Ji Changkong arrived home mid-morning, yet saw not a single member of the Ji family on the road. Calculating the time, the younger generation should all be at the training grounds, using their Yuan Force to temper their bodies; Ji Wanyun ought to be instructing them, so he headed straight there.

Indeed, nearly all the younger generation of the Ji Clan were assembled on the training grounds. Not only them, but even elders like Ji Yuxing and Ji Yusheng were present, each of them wearing grim faces shrouded in gloom.

In the center of the training field, Ji Changxiao stood with a pale complexion. Scattered before him lay shards of broken Qingyan stone.

With just a glance, Ji Changkong knew something disastrous must have just transpired on the grounds, otherwise, the faces of elders like Ji Yuxing and Ji Yusheng would not be so utterly dismal.

Tiptoeing into the periphery of the field, he navigated past some collateral clan members and quietly positioned himself behind Ji Wanyun. Seizing a moment when she was distracted, he gently tugged the corner of her robe and whispered, "Aunt, what happened?"

Ji Wanyun turned slightly, casting him a look followed by a somewhat helpless, bitter smile. "The people from the Yinshan Jiū Clan were just here; they left right before you arrived. That girl, Jiū Lingxue, her strength has truly broken through to the Three Talents Heaven Realm. She defeated Changxiao in three moves and declared that from now on, no one in the Ji Clan's younger generation could stand against her!"

"...And the elders from the Yinshan Jiū Clan went to extreme lengths to mock us Ji Clan, saying that starting from our third generation, we will never again measure up to their Jiū family! Heavens, even Jiū Lingxue’s cousin, Jiū Yunfeng, reached the Two Harmonies Heaven Realm at only fifteen years old, defeating every direct younger descendant of the Ji Clan except Changxiao! A crushing defeat, a complete rout! Your generation is utterly suppressed by the Jiū junior members!"

Ji Wanyun’s face was etched with bitterness. Watching their arrogant display, powerless to respond, left her feeling terribly stifled and frustrated.

Hearing this, Ji Changkong instinctively looked toward Ji Changsheng, Ji Changle, Ji Yueqing, Ji Xiaolian, and the others. He saw that they, just like Ji Changxiao, were all crestfallen and utterly dejected, remaining silent.

"Changkong is back," Ji Yusheng glanced at Ji Changkong and stated flatly.

Stepping out from behind Ji Wanyun, Ji Changkong took a forward step and replied meekly, "Greetings, Third Grand-Uncle." He then turned to face Ji Yuxing and his two sons, offering a sequence of formal bows.

Ji Yuxing nodded curtly, his expression sullen. He addressed the assembly, "Disperse now. Remember this crushing defeat deeply in your hearts, especially you few—burn today's humiliation into your minds and cultivate harder!"

Ji Yuxing pointed at Ji Changxiao and the others with a look of exasperated disappointment. "At the same age, why can none of you show ambition? Look at those youngsters of theirs; their strength advances by leaps and bounds at such a tender age, yet you stagnate, unwilling to strive! If this continues, the Ji Clan will truly never be able to lift its head from under the Jiū family's shadow!"

"The Jiū Clan will return. They won't pass up such a perfect chance to humiliate us Ji Clan. Just watch; in the future, they will likely bring their juniors every year or so to swagger about our grounds!" Ji Yusheng was also filled with anger, clearly having been deeply vexed by the Yin-yang barbs of the Jiū family members just moments before.

After a brief pause, Ji Yusheng added, "Changkong, you too must work diligently, strive to bring honor to our Ji Clan, and stop letting others look down upon us!"

"Understood, Grandfather," Ji Changkong nodded hastily, already resolving in his heart to train fiercely and avenge the clan's shame.

This time, the insult from the Yinshan Jiū Clan was not directed merely at Ji Yuxing's branch; it targeted the entire Ji Clan. Even his own grandfather, Ji Yusheng, and his beloved aunt, Ji Wanyun, had been implicated. Thus, Ji Changkong had already marked the Yinshan Jiū Clan as his enemy.

"Disperse," Ji Yuxing, clearly not giving Ji Changkong much thought, said flatly after Ji Yusheng spoke, his tone conveying a hint of impatience.

With his sharp command, all the Ji Clan disciples scattered. The third-generation youngsters who had been swept aside, like Ji Changxiao, lowered their heads and left without a word. In moments, only Ji Yusheng, Ji Wanyun, and Ji Changkong remained on the training field.

...

"Changkong, where have you been these last two months? Auntie didn't see you in the Frigid Ice Cave," Ji Wanyun asked with a faint smile once everyone else had departed.

"I was helping you search for something that could eliminate the scar on your face," Ji Changkong returned with a slight smile.

"Nonsense!" Ji Wanyun’s expression dimmed, and she chided him, though she quickly softened her tone. "Changkong, the scar on Auntie’s face is a permanent fixture in this life. I’ve tried countless methods secretly to no avail; even your grandfather devised many plans, yet nothing could remove those four marks. What method could you possibly possess?"

She paused. "I know you mean well, but I am realistic. I gave up hope long ago. Promise me, Changkong, that you will spend your time cultivating from now on and won't waste energy on useless efforts for my sake."

His eyes stinging, Ji Changkong’s voice was thick with emotion as he murmured low, "Auntie, I found it!"

Ji Wanyun gently ruffled his hair and laughed helplessly. "Found what? Heh, I searched for so long and found nothing to erase the scar. You, child, have learned to boast."

Overcome by a surge of emotion, Ji Changkong’s hand trembled as he carefully retrieved the small vial containing the Thousand-Year Violet Gold Toad's saliva from the inner pocket of his close-fitting garment. He presented it respectfully to Ji Wanyun, his voice choked, "Auntie, I asked clearly. If you smear this on your face, at most seven days, and every scar will vanish."

Ji Wanyun clearly didn't believe him. Indifferently, she took the vial, gave it a cursory glance, and smiled. "What is this, then? Can it be that magical?"

"The saliva of a Thousand-Year Violet Gold Toad," Ji Changkong replied.

"Is it useful?" Ji Wanyun asked with complete nonchalance, preparing to tuck the vial into her pocket. She clearly did not take the contents seriously.

"What? What did you say!?"

Ji Yusheng, who had remained silent beside them, suddenly roared, his entire body trembling as he stared at Ji Changkong, his face a mask of disbelief.

"Father, what is wrong?" Ji Wanyun gave a light chuckle, finding her father's startled reaction rather strange.

"Changkong, what did you say you found? Say it again!" Ji Yusheng could only tremble, staring at Ji Changkong, his tone cracking with urgency as he demanded.

"The saliva of a Thousand-Year Violet Gold Toad." Ji Changkong’s mind raced; he guessed that Ji Yusheng must have sought solutions for Ji Wanyun's scars before and might know something about the properties of this substance.

"You... how do you know the saliva of the Thousand-Year Violet Gold Toad is effective? Is... is that bottle truly filled with the saliva of the Thousand-Year Violet Gold Toad? How did you obtain it?!" Ji Yusheng bombarded him with a rapid, stuttering cascade of questions.

"It truly is the saliva of the Thousand-Year Violet Gold Toad, absolutely no mistake!" Ji Changkong asserted with firm conviction.

"Father, you... what are you saying... you mean... you mean to say?..." Ji Wanyun felt dizzy, her body swaying; she nearly collapsed from the shock, her words turning incoherent.

Ji Changkong stepped forward quickly and steadied her, his heart aching with sympathy. He understood that Ji Wanyun herself had already surrendered to despair, making this news overwhelmingly shocking to her.

"Wanyun, the Tu Clan is too powerful; I fear I won't be able to avenge you in my lifetime. Over these years, I could only ask people everywhere what methods existed to remove the scars from your face, hoping to offer some comfort. ...I am useless; I could never do anything for you, nor did I find a cure. However, after asking so many people, I know that the saliva of the Thousand-Year Violet Gold Toad is indeed the precise medicine. It’s a pity that after searching for so many years, I never knew where a Thousand-Year Violet Gold Toad could be found, leaving me unable to heal your scars..." Ji Yusheng blamed himself, his expression deeply shadowed.

Ji Wanyun paid no mind to the first part of his lament; all her focus was fixed on the phrase: "the saliva of the Thousand-Year Violet Gold Toad is indeed the precise medicine!"

Finally managing to wait until Ji Yusheng finished speaking, Ji Wanyun could no longer suppress the overwhelming joy and excitement surging within her. She lunged forward, seizing Ji Changkong’s hand, clutching it tighter and tighter! Trembling, she demanded, "Changkong, is it... is it truly the saliva of the Thousand-Year Violet Gold Toad? Is it? Is it really?!"

"It is!!" Ji Changkong confirmed with certainty.

"Ah... Waaah... Wuuuu..."

Ji Wanyun’s body began to shake violently. She suddenly burst into wrenching sobs, only to immediately erupt into wild laughter. There, she alternated between crying and laughing, laughing and crying, behaving as if driven mad.

...