He Hao Ran and Bai Li Ke glanced at each other, speechless for a moment. They instinctively felt that Ji Chang Kong could not be allowed to become the son-in-law of an outside power. In their anxiety, they hadn't thought much, but after Ye Hong Ru shouted like that, they couldn't immediately find a rebuttal.

“Hmph.” Ye Hong Ru’s expression turned cold. “It’s only fine for you lot to shout and clamor, but I’m forbidden from seeking justice for my daughter? My daughter was absolutely tricked away by this brat, unlike some people who are shamelessly trying to latch on.”

“You—what did you say?” He Hao Ran roared, anger blazing. “Ye Hong Ru! This is Blood Rain Mountain, and Xuanyuan Valley belongs to us, Blood Rain Mountain! Don't you dare act presumptuously on our territory!”

“Xuanyuan Valley belongs to Blood Rain Mountain?” Ye Hong Ru sneered relentlessly. “I think Blood Rain Mountain can’t possibly claim Xuanyuan Valley, can it? Who in the world doesn’t know the power of Xuanyuan Valley these days? Your He family and the Star Stone Sect of Blood Rain Mountain? Compared to Xuanyuan Valley, they are utterly insignificant. Truly laughable.”

“Ye Hong Ru, what did you say?”

“Say that again if you have the guts! Don’t think being the head of the Seven Great Families makes your Ye family anything special. On our Blood Rain Mountain, your Ye family amounts to nothing.”

The experts from the He family and the Star Stone Sect who had followed He Hao Ran and Bai Li Ke watched as, one by one, they pointed at Ye Hong Ru, indignation burning in their chests, shouting loudly. Ye Hong Ru, being a second-generation expert of the Ye family, possessed his own pride and completely disregarded the experts from the He family and Star Stone Sect. He continued his cold, biting commentary, subtly mocking that the strength of Blood Rain Mountain was far inferior to Xuanyuan Valley’s.

Ye Hong Ru, He Hao Ran, and Bai Li Ke argued vehemently in the center of the Grand Hall of Deliberation, creating an irreconcilable uproar.

Watching the three old foxes, each with their own hidden agenda, looking as if they might erupt into a fight at any second, Ji Chang Kong felt a splitting headache and an irrepressible bitter smile. He truly didn't know what to do. He glanced at He Li Ying, Bai Li Xiu, and Zhou Qiang Wei. The three young women had their heads bowed low, their necks and cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and none made any move to intervene and mediate. This made Ji Chang Kong even more distressed.

“Ahem, ahem.” Mo Yun Yi’s lips curled into a triumphant smile as she coughed lightly. She thought this brat really had some skill, managing to provoke three elders into a verbal brawl over a potential son-in-law. Despite her pride, she didn't want the three to actually start fighting inside the Ji Family’s Grand Hall, so she stood up to play the peacemaker. “Heh heh, I didn't expect Chang Kong to be so reckless. Gentlemen, I think this brat is simply a fickle and heartless fellow. If you marry your daughters to him, don’t regret it later.”

Ji Yu Sheng forced a dry laugh and quickly stood to persuade the three. “My grandson is the most mischievous. He is still young... I think this matter, perhaps it needs further, more careful consideration.”

“There’s nothing more to discuss!” Ye Hong Ru raised his chin and huffed. “This brat ruined my daughter’s life; he absolutely must take responsibility!”

He Hao Ran and Bai Li Ke also immediately stood up, taking He Li Dong’s and Bai Li Ke’s hands (Note: Likely a typo in the original, referring to their respective daughters) and declared righteously that they were deeply in love with Ji Chang Kong, and this matter needed to be settled quickly.

Seeing the three elders eager to marry off their daughters immediately, the smile on Ji Yu Sheng’s lips grew wider. He exchanged a look with Mo Yun Yi, and Ji Yu Sheng laughed heartily, “We really need to discuss this carefully. I only have this one grandson, and you have three young ladies. This situation is difficult to manage, ah.”

“Father!” Ji Wan Yun tugged at Ji Yu Sheng’s sleeve and whispered something to him quietly.

Ji Yu Sheng was stunned for a moment, then his face crumpled into worry. “Oh, I almost forgot. I also promised him a marriage arrangement with the daughter of Nie Yuan Shan’s family... This... what should be done?”

Ji Chang Kong felt a throbbing pain in his head as he surveyed the chaotic Grand Hall. Watching Mo Yun Yi and Ji Yu Sheng maneuvering with the others, and his aunt Ji Wan Yun fanning the flames, he had no idea how to cope.

The Grand Hall was noisy and clamorous, revolving endlessly around which young lady he should be betrothed to. Suddenly, everyone seemed to unanimously ignore his own opinion. No one asked if he was willing or not. The three young women also kept their heads lowered, as if they had suddenly turned mute. No one spoke an honest word; they were all using this method to bolster the authority of their elders.

Seeing that their quarrel would never end, Ji Chang Kong’s expression gradually darkened. He called out twice, and when he saw that no one was paying him any mind, he suddenly grew impatient. “You all discuss it slowly. Cause whatever ruckus you want, I’m not getting involved in this matter anyway!”

With that, Ji Chang Kong, his face grim, abruptly strode out of the Grand Hall. Before anyone could get a clear look, he vanished instantly, disappearing to an unknown location.

The previously noisy hall fell into a sudden silence following the protagonist’s departure. Only at this moment did everyone seem to realize that Ji Chang Kong’s current cultivation level and status held a unique importance in Xuanyuan Valley. Seeing the strange looks on the faces of Ji Yu Sheng and Mo Yun Yi, He Hao Ran, Bai Li Ke, and Ye Hong Ru seemed to realize that perhaps only persuading his elders was insufficient...

“This brat is too willful. Uh, I’ll go look for him.” Ji Yu Sheng chuckled dryly, inwardly cursing the impudent child for not showing him respect, and hurriedly rushed out of the hall.

“Everyone, please rest for a moment. Someone, prepare plenty of tea!” Mo Yun Yi called out, also hurrying out.

He Hao Ran, Bai Li Ke, and Ye Hong Ru quieted down instantly, sitting there with furrowed brows, lost in their thoughts. He Li Zhe, Bai Li Xiu, and Zhou Qiang Wei appeared somewhat flustered, wanting to follow out and check, but they were signaled by their elders to stay put and not wander off.

Outside Xuanyuan Valley.

Ji Chang Kong walked with a grim face, feeling irritable. He wandered aimlessly and gradually arrived at a chaotic stone forest outside Xuanyuan Valley, contemplating how to resolve the issue of these people deliberately trying to force their daughters upon him.

Suddenly, a supremely strange feeling arose in his heart. Ji Chang Kong snapped his head up, watching a figure slowly approach in his direction.

This was a person whose true age was difficult to ascertain. At first glance, he appeared to be only in his early thirties, with bronze-colored skin that was healthy and radiant. He was thin and tall, yet his eyes were as deep and bottomless as a cold pool, giving the impression of having weathered countless storms and seen through all worldly vanity.

He was barefoot, dressed in coarse homespun cloth, and empty-handed. He walked slowly, his gaze serene and his aura steady.

For some unknown reason, every pore on Ji Chang Kong’s body seemed to stand erect instantly. Sparks of electric-like Yuan Force rapidly circulated around him. The Xuanyuan bloodline within his body surged with an unprecedented might. A sensation of extreme danger permeated his heart—even the power contained within the Heavenly Origin Pearl, flooding his body, could not dispel even a fraction of that terrifying sense of peril.

Since stepping onto the martial path, no one had ever made him feel such dread; even his body and mind involuntarily yielded to a sense of being utterly incomparable.

The approaching figure slowly walked closer, his gaze sweeping over Ji Chang Kong. A flicker of surprise crossed his deep eyes before he looked at Ji Chang Kong seriously once more, then nodded faintly and said in a low voice, “You are the new generation Xuanyuan of the Ji family, I presume?”

“Who are you?” Ji Chang Kong stood like an enemy facing a foe, pushing his inner power to the maximum. His Yuan Force was endless, and the power from the Heavenly Origin Pearl surged unceasingly, filling every limb and bone. The moment he chose to act, he could instantly unleash the entirety of his strength.

Even so, facing this person, he felt absolutely no confidence.

Frowning slightly, the man narrowed his eyes, stopped walking, and looked at Ji Chang Kong. Then, he lightly stomped his left foot. An immense, earth-shattering vibration resonated from the depths of the ground. Instantly, this entire stone forest shook violently, as if the heavens were collapsing and the earth splitting apart.

Ji Chang Kong was horrified, staring at the man in disbelief. In that instant, he sensed a power too vast to imagine instantly sinking into the earth’s depths, causing the violent tremor in the ground in a split second. That power seemed capable of penetrating everything, and it continued to plunge deeper into the earth.

With just a light stomp, he could cause such a massive disturbance across this large stone forest, and Ji Chang Kong knew that the true strength of that stomp was concentrated deep underground. The shaking of the stone forest was merely a small overflow because the earth couldn't bear the power; only a tiny fraction leaked out. If the full force of that stomp were unleashed, Ji Chang Kong estimated it could cause the rear mountains of Xuanyuan Valley to collapse entirely. This level of power far exceeded his understanding.

“Who exactly are you?” For the first time, sweat beaded on Ji Chang Kong’s forehead. He quietly retreated a step, ready to withdraw at any moment if he couldn't defend himself. Facing this person, he suddenly realized he had no hope of victory—even with the help of the Heavenly Origin Pearl, his survival was questionable.

Suddenly, a flash of light erupted in his mind. Ji Chang Kong gasped out loud, “You are a Nine Palaces Celestial Master? Did you come here because you sensed the anomaly beneath the ground? Do you know the Sacred Beast Azure Dragon is hibernating underground? What are you planning? I warn you, no matter who you are, if you dare to scheme against the Sacred Beast Azure Dragon, I will fight you to the death!”

Only a Nine Palaces Celestial Master could possess such world-destroying power! And only a Nine Palaces Celestial Master could sense the agitation of the Sacred Beast Azure Dragon beneath Xuanyuan Valley! The sudden appearance of this person finally made Ji Chang Kong realize the gravity of the crisis. Although he had long expected that a Nine Palaces Celestial Master would eventually arrive, he hadn't anticipated one appearing here so early. A wave of helpless frustration, as if heaven itself opposed him, washed over him. At this time, the Star Sea Ancient Formation of Xuanyuan Valley was incomplete, and he lacked the strength to fight a Nine Palaces Celestial Master. For this man, nothing in Xuanyuan Valley currently posed an obstacle to his path!

“You know quite a bit,” the man murmured with a strange expression. After a moment of contemplation, he suddenly turned around and strode toward the outside, his voice echoing from a distance:

“Tell Gu Bang that Cao Xuan Qi has visited. If he cannot protect this place, have someone notify me. The land of Shen Tu does not tolerate profanation by barbarians. And you, Ji Chang Kong, come find me in Kunlun when you cultivate to the Nine Palaces Heaven realm. Your father entered the wicked path through cultivation deviation and is imprisoned by me in Kunlun. I haven't killed him precisely because I wanted you to reach the Nine Palaces Heaven realm to seek revenge.”

“It is rumored that the Ji family’s Xuanyuan at the Nine Palaces Heaven realm is the strongest in that realm. I have always wanted to see if this is true. Fortunately, you have appeared, and my wish can be fulfilled. Hmm, don’t disappoint me, or else…”