"There's no way he can dodge this spear!"
"Can this young man block it if he takes the blow from Ming Que Tianjiao head-on?"
As they witnessed the awe-inspiring spear light, the onlookers' hearts raced with fear. This was an attack from the heart realm, unavoidable.
Unless one possessed an extremely advanced body-refining technique, it was impossible to briefly escape the tracking of the Dao patterns.
But how old was this young man? He hadn't even spent enough time cultivating. Could he have possibly mastered such a technique?
Bang!
In an instant, the destructive spear light replaced the air in front of Li Hao, rushing towards him with deadly intent.
Electric arcs of destruction surrounded the spear light, lifting the floor beneath Li Hao's feet. Tendrils of black, spiral-like killing intent spiraled out, projecting a terrifying might.
Li Hao didn't dodge. He simply lifted his hand and punched forward.
The spear light collided with his fist, creating a dazzling aurora that forced people to avert their eyes. But soon, the destructive force dissipated, and Li Hao remained unscathed.
Ji Ming Que's expression changed drastically, and he looked at Li Hao with a mix of shock and bewilderment.
Although he hadn't used his full strength in that strike, it was still at least seven or eight tenths of his power. It could easily pierce through the 'Unsurpassed' realm, yet Li Hao had blocked it?
Those who had come to watch were also astonished by this turn of events.
"That young man actually caught Ming Que Tianjiao's spear!"
"Could he have also entered the 'Four Establishments' realm? But he doesn't look that old, and he's also a Tianjiao!"
"No wonder he received high praises from War God Yun Ge. He's truly remarkable."
"After all, he has the blood of the Ji family. His mother is from the main family line, and his bloodline is purer than those of the side branches!"
Many people whispered in surprise, but their tone had shifted from previous disdain to a grudging acknowledgment of the young man's abilities.
Although the Ji family had serious conflicts between the main and side family lines, they uniformly tolerated strong individuals. The harsh living environment in the Great Wilderness Heaven also led its people to respect strength above all else.
The power Li Hao had displayed caused many who had previously ridiculed and looked down on him to close their mouths. They realized that regardless of whether he could enter the Ji family or not, he was indeed a Tianjiao!
In the Great Wilderness Heaven, a Tianjiao must not be dishonored!
"It seems you do have some skill. Considering that you brought War God Yun Ge back, I won't hold this against you!" Ji Ming Que realized that Li Hao truly had some ability, so he coldly snorted and prepared to let the matter drop.
"If you can take a punch from me, I will also acknowledge you," Li Hao said as he stepped forward.
Ji Ming Que was taken aback, his face turning gloomy. "Are you challenging me?" he asked.
"A punch for a spear. That would make us even," Li Hao replied calmly.
Ji Ming Que was so angry that he laughed. "You actually think you have the qualifications to fight me? I was just holding back earlier and didn't use my full strength. If we really fought, you would have been knocked down long ago!"
"I will also hold back," Li Hao said without arguing further.
Ji Ming Que's eyes widened with anger as he encountered someone even more arrogant than himself for the first time.
"Then come and try!" Ji Ming Que's body burst forth with a robust aura as he fully activated his meridians, causing his hair to stand on end in anger.
Just as Li Hao was about to make a move, a group of figures flew towards them from a distance. One of them shouted, "Stop!"
Everyone on the square outside the hall looked towards the newcomers, and when they recognized the leader, they exclaimed in surprise. Many of them quickly knelt down and bowed, "Greetings, War God Qing Yuan!"
"Greetings, War God Qing Yuan!"
The voices of the crowd gradually became uniform as they all bowed their heads in respect.
Ji Ming Que and the others, who were floating in mid-air, saw Ji Qing Yuan and the group of elders approaching, and their faces changed slightly. They stopped their actions and quickly bowed in salute.
Ji Qing Yuan's expression was calm. Although he was from the side family line, he was now highly respected by both the main and side family lines of the Ji family. In this sacred mountain, most of those kneeling on the ground were from the main family line, yet they treated him with reverence, almost like a deity.
He had long since become accustomed to this.
Previously, he had secretly competed with Ji Dao Xin, but it was only for the benefit of the other side family lines.
After all, he was now considered the leader among the side family lines, so it was natural for him to shoulder some responsibilities.
Seeing the shattered doors of the guest-welcoming hall and the scene in the hall, Ji Qing Yuan immediately understood the situation. When he noticed Ji Yu Fen kneeling at the feet of the unfamiliar young man, a cold light flashed in his eyes.
"What's going on here?"
One of the elders stepped forward, his face filled with anger as he glared at Li Hao.
"Answer me!" the elder demanded.
Ji Ming Que and the others lowered their heads and remained silent, but Ji Bo Duan quickly stepped forward and explained, "Elder Qing Feng, it's just a misunderstanding. Tianjiao Yu Fen wanted to exchange pointers with Young Master Le Ping, that's all."
"What young master? He's not even a member of the Ji family yet!" Elder Qing Feng reprimanded sharply.
Ji Bo Duan's face changed slightly, and he quickly changed the subject.
"Qing Feng, don't forget your father's name!" a distant voice called out.
Several figures were chasing after the group, and among them was an elderly woman who quickly appeared above the guest-welcoming hall. Her stance placed Li Hao slightly behind her, as if to shield him, and she glared at Elder Qing Feng, "This is the guest-welcoming hall. Your behavior is outrageous! Where is the rule that allows sparring and exchanging pointers here? Have you forgotten all manners?"
She glanced at Ji Qing Feng with disdain before turning her gaze to Ji Ming Que and the other Tianjiaos.
"Who is biased towards whom? When has our Ji family ever been so ignorant of propriety, resorting to fighting in the guest-welcoming hall?" The elderly woman, named Ji Yun Yue, glared at them with fury.
"Not killing him is already being merciful. He is not a member of the Ji family anymore!" Ji Qing Feng coldly added.
"You're outrageous!" Ji Yun Yue raged. "He is your cousin. Do you intend to kill your own flesh and blood with your own hands?"
Ji Qing Feng's eyes turned icy as he replied, "Our family has its rules and our clan has its regulations. My father was just and strict, and I follow in his footsteps. Anyone who makes a mistake will be punished accordingly, regardless of their relation to me. Not even my own son would be spared!"
"It is up to the family head to decide his punishment, not you!" Ji Yun Yue rebuked, her anger reaching its peak. There were twenty-two cousins in their generation, named with the character 'Yun', but internal strife had divided them into two factions that rarely interacted. This was an inevitable wound within the legacy of their aristocratic family, a complex web of jealousy and resentment that was difficult to untangle.
Ji Qing Feng let out a cold huff, his eyes filled with disdain.
More and more people gathered, with Ji Yun Yue and Ji Qing Yuan at the forefront, clearly divided into two camps.
Meanwhile, news of what was happening here reached a certain building on the summit of the sacred mountain.
In the exquisite and picturesque backyard, there was a small courtyard surrounded by lush gardens.
The figure of Ji Yun Ge became increasingly translucent as he stood there, gazing at the fertile fields, the wells, and the vegetable gardens on the hills with a mix of sorrow and tenderness in his eyes.
He paused for a moment and said to Ji Tian Chao and the others, "You all can stay here. During this final moment, I only want Xiao Mu by my side."
Ji Tian Chao and the others looked at his nearly transparent body with sorrow-filled eyes, struggling to hold back their tears.
"Third Brother, I will never forgive those who besieged you!" Ji Tian Chao clenched his teeth and vowed.
Ji Yun Ge offered a faint smile, holding his wife's hand as he replied, "Just remember the promise you made to me. The Ji family's fortune is rising, and we will surely rise to prominence in the future!"
With that, he smiled gently at his wife and fell silent, leading her down the grassy path, hand in hand.
"Father..." Ji Tian Chao called out, his voice filled with anguish. He, along with his son, daughter-in-law, and the others, watched the two elderly figures walk away, their eyes filled with grief.
Ji Yun Qing clenched his jaw and glanced back, his eyes flashing with hatred. "Third Brother is about to disappear, and those people can't even be bothered to come and see him one last time?"
The fourth brother remained silent. He knew whom the sixth brother was referring to. Ever since their parents had passed away, the brothers had grown apart.
Hearing Ji Yun Qing's words, Ji Tian Chao's body trembled slightly, and he tightened his fists without saying a word.
They stood quietly outside the small courtyard for a long time, until they heard Ji Xi Mu's mournful cry from within. Their bodies shook, and tears fell from their eyes.
They knew that the Ji family's legendary warrior, Ji Yun Ge, had left them forever.
"Third Brother!" Ji Tian Chao roared, his voice echoing like a wounded beast's lament.
The fourth brother and Ji Yun Qing clenched their fists, their shoulders trembling slightly as they struggled to control their emotions.
Meanwhile, Ji Yun Ge's children and grandchildren could no longer hold back their tears, sobbing uncontrollably.
At that moment, a figure flew towards them from a distance—it was Ji Yun Qing's daughter, Ji Qing Meng.
"Father," Ji Qing Meng called out as she approached. Seeing their sorrowful expressions, her face changed slightly as she noticed the absence of Ji Yun Ge's figure. Instantly, she understood what had transpired.
Ji Yun Qing remained silent for a while before responding to Ji Qing Meng's repeated calls. He turned, his eyes red and moist, and asked, "What is it?"
"That young man defeated Ji Yu Fen downstairs. Now, Ji Qing Yuan and Aunt Yun Yue are facing off, and there's news from the council hall that the family head has agreed to let that child join the Ji family. However, they want to test his sacred bone to determine if he's considered a direct descendant or a branch family member," Ji Qing Meng reported, her voice steady despite the news.
Hearing this, Ji Yun Ge's children, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren were taken aback. They all felt grateful towards the young man who had brought their father's soul back, and their hearts warmed at the thought of him defeating Ji Yu Fen. It seemed their father had not exaggerated the young man's abilities.
"Ji Qing Yuan!" Ji Tian Chao spun around, his eyes fierce and angry. Though his gaze was not directed at Ji Qing Meng, the intensity of his emotions caused her heart to constrict slightly.
"This was Third Brother's last wish. I want to see what they plan to do!" Ji Tian Chao clenched his fists and strode forward, his figure disappearing in an instant.
Concerned about Ji Jiulong's impulsiveness, Ji Yun Qing and the others quickly followed suit.
A figure appeared out of thin air, moving with incredible speed and landing in the center of the hall.
Though his feet did not touch the ground, the tiles beneath him cracked under the force of his presence!
"War God of the Heavenly Dynasty!"
Recognizing the figure, the onlookers outside the hall were taken aback, their faces changing color as they quickly bowed in respect.
This War God was of their direct lineage, commanding even greater reverence, admiration, and affection.
"Ninth Uncle!"
Ji Qing Feng, engaged in the heated argument, recognized the newcomer and his expression shifted. His heart raced as he felt a sense of trepidation despite his earlier defiance.
The oppressive aura was overwhelming!
"What a lively gathering!"
Ji Tianchao's eyes were icy as he scanned the crowd, soon fixing on Li Hao in the Welcoming Hall.
As their gazes met, he knew that this was the young man who had brought his third brother back.
He noticed the other young man lying at Li Hao's feet, recognizing him as one of the Ji family's geniuses.
Ji Tianchao nodded slightly at Ji Yun Yue, his fourth aunt, before turning his piercing gaze on Ji Qing Yuan.
Ji Qing Yuan returned his stare, their eyes locking in a silent clash, sparks of unseen currents flickering between them.
Ji Tianchao's eyes remained cold, but he did not immediately fly into a rage. He waited for the crowd to settle before taking a deep breath and speaking in a chilling tone, "Our Ji family is an ancient sacred clan, where martial prowess reigns supreme!"
"Regardless of this young man's background, he brought back the soul of the Yun Ge War God, and that is a great favor to our clan!"
"Who dares to act so recklessly here?! Who dares to disgrace our clan?!"
His words reverberated through the crowd, causing those with lower cultivation levels to feel their blood stir and their eardrums throb.
Those who had been floating in the air to get a better view quickly retracted their spiritual senses, afraid to remain airborne.
Such was the awe-inspiring presence of the Ji family's War God. The tens of thousands of people gathered in the streets and square fell into an apprehensive silence.
Ji Qing Feng's face paled, and he opened his mouth to speak, but upon seeing Ji Tianchao's icy gaze, his words caught in his throat.
He could argue with Ji Yun Yue, his fourth aunt, but facing his ninth uncle, he felt genuine fear.
"Are you the ones behaving so outrageously?!"
Ji Tianchao's gaze fell on Ji Ming Que and the other geniuses.
Their faces drained of color, and they tried to explain, but Ji Tianchao cut them off, his voice filled with fury: "Call your parents here to see me!"
"You speak of clan rules and family laws, yet you dare to fight in the Welcoming Hall, disrupting the peace of our clan?! Today, I shall rectify this disorder!"
Ji Tianchao roared, striking fear into the hearts of those present.
Unlike Ji Qing Yuan, Ji Tianchao had been a War God for many years, fighting alongside Yun Ge. His reputation and influence were immense.
Moreover, he was born with a sacred bone and had the potential to reach the Saint realm. It wouldn't be surprising if he took a step into that realm at any moment.
Ji Qing Yuan's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he spoke up, "Tianchao, it's inappropriate to reprimand our clan's geniuses for the sake of an outsider."
Ji Tianchao glared at him, his body trembling with anger. "You dare to question me?! Qing Yuan, instead of maintaining order as a War God, you let them act so disgracefully? Have you no shame?!"
He berated Ji Qing Yuan without showing any respect or giving him face.
Ji Qing Yuan's expression darkened, and he was about to speak when Ji Tianchao interrupted, his voice filled with rage, "What outsider? He has the blood of our Ji family flowing in his veins!"
"He brought back the soul of the Yun Ge War God, allowing him to return to our clan and rest in peace. Who among you can claim such an achievement? Who among you can match his deeds?!"
His words were laced with anger, and it seemed he could erupt at any moment.
The crowd fell silent, their faces pale.
"Ji Tianchao, this is a different matter," Ji Qing Yuan tried to explain. "We are indeed happy about the return of the Yun Ge War God..."
Before he could finish, Ji Tianchao cut him off again, his anger reaching a boiling point, "Happy? My third brother hasn't even left yet, and you're causing trouble for the child who brought him back? Do you want him to leave with resentment in his heart?!
Ji Tianchao's rage was palpable, and he pointed an accusing finger at Ji Qing Yuan, "My third brother fought demons and eliminated evil for our clan, driving back other sacred clans. Who among you hasn't benefited from his protection? Who hasn't enjoyed the fruits of his labor?!"
"Just because he brought back my third brother, he deserves your respect and reverence! How dare you treat him with such disdain? You shame not only him but also the Yun Ge War God you claim to venerate?!"