"How can I possibly accept such a gesture?" Mu Gui Wuxin appeared utterly overwhelmed by the kindness. "Things on my end are quite chaotic. The Lei family has recently brought up matters concerning the previous patriarch; they might very well start targeting our Torrent Fortress. I'm already struggling to manage their attempts to seize influence..."

"What? The Lei family is causing trouble again!" Li Deyu took slammed his palm down on the tea table, sending several cups hopping into the air. "This is a complete lack of respect for me, the City Lord! I was the notary for that duel with Qian Jin! If they still want to pursue this, absolutely not! I must intervene in this matter! The stance of Torrent Fortress, I have always firmly supported! Brother Mu Gui, you go ahead and handle your business! My City Lord’s Mansion is your ally! If you need anything, remember to call on Bi!"

Mu Gui Wuxin was eager to rush to the Unfettered Society right then, grab Qian Jin, and plant a massive kiss on him. Since becoming the head of Torrent Fortress, most of his time had been spent enduring scorn and sarcasm. Nothing had felt as satisfying as this moment! The greatest power in Eternal Flow City, the City Lord’s Mansion, with Lord Li Deyu personally announcing his involvement to help—the Lei family was truly in for a world of hurt this time.

"Although I, as City Lord, cannot control the entirety of Eternal Flow City, but..." Li Deyu let out a cold laugh. "To cross paths with Brother Mu Gui's Torrent Fortress is to cross paths with my City Lord’s Mansion. If the Lei family has any sense left, they had better behave themselves. Otherwise... Hmph hmph!"

"My Lord City Lord, truly formidable."

"Not at all, not at all." Li Deyu smiled faintly. "If the Lei family dares to cause any more trouble, I will contact another faction and crush them into a dead toad permanently..."

"My Lord City Lord, brilliant!"

"You flatter me, you flatter me." Li Deyu leaned slightly forward. "Another day, I will visit your place. If the Lei family dares to make a move, I’ll teach them a lesson personally! It has been some time since I last saw that young man Qian Jin; I genuinely miss him."

"My Lord City Lord, so brilliant and so strong!" Mu Gui Wuxin lavished praise upon Li Deyu without reservation, offering it again and again. "Oh, right, Brother Mu Gui, the matter of Qian Jin being capable of forging Soul Weapons... that must remain a secret..." Li Deyu lowered his voice. "Sometimes, a little discretion is necessary..."

"Rest assured, My Lord City Lord, I understand that," Mu Gui Wuxin thumped his chest. "I only revealed this secret because I feel such kinship with you, My Lord City Lord; I wouldn't tell anyone else."

"Why are you still calling me My Lord City Lord, Brother Mu Gui? Just call me Brother York!"

"Then I shall not be polite, Brother York!" Mu Gui Wuxin burst into laughter, his mind already soaring towards the Unfettered Society. He could scarcely believe this day had come! He wondered how Qian Jin was faring over at the Unfettered Society while he was having such good fortune.

"Brother Qian Jin, let's have a drink, just one!"

Mad Dragon circled Qian Jin repeatedly, clutching a wine jug. This wasn't just "one drink"—they were already on the third jug!

Qian Jin sighed. The leader of the Raging Dragon Hall was far too hospitable; he was finding it hard to endure such passionate hospitality.

"Little Dragon, that's enough for now, stop drinking," Jun Wudao said seriously. "I need to speak with you alone about something first. Qian Jin is my designated successor for the Unfettered Society."

"Brother Jin!" Mad Dragon set the jug down and bowed deeply. "In my life, I, Mad Dragon, have only had two benefactors: one is Brother Wudao, and the other is you! If you are to be the next leader of the Unfettered Society, I give my absolute support! Anyone who stands against you stands against me, Mad Dragon."

"Brother Mad Dragon, please don't speak like that." Qian Jin quickly extended both hands to help Mad Dragon up, sighing inwardly at the sheer wonder of the world. People who shouldn't know each other end up connected through a third or fourth person.

"Just call me Little Dragon." Mad Dragon stood up, his demeanor turning somewhat serious. "However, for you to become the next leader of the Unfettered Society... you might first have to pass the test of the Vice President, that fellow Kui Richang..."

The Vice President’s name is Kui Richang? Qian Jin nodded slightly. Both Mad Dragon and Fierce Tiger looked like strong military types today; he presumed the Vice President must be a man of strategy.

"Kui Richang is very insidious; you must be extra cautious..." Mad Dragon was already speaking incoherently from the alcohol. "Don't be fooled by his thin appearance; his strength is immense. He not only possesses the Golden Fighting Heart but also cultivates both Battle Qi and Demonic Arts."

Golden Fighting Heart? Qian Jin raised an eyebrow. Back when he was in the Ancient Desolate Sea Sands with the Serpent Emperor, he had heard this term more than once. It referred to a Fighting Heart that had been further refined and evolved—only a Demon Extermination Warrior could possess such a thing. Only by nurturing a Golden Fighting Heart could one gain the opportunity to hatch the Battle Soul contained within it!

"Guild Leader."

An Unfettered Society guard hurried into the room. "There are several women outside claiming to be Mr. Qian Jin's female companions."

Ah? Qian Jin’s eyes snapped open—disaster! The ball! Because of reuniting with his uncle, he had completely forgotten about the dance scheduled for tonight! Hua and the other women must have seen that the time was drawing near, and since he hadn't returned, they had come looking for him.

"Uncle, I have something urgent to attend to today... I'll visit another day."

Jun Wudao watched Qian Jin dart away, shaking his head lightly with a sigh. "This kid... is he afraid of his wife?"

"Dad, I’ve decided to apply to the War Conquest Academy..."

"Oh? You’ve changed your mind?" Jun Wudao looked at Qian Niancheng curiously. "You’re not planning on moving far away from Dad anymore?"

"That’s right!" Qian Niancheng said cheerfully. "I want to observe my elder brother up close. He is truly amazing! He’s so formidable without even activating the Elven King’s bloodline."

Jun Wudao sighed. It turned out his self-admiration was misplaced. His daughter wasn't staying because of him at all, but because of the newly acquainted Qian Jin.

"However..." Jun Wudao looked in the direction Qian Jin left with some curiosity. "What is that kid so busy with? Why the rush?"

"How could he not be rushing?" Lucifer Flowing Water looked at Qian Jin, who was changing clothes. "We thought you got into a fight with the people from the Unfettered Society and got yourself killed."

Qian Jin repeatedly nodded his apologies to the other beauties in the carriage. So much had happened since his arrival at the Unfettered Society—there were probing battles, meetings with Mad Dragon and Fierce Tiger, and he had inexplicably become the designated successor to the Unfettered Society. Too many events had piled up, and time had slipped by unnoticed.

"Did you know? The leader of the Unfettered Society is my own uncle," Qian Jin explained as he finished dressing, eagerly telling the four beauties. "My own uncle, Qian Zheng, is now called Jun Wudao."

The women, who had initially been prepared to reprimand Qian Jin for his carelessness and disregard for their worry, were immediately intrigued by his words. They quickly forgot their intention to scold him. As the carriage traveled, listening to Qian Jin's narration, the eyes of the beauties were brought to tears.

The carriage bumped along to the city gate. Qian Jin and Biluo switched to another carriage, bidding farewell to the other three. The carriage journeyed towards the War Conquest Academy outside the city.

Under the veil of night, the War Conquest Academy emanated an aura of inviolable tranquility, like a colossal dragon slumbering beneath the stars, ready to awaken at any moment with a roar that would shake the cosmos and terrify all beasts.

Qian Jin drove the carriage to a halt before the academy entrance and carefully helped Biluo down. In the moonlight, Biluo radiated an indescribable charm, and the shy expression on her face held a particular beauty.

The students guarding the academy gate straightened their spines upon seeing it was Qian Jin. Every guard stationed there had heard the news of how Qian Jin had beaten a powerful warrior to death right outside the academy gates.

The guards furtively glanced behind Qian Jin, trying to get a clear look at his dance partner, but they found that this companion seemed timid, clinging closely behind Qian Jin, making it impossible to discern her features.

The inner paths of the academy were even quieter than the exterior. Countless talented warriors emerged from the buildings, as if they had imprinted a trace of their spirit within the grounds. Qian Jin felt the night wind brush his face as he quietly observed every corner of the academy, realizing that this silence was itself a form of power.

"A pity..." Qian Jin sighed. This kind of power was diametrically opposed to his own path of advancement—advancement, advancement, advancement. It simply didn't align well. However, if someone could truly comprehend the academy's spiritual imprints and merge them into their Battle Qi, they would undoubtedly become an incredibly powerful expert!

Faint sounds of singing and laughter drifted intermittently from distant areas, echoing above the War Conquest Academy.

Qian Jin found his direction and walked downwards, soon spotting a massive structure resembling a theater. Although the surroundings were dim, the interior of the building was brightly lit, much like daytime.

Qian Jin turned back to look at the hesitant Biluo with a sigh. It seemed that only when they reached such an occasion, when escape was no longer possible, would she undergo a significant transformation. Didn't this timid girl always manage to become brave when circumstances forced her hand in the past?

From a distance, Qian Jin spotted a familiar silhouette standing by the theater entrance: Aibijia!

This woman, the Vice President of the Crystal Magic Tower, was also dressed in a sapphire-blue, low-cut, cinched gown today. Holding a glass of red wine, she stood outside the ballroom entrance, looking around under the escort of four attendants, appearing as if she were waiting for someone.

"No way?" Qian Jin rubbed the bridge of his nose with a smile. Surely this woman wasn't deliberately waiting outside the ball to watch me make a fool of myself during the selection of escorts?

Qian Jin lightly tapped his nose with his index finger, mentally cursing his own foolishness. It had been more than three months since the start of the semester; the balls must have taken place quite a few times already. Thus, the escorts should mostly have been chosen. For a girl like Aibijia, her ability to recruit someone likely relied on her status as the daughter of the Magic Guild's Vice President.

"Now, the only people left unrecruited at the ball are probably two types of individuals..." Qian Jin stroked his chin and walked forward slowly. "One type has absolutely no prospects or strength, making them difficult for anyone to bother recruiting. The other type possesses considerable strength but has very high standards, believing that the people attending this ball are not worthy of becoming their escort."