Ji Bowen stood tall and imposing, like an immovable mountain. Draped in a purple robe, he strode forward with the bearing of a dragon. Having held the authority of the Ji Clan for countless years, his presence alone radiated overwhelming power, and he himself was an advanced Law Transcendence Eternal.

Following behind him were core figures of the Ji Clan. Among them were two elders at the Law Transcendence Eternal Stage. At present, the Ji Clan possessed four Creation Realm Eternals and twelve Law Transcendence Eternals!

Among the hundreds of epochal civilizations in the Fortune Dominion, such a foundation was enough to firmly secure a place within the top three.

The night was as dark as ink.

Before two towering black stone pillars, Ji Bowen came to a halt. His gaze swept over Lin Fan and Su Bai, both bound tightly by chains, and a trace of astonishment surfaced in his eyes. “One bears the bloodline of the Grand Abyss Heaven Devourer and can inherit the mantle of the Eternal Night Divine Emperor,” he murmured. “And the other possesses a peerless innate sword bone. The talents of these two youths far surpass those of their peers within our clan.”

Nearby, the other high-ranking figures of the Ji Clan were also examining the unconscious Lin Fan and Su Bai. Their gazes were naked and unrestrained, like predators appraising captured prey.

“Patriarch didn’t summon us here in the dead of night just to admire the talents of two little pieces of trash, did he?” someone chuckled softly.

The speaker was a man clad in green robes, his willow-like beard swaying gently. His name was Ji Changshan, a perfect Law Transcendence Eternal.

“Of course no,” Ji Bowen replied with a faint laugh. “With these two hostages, and Old Ancestor Guizhen’s methods, we can force Lin Xun to come to our territory.”

He paused, then added evenly, “As for why I gathered you all tonight...it’s because something must be dealt with in advance.”

“Please enlighten us, Patriarch,” Ji Changshan said.

A sharp glint flashed through Ji Bowen’s eyes. “Tomorrow, some old fellows from the Gaoyang Clan and the Jiang Clan will arrive together to split the fortune on Lin Xun. The secrets of controlling Fortune Divine City may be shared, but there is only one Eternity Coffin.”

At once, subtle changes flickered the eyes of the assembled figures.

“Patriarch intends to make preparations in advance?” asked an elderly woman with a vigorous aura and silver hair. Her name was Ji Changyun, a perfect Law Transcendence Eternal.

“Exactly.” Ji Bowen turned his gaze back to Lin Fan. “This kid possesses the innate talent of the Grand Abyss Heaven Devourer. As you all know, it is rumored that only such a talent can truly control and unlock all the secrets of the Eternity Coffin.”

“I understand. The patriarch intends to strip this child of his innate power before the Gaoyang and Jiang Clans arrive.” Ji Changyun chuckled softly. “Excellent...truly excellent.”

Her features were kindly, but beneath the lamplight her smile appeared chillingly sinister. The others exchanged glances, their smiles deepening as realization dawned.

“We might as well extract the sword bone from that boy too,” Ji Changshan added, glancing at Su Bai with burning greed. “My great-grandson’s talent is decent, but it pales in comparison to such an innate sword bone. If he inherits it, then within ten thousand years, he will have a chance to set foot on the Eternal Path!”

“What if the Gaoyang and Jiang Clans notice and become dissatisfied?” someone asked hesitantly.

Ji Bowen replied calmly, “This time, the mastermind behind the epochal calamity selected our Ji Clan as envoys and bestowed upon us an Alpha Origin statue. No matter how dissatisfied they are, they will have no choice but to swallow it.”

Laughter rippled through the group.

“Everyone, throughout the ages, our Ji Clan has endured countless calamities to survive to this day. And now, a chance to change our clan’s destiny stands right before us! If we seize it, then one day our Ji Clan may finally break free from the shackles of this Fortune Dominion!”

Ji Bowen’s eyes blazed. His speech stirred the emotions of those present.

Both the Eternity Coffin and the secrets to controlling Fortune Divine City were peerless fortunes, but compared to the chance to rewrite the fate of their clan, even these treasures paled into insignificance.

This time, if they perfectly carried out the will of the mastermind behind the epochal calamities, the Ji Clan would finally break free of the Fortune Dominion and truly step beyond the World of the Divine! This was what they had always dreamed of.

After steadying his emotions, Ji Bowen turned his gaze back to Lin Fan and instructed. “Old Ancestor Changyun, I’ll have to trouble you to personally extract the Grand Abyss Heaven Devourer talent from that boy.”

The spry old woman Ji Changyun smiled in agreement and strode forward, extending her right arm. Her withered fingers, thin and claw-like, stabbed violently into Lin Fan’s chest.

A bloody hole burst open, fresh blood spraying everywhere. Lin Fan let out a muffled groan of pain and abruptly woke up. His eyes snapped open. He glanced at the figures in the distance, then lowered his gaze to the hand plunged deep into his chest. The color drained from his handsome face as cold sweat soaked his brow.

The excruciating pain tormented his mind, yet even under such cruel and bloody torture, his expression remained unnervingly calm.

“Be good now. It will only hurt for a little while. Once I’ve completely stripped away your innate power, I’ll heal your wounds.” Ji Changyun’s expression was kind and benevolent, her smile gentle, and her voice soft and soothing, but her actions were utterly merciless.

She drove her palm deeper into Lin Fan’s chest, Eternal power erupted violently from her fingers as it forcibly dissected his Origin Aeth Artery. Blood gushed out endlessly, cascading like a crimson waterfall.

“Old thing, use whatever methods you have.” Lin Fan rasped, his teeth clenched tight and his eyes blazing with icy hatred, “As long as I, Lin Fan, still draw breath, one day I will slaughter every last one of you!”

“Hahaha, everyone, look at this little brat threatening us.” Yun Changshan laughed from afar.

The others laughed along. The threats of the weak were nothing more than the dying cries of despair. No one took them seriously.

“This kid probably doesn’t even know that his father is about to meet with disaster. Who in this world can save him now?” someone said lazily.

“What...? Father...meet with disaster?” Lin Fan’s heart lurched, his expression changing at once.

No matter how much pain or torment he endured, he would not even furrow his brow, but when it came to his father Lin Xun’s life and death, he could not remain unmoved. “Could it be...that I’m the one who dragged Father into this? That must be it. They captured me just to deal with my father!”

In an instant, his eyes turned bloodshot and fury twisted his handsome features. “My father will never meet with disaster!” he roared.

The roar was like a beast’s howl, brimming with raw fury. In response, he was met only with cold laughter. No one cared. Where was this place? The Great Zhou Domain in the World of the Divine! Fengqi Sacred Mountain, the territory of the Ji Clan!

Let alone Lin Xun, any other Eternal being who dared step here would be walking straight into death.

“Hmph, forget it. I’ll take this kid’s sword bone myself.” Ji Changshan could no longer restrain himself and walked straight up to Su Bai, his fingertip lightly slicing through the air.

Su Bai was torn open in the abdomen!

Swoosh!

Blood poured out like a waterfall. The searing pain jolted Su Bai awake from unconsciousness, and his gaze fixed on Ji Changshan standing before him.

Ji Bowen and the others in the distance immediately understood and their cold faces filled with killing intent. From beginning to end, he did not utter a single word, but the icy chill in his gaze made even Eternal Realm beings feel unsettled.

“What are you staring at? Keep looking and I’ll dig your eyes out!”

Smack! Enraged, Ji Changshan slapped Su Bai across the face. The burning pain failed to shake Su Bai in the slightest. He continued to stare at Ji Changshan, his gaze cold and indifferent.

“Senior Brother Su Bai...I didn't expect you to be captured by these scoundrels as well...” Lin Fan’s hoarse voice rang out from the side.

Su Bai’s body jolted violently. He turned his head in disbelief, staring at Lin Fan, who was bound to a black stone pillar just like him. The icy calm on his face shattered instantly. “Lin Fan?! How could it be you?!”

In his field of vision, Ji Changyun’s arm was still buried deep within Lin Fan’s chest. Blood streamed endlessly from the gaping wound, dripping onto the ground below. The cruel, blood-soaked sight drove Su Bai’s eyes red with rage. He roared, his voice trembling with fury and desperation, “Let him go! Release him and you can do whatever you want to me!”

His voice was thick with anxiety. He feared neither death nor pain, but he could not bear to watch his master’s child endure such torment.

“Heh, who do you think you are? You think you’re worth more than this brat?” Ji Changshan sneered.

“Senior Brother Su Bai, don’t waste your breath on these old beasts. They don’t dare confront my father head-on, so they resort to such despicable, shameless methods to torture us.” Lin Fan shouted hoarsely, his entire body trembling violently. He could feel his Origin Aeth Artery being stripped away bit by bit, the unbearable pain draining all color from his face.

Ji Bowen gave a cold snort. “Gag them. I don’t want to hear another word.”

“Very well.”

Ji Changyun and Ji Changshan both smiled faintly and nodded in agreement.

Just then...

A blade-like killing intent suddenly descended, striking without warning and sending a bone-chilling shock straight into the hearts of Ji Changyun and Ji Changshan. Their bodies stiffened as their expressions changed instantly.

This was the core forbidden ground of ​​the Ji Clan. From the beginning to end, neither of them had been on guard in the slightest. In their own territory, beneath layers of Divine Rank laws, who could possibly pose a threat?

Despite that, this killing intent had appeared from nowhere, locking onto them in an instant!

This is bad!

Almost purely by instinct, the two Law Transcendence Eternal antiques dodged with all their might. Their reactions were so fast that they were nothing short of terrifying.

Boom!

The very instant they abandoned their original positions, two figures appeared directly in front of Lin Fan and Su Bai.

They were none other than Lin Xun’s true body and his Green Wood Dao Body. The sudden reversal caught Ji Bowen and the others completely off guard, their expressions changing drastically.

“Impossible!”

“Damn it! How did someone manage to break in?”

“He...”

An uproar immediately erupted. Ji Bowen and the other gathered Ji Clan powerhouses were thrown into shock and disarray.

This was Fengqi Sacred Mountain! The forbidden ground of their clan! It was protected by more than one Divine Rank law. Who could have imagined that, under cover of night, someone would slip in soundlessly and strike at the most critical moment? It all happened too suddenly. No one had foreseen it, so everyone was left stunned.

“Father!”

“Master!”

At the same time, Lin Fan and Su Bai stared wide-eyed at the familiar, towering figure before them, scarcely able to believe their eyes, as if trapped in a dream.