“Congratulations, Elder Nan, on capturing the culprits.”
The middle-aged man stood in the void ahead and cupped his hands towards Elder Nan.
“Shangguan Rui, from now on you shall be a guest elder at our Ji family headquarters. Offer your strategies for the Ji family. Your Shangguan family should prepare to relocate the entire clan near the Ji family headquarters.”
The purple-robed elder said.
This purple-robed elder was none other than a Martial Saint elder of the Ji family, one of the four directional elders, Elder Nan. He specialised in guarding the southern direction under Ji family control in Yang Province, suppressing spirit beasts.
Later, due to matters, he returned westward. Upon learning that the thirty-thousand-li search line had been destroyed, Ji family elders killed, and possible connection to Lin Xiao, he hurried in pursuit. With Shangguan Rui’s assistance along the way, he located the pair.
He quite admired Shangguan Rui’s methods and wisdom.
“Many thanks, Elder Nan.”
Shangguan Rui bowed deeply, thanking him solemnly.
He knew what Elder Nan’s words meant.
It meant the Shangguan family would rise. His, Shangguan Rui’s, talents would finally shine.
At once, Elder Nan swept the three along towards the teleportation array in this region.
En route, Zi Ling and Ling Hu took healing pills from their storage rings. Elder Nan paid no heed.
He attached no importance to the pair.
Yet he took their storage rings for himself.
Outside the teleportation array, a Shangguan family elder already awaited. Upon hearing the news of full clan relocation, he hurried excitedly towards the Shangguan family.
Ling Hu and Zi Ling seethed inwardly. If not for these two from the Shangguan family, they would not have been found.
Though they knew not what methods these people used to locate them.
Zi Ling asked, but received no answer.
Before long, large forces from Ji family headquarters arrived southward, including many half-step Martial Saints.
Elder Nan handed Zi Ling and Ling Hu to one half-step Martial Saint elder. He himself took Shangguan Rui and Ji family forces to continue pursuing others.
Before departing, Shangguan Rui gave a strategy to the half-step Martial Saint elder tasked with bringing Ling Hu and Zi Ling back to the Ji family.
The half-step Martial Saint elder applied it immediately, gravely injuring the pair again and carrying the heavily wounded duo away.
Of course, besides that half-step Martial Saint elder, other high-order Martial Emperors escorted them.
With their storage rings confiscated, Ling Hu and the other had no further means of escape.
They could only sigh inwardly at Shangguan Rui’s and the Ji family’s ruthlessness.
… Half a month later, Ling Hu and Zi Ling were brought to Ji family headquarters.
Along the way, to prevent accidents, whenever their injuries healed, the Ji family half-step Martial Saint elder gravely injured them again. The pair could be described as utterly miserable. They even felt reluctant to let their wounds heal.
Upon arrival at Ji family headquarters, based on their hatred for Lin Xiao, the Ji family prepared severe torture to extract confessions.
Yet before torture began, the pair revealed everything. The Ji family members were left unsure whether to proceed with punishment.
What the pair said seemed not false.
Merely, it contained no information on Lin Xiao’s whereabouts. They had only recently arrived in Yang Province. They held little value.
Their use lay only in future threats. Ultimately, torture was temporarily suspended.
The day after the pair were brought back to the Ji family, the Ji family patriarch convened a clan assembly. Dozens of elders gathered in the Ji family great hall.
Of course, apart from the Ji family patriarch, the other Martial Saints were not present.
The Ji family patriarch sat solemnly atop the hall. His eyes were large and profound. His hair and beard mingled black and white. He carried natural authority without anger. The elders seated below, mostly over a century old, all bore reverence.
“Has anyone learned news of Elder West and the void rift?”
The Ji family patriarch asked.
The elders shook their heads.
The Ji family patriarch then looked to one elder. “Elder Ji Chao, how fare those two young ones?”
The elder named Ji Chao stood and answered respectfully. “Seventh-grade high-level spirit controllers have been sent, yet mind control remains impossible.”
“Keep them.”
The Ji family patriarch said.
The two young ones he referred to were naturally Ling Hu and Zi Ling. News of their capture had reached him. What they revealed had also entered his ears.
Merely, without Lin Xiao appearing, their value as threats had nowhere to apply.
Their words held no real effect.
“Report.”
At that moment, a hurried voice suddenly came from outside.
Then a seventy-to-eighty-year-old ninth-level Martial Emperor elder burst through the door, rushing towards the main hall.
Arriving inside, the elder immediately cupped hands towards the Ji family patriarch. “Patriarch, urgent report from Shengzhou.”
The Ji family patriarch’s brows furrowed slightly.
The continental spirit controller grand competition concerned spirit controllers. They paid it no great heed.
Thus they had not demanded immediate reports.
The main purpose was to use the competition’s prestige for the younger generation’s tempering.
Normally, returning a year or half-year after the competition and reporting then was standard.
Yet now, only about three months after the competition, an urgent message arrived. This surprised the Ji family patriarch and all present elders.
“What matter?”
The Ji family patriarch asked calmly.
“Lin Xiao has appeared in Shengzhou. With vital essence he swept geniuses from all provinces. With spiritual force he seized first place in the continental spirit controller grand competition.”
The reporting elder said first.
“What? Lin Xiao has appeared?”
The elder’s words shocked the entire hall. Ji family elders rose abruptly.
“He actually appeared in Shengzhou. With vital essence swept geniuses from all provinces. With spiritual force took first in the continental spirit controller grand competition?”
“In one year he has grown to this extent?”
“This child must be eliminated with full force. Otherwise endless future trouble.”
“Appearing now is perfect. Release news of his friends. He will surely come. Then we slay him on the spot.”
… The Ji family patriarch showed slight surprise, though not as evident as the other elders. After all, his position differed.
“Any news of Elder West’s whereabouts?”
The Ji family patriarch asked calmly.
This concerned him more.
The elder replied, “According to Lin Xiao, Elder West met danger in the void rift and was killed by him opportunistically.”
“What?”
Now even the Ji family patriarch lost composure.
The elders in the hall nearly leapt up in shock.
Their Ji family’s Elder West, one of the four directional elders, a Martial Saint realm powerhouse, had actually been killed by Lin Xiao?
He was a pillar of the Ji family. Among the continent’s peak figures, losing one was an immense loss.
Yet such a powerhouse of their Ji family had died at Lin Xiao’s hands?
They could neither believe nor accept it.
The reporting elder felt indescribable pain. He too struggled to accept.
Yet Lin Xiao’s deeds were not limited to this. He had first mentioned Lin Xiao sweeping provincial geniuses and taking first in the continental spirit controller grand competition, reporting Elder West’s possible death at Lin Xiao’s hands, only to soften the blow slightly, avoiding excessive shock.
“And…” The reporting elder paused, then continued. “The Ji family branch headquarters in Shengzhou was destroyed by Lin Xiao. Lin Xiao has reached reverse sainthood strength. Elder North was also killed by Lin Xiao.”
“What?”
Now everyone stood abruptly, all shocked speechless.
Even the Ji family patriarch slammed the table and rose. Terrifying killing intent spread from him. His eyes filled with thick rage.
“It has been long since anyone dared provoke the Ji family’s authority thus.”
The Ji family patriarch sighed coldly and sombrely, then issued icy orders. “Order Ling Hu to beastify. Chop off one of his beast hands. Otherwise, chop off the girl’s hand.”
“Activate the array. Take the beast hand. Release news of Zi Ling and Ling Hu in Shengzhou. Let Lin Xiao come to Ji family headquarters within three months. Otherwise, send another head.”
“Issue orders. Have Elder East assist Elder Nan. Pursue Lin Xiao’s associates with full force. Half the elders present assist.”
“Also, order all Martial Saint elders to return to the clan within three months.”
“Yes.”
The group nodded. Every face bore extreme shock and fury.
The Ji family Shengzhou branch destroyed. Elder North killed. Combined with Elder West’s prior fall, losing two pillars. This was a heaven-shaking matter.
The Ji family’s prestige had suffered the gravest provocation.
