Zhuang Yan was, by all accounts, merely a retainer serving the Chu family. Yet, due to the undeniable weight of her strength, she commanded deep respect within their household. If it hadn't been for watching Chu Shanxin grow up, she would never have been so utterly obedient to the young mistress's every command.

Zhuang Yan, so highly esteemed throughout the Great Chu Kingdom, was being casually dismissed by a mere junior. Even with her placid temperament, a spark of irritation ignited within Zhuang Yan. However, seeing Chu Shanxin charge forward, Zhuang Yan did not immediately intervene. She possessed absolute faith in Chu Shanxin’s capabilities; in her eyes, with Chu Shanxin taking action, Ji Changkong was already doomed.

Yu Chi Yuan, Song Yu, and Changsun Deyun—the trio—froze momentarily upon seeing Chu Shanxin suddenly launch herself, knitting their brows as they glanced toward Ji Changkong. They, too, hesitated to immediately move against the Xiao family.

Before arriving, these three had already heard from Chu Shanxin that Ji Changkong would be at the Xiao residence. In recent times, Ji Changkong's reputation had been steadily ascending. Everyone knew that the new generation's Xuanyuan of the Ji family was progressing at an astonishing pace, having already made a significant mark in several recent battles within the Shuiyun Nation. Because of his Xuanyuan lineage, no one now dared to dismiss the rumors surrounding him as baseless exaggeration.

Precisely for this reason, Yu Chi Yuan and the others were immensely curious about Ji Changkong, eager to witness the true extent of the power possessed by the one bearing the esteemed Xuanyuan title.

The Xiao family shared this exact sentiment.

“So, he is a Xuanyuan? I should like to see just how capable the Ji family’s new Xuanyuan truly is!” Chu Shanxin smiled radiantly, showing no anger whatsoever at Ji Changkong’s arrogant outburst.

Ribbons of vividly colored silk suddenly shot from Chu Shanxin’s sleeves. These strips of ribbon, dazzling and varied, whistled with astonishing ferocity as they lashed out, aimed directly at Ji Changkong perched atop the stone tower.

“Heh heh!” Ji Changkong wore a mocking smile, his eyes narrowed slightly. He remained utterly unmoved by the incoming barrage of silk ribbons, appearing completely oblivious to the impending danger.

“Arrogance!” Zhuang Yan snorted coldly from below, her face etched with displeasure.

A beam of stark white light suddenly shot from her eyes. A deathly, bone-chilling aura instantly enveloped the surroundings, accompanied by a sizzling sound in the air. The space became saturated with an icy, desolate chill.

As the white light struck, the colorful ribbons immediately slowed their advance, as if their motion had been frozen solid, forcing them onward with agonizing difficulty, inch by agonizing inch.

A flicker of sheer horror crossed Chu Shanxin’s bright eyes, and she whipped her gaze toward Ji Changkong’s cold, merciless eyes. In that instant, Chu Shanxin felt as if she had plunged into an ice cavern; her body suddenly felt rigid and unresponsive.

Her expression shifted drastically, and the smile gracing Chu Shanxin’s lips slowly receded as she gently closed her eyes.

The colorful ribbons aimed at Ji Changkong suddenly emitted a succession of piercing shrieks, sounds so sharp they threatened to rupture eardrums. Some of the nearby Xiao family youths covered their ears in panic, hastily retreating back toward the interior of the stone house.

“The shrieking is sharp, but ultimately useless,” Ji Changyan chuckled dismissively. He suddenly extended his hand, which seemed to stretch unnaturally as a flash of the Five Elements’ light flickered across his palm, instantly dissolving into the heart of the ribbons.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Deafening explosions erupted from within the ribbons themselves. Every single strip aimed straight at Ji Changkong shattered into fragments!

“Pfft!”

Chu Shanxin lurched violently forward, spitting out an uncontrolled gout of scarlet blood that stained the tender grass before her a vivid crimson.

The naturally vibrant hue of Chu Shanxin’s cheeks began to drain, turning pale by degrees.

Yet, the light in her eyes intensified, fixed fiercely upon Ji Changkong. Were it not for the pallor of her face, Chu Shanxin at this moment could be described as breathtakingly spirited.

“Six Harmonies Heavenly Realm?” After a long pause, a smile faintly touched Chu Shanxin’s lips again as she gazed quietly at Ji Changkong.

He responded with a soft chuckle and a single, confirming nod.

“Your reputation is well-deserved!” Chu Shanxin praised him, then turned away with a wry smile. She addressed Zhuang Yan, “I am no match for him.”

Zhuang Yan’s expression grew serious. She nodded faintly, offering comfort. “He is a Xuanyuan; it is only natural that you are not his equal.” After a moment of hesitation, Zhuang Yan asked, “Do you wish to invite this young man back to the Chu family, or shall we eliminate him immediately?”

“Invite him back to the Chu family. Perhaps we can forge an alliance with the Ji family,” Chu Shanxin said, turning to cast a smiling glance back at Ji Changkong before informing Zhuang Yan of her decision.

“Understood.” Zhuang Yan acknowledged, then suddenly soared upward. Extending her withered, aged hand, she swept it down toward Ji Changkong’s head.

As Zhuang Yan’s hands moved, a brilliant, fierce glow sparked from beneath her fingernails. Her hands crossed and fluttered rapidly, unleashing an immensely violent gale that instantly swirled and enveloped Ji Changkong within its core.

This tempest was both swift and brutal. As it descended from above, the stone tower where Ji Changkong stood began to shake violently. Fist-sized stones making up the structure were seemingly ripped from the walls by the sheer force, caught up in the roaring wind and sent flying, smashing back into the tower with sharp crackling sounds.

“Shameless!” Xiao Xing roared, preparing to step out and intervene in Zhuang Yan’s attack on Ji Changkong.

Yu Chi Yuan, smiling faintly, shifted his position to stand near Xiao Xing, raising a hand in a gesture that invited him to engage in a duel instead.

“Father, do not worry. Changkong can handle it.” Seeing Xiao Xing move to intervene, Xiao Shugu chuckled strangely from beside him and suddenly spoke up.

Xiao Xing paused, looking at Xiao Shu with surprise. “What? What can Changkong handle?”

“You don’t need to help. Changkong can manage Zhuang Yan,” Xiao Shu replied.

At these words, many members of the Xiao family regarded Xiao Shu strangely, wondering if he had gone mad. How old was that boy, Ji Changkong? By what right or ability could he possibly stand against Zhuang Yan?

Yu Chi Yuan, who had just moved to Xiao Xing’s side, heard Xiao Shu’s statement and glanced toward Zhuang Yan’s position, his heart filled with doubt. Clearly, he did not take Xiao Shu’s assertion seriously.

However, when his gaze settled back on Zhuang Yan, his expression stiffened, and his internal confusion deepened.

Just then, within the stone building imprisoning Ji Changkong, his aura intensified, growing stronger. A terrifying power, one that absolutely should not exist in a cultivator of the Six Harmonies Heavenly Soldier rank, suddenly erupted from within the tower like a dam bursting—a force entirely unstoppable.

Chu Shanxin, who had been watching the stone tower with unwavering focus, suddenly gasped, her face losing all color. She raised a hand to cover her mouth, her expression one of utter terror.

Crack! Crack!

An earth-shattering explosion suddenly roared from inside the stone structure. In an instant, the tower blew apart from within. Millstone-sized boulders began to tumble, heading directly toward Zhuang Yan.

Amidst the flying debris, Ji Changkong shot upward from the wreckage. A hazy, dark halo suddenly materialized in the void, instantly enveloping Zhuang Yan within its boundaries.

Simultaneously, bolts of azure heavenly lightning appeared from nowhere, solidifying around Zhuang Yan’s sides, completely surrounding her from all directions. The moment Zhuang Yan moved, she would inevitably make contact with these sudden, sharp bolts of blue lightning.

Ji Changkong, who everyone expected to be powerless to retaliate, had suddenly seized the dominant advantage against Zhuang Yan, who was two full realms above him! (To be continued)