“You’ll kill someone if you can’t recruit them?” As the voice grew louder, a surge of spirit welled up within Duan Feng’er Bu’er, forcefully shaking off the pressure pressing down on him. He straightened his chest: “You want to kill Qian Jin now, don’t you? You think none of those young warriors in your Qian family who have awakened the Bloodline of the Elf King can defeat Qian Jin? You’re scared, aren’t you?”

Qian Zhanxuan’s grim face slowly broke into a smile, a look of haughty disdain, as if watching an ant struggle futilely to move a giant boulder, worthy only of mockery.

“Provoke me?” Qian Zhanxuan chuckled. “The Nine-Headed Serpent Bloodline might be considered formidable by others. But in the eyes of our Qian family, it’s nothing more than a loach with nine heads. Since you dare to clamor, then I shall let you witness the true power of the Elf King Bloodline.”

Duan Feng’er Bu’er clenched the long spear in his hand with all his might, yet he could not bring himself to lift the spear that usually felt so light. At this moment, the Bu’er Spear felt as heavy as ten thousand pounds.

“In two months,” Qian Zhanxuan raised his arm and held up two fingers. “Come here in two months, and we will show you the might of the Qian family Bloodline Warriors. Don’t say I’m bullying you then. I won’t even need Qian Wushuang to fight you; Qian Wuqing will suffice.”

Qian Jin stiffened slightly. Qian Zhanxuan added, “You don't have to come. If so, I’ll kill Qian Cheng.”

“Are you trying to prove that the Elf King Bloodline is superior?” Duan Feng’er Bu’er felt the pressure on his shoulders ease significantly. “No problem! I awakened my bloodline power less than a year ago. If you truly believe the Elf King Bloodline surpasses the power of my Nine-Headed Serpent Bloodline, then find someone who has also awakened their bloodline power for less than a year! Bringing in someone awakened for two or three years—what difference is that from bullying me?”

Qian Zhanxuan closely scrutinized Duan Feng’er Bu’er, realizing now that this Nine-Headed Serpent Bloodline warrior possessed the cunning, or perhaps the prudence, characteristic of his family’s lineage. In just a few sentences, he had shifted the argument to a matter of bloodline superiority. If they actually sent a warrior like Qian Jin who awakened his bloodline power only a year ago, it would give outsiders grounds for criticism.

To simply kill them? Qian Zhanxuan smiled carelessly. What was his status? Would killing these few people invite ridicule? Who would dare to mock them? Who would dare to laugh? And who would dare to seek accountability? Even His Majesty, the current Emperor, wouldn’t blame him for killing such minor figures.

However... Qian Zhanxuan glanced at Qian Jin, then at Duan Feng’er Bu’er, even sweeping his eyes over Fen Tu Kuang Ge and Che Ke Fu Litte. These few seemed somewhat interesting; they could serve as whetstones for the younger generation of Qian family bloodline warriors. Even if they had to die, they should first contribute to the Qian family! Dying at the hands of the Qian family’s new generation of young warriors would not only temper their descendants but also serve as a subtle warning to the warriors of the other Ten Great Bloodlines: do not rashly challenge the Qian family’s supreme status among bloodline warriors!

Qian Jin slowly helped Qian Cheng stand up. “Father, we...”

“Who agreed to let you take Qian Cheng away?” Qian Zhanxuan’s chin tilted slightly upward. “Qian Cheng stays.”

There was no need for loud shouting, nor for justifying the command. It was a simple decree, yet it carried the undeniable weight of an imperial edict, brooking no refusal.

Qian Jin stared at the empty doorway of the grand mansion. If Qian Wuji hadn't caused trouble today, he could have taken his father away. If his own strength had been sufficient, he could have taken his father by force. Now, if he forcibly took his father, Qian Zhanxuan, as the Family Head, had the authority to execute them on the spot! Anyone taken away would only leave as a corpse—a fact that would never change.

Qian Zhanxuan ignored Qian Jin’s gaze. As the Family Head of the Elf King Bloodline Qian family, and one of the most powerful warriors alive, why should he care about the attitude of a failed Elf King Bloodline awakener?

Qian Jin looked up at Qian Zhanxuan. His status as a Forging Master was useless; his status as an Alchemist was also useless! Before this utterly tyrannical Elf Jade Bloodline Family Head, even offering powerful Combat Artifacts or Level Ten Potions in exchange would have no effect. The Qian family valued profit, but they valued glory even more! Neither the profit from Combat Artifacts nor any other benefit could secure Qian Cheng’s freedom. Unless... unless he could concoct a top-tier mysterious potion, one so potent it could help Qian Zhanxuan break through that final, ironclad bottleneck—the last barrier on the path to ultimate bloodline awakening!

Everything, boiled down, came to two things: strength! If he had sufficient strength, he could naturally take his father by force today.

“Staring is useless,” Qian Zhanxuan swept his long sleeve and walked toward the grand mansion without looking back. Only his voice, filled with arrogance, drifted before the gates: “Qian Cheng is my Qian family member, and will be for life. Whoever wants to take Qian Cheng away must first ask if my entire Qian family agrees! Since you, Qian Cheng, believe my Qian family would take advantage of your son, then Qian Jin will never return to the Qian family for his entire life, and you... you can serve as a stable hand for the rest of your days.”

Qian Wuji lay half-reclining on the ground, watching Qian Jin with venomous eyes. The fool! He deserved this! Allowing him into the Combat Technique Hall was already showing him respect; yet he chose to be shameless. What the Family Head decreed, even His Majesty the current Emperor would not overturn.

A stable hand for life! Qian Jin shuddered, about to stride after Qian Zhanxuan, when he suddenly felt a hand rest on his shoulder. Turning, he saw his father’s face—a face bright with joy and a wide smile.

“Father...”

“It’s been three years, you’ve grown taller and stronger. Very good, truly very good,” Qian Cheng nodded with satisfaction. “You have done well, and your father is happy. Being a stable hand is nothing...”

“Father…” A sharp pain constricted Qian Jin’s chest. If he had joined the Combat Technique Hall and become an executive of the Qian family, his father could have stopped being a stable hand and lived a comfortable life, respected by many. Yet, his father had preemptively spoken, rejecting Qian Zhanxuan’s proposal.

“It’s nothing, truly nothing,” The wrinkles on the old man’s face shifted as his smile deepened, spreading and receding like dried tree bark. His hands, rough as petrified wood, patted Qian Jin’s shoulders repeatedly. “Qian Jin, remember this: your father reads little and has little education, but I know that the so-called status and honor of an executive are merely bestowed favors in exchange for service. Take that away, and it vanishes. Frankly, it means being a well-fed, well-housed dog for someone else. Your father doesn’t want you to be a dog...”

“Be a man! As long as you live well as a man, your father will be happy in whatever you do.” A slight mist gathered in the old man’s withered eyes. “You are the continuation of your father’s life, your father’s entire hope. You must amount to something; a real man should have his own territory. I cannot help you much, but I will not be a stumbling block for you either.”

“Go now. Come back to see this old bone when you have time.” Qian Cheng reached out and gently wiped the flowing tears from Qian Jin’s face with his palms, hands rough enough to serve as sandpaper. “Hurry up and bring back a grandson for your father. Absolutely do not do anything foolish. If you return to serve as an executive, your father won’t be happy; he will only hate his own uselessness, and he will die even faster.”

Qian Cheng patted Qian Jin’s cheek, then suddenly straightened his back, which had been bent for many years. A surge of spirit erupted from his aged body. He spread his arms wide and roared toward the sky: “I am very happy today! I, Qian Cheng, have a good son! In the future, his name will surely shake the world! In the future, he will certainly ride the winds and command the clouds!”

“Qian Zhanxuan!”

At the silent entrance of the Qian family mansion, a crowd of passersby had gathered without anyone realizing it. Some even craned their necks, trying to see what kind of event was unfolding at the gates of the Qian family in Qianzhou territory.

Qian Jin’s legs stopped trembling. He clenched his jaw so tightly that the taste of pungent blood filled his mouth. His arms and hands, already broken and aching at the slightest touch, clenched into fists, producing a series of audible snaps. “I, Qian Jin, swear here! If you do not release my father, Qian Cheng, today, if you do not kill me today! In the future, I will defeat every Elf King Bloodline warrior in the New King Tournament! I will trample the Elf King Bloodline warriors underfoot! Within ten years, I vow to defeat the strongest in your Qian family and make you kneel to send my father out of the Qian family!”

The people stared blankly at Qian Jin. Where had this young man come from? To dare provoke the Qian family so openly at their doorstep? This young man was truly clever. By shouting such words in front of so many people, if the Qian family killed him now, they would surely be ridiculed for fearing him. They wouldn't dare kill him—a brilliant tactic!

“No one in the Qian family can be shaken. Even a hundred years would be the same...”

From within the deep mansion, Qian Zhanxuan’s proud and heavy voice drifted over the high courtyard walls, settling above the crowd: “The opponents of the Elf King Bloodline warriors are only five families. Within ten years, someone from our Qian family will defeat the warriors of the other five supreme bloodlines and become the true world number one.”

Qian Zhanxuan turned back to look at the high courtyard wall behind him, a faint, cold smile curling his lips. A child playing psychological games with me? Does my Qian family care about the opinions of others? If I truly want to kill you, I’ll kill you. Keeping you alive is merely to inspire the Qian family’s juniors. Today’s events will certainly be seen as a profound humiliation among the younger generation, motivating them to strive even harder for progress.

“New King Tournament?” Qian Zhanxuan turned, walking back with a laugh. “In two months, your fight with Qian Wuqing will be your day of death. You won’t have the life left to attend any New King Tournament. The second-level awakened Elf King Bloodline warriors will be beyond your imagination in two months.”

New King Tournament... New King Tournament! Qian Jin watched his father, his chest heaving violently, as he walked step by step toward the Qian family gate—a structure resembling the gaping maw of a giant beast. For the first time, he felt utterly powerless.

Qian Zhanxuan’s single statement instantly shifted the onlookers’ gazes toward Qian Jin, changing their previous admiration and surprise into contempt. As natives of Qianzhou, they possessed their own unique pride, and the Qian family was the spiritual pillar of Qianzhou people. A mere common warrior dared to challenge the Elf King Bloodline warriors? He was nothing more than a defeated puppy barking furiously from a corner, venting its frustration.