The entire Ji Clan—over a hundred members, young and old—poured out of their bamboo houses, gazing toward the entrance of Xuanyuan Valley. In just a moment, every member of the Ji Clan, regardless of what they had been doing, paused their tasks. Full of high spirits, they gathered in the center of the valley, scanning everywhere for that one figure whose reputation had recently begun to shine.

Ji Yuxing and Ji Yushèng, the two most senior and influential elders of the Ji Clan, rushed to the valley entrance, their faces alight with emotion. From afar, they watched the silhouette gradually becoming distinct. Unconsciously, all the Ji clan members, young and old, had begun to regard him as a pivotal figure; upon hearing of his return, they instinctively came out to look.

Even those uncles who had previously shown him little goodwill, such as Ji Haoguang and Ji Haohong, felt a surge of pleasant surprise. At a time when the Ji Clan desperately needed talent, his appearance was as invigorating as receiving charcoal in the deep snow.

Several figures materialized at the entrance of Xuanyuan Valley. The one leading the way was naturally Ji Changkong, returning home. Trailing behind him were several figures whose faces were concealed by veils—they were the masters from the Aoluo Cult, including Muluo and Ayiguli.

Ji Yuxing and Ji Yushèng had initially assumed he was returning alone. When they saw the grim-faced strangers following him, they both froze visibly. It wasn't until others shouted that they snapped back to attention, scrutinizing Muluo and his companions closely.

Ji Yuxing's face changed, and a weight settled in his heart. Unsure of Muluo and his group's intentions, he did not step forward to greet them immediately.

After a moment of hesitation, Ji Yuxing made a firm decision: regardless of Muluo's potential agenda, he would do his utmost to protect Ji Changkong. He stepped forward with a solemn expression, sweeping a glance over Ji Changkong before suddenly shouting toward Tai Luo, "Gentlemen. If Changkong has offended you in any way, I, on behalf of the Ji Clan, offer you my apologies. I hope you will not make things difficult for him!" The previously enthusiastic and cheering Ji Clan members suddenly grasped the gravity of the situation upon hearing Ji Yuxing's words. They looked toward Muluo’s party in astonishment, unsure how to proceed.

Ji Changkong, who was just about to bow to Ji Yuxing and Ji Yushèng, managed a slight smile at the elder’s address, not rushing to reply immediately. He stared intently at Ji Yuxing for a few seconds, confirming that the elder’s words were genuine. A warm current flowed through him; it was the first time he realized Ji Yuxing would stand up for him.

"Second Grand-uncle, these are my friends; they mean no harm," he explained with a smile, bowing deeply. "Second Grand-uncle, Changkong has returned." "Friends?" Ji Yuxing was startled. After peering deeply into Muluo and the others, he nodded with a peculiar expression. He stepped aside, "Gentlemen, please come in!" Though Ji Yuxing’s personal cultivation might not have been profound, as the head of the clan, his discernment was sharp. By subtly extending his divine sense, he instantly perceived that the power of Muluo and the three brothers, Dagan, was unfathomable. Unable to gauge their cultivation realms, he immediately judged that Muluo and his group were significantly stronger than himself.

"You are too kind," Muluo stated calmly, yet his body remained rooted in place.

The three Dagan brothers and Ayiguli also stood still, making no move to follow Ji Yuxing deeper into the valley. As long as their Cult Master did not move, they dared not take a single step—it was the rule!

"Let's go," Ji Changkong said, glancing at Muluo and the others before smiling and walking into the valley. Once he had spoken, the Aoluo masters followed precisely in his footsteps.

Ji Yuxing and the shrewdest of the older Ji Clan members exchanged surprised glances. Being men of keen observation, they noticed a subtle detail that left them perplexed... As he neared Ji Yushèng, the faint smile vanished entirely from Ji Changkong’s face. He approached with utmost reverence and bowed deeply: "Grandfather, your grandson has returned." "Mmm, it is good that you are back," Ji Yushèng said, his face stern, though the corners of his mouth twitched slightly. "You have been away for so long; did you gain anything? What realm have you reached?" "I have reached the Five Elements Heaven Realm," Ji Changkong replied softly.

The previous noisy murmur instantly died down to an unnatural silence. Every member of the Ji Clan, regardless of age, leaned forward, their gazes converging upon him.

Ji Yushèng’s pupils contracted sharply, his eyes locking onto Changkong. The twitching at the corner of his mouth increased. His hands, hanging at his waist, clenched tightly before slowly relaxing. His voice trembled slightly: "F-Five... Five Elements... Five Elements Heaven?"

Chang Kong straightened his back. He watched as Ji Yushèng struggled to suppress his excitement, then smiled and spread his hands open. Whoosh—a ball of blazing fire enveloped his palm, burning fiercely.

The onlookers were utterly silent, yet their breaths grew heavy, their eyes fixed rigidly on his fiercely burning hand.

"Good! Excellent! Hahaha! Now let's see who dares say my Ji Clan is without talent!" Ji Yuxing roared, his aged face radiating joy. Excitement bubbling over, he rushed to Ji Changkong’s side, laughing heartily.

"It’s true... It really is true..." Ji Yushèng whispered, at a loss for words.

"Grandfather, where is Aunt?" Ji Changkong scanned the crowd, noting the absence of Ji Wanyun with some curiosity.

"She went to the Hong family in Qingyan City. The girl from the Hong Yuanshan family needed her. Your aunt... she has also reached the Five Elements Heaven Realm. The Vermilion Bird Sacred Beast has already merged with the Five Elements True Fire," Ji Yushèng said, feigning composure after a brief pause, though his excitement was clearly still barely contained.

"That’s wonderful. I was worried I had too many things to give away; now it works out perfectly," Ji Changkong smiled.

"Let’s talk inside, inside! Don't slight the guests!" Ji Yuxing said excitedly, rubbing his hands together. He grabbed Ji Changkong’s arm without any hint of his usual patriarchal distance and practically dragged him into the valley.

Having lived in the Ji Clan for so many years, Ji Changkong had never been treated this way. Having been away for so long, and after the guidance of Li Hentian, he understood that his father, Ji Haotian, had indeed caused considerable trouble for the clan. After experiencing certain events, his resentment toward Ji Yuxing and the others had long since faded significantly. He followed the elder into the valley.

The younger and older members of the Ji Clan standing nearby finally shook off their shock, erupting into a clamor, every word revolving around Ji Changkong.

Inside the Ji Clan's main assembly hall, Ji Yuxing and Ji Yushèng surrounded him, peppering him with endless questions. The elder Ji Clan members who were permitted to attend did not interrupt once, only watching him with shining eyes, hanging on every word of his reply.

In front of Ji Yuxing and the others, he offered only what he deemed appropriate to share. He deliberately glossed over any details that might frighten them, and he concealed the true identities of Muluo’s group, merely stating that he had befriended some exotic friends who wore veils to avoid antagonism from sects like the Blood Rain Alliance.

Ji Yuxing’s attitude toward him had undergone a complete transformation. He asked no probing questions, merely smiling and continuously praising his talent—reaching the Five Elements Heaven Realm at such a young age, an immeasurable future ahead, and so forth.

Though he no longer held resentment toward Ji Yuxing and the others, Ji Changkong’s demeanor was far from overly warm; he responded sporadically.

Half an hour later, Ji Yuxing arranged for Muluo and his party to be housed in several secluded caves in the back mountains of the deep valley. Only then did he pivot the discussion to the sect grand meeting soon to be held at Blood Rain Mountain, explaining the situation in detail before seriously asking for Changkong’s opinion.

Feigning flattered humility, Ji Changkong chuckled vaguely, saying only that as a member of the Ji Clan, he naturally ought to strive in his cultivation to bring glory to the family.

After this exchange, Ji Yuxing appeared disheartened, having failed to elicit the desired response, and had no choice but to temporarily give up.

"Impudent brat, now you've learned to hedge! Just a few days away, have you already forgotten you're a Ji Clan member?" After Ji Yuxing left, Ji Yushèng snorted coldly, clearly displeased.

"Grandfather, what kind of words are those? I haven't forgotten you or Aunt," Ji Changkong replied with a wry, wronged smile.

"In the Ji Clan, it’s not just me and Wanyun who are your kin! Ji Haoguang is your uncle! Ji Changxiao is your elder brother! Ji Xiaolian is your sister! Aren’t these all your relatives?"

Ji Yushèng glared, striking the armrest of his chair in anger. He lectured, "You understood perfectly what your Second Grand-uncle meant after talking with him for so long! Humph, you stubborn boy, stop playing dumb! Tell me, do you possess anything that could benefit the Ji Clan members? Anything you deem useless, hand it over!"

"I do," Ji Changkong admitted simply, adopting a pitiful look. "Grandfather, everything I have was earned with my lifeblood. The moment I get home, you demand things; not a single word of comfort, that truly chills my heart, doesn't it?"

"Smelly boy, you’ve learned to be glib," Ji Yushèng’s expression was strange. For so many years, Ji Changkong had been utterly deferential to him, always speaking in a small, timid voice, clearly afraid of him. Now, after only a short time away, he dared address his grandfather with such an attitude. This felt unsettlingly odd to Ji Yushèng.

"It's not that I'm glib, Grandfather, it’s just that we communicated too little before. I am no longer a child, and I understand things now; I simply chose not to express them before," Ji Changkong shook his head with a bitter smile, speaking frankly. "Yes, they are my relatives, but they treated me poorly in the past. Without a single apology, you ask me to hand over things to them freely—I truly cannot do that!"

"What do you want?" Ji Yushèng sighed helplessly. "We are all family; don't push things too far."

"Grandfather, go out and tell them: I will wait right here. Whoever comes to me first to apologize, I have something to give them. Anyone who comes and says sorry, I promise to forget the past unpleasantness and gift them a spiritual treasure that aids their cultivation. How about that? That demand isn't excessive, is it?" Ji Changkong sat calmly, a sly smile on his face, unafraid of refusal.

"Fine! But if someone truly cannot swallow their pride, you are not allowed to single them out!" Ji Yushèng agreed, wasting no time. He immediately left the assembly hall.

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