Mo Yunyi, Xiao Poshu, Xiao Xing, Gui Rong, Gui Hai, and others were gathered together, their brows tightly furrowed, clearly worried about some matter.

"There's no mistake," Mo Yunyi said, sitting up straighter as she observed the silence of the assembly. "News arrived simultaneously from the Duan family and the Lingbao Pavilion Chen family: the experts from the Guiyuan Sect have descended from Kunlun, and their target is precisely our Xuanyuan Valley."

"Grandma Mo, the outside rumor is that Changkong killed the three Grand Elders of the Guiyuan Sect. Is this true?" Ji Wanyun frowned deeply, appearing skeptical of the gossip. "Although Changkong's progress has been tremendous over the years, when he left Xuanyuan Valley, his cultivation was only at the Seven Star Heaven realm. How could he possibly kill the three Grand Elders of the Guiyuan Sect? Those three were all peak experts of the Eight Trigrams Heaven realm!"

"The news should be accurate, but I don't know the specifics of how it happened." Mo Yunyi Wu "If he truly did it, then it's a good thing. If he could slay those three Grand Elders of the Guiyuan Sect, coupled with Li Hentian and that person from Mount Tianshan, why should we fear the Guiyuan Sect?" Fu Feng said, utterly fearless and cold.

"The power of the Guiyuan Sect is likely the strongest in the entire realm. Even if Cao Xuanqi doesn't show himself, it will be extremely difficult for Xuanyuan Valley to cope. Now, with Changkong and Old Man Li both absent, and it being awkward for us to seek aid from Mount Tianshan—if the Guiyuan Sect forces truly arrive, I fear..." I fear things will become very difficult," Xiao Xing, as the head of the Xiao family, knew a bit more about the unusual nature of the Guiyuan Sect and was not optimistic.

"What kind of people are at Mount Tianshan? With our lineup of so many Eight Trigrams Heaven Masters, are we supposed to be afraid of them?" Han Feng asked, surprised.

"You don't know," Xiao Xing sighed quietly. "According to years of investigation by my Xiao family, the Guiyuan Sect doesn't just have Cao Xuanqi as their sole Nine Palaces Heaven Master! If only Eight Trigrams Heaven Masters come this time, I wouldn't worry at all. I'm afraid if a Nine Palaces Heaven Master from the Guiyuan Sect steps forward, then our Xuanyuan Valley is in real, massive trouble."

At these words, Han Feng was instantly stunned. No matter how arrogant Han Feng was, he understood what a Nine Palaces Heaven Master signified.

"I hope Old Man Li arrives at Xuanyuan Valley sooner. Otherwise, by the time the Guiyuan Sect's Nine Palaces Heaven Master shows up, we won't even have the standing to hold a proper conversation with them," Xiao Poshu grumbled, his face grim. "Damn it, I need to enter secluded cultivation; I must learn from that Old Man Li and break through to the Nine Palaces Heaven realm!"

"Let's wait until this matter passes before discussing that. Let's hope they return quickly; for now, we can hold out and see how the situation develops," Xiao Xing advised with a pained expression.

Before Xiao Poshu could reply, a stern young man strode into the council hall, his expression grave.

Mo Yunyi glanced at him and asked, surprised, "Changxiao, what is it?"

"Some members of the sect, along with some rogue cultivators, wish to leave Xuanyuan Valley, saying they need to seek a new path."

"Ji Changxiao said coldly, his face grim, "How should we deal with these people? When they first entered the valley, they begged shamelessly for us to let them in. Now, hearing that Xuanyuan Valley is about to clash with the Guiyuan Sect, they're ready to bolt. Should these people...?" Ji Changxiao made a chopping gesture with one hand, emanating killing intent.

"Don't," Mo Yunyi quickly raised her hand to stop him, waving it away with slight exasperation. "Let them go. If they want to leave, let them. At this critical juncture, we absolutely cannot create unnecessary trouble. Any rash action on our part will only escalate the conflict." The reason Xuanyuan Valley gathered so many people was partly due to the threat of the Ghost Demon King, and partly because we have always treated people with sincerity. We must not give them cause for criticism.

"Understood." Although unwilling, Ji Changxiao nodded lightly, bowed to the assembly, and turned to exit the council hall.

"It seems some people understand the might of the Guiyuan Sect," Xiao Xing remarked with a wry smile.

Everyone looked heavy-hearted, realizing that the departure of some within the valley was not a good sign; it might be a trigger. Once the experts of the Guiyuan Sect arrived, more people would certainly flee the valley.

Although Xuanyuan Valley had gathered many experts over the years, many of them had no ties to the Ji, Xiao, or Ghost Sects. Some were from the former sects on Blood Rain Mountain, and others were rogue cultivators fleeing the Ghost Demon King. These people were connected to Xuanyuan Valley for various reasons but were not necessarily united in heart. At the crucial moment, the timid and fearful would naturally do things that were less than honorable to save their own lives.

"Perhaps this is for the best. At least we know who stands with us. Those who left were purely seeking refuge from the Ghost Demon King. After this is over, we can be certain of which people in Xuanyuan Valley will remain loyal when it matters. As for those who left, let them go. When the Ghost Demon King reappears one day, I'd like to see what they can do!" Xiao Xing added.

East Heaven Peak.

Yi Kui was already standing atop a cliff face early in the morning. Yi Qu, Yi Jia, Yi Rou, and other Yi family members stood behind him, gazing into the distance from that precipice.

Yi Jia pouted, muttering sulkily, "Why should we be here to greet him? Who is that fellow, anyway, that he deserves such attention from our Yi family?"

Yi Kui frowned, glanced back at Yi Jia, and said lightly, "If you keep grumbling, I’ll send you to Xuanyuan Valley to be someone's wife."

Yi Jia froze, her bright eyes instantly filling with moisture, looking pitifully at Yi Kui. "Grandfather, can you really be so cruel?"

"Hmph!" Yi Kui glared at Yi Jia and stated firmly, "For the sake of the Yi family, what is the sacrifice of one granddaughter? I tell you, if Ji Changkong arrives, and you dare cause trouble, I will shamelessly throw you into Xuanyuan Valley." If he wants you, it's your good fortune, Yi Kui thought to himself, that girl has no idea what she's talking about.

Yi Jia stared closely at Yi Kui for a moment. Once she confirmed Yi Kui wasn't joking, her expression shifted slightly. She dared not mutter anymore, retreating a few steps to maintain a distance from Yi Kui, silently becoming obedient, though she secretly cursed Ji Changkong in her heart for causing her trouble.

"Father, why isn't he here yet? Based on our intelligence, he should arrive today. Perhaps he isn't coming to East Heaven Peak?" After a while, Yi Qu approached Yi Kui and asked softly.

"He will come. He said he would visit East Heaven Peak, and he won't break his word," Yi Kui replied calmly. "We will wait here and show no hint of impatience. This matter concerns the future of the Yi family! We cannot afford to be careless."

"Father, Ji Changkong killed three Grand Elders of the Guiyuan Sect. Wouldn't it be inappropriate for us to deliberately forge a close relationship with him right now?" After some deliberation, Yi Qu couldn't help voicing his concern.

"Delivering charcoal in the snow or kicking someone when they're down—these actions leave the deepest impression. I know many people have left Xuanyuan Valley recently; they are afraid, afraid of the Guiyuan Sect," Yi Kui glanced at Yi Qu. "Since we have started interacting with Xuanyuan Valley, we cannot hesitate. One cannot be a fence-sitter! Xuanyuan Valley and our East Heaven Peak rely on each other, and the threat of the Ghost Demon King still looms. For us, only by uniting with Xuanyuan Valley can we secure their support." As for the Guiyuan Sect, they are far away from us. Even if we help Xuanyuan Valley, we won't be their primary target. If this bet pays off, the Yi family will become Xuanyuan Valley's most steadfast ally in the future! One must take risks! No hesitation is allowed!"

"Your son understands." Yi Qu pondered for a long time, thoroughly convinced.

Yi Kui nodded slightly, saying no more.

Crimson clouds filled the sky like burning embers at sunset. The fading sunlight reflected off the clouds, casting a deep red glow onto East Heaven Peak, bathing all the rocks and trees in a layer of red.

In the sunset, two figures approached slowly from a distance, chatting and laughing along the way, appearing relaxed and at ease.

Only when they saw the line of figures standing atop the cliff face of East Heaven Peak in the distance did their pace suddenly accelerate, becoming lightning-fast, instantly bringing them to a halt before the group.

Bowing from afar, Ji Changkong said with feigned astonishment, "Elder Yi, how dare you wait for me here? You are truly humbling your junior!"

Although he had agreed to visit East Heaven Peak, Ji Changkong hadn't specified the exact date. Prompted by Li Hentian, Ji Changkong had taken his time, enjoying the scenic beauty along the journey to comprehend the true meaning of the world and fully relax.

He had never expected Yi Kui to value him so highly—not only coming himself but dragging the entire Yi family along. This truly surprised Ji Changkong.

Yi Kui smiled calmly. "We had nothing pressing. I merely brought the family along to witness the magnificence of you and Brother Li." He nodded towards Li Hentian. "Brother Li, I trust you've been well."

Li Hentian nodded indifferently.

As contemporaries, Li Hentian and Yi Kui had met several times. Back when the Southern Barbarian Heaven Masters rampaged on Blood Rain Mountain, Yi Kui had also brought his family to join forces with Li Hentian's group against the invaders from the South.

However, back then, Li Hentian was a leading general in the war effort, while Yi Kui was merely second-generation Yi family, not yet having reached the Eight Trigrams Heaven realm. At that stage, when Yi Kui met Li Hentian, his demeanor was always deferential. Now that Li Hentian had broken through to the Nine Palaces Heaven realm, although he addressed him as "Brother Li," Yi Kui proactively bowed, clearly considering himself to be of a lower generation than Li Hentian.

Li Hentian’s casual bluntness was something everyone was accustomed to. Even the Yi family members who accompanied Yi Kui appeared to take it for granted, not finding it improper for their patriarch to bow before Li Hentian. After all, Li Hentian possessed a fearsome reputation, and having now broken through to the Nine Palaces Heaven realm, he had the basis for arrogance anywhere.

"Let's talk inside," Yi Kui smiled, stepping aside to usher Ji Changkong and Li Hentian toward the Yi residence.

The two made no ceremony, heading straight toward the Yi family compound. Along the way, many people cheered happily upon seeing Ji Changkong. Some young, pretty girls rushed over enthusiastically, excitedly asking him questions—like what he had been doing in the East Sea, whether the news of him killing the three Guiyuan Sect Grand Elders was true, whether he had a confidante, or if he planned to marry and have children...

Those young women were so enthusiastic they nearly overwhelmed Ji Changkong.

These people from East Heaven Peak had gathered at the Yi residence when the Ghost Demon King arrived, witnessing Ji Changkong’s prowess in the battle. Subconsciously, they viewed Ji Changkong as their benefactor. Hearing of his mighty exploits in the East Sea, they were genuinely happy for him, and seeing him now, they naturally wouldn't withhold their enthusiasm.

Quickening their pace, Ji Changkong followed closely behind Yi Kui and soon arrived at the Yi residence. As the main gate slowly closed, excited shouts from the young women outside could still be heard.

Yi Kui looked at the somewhat flustered Ji Changkong, who was being pulled at by the throng of young women, with a knowing smile. His gaze lingered for a moment on his granddaughters, Yi Jia and Yi Rou; one couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"I'll just wander around," Li Hentian informed Ji Changkong, then turned and headed outside.

Yi Kui did not stop him, allowing Li Hentian to roam various parts of the Yi residence without concern that any family secrets might be exposed.

Taking Ji Changkong's hand, Yi Kui enthusiastically pulled him into a secret chamber to begin a deeper discussion regarding the cooperation between the Yi family and Xuanyuan Valley.

At this critical juncture, Yi Kui’s decision to ally with Xuanyuan Valley despite the threat of the Guiyuan Sect greatly relieved Ji Changkong. After declining the Yi family's generous offer of sending experts to reinforce Xuanyuan Valley, Ji Changkong began discussing the details of intelligence gathering in the East Sea with the Yi family.

BOOM!

As the two were eagerly discussing the specifics of cooperation between Xuanyuan Valley and the Yi family, establishing various outposts in the East Sea, a world-shaking explosion suddenly erupted in the Yi family courtyard.

Yi Kui's expression changed immediately. He and Ji Changkong halted their discussion and rushed out of the secret chamber to see what had happened.

A newly erected, conical strange stone tower had just collapsed. Amidst the rubble, an old man with a massive sword strapped to his back stared intensely at Li Hentian, his eyes sharp as blades.

Li Hentian stood with his hands behind his back, his brow furrowed, also discreetly assessing the old man.

The two Nine Palaces Heaven Masters immediately engaged in conflict, perhaps purely drawn by the attraction of each other's power.

After Yi Kui and Ji Changkong arrived, Li Hentian nodded gently toward the old man and consciously retreated to Ji Changkong's side, glancing at Yi Kui as he stated flatly, "I don't know why, but as soon as I stepped here, he suddenly attacked."

Yi Kui looked solemn. "Brother Li, please disregard it. This senior's mind... his consciousness is somewhat unclear. It has nothing to do with you."

Li Hentian nodded and said no more.

Yi Rou approached the old man who was still staring fixedly at Li Hentian. Standing beside him, she gently patted his shoulder and said softly, "They are guests, they mean you no harm. Don't be nervous."

Surprisingly, under Yi Rou’s gentle coaxing, the old man gradually relaxed. The sharp light in his eyes slowly receded. In a short while, his eyes returned to their muddled, vacant appearance, and he silently sat down where he was, ignoring the dirt and rubble around him.

Ji Changkong and Yi Kui re-entered the secret chamber to discuss the cooperation between the Yi family and...

Later, under Yi Kui’s grand hospitality, Ji Changkong shared a meal at the Yi residence before being escorted out of East Heaven Peak by Yi Kui. As he left, he inevitably encountered the enthusiastic young women of East Heaven Peak again, leading to some unavoidable entanglements.

After departing East Heaven Peak, the moon was already hanging high, casting down cool, misty light.

"How was it?" Ji Changkong asked after they had walked about ten li.

Maintaining his slow, measured pace, Li Hentian pondered for a moment. "Very powerful! Although it was just one strike, I know how fiercely sharp and domineering his sword energy is. If he were to slash East Heaven Peak, it would split in two with just one swing!"

Ji Changkong's expression changed slightly. "Is he really that strong?"

Li Hentian nodded. "Indeed, very strong, but still a notch inferior to Cao Xuanqi."

Ji Changkong's face became grim, his gaze heavy. "How powerful would Cao Xuanqi be?"

"A casual punch or kick from him would directly obliterate East Heaven Peak. It wouldn't take Cao Xuanqi long to destroy this world," Li Hentian stated.

Ji Changkong fell silent.

After a long while, he said, "Having the Yi family as an ally has one benefit: if Xuanyuan Valley truly cannot withstand the Guiyuan Sect's attack, we can retreat to East Heaven Peak. As long as Cao Xuanqi doesn't act, with that old man joining us, our losses won't be too great."

The Ji Changkong of today was no longer the reckless, willful youth of the past. Every action he took now considered the broader implications for Xuanyuan Valley; he no longer acted solely based on his own desires.

With his current strength, he was confident he could escape a siege by the Guiyuan Sect, provided Cao Xuanqi did not intervene. However, his relatives, friends, and many who believed in him were in Xuanyuan Valley. In everything he did, he could not be selfish; he had to consider those people.

Therefore, since deciding to confront the Guiyuan Sect, he had begun considering every possibility. After all, Li Hentian had mentioned that the Guiyuan Sect's power was unfathomable, with at least one Nine Palaces Heaven Master besides Cao Xuanqi—and perhaps more—no one knew.

Under such circumstances, he thought of that old man on East Heaven Peak, which led to the visit. Even without Yi Kui's words, he was prepared to utilize the old man's existence.

Having Li Hentian test the old man's strength was purely to give himself a baseline, so he could make the correct judgment at a critical moment and avoid committing an unforgivable error.

"Mmm, when the time comes that we can't hold, evacuating the valley residents to East Heaven Peak is a viable fallback. If the Yi family is willing to help, and with that old man present, even the Guiyuan Sect's Nine Palaces Heaven Masters would not dare act presumptuously on East Heaven Peak. This way, we can at least fight without worrying about the rear lines," Li Hentian nodded approvingly.

"I received word from Yi Kui that the Guiyuan Sect forces will take at least seven more days to reach Xuanyuan Valley," Ji Changkong grinned, his expression turning somewhat cold. "We don't need to rush back. I want to see how many people will desert us during this time. If we return too early, perhaps those with ill intentions won't expose themselves."

"How do you plan to deal with those people?" Li Hentian inquired.

"I won't deal with them; I'll let them fend for themselves. Next time the Ghost Demon King appears, we will seal Xuanyuan Valley and let no one in. Those who commit acts of betrayal should pay the price. There are no free lunches in this world, and my Xuanyuan Valley is not a refugee camp!" Ji Changkong scoffed.

Li Hentian nodded lightly without further comment.

The moonlight faded as midnight approached.

High up in a ten-meter-tall ancient tree, Ji Changkong sat with a calm expression, his eyes shut tight. Beside him, six Pillars of Primal Force, intricately wrapped with the arcane symbols of the Purgatory Ghost Clan, spun slowly, releasing wisps of soul power that subtly affected everything around them. Any soul-bearing creature within a certain radius found its spiritual movement paralyzed.

Li Hentian was the sole exception.

The mysterious symbols shimmered with beautiful light. After absorbing immense mental energy and primal force, the Pillars of Primal Force grew larger. Supported by vast heaven and earth energy and mental power, these six pillars were now comparable in stature to a towering ten-meter ancient tree, containing astonishing power.

Ji Changkong sat quietly in the center of the six pillars, feeling the mysterious energy feedback from them, extending his soul perception...

It felt as if he had gained countless eyes. Every blade of grass and tree within dozens of li was projected into his mind, even the intricate vein patterns on the leaves. No matter how large the fierce beast, its soul magnetic field would manifest, and under the coverage of his soul consciousness, these fields were progressively slowed down, gradually ceasing to emit soul fluctuations outward.

As a thought shifted in his mind, a dense killing intent suddenly surged.

The gentle melody of the Soul Quelling Hymn instantly escalated, filling the air with a palpable, bloodthirsty aura. In the extending soul sense, the atmosphere instantly became saturated with killing intent.

Suddenly, the soul magnetic fields of those fierce beasts shattered—invisible to the eye, only detectable by the soul.

In an instant, all fierce beasts within a radius of several dozen li fell into eternal silence. They never knew what had happened, but their souls had completely vanished, returning to the essence of heaven and earth.

The profound mysteries regarding the application of soul power within the Soul Quelling Hymn flowed like a river through his mind. Feeling the unique soul techniques of the Purgatory Ghost Clan, the killing intent in Ji Changkong's mind gradually became difficult to control. The power of his divine soul continued to extend outward, seeking any existence with life or soul, accompanied by the urge to destroy the very source of all life.

Suddenly, a more bloodthirsty killing thought resonated from the acupoint between his brows. A drop of scarlet blood spontaneously emerged from his glabella, transforming into thread-like wisps that mingled with the blood circulating within his body.

The Ji Changkong, dormant within the realm of the Zhenhunqu power, stood abruptly, eyes still shut, blindly lunging toward the only living presence within a score of miles.

Li Hentian, who had been watching secretly, had his pupils contract, sharp light flashing from his eyes like an electric serpent. With a sharp cry, Li Hentian suddenly rose and reached out, sweeping his hand toward Ji Changkong.

A colossal hand of flame materialized from the void. The scorching Yanli surged forth; before the great hand even descended, the trees surrounding Ji Changkong spontaneously burst into roaring combustion.

Ji Changkong, eyes firmly closed, radiated murderous intent. Driven by Shixue [Bloodlust], his vital blood energy soared. Having forgotten who he was, the Longyao Saber automatically settled into his grasp. Under the spur of this bloodthirsty killing intent, he swung the long saber, and the shadow of a blood dragon materialized, claws brandishing and teeth bared, lunging at Li Hentian. The giant flame hand pressed down into the void, gripping the neck of the blood dragon with unerring precision. Intense Yanli erupted from the fiery palm, rapidly dissolving the blood energy coating the dragon.

Soon, under the might of the flame giant hand, the blood dragon was forcibly dissolved back into raw blood energy, which streamed back into the Longyao Saber.

Ji Changkong’s eyes remained closed. He suddenly roared toward the heavens, his cry carrying an earth-shattering, intense surge of killing intent, as if intending to turn every living thing in existence to ash. Some savage beasts farther away, upon hearing this howl saturated with pure malice, instinctively fled in alarm, sensing profound terror.

Li Hentian frowned deeply, gazing at Ji Changkong with a flicker of concern.

At that moment, Ji Changkong moved. Wielding the Longyao Saber, he began launching a relentless barrage of thunderous attacks against Li Hentian, seemingly unaware of his surroundings.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

World-shaking impacts echoed through the dense forest in the deep night. This entire area was choked with killing aura and thick flames as violent energies clashed together. Dozens of towering, ancient trees, tens of meters high, were uprooted and burst into fierce flames while still airborne.

The earth groaned. Bottomless ravines formed under the hacking blows of the long saber; dust billowed, and stones flew. This region was scarred and ruined by the destruction wrought by the two of them.

Suddenly, a blade light as pure as the bright moon manifested in the air. Within that flawless, radiant light, a faint wisp of blood energy was threaded, possessing a captivating beauty against the night sky.

Bang!

Another world-shattering explosion occurred. Li Hentian, wielding the Riri Falun (Fierce Sun Dharma Wheel), jammed the Wheel against the Longyao Saber and roared: “Wake up!”

A voice abruptly sounded within his muddled spirit, an infusion like a jolt of cold water, pulling his unbridled consciousness back to its core.

The Longyao Saber clattered to the ground. Ji Changkong suddenly sat down again right where he was, as if nothing had happened, continuing his silent contemplation and awakening.

Li Hentian’s gaze was sharp, fixed intently on Ji Changkong, his eyes lingering on the fallen Longyao Saber, filled with thought.

After a moment, Li Hentian’s eyes suddenly brightened. He stared deeply at the grounded saber, murmuring, “Moonlight, blade light, moonlight…”

A rare, faint smile touched the corner of his lips. Li Hentian nodded softly. “So fast…”

Much later, Ji Changkong suddenly opened his eyes. The murderous intent within them gradually receded. He looked deeply at Li Hentian, and the smile on his lips slowly bloomed, gradually widening.

“Hahahaha! Hahahaha! Hahahahahahaha!”

Ji Changkong threw his head back and laughed heartily, shaking his whole body with mirth. He stood up tall, snatched the Longyao Saber in one hand, and roared: “I’ve broken through!”

Li Hentian nodded gently. “I know.”

“I also obtained that drop of Sacred Beast White Tiger blood; it has now mixed with the blood within us,” Ji Changkong added.

Only then did Li Hentian display a look of surprise. He stared at Ji Changkong, tugging at the corner of his mouth, praising, “Very good! Very fast!”

“In three more days, we should be ready to head toward Xuanyuan Valley. I’ll familiarize myself with the new realm on the road—the Bagua Tian Realm! Haha, the Bagua Tian Realm! I’ve finally reached this level! From now on, even without borrowing power from the Tianyuan Pearl, I can fight any Bagua Tianshi!” Ji Changkong laughed robustly.

“Now, I can finally rest easy. Unless a Jiugong Tianshi acts personally, no one can kill you,” Li Hentian stated.

Beside Blood Rain Mountain, within the Fissure Valley.

A group of thirteen people sat in silence within the valley. Among the thirteen, the weakest among them was a Qixing Tianshi.

Six others were present: five in the Bagua Tian Realm, and one soundly asleep, his aura distant. This person was constantly in the state of Unity with Heaven and Earth—clearly operating in the Jiugong Tian Realm.

Lan Xibai, the head disciple of Cao Xuanqi, sat quietly before the heavily sleeping fat man, his expression troubled. “Martial Uncle, it’s time to wake up.”

The fat man, whose excess flesh made him weigh over three hundred pounds, mumbled something unintelligibly, turned over, and continued snoring.

Lan Xibai frowned deeply, scanning the junior martial brothers beside him, and snapped, “Second Brother, you wake Martial Uncle.”

Yang Qian’s face darkened, and he quietly retreated a few steps. “Senior Martial Brother, don’t implicate me! If you need to wake him, you wake him; I dare not.”

Lan Xibai cursed under his breath, his gaze sweeping over each of his junior martial brothers. Each one, upon seeing Lan Xibai look at them, quietly shuffled back a few steps, pretending not to notice him, heads lowered, lost in their own thoughts.

“The three Elders were killed on the East Sea. We are here for revenge, yet look at all of you, none of you are proactive!” Lan Xibai burst into anger. “They have pushed things right onto the doorstep of our Guiyuan Sect; this is an outright slap in our face, you brutes! If I hadn't used Master’s name to summon you, would even one of you have bothered to return?”

“So what if those three old fools died? Their presence has tarnished the reputation of the Guiyuan Sect for years. It’s best they’re dead! Ha, I should thank that kid; what revenge are we taking?” Cao Xuanqi’s third disciple, Jiang Jianxi, said carelessly.

Lan Xibai was choked with fury, his beard bristling. “So they’re dead, but they were members of the Guiyuan Sect! If we don't do something, where will the face of the Guiyuan Sect be kept in the future?”

“Don’t worry, Senior Martial Brother. As long as Master isn’t dead, no one in the world will dare cause trouble for our Guiyuan Sect,” Jiang Jianxi said in a lazy, reassuring manner. “We should learn from Martial Uncle—just go down the mountain for a relaxing trip, and then we can all disperse.”

“Then you wake Martial Uncle, we’ll take a trip to Xuanyuan Valley to relax, and then I’ll let you all go,” Lan Xibai said with a slight, smiling glance directed at Jiang Jianxi.

Jiang Jianxi abruptly stepped back two paces. “I’m not going! Whoever wants to go can go! Oh, Little Martial Brother is here. Ha, it’s good that Little Martial Brother is here.”

Lan Xibai, Yang Qian, and the other members of the Guiyuan Sect all visibly exhaled in relief when they heard the Little Martial Brother had arrived, their expressions relaxing as if they had found a savior.

A sturdy young man, dark-skinned with coarse homespun cloth garments and bare feet, walked leisurely from the distance. His steps were steady, and he carried a broad longsword strapped to his back.

“Qianjie, we’ve been waiting for you! Where have you been all these years? We haven’t seen you in ages,” Lan Xibai asked with a smile. Shi Qianjie scanned the faces of his martial brothers, looking surprised. “What? Has Master passed away? Why does everyone look so happy?”

“Ahem, ahem,” Lan Xibai coughed violently and scolded oddly, “What nonsense are you talking of? Someone killed the three Grand Elders of our Guiyuan Sect, and we are planning to avenge them.”

“Good riddance to them! I returned this time precisely because I was preparing to deal with those three myself. Who wants to lend me a hand?” Shi Qianjie said. He paused, then asked again, “Aren’t you all wishing those three were dead sooner? Why are you going out for revenge now?”

“This… this concerns the honor of our Guiyuan Sect,” Lan Xibai admitted awkwardly, quickly changing the subject. “The ones who killed the three Grand Elders are Ji Changkong of Xuanyuan Valley.”

“Never heard of him,” Shi Qianjie shook his head, looking blank. “Has he sprung up recently?”

“Yes,” Lan Xibai smiled. “He surfaced after you left—the new generation of the Ji family in Xuanyuan, Qixing Tian Realm. He killed Zhuang Bufu and the other two!”

Shi Qianjie, who had maintained a calm demeanor, suddenly became visibly excited at the news. A color of frenzied combativeness exploded in his eyes. He licked his lips. “Interesting. Qixing Tian Realm killing three Bagua Tianshi in a row. Not bad, not bad. Worth a fight!”

“I knew you’d be interested. How about it? Shall we wake up our dear Martial Uncle first?” Lan Xibai suggested.

Shi Qianjie grinned coldly, stepped forward, and abruptly kicked out at the sleepy fat man. As the kick flew, multicolored brilliance shot out, accompanied by an immense, sharp battle intent. By his posture, it seemed he intended to send the fat man straight to the afterlife with that single kick.

Hnngh!

His bare foot landed squarely on the layer of fat around the fat man’s waist. This earth-shattering kick was completely absorbed by the man’s flesh and could not advance an inch further.

Shi Qianjie remained unfazed. He suddenly drew the longsword strapped to his back. As the sword emerged, an unbearably fierce and wild power erupted. The greatsword, twice as wide as a normal blade, shimmered brilliantly, and circles of waves emerged from its tip. Within these waves, images unfolded, depicting the cycle of life, aging, sickness, and death, illustrating the natural laws of change in the world, such as trees withering…

The fat man’s body trembled. The flesh that had clamped down on Shi Qianjie’s foot loosened, and he suddenly turned, somehow grabbing Shi Qianjie and pulling him into an embrace, shouting loudly, “I knew it was you, you scoundrel! I knew it was you, I missed you so much, you bastard!”

The layers of waves, interspersed with mysterious patterns, emanating from Shi Qianjie’s greatsword, vanished one by one as the fat man’s bulk jiggled.

Lan Xibai and the other disciples of Cao Xuanqi watched Shi Qianjie, then looked at the fat man, inwardly sighing: The old monster and the little monster!

Shi Qianjie’s already unkempt hair was messed up like a bird’s nest by the fat man’s grasp. The fat man’s excessive flesh pressed tightly against Shi Qianjie, rubbing grimy, smelly sweat and muck all over him. In just a moment, Shi Qianjie looked just as filthy as the fat man.

Shi Qianjie was held tightly, his face turning red as he strained with all his might to struggle free.

Boom!

A massive surge of power erupted from Shi Qianjie, finally enabling him to break free from the enthusiastic embrace of the fat man.

The fat man, astonished that he had been escaped, clicked his tongue admiringly. “Smelly kid, you actually managed to break free from my hug! Not bad, not bad. You must have learned a few tricks over the years. Did you really gain something from that trip overseas?”

Shi Qianjie grinned, not caring about the dirt covering him. “The way those overseas people utilize power is different from ours. They gather the energy of heaven and earth but don't store it internally; their combat relies on suddenly condensing that energy to strike. It’s quite peculiar. The move I just used borrowed directly from the Earth’s power, triggered by my body, while I myself didn't consume much vital essence. What do you think?”

“Interesting,” the fat man nodded. “Those barbarians actually possess a bit of cunning.”

“There are many formidable people overseas. In some aspects, their nations are no worse than ours,” Shi Qianjie demurred. “Master named me Qianjie, asking me to endure tribulations. Only after concluding this journey overseas did I truly grasp the depth of meaning in my name. The true essence of our Guiyuan Sect’s secret arts lies within this name—Thousand Tribulations, Thousand Tribulations. Only through long tempering can one truly know oneself, and only then can one bring our Sect’s mysteries to their absolute limit.”

“That old rogue really did find a successor worthy of inheriting his mantle,” the fat man nodded, struggling to stand up and stretching languidly. “Now that everyone is here, let’s go. We’ll head to Xuanyuan Valley. Though none of you liked the three who died, they were elders of the Guiyuan Sect after all. If they had to die, only people from the Guiyuan Sect should kill them. Outsiders have no right to interfere in Guiyuan Sect affairs—even if he is Gu Yan’s grandson, he needs a lesson.”

“Martial Uncle, there is something I must ask, though I hesitate to speak,” Lan Xibai said, his expression growing serious as he looked at the fat man.

The fat man nodded impatiently. “Spit it out! Stop being coy and annoying!”

“In all these years, if it weren’t for Gu Yan, the Shuiyun Kingdom might not have remained peaceful for so long. He never meddles in affairs on Mount Tian, only intervening when those barbarians attack. To the common people of the Central Lands, he is a Sage, and we respect him deeply. Regarding this incident…” Lan Xibai hesitated. “Although I proposed it, I truly don’t wish for a devastating, mutually destructive conflict with Mount Tian. He endures for the sake of all people; we should at least show him respect.”

“Nonsense! Of course I know that old fool Gu Yan endures for the sake of the common people. That old rogue has visited Mount Tian several times, itching for a fight with Gu Ya. Old Rogue doesn't care if the world lives or dies, but Gu Ya does! Do I need you to remind me? We are going to Xuanyuan Valley not to slaughter indiscriminately, but to settle accounts with those who deserve it. We can teach that Ji Changkong kid a lesson and spare his life, but as for Li Hentian…” The fat man narrowed his eyes and snorted coldly. “He cannot be spared! How many people in the sects near Kunlun have died by his hand? Before, his realm was low, and I disdained to act, but now that he has reached this level, he has only himself to blame!”

“I understand,” Lan Xibai nodded.

(It’s the end of the month; Little Ni begs for monthly ticket support. To be continued.)