Everyone’s eyelids twitched at the sight; this foreign youth didn’t seem to be as they had imagined, coming to curry favor with them in order to join the Ji Family. Instead, he was fierce and domineering!
“Yufen!”
Upon witnessing this scene, the elegant woman almost fainted from anger.
Ji Tian Chao, Ji Yun Yue, and the others were slightly stunned. As they looked at the youth and saw his indifferent demeanor as if nothing had happened, they couldn’t help but find it somewhat amusing.
This youth seemed not as timid as they had imagined.
Ji Qing Yuan and others’ expressions changed subtly; they all realized that the youth was not ordinary in his actions. To suppress Ji Yufen so effortlessly, his strength clearly wasn’t on the same level.
At this point, to argue further would be meaningless.
In the ensuing silence, Ji Daoxin’s figure appeared between the two War Gods. He surveyed the crowd and said,
“This child has the bloodline of our Ji Family. Considering his merit in escorting War God Yunge back home, he may be included in the Ji Family genealogy. He has defeated Yufen and possesses the bearing of a promising talent; henceforth, you all should treat him as an equal, as a proud scion of the Ji Family!”
When the family head made his presence known, everyone’s demeanor changed, and they quickly bowed in greeting.
After finishing his statement, Ji Daoxin glanced at the youth in the Guest Reception Hall, then spoke to Ji Tian Chao,
“First, let the child go for the Holy Bone assessment. If he possesses the Holy Bones, there will be no further disputes in the future.”
Upon hearing this, Ji Tian Chao nodded slightly.
The Ancient Holy Clan held the Holy Bones in the highest esteem. If the child possessed sacred bones, even if they wished to expel him, it would likely provoke countless objections.
Holy Bones signified the potential for sainthood, the future ability to lead the clan to prosperity!
Ji Yun Yue, seeing that the matter was settled, let out a sigh of relief, then turned and flew down into the Guest Reception Hall, examining Li Hao carefully, noticing a resemblance to Qingqing in his brows and eyes.
“You are Qingqing’s child, aren’t you? What is your name?”
“Le Ping.”
Ji Yun Yue quietly repeated the name and asked, “Was it your mother who chose it for you?”
“How did you know?” Li Hao was somewhat surprised.
“Qingqing never liked fighting since she was young, probably hoping her child could stay away from all this and live a happy and peaceful life,” explained Ji Yun Yue.
Li Hao fell silent for a moment.
The woman who disliked fighting ended up marrying a general who spent his life in constant warfare.
“Come, I will take you for the Holy Bone assessment. With such an exceptional talent, you might possess the Innate Holy Bone, the potential for sainthood!” Ji Yun Yue said gently, her elderly face showing benevolence.
On the way to assist Ji Yun Ge, Li Hao had learned a bit about the Ji Family from Ji Yun Ge and had no objections to this.
Without delay, under the care and company of Ji Yun Yue, Li Hao approached where Ji Tian Chao and the others stood.
Ji Yun Yue didn’t rush to introduce Li Hao to Ji Tian Chao and the others, planning to wait until everything had settled before having him call these great-uncles.
Ji Daoxin gave Li Hao a slight smile, then turned and led the way, swiftly taking to the air.
Seeing this, Ji Qing Yuan and the others knew the matter was settled; any further talk would be futile. They all followed, curious to see if this youth, who had more promise than Ji Yufen, truly possessed holy bones.
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If he did have Holy Bones, there might rise another War God from their Ji Family, which would be a cause for immense celebration!
Although there was internal strife within the clan, the People of the Ji Family held great respect for War Gods.
Of course, there were a few exceptions; with so many people, there were bound to be some outliers.
“The youth is going to have his Holy Bones tested. I wonder if he has them?”
“It’s highly likely. Otherwise, how could an outsider be so strong, easily suppressing Ji Yufen, who is a little older than him!”
“Not just Ji Yufen, did you not see earlier? Ji Mingque didn’t get the better of him either. Without Holy Bones, how could he possibly be so powerful?”
“Could it be that our Ji Family is about to see the rise of another War God?”
“Haha, if that’s the case, it would be wonderful. War God Yunge returns and brings with him a young War God—this is truly divine favor for our Ji Family!”
In the square on the streets, everyone was abuzz with talk, gathering in groups and heading towards the Sacrificial Altar on the mountainside to see if the youth indeed possessed Holy Bones.
In front of the Sacrificial Altar.
The surroundings were open, resembling a dojo, with a sacrificial altar standing tall.
Upon hearing that the Holy Bone was to be tested, many people of the Ji Family rushed over. Those who could come to the altar were all notable figures of the Ji Family, with significant cultivation levels of their own.
Ji Daoxin instructed an elder to invite the fragrant incense of a sage.
As the testing of the Holy Bone was to be conducted, worship of the Prime Ancestor was also necessary, involving numerous procedures and rituals.
During this process, more and more people arrived.
Li Hao stood beside Ji Yun Yue, with Ji Tian Chao and Ji Yunqing and others encircling him, as if to prevent him from being harmed.
Not far from them, Ji Qing Feng and others were also present. Besides them, several others of the Yun generation came over, showing a slight chill on their faces upon seeing Ji Tian Chao and company, as if they didn’t recognize them.
Although they had split into factions, crumbling into disarray among siblings, in front of this sacred altar, they stood relatively close together, grouped according to their father’s lineage.
As more people arrived, Li Hao couldn’t help but look toward the peak of the Sacred Mountain, turning to Ji Yun Yue beside him and asking,
“Senior, is Yun Ge still here?”
Hearing the young man’s question, Ji Yun Yue was slightly stunned, while Ji Tian Chao and the people beside her trembled slightly without speaking.
The elder in the ink-stained robe standing not far away, upon hearing the young man’s concerned voice, couldn’t help but glance at Li Hao.
Although they had conflicts with Ji Tian Chao and his siblings, Ji Yun Ge was carefree in disposition. While their relationship with him couldn’t be said to be good, it also wasn’t bad. Despite that Ji Yun Ge lacked the Holy Bone, yet had cultivated to become the War God of the Ji Family, now that he could return his spirit to his homeland, they all remembered this youth.
“Silence.”
Ji Qing Feng said displeased.
“Qing Feng.”
The elder in the ink-stained robe said in a low voice.
Ji Qing Feng was slightly startled, looked up at his father, only to see his father’s indifferent gaze, and couldn’t help but be stunned.
“Third Brother is gone.”
Ji Yun Yue tried to suppress the sorrow in her heart, and softly said to Li Hao.
Her voice was not loud, but when it fell into the ears of others, it caused them to tremble. Their Third Brother… was gone?
Their expressions turned unsightly; Ji Yun Ge had died in battle without a chance for goodbyes, yet now that he had evidently returned, he had left just like that.
Li Hao was taken aback. Had he already… dispersed?
He remained silent for a moment, inwardly sighing.
At that moment, the various ceremonies ahead had ended, and Ji Daoxin turned and called Li Hao forward.
Ji Yun Yue collected her emotions and immediately gave some advice to Li Hao.
Li Hao nodded, then levitated forward, coming before Ji Daoxin.
In an instant, the gaze of many in the audience was fixed on Li Hao.
Many people of the Ji Family who came after also heard about Li Hao defeating Ji Yufen and knew that it was this youth who had sent War God Yun Ge back to the Ji Family.
“Is that him?”
“He doesn’t look old, yet he managed to defeat Ji Yufen.”
“Although Ji Yufen isn’t considered powerful among the prodigies, at this age, he is still the strongest one currently.”
“This kid seems to be even younger than Ji Yufen?”
The crowd murmured amongst themselves.
Ji Daoxin said to Li Hao, “Go up and drip your blood onto the Holy Pillar.”
On the sacrificial altar stood a massive, silvery-white Holy Pillar, wrapped in ancient Dao patterns, containing mysterious and profound truths.
Li Hao nodded, bit down hard on his finger—thankfully, his teeth were tougher than his fingertip; otherwise, with his ninth cast physical body, even a Divine Weapon would struggle to cut him.
Controlling his breath to tear the wound open and squeeze out the blood, Li Hao smeared it onto the Holy Pillar.
Once he retracted his breath, the wound healed in the blink of an eye.