"What are you still looking at?" Li Ba’s narrowed eyes burst with an unprecedented shock. He kicked the rear of Lei Long Li, the young warrior who had been pegged as the champion favorite even before the Newcomer King Tournament began. At this moment, he finally recovered from his astonishment.

Li Ba had seen many powerful young warriors, but he had truly never seen—or even heard of—an ordinary warrior like Qian Jin surging directly from the Saint realm to True Saint.

Lei Long Li, at this moment, couldn't bother with anything else. He took a step forward and immediately unleashed the Three-Headed Golden Dragon Bloodline Battle Soul. The peak Void Saint level Battle Soul merged into Qian Jin’s pillar of battle qi, bringing an indescribable sense of comfort.

His Soul Domain was the Thunder Soul Domain, which was of the same broad type as Qian Jin’s Electric Domain. The Electric Domain leaned slightly more toward speed, while the Thunder Soul Domain’s explosive destructiveness was far more terrifying.

With two attributes of nearly identical Soul Domains, Lei Long Li instantly felt his Battle Soul as if it were being infused with countless nutrients, growing rapidly. Even the dormant bloodline power within his body seemed on the verge of true awakening under this successive stimulation.

What in the world was this? Lei Long Li sighed repeatedly, feeling the power within his body while struggling between laughter and tears. Qian Jin was his opponent in the Newcomer King Tournament, yet he was currently gaining strength with his opponent's help.

The majestic young warrior, most likely to achieve the ultimate awakening of the Three-Headed Golden Dragon bloodline, now had to rely on an ordinary warrior... This news, if spread...

Duan Feng Bu Er immediately activated his Nine-Headed Serpent Bloodline War Body, and his Real Saint-level Battle Soul also rushed into the airflow column, enjoying a comfort it had never before experienced, as if the Battle Soul were receiving the most premium massage.

The presidents of several warrior guilds saw Duan Feng Bu Er’s appearance of closed-eyed enjoyment and instantly realized that there must be enormous benefits in this.

Even Pan Hong Ji released his Battle Soul. Upon entering Qian Jin's Battle Soul, he immediately rejoiced: This... "The Battle Soul seems to be passing through a special tribulation, receiving a unique massage, just like steel that has been hammered and refined a thousand times to become the finest steel."

So comfortable! Pan Hong Ji couldn't help but close his eyes in enjoyment.

Qian Jin felt that this surge of his was almost entering a state of complete uncontrollability. The towering pillar of battle qi shot directly into the cloud layers of the sky, friction between them hard enough to generate lightning within the clouds. This lightning did not strike down as one massive bolt but completely decomposed into fine electrical currents, mixing with his Wind-Cloud Battle Qi and entering the airflow column. Some of it was consumed during this process, and some of it directly entered the Electric Domain.

Mie Fang Yuan stared at the massive airflow column in the sky in astonishment: "What is going on? When I entered the Saint realm, I didn't even have a tenth... not even one percent of this! Although Wind-Cloud Battle Qi—wind and cloud interacting—can generate current, this current is too exaggerated now!"

The next moment, Mie Fang Yuan's Battle Soul sprayed out of his body, and following Pan Hong Ji’s example, he directly placed it into Qian Jin’s battle qi pillar, his face showing an even more blissful expression. He shared the same battle qi as Qian Jin, making them even more compatible.

The giant pillar of battle qi light pierced the heavens, seemingly reaching directly to the stars. Countless people in Shendu City could see this strange sight, most of them ignorant, curious, and confused about what was happening.

Warriors above the Battle Soul realm stared at the sky in shock. Which old family patriarch was enraged? How could such a powerful and astonishing aura erupt?

"Whose is it?" Jiu Yang Feng Hua looked up at the massive airflow in the sky, the yellowed scroll in her hand now deeply crumpled: "Hmm? I feel Lei Long Li's power... and that one named Duan Feng Bu Er... Are they fighting? No! Their powers are rapidly increasing. What exactly is going on?"

"Feng Hua, it seems you have moments of worry too."

A middle-aged man's voice, laced with mockery, sounded from behind Jiu Yang Feng Hua.

"Jiu Yang Feng Cai, you've returned from the Human-Demon Battlefield? Are you also here for the Newcomer King Tournament?" Jiu Yang Feng Hua said calmly without turning her head: "I wonder, how many moves can you withstand from me this time?"

"This time, I will defeat you! I, Jiu Yang Feng Cai, am the best candidate for the ultimate awakening of the War God Family bloodline! Those old fools are blind! They chose you! This time, I will prove on the arena that men are always on top! And women... Hmph, can only be beneath!"

Jiu Yang Feng Cai smiled confidently, the dozen or so terrifying scars crisscrossing his face twitching slightly with his smile, making him look even more frightening, like a dozen larval earthworms twisting and crawling on his face. Every scar exuded the taste of approaching death.

Experienced warriors, simply by looking at the scars on his cheek, could tell how many times this warrior had been terrifyingly close to death.

"Oh, then the next time we fight, I'll beat you so you're no longer a man," Jiu Yang Feng Hua said casually, looking up at the giant pillar of battle qi in the sky without turning back.

"You..." Jiu Yang Feng Cai's right cheek muscle twitched repeatedly as he stared at Jiu Yang Feng Hua's retreating back. This woman still had the same attitude as when she knocked him to the ground back then—outwardly indifferent, but truly arrogant to the bone.

"You are too weak. The ultimate power of the War God bloodline cannot awaken in you."

Jiu Yang Feng Cai's mind once again replayed the words Jiu Yang Feng Hua calmly spoke to the family patriarch when she defeated him on the ground.

"Brother, why bother arguing with a woman?"

A younger bloodline warrior walked out from behind Jiu Yang Feng Cai. He bore a striking resemblance to Jiu Yang Feng Cai, but his brows held more malice and cunning.

"Jiu Yang Feng Xing?"

Jiu Yang Feng Hua slowly turned around, her brows lightly furrowed, revealing a look of deep disgust: "Have you been plotting to harm someone again these past few days? You venomous creature, you shouldn't be in the War God bloodline family; you belong with the insidious Viper bloodline family."

"Plotting? I call that strategy," Jiu Yang Feng Xing sneered disdainfully: "You woman, you don't even understand the true meaning of a War God. How dare you claim to be the successor of the War God bloodline? Only by winning a hundred times out of a hundred fights, fighting a thousand times and winning a thousand times, is one a true War God! By any means necessary during this process! Strategy is also part of power."

Jiu Yang Feng Hua turned back to look at the pillar of light in the sky, with no intention or attitude of arguing with Jiu Yang Feng Xing. Strategy was part of power, but the constant thinking about scheming against and trapping others was something that made her ashamed to be associated with him.

Jiu Yang Feng Cai wore a smug look. The recognized successor of the War God family back then couldn't even debate with his highly volatile younger brother.

Jiu Yang Feng Xing looked grimly at Jiu Yang Feng Hua’s very indifferent back. Ignored! This was a blatant, naked disregard! Just as a person wouldn't pay attention to an ant underfoot.

Damn woman! Jiu Yang Feng Xing’s chest heaved violently. This woman! This woman! One day, I will make sure that like Qi Jiu Yang, who was sent back to the War God family, you will sleep forever on the Human-Demon Battlefield!

"Jiu Yang Feng Hua, I came to tell you something," Jiu Yang Feng Xing recovered his initial arrogant demeanor: "All the schemes you used to recruit the genius War God bloodline warrior, Qi Jiu Yang, didn't amount to much. Because of his arrogance, he led a team to sneak attack a demon position without authorization, and he has already returned to the stars."

"What!"

The yellowed scroll in Jiu Yang Feng Hua's hand was instantly flattened by her fingers. Her calm expression finally broke. Qi Jiu Yang died? That genius bloodline warrior who finally accepted her advice for the sake of his family, who returned to the War God family, was dead?

How could Qi Jiu Yang, who was always very steady in his actions, appearing more composed and calm than many thirty or forty-year-olds despite his youth, do something as reckless as leading a team to sneak attack a demon position?

Jiu Yang Feng Hua slowly, slowly turned, and the calm look in her eyes shot out two sharp beams filled with killing intent, piercing directly into Jiu Yang Feng Xing’s face!

This person! He never got along with Qi Jiu Yang! When Qi Jiu Yang first returned to the family, he went to provoke him, only to have his bones broken and be hung on the door panel of his own courtyard by Qi Jiu Yang, forcing the patriarch to come and take Jiu Yang Feng Xing away.

Could it be... Jiu Yang Feng Hua’s beautiful eyes twitched slightly a few times. She was unwilling to believe that Qi Jiu Yang’s death really had something to do with the person before her.

If it did have a connection, it would be the greatest disgrace to the War God bloodline family! For a family member to frame another family member! Such a thing would not be tolerated! Absolutely not tolerated!

Jiu Yang Feng Xing felt that gaze like a sharp sword. His steady heart couldn't help but pound wildly. He felt somewhat weak inside. What did this person want to do? Did she find out?

"I will investigate the death of Qi Jiu Yang," Jiu Yang Feng Hua’s demeanor recovered from the initial saturation of killing intent back to her usual calmness: "If... if my investigation reveals any other cause for Qi Jiu Yang’s death, then whoever harmed my War God bloodline family's warrior, I, Jiu Yang Feng Hua, swear upon the stars, I will never let them off."

Jiu Yang Feng Xing shivered uncontrollably in the air, then quickly stabilized his mood. His eyes instead filled with provocation as he looked at Jiu Yang Feng Hua. He was also a direct bloodline member of the War God Family, whereas Qi Jiu Yang was just an outsider who had only recently returned to the family after generations away!

As long as the Patriarch was present, it was not Jiu Yang Feng Hua’s place to make decisions on this matter! Jiu Yang Feng Xing smiled triumphantly. The Patriarch would not punish a direct bloodline warrior for the sake of an outsider!

Chapter Six: Endless Fight to Saint!

One Step True Saint!

Qian Jin finally ceased his explosive growth and slowly opened his eyes to look at the surging airflow around him. The three shattered fragments of the Sacred Artifacts had already been completely divided by Duan Feng Bu Er and Snake Emperor Pan Hong Ji.

Increase, increase, increase...

Inside and outside the courtyard, those who participated in this power boost were all exceptionally excited. This incident was worth more than a long, long period of hard cultivation for them.

Li Ba looked at Pan Hong Ji, and his expression changed for the first time, more surprise entering his pupils.

The true peak powerhouses of this era were the True Saint level experts! Pan Hong Ji was naturally one of them.

True Saint level powerhouses could roughly calculate each other's strength and the likelihood of victory in a real confrontation.

Li Ba had always thought he understood Pan Hong Ji very well, knowing that this Snake Emperor was indeed one of the very peak experts, but he never expected... this Snake Emperor today actually revealed a new trump card!

Dual Soul Domains!

For powerhouses who had reached the True Saint realm, besides fighting skill techniques, Soul Domains were a very, very important element. The reason the current Great Demon King was called invincible in one-on-one combat was precisely because he possessed dual bloodline powers and dual Soul Domains, allowing him to switch bloodline powers and Soul Domain powers at will during a battle, giving his opponent the feeling of fighting against two opponents simultaneously.

Now, Snake Emperor Pan Hong Ji also possessed Dual Soul Domains! Although he didn't have dual bloodline powers, the Dual Soul Domains didn't seem to require switching; they appeared usable simultaneously.

With that in mind, Li Ba rapidly calculated the change in Snake Emperor Pan Hong Ji's ranking among the current peak powerhouses, the possibility of victory against the current Great Demon King, or the possibility of teaming up with him to eliminate the Great Demon King.

The current Great Demon King with dual bloodline powers was always a massive stone weighing on the hearts of the True Strategy Dynasty bloodline warriors. If it weren't for the Great Demon King wanting to fully merge his two bloodline powers to further increase his personal combat strength, spending more time in seclusion, the battle lines might have become extremely tense.

"Entered Saint! Hahahaha... Entered Saint! I, Isacel, entered Saint without awakening my bloodline power!" Isacel laughed heartily towards the sky: "Perhaps I can truly become the first bloodline warrior not from the three ultimate bloodlines to achieve ultimate awakening... Ouch..."

Isacel was kicked in the rear again. He turned to look at Duan Feng Bu Er, who had kicked him, and said with great grievance: "Teacher Bu Er, why did you kick me again?"

"Are you first? What about me?" Duan Feng Bu Er stood with his hands on his hips, glaring at Isacel: "I am also a non-ultimate bloodline warrior! You are first? Where do you place me?"

"This..." Isacel said weakly: "Second?"

"Say that again!"

"But I want to be first," Isacel protested cautiously.

Qian Jin slowly landed and looked at Gu Yue Jia Ying, who had also completed her entry into Saint: "You can't beat Qian Zhan Xuan."

Gu Yue Jia Ying smiled faintly and linked her arms with Qian Jin's: "I have a husband."

Qian Jin smiled. What man didn't enjoy hearing that his woman was completely dependent on him? What man liked his woman to take risks?

"True Saint..." Pan Hong Ji clicked his tongue looking at Qian Jin: "Boy, can you surprise me any further? True Saint! You jumped directly from Half Saint, skipping the Void Saint and Real Saint stages in one go to reach the True Saint realm!"

Qian Jin was silent for a moment: "This, perhaps I should thank Qian Zhan Xuan? If he hadn't tried to kill me outside the pass that day, perhaps today I would only be at the peak of Real Saint."

"They say a very powerful person has appeared among the Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline warriors. Today I finally see him. Indeed, he is even stronger than me!"

A hearty shout sounded from outside the courtyard gate, and almost at the same instant, the person shouting walked into the courtyard.

This man was tall and broad, yet had delicate features. He was a handsome type completely different from Chuck Flit, exuding an air of sunny vigor all over his body.

Trailing behind this man were ten warriors, each wearing black special armor engraved with the crest of the Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline family—the pride of the entire Pan family.

"Dream God, you're back?" Pan Hong Ji raised an eyebrow: "If you hadn't returned, we would have truly missed the Newcomer King Tournament."

Pan Meng Shen was hailed as the most promising bloodline warrior of the Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline family in recent years, regarded by countless people as the successor to Snake Emperor Pan Hong Ji and one of the strongest contenders to challenge the three ultimate bloodlines.

Qian Jin observed Pan Meng Shen. This was a man who gave off an extremely sunny feeling, his eyes filled with the light of the sun, his words imbued with sunshine, and every movement showing a hint of brightness. No wonder many outside called him the Sun King.

Sun King Pan Meng Shen! Duan Feng Bu Er met his gaze, sizing him up. This was indeed the most outstanding warrior of the younger generation in the Pan family! What a unique aura! The entire person gave off a warm feeling, truly worthy of being considered the Snake Emperor's successor.

"I certainly have to participate in the Newcomer King Tournament." Pan Meng Shen smiled as he walked toward Duan Feng Bu Er and directly extended his hand: "Duan Feng Bu Er? I am very pleased to meet you here. I have heard your name many times; today I finally meet the real person. Let me introduce myself, Pan Meng Shen."

"Sun King Pan Meng Shen." Duan Feng Bu Er also extended his hand to grasp Pan Meng Shen’s: "I heard your name many times before I even awakened my bloodline power. No wonder you are called the Snake Emperor’s successor; now I see you are truly the most suitable one."

"Indeed! I am more suited to be the Pan family Patriarch than you." Pan Meng Shen shrugged: "The Pan family under me will develop normally. Under your hand, it will either rise powerfully, completely surpassing all efforts of previous Pan family heads... or... it will be utterly ruined."

Qian Jin stood to the side, nodding repeatedly in agreement. This Sun King Pan Meng Shen was truly formidable; merely based on rumors about Duan Feng Bu Er, he could grasp his character to this extent. No wonder so many people regarded him as Pan Hong Ji's successor.

Both possessed affinity, but Duan Feng Bu Er’s affinity was more stimulating; those close to him would be even closer, while those he disliked would become absolute mortal enemies! Pan Meng Shen’s personality, however, meant that neither enemies nor allies would strongly resist him.

Furthermore, Duan Feng Bu Er’s actions were indeed somewhat unconventional, whereas Pan Meng Shen looked like someone who walked the path of righteousness and straightforwardness.

"But, you are more suitable for the position of Pan Family Guardian than I am," Pan Meng Shen continued: "If you are interested, you can be the First Guardian."

Guardian, a special position where one could simply enjoy benefits without doing work!

The dull Zhen Ce smiled happily on the side. This Pan Meng Shen really took a direct approach; even those who held reservations about the family would find it hard to refuse him in this situation.

"Guardian? This... Heh heh... My apologies."

Duan Feng Bu Er sighed: "Because of a single cigarette from Qian Jin, I have already become the Second Guardian of the Luo Family..."

"Shameless, it was one cigarette," Chuck Flit exposed him without hesitation: "Besides, the Second Guardian is me; you're the third..."

"Third your head! I am the second! If you don't agree, let's fight another day..."

"Afraid of you? Let's fight." Chuck Flit, usually a man of few words, always became talkative when conversing with Duan Feng Bu Er: "I’ll beat you until you're laid up in bed and can't even participate in the Newcomer King Tournament."

"I'll beat you so you can't get out of bed for a month, making Yulia a widow for a month!"

Pan Meng Shen's sunny expression froze for a moment, then filled with smiles again: "I envy you! I truly envy you two! Such a wonderful friendship; some people never find it in a lifetime! Why didn't I meet you sooner? I imagine being around you must be a very happy thing."

"It's not too late now," Duan Feng Bu Er said: "Just don't mention returning to the Pan family."

Pan Meng Shen let out a light sigh. Even his sighing, guilt-ridden expression still conveyed a close, sunny feeling.

"Regarding the affairs of the previous generation, the most I can offer is a so-called regret. To you, this so-called regret is no different from farting." Pan Meng Shen sighed again, filled with helplessness: "If I were you, I would also dislike the Pan family as much as you do. Perhaps I would be even worse—I would wander around everywhere, beating up the young Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline warriors daily, knocking them all down."

"Unfortunately, I am not you." Pan Meng Shen’s lips twitched twice: "I was born into the Pan family; the Pan family nurtured me, so I hope the Pan family can fare better."

"The Pan family has changed since the Snake Emperor's introspection," Pan Meng Shen’s eyes were filled with sincerity: "The Pan family is making amends for past mistakes, hoping that all Pan family members who were once hurt by the Pan family can give us a chance to atone. This applies not only to the powerful Duan Feng Bu Er but to all Pan family members."

Duan Feng Bu Er glanced at Pan Hong Ji, who was not far away, and saw the Snake Emperor casting a look of affirmation.

Li Ba lifted his foot and delivered another kick to the significantly enhanced Lei Long Li, murmuring, "Watch and learn! Stop acting like you're the only one capable."

Lei Long Li pouted sullenly. This ancestor, despite his advanced age, still possessed such a potent capacity for learning. Just after Duan Feng Er had given Yisai Er a couple of kicks to the backside, this ancestor had picked up the trick as well.

"Ancestor, I understand..." Lei Long Li lowered his voice, responding with utmost deference to Li Ba.

"Understand what, exactly?" Li Ba looked at Lei Long Li with a lingering smile.

As the inheritor of the bloodline warrior legacy of the Three-Headed Golden Dragon, Lei Long Li instantly sensed the danger hidden behind his ancestor's placid expression; if he answered incorrectly, this ancestor certainly wouldn't hesitate to administer a swift beating right then and there.

PS: Bonus chapter added for the recommendation push—five chapters today!