While Long Tu Tian was speaking, Lin Xiao and the other three, along with the battle skeleton, had already regrouped. Lin Xiao immediately crushed the life-saving pill that Miao Ling had given him, an initial eighth-grade pill.
This pill served as both a speed enhancer and a defensive aid.
The moment Lin Xiao crushed it, a tangible spiritual force barrier instantly condensed in front of him. The barrier was large enough to shield all four people and the battle skeleton completely.
At the same time, an inexplicable force enveloped Lin Xiao, the other three, and the skeleton, yanking them violently backwards.
Boom!
Ahead, the spiritual force barrier shattered, yet it still managed to block the immense palm force for a brief moment.
After all, it was a defensive manifestation at the initial eighth-grade spiritual force level, with even greater defensive strength.
The burst of speed from the pill was extraordinarily swift. In mere moments, it propelled the four people and the skeleton soaring towards the horizon, causing the palm force to strike nothing but empty air.
“Humph!”
A deep, muffled voice rang out at that moment. The speaker made no move to pursue.
The surging energy dispersed under that palm strike. Ji Tian and his three companions had already appeared in the void.
Ji Zhen, the East Elder, and the South Elder were all stained with blood, clearly gravely injured.
Only Ji Tian remained merely pale, with no trace of blood on his body.
In another area, Wu Meng, caught in the aftermath, had also sustained light injuries, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
At this point, an elderly figure had materialised in the void.
His body was gaunt and emaciated, skin stretched tightly over bones.
Yet the man exuded boundless majesty, as though the entire heaven and earth could scarcely contain his withered frame.
The old man had almost no white hair left, his face a mass of wrinkled flesh. He looked like a corpse that had leapt from its coffin.
“Supreme Elder!”
Ji Tian cupped his hands towards the old man. “The rest of the clan has been safely arranged. None were implicated.”
“Humph. Someone has levelled the Ji family compound. You lot have thrown away every scrap of face the Ji family had!”
The skin-and-bones elder snorted coldly in fury.
The Ji family home reduced to flat ground, even without casualties, would become a worldwide laughingstock. It was a massive loss of prestige.
This was not merely losing face at home. The very doorstep had been torn up.
It was nothing less than the Ji family’s greatest humiliation.
Ji Tian had no response. He too had never imagined such an event.
This generation had unexpectedly produced such audacious evildoers.
His own schemes had been turned against him, and the opponents still possessed the means to escape.
“This generation has birthed an evildoer. The man is just over twenty, rose to prominence a year ago, killed numerous geniuses and elders of our Ji family, entered the void rift in the Domain of Evil…” Ji Tian recounted Lin Xiao’s deeds, the void rift, and even the matters of Ling Hu and Zi Ling in the simplest terms.
Finally, he added, “Now he can counter saints, having slain two martial saints of our Ji family, the West Elder and North Elder. The future threat is endless. He must be eliminated.”
“Two martial saints fallen?”
The Ji family Supreme Elder’s brows knitted. His expression darkened.
The fall of two martial saints was already a grave matter, equivalent to open war between major powers.
A genius rising in this way, failed to kill repeatedly, posed an enormous hidden danger, one that could exterminate the clan. He had to be eradicated with full force.
“With him are three others. One possesses the blood demon physique, also just over twenty yet already a martial saint, capable of crossing two major realms in power. One demonic frog, crossing one major realm. The last is a genius who rose twenty years ago, Long Tu Tian, also crossing two realms, now an elder of Canglong Gate.”
Ji Tian continued, “Several geniuses gathered together, and with the demonic frog clan involved, Canglong Gate’s role in this matter may require the Supreme Elder to intervene personally.”
“Genius upon genius emerging. Could the great era truly be upon us?”
The Supreme Elder’s expression grew grave.
“How fare the geniuses of our Ji family?”
He asked again.
Ji Tian reported the Ji family’s situation in detail to the Supreme Elder.
The Supreme Elder drew a long breath. “Indeed, the great era approaches. Yet our Ji family still shows signs of decline. Concentrate all resources on cultivating Ji Zi intensively. Before long, the heirs of every great house will emerge one by one.”
“Yes!”
Ji Tian nodded.
“As for Canglong Gate, its master is deeply mysterious with wide connections. Any move would wound us vitally. It is not yet advisable. The demonic frog clan, too, should be left alone for now.”
The Supreme Elder continued, “However, those two geniuses must be eliminated.”
With that, he looked at Ji Tian. “Do you have any trace of their whereabouts?”
Ji Tian turned to Ji Zhen, who shook his head. “Canglong Gate must have broken our Ji family’s tracking technique. The tracking treasure can no longer detect them.”
The Supreme Elder frowned and asked Ji Tian, “Where do you believe they will go?”
Ji Tian considered. “On the surface, their primary goal appears to be Canglong Gate. Yet Canglong Gate is unwilling to wage full war against our Ji family, so it is not a place for long stay. They will surely activate the formation from Canglong Gate to the Saint State, seeking shelter on Spirit Pond Island.”
“Or they may hide in certain locations within the Saint State, quite possibly heading north. The greatest likelihood is taking refuge on Spirit Pond Island.”
“However, they will also anticipate that we will anticipate this. Moreover, the Canglong Gate teleport exit in the Saint State is not far from our own Ji family exit. If we intercept them midway to Spirit Pond Island, they may well avoid that route.”
Ji Tian went on, “According to the message from the Great Elder, Long Tu Tian exchanged words with the Wang family Great Elder. The Canglong Gate master is on good terms with the Wang family. If nothing unexpected occurs, they are very likely to seek shelter with the Wang family first, then proceed from there to Spirit Pond Island.”
Though the analysis was straightforward, Ji Tian had seen through it thoroughly and held strong confidence in his deduction.
The Supreme Elder fell into thought.
“Report!”
At that moment, an elder’s figure hurried over through the air.
This was a half-step martial saint elder.
“What is it?”
Ji Tian frowned, displeased as he questioned the half-step elder.
“A youth named Xi Yucheng, leading the Kunxu mountain bandits, has destroyed three of our Ji family branches.”
The half-step elder reported hastily, “There is also a Buddhist cultivator who summoned a massive golden Buddha and a large horde of stone puppets. They consecutively destroyed four more of our Ji family branches and devoured many of our people.”
“What?”
At these words, Ji Zhen and the others erupted in fury.
At such a time, others dared to strike the Ji family while it was vulnerable?
And even devouring people?
“Those two have long been at odds with our Ji family in the Domain of Evil. I never imagined they would have the audacity to attack us directly!”
Ji Zhen raged.
“The Kunxu mountain bandits have grown utterly brazen to lay hands on our Ji family?”
The South Elder roared in anger as well.
Ji Tian’s face darkened. The Supreme Elder was even more incensed. “Every sort of demon and monster is crawling out. It seems our Ji family has lain dormant too long. Without true action, we cannot deter these petty vermin.”
With that, he glared furiously at Ji Tian. “Family Head Ji, tell me. What should be done now?”
Clearly, he was deeply dissatisfied with Ji Tian’s leadership.
