"You—you... Hongyun Linfeng stared at Qian Jin in surprise. Usually, he was the one threatening others; how dare this person threaten him!

"Byluo is my wife." Qian Jin's smile was like a knife, sharp as an arrow: "Take my woman back for punishment? Right now, I'll hand her over to you. Go ahead, try and take her."

The dozen or so Elven Bloodline Mages instinctively stepped back when they saw Byluo leave Qian Jin's embrace. Her ferocious display during the Rookie King Tournament had long been imprinted on their minds. However, the Elven Bloodline was a rather peculiar existence; people usually dared not provoke them, fostering a special mindset that even the Three Ultimate Bloodlines wouldn't dare cross them, let alone the president of a Warrior's Guild?

Now, with Qian Jin's sudden ferocity, everyone was thoroughly reminded that this young man was different. He dared to challenge Qian Zhanxuan, or perhaps, the entire Qian family alone.

To this day, Qian Cheng remained the Qian family's stable boy, yet anyone visiting the Qian family would never dare genuinely step on his shoulders.

Almost no visitor to the Qian family would pass the entrance without first walking over to exchange lively greetings with Qian Cheng before entering.

When leaving, they would repeatedly tell Qian Cheng, who stepped forward to manage the horses, "I'll do it myself, I'll do it myself."

Some people had tried to slight Qian Cheng, but that very night, their heads were separated from their bodies! No one knew how they died, but everyone knew it was Qian Jin’s doing. Yet, no one could produce any evidence.

The Elven Bloodline Mages recalled more and more about Qian Jin. The more they recalled, the more they felt that coming here today to demand Byluo back had been somewhat ill-considered.

Ill-considered? Retreat? Hongyun Linfeng—this text is provided by Leyou Literature, please remember Leyou Literature. What a joke! This timid Byluo had now reached a very powerful level of strength. If she returned to the family, she would be a massive asset. How could such a person be allowed to wander outside the clan?

"Qian Jin," Byluo is a person of my Hongyun family..." Hongyun Linfeng slowly straightened his chest: "Her household registration is with our family! If this matter goes to litigation before His Majesty... all you will face is an imperial decree ordering you to hand her over!"

"You are correct." Duan Fengbure stepped forward with a smirk, turning to look at Qian Jin: "Tell me, war comrade, if every single person in the Hongyun family were killed, would Byluo still have to return?"

"That’s a good idea." Isasail eagerly rushed to Qian Jin's side: "That method is truly excellent, we should consider it! Brother Qian!"

Clang!

Chekfurrit’s longsword was drawn, reflecting a captivating cold glint under the sunlight. A sheer white silk scarf gently brushed against the slender blade.

No words were needed; only the sword needed to speak!

Lei Long Li could only manage a bitter smile; he didn't know when he had been labeled as Qian Jin's friend. If he didn't participate now, he probably wouldn't be able to hold his head up as a person in the future.

Hongyun Linfeng stared blankly at the group, goosebumps rising all over his skin. These young people were absolutely not joking!

Wiping out an entire lineage of a Top Ten Bloodline family? Hongyun Linfeng didn't believe Qian Jin could achieve it, yet he dared not openly rebuke them. If these people fought desperately, even if they couldn't annihilate the Elven Bloodline noble house, it would be enough to cause the Elven Bloodline to drop out of the Top Ten rankings.

"Hongyun Linfan..." Qian Jin paused. No wonder the surname sounded so familiar! The mages in the Boundless World were also called Hongyun! Could it be... no way?

"Wait a moment." Qian Jin pointed at Hongyun Linfeng, then turned to Duan Fengbure: "Help me watch them. If anyone moves rashly, just start the fight and leave. The Warrior's Guild has been (suppressed/put upon) itself for too long these years... Anyone dares to run to our door and cause trouble. We really need to cull a batch to establish deterrence."

Hongyun Linfeng cast a look that wasn't quite a plea toward Pan Hongji and Li Ba. These youngsters were naive, but those two held high positions and had long-term vision.

Li Ba just sighed with a bitter smile. He still relied on Qian Jin's help; the Three-Headed Golden Dragon Bloodline was already falling behind the Nine-Headed Serpent Bloodline family in terms of development. If he offended Qian Jin now, that would be a joke!

Pan Hongji merely shrugged: "I liked Qian Jin the moment I saw him. Now I consider him half my son. If I had a daughter, I would marry her to him. Sorry, Linfeng."

Just give up like this? Hongyun Linfeng was very unwilling. Byluo, that former trash girl, was now so powerful, and he still held leverage over her parents—wasn't she afraid she wouldn't return with him?

That's right! Hongyun Linfeng suddenly laughed. Qian Zhanxuan disdained using Qian Cheng to threaten Qian Jin, but he was not Qian Zhanxuan. The Elven Bloodline noble house had always been arrogant; how could they be threatened by a mere ordinary Warrior's Guild? Even if the guild's leader could threaten many powers, the Elven Bloodline was not constrained by them.

"Let's wait and see what tricks he can pull! I, Hongyun Linfeng, am taking Byluo back today, come what may!"

Some Elven Bloodline Mages looked at Hongyun Linfeng with doubt, while others looked at this Bloodline Patriarch with pleading eyes, hoping he wouldn't cause trouble, as the trump cards in his hand might not intimidate Qian Jin. After all, Qian Jin was someone who even dared to confront Qian Zhanxuan.

Other Elven Bloodline Mages curiously watched Qian Jin and Byluo. They seemed to be discussing some things about magic, yet the mages had never heard of Qian Jin being able to cast spells.

Qian Jin squatted down and rapidly sketched complex magical element arrangements on the ground with his finger. If a Great Mage were to cast this, even on the first try, it would take a long time just to arrange the magical elements, and perhaps several days just to sketch it out.

Qian Jin spent about ten minutes completely sketching out Soul Shockwave: "This, can you learn it?"

Byluo's eyes immediately lit up when she saw the magical element arrangement for Soul Shockwave. This was a very special mental-type magic, yet it could be released using magical elements.

Another ten minutes passed, and Byluo looked up at Qian Jin: "I learned it, I can cast it."

Qian Jin took Byluo's hand and returned to face Hongyun Linfeng: "Wife, use it on him."

Hongyun Linfeng's expression changed drastically. What? Was he really going to fight to the death?

A massive amount of magical elements rapidly coalesced into a purple magic shield, completely enveloping Hongyun Linfeng. Traces of flowing light swirled across the shield, emanating a powerful magical aura everywhere, as if even a falling star couldn't harm his body.

This magic shield was more than ten times stronger than the one when Qian Jin attacked last time! Even if Qian Jin struck with his palm again, Hongyun Linfeng was confident he could withstand it!

Byluo looked timidly at Hongyun Linfeng, then suddenly raised her fingertip and pointed at him. A faint starlight emanated from her fingertip. This light appeared quickly and vanished just as fast.

It was that simple, without any surging magical element activity, giving no feeling of magical might.

Hongyun Linfeng stared blankly at Byluo, and suddenly, both his knees buckled, and he fell to the ground as if seeing a specter, prostrating himself at Byluo's feet.

Soul Shockwave didn't truly shock the soul. According to Hongyun's explanation, there was no soul at all; it merely sent a specialized signal into the target's mind that could greatly stimulate all their thoughts.

As for what thoughts were stimulated, only the person on whom the magic was cast could truly know.

Hongyun Linfeng remained kneeling for a full ten minutes. No matter who called out to him, he stayed kneeling, tears streaming ceaselessly from his eyes, his expression filled with sorrow.

"Soul Sho—"

Clarity returned to Hongyun Linfeng's eyes, but the sadness did not leave his face. His pupils showed more surprise, doubt, and confusion: "That was Soul Shockwave? The legendary lost Soul Shockwave of the Hongyun family? The special magic solely created by Hongyun Man?"

Byluo timidly nodded. Qian Jin had called it by that name when he taught her just now.

The confused expression on Hongyun Linfeng’s face suddenly became strained. Soul Shockwave was the most powerful magic of the Hongyun family, rumored to be a super-magic that even Ultimate Bloodline warriors dreaded. However, before this magic could be fully passed down, Hongyun Man had disappeared.

Because of this, the Elven Bloodline family had a rule passed down through generations! Not only the Elven Bloodline Patriarch knew it, but every elder-level figure in the Elven Bloodline family knew this rule.

An Elven Bloodline Mage who could use Soul Shockwave would be the true Patriarch of the Elven Bloodline! Any other leader would forever be a provisional Patriarch!

"You... can use... Soul Shockwave... how did you learn it..."

Hongyun Linfeng spoke with unspeakable bitterness. If this was truly the case... then hadn't he just attacked the Patriarch?

"Learned it just now..." Byluo glanced shyly at Qian Jin: "Husband taught me."

Pfft! Hongyun Linfeng felt the urge to vomit blood. Was this really that magically inept Byluo? The idiot mage who took a year to learn the simplest Arcane Missile?

Soul Shockwave! Even though he didn't know what kind of magic it was, according to the family records, several talented mages from the family who followed Hongyun Man had never managed to learn Soul Shockwave!

Learned it in ten minutes? Hongyun Linfeng genuinely wanted to drag out all the ancestors from history to see if they were too foolish, or if Byluo was simply too much of a genius!

"Patriarch... Patriarch..." Hongyun Linfeng suddenly bowed deeply and kowtowed to Byluo: "Hongyun Linfeng pays his respects to Patriarch Byluo..."

Qian Jin was startled by Hongyun Linfeng's action. What was the meaning of this? Why was Hongyun Linfeng making Byluo the Patriarch? He had only intended for Byluo to display a couple of Hongyun family spells, then tell them neither side should force the other, and propose cooperation, in exchange for which he might consider offering some Hongyun magic.

What? Qian Jin stared blankly at Hongyun Linfeng, who had suddenly performed the great salute, equally stunned.

PS Fourth update, requesting monthly recommendation votes!