied.
"Isn't this only the second-most difficult? I want to challenge the hardest one," Zhao Zhuyin said.
"My dear daughter, according to our clan's records, during the ancient era, only three people ever succeeded in conquering the most difficult peak."
"I know — the Three Emperors of the Prosperous Era, the ones who pushed the ancient age to its zenith."
"Could it be that you doubt I can rival the Three Emperors of the Prosperous Era?" Zhao Zhuyin said.
"No, on the contrary — your father believes you can surpass those legendary Three Emperors."
When Zhao Laoba said this, Zhao Zhuyin broke into a smile.
"Only you would think that, Father. I don't have that kind of ability. I know my own limits."
"Honestly, I'm not even confident I can handle this second-difficult peak. Father, are you really sure about this?" Zhao Zhuyin asked.
"My dear daughter, the Bloodline Opportunity Mountain has very little power left."
"If you can't even succeed at the second-most difficult, your bloodline won't undergo any transformation at all — not even the slightest change."
"This Bloodline Opportunity Mountain was purchased at great cost by our Zhao Immortal Clan's ancestors during the ancient era, from the Spirit Emperor."
"The purpose was to bet everything on a once-in-a-generation genius when one finally appeared in our clan."
"Your father's decision to activate the Bloodline Opportunity Mountain was to place that bet on you."
"If you fail, then your father won't have the face to meet our Zhao ancestors in the afterlife. I'm afraid I'd be nailed to the pillar of shame for all eternity, spat upon by every future generation."
When Zhao Laoba reached this point, Zhao Zhuyin quickly raised her hand. "Fine, fine, fine — I'll activate it. But I can't guarantee success. I'll do my very best."
"Good, my dear daughter. Just do your best." Zhao Laoba nodded repeatedly.
But then he turned and looked at Zhao Daobin.
With a single glance, Zhao Daobin understood what was implied, and he soared away from the area.