The son was suddenly murdered, and on top of that, Old Master Dugu Zongheng was furiously demanding a concrete explanation from the Huang family. "At this, the Huang family truly began to panic.

Before Old Master Dugu could even deal with the situation, the businesses affiliated with the Huang family faced an unprecedented crisis! Almost all partners severed their cooperative relationships overnight, unilaterally cutting ties. Furthermore, their own family businesses were suppressed to the point where not only could they not raise their heads, but they were forced into outright clearance sales at a loss.

That wasn't all. Every few days, their establishments were raided, and several times a day, they suffered extortion from local thugs. Any family members sent out returned bruised and battered, covered in contusions.

Even the local government officials, including the City Lord who usually sat around sharing bottles of wine, became stern-faced, like the King of Hell. To illustrate: a normal administrative procedure that used to take three days, which the Huang family could complete in half a day, now hadn't even finished a third of the process after half a month. "They couldn't even complain. If they dared to utter a word of grievance, the process would immediately halt. It wouldn't stop entirely, but they would have to start the entire procedure over again..."

At this point, if they still failed to realize they had offended a powerful figure, the Huang family could only be deemed utterly foolish. Old Master Huang personally went out to visit the Dugu family, only to be soundly rejected. After several twists and turns, he finally managed to see his daughter and learned that his son’s death was not unjust; he had, in fact, offended a major figure whom the Huang family absolutely could not afford to provoke, much less offend!

And he had offended them to the point of no return!

Upon hearing the true reason for the matter, Old Master Huang’s legs instantly gave out, and he nearly fainted. Tears streamed down his face! My son, your father doesn't object to you competing for affections, but you needed to gauge your own standing! To compete with the Tang and Jun families, even to the point of wanting them dead—where did you get such reckless courage?

The son was dead, so naturally, there was hatred! But this sliver of hatred seemed utterly insignificant when compared to the life-or-death stakes of the entire clan. After all, hundreds of people, high and low, still needed to survive and eat—these concerns weighed far more heavily than a single son!

Watching the family foundation slowly decline, with wealth rapidly diminishing at an alarming rate, Old Master Huang became anxious. Just as he was about to swallow his pride and beg Young Master Tang Yuan for mercy, the Huang family unexpectedly encountered a turning point!

The sudden appearance of this turning point filled Old Master Huang with renewed confidence. Not only did he abandon any thought of apologizing or pleading, but he now planned to take back what was lost, with interest, and force that damned fat man and the Jun family's young wastrel to kneel and beg for forgiveness! Otherwise, he would never let the matter rest easily!

Old Master Huang even publicly declared: "Our Huang family does not fear power. Whoever offends us must pay the price! Whoever forced my son to his death will pay with his life!

No matter who you are!

A life for a life, a debt paid with money—this is only right and natural!"

Then, Old Master Huang loudly and falsely narrated the origins of the conflict: "The Dugu family and we originally had an engagement. Now, in order to curry favor with the Jun family, they are breaking the contract and marrying their daughter elsewhere—selling her for prestige! Our Huang family finds this despicable! But the engagement was set and cannot be changed! Even though my younger son is dead, the Dugu lady must still marry into the Huang family according to the contract!

Otherwise, men act, and Heaven watches! Heaven’s eyes are bright; good and evil receive their just deserts!"

Furthermore, regarding Tang Yuan, the head of the Huang family was incomparably tough: "My son merely pushed you into an outhouse for a bath, was it necessary for you to pursue this relentlessly? Not content with killing a man, you use such malicious means to retaliate against us—where is the justice of Heaven? Where is fairness?"

This revelation caused an uproar. The matter of Fatty Tang falling into the outhouse became common knowledge, instantly enraging Old Master Tang and others. Fatty Tang consequently suffered several hardships. However, the Fatty had somewhat shot himself in the foot, because without this auction of the Ye Gu Pill, the Huang family’s backer probably wouldn't have emerged, or even known about the situation, until the Huang family was completely wiped out.

The Huang family also deliberately targeted the Jun family’s Third Young Master, Jun Moxie: "You, the number one wastrel spendthrift of Tianxiang, are merely lucky to have found a somewhat capable master? Do you really think you belong among the super families? You actually corrupt the court, bully the weak, and force the fiancée of another to death—how vicious! How can such conduct be tolerated? Moreover, she was snatched from our Huang family—you are simply courting death!"

On another front, the Huang family dispatched several masters who severely beat the thugs who had caused trouble previously, along with some uncooperative merchants, leaving them howling in misery across the area.

The Huang family’s stance was clear: They swore to fight these shameless three great families to the bitter end! They would never yield!

The Huang family was full of confidence!

When this news spread, it shook the imperial court and astonished the world! No one could have imagined that a mere Huang family would possess such audacity, confronting the three great families of Tianxiang—Dugu, Jun, and Tang—simultaneously. Had they gone mad from overeating?

Had the old man of the Huang family been kicked in the head by a donkey? Was his mind addled by the death of his son? Provoking the Jun, Tang, and Dugu families all at once! This was simply the act of a madman! To call it utterly insane would not be an overstatement!

Instantly, countless people watched the event unfold with cold eyes, most believing that the Huang family was definitely finished this time...

Some people, however, speculated: Did the Huang family receive some secret backing? Otherwise, how could they do this? How dare they act this way? Young Master Jun’s lips curled into a proud sneer as he slowly spoke, "Six months ago, Jun Moxie was merely a wastrel spendthrift at the late third-grade Flowing Water level. Before heading to Tiannan, Jun Moxie was just a minor figure at the Jade Profound realm. Now, Jun Moxie might still not catch the eye of a Heaven Punishment First-Rank Beast King, but he is already solidly in the mid-stage of the Heaven Profound realm. Miss Mei, even with her long experience and supreme wisdom, how can she assert that Jun Moxie cannot ascend to the Supreme realm, or even higher, within the remaining less than three years? Let us see who is truly living in a dream and let future facts prove it!"

Hearing Young Master Jun’s "wild boasts," Mei Xueyan was struck silent. Indeed, in just over half a year, he had transformed from almost nothing—trash—into a Heaven Profound expert, completing a process that most people might not achieve in a lifetime. With over two years remaining, why couldn't he make further breakthroughs!

In her moment of stunned silence, Young Miss Mei heard Young Master Jun's voice again: "What I, Jun Moxie, want to do, nothing in this world can stop! Not even Heaven!"

Jun Moxie's tone was plain, but the sheer heroism contained within it deeply moved both Mei Xueyan and the other woman.

In a daze, Mei Xueyan slowly narrowed her eyes. Because, as Jun Moxie spoke those arrogant words, she inexplicably felt a sense of belief! And it was a sincere belief! For someone with her resolute state of mind, such a feeling arising was undoubtedly terrifying!

"This time, I heard you are auctioning a spirit medicine called the Ye Gu Pill in your noble hall?" Mei Xueyan smiled faintly, secretly circulating her internal energy, intending to quickly calm the turbulence in her heart and maintain her ice-clear mind.

"Haha, what spirit medicine? It's just a small thing. Is Miss Mei also interested?" Jun Moxie chuckled.

"A small thing? Young Master Jun, you truly dare say that. Such a small thing might not be very useful for us Profound Beasts, but for human Profound Cultivators, it is a treasure capable of rebirth. Didn't your master instructor even teach you this? And yet, you are putting it up for auction just like that! I have to admire your great courage."

Mei Xueyan smiled slightly, her eyes carrying a trace of gravity. "I think that once the authenticity of the auctioned item is confirmed, even the Three Great Holy Lands might send people. A pill capable of refining innate human bone structure once more... This is absolutely a peerless divine product that has never appeared in this world before."

"The Three Great Holy Lands will send people? That seems unlikely. This pill is at best an ordinary item that can only slightly compact human bones. With the foundation and power of the Three Great Holy Lands, established over thousands of years, why would they care for such a thing?" Jun Moxie appeared surprised.

"Why wouldn't they? Just an ordinary item? You truly dare say that. You are also a Profound Cultivator; don't you know that the human body, whether one is a natural genius or diligently cultivates later in life, will always have some imbalance? At one time, executing one technique prevents executing another. Therefore, the martial arts of Profound Cultivators possess relative flaws. We usually call these flaws 'cracks'! As well as the speed of execution—all these are intimately and directly related to the bones and meridians."

"A significant number of masters spend their entire lives pursuing even a slight increase in speed, perhaps just the flick of a finger, yet ultimately fail to break through."

Mei Xueyan sighed somewhat helplessly: "And you hold this item that can potentially cause masters stuck at a certain level to break through, yet you are offering it for auction. Do you know that even masters above the Supreme level can only cultivate according to their innate talent and skeletal structure; there has never been a way to change it. But if they obtain this Ye Gu Pill and take it, even if it offers only a slight effect, relying on the slight change in bone structure, it would be enough to advance the strength of these powerful individuals! You should know how difficult it is for these powerful figures to advance even one step further."

"I see... I suppose I overlooked that." Jun Moxie nodded thoughtfully. "It seems I considered this matter too simply."

He looked up. "Miss Mei, thank you for your guidance just now. While both of you possess extraordinary strength, staying here might not be convenient. Why don't you... just come and stay at my residence? You can keep Sister Qinghan company, since you already know her. This way, we can look out for each other, and it will be more convenient to discuss any matters."

Jun Moxie was calculating in his mind: if he could invite these two celestial beauties home, it would be equivalent to inviting two formidable protective talismans for the Jun family—talismans of the absolute highest power. These two women were not only as beautiful as celestial beings, but their strength surpassed that of Heavenly Gods.

They were truly wards against all evil!

With Mei Xueyan, who was at the Supreme level, and the Snake King, whose strength was comparable to the Eight Great Supremes, plus the Prairie Eagle God, Ying Bokong, residing at his home—with such power, not only the Tianxiang Royal Family, but even all other Supremes gathered, or if the Three Great Holy Lands attacked, he could ensure his safety without fail. At the very least, the people he cared about would not be harmed.

With that security established, he could fully put aside his worries and focus on heading to the Eastern Family, then taking a detour through the Wind and Snow Silver City, to resolve this long-standing wish!

The collapse of Sword Peak and the snow mountains! Third Uncle and Third Aunt finally becoming one in love! This was the ultimate goal of Jun Moxie's efforts recently!

However, regardless of whether they chose to stay or not, his own strength absolutely had to be cultivated madly! He must, must, must raise his power, break through the Heaven Creation Art, and break through the Exquisite Grandmist Pagoda! Only through breakthroughs could he unleash even greater power!

"Very well! Then we shall impose upon you. I also wish to take this opportunity to see if I can have a deep discussion with your master and enhance our cooperation," Mei Xueyan hesitated for a moment before finally agreeing.

Jun Moxie was overjoyed.

The three of them traveled toward Tianxiang City together. On the way, Jun Moxie curiously asked, "Miss Mei, you once said that those wolf-like people would roar loudly before making a move. What exactly were they shouting?"

Mei Xueyan frowned deeply, thinking for a long time before replying, "It seemed to be... 'Ba Ge'... The last great battle was too long ago; I don't remember it very clearly."

Hearing this, Jun Moxie was suddenly filled with rage. He gnashed his teeth viciously and cursed, "Bi Ge Zha Lu!"

"Yes, yes, that's what they were saying!" Mei Xueyan nodded repeatedly. Her distant memory finally surfaced, but it was mixed with immense surprise. "How did you know? Did your master also participate in the War of Heaven Seizing?"

"Uh..." Jun Moxie was speechless, quickening his pace.

After settling Mei Xueyan and the other woman—Jun Moxie arranged for them to stay with Guan Qinghan, as they were acquaintances from before—he immediately threw himself into rigorous training. Over the past few days, he had received a thick stack of invitations: from the three princes, from the great noble families, and even from Profound Qi families outside Tianxiang seeking an audience...

Jun Moxie ignored them all. He had no time to bother with these insignificant minor figures!

Tang Yuan, during this period, was also extremely busy. On one hand, he had to prepare for the auction of the Ye Gu Pill! On the other, he was aggressively dealing with the Huang family. All actions were carried out swiftly and decisively.

Fatty finally realized that the auction he was about to host would likely not be easy. At least, it wouldn't be as straightforward as the previous few times. But even having recognized this, the auction could not be changed!

The most unfortunate family was the Huang family in Jindong City. Since his son had come to Tianxiang City, the Huang family had been dreaming that their son would return with a beauty, or that the marriage alliance with the Dugu family would materialize, and their family power would soar again. They waited and waited, only to receive devastatingly bad news!