Chapter 231: How Dare You Insult Me So?
Chapter 231: How Dare You Insult Me So?
"This spear, he can't avoid it!"
"Can this young man withstand a full strike from the Bright Void Prodigy?"
Seeing the shocking spear light, the onlookers were all seized with fear. This was an attack from the Dao Mind Realm, impossible to evade.
Unless it was one of the top Body Movement Techniques of the Ultimate Mastery Realm, which could briefly make Dao Resonance unable to track.
But how old could this young man be? The time he spent cultivating wouldn't be enough to master such techniques.
Boom!
The destructive spear light arrived in an instant, replacing the air in front of Li Hao and rushing towards him.
Electric arcs of destruction surrounded the spear light, lifting the floor beneath Li Hao's feet, forming a terrifying black spiral of Killing Aura.
Li Hao didn't dodge; he simply raised his hand and punched out.
The spear light collided with his fist, generating a blinding light that made it impossible to open one's eyes. But then the destructive force dissipated, and Li Hao remained unharmed.
Ji Mingque's face changed, and he looked at Li Hao with a mix of surprise and doubt.
Although he hadn't used his full strength, he had still put in about eighty percent. Piercing through the Three Eternities Realm would have been easy, yet Li Hao had managed to block it?
The other onlookers were also stunned by the scene.
"That young man actually managed to withstand the Bright Void Prodigy's spear!"
"Could he have also reached the Fourth Establishment Realm? He doesn't look that old, but he must be a prodigy!"
"No wonder he received such high praise from the Yun Ge War God. It seems he is quite powerful."
"Considering he has Ji Family blood, his mother being from the Main Lineage, the bloodline in his body is rich, possibly even more so than those from the Secondary Lineage!"
Many people were surprised and began to discuss, their tone shifting from earlier disdain to a grudging acknowledgment of the young man's abilities.
Although the Ji Family had severe conflicts between the Main and Secondary Lineages, they all respected strength. The harsh living conditions in the Great Wasteland Sky made people here revere the powerful.
Li Hao's display of power made many who had previously mocked and belittled him shut their mouths, recognizing that whether or not he could join the Ji Family, he was indeed a prodigy!
In the Great Wasteland Sky, one must not insult a prodigy lightly!
"It seems you do have some skill. Considering you brought back the Yun Ge War God, I won't hold it against you!"
Ji Mingque saw that Li Hao truly had genuine abilities and coldly snorted, deciding to back down.
"If you can withstand my punch, I will acknowledge you."
Li Hao took a half-step forward.
Ji Mingque was taken aback, his face turning dark. "You want to challenge me?"
"One spear for one punch, that would be fair." Li Hao said calmly.
Ji Mingque couldn't help but laugh in anger. "Do you really think you have the qualifications to fight me? I held back just now and didn't use my full strength. If we were to truly spar, you would have been down long ago!"
"I will also hold back." Li Hao didn't argue, simply stating his position.
Ji Mingque's eyes flared with anger, feeling for the first time that there was someone more arrogant than himself.
"Then come and try!"
He unleashed a powerful aura, his Major Meridians activated, and his hair stood on end, clearly enraged.
Just as Li Hao was about to strike, a group of figures suddenly appeared from a distance, and one of them shouted, "Stop!"
Everyone on the streets and squares outside the hall turned to look. When they saw the leading figure, they were all shocked, and many quickly knelt in reverence:
"Pay homage to the Qingyuan War God!"
"Pay homage to the Qingyuan War God!"
The voices gradually became uniform, and everyone bowed their heads.
In the air, Ji Mingque and the others saw Ji Qingyuan and a group of Elders arrive. Their expressions changed slightly, and they stopped, quickly bowing in respect.
Ji Qingyuan's expression was calm. Although he was from the Secondary Lineage, he now commanded great respect from the Ji Family, regardless of Main or Secondary Lineage. On this Holy Mountain, the people who bowed were mostly from the Main Lineage, but they treated him like a deity, bowing at his feet.
He had long since adapted.
Earlier, his secret competition with Ji Daosin was just about the interests of other Secondary Lineages.
After all, he was now a leading figure among the Secondary Lineages, and naturally, he had to shoulder some responsibilities.
Seeing the shattered doors of the Guest Hall and the scene within, Ji Qingyuan immediately understood the situation. When he saw Ji Yufeng lying at the feet of the unfamiliar young man, a cold light flashed in his eyes.
"What's going on here?"
An Elder stepped forward, angrily demanding an answer.
His face was full of anger, directed at Li Hao, as if questioning him.
Ji Mingque and others lowered their heads and remained silent. Ji Boyuan, realizing the situation, hurriedly stepped forward.
"Senior Qingfeng, this is all a misunderstanding. Genius Yufeng came here to challenge Le Ping, just to exchange skills."
"He's no Young Master; he's not even a Ji Family member yet!"
The Elder immediately rebuked.
Ji Boyuan's face changed slightly, and he quickly held his tongue.
"Qingfeng, don't forget your father's name!"
From a distance, several figures rushed over. An elderly woman quickly appeared above the Guest Hall, positioning herself in a way that subtly shielded Li Hao.
"This is the Guest Hall! How dare you act so recklessly here? There are rules for a reason! Is there no respect left in this family?"
She glared at Ji Qingfeng, then turned her gaze to Ji Mingque and the other geniuses.
Seeing the old woman, Ji Mingque and the others' faces changed, and they hurriedly bowed in respect.
Ji Qingfeng's face darkened, and he said, "Fourth Aunt, if it's about the rules, then there should be no favoritism!"
"Who is favoring whom? When has our Ji Family ever been so disrespectful as to attack someone in the Guest Hall?" The old woman, Ji Yunyue, was now full of anger.
"It's already generous not to have killed him. He's not a Ji Family member anymore!"
Ji Qingfeng said coldly.
"You're a scoundrel!"
Ji Yunyue was furious. "By blood, he is your cousin. Do you really want to kill your own cousin?!"
Ji Qingfeng replied coldly, "Every family has its rules, and every clan has its laws. My father was fair and strict, and I follow his example. Anyone who breaks the rules will be punished, regardless of whether they are a cousin or even my own son!"
"Whether he is at fault or not is a decision for the Patriarch, not you!"
Ji Yunyue was enraged. Their family branch consisted of fifteen brothers and seven sisters, making a total of twenty-two members of the Yun generation.
Excluding those who had died in battle or passed away young, twelve remained, but they were divided into two factions, barely speaking to each other.
The reason was that years ago, their father had doted on Uncle Nine, Ji Tianchao, which bred jealousy among some of his siblings, causing rifts between their children.
When their father died, these rifts became irreconcilable, leading to open conflicts and a complete breakdown of communication.
This was an unavoidable hidden wound in the legacy of noble families, countless and impossible to resolve.
"Hmph!"
Ji Qingfeng scoffed, his eyes filled with disdain.
More and more people gathered, with Ji Yunyue and Ji Qingyuan leading the two factions.
Meanwhile, news of the incident reached a building at the top of Holy Mountain.
On the beautiful and picturesque hillside, a small, rustic courtyard lay ahead.
Ji Yunge's figure grew increasingly ethereal, drifting here.
He looked at the fertile fields, the well, and the vegetable patches on the hillside, his eyes filled with sadness and heartache.
He paused for a moment and said to Ji Tianchao and the others, "Stay here. In these final moments, let Xiao Mu accompany me."
Ji Tianchao and the others looked at him with sorrow, their eyes welling up as they saw his nearly transparent form.
"Third Brother, I will not let anyone who attacked you go unpunished!"
Ji Tianchao said through gritted teeth.
Ji Yunge smiled slightly, took his wife's hand, and said, "Just remember the promise you made to me. The Ji Family's destiny is approaching, and we will rise again!"
With that, he smiled at his wife and said no more, holding her hand as they walked together down the grassy path.
"Father..."
Behind them, Ji Tianchao and his family watched the two elderly figures grow distant, their eyes filled with grief.
Ji Yunqing gritted his teeth and glanced back into the distance, his eyes filled with hatred.
"Even Third Brother is about to pass away, and those guys still refuse to come and take a look?!"
Fourth Brother remained silent. He knew who his sixth brother was referring to. Ever since their parents' death, the bond between the brothers had already shattered.
Ji Tianchao's body trembled slightly at Ji Yunqing's words. He clenched his fists but remained silent.
They stood silently outside the small courtyard. After a long while, a mournful cry from inside made them all shudder, tears rolling down their cheeks.
They knew that the Ji Family's legendary War God, Ji Yunge, had left them forever.
"Third Brother!!"
Ji Tianchao roared to the sky, his voice like the mournful cry of a wounded beast.
Fourth Brother and Ji Yunqing only clenched their fists, their shoulders trembling as they struggled to control their emotions.
The children and grandchildren of Ji Yunge, however, burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.
At that moment, a figure flew swiftly toward them. It was Ji Yunqing's daughter, Ji Qingmeng.
"Father."
Ji Qingmeng approached, her face changing when she saw the mournful expressions of the others. Not seeing Ji Yunge, she instantly understood the situation.
Ji Yunqing remained silent for a long moment. When Ji Qingmeng called out again, he finally reined in his emotions, turning to her with red eyes. "What is it?"
"That young man defeated Ji Yufeng at the foot of the mountain. Ji Qingyuan and Aunt Yunyue are currently confronting him. The Ancestral Hall has also sent word that the Patriarch has agreed to let the boy join the Ji Family, but he must undergo a Sacred Bone test to determine whether he belongs to the Main Lineage or the Secondary Lineage."
Ji Qingmeng quickly relayed the information.
Hearing this, the children and grandchildren of Ji Yunge, along with their spouses and grandchildren, were taken aback.
They had a deep affection for the young man who had brought back their father's soul, and they were grateful to him. The fact that he had defeated Ji Yufeng confirmed that their father's words were not exaggerated.
"Ji Qingyuan!"
Ji Tianchao suddenly turned to Ji Qingmeng, his eyes filled with grief and barely contained anger. Despite not being directed at her, the intensity of his gaze made her heart skip a beat.
"This is Third Brother's final wish, and I want to see what they intend to do!"
Ji Tianchao clenched his fists and suddenly stepped forward, his figure vanishing in an instant.
Worried that Uncle Nine might act rashly, Ji Yunqing and the others quickly followed.
In the mountain's interior.
Ji Yunyue and Ji Qingfeng were arguing heatedly, citing clan rules and family laws. Ji Qingyuan, however, remained silent, standing like a mountain, making everyone around him feel suffocated.
Boom!
Suddenly, Ji Qingyuan's eyes flickered, and the ground beneath him sank.
A figure seemed to break through the air, appearing swiftly in the center of the courtyard.
His feet hadn't even touched the ground, yet the tiles beneath him cracked!
"War God Tianchao!"
Recognizing the figure, the onlookers were stunned, their faces changing as they hurriedly bowed in reverence.
This War God was from the Main Lineage, which made him even more revered and beloved.
"Uncle Nine!"
Ji Qingfeng, who was in the middle of the argument, saw the newcomer and his face changed, his heart racing uncontrollably.
Although he knew from his father that his grandfather favored Uncle Nine, and this had influenced his own feelings, the presence of the man still left him feeling uneasy.
The pressure was overwhelming!
"What a lively gathering!"
Ji Tianchao's gaze was cold as he scanned the area, quickly noticing Li Hao in the Guest Hall.
The moment their eyes met, he knew that this was the young man who had brought back Third Brother.
He noticed another young man, deeply asleep, at Li Hao's feet and recognized him as a prodigy from the Ji Family's younger generation.
Ji Tianchao's gaze swept over Ji Yunyue, and he nodded slightly at his fourth sister before his eyes settled on Ji Qingyuan.
Ji Qingyuan met his gaze calmly, but their eyes seemed to clash with invisible currents, sparking unseen friction.
Ji Tianchao's eyes were icy, but he did not immediately lash out. He waited until the entire area fell silent, then took a deep breath and spoke with a voice as cold as ice:
"The Ji Family is an Ancient Holy Clan, where martial prowess is revered!"
"Regardless of this young man's origins, bringing back the Yunge War God is a great favor to our clan!"
"Who dares to act so recklessly here?!"
His words reverberated through the crowd. Many with lower realms felt their blood and qi churn, and their eardrums throb with pain.
Those who had been observing from the air felt their Divine Souls tremble and quickly retracted them, no longer daring to remain airborne.
This was the might of a Ji Family War God. The tens of thousands of people in the street and square were as silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to speak.
Ji Qingfeng's face changed slightly, and he opened his mouth to speak but was immediately silenced by Ji Tianchao's cold, piercing gaze. The words died on his lips.
He could still argue with his Aunt Ji Yunyue, but facing his Ninth Uncle, he felt a deep-seated fear.
"Is it you who are acting recklessly here?!"
Ji Tianchao's gaze fell on Ji Mingque and the other prodigies.
The faces of Ji Mingque and the other prodigies changed dramatically. They wanted to defend themselves, but Ji Tianchao's next words cut off their protests:
"Bring your parents to see me!"
"Talk about clan rules and etiquette. Today, I will enforce the clan rules. Fighting in the Guest Hall, has the Ji Family's Etiquette and Law fallen into chaos?!"
Ji Tianchao's roar sent shivers down everyone's spines.
Unlike Ji Qingyuan, Ji Tianchao had been a War God for many years, fighting alongside the Yunge War God and accumulating immense authority.
He was also a Naturally Sacred Bone, with the potential to reach Sainthood Immersion at any moment!
Ji Qingyuan's brow furrowed slightly, and he said, "Tianchao, scolding our clan's prodigies for an outsider seems inappropriate, doesn't it?"
Ji Tianchao's eyes widened, and his wrath erupted, like a lion ready to roar:
"Do you have a problem? Qingyuan, as a War God, you should be maintaining order here, not letting them act recklessly. What kind of example is this setting?!"
He publicly reprimanded Ji Qingyuan without any consideration for his feelings!
Ji Qingyuan's face changed, and he opened his mouth to speak, but Ji Tianchao's furious words cut him off:
"What do you mean by 'outsider'? He has the blood of the Ji Family in his veins!"
"He brought the Yunge War God back to our clan, allowing the War God's soul to return home and rest in peace. What great deed have any of you done to match this?"
His words were filled with anger, as if he were on the verge of an explosive outburst.
This made the entire crowd's faces change, and they fell silent.
"Ji Tianchao, these are two separate matters. We are naturally happy about the Yunge War God's return..."
Ji Qingyuan said.
But before he could finish, Ji Tianchao interrupted again, his anger seemingly reaching a boiling point as he roared:
"Happy? My Third Brother hasn't even left, and you are already making things difficult for the one who brought him back. Do you want him to depart with a heavy heart?!"
Ji Tianchao's anger grew as he pointed at Ji Qingyuan, "Back in the day, my Third Brother fought for the Ji Family, slaying demons and monsters, driving other Holy Races to retreat and flee. Who among you hasn't benefited from his efforts? Who hasn't enjoyed the shade of the tree he planted?"
"Just for bringing my Third Brother back to the Ji Family, he deserves your respect and reverence. How dare you treat him with such disrespect?!"
"This isn't just insulting him; it's insulting my Third Brother, it's insulting the Ji Family War God you all revere!!"
(End of Chapter)
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