Zhan Lunhui stared coldly at Zhan Wuyun. “You only see now the potential of that Ethereal Body genius to become the future guardian deity of the Phantom Mansion, and thus, the future guardian of the Zhan family. But have you considered that after yesterday’s incident, that Ethereal Body possessor might have already sensed our Zhan family’s hostility? If it were you, would you tolerate being constrained by the commands of someone weaker than you, simply for the sake of the bigger picture?”

“No!”

Cold sweat beaded heavily on Zhan Wuyun’s forehead.

“And now you’re still reluctant? Know this: if the owner of an Ethereal Body truly grows into an invincible existence as the legends suggest, it will very likely be the very moment our entire Zhan family is utterly destroyed!”

Zhan Lunhui snorted. “Though such a thing is mere speculation, even just a ‘possibility,’ we still cannot take the risk! The ten-thousand-year legacy of the Zhan family can never be staked on luck. We must eradicate all sprouts of such ‘possibilities’!”

Zhan Lunhui paused again, continuing, “Especially your recounting of his breakthrough on the spot today, which confirms for me that this person’s Ethereal Body is genuine, the real deal! There is no longer any need to doubt this point! Precisely because of this, we must eliminate him! And we must begin the process immediately!”

Jun Moxie never imagined that the display he put on that afternoon would become the very reason Zhan Lunhui felt compelled to destroy him!

He chose to break through publicly, naturally, not purely for vanity.

Firstly, having already secured the quota for the Spirit Medicine Garden for the first day, Jun Moxie intended to increase his bargaining chips. Showing off his 'peerless talent' was a necessary prelude for what he planned to do inside the Garden.

The second reason was to inform Miao Jingyun directly, and by extension, the masters of the Eight Great Families, that they should harbor no illusions about him. A person personally designated by the Phantom Mansion Lord should not be trifled with using their petty schemes… He demanded a relatively free space, an assurance that nothing should interrupt his affairs…

As for these two objectives, the expressions of the magnates when they departed clearly showed that they had achieved perfect results.

Then there was the third reason, playing both sides: While I am indeed a genius, possessing unmatched talent and cultivation speed, I currently only possess the Jin Xuan strength... The road ahead seems long, so... how you strategize to curry favor with me,” this was also quite an important aspect, proving highly beneficial for his passage within the Phantom Mansion.

It even paved the way for a smooth departure…

It could be said that Jun Moxie’s goals were met, and perfectly so. However, worldly affairs are like a game of chess, unpredictable. Young Master Jun never foresaw that in the eyes of ambitious figures like those in the Zhan family, the very talent he displayed—his greatest selling point—would become the path to his demise. But who would make the move? That remained uncertain.

After all, Mo Junye, who possessed the Ethereal Body, was merely a disguise. Young Master Jun’s current strength was terrifying!

“Xiaoxiao, since that last time… you haven’t appeared in public. I believe the impression of you in the current Phantom Mansion has grown quite faint. Therefore, I intend to assign you the task of eliminating the Ethereal Body possessor this time.”

A trace of ruthlessness flickered across Zhan Lunhui’s youthful face.

“If Cao Guofeng and the others try to stop you, feel free to eliminate them as well!”

Zhan Lunhui instructed.

“Very well, I will do my utmost,” Zhan Xiaoxiao replied, a seriousness creeping into her beatific smile.

To dispatch a Saint Venerable expert just to intercept a Jin Xuan!

Anyone who heard this would likely laugh their heads off.

But Zhan Xiaoxiao knew that her mission was not light; certainly not light!

Because, that person remained the possessor of an Ethereal Body! The future of an Ethereal Body owner could not be measured, even by a Saint Venerable expert. Given the Phantom Mansion’s regard for the Ethereal Body, there would inevitably be other hidden experts protecting the target, beyond the Seven Great Saint Emperors!

The possibility of failing the mission, or even not returning, was not out of the question!

Therefore, Zhan Xiaoxiao harbored no carelessness; she could not afford to be careless, nor dared she be!

“Since the decision has been made to eliminate him, we must act immediately! Decisiveness is the mark of true resolution!

That notion of struggling to find worthy opponents, or 'cultivating opponents as future rivals,' is utter folly—it’s digging one's own grave!”

Zhan Lunhui seemed to recall something, his mouth twitching as he let out a cold snort.

Then, he tilted his head back and pondered for a long time before speaking slowly, “Tianji, have there been any anomalies in the earth veins recently?”

Zhan Tianji’s expression was grave as he immediately replied, “There has been no abnormality whatsoever! The earth veins of the Miao family are still flowing slowly towards us, everything is normal. I believe in a little more time, they will fully integrate into the main family’s network, and by then, even if another Feng Shui master notices, they will be powerless to do anything!”

“But I still feel something is not quite right,” Zhan Lunhui narrowed his eyes slightly. “Perhaps it’s because things have been too smooth that I feel uneasy. I highly suspect whether my master—if he is still alive—that period of time—alas. If he were still alive…” At this point, Zhan Lunhui suddenly grew agitated and waved his hand. “You all may leave now! Go attend to your respective duties.”

He had issued an expulsion order. He then turned, facing the dark wall alone, offering everyone only his back.

Though he said no more, the half-sentence he spoke earlier had deeply shaken all five of them!

Zhan Lunhui’s Master!

Miao Qingcheng!

Was that person ‘still alive’? Why would such a question arise? Could it be… Miao Qingcheng!

The founding ancestor of the Miao family!

And also the first Lord of the Phantom Mansion!

The final disciple of the Nine Nether First Young Master!

The Nine Nether First Young Master founded the Phantom Mansion, but it was Miao Qingcheng who single-handedly expanded the Misty Phantom Mansion to its current scale. It could be said that the entire Misty Phantom Mansion was filled with Miao Qingcheng’s traces!

After developing the Phantom Mansion, Miao Qingcheng eventually accepted eight disciples!

These were the founding ancestors of the current Eight Great Families!

Zhan Lunhui was, in fact, one of Miao Qingcheng’s personal eight disciples, making him the common ancestor of every member of the Zhan family! No wonder the Zhan family treated him with such reverence. And Miao Qingcheng had now become a true legend within the Phantom Mansion, second only to the legend of the Nine Nether First Young Master. Could it be… he was still alive?

The few people exchanged glances, feeling that their speculation was utterly absurd! After nodding their assent, the five were about to depart…

Suddenly, Zhan Lunhui shot to his feet, two ghastly green beams of light shooting from his pale face. He said in a low voice, “Someone has intruded into the Zhan family’s underground! Investigate immediately!”

“Someone has broken in? How is that possible?” Zhan Wuyun exclaimed in shock, an event that defied belief for everyone present.

Since the Zhan family harbored ambitions to contend for the Lordship of the Phantom Mansion, their underground area had been a highly confidential operational base. Apart from the direct descendants with pure Zhan blood, no one else was permitted entry! This level of secrecy was pushed to the extreme!

The other families likely didn't even know that the Zhan family possessed an underground world. Even within the Zhan family, a clan numbering ten thousand, the number of people aware of the underground world was strictly limited to less than twenty!

How could an outsider manage to infiltrate such a critical location?

“This is the power of the soul! The scent of a living person! My perception cannot be wrong; an outsider has indeed approached!” Zhan Lunhui said grimly, his pale face a mask of cold ferocity. “Hurry up and go! Conduct a thorough search!”

Jun Moxie, relying on the Heaven-defying stealth capabilities of his Yin-Yang Escape technique, charged recklessly downward from the high altitude, swaggering straight into the Zhan family’s inner compound. Moving as if through an empty field, he casually seized several individuals, immediately employing the Soul Seizing Art combined with hypnosis to interrogate them about the whereabouts of Zhan Qingfeng and Zhan Yushu.

Although the Zhan family had a considerable population, the number of people participating in high-level meetings was limited, and even fewer knew the brothers’ location.

Only after questioning over a dozen people did Jun Moxie finally learn from a 'high-ranking member' that the unfortunate pair had been assigned to a place called "Nine Nether Soul Refining"... As for the exact location of this place, fewer people seemed to know; the only clue was that it was somewhere underground... Young Master Jun, arrogant and skilled, relying on the marvel of his Yin-Yang Escape, and having arrived with such fanfare, could hardly return empty-handed. Thus, he pushed forward, penetrating deeper, descending through the ground with the astonishing speed of a hurricane, instantly reaching the Zhan family’s most confidential underground world!

The Zhan family’s underground world was an absolute secret to anyone in this world! It was likely that even the Fourteenth Young Master of the Nine Nether might not navigate it with ease; but for Young Master Jun, who possessed the monstrous 'Earth Force' ability coupled with the Yin-Yang Escape, it was like strolling through his own backyard, able to move about freely!

The Zhan family handled matters with extreme rigor: all servants maintaining the household in the underground world were forbidden from ever stepping outside! Any violation meant execution without pardon. Moreover, the vast majority of these people were born and raised underground, having never encountered sunlight!

Consequently, they resembled zombies, their faces deathly pale, completely devoid of color. Jun Moxie was momentarily stunned, as if he had stumbled into the world of Caucasians on Earth. Damn it, every single one of these fellows’ faces was whiter than the Young Master’s teeth! Even real Caucasians from his previous life didn't appear this pale; they were genuinely white to an unsettling degree…

This time was simpler; he only captured two individuals and used the Soul Searching Art to directly discover the location of the Nine Nether Soul Refining place. Local residents are indeed more familiar with the environment. Furthermore, the Young Master did not bother with the Soul Seizing Art or hypnosis this time, as there was no longer any need to conceal anything!

All the Zhan family servants upon whom he had used the Soul Searching Art lay there like living dead, their vital spirit and soul utterly shattered, impossible to mend.