Hearing Ji Tianchao's angry rebuke, the onlookers present all felt ashamed.
Indeed, the young man who sent Ji Yungeng back to the Ji family was a war god who protected their family. The return of his heroic soul was a great merit to the Ji family.
Not to mention that the youth was of mixed blood, even if he had committed a crime, he could be pardoned.
In the midst of this silence, Ji Tianchao glanced at Ji Qingfeng, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes, but he said nothing.
He had long known that the enmity between the older generations would extend to their descendants, but he never liked to explain himself. He only hoped to slay more enemies and vanquish more demons, so that his other siblings could understand that while he couldn't refuse his father's favoritism, he could return this love to the family!
Amidst the crowd, someone rushed out and seeing Ji Yufeng unconscious in the welcoming hall, exclaimed in anger, "Yufeng!"
The call of his mother caused the consciousness of the young man by Li Hao's feet to gradually awaken.
"Who is this wild breed, daring to injure my son!"
The noble lady in elegant emerald clothing glared at Li Hao, her face contorted with rage as she shouted.
Ji Tianchao and the others' expressions changed slightly. Although Ji Qingqing had made a mistake by marrying outside the clan, Li Hao was still their grandson, sharing the same blood as them.
"Enough!"
Ji Tianchao's voice thundered, silencing the angry mother.
The dignified lady's face paled as she realized her slip of tongue, but her heart was filled with indignation. "War God Tianchao, my son is a proud son of heaven. You can't favor outsiders like this..."
"Your son is worthy of being called a proud son of heaven?" Ji Tianchao asked angrily. "Being defeated and still daring to insult others, when has our Ji family's proud sons of heaven ever acted like this!"
The noble lady hurriedly explained, "But my son entered the Three Unyielding Realm at the age of fifteen, with unparalleled talent. Given another twenty years, he might reach the Dao realm. How can he not be considered a proud son of heaven?"
"If your son is a proud son of heaven, how could he be defeated?" Ji Tianchao's voice turned cold.
At the age of fifteen, entering the Three Unyielding Realm—only he could say that such talent was unworthy of the title. In his youth, he had been even more dazzling.
"Who knows what tricks that outsider used. My son's reputation as a proud son of heaven was earned through real battles," the noble lady said through gritted teeth, her eyes filled with hatred as she glared at Li Hao.
Ji Tianchao's eyes turned icy. "If you're not convinced, we can have them fight again in public. If your son loses, he will no longer be considered a proud son of heaven from now on. What do you say?"
At these words, the noble lady's face darkened, but she eventually held her tongue.
Seeing that she didn't dare to speak up, Ji Tianchao coldly harrumphed. "Your son has decent talent, but with your doting love, I'm afraid he will only be ruined. His arrogant and rude temperament is unbecoming of a proud son of heaven. From now on, he will spend the next ten years cultivating in the Bitter Cliff Mountain. If he doesn't achieve the Nascent Soul realm, you and your son are not allowed to meet."
"War God Tianchao!" The noble lady called out anxiously, but when she saw the cold gaze Ji Tianchao shot her, her heart turned cold, and she dared not say more.
"Ninth brother, do you intend to favor this boy?" A figure stepped forward from the crowd, clad in an ink-dyed robe that exuded an air of nobility.
Upon seeing this person, Ji Tianchao and those beside him, including Ji Yunqing, had subtle changes in their expressions.
"Big brother," Ji Tianchao said, his eyes flashing with a complex mix of emotions, including a hint of anger.
"I wouldn't dare." The ink-dyed robed elder replied calmly, "By following the family rules and clan laws, our clan can continue to thrive. You have already broken the rules. Do you intend to keep breaking them?"
Ji Tianchao understood the implication in his brother's words, and his eyes turned gloomy, a hint of pain flashing in them. "Big brother, third brother just left."
Hearing this, the ink-dyed robed elder's calm expression flickered slightly, and his eyes widened in surprise. Seeing the pain in Ji Tianchao's eyes, his fingers unconsciously clenched in his sleeve.
But soon, his expression returned to its usual coldness, even colder than before. "He didn't even come to see me, his big brother, before he left?"
Ji Tianchao forced a bitter smile. "Big brother, third brother is just a wounded heroic soul. Shouldn't you be the one to visit him?"
The ink-dyed robed elder remained silent.
Ji Tianchao looked at him deeply, unable to hide the disappointment in his eyes, but soon, he composed himself, his eyes turning icy as he surveyed the crowd.
His gaze swept across the countless faces, and he said coldly, "Our clan's rules and laws must be obeyed. But in our clan, the strong are respected, and those with ability rise. Everyone has the opportunity to climb higher, as long as you are exceptional, as long as you are a proud son of heaven. No matter your background, whether you are legitimate or not, or even if you are a servant, you can become a proud son of heaven and enjoy the highest cultivation resources of our clan!"
"Does anyone disagree with this?"
The entire hall fell silent. This had long been the rule of the Ji family, and no one dared to object.
The strong were respected, and those with ability rose—this was the common understanding in the Great Yu Dynasty.
Ji Tianchao's eyes turned frosty. "Since we all agree, then since he defeated Ji Yufeng, he is also considered a proud son of heaven of our clan and should enjoy the treatment of our clan's proud sons of heaven!"
Ji Qingfeng's expression changed as he looked at his father, only to see the ink-dyed robed elder, his father, raising his gaze slightly, as if lost in thought, toward the peak of the sacred mountain.
"I... I haven't lost yet!"
In the midst of this silence, a voice suddenly rang out. It was Ji Yufeng, who had regained consciousness and was struggling to get up.
His face was flushed red, and he was ashamed and angry. It was humiliating to be defeated by a mixed-blood outsider in front of so many people.
"Go back to sleep," Li Hao said, raising his hand and slapping Ji Yufeng's head, sending him back into the deep pit by his feet.
The boy, who had just woken up, fell asleep again in an instant.
Everyone's eyelids twitched. This outsider didn't seem as timid as they had imagined, seeking to curry favor with them to gain a place in the Ji family. Instead, he was cruel and overbearing!
"Yufeng!"
The noble lady nearly fainted at the sight.
Ji Tianchao and Ji Yunyue were slightly taken aback, glancing at the boy, who seemed indifferent, as if nothing had happened. They couldn't help but find the situation amusing.
This boy didn't seem as timid as they had imagined.
Ji Qingyuan and the others' expressions changed as they realized that the boy's move was extraordinary. To be able to suppress Ji Yufeng so easily meant that his strength was far beyond theirs.
At this point, there was no point in arguing further.
In the silence, Ji Daoxin's figure appeared between the two war gods, and he surveyed the crowd. "This child has the blood of our Ji family. In recognition of his merit in escorting the war god home, he shall be entered into our Ji family genealogy. Since he defeated Yufeng and has the bearing of a proud son of heaven, from now on, you shall treat him as one of our Ji family's proud sons of heaven!"
Seeing the family head, everyone's expressions changed, and they quickly bowed.
"Sacred bones indicate a questioning spirit, and one who bears them may lead our clan to rise again!"
Ji Yunyue, seeing that the matter was settled, breathed a sigh of relief. She turned and flew into the welcoming hall, landing next to Li Hao as she examined him closely. Looking at his eyebrows and eyes, she could indeed see a resemblance to Ji Qingqing.
"You are Qingqing's child, aren't you? What's your name?"
"Le Ping."
Ji Yunyue murmured, "Is that the name your mother gave you?"
"How did you know?" Li Hao asked, surprised.
"Qingqing never liked conflict. Most likely, she wished the same for her child—a life of peace and happiness, away from all this." Ji Yunyue's voice was gentle as she spoke.
Li Hao fell silent for a moment.
That woman, who disliked conflict, had ultimately married a lifelong warrior.
"Come with me, and I'll take you to test for sacred bones. With your extraordinary talent, you may very well have been born with sacred bones and the potential to question the saints!" Ji Yunyue said softly, her aged face kind and compassionate.
During their journey to send off Ji Yunge, Li Hao had learned a few things about the Ji family from her, and so he did not object.
Without further ado, Li Hao, under Ji Yunyue's watchful eye, approached Ji Tianchao and the others.
Ji Yunyue did not rush to introduce Li Hao to Ji Tianchao and the rest, intending to wait until everything had calmed down before having him address them as his uncles.
Ji Daoxin smiled faintly at Li Hao, then turned and led the way, flying swiftly ahead.
Seeing this, Ji Qingyuan and the others knew that the matter was settled, and any further argument would be futile. They followed suit, curious to see if this youth, whose talent surpassed Ji Yufeng's, truly possessed sacred bones.
If he did, their Ji family might very well witness the rise of another war god, and that would be a cause for great celebration!
Although there was infighting within the clan, the Ji family held nothing but respect for their war gods.
Of course, there were always exceptions, given the large number of family members.
"That youngster is going to be tested for sacred bones. I wonder if he has them."
"He probably does, or how could an outsider be so strong? He easily suppressed Ji Yufeng, who is older than him!"
"It's not just Ji Yufeng. Didn't you see how Ji Mingque couldn't even get a word in earlier? If he didn't have sacred bones, how could he be so powerful?"
"Could it be that our Ji family is about to witness the rise of another war god?"
"Haha, if that's the case, it would be wonderful news! Yunge, the war god, has returned and brought with him a young war god. It's as if the heavens are blessing our Ji family!"
On the streets and in the squares, people discussed the matter animatedly, forming groups as they made their way to the waist of the mountain, where the Altar of Sacrifice was located, eager to see if the youth truly possessed sacred bones.
At the Altar of Sacrifice, the area was spacious and open, resembling a training ground, with a towering altar at its center.
News of someone being tested for sacred bones had spread, and numerous members of the Ji family had rushed over. Those who could be present at the altar were influential figures in the clan, and their cultivation levels were not to be underestimated.
Ji Daoxin instructed an elder to invite the sacred flame from their ancestor.
While testing for sacred bones, they would also be worshipping their ancestor, and there were many rituals and procedures to follow.
As this was happening, more and more people arrived.
Li Hao stood beside Ji Yunyue, surrounded by Ji Tianchao, Ji Yunqing, and the others, as if they were protecting him from potential harm.
Not far from them stood Ji Qingfeng and his group, along with several others whose names began with "Yun." Upon seeing Ji Tianchao and his group, their faces turned slightly cold, and they acted as if they hadn't noticed them.
Although the siblings were now divided into two factions, at the Altar of Sacrifice, they stood according to their father's lineage, resulting in closer proximity.
As Li Hao noticed the increasing crowd, he turned his gaze to the peak of the sacred mountain and asked Ji Yunyue, "Is Yunge still there?"
Hearing the youth's question, Ji Yunyue paused for a moment, while Ji Tianchao and the others beside her stiffened, their eyes flickering with complex emotions.
The ink-robed elder and his group, standing at a distance, also looked at Li Hao when they heard his concerned tone.
Although they had conflicts with Ji Tianchao and his brothers, Ji Yunge had been carefree and maintained a neutral relationship with them. Additionally, Ji Yunge had become a war god without the benefit of sacred bones, relying solely on his own cultivation. Now that his heroic soul had returned home, they remembered this young man.
"Quiet!" Ji Qingfeng snapped, clearly displeased.
"Qingfeng," the ink-robed elder murmured.
Ji Qingfeng paused, then looked up at his father, only to meet his cold gaze. He faltered for a moment.
"Your third uncle has left," Ji Yunyue said softly to Li Hao, her heart heavy with sorrow.
Her voice was low, but it reached the ears of the others, causing their faces to darken. Their third uncle... was gone? They hadn't had the chance to say goodbye when Ji Yunge had died in battle, and now, upon his return, he had left again.
Li Hao paused, realizing that he had... faded away? He fell silent for a moment, a sigh escaping his heart.
At that moment, the various rituals at the front had concluded, and Ji Daoxin turned to summon Li Hao forward.
Ji Yunyue composed herself and quickly gave Li Hao a few instructions.
Li Hao nodded and stepped forward, flying to stand before Ji Daoxin.
In an instant, the gazes of the entire crowd converged on Li Hao.
Many of the latecomers had also heard about Li Hao's defeat of Ji Yufeng and knew that it was this young man who had brought back the war god, Ji Yunge.
"Is that him?"
"He doesn't look very old, yet he defeated Ji Yufeng."
"Ji Yufeng isn't particularly strong among the proud sons of heaven, but at this age, he's the strongest there is."
"He seems a bit younger than Ji Yufeng, doesn't he?"
The crowd murmured softly among themselves.
Ji Daoxin instructed Li Hao, "Go ahead and drip your blood onto the sacred pillar."
On the altar stood a massive silver-white sacred pillar, adorned with ancient patterns that contained profound truths.
Li Hao nodded and bit his finger forcefully. Fortunately, his teeth were harder than his finger, or his nine-cast body might not have been able to pierce his skin.
Controlling his breath, he tore the wound open and squeezed out a drop of blood, which he smeared onto the sacred pillar.
As soon as he retracted his breath, the wound healed instantly.