I have looked into it; your opponent, Qian Wuqing, has gone missing ever since you defeated him." Pan Hongji walked slowly toward the edge of the Great Desolate Sand Sea: "According to intelligence analysis, he must have entered the Great Desolate Sand Sea. His father, Qian Chenyu, entered with him." Qian Chenyu? Qian Jin shook his head, indicating he hadn't heard of him. Among the Bloodline Warriors of his father's generation with 'Chen' in their name, it should be Qian Chenfeng, who reached the Heaven's Extreme Awakening at only forty years old!

"Never heard of him?" Pan Hongji tapped his temples: "I have his file here. The current generation of Qian family Bloodline Warriors has the middle character set as [Zhan]; the second generation is [Chen]; and the third is [Wu]. Among those with the 'Chen' character, the most outstanding are Qian Chenfeng, Qian Chensun, and Qian Chenling, known as the Three Heroes of the Chen Generation. Qian Chenyu is Qian Chenfeng's biological younger brother—he relied on the Third Level Awakening to cultivate arduously to the Nine Battles of Demon Slaying."

Qian Jin nodded gently. Under normal circumstances, without a Fourth Level Awakening, his highest achievement in this lifetime would only ever be the Nine Battles of Demon Slaying.

"Although I couldn't break through all these years, I haven't been idle either." Pan Hongji suddenly raised his eyes to look at Qian Jin: "Do you know what a Battle Seal is?"

"I know." Qian Jin stepped forward: "The arrangement sequence of Battle Techniques, perfectly imprinted in the Battle Heart—that is a Battle Seal."

"Precisely! According to intelligence, Qian Chenyu, that doting father, has actually cultivated thirty-two Battle Seals." Pan Hongji shook his head lightly. "I just don't know if he cultivated all those Battle Techniques to the peak level before condensing the Seals? Regardless, being able to condense over thirty Seals means he would have been a powerhouse if he managed to break through and form a Battle Soul. What a pity... what a pity. That boy only has a Third Level Awakening; there’s no hope for him in this life."

"The Great Desolate Sand Sea?" Qian Jin tilted his head slightly, looking up at the sky again: "Why does Qian Zhanxuan have such boundless confidence?"

"Qian Zhanxuan?" Pan Hongji wore a faint smile: "Qian Jin, I'll tell you the truth. This duel you see as incredibly important is completely insignificant in Qian Zhanxuan's eyes. He might even have forgotten about this duel and need his assistant to remind him of the matter."

Qian Jin stared silently at the ground. This was the gap in strength, power, and realm—and also the inherent arrogance of the Bloodline Families. Just how strong is Qian Wuqing now? Even if the Qian family only brought out a tiny fraction of their countless years of accumulation... it wouldn't be something a wild boy like Qian Jin could compare to!

In the Great Desolate Sand Sea, a middle-aged man nearly two meters tall, with a burly physique and a full beard, heartily slapped Qian Wuqing on the shoulder: "Son, you truly are my son! In such a short time, you’ve gained such immense power! Good, very good! This time, we will definitely slay that wild brat Qian Jin!"

"Yes, Father." Qian Wuqing's cheek twitched. A long, tender scar stretched from his cheek to the corner of his mouth; his once handsome face now looked terrifying. The arrogance in his eyes from before now flickered with wolfish ferocity: "I won't just defeat him—I will surely kill him! Absolutely!" Qian Chenyu watched his son, whose aggressive killing intent had washed away the frivolous arrogance and luxury that once clung to him, nodding repeatedly in satisfaction. That defeat now seemed like a good thing for his son. This scar, obtained while fighting demonic beasts for victory and perhaps power, would be his lifetime's treasure—it was the closest distance to death.

"Let's go, Father!" Qian Wuqing turned back toward the Qian Family dwelling beyond the sand sea: "It's time to return. Not only will I kill Qian Jin, but in the future, I will defeat Qian Wushuang, and I will achieve Ultimate Awakening! I am the strongest of the Qian family's current generation! Because..."

Qian Wuqing’s wolf-like eyes blazed with innate pride: "I have seen true life and death."

Qian Wuqing subconsciously raised a hand to touch the scar on his face. If the demonic beast’s claw had been even slightly faster, he would have been the one to die.

"Excellent! This is my son, Qian Chenyu's son!" Qian Chenyu looked with satisfaction at Qian Wuqing’s retreating back. His son would certainly have a more brilliant future! Absolutely!

The Qian City, without defensive walls, still stood firm in Qian Province. It was always bustling with activity; merchants from all directions continuously transported materials here and shipped the local specialties of Qian City to other cities—as if nothing had changed from yesterday, the day before, or even the year before. Only those shops situated relatively close to the Qian Family noticed that today’s Qian City was slightly different from the usual. At least the Qian Family within Qian City seemed a little different from before. In front of the usually quiet Qian Family gate, several young members of the Qian Family were using white lime powder to draw a circle fifty meters in diameter, the shape strongly resembling a dueling stage.

Two months ago, Qian Wuqing, whose head had been held and crushed in this very spot, reappeared before the Qian Family gates after a two-month absence. The terrifying scar on his face was exceptionally noticeable.

Is this... a challenge to a duel?

Nearby residents, who had inquired about the incident from two months prior, suddenly recalled what Qian Zhanxuan, the head of the Qian Family, had said at that time.

"Two months, two months from now! You come here, and I will let you know the power of the Qian Family Bloodline Warriors! At that time, don't say I bullied you... it won't require Qian Wushuang to step in; Qian Wuqing and the others will fight you."

So, had the two months passed? Nearby residents returned to the second floors of their homes, opening windows to gaze out, searching for the young man commanded to answer the challenge.

Da da... da da... da da... A series of crisp sounds of horseshoes striking the ground echoed! Several warhorses appeared on the street! Sharp-eyed residents immediately recognized Qian Jin's appearance. It was this young man who had brought people to cause trouble in front of the Qian Family two months ago. They thought he was tough enough, daring to confront the Qian Family, but they assumed he wouldn't even show up.

Several residents sighed and shook their heads looking at Qian Jin's figure—was the Qian Family easy to offend? This was one of the three pillar families of the Zhence Dynasty, having produced countless powerhouses over the years...

The sound made by the horses' hooves striking the ground sounded no different to ordinary people than the sound made by common horses, but it instantly registered differently in the ears of Qian Chenyu, who had spent his life in the military. He immediately looked up toward the end of the long street.

Six magnificent warhorses walked slowly and steadily down the street. Qian Chenyu's broad face and thick eyebrows suddenly shot upward. He blinked hard, wondering if his eyes were deceiving him—among these six people was an extremely familiar figure!

Pan Hongji, the head of the Pan Family! Qian Chenyu suspected he was seeing things. The high-and-mighty head of the Pan Family, Pan Hongji, was chatting amiably with the young warrior beside him! And this young warrior... was precisely Qian Jin, whom his son Qian Wuqing had drawn a portrait of!

"How is that possible?" Qian Chenyu’s two ink-like eyebrows, which naturally connected when he frowned, now looked like a tangled mess of black hair crammed together: "That little brat Qian Jin is actually with Pan Hongji? And they’re talking and laughing?"

"Pan Hongji?"

A middle-aged man dressed in a plain blue robe stepped out from the Pan Family main door. His slightly thin frame did not suggest one should look down on him, and his high-bridged nose was especially prominent on his slender face.

Qian Chenyu turned back and looked up at the middle-aged man standing on the threshold, who had not yet descended the steps, and called out: "Brother... it really is Pan Hongji, the head of the Nine-Headed Serpent Clan."

"The Serpent Emperor?" Qian Chenfeng, standing on the steps with his hands behind his back, gazed toward the end of the long street. His aloof expression shifted slightly, and he exclaimed in a low voice: "It's... it really is the Serpent Emperor? Why is he here?"

Qian Chenfeng pointed at a member of the Qian Family standing beside him: "You—go inform the elders of the Outer Court, have him report to the Family Head that the Serpent Emperor of the Nine-Headed Serpent Family has arrived."

"I say, Serpent Emperor, you didn't even bring any attendants, nor did you notify the Qian Family beforehand—that seems a bit low on fanfare, doesn't it?"

Duanfeng Bu'er, riding his horse, swayed with its movements, jokingly addressing Pan Hongji casually: "What fanfare is needed? Only those lacking confidence need fanfare. I was simply bored and came out for a stroll. Whether Qian Zhanxuan comes out to greet me or not doesn't matter. I am just passing by and thought of staying at the Qian Family's place for a few days; I am not here to pay respects to Qian Zhanxuan. Nine-Headed Serpent Bloodline Warriors are inferior to no one. Putting on a show? That only invites scorn." Pan Hongji sat leisurely on his horse, moving forward contentedly. He was growing increasingly fond of Duanfeng Bu'er over these past few days. Compared to the other juniors in his family, this young man treated him with much more ease and even dared to joke a little.

The current generation of young people in the Pan Family indeed had a few promising individuals. Putting aside Duanfeng Bu'er, there were two other youngsters who manifested the Nine Shadows. Among them, the Phantom Death God, Pan Mengshen, was particularly praised for his combat prowess and was considered a rare genius in the history of the Pan Family.

Pan Mengshen? Pan Hongji shook his head lightly. This young man was indeed a rare genius, usually reserved and focused solely on improving his strength, determined to defeat the heirs of the contemporary Three Great Bloodline Warrior Families. He gave off an air of superiority wherever he went. But, alas... Pan Hongji sighed again. Pan Mengshen possessed an arrogance vast enough to swallow the heavens, yet when facing Pan Hongji himself, he couldn't let go of his true self. In this regard, he truly didn't compare to Duanfeng Bu'er.

"Is that so? Aren't you just making excuses for yourself?" Duanfeng Bu'er slowly pulled the reins: "Afraid that if you notified them beforehand, they’d send some minor figure to greet you—losing face?"

"He dares!" Pan Hongji’s tone suddenly rose: "If he truly did that... I would tear down the Qian Family!"

The people lining the street watched Pan Hongji in astonishment. Did this man not want to live? Shouting loudly in Qian City that he would tear down the Qian Family! Who did he think he was? Was he the current Great Demon King? Or His Majesty the Emperor of the Zhence Dynasty? Even those two probably wouldn't have the courage to actually come to Qian City and tear down the Qian Family's residence, right?

pa; Do you have a monthly ticket? Do you have one? Do you have one! This is the seventh update! Do you have a monthly ticket!!!