The atmosphere was quiet.

The auras of the Jiang Clan’s Emperor monsters were utterly overpowered by Xi alone. They didn’t even dare to breathe.

This further emphasized how extraordinary an expert Xi was.

Her delicate figure was like an indistinct dream. Even Bo Yazi had a strong feeling which told him that this woman…was beyond terrifying!

This reminds him of his teacher Li Xuanwei.

He just couldn’t determine if she was stronger or weaker compared to his teacher.

This was because both had reached an unfathomable level of attainment on the Emperor Stage!

After some silence, Lin Xun replied to Xi’s question, “Senior, I came to the Jiang Clan merely to see someone. I don’t want to cause any storm over this.”

Hearing that, Jiang Yutong’s group had complicated expressions.

It surprised them that in such a situation where he had the advantage, this young man was able to ignore the hostility between them and didn’t take this opportunity to deal them a blow.

“Your temper seems to have gotten a lot better.” Even Xi was a bit surprised.

In the past, whenever Lin Xun had been bullied, he would definitely fight back without any hesitation, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

“If it were my own business this time, then I certainly wouldn’t have minded making a scene!” said Lin Xun, who took a deep breath and continued. “Right now, I just don’t want to disappoint Senior Brother Xuan Kong. If he was alive, he certainly wouldn’t want to see something so negative.”

He could not forget the melancholy and sadness on Xuan Kong’s face when he had given him the pale-green, bamboo leaf-shaped hairpin in Tragic Death City.

He would never forget that Xuan Kong had only instructed him to give the hairpin to Jiang Xingque and not to come to the Imperial Jiang Clan to cause trouble for them.

This was why Lin Xun was restraining his anger, choosing to hold back after being bullied by the four old monsters of the Emperor Stage!

“Alright.” Xi nodded, then turned to Jiang Yutong’s group and asked, “Do you agree?”

Her tone was light, but the Jiang Clan elders tensed up inside as they exchanged glances among themselves with gloomy expressions.

Having to bow down in their own territory was something they resisted from the bottom of their hearts!

“Fellow Daoist, it’s not that we are ruthless, but if today’s matter gets out, my clan…is bound to encounter great difficulties again,” said Jiang Lanshui heavily.

A disciple of Fangchun Mountain had suddenly come to their clan to meet Jiang Xingque. What would the opposing forces of Fangchun Mountain think if they knew about this?

“Then wouldn’t it be fine if we all keep this to ourselves?” said Xi aloofly. “Or is that an excuse because you are still unwilling to concede?”

Jiang Lanshui’s heart trembled as he said, “We are indeed reluctant, Fellow Daoist.”

“I see.” Xi was not surprised by this. “I’ll give you just one opportunity to express your unwillingness. If you insist on being stubborn after that, then I don’t mind slaughtering a few of you.”

The four Jiang Clan elders exchanged glances before they all nodded.

Jiang Lanshui then said, “This area where we are standing is an important place of our clan as it is marked with a force of will of the founding ancestor, Primeval Emperor Yan. If you are able to block its assault, then we definitely will not dare to resist again.”

Bo Yazi narrowed his eyes and couldn’t help but say, “My junior uncle and this…fellow daoist have already been tolerant enough to you. You’re going overboard by making this kind of request!”

Anyone could imagine the terrifying power of a force of will from Primeval Emperor Yan.

However, Xi’s eyes actually lit up with a look of interest. “No wonder I could sense within this place an extraordinary power as soon as I appeared. So it’s the will power belonging to your founding ancestor?”

The Jiang Clan elders were stunned.

This woman even sensed it in the first place?

Xi urged, “Quickly unseal it. I would like to try to see if this person had already touched upon the mysteries of becoming an Ancestor during his Emperor path.”

Becoming an Ancestor!

This phrase struck horror into the hearts of all the old Emperors present, including Bo Yazi.

There were nine realms of the Emperor Stage, and the realm of becoming an Ancestor was the most supreme one that they never even dared to think about!

For a while, the Jiang Clan elders were a little hesitant as they were now deeply aware of how mysterious and unfathomable Xi was.

Xi swept them a glance. “Is something the matter?”

Jiang Lanshui clenched his jaw and said, “Do it.”

Immediately, he along with Jiang Liuhuo, Jiang Yutong, and Jiang Rui each conjured a strange, steaming flame rune.

When the four runes came together, a dazzling light bloomed in the void before revealing a blinding flame.

A terrifyingly ancient and supreme aura also filled the air.

Bo Yazi’s face changed drastically. He activated his power to protect Lin Xun.

Xi’s clothes fluttered as she slightly tilted her head and looked straight at the blinding flame. Her entire figure flowed with a divine, dream-like rain of light.

She seemed to perceive something and murmured, “Not bad, it’s this kind of aura…”

Boom!

In the blazing flame, a magnificent illusion took shape with a burning galaxy as his background. He looked like the god of fire who was opening up a hole in the universe!

That kind of aura was so horrifying it caused the stars to quiver and all worlds to bow down in worship!

The level of Lin Xun’s vision and mind did not allow him to see the details of the figure because it was too bright and supreme.

Even under Bo Yazi’s protection, he still felt a suffocating pressure.

“So this is the power of Primeval Emperor Yan…” Bo Yazi was shaken to his core. This was a legendary, historically glorious character who had amazed worlds!

Jiang Lanshui’s group was also excited as well as they fully demonstrated fervor and reverence.

This was the aura that belonged to their founding ancestor!

In the primeval era, Emperor Yan had conquered worlds and crushed his opponents across the nebula. His radiance had rivaled the stars, and he had been looked up to by billions and billions.

Now, his power had once again made an appearance!

“Your unworthy descendants greet the Ancestor.” Jiang Lanshui’s group bowed in unison.

“What happened?” The magnificent figure opened his mouth, emitting a voice that rumbled like the sound of the dao. The naked eye could see Fire Law Power rolling all over him and diffusing endless wonderful phenomena.

“I wish to fight you.” Xi stepped forward as wisps of crystalline light surged around her.

As she spoke, she had already extended a finger.

It was only a simple tap of her finger in the air, but everyone felt their eyes burn and their souls tremble. They could no longer see anything as both their visions and spirit senses had become a pure, blinding white color.

This frightened them all.

Just how terrifying was this kind of cultivation that even Emperors like them weren’t qualified to observe their battle?

It was unknown how long had passed when Xi’s clear and cold voice rang out, “So, you didn’t take that step either back then.”

The next second, the crowd’s vision returned to clarity. Only then did they see that Xi was standing alone, her clothes fluttering with crystalline light.

In the distance, the willpower of Emperor Yan was still steaming with divine flames, as mighty as ever.

“You are incorrect. I left behind this force of will back then precisely because I departed to take that step.” Primeval Emperor Yan’s rumbling voice carried a unique pride.

“Is that so? But so much time has passed, and it seems that your original self has not once returned,” commented Xi indifferently.

Hearing that, the Jiang Clan elders were filled with shock and uncertainty.

“Will return.” Emperor Yan’s voice was low, but his expression was resolved. “That step cannot be so easily cut off.”

At the end of his declaration, his figure abruptly turned into a rain of fire sparks and vanished.

Bo Yazi heaved a sigh of relief.

Lin Xun, on the other hand, was in a trance.

Both Primeval Emperor Yan and Xi seem to be searching for a path of breakthrough in the Great Dao.

Just what exactly is that path? And why have they still not been able to find it even though they are so powerful?

Meanwhile, the Jiang Clan elders felt a sense of loss and heaviness.

Since the mysterious woman had blocked the willpower of their founding ancestor, did it mean that as long as she wanted to, no one in the Jiang Clan would be able to stop her?

Xi turned to them. “Are you still unwilling to concede?”

Jiang Lanshui said bitterly, “Your divine abilities have us awestruck. We are convinced from the bottom of our hearts.”

After getting this answer, Xi nodded at Lin Xun like she had just finished something trivial. Then, she turned into a hazy rain of light and disappeared.

The absence of her presence allowed the Jiang Clan elders as well as Bo Yazi to breathe out with relief, as if a whole mountain had been lifted off of their chests.

It couldn’t be helped, the pressure and threat brought by Xi had been too great!

When Jiang Lanshui’s group looked at Lin Xun again, their expressions were complicated with no longer the contempt and disregard from before.

“You come with me.” With a long sigh, Jiang Lanshui decided to take Lin Xun to see Jiang Xingque.

“Many thanks,” said Lin Xun as a wave of relief washed through him.

……

Deep within Emperor Yan City, there was a spatial tunnel that led to a secret forbidden zone. Jiang Lanshui brought Lin Xun and soundlessly flew into it.

Inside the forbidden zone was a world of molten lava. The ground was a boundless sea of fire, where waves of fire tumbled and splashed up thousands of feet of sparks.

Scalding hot smoke filled the air, making the entire secret world look like a huge boiling furnace that was tasked with melting everything down.

This was where Jiang Xingque was imprisoned!

“Xingque, you have a guest,” said Jiang Lanshui, his voice echoing endlessly throughout the molten world.

“It’s been far too long. I thought you had all forgotten about me, the clan’s sinner…” rang out a ghostly voice that was more like a murmur permeated with endless sorrow.

Jiang Lanshui’s expression kept shifting. In the end, he let out a long sigh, “I have brought the guest. I’ll leave you two alone.”

With that, he turned and left.

When Lin Xun looked around, there was nothing but flames and steaming fire mist. He didn’t see a single silhouette.

Just as he was puzzled, a small black boat abruptly surfaced on the sea of fire. A woman was sitting alone on it.

She was dressed purely in white. Her hair was as black as ink and hung loosely to her shoulders. Even though she was among a fiery red sea, the feeling she gave off was as cold and piercing as the snow on the highest cliff.

When Lin Xun looked over, the woman also raised her head slightly.

The instant their eyes met, the woman seemed to sense something and abruptly got up. “It’s the aura of the Extreme Absolute! Xuan Kong, is that you? You…you’ve finally returned to take me away!”

In her voice was unconcealable excitement!