"Spit a mouthful of filth in your face, you little brat, and you dare cause trouble for your grandfather!" The man in blue laughed heartily.

A beam of starlight bloomed from his hand. This Du Family guard looked utterly terrified and scrambled backward, dodging away. The Saber-toothed Rhino beneath him was struck by the starlight, instantly exploding in a burst of gore that sprayed out like sharp arrows.

"Seven Star Celestial Master! Just who in the world are you?" The Du Family soldier cried out, scrambling backward and rolling away, his body already moving toward the exit.

"You lowlife aren't worthy of knowing my name! I won't kill you, so scram far away!" The man in blue roared with laughter, striding toward the northern gate of Bianjiao City as if no one else existed. None of the approaching Du Family guards dared to step forward to stop him; they watched him depart in fear.

Spit a mouthful of filth in your face! Hearing this infamous outburst, Ji Changkong couldn't help but laugh or cry simultaneously. He immediately recognized the man in blue as Tuoba Lie; only he possessed such a uniquely offensive way of cursing.

Tuoba Lie continued toward the north gate of Bianjiao City, and Ji Changkong followed closely behind. Having finally run into an acquaintance in Bianjiao City, he certainly wasn't going to let him go.

"Just who are you, and why do you have grievances with our Du Family?" A squad of soldiers stood guard at the North Gate, spears in hand. The leader, a Du Family Celestial Master at the Six Harmonies Heaven realm, asked with a stern expression.

"Stop the damn nonsense. I just can't stand you Du family members. Open the gate!" Tuoba Lie’s arrogance was palpable. He stopped for no one, walking straight toward the city entrance, clearly showing no respect for the guards defending the gate.

"If you won't answer, even if it costs me my life, I, Du Yunhai, must stop you!" The leading Six Harmonies Heaven Celestial Master’s face chilled, his resolve firm.

"Can you stop me?" Tuoba Lie scoffed wildly. His aura surged, and the brilliant starlight coalesced into the Sacred Beast White Tiger. The White Tiger, symbolizing slaughter among the Four Sacred Beasts, emerged, enveloping Tuoba Lie in a terrifying, murderous aura, making him look like an unstoppable, savage blade.

A master at the Seven Star Heaven realm was certainly capable of wielding the power of the Four Sacred Beasts. In fact, the higher the cultivation realm, the more proficiently they could employ that power, unleashing greater force.

The phantom image of the Sacred Beast White Tiger was purely condensed starlight. As soon as this phantom appeared, a pervasive scent of slaughter filled the air. Tuoba Lie moved forward behind the White Tiger, laughing heartily as he charged ahead.

The White Tiger phantom surged forward, and none of the surrounding Du Family Celestial Masters dared to obstruct it. Even Du Yunhai, who had been so resolute moments ago, dared not meet Tuoba Lie head-on and quickly sidestepped.

RUMBLE!!!

The White Tiger phantom, formed from the light of the Seven Stars, lunged toward the Bianjiao City Gate with bared fangs and claws. A deafening explosion rocked the area. A massive blast erupted from the city gate, causing rolling stones to tumble down from the walls. The guards atop the ramparts looked on in alarm, quickly aiming their weapons at Tuoba Lie.

"Hmph!" Tuoba Lie exclaimed softly, then snorted, "The walls are quite thick. Damn it, they must be cast from Black Titanium rock; no wonder I couldn't cleave through it in one go!"

"I don't have time to waste on you lot!" Tuoba Lie cursed impatiently. Starlight flashed around him, and suddenly, he flew up, instantly landing atop the city wall and then dropping down outside.

"Pursue!" Du Yunhai shouted, ordering the Du Family members near the wall to quickly open the gate.

The Du Family Celestial Masters worked together, activating the gate mechanism, and the massive city gate slowly rose, shaking slightly. A line of Du Family guards, each mounted on a ferocious beast, charged out through the opened gate.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Ji Changkong also slipped out easily. Once outside the North Gate of Bianjiao City, he spotted Tuoba Lie’s figure receding leisurely in the distance.

Though the Du family members on their beasts had exited the gate, they dared not chase too closely. They knew exactly what a Seven Star Celestial Master represented. Even Du Yunhai dared not pursue alone in his Six Harmonies Heaven realm.

"You little brats, remember this: I am Tuoba Lie of the Yunshui Kingdom!!" A hearty laugh echoed suddenly from ahead. Tuoba Lie quickened his pace, soon vanishing into a small mountain pass.

"Tuoba Lie!" Du Yunhai’s face paled with shock. He quickly raised his hand, signaling a halt. "Stop! There's no need to chase. Tuoba Lie, that powerful figure, is not someone to trifle with. We have no reason to make an enemy of him."

The pursuing Du Family guards were well aware of Tuoba Lie’s fearsome reputation. Hearing Du Yunhai’s words, they dared not advance another step, stopping beside him.

Ji Changkong, of course, did not stop. Having recognized Tuoba Lie, he quietly gave chase.

At a narrow mountain path entrance, the hurrying Ji Changkong burst inward. Tuoba Lie suddenly appeared from behind a large boulder, watching him coldly. "Friend, you've been following me for a while. What are your intentions?"

"Uh, it's me." Ji Changkong forced an awkward smile, pulling out the shattered stone from his Spatial Pouch. "This stone, you gifted it to me, remember?"

"Changkong!" Tuoba Lie’s expression shifted to shock. He stepped up to Ji Changkong and heartily slapped his shoulder. "You little rascal, why have you disguised yourself like this? I thought I recognized you when I passed by earlier. How did you end up in Tianwu Kingdom?"

"My parents' lives are uncertain. I came to Bianjiao City planning to probe the Du Family for news. Uncle Tuoba, why are you back in Bianjiao City?"

"Ah, don't even mention it. As soon as I heard Old Li appeared in Tianwu Kingdom, I rushed over. I received intelligence that the Guiyuan Sect and the Du Family have both gathered at the Du Residence, waiting for Old Li to walk into their trap. This time is different; if Old Li actually goes to the Du Residence to cause trouble, he might not get out alive."

Tuoba Lie sighed deeply and forced a wry smile. "I know Old Li's temperament; if he comes to Tianwu Kingdom, he will definitely visit the Du Residence. Over the years, he hasn't forgotten the hatred from back then. My causing a huge disturbance in Bianjiao City was intentional, hoping the Du Family would spread the news. If Old Li is near Bianjiao City and knows I’m around, maybe he’ll seek me out, and I can pass the information to him."

"Uncle Tuoba, do you know anything about the grudges between my parents and the Du Family?" Ji Changkong took a deep breath, gazing intently at Tuoba Lie as he inquired.

"Changkong, I don't know the specifics of your matters, but the reason Old Li has such a feud with the Du Family is definitely because of you and your mother! Don't worry; Old Li is definitely near Bianjiao City. If he learns I’m here, he will naturally come looking for me. When he arrives, you can ask him yourself; I believe he will tell you the whole story." Tuoba Lie patted Ji Changkong’s shoulder.

"Very well, I will ask him myself. I hope he appears soon." Ji Changkong nodded, his voice heavy. His emotions were stirred, causing his aura to fluctuate slightly, with traces of green light flickering around him.

"Good lad, you’ve reached the Four Symbols Heaven realm! Excellent, excellent! For you to achieve this in just a few years, you will undoubtedly surpass those so-called young talents in the future! Haha, I heard you killed Du Changfeng. How did you manage that? As far as I know, that brat was at a much higher realm than you!" Tuoba Lie asked with great interest.

"Killing someone doesn't always require a higher cultivation realm," Ji Changkong shrugged. "I regretted it for a while when I killed Du Shaofeng, but now I see I killed the right person."

"Well killed! That brat deserved to die! Changkong, when I last saw you, you were quite green; you’ve become much more composed now." Tuoba Lie was delighted. He took Ji Changkong by the arm and walked forward, inquiring about his experiences since leaving home.

Ji Changkong felt entirely at ease with Tuoba Lie and recounted his experiences after leaving the Ji Family, holding nothing back except for matters concerning the Celestial Origin Pearl within him and certain deeply personal affairs.

Tuoba Lie listened intently. When he heard that Du Yunsong was also killed by Ji Changkong, he showed immense curiosity, constantly pressing for details. After hearing Ji Changkong's explanation, he exclaimed with admiration, "The Grand Void Secret Record truly lives up to its reputation!"

"Uncle Tuoba, you know I cultivate the Grand Void Secret Record?" Ji Changkong was stunned. This had always been his biggest secret; he never expected Tuoba Lie to name it so casually.

Tuoba Lie smiled. "There are countless Celestial Master secret arts in this world, but very few can allow one to cultivate to the Ten Directions Heaven realm. Among the known Celestial Master secret arts, it is said that only the Guiyuan Sect’s Guiyuan Heavenly Tome, the Qiankun Sect’s Qiankun True Scripture, the Western Regions Mani Cult’s Mani Sutra, the Northern Barbarian Asura Clan’s Asura Evil Codex, the Southern Barbarian’s Nine Barbarian Divine Archery Manual, and the Grand Void Secret Record—these six—can reach the Ten Directions Heaven realm."

"The Guiyuan Heavenly Tome, Qiankun True Scripture, Mani Sutra, Asura Evil Codex, and Nine Barbarian Divine Archery Manual gave rise to the world's five great powers, and these five arts are guarded as their supreme treasures. Only the Grand Void Secret Record is elusive, existing only in legend, never seen by anyone. Heh heh, since you cultivate the Grand Void Secret Record, your future achievements will surely far surpass those of mortals."

Hearing this, Ji Changkong was filled with astonishment. Although he always felt the Grand Void Secret Record was miraculous, he hadn't expected it to have such profound origins—one of the six great Celestial Master secret arts of the world. No wonder his cultivation speed was so fast and he possessed such uncanny intuition.

"Uncle Tuoba, why is that Grand Void Secret Record in my mind?" Ji Changkong asked the question that troubled him most.

"For that question, you still need to ask Old Li. I’m not entirely sure," Tuoba Lie shrugged, chuckling slyly. He seemed to know the answer but was unwilling to elaborate.

"Forget it, I'll ask Old Luo myself when he gets here," Ji Changkong muttered inwardly, annoyed that Tuoba Lie was withholding information.

"Old Luo... Old Luo, haha, only you dare call him that!" Tuoba Lie laughed heartily.