Chapter 393: Paying Respects to the Young Master

The crowd’s murmurs grew, and Ji Min’s expression turned uglier by the second. She, the esteemed young lady of the Ji Family, had her arm severed in her own home. It was one thing for the family elder not to help her get revenge, but he was even telling her to just let it go.

How could Ji Min possibly swallow such an insult? This was the greatest humiliation she had ever suffered in her life. How could she ever hold her head high in the Ji Family again?

Clearly, Ji Min’s father was equally furious. He immediately shouted at the Grand Elder, “Was my daughter’s arm severed for nothing?”

The Grand Elder’s expression turned cold. He snapped, “My decision was made for the good of the Ji Family!”

“Since the Grand Elder is unwilling to make the right decision, then I will go to the Patriarch and seek justice!”

Ji Min’s father snorted indignantly. Taking Ji Min and the others with him, he shot into the sky and departed in a huff.

The Ji Family Grand Elder gave Yi Xiaoyao a complicated look, then waved a hand to collect the batch of Elixirs from the ground before turning to leave.

“Everyone, disperse,” Ji Hao’s father said, waving a hand to the onlookers. The crowd scattered, and news of the event quickly spread throughout the Ji Mansion.

Ji Hao walked over to Yi Xiaoyao with a grin and clapped him hard on the shoulder. “Xiaoyao, you really know how to make a splash wherever you go!”

“Well, you’re the one who told me to look you up when I got to the Cyan Wilderness,” Yi Xiaoyao replied with a laugh. “You’re not going to turn me away just because I’ve caused a bit of trouble, are you?”

“Of course not! We’re brothers who’ve been through life and death together. Besides, you didn’t do anything wrong here.”

As he spoke, a worried look crossed Ji Hao’s face. “It’s just… Ji Min and the others went to see the Patriarch. I’m worried that…”

“Don’t worry. Xiaoyao will certainly be fine.”

Ji Hao’s father walked over, his eyes glinting sharply as he looked at Yi Xiaoyao. He knew full well that Yi Xiaoyao was someone who could give orders to the Holy Pill Pavilion and even the Holy Pill Hall.

Yi Xiaoyao bowed to Father Ji. Father Ji nodded, gave Ji Hao a few words of instruction, and then left as well.

Then, Ji Hao led Yi Xiaoyao to his personal residence.

“Xiaoyao, we haven’t seen each other in a month. I imagine your Cultivation has already surpassed mine, hasn’t it?”

Ji Hao asked after they sat down. After all, he knew that just moments ago, not even someone at the Void-Entering Fourth Realm had been able to handle Yi Xiaoyao.

“I’m only at the Void-Entering Second Realm.”

Yi Xiaoyao shook his head. ‘If I hadn’t been focused on studying Alchemy, my Cultivation would be much higher than this.’

“The Void-Entering Second Realm…” Ji Hao’s eyes widened. But then he recalled the events on Sunken Spirit Island and sighed in understanding. ‘Fighting opponents two minor realms higher… isn’t that just normal for a monster like him?’

Yi Xiaoyao just smiled. “What about you?”

“Me?” Ji Hao pursed his lips. “I’m at the Void-Entering Third Realm. I can barely manage to fight someone one Realm higher, at the Void-Entering Fourth Realm, and I’m about to have a breakthrough.”

Yi Xiaoyao nodded silently. Ji Hao had gained a great deal on Sunken Spirit Island; he was already at the peak of the Void-Entering Second Realm when he left. Reaching his current level in just over a month was quite impressive.

“By the way, Xiaoyao, what exactly is your relationship with the Holy Pill Pavilion?” Ji Hao asked, his face full of doubt.

Yi Xiaoyao naturally knew what he was getting at. Just as he was considering how to answer, a servant hurried in from outside.

“Young Master Ji Hao, the Patriarch wishes to see your friend,” the servant said.

“What?” Ji Hao’s expression changed drastically. “It must be Ji Min and her lackeys twisting the truth in front of the Patriarch! Xiaoyao, I’ll go find my father to help you resolve this!”

Yi Xiaoyao held Ji Hao back, smiling. “I was just thinking I’d like to meet your Patriarch anyway. There’s no need to trouble your father. And you don’t need to worry. I’ll be perfectly fine.”

In a study within the Ji Family residence, a middle-aged man sat, his gaze sharp enough to pierce through the black-robed young man standing before him.

This middle-aged man was none other than the Ji Family Patriarch, Ji Jingsong.

“Your name is Yi Xiaoyao?” Ji Jingsong asked calmly.

Yi Xiaoyao nodded. “I presume, Patriarch, that you summoned me over the incident with Ji Min, but you actually wish to ask me about something else, correct?”

An unusual expression flickered across Ji Jingsong’s face. “You killed a man in my Ji Family and crippled a direct-line descendant, yet you can remain so calm and composed in my presence. I find myself very curious about your identity.”

“As for my identity, I can only reveal it after the Patriarch answers a question for me.”

Yi Xiaoyao spoke calmly, “Does the Ji Family’s loyalty to the Cyan Emperor still remain?”

Ji Jingsong’s eyes narrowed instantly. “What is your purpose in coming to the Ji Family?” he asked in a low voice.

“That question, too, is one I can only answer after the Patriarch has answered mine,” Yi Xiaoyao said.

Ji Jingsong slowly sat up straighter, an imposing Momentum seeming to settle over him. He looked up and declared, “The Cyan Emperor once bestowed upon the Ji Family the grace of rebirth. As long as the Ji Family does not fall, our loyalty will never perish!”

The moment the words left his lips, Ji Jingsong’s gaze froze, his pupils constricting abruptly.

Because before him, Yi Xiaoyao had raised a hand. In his palm, a sword made of ancient, cyan-colored wood had instantly materialized.

In that instant, Ji Jingsong’s entire body trembled. A terrifying aura erupted from him, pressing down on Yi Xiaoyao so intensely he could hardly breathe. Yet, Yi Xiaoyao’s gaze remained firm, fixed on him.

WHOOSH— BUZZ—

A powerful gust of wind slammed the door shut, and a cyan-colored barrier enveloped the two of them.

Ji Jingsong shot to his feet, took a step forward, and stared intently at the sword in Yi Xiaoyao’s hand.

“The Fusang Sword! Where did you get it?!”

The immense pressure of the aura enveloped Yi Xiaoyao completely, rendering him unable to move an inch.

Yi Xiaoyao’s expression remained unchanged, perfectly calm.

“The Fusang Sword is the Cyan Emperor Order. For the sword to appear is for the Emperor to arrive!”

“Since you recognize it, why do you not kneel?”

At these words, Ji Jingsong’s body shuddered once more. After a brief flicker in his eyes, he immediately withdrew the oppressive pressure around Yi Xiaoyao, dropped to one knee, and clasped his fists in a salute.

Yi Xiaoyao quickly retracted the sword and stepped forward to help Ji Jingsong to his feet.

“I have been entrusted by the Cyan Emperor to save the Cyan Wilderness and assume control over it,” Yi Xiaoyao said with great solemnity. “I wonder if the Patriarch is willing to assist me in this?”

Ji Jingsong’s face was grim; he did not answer Yi Xiaoyao’s question immediately.

“Do you realize that the Cyan Wilderness is already fractured and divided? A new Cyan Emperor hasn’t risen in five hundred years. Do you know how difficult a task it is to take control of it?”

“And do you know why no one has been able to inherit the position of Cyan Emperor? The primary reason is the absence of the Cyan Emperor Order. Without it, no claim can be legitimate.”

“If I were to kill you, take the Cyan Emperor Order, and give it to one of the other contenders for the throne, my Ji Family would be hailed as heroes when a new Cyan Emperor finally emerges!”

Ji Jingsong said coldly.

The corners of Yi Xiaoyao’s mouth lifted slightly. “A moment ago, the Patriarch said with his own lips that your loyalty would never perish.”

“But I cannot let that loyalty lead the Ji Family down the path to ruin!”

Ji Jingsong said, “After all, your path is far too difficult. The chances of success in aiding you are slim to none. And once we take that first step, there is no turning back for the Ji Family.”

“The moment I revealed the Fusang Sword, the Ji Family’s path of retreat was already gone.”

Yi Xiaoyao said, “Right now, the Patriarch has only three choices. First, refuse me. Second, kill me. Third, assist me.”

“And what if I refuse you?” Ji Jingsong said, his eyes narrowing.

A smile remained on Yi Xiaoyao’s lips. “If you refuse me, then in the future, when I rule the Cyan Wilderness, I will be sure to purge the Ji Family for its disloyalty.”

“And what if I kill you?” Ji Jingsong said with a frown.

Yi Xiaoyao chuckled softly. Instead of answering, he took out a Token.

“The Holy Pill Hall… the Pill Child Order?” Ji Jingsong’s expression changed as he cried out in alarm. “Are you saying that the Red Butterfly Saint Witch is protecting you on the Cyan Emperor’s behalf?”

Yi Xiaoyao withdrew the Token and nodded lightly. “If I were to die here in the Ji Family, the Holy Pill Hall would descend upon you. When that happens, the Ji Family will be annihilated.”

Ji Jingsong took a deep breath. It seemed it was just as Yi Xiaoyao had said. The Ji Family truly had no path of retreat!

Yi Xiaoyao watched Ji Jingsong quietly, understanding his dilemma. After all, the very survival of the entire Ji Family was at stake.

The two remained at a stalemate. After what felt like an eternity, the resolve in Ji Jingsong’s eyes finally hardened.

“Since there is no path of retreat, why not stake everything on loyalty! The Cyan Emperor has an heir! My Ji Family of Cyan Cloud City shall pledge its loyalty and assist you!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Jingsong turned to Yi Xiaoyao, clasped his fists, and bowed deeply. “Greetings, Young Master!”