The Floating Cloud City was the first real town Yun Che reached after leaving the mountains, and it was here that he learned how much the world had changed while he rotted in the Profound Handle's dungeon.

The Blue Wind Empire was at war. The western provinces had seceded under the banner of a rebel general named Feng Zhan, and the imperial army was losing ground by the day. His father — the emperor, the man he had once called useless and weak — was leading the defense personally, and by all accounts, he was doing it badly.

And in Floating Cloud City, the Xiao clan of the Profound Handle had established a new branch. They were recruiting, training, and consolidating power in the chaos of war, positioning themselves to become the dominant force in the region after the empire fell.

Yun Che walked through the city's market district, hood pulled low over his face. His cultivation was still at the Elementary Profound Realm — the forced expansion of his profound veins had cost him levels — but the foundation he was building would let him catch up faster than anyone could imagine.

A commotion at the market's central square drew his attention. A young woman was being dragged toward the Xiao clan's compound by four Spirit Profound cultivators. She was maybe seventeen, with wild dark hair and eyes that burned with defiance. A slave collar was already around her neck.

'Let me go!' she screamed. 'I'm not a criminal! My family hasn't done anything wrong!'

One of the cultivators struck her across the face. 'Your family refused to pay tribute to the Xiao clan. That is a crime. You'll work it off in the mines — or in the pleasure house, if you prefer. Your choice.'

The crowd averted their eyes. No one intervened. The Xiao clan's reputation preceded them.

Yun Che's hands tightened into fists. He knew he couldn't fight four Spirit Profound cultivators — not yet. But he also knew he wouldn't sleep tonight if he let this happen.

Sometimes survival wasn't enough. Sometimes you had to be human.

He stepped out of the crowd.