Closer than kin, yet no more than strangers.

　　The Divine Blessed Clan made their home in the caves carved into the sun-warmed cliffs of Domepeak Fairy Vale, nestled within the western mountains of the Misty Mountain Range.

　　After Gong Kong's arrival, Grand Mage Tianyouzi herself guided his practice, offering insights into wielding spiritual power. Under her tutelage, his abilities advanced with remarkable speed, and he soon mastered the profound Art of Ethereal Projection.

　　In just a few days, Gong Kong underwent a complete metamorphosis. Blessed with a Third Eye, he was like a treasure vault brimming with latent power, bursting with untapped potential.

　　One day, as Gong Kong meditated alongside Tianyouzi, his heart stirred with concern for Chieftain Gong Dian. He proposed they locate him. First, their minds' eyes swept afar through the Third Eye, pinpointing Gong Dian's location. Then, in unison, their spiritual forms slipped free from their physical bodies, transporting them instantly high above a vast forest.

　　Gazing down, Gong Kong spotted a column of people winding their way beneath the canopy. There was Gong Dian, and surprisingly, Gong Hui from the Western Pass was among them. The group was trekking toward Windwood Citadel.

　　A flicker of puzzlement crossed Gong Kong's mind. Why is Gong Hui of the Western Pass traveling with them?Leaning forward, he called out, "Father! Your Excellency!"

　　On the ground, Gong Dian seemed to hear the call. He looked up at the sky but saw nothing. Shaking his head, he dismissed it as an illusion.

　　Just as Gong Kong prepared to descend and meet him, Tianyouzi stopped him. "Young Master, ordinary people cannot see us. Appearing before Chieftain Gong Dian like this would only frighten him."

　　Their ethereal forms hovered above the forest. Gong Kong proposed visiting the capital of the Green Clan. Tianyouzi cautioned him, "That is unwise, Young Master. While our spiritual forms are invisible to mortals and immune to their weapons, in the eyes of the Green Clan celestial gods, we are completely exposed."

　　"Can the Green Clan's evil gods harm our spiritual forms?"

　　"Certainly. Their magical artifacts can injure us, and the barriers they erect can trap our spirits. If our spiritual forms cannot return to our bodies, the consequences would be dire."

　　"Grandmother, what happens if the spirit cannot return to its body?"

　　"The spirit is the wisdom-root of the physical form. A body without its spirit is but a walking corpse. Therefore, the Art of Ethereal Projection must not be used lightly. If you encounter a stronger opponent during battle, the outcome would be grievous. It must be employed with utmost caution."

　　"Grandmother, we won't stay long in the capital. We'll just take a quick look and leave immediately."

　　"Since your mind is set, Young Master, this old woman will risk her life to accompany you. But on one condition: we must stay far away from the great pyramid in the capital."

　　They arrived above the capital. Bathed in sunlight, the distant great pyramid shimmered with a golden radiance, exceptionally dazzling.

　　This was Gong Kong's first sight of the capital. Its streets were bustling with activity, and its markets were extraordinarily prosperous.

　　The capital, originally named Sun City, was the stronghold of the Green Clan celestial gods.

　　After the War of the Gods, the celestial gods of other clans had either perished or fled. The common people of the Mu Continent had pledged allegiance to the Green Clan celestial gods, who unified the land under their rule. Thus, Sun City became known as the capital.

　　Even at night, the great pyramid could illuminate the capital as bright as day, which earned it another name: the "Sleepless City."

　　On the streets of the capital, one could see various races such as the Bull-headed Tribe, humans, and dwarves. The Bull-headed Tribe held citizenship in the capital and were the most numerous. Other groups, like humans, were largely enslaved and driven by the Bull-headed Tribe.

　　The Bull-headed Tribe took orders directly from the Eagle God Tribe, who were regarded as demi-gods on the Mu Continent, their status second only to the celestial gods. Their clan motto was: "Demi-god's glory, walking with the Master."

　　Giants also resided in the capital, serving the Green Clan celestial gods directly. On the Mu Continent, aside from the celestial gods, no other tribe commanded the Giants. Their clan motto was: "Mountain-splitting strength, the earth trembles."

　　After surveying the entire capital, and at Tianyouzi's urging, their spiritual forms prepared to leave the airspace above the city. At that very moment, a humanoid figure suddenly flew towards them from the distance.

　　Gong Kong focused his gaze and saw a monster with the head of an eagle, the body of a human, and large wings. The creature held a hammer-shaped scepter topped with a sphere.

　　"Young Master, that is one of the Eagle God Tribe. Do not fear; he cannot see our spiritual forms," Tianyouzi whispered reassuringly.

　　This was a young member of the Eagle God Tribe. He flapped his wings, flying past Gong Kong and Tianyouzi's spiritual forms, heading toward the northern mountains. His flight was remarkably swift, and he looked intensely anxious, as if being pursued.

　　Gong Kong used remote viewing to look behind the eagle-man and indeed spotted four other Eagle God Tribe members flying rapidly in pursuit.

　　These four wielded scepters known as "Hell Scythes." The weapon featured a scythe-shaped head mounted on a long metallic shaft. The Eagle God Tribe used it both as a symbol of authority and as a weapon.

　　The Green Clan celestial gods had bestowed these scepters upon the Eagle God Tribe, imbuing them with a measure of divine power through enchantment.

　　When employed as weapons, the scepters could release invisible blades of energy. Ordinary mortal weapons would shatter instantly upon contact with these blades.

　　The chief of the celestial gods was akin to a nation's president, while the leader of the Eagle God Tribe, the Eagle God King—reputed as a demi-god—was comparable to a prime minister.

　　Wielding their scepters, the Eagle God Tribe governed the mortal world on behalf of the celestial gods. Other races on the Mu Continent were required to kneel at the sight of the scepter, as if in the presence of a celestial god themselves.

　　Ultimately, Gong Kong's youthful curiosity prevailed, compelling him to see how the situation would unfold. Tianyouzi had no choice but to follow as he moved closer to the young eagle-man with the hammer-scepter.

　　By now, the young Eagle God tribesman had flown beyond the capital's boundaries. Glancing back, he saw his four pursuers maintaining their speed, desperately giving chase.

　　The young tribesman shook his head in resignation. Just as he prepared to accelerate and escape, he noticed four additional Eagle God Tribe members approaching rapidly from his left and right flanks.

　　Realizing escape was impossible, the hammer-scepter-wielding tribesman halted mid-air. In moments, he was completely surrounded by the eight tribesmen brandishing their scythe-scepters.

　　The remaining Eagle God tribesmen raised their scythe-scepters and engaged Hes in mid-air combat.

　　Gong Kong observed their fighting prowess closely, realizing their power was channeled primarily through their scepters—these rods were their magical instruments. Hes, wielding the hammer-scepter, clearly possessed greater magical strength than his opponents armed with scythe-scepters.

　　Although Hes successively struck down four adversaries, he was gradually overwhelmed by their numbers. His arms and body sustained multiple cuts from the invisible blades of the Hell Scythes. Blood streamed down the arm gripping his scepter.

　　His assailants, seemingly under orders to capture or kill him at any cost, unleashed their full magical abilities in a desperate attempt to subdue Hes.

　　Hes fought back with equal desperation. While striking one tribesman, his wing was slashed by another. He instantly lost balance, plummeted downward, and crashed heavily onto the ground. Simultaneously, his scepter flew from his grasp, landing several meters away.

　　Hes struggled to crawl toward his scepter, but the three remaining Eagle God tribesmen gave him no chance. They descended rapidly, confiscated his scepter, raised their weapons and prepared to execute him on the spot.

　　At this critical moment, Gong Kong intervened. A tremendous surge of spiritual power erupted from him. With several sharp cracks, the three tribesmen's necks were snapped instantly, their corpses collapsing beside Hes.

　　Staring in stunned silence at the bodies, Hes needed a moment to process what had happened. Rising with effort, he retrieved his hammer-scepter and pressed its spherical head against his wounded wing. Remarkably, the bleeding stopped almost immediately.

　　He cupped his hands in a salute toward the empty air and said, "I don't know who you are, but thank you for saving my life. Our paths will cross again, I promise you. I will repay this debt." With these words, he beat his wings and flew northward.

　　"Young Master, you should not have intervened," Tianyouzi said, her expression darkening. "The Eagle God Tribe are claws of the Green Clan. They killed one of our most excellent mages. They are our enemies - every one of them deserves death!"

　　"Grandmother, do you know who this Hes is?"

　　"As commander of the Gongyou Clan scouts, you must know he is the son of the former Eagle God King."

　　"True. Rumors say the former king was killed by the current one - is there truth to this?"

　　"Based on my estimation," Tianyouzi replied, "this is likely true. The current Eagle God King is Prince Hes's uncle. Normally, the son should have succeeded his father, but unexpectedly, the brother seized the throne. Witnessing today's pursuit further confirms the rumors hold true."

　　"Therefore, Grandmother," Gong Kong reasoned, "my intervention's benefits outweigh the risks. Perhaps someday we may need Hes's assistance."

　　"That may not necessarily be the case," Tianyouzi countered, her voice tightening with concern. "This is Green Clan territory. Using spiritual power risks alerting their celestial gods to powerful enemies beyond their knowledge. That would spell disaster."

　　"Grandmother," Gong Kong questioned, "you urged me to leave soon after we arrived above the capital, and now you criticize my intervention. Why this fear of the Green Clan?"

　　"It is not fear," Tianyouzi explained, her tone growing heavy. "Like you, I hold deep grievances against them. I feared staying longer would overwhelm my emotions, hence my urgency to depart."

　　"You too bear deep hatred for the Green Clan?"

　　"Ah! That is a long story for another day." Tianyouzi cut short the discussion. "Young Master, we must return now." Without another word, she guided Gong Kong away, their spiritual forms instantly returning to their physical bodies.