Pan Hongji watched Pan Mengyun for several seconds before slowly nodding, the thick, long eyebrows above his eyes twitching slightly. A hint of a smile played at the corners of his lips. "This Qian Jin has some interesting qualities. He even recommends talent in this manner."

Pan Mengyun froze where she stood. Recommend him? When did he recommend him?

"I have heard about your situation," Pan Hongji said, lightly tapping the armrest of his rattan chair. "When you met Qian Jin, you must have felt something special about him. You weren't arrogant toward him, were you?"

Pan Mengyun nodded lightly, feeling deeply suspicious. Was the Family Head truly present at that time? But even if he was nearby, how could he know her inner thoughts?

"You have excellent judgment," Pan Gui Ji smiled faintly. "Qian Jin. He is a descendant of the Qian Family's Elven King bloodline. Three years ago, his Elven King bloodline awakening failed. He left the family without permission and vanished for three years. Not long ago, he suddenly appeared in Qian City, acting out right before the Qian Family's gate, defeating three Qian Family disciples who had awakened the Elven King bloodline, one after another. Among them was Qian Wuqing, who had activated his Elven King bloodline battle form—even with the strength of the Seven Subduing Demon Battles, he was still no match for Qian Jin, who had not activated his bloodline power."

"What?"

Lin Ahmu, Pan Mengyun, Pan Hongqing, and the other three young warriors gasped simultaneously.

Qian Wuqing, who transformed into his battle form using the Elven King bloodline and possessed the power of the Seven Subduing Demon Battles, was defeated by Qian Jin? Pan Hongqing suspected his ears were deceiving him. An Elven King bloodline warrior! Although before activating the ultimate bloodline power, Elven King bloodline warriors weren't necessarily stronger than Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline warriors, that bloodline was nearly deified as invincible within the Zhence Dynasty!

Defeated by an ordinary warrior of the same age? Pan Dangqing shook his head repeatedly. Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Yet, what the Family Head said could never be false.

"On the same day, Qian Jin entered the Ancient Desolate Sand Sea and disappeared," Pan Hongji said, slowly scanning the assembled group. "Today, he has surprisingly appeared in my Infinite City."

Pan Hongqing felt almost despairing. He could never have imagined that an ordinary warrior would possess such a dazzling resume, especially since he originated from the Qian Family and had defeated a Qian Family Elven King bloodline warrior. This was precisely the kind of humiliation the Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline warriors were eager to see inflicted upon the Elven King bloodline family.

"The Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline warrior who never joins the family, Duan Fengbuer," Pan Hongji looked at Pan Hongqing as if he were already dead. "Ever since meeting Qian Jin, he has been following this person named Qian Jin, and the two have become friends."

Pan Hongqing was utterly devastated! Duan Fengbuer! Pan Hongqing only knew that Duan Fengbuer had naturally awakened his Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline power, but no one knew what auspicious signs had accompanied the awakening of Duan Fengbuer's bloodline power!

Nine Shadows Appear Together! Pan Hongqing looked at Pan Hongxuan with eyes full of desperate pleading. Only this Second Brother could save him now!

"Look at me? You still have the face to look at me?" Pan Hongxuan's gaze was pure ice. "Big Brother is sitting right here; you should understand! Others may not know Duan Fengbuer, but you should! When the bloodline power awakens with the phenomenon of the Nine Shadows Appearing Together, those who experience it historically achieve the Heavenly Extreme Awakening!"

Pan Hongqing's face turned ashen. That was right! Big Brother Yan Hongji had also displayed the phantom image of a nine-headed serpent on his back when his bloodline power first awakened at Level One. All nine serpent heads had burst forth!

A warrior who awakened the Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline power didn't hold extraordinary value. A warrior whose awakening manifested as a completely shadow-formed nine-headed serpent phantom, however, carried a completely different value! That was a warrior with the potential for a Heavenly Extreme Awakening.

It was precisely because Duan Fengbuer had briefly exhibited the Nine Shadows Appearing Together phenomenon that the family sent personnel to the Duan Family, requesting Duan Fengbuer's return, but he had refused.

Warriors who displayed the Nine Shadows Appearing Together phenomenon, according to family history records, shared a common characteristic!

Arrogance! Arrogance was deeply embedded in their bones and souls! Few people were considered friends by them; some never even had a single friend their entire lives.

Duan Fengbuer was offered by Fengyu, and the Pan Family had seriously researched him. A young man capable of refusing the Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline family—his inherent arrogance might make him the proudest person in the history of the Nine-Headed Serpent family. Such a person might never have friends in his life.

But, precisely now, Duan Fengbuer had a friend!

Pan Hongqing collapsed onto the ground, completely drained. The Pan Family had never truly abandoned Duan Fengbuer; they merely wished for him to encounter setbacks and gain experience outside, intending to negotiate with him later, offer sufficient benefits, and then guide him back into the family.

Under this strategy, those around Duan Fengbuer would certainly be the targets of a wooing strategy.

Pan Hongqing was utterly desperate. Never mind whether Qian Jin had the ability to reawaken a failed Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline; even if he were just a street vendor, as long as he was friends with Duan Fengbuer, the Pan Family would show him favor and seek to recruit him...

Pan Hongqing finally understood that his habitually condescending manner had, unintentionally, offended an absolute anomaly—someone who should never have been offended!

"Yunmeng," Pan Hongji redirected his attention back to An Yunmeng. "Do you now understand how important this Qian Jin is to our Pan Family?"

Pan Mengyun could only nod repeatedly, her mind reeling. She had assumed Qian Jin had merely attracted the Family Head's attention with his special bloodline awakening ability, never realizing such a deep implication lay beneath the surface.

"Lord Family Head," Pan Mengyun snapped back to attention and quickly said, "When Qian Jin left, he mentioned that Pan Mengzhi, who guards the city gate, knows where he is staying."

"Pan Mengzhi?" Pan Hongji's rugged face broke into another playful smile. "This young fellow is quite interesting. Is he trying to prove to me, through this method of recommending personnel, that he possesses unique insight? Very well! Mengyun, go find Pan Mengzhi."

Lin Ahmu secretly pinched himself watching the unfolding scene. These things were real! He had assumed Qian Jin only had some hidden backing; he never expected him to be connected to such a little monster!

Pan Mengzhi stood panting in the great hall, hardly daring to believe he was allowed to stand in this hall, facing the Family Head seated on the high platform. "Lord Family Head, there are a few individuals. They instructed me to tell you that if anyone from the Pan Family sought them, they are resting at the best inn in Infinite City."

"Interesting, truly interesting," Pan Hongji chuckled, his hand cupping his chin as he looked at Pan Mengzhi. "This young man knew exactly what to do the moment he entered the city to secure an audience with me. Excellent! Hongxuan, you take Mengyun and the other four and go invite Qian Jin over."

The Family's First Elder! A golden paper invitation! Pan Hongqing knew he was finished! Pan Hongji would not handle his punishment to curry favor with Qian Jin—the Pan Family Head needed to flatter no one!

But the Pan Family Head would decisively deal with members who severely damaged the family's interests.

"Hongqing," Pan Hongji lifted his eyelids to look at the limp Pan Hongqing on the ground. "Clean yourself up. Tomorrow, you will report to the Human-Demon Battlefield and join the First Suicide Squad of the Nine-Headed Serpent Legion. If you survive within ten years, you can return to serve as an Outer Hall Elder."

The First Suicide Squad of the Nine-Headed Serpent Legion? Ten years? Pan Hongqing's eyes lost all vitality and spirit. That was the unit within the Nine-Headed Serpent Legion with the highest mortality rate. Almost no one survived even a single year in there. Ten years? That was no different than a death sentence.

"Brother..."

"I am your older brother," Pan Hongji waved his hand dismissively, a faint trace of tenderness flashing in his eyes. "I am also the Pan Family Head, and I am a warrior. Go now."

The vitality that had drained from Pan Hongqing's eyes gradually returned. He pressed both hands to the ground and forcefully knocked his forehead against it three times, each impact sounding like a hammer striking stone.

Without his battle aura protecting him, without his Nine-Headed Serpent battle form! After three heavy knocks, Pan Hongqing's forehead was smeared with blurring blood.

After completing the three kowtows, Pan Hongqing's face regained all its vibrancy, his expression holding the familiar arrogance, and his posture exuding a hardness unlike before. He placed one hand over his chest. "Brother! On Father's death anniversary, remember to add a fresh mound of earth to Father's grave for me! And kowtow twice for me!"

Pan Hongji slightly lowered his head; no one could discern his expression, only his deep voice echoing in the room: "I will."

"Brother, thank you." Pan Hongqing radiated a vitality and loftiness never before seen. He turned and strode toward the courtyard gate. As a warrior, to die bravely on the battlefield was the greatest honor.

Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline warriors have no cowards! No cowards who fear death! Pan Hongqing roared toward the sky, "I! Pan Hongqing, will not bring shame to the Nine-Headed Serpent Family!"

Lin Ahmu stared blankly at Pan Hongqing's receding back. This was the true reason for the might of the Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline warriors—every warrior had heroism flowing in their blood! Perhaps time could bury this heroism, could corrupt it! But when the time came, this heroism would inevitably reawaken.

"This is...?" Qian Jin turned his head and glanced at Pan Hongqing brushing past him, frowning slightly, his eyes full of confusion.

Pan Mengyun whispered in Qian Jin's ear, explaining, "That is Outer Hall Elder Pan Hongqing."

Pan Hongqing? Qian Jin's frown deepened. How could such an outstanding individual make the foolish mistake of refusing to see him initially? Was he truly the utterly foolish Outer Hall Elder of his memory?

"He..." Pan Hongxuan shook his head gently, his expression filled with regret. "He was simply blinded by conceit and lost his way. Now, he has found his direction again."

Qian Jin nodded slightly. A person could possess backbone, could possess pride, but not arrogance.

A person should possess their own pride! This Outer Hall Elder had finally understood the difference between pride and arrogance—but, alas, he understood it a bit too late.

Stepping into the grand hall, Qian Jin felt the hairs on his body suddenly stand erect. His eyes fixed on the eyes that seemed capable of seeing through everything. No matter how he concealed himself, he could not hide his strength. This feeling was something he hadn't experienced even when facing the Qian Family Head, Qian Zhanxuan. (To be continued. If there are more chapters, please support the author and legitimate reading!)