Pan Hongji let out a shout and then laughed, "It's certainly comfortable being around these young people." Unknowingly, their energy had stirred up the feelings of his own youth.

"The time of youth..." Pan Hongji sighed softly, looking up at the sky, "That truly was the most beautiful era, where you could do whatever you wanted! Now that I'm old," his courage has dwindled."

"Dwindled courage? Hah... the Serpent Emperor stormed into my Qian City shouting that he would tear down my Qian family's house—and that's considered having little courage? Oh, that’s right! I recall when the Serpent Emperor was young," he even beat up His Majesty, the current Emperor, back then—when His Majesty was still the Crown Prince."

The magnificent voice of Qian Zhanxuan, filled with imposing grandeur, echoed across the entire street from the imposing Qian family mansion.

The main gate of the Qian residence slowly swung open. Qian Zhanxuan, clad in an elaborately embroidered uniform of an Elven King warrior, stepped out across the threshold with an air of proud confidence, his hands clasped behind his back.

Qian Jin stared in astonishment at the Serpent Emperor beside him. He had never imagined that such a formidable figure was right by his side—someone who had actually struck the current Emperor of the Zhence Dynasty!

Hitting the Emperor! Even when the Emperor was still the Crown Prince, how many people in this age could claim such a feat?

"When one is young," Pan Hongji replied to Qian Jin’s surprise, a wave of secret satisfaction washing over him, "one's spirit is high." These past few days, he had constantly been startled by this youngster. Today, he had finally gotten his revenge! It was finally his turn to surprise someone.

"Uncle, you are truly amazing," Duan Fengbu’er said, giving a thumbs-up. "The current Emperor took a punch from you."

"It was a kick," Pan Hongji corrected with a beaming smile towards Duan Fengbu’er, "a kick. Now," he continued, "are you interested in returning to the Pan family? I can create an opportunity for you to kick the current Crown Prince... wait, there is no Crown Prince yet! Tell me, which Prince do you wish to kick? I will arrange it."

"Forget it." Duan Fengbu’er instantly deflated like a frost-bitten eggplant, lazily looking at Pan Hongji. "If I were interested, I would find a way to do the kicking myself. Joining the Pan family is really quite dull; let’s not bring it up again."

Pan Hongji smiled, saying nothing. After spending time together, he had come to understand Duan Fengbu’er's personality well. This young man possessed an unyielding backbone of pride; coercion and threats were useless. The only thing that could move him was genuine emotion. He heard that it was only because Qian Jin had risked death that day, disregarding the search for better opportunities to fight desperately for him, that he had truly won him over.

Slowly, no rush. Pan Hongji smiled faintly. He rather liked this young man and decided he would take the time to cultivate a connection—a genuine one.

"My small matters are hardly worth mentioning," Pan Hongji raised his voice cheerfully, increasing its volume. "Brother Zhanxuan is far more impressive! The contemporary Great Demon King, hailed as the strongest expert by all warriors today, wasn't he scrambling all over the battlefield, cut down by you in his youth? I heard he even shaved his glorious beard and changed his armor just to escape with his life."

Lucifer Liushui’s smiling expression suddenly darkened. This was a deeply taboo subject in the Lucifer Dynasty. Back then, the Great Demon King had not yet unlocked his second Bloodline power and had awakened slightly later. On the battlefield, he was indeed nearly killed by Qian Zhanxuan—a matter that, as a member of the Lucifer royal lineage, he regarded as a profound disgrace.

Although the Great Demon King's strength later surged, and he later sought another one-on-one duel with Qian Zhanxuan, at that time, both of their statuses were that of supreme army commanders. Unless both nations were willing to risk everything for a massive clash, such an opportunity would never arise.

Lucifer Liushui straightened his posture forcefully, glaring at Qian Zhanxuan with intense hostility. One day! One day I will take this man's head!

"The Great Demon King? He is the strongest expert in the world now, you say. I am quite impressed."

Qian Zhanxuan’s powerful tone, however, carried not an ounce of admiration for the current foremost expert, the Great Demon King. Every word dripped with undisguised disdain.

Qian Chenfeng frowned, observing the two lineage family heads—whose mere sneezes could give the Zhence Dynasty a cold—and wondered why they were associating with Qian Jin and the others. Given his status, it was perhaps beneath him to ask, but among those present, he was the only one with sufficient standing to question them besides the patriarchs.

"Serpent Emperor, you have quite the spirit, associating with a few juniors," Qian Chenfeng stood motionless on the steps, showing no inclination to descend to greet the approaching Pan Hongji. We are both Heavenly Extreme Awakened. You merely awakened two years before me. On what grounds should I look up to you? A proud smile touched the corner of Qian Chenfeng’s lips.

Pan Hongji offered a faint smile. "Heavenly Extreme Awakened? There are degrees of strength even within the Heavenly Extreme Awakened! I have unlocked one of the locks on the chain leading to Ultimate Awakening. And you?" He paused. "But since you have asked, it saves me the trouble of volunteering an explanation. As if I fear your Qian family and need to explain my actions to you."

"We met on the road," Pan Hongji chuckled amiably. "Some very interesting little fellows. I heard they were coming to the Qian residence anyway, and it seems they have a challenge match scheduled with Brother Zhanxuan. Since I was also free and wanted to wander a bit, I decided to stop by Brother Zhanxuan's place for a few good meals."

Qian Zhanxuan smiled faintly. "What would you like to eat? Coincidentally, I haven't had lunch either. If the Serpent Emperor is not in a rush, perhaps we should first observe the current combat proficiency level of the younger generation first? How about that?"

"A duel? Wonderful then." Pan Hongji dismounted, hopping lightly to the side, carefully avoiding stepping on Qian Cheng, who had rushed forward to hold his horse—Qian Jin’s father, whose profession Pan Hongji, as the Pan family head, knew well. In this situation, earning favor with Qian Jin was far more valuable than gifting him a mountain of gold.

Qian Jin gave Pan Hongji a slight nod of thanks, then knelt before Qian Cheng. With both hands, he helped up his father, whom he hadn't seen in two months. In just two months, his father’s physical health had clearly deteriorated further, though his spirit seemed much better than the last time they met.

"You're back?" Qian Cheng extended a hand rougher than old tree bark and gently stroked Qian Jin’s cheek. "You’ve gotten stronger."

"Uncle, do you still remember me?" Duan Fengbu’er, seeing this from a distance, had also dismounted early like Qian Jin and knelt before Qian Cheng. He took a bottle of wine from his embrace. "Later, when you’re done with work, we can have a couple of drinks?"

"My father doesn't drink..."

"That's fine, young man." Qian Cheng waved his hand, interrupting Qian Jin’s words, his kind eyes looking at Duan Fengbu’er. "You are Xiao Jin’s friend. I remember."

Lucifer Liushui stared in astonishment at Qian Jin kneeling. His mind was a whirlwind. This man, only about forty years old, looked like he was over sixty—this was Qian Jin’s father? How was this possible?

"And this one is...?" Qian Cheng looked up in shock, his previously kind and happy eyes now filled with confusion as he looked at Lucifer Liushui.

"I..." Lucifer Liushui suddenly dropped directly to her knees before Qian Cheng, bowing her head gently and speaking in a soft voice, "Your daughter-in-law, Yuan Xunyu, pays respects to Father."

What? Qian Jin stared blankly at Lucifer Liushui. What was this demonic woman planning? She truly was a demoness, never missing an opportunity to showcase her true nature wherever she went!

Qian Cheng stared dumbfounded at Lucifer Liushui, his old face contorting in greater astonishment. "You... you... you just said... you are our Xiao Jin's wife?"

"Mmm..." Lucifer Liushui lowered her head even further, almost burying her face in her own full, voluptuous, and proud bust. "I haven't officially joined the family yet. Although I am just a common country woman, I know that I must seek the consent of Father before... before I can marry into the Qian family..."

Qian Jin felt like he was going insane, unsure how to explain this contradictory situation. He couldn't possibly say that this woman named Yuan Xunyu was actually the Demon Princess, whose real name was Lucifer Liushui! If that truth came out, not only would Lucifer Liushui be unable to escape, but he and his entire group might very well be executed by Qian Zhanxuan under that pretext.

This demoness! Qian Jin glared fiercely at Lucifer Liushui. This demoness truly knows how to pick the perfect moment to say whatever she wants! She counted on the fact that I wouldn't dare speak up, right?

This demoness! Qian Jin glared fiercely at Lucifer Liushui. This demoness truly knows how to pick the perfect moment to say whatever she wants! She counted on the fact that I wouldn't dare speak up, right?

"Heh heh heh," Qian Cheng said happily, nodding repeatedly. "Is that so? Good, very good. What a lovely girl! Oh, right, did our Xiao Jin tell you? He already has one main wife. If you marry in, you can only be the second wife."

"He told me..." Lucifer Liushui's voice was sweet as if smeared with honey. "Big Sister is called Hai Qing’er. Little Yu knows. I only love A'Jin. No matter how many women he has, as long as he loves me, that's enough for me."

Qian Jin watched Lucifer Liushui's flirtatious smile and grumbled inwardly: Ghosts believe that! Men don't agree to share their women, so why would women agree to share their man?

"If it weren't for Rolin and Uncle Fabredis..." Duan Fengbu’er clicked his tongue repeatedly, forcefully channeling his Dou Qi along with his words to reach Lucifer Liushui: "What cliché dialogue! Have you been listening to too many third-rate bard tales?"

Lucifer Liushui shot Duan Fengbu’er a sidelong glance, then obediently supported Qian Cheng with both hands as they walked to the side. Qian Jin followed behind, gently rubbing his forehead, wanting desperately to ask what was going through this demoness's mind at that moment.

The Qian family members stared at the unfolding scene in utter bewilderment. Such a beautiful girl—even with one eye missing, she was breathtakingly gorgeous—was going to marry Qian Jin? Were women all blind these days? Which of the powerful Elven King Bloodline warriors wasn't superior to a waste like Qian Jin, who couldn't even awaken his Bloodline power?

Qian Wuqing stared at Qian Jin with a darkened complexion. The life-or-death training in the Ancient Desolate Sand Sea had not only boosted his combat power but also honed his temperament. If it were his former self, he would have rushed out long ago, but now, he could watch everything unfold calmly.

"Have you all had enough?" Qian Wuji suddenly let out a sharp shout, shattering the silence at the Qian family gate. His eyes were fixed intensely on Qian Jin. It was this person who had defeated him two months prior! Even now, people in the family still joked about that incident over their meals.