Lin Amu looked at Pan Hongqing with excitement. Over the years, the Unlimited War Fortress had suffered repeatedly at the hands of this Elder Pan. They knew well that many lucrative deals were snatched away by this elder, yet they could only offer him more gifts, pleading that he leave some business for the Unlimited War Fortress. Even so, after every piece of work was done, they still had to visit this Elder Pan again to offer gifts, thanking him for "introducing" the business. Every time Lin Amu saw the young warriors of the guild unable to secure enough Dou Shi for their cultivation and advancement, seeing them take on dangerous missions armed with relatively crude weapons, his heart ached to the point of sleepless nights. For years, Lin Amu had held fast to the bottom line of a warrior. For the sake of living, for the sake of the guild, for the future of those young warriors, he could endure! He could tolerate anything! But he would never betray the whereabouts of any warrior, even if Qian Jin offered no favor or benefit. He absolutely would not betray the whereabouts of this young warrior! Moreover, when Qian Bo left, he had repeatedly instructed that unless it was the Pan Family Head or someone sent directly by the Head with an extremely courteous attitude, his whereabouts must not be disclosed. Otherwise, absolutely not. 【Warrior’s Code】: What you promise, you must deliver! Even if it costs your life! A single word of promise is worth more than ten thousand pieces of gold!

Pan Hongqing stared at Lin Amu with a volatile, sinister expression: "You old dog dare to speak to me like this? Do you want to die?" "Elder Pan!" Pan Mengyun let out a soft cry, moving swiftly to block Lin Amu. The other three young warriors who had just awakened their Bloodline Power also immediately stood beside Pan Mengyun, glaring at Pan Hongqing with nearly hostile gazes. The young people Pan Mengyun had gathered were all carefully selected, people she usually had a good relationship with. This time, having activated the Bloodline Power of the other three, they had subtly formed their own small faction, with Pan Mengyun leading them in all matters. "Elder Pan, murder…" Pan Mengyun gently shook her head, her face shadowed, "…is against the law!" Attacking a warrior without cause is also against the law!" "You… you…" Pan Hongqing stared at Pan Mengyun in shock. Were these youths, who usually didn't dare to breathe heavily in his presence, planning a rebellion today? Right! They had also awakened their Bloodline Power… "With just you lot? You think you can stop me?" Pan Hongqing laughed, the Bloodline Power surging rapidly within him, the Dou Qi of the Nine-Battle Demon Subduing technique erupting powerfully from his body: "With your strength, you cannot stop me! Do not obstruct me from handling family matters, or I will charge you with treason against the family…" "Elder Pan Hongqing, what are you planning to do to these four, the future of the Ran Zhou Bloodline Awakened, the future of the family?" A deep yet authoritative voice boomed, like thunder, from the entrance of the hall. It slowly rolled, filling the entire room.

Pan Hongqing’s body trembled violently. The Bloodline Battle Body formed by his Dan Zhou instantly vanished without a trace, his ruddy complexion turning pale. Beads of sweat the size of beans covered his forehead, and his neck seemed rigid as steel. He slowly turned his head towards the hall entrance, crying out in dismay: "Elder Hongxuan…" Elder Hongxuan? Pan Mengyun looked up towards the doorway. Blinding light filled the entire entrance, and a huge, dark figure blocked more than half the white glare. His skin, ruddy in tone, made him look no older than forty, making it hard to imagine this was a man over sixty. His eyes, which drooped slightly at the corners, now shone with the sharp light of a soaring eagle… In that instant, Pan Mengyun formed her first impression of this Inner Hall Elder whom she had only heard of in legends: Eagle eyes, bear body, tiger spirit! Compared to him, Pan Hongqing was merely a little dog striving to imitate a tiger, ending up as nothing more than a fierce barker.

The three young Bloodline Warriors scrutinized the legendary First Elder of the Inner Hall! Rumor had it that besides a few Grand Elders, this Elder ranked just below the Family Head, Pan Hongji! He was known as the sworn brother and arm of Pan Hongji!

Pan Hongxuan strode in with the bearing of a dragon pacing like a tiger. Pan Hongqing hastily bowed and retreated to the side, not daring to let out a single breath, sweat dripping steadily from his brow onto the floor. If driving away Qian Jin was a disciplinary action for mishandling matters, then threatening to kill four young warriors in Dan Zhou was a grave offense against family rules! Pan Hongxuan did not look at Pan Hongqing, nor did he give much notice to the four young warriors. Finally, he stopped before the bar, bowed ninety degrees, straightened up, and then lightly struck his chest over his heart with a clenched fist, his expression grave: "Vice President Lin, Pan Hongxuan apologizes to you for Elder Pan Hongqing's rudeness." Pan Mengyun watched as Pan Hongxuan bowed and stood up, noticing that the Elder did not appear diminished by bowing to a warrior whose strength was infinitely lower than his, someone he could crush easily with a finger. On the contrary! The moment the bow was completed, Pan Mengyun felt the Elder's aura swell like the boundless ancient desert—this was true grandeur!

Lin Amu nodded slightly in response: "Greetings, Elder Hongxuan." "Vice President Lin," Pan Hongxuan drew out a golden slip of paper from his robes, presenting it with both hands, and said softly: "I am here representing the Family Head. I extend an invitation, hoping you can find the time to visit the Pan Family to meet with the Family Head." A golden paper slip? Pan Hongqing felt his vision blacken, the world spinning violently again. This… the Family Head actually issued a golden paper slip! The Pan Family slips were divided into three tiers: Bronze, Silver, and Gold! Only the Imperial Clan, the Three Ultimate Families, and the Ten Great Bloodline Warrior Families were ever issued a golden slip; it was the highest level of invitation. The golden slip also signified the extreme importance the Family Head placed on the matter and the person concerned. This matter had clearly received the highest level of attention from the Head!

Lin Amu accepted the slip with slightly trembling hands. This was the highest level of invitation from the Pan Family! Qian Jin! What exactly had this young man done? To attract the attention of the Pan Family Head, Pan Hongji, to the extent that he issued the highest-grade invitation to solicit a Vice President of a nearly bankrupt Warrior Guild! "I wonder, Vice President Lin, if you have time now?" Pan Hongxuan asked with a polite, affable smile, gently raising his hand in a gesture inviting him toward a carriage.

Lin Amu smiled and nodded, inwardly astonished. What was Qian Jin’s true background? All of the Pan Family’s reactions seemed to be within his calculations. It was as if the entire Pan Family, one of the Ten Great Bloodline Warrior Families, possessing the Nine-Headed Serpent Bloodline, was being led around by Qian Jin on an invisible string! A young warrior with no fame at all could actually make the entire Pan Family move to his rhythm. If this young man continues to develop, what kind of future awaits him? The Torrent War Fortress is truly fortunate to have secured such an excellent young warrior, and to immediately promote him to Deacon! It inspires envy! The Pan Family! One of the Ten Great Bloodline Warrior Families, the overlords of Infinite City! Those who could enter the Pan Family’s Outer Hall were already individuals with considerable status, influence, or strength. The Inner Hall? Besides the warriors within the family who had awakened the Nine-Headed Serpent Bloodline, anyone allowed entry was a figure of immense power, world-renowned great figures and powerhouses. The Main Hall of the Pan Family was the place where they received their most honored guests. Even many warriors with the Nine-Headed Serpent Bloodline never entered that main hall in their entire lives.

Lin Amu sat in the golden rattan chair in the Main Hall, glancing at the surroundings, still feeling a sense of unreality. He was actually sitting in the highest-grade guest chair of the Pan Family, sipping tea worth a hundred gold coins an ounce. A dream? Lin Amu smiled. This was a dream he wouldn't have dared to dream before; he never expected to actually sit here.

Pan Hongqing knelt outside the Main Hall door, head lowered, and Da Mao dared not breathe; only large beads of sweat continuously dripped from his forehead onto the floor. Pan Mengyun also wondered if she was dreaming. Nine-Headed Serpent Bloodline warriors who had just awakened their Bloodline Power were entitled to one audience with the Family Head for encouragement, but only in the Side Hall. No one had ever received an audience with the Head in the Main Hall. Qian Jin! Qian Jin! Pan Mengyun slowly clenched her fists. The massive change in her life was entirely thanks to that mysterious young warrior, Qian Jin!

Outside the Main Hall, not far away, the courtyard gate slowly opened. Lin Amu saw the legendary Family Head, Pan Hongji. There were many who had never met Pan Hongji, but upon seeing him in this Nine-Headed Serpent Bloodline Family, even those who hadn't would recognize him instantly as the legendary Pan Family Head, Pan Hongji. Medium height, broad shoulders, and narrow, slightly triangular perfect physique. His arms swung with power, and his face carried a rugged masculinity that could easily lead people to mistake him for a simple, forthright man, causing them to overlook his equally extraordinary wisdom and judgment. If Pan Hongxuan gave the impression of a fierce tiger dominating the mountains, then Pan Hongji gave the feeling of a dragon soaring into the nine heavens, looking down upon all creation!

Lin Amu quickly rose. Pan Hongji smiled faintly, dispensing with false pleasantries, and gently raised his hand: "Sit." Pan Hongji sat down, resting his hands on the arms of the golden rattan chair. He swept his gaze over everyone present, his focus returning to Lin Amu: "The reason I invited the Vice President here is to know the whereabouts of that young warrior named Qian Jin. I trust the Vice President can tell me now." Direct, decisive, without the slightest pretense, Lin Amu actually found this interaction comfortable. He deeply felt that this Family Head was indeed the rare brilliant leader of the Nine-Headed Serpent Bloodline Family, his style cutting straight to the deepest core of people's hearts. "Family Head," Lin Amu stood up and bowed slightly: "Qian Jin only instructed me to ask Pan Mengyun." Pan Mengyun? Pan Hongji’s gaze shifted to the four young warriors who had just awakened their Bloodline Power: "Which one of you four is Pan Mengyun?" "Family Head." Pan Mengyun stepped forward, placing her hand over her heart, feeling the weight of Pan Hongji’s scrutinizing gaze—a feeling as if her clothes had been stripped away and she was seen completely through. (To be continued—support the author. Support legitimate reading!)