The forces clashing atop Qingyan Mountain were engaged in a raging battle, and Ji Changkong, craning his neck to watch, had his entire attention seized by the combatants. He never anticipated that Jia Rongfeng, Zhao Meilan, and the others would suddenly ascend the mountain and catch him red-handed.

Though his mind was maturing and steadily gaining composure, Ji Changkong did not recklessly charge out to confront Zhao Meilan over the insult to his aunt, Ji Wanyun. Instead, without a second thought, he immediately retreated, attempting to return via the same path to the base of Qingyan Mountain and hasten back to the Great Marsh of Yunmeng to save his own life.

“You little brat, trying to run?” Jia Rongfeng spat a curse, his figure flashing like lightning. He bypassed the fighters on the summit and shot toward Ji Changkong from an oblique angle.

Jia Rongfeng unfurled his massive hand, and a burst of golden-stone light enveloped Ji Changkong abruptly.

A terrifying fluctuation of Yuan Power erupted from Jia Rongfeng’s palm. The layers of bluestone beneath Ji Changkong’s hiding spot shattered one by one, sending stone fragments flying.

The ball of golden-stone light descended upon Ji Changkong. The Unyielding Metal Power of the Five Elements was notoriously destructive, possessing astonishing force. Jia Rongfeng showed no mercy, clearly intending to annihilate Ji Changkong on the spot.

Poor Ji Changkong clearly perceived the frightening power of Jia Rongfeng, and he knew the strike originated from his palm. However, because a sheer cliff lay directly beneath him, he couldn't evade it in time.

A wave of helpless frustration suddenly surged within him. At that moment, Ji Changkong realized that even in the Realm of Having Self (You Wo Zhi Jing), one could only anticipate an enemy’s move; without sufficient strength, the Realm of Having Self offered little decisive advantage when faced with a direct confrontation.

If he possessed equivalent strength, he could seize the initiative, handle the situation with ease, or even swiftly dodge the strike. Furthermore, he could have counterattacked when Jia Rongfeng’s power was not yet at its peak, shattering the attack at the most opportune moment.

Alas, he was only at the Three Talents Heaven Realm (San Cai Tian Zhi Jing). He had the will but lacked the power; though he knew how to react, he possessed no corresponding strength to support him.

I’m done for. I have no defense against an attack of this level of Yuan Power, Ji Changkong thought grimly.

Just then!

A violent fluctuation suddenly emanated from Ji Changkong’s chest.

The beautiful jade pendant hanging there seemed to sense the ferocity of the external force and instantly began to churn wildly.

In an instant, the jade flared with blinding light, illuminating Ji Changkong’s chest brilliantly. The shimmering radiance formed a shell, thin as a cicada’s wing, which suddenly enveloped Ji Changkong entirely.

Bang!

Jia Rongfeng’s blow struck that shimmering, thin light. The supposedly indestructible Metal Power of the Five Elements instantly disintegrated. Jia Rongfeng’s metallic assault could not penetrate the light, which was scarcely thicker than tissue paper.

The light from the jade at Ji Changkong’s chest intensified, and a surging, turbulent power erupted forth!

Rumble!

Jia Rongfeng was suddenly thrown backward, landing heavily on a shattered piece of bluestone with a look of utter horror. He gasped violently, appearing utterly dishevelled.

Zhao Meilan, who had followed Jia Rongfeng, reached Ji Changkong only to freeze, staring at him blankly. After a moment of hesitation, she dared not deliver a killing blow. Instead, she retreated to Jia Rongfeng’s side and helped him up.

The moment Jia Rongfeng was blasted away, the jade’s light vanished without a trace, as if nothing had ever happened.

Ji Changkong reached under his clothes and touched the jade, where he could feel the strange flow of Yuan Power, and a quiet joy swelled in his heart.

He had not expected the jade given by that bald ruffian to be a protective treasure. Jia Rongfeng, a Five Elements Heaven Realm master attacking with full force, could not breach the jade’s defense. One could only imagine how precious this piece of jade was.

Who exactly was Luo Tian? And who were the three people in Luo Tian’s thatched cottage that day? Why would anything they casually gave away be so incredibly precious and miraculous?

Ji Changkong frowned in thought. Having experienced some things, his perspective on the world had shifted. Now, recalling that incident, he clearly remembered the peculiar way those three looked at him—as if their interest was not entirely centered on Luo Tian.

What was going on? We were complete strangers; why would they give me such a valuable treasure? Ji Changkong grew more bewildered, resolving to question them thoroughly once this current crisis passed.

“He is protected by a strange treasure; I cannot break through!” Just then, Jia Rongfeng stood up, his expression grim.

“Let’s join forces!” Zhao Meilan said coldly, her face frosty. “This child is tenacious and ruthlessly decisive, and he can summon the fierce beasts of Yunmeng. He cannot be allowed to live!”

“Agreed!” Jia Rongfeng nodded. He had already made his move; since the first strike had been struck and enmity established, there was no need for further politeness.

“Get out of the way! A bunch of cowards bullying a young man!” Suddenly, the slender middle-aged man holding the iron fan cursed unexpectedly and swept his fan out. The original Hundred Flowers Illustration within the fan transformed into an image of the vast, boundless cosmos.

Several stars in the depiction twinkled with an eerie cold light. Each time a star flickered, a beam of starlight shot out.

Jia Rongfeng and Zhao Meilan turned pale with fear. They abandoned their plan to attack Ji Changkong together and were forced to retreat repeatedly by the starlight beams. They finally scrambled down Qingyan Mountain in a clumsy tumble.

“Thank you!” Ji Changkong sighed in relief, shouting his thanks from afar.

The fan-wielding middle-aged man nodded slightly, then stopped paying attention to Ji Changkong, resuming his confrontation with the bloodthirsty demon who had fiery red hair.

Observing carefully, Ji Changkong noted that among the factions fighting on the summit, the fan-wielding man and the bloodthirsty demon who had just helped him were the strongest, both possessing the cultivation base of the Seven Stars Heaven Realm (Qi Xing Tian Zhi Jing).

The remaining dozen or so individuals were locked in a fierce struggle, seemingly vying for the Southern Yi satchel resting on a central rock. Their cultivation levels mostly hovered between the Five Elements Heaven and Six Harmonies Heaven Realms (Liu He Tian), clearly inferior to the fan-wielder and the demon.

Seeing that no one was paying him any mind, Ji Changkong moved away from the fray and gazed toward the foot of the mountain, where the Ji Family residence lay. He saw that the path leading to the Ji Family was still alight with continuous fighting between several groups, including the Southern Yi envoys and Yu Ziling’s party.

The sinister old man leading the Southern Yi contingent held a massive recurve bow. Without any arrows, he merely drew the bowstring in the void, and a dazzling ray of starlight shot forth. Any Heavenly Scholar struck by it immediately vomited blood and died.

It was precisely because of his presence that although the Southern Yi envoys were under constant attack, they managed to preserve some of the treasures they carried, and Zhongli Jingyi and Zhongli Hui remained unharmed, untouched by the true severity of the main battle.

The Ji Family manor at the mountain’s base was remarkably peaceful. At a glance, not a single person could be seen in the compound. Ji Changkong wondered if they had met foul play or had evacuated early.

They must have left ahead of time, Ji Changkong thought. During that bloody feast ten years ago, all members of the Ji Family had evacuated the area early and remained unaffected.

Seeing the Ji residence empty, and recalling the tension displayed by Ji Yunsheng and Ji Yuxing just a month ago, Ji Changkong surmised that all his family members must have departed well in advance.

Just as relief settled in his heart, his expression changed abruptly, and his heart leaped into his throat.

A small figure darted out from an elegant little building surrounded by green bamboo. She furtively approached the outside wall of the Ji manor and began cautiously observing the Heavenly Scholars who had fought their way down from Qingyan Mountain, as well as the Southern Yi envoys.

Although separated by some distance, Ji Changkong recognized her instantly: it had to be Ji Xiaolian! Only she in the Ji Family possessed such a delicate and petite build.

Ji Changkong generally disliked most of the relatives from Ji Yuxing’s lineage, but Ji Xiaolian was an exception. This innocent and sweetly naive younger sister had never looked at him strangely, nor had she been tainted by her mother’s snobbery too early. She had always been kind to him and greeted everyone else with a smile.

Hesitating for a moment, Ji Changkong sprinted toward the mountain base, rushing toward Ji Xiaolian.

The entire mountain was filled with menacing figures; it was far too dangerous for Ji Xiaolian to show herself now!

Moreover, the Old Mother of Mount Wu, Zhao Meilan, Jia Rongfeng, and others might still be nearby. If they spotted Ji Xiaolian, she would surely fall into their clutches.

Running all the way, Ji Changkong bypassed the combatants on his path and deliberately skirted around the Southern Yi envoys and Yu Ziling’s group. He engaged no one and ignored the tempting Southern Yi wealth within easy reach. He soon reached the furtively peering Ji Xiaolian.

“Xiaolian, where are Second Grand-uncle and Third Grand-uncle? I’ll take you to find them!” Grabbing Ji Xiaolian, he asked urgently.

“They are all at the Ji residence, Brother Changkong! Why are you only just returning?” Ji Xiaolian chirped happily and naively. “Brother Changkong, so many strangers came to the Ji residence looking for you! How do you know so many people? And there are a few very powerful people who have been waiting at the Ji residence for you. Second Grand-uncle and Third Grand-uncle have been keeping them company.”

His heart suddenly clenched, and Ji Changkong’s face turned ashen. He suddenly realized that the Ji Family... had likely suffered unwarranted disaster because of him.

Ji Xiaolian was still young and might not grasp the nuances of the situation. Her saying that many strangers were waiting for him at the Ji residence, and that his grand-uncles were keeping them company, suggested that the elders of the Ji Family... were probably being held captive.

... :Today is the eve of the Lunar New Year. Wishing everyone health, prosperity, and all your wishes come true in the Year of the Tiger! ^__^