Fang Zhuguo simply stared blankly at Ye Jingyu, as if needing to confirm whether the young man was joking.

Ye Jingyu met Fang Zhuguo's gaze with eyes full of sincerity. In truth, he held no grudge against Fang Zhuguo, not even a single past conflict; the entire matter stemmed merely from Ye Jingyu having slain Fang Jiuyou.

If Fang Zhuguo shared a deep bond with Fang Jiuyou and sought revenge for his brother, Ye Jingyu would have nothing to say. Everything Ye Jingyu had done was directed against Fang Zhuguo, but as things stood, the relationship between Fang Zhuguo and Fang Jiuyou seemed less than pure, leaving room for negotiation between them.

In this world, there are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests. Since there was no deep-seated hatred between them, why not consider a collaboration?

Especially since Ye Jingyu understood that Fang Zhuguo's strength far surpassed his own and Liang Xiaoke's. If they were forced into a real battle, even if they managed to kill Fang Zhuguo in the end, he and Liang Xiaoke would likely suffer devastating losses—perhaps even losing their lives. While he did not fear death, he was unwilling to sacrifice himself senselessly.

If he could turn such a formidable powerhouse into an ally, that would be far preferable.

As for Fang Zhuguo’s bloodthirsty nature, Ye Jingyu felt no aversion; rather, he pitied the man's history. A child who had been scorned since youth, unloved even by his own father, it was natural that his personality had become somewhat twisted.

Of course, partnering with such an individual carried immense risk, but in any case, some things simply had to be attempted.

Sensing the tension crackling between the two men, Liang Xiaoke clenched his fists tightly, the Nine Nether Power within him slowly revolving, ready to unleash the strongest possible strike upon Fang Zhuguo at a moment's notice. It wasn't just him; Gongsun Lu, Xiao Taotao, and Ni Bo had also formed a closing cordon. Should anything go awry, they would strike to kill instantly.

Yet, Fang Zhuguo paid no mind to the hostility radiating from Liang Xiaoke and the others, focusing solely on Ye Jingyu. After a long pause, he spoke coldly, "Do you understand the power the Fang family represents? Do you know what a colossal monster the Fang family is? Do you know how many successors stand ahead of me? By what right do you presume to assist me?"

"Of course I know. I searched Fang Jiuyou's memories, so I naturally understand the immensity of the Fang family, and I know that besides him, Fang Zhentian has seven other biological sons. Since I could kill one like Fang Jiuyou, I can kill the second, the third. When I eliminate all seven, wouldn't the future head of the Fang family be yours?" Ye Jingyu stated with clear confidence. He understood that cooperating with Fang Zhuguo would not only avert this immediate battle but also allow him to learn more about the Ancient Hua Continent.

"It seems I truly underestimated you; you even possess methods for soul searching. But even knowing all this, what makes you think I should accept your help? Do you truly believe that because you killed Fang Jiuyou, you can kill the others? Putting aside that Fang Jiuyou was the most dissolute among them, even if he was accidentally killed by you, do you think that old bastard Fang Zhentian wouldn't place high-level experts around those failures? What do you rely on to kill them?" Fang Zhuguo maintained his cold sneer, though the proposal clearly intrigued him.

After all, no matter how hard he strived over the years, his father had never given him a second glance, and the others had constantly mocked, cursed, and looked down upon him behind his back. His greatest desire was to become the Fang family head and exact revenge on those who had scorned him. But with the others in the way, the position of family head would never fall to him.

Even if, in his heart, he had once held a faint hope that Fang Zhentian might suddenly favor him again, years had passed with nothing changing, and his heart had long since turned to ice. He knew perfectly well that if he truly wished to ascend to the position of Patriarch, he would have to eliminate the brothers who had always looked upon him with cold indifference. But could he strike against them? Or, did he even possess the opportunity to strike?

"By relying on this..." Ye Jingyu snorted, suddenly pointing a finger forward. A beam of golden light shot out, piercing hundreds of meters into a nearby forest. Immediately, a colossal explosion of light erupted, and a massive crater formed within the blaze. The sheer power of this single strike obliterated a vast swathe of the jungle.

Upon witnessing the casual flick of Ye Jingyu’s finger and sensing the immense aura emanating from it, Fang Zhuguo nodded slightly.

"Not bad. To possess such strength at your young age is indeed commendable. Your potential is quite considerable, but it is still not enough to qualify as my partner—unless you can withstand three of my punches!" Fang Zhuguo shifted his gaze back to Ye Jingyu, a flicker of disdain in his eyes—the message was clear: Forget it, boy.

"Fine..." Ye Jingyu agreed instantly, without a moment's hesitation.

Both Liang Xiaoke and Fang Zhuguo were stunned. Fang Zhuguo's power was definitely above the Celestial Realm; the sheer might of his three punches was terrifying. Even a mountain peak couldn't endure one of his blows. Now, three punches—even if Ye Jingyu was powerful, surviving that level of force seemed like courting death.

"A’Yu, why waste so much breath talking to this fellow? Are you afraid of him just because our brothers team up?" Liang Xiaoke roared, exposing a pair of fangs from the corners of his mouth. Black light flowed across his body, and the demonic markings on his face began to surface.

"Big Brother, you don't need to say more. I know what I'm doing," Ye Jingyu stated firmly.

"Good, good, good. You have courage. Since you are so confident, I will make a promise right here: Regardless of whether you survive these three punches, I will trouble no one else again!" Seeing the resolute look in Ye Jingyu's eyes, Fang Zhuguo finally spoke.

"Rest assured. Just three punches. You can't kill me. Big Brother, you all step back..." Ye Jingyu said, taking a step backward himself.

Liang Xiaoke opened his mouth, but upon seeing the unshakeable determination in Ye Jingyu's expression—knowing that once a decision was made, he wouldn't reverse it—he could only retreat reluctantly. He resolved that if Ye Jingyu truly faced mortal danger, he would intervene at any cost to save him.

A faint smile touched Fang Zhuguo’s lips as he gazed at the self-assured Ye Jingyu, while his own hand began to glow with surging crimson light...

"Take my first punch: Bloodline Burst!" Fang Zhuguo roared, and his body shot forward, arriving before Ye Jingyu in the blink of an eye. His fist slammed directly into Ye Jingyu's chest...