Apparently, they hadn't expected that someone would dare to attack the Luoh River Marketplace under the Ji Family's jurisdiction.
You know, in these decades, although the Ji Family, as one of the three great Foundation Establishment families in Nanning County, has been declining year by year, no one has really dared to openly provoke them.
Let alone now, to directly make a move against their Luoh River Marketplace.
As the saying goes, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse.
Even though the Ji Family is not what it used to be, even though they are in decline, even though they are past their prime, as a seven-hundred-year-old Foundation Establishment family, they are still not something a few Tribulation Cultivators can covet.
There might be more to this than meets the eye.
In merely a brief moment, Ji Haoyuan and Ji Bochang basically grasped some of the key points.
Ji Bochang turned to look at Ji Haoyuan, his tone a bit heavy, and said:
"Haoyuan, if my guess is correct, news of your breakthrough to Foundation Establishment has likely reached some ears outside.
But to those people, this matter seems unbelievable.
Some couldn't hold back and wanted to use this to test our Ji Family."
Ji Haoyuan nodded upon hearing this.
"What Ancestor said is very true.
If I really broke through to Foundation Establishment, I certainly wouldn't let those people continue their impudence.
But if I haven't broken through and it's all just rumors, it might force you, Ancestor, to take action.
And once you take action, the price to pay afterward, those people surely know it well.
This is their open scheme, giving us no choice but to accept the challenge."
As he spoke, a sharp glint emerged in Ji Haoyuan's eyes.
"Since they want to test so much, to know whether I have really broken through to Foundation Establishment, then let this matter be the way to inform both in the open and in secret."
Hearing Ji Haoyuan's words, Ji Bochang fell into a brief contemplation.
After a short while.
He said: "I don't believe those who came to attack our marketplace have such courage to take this risk.
There must be some unknown backup behind this.
To be cautious, let this matter be handled by me, the old man."
"But Ancestor..."
Ji Yunfan, who had been silent for a while, showed a hint of worry on his face.
Ji Haoyuan also nodded and said: "Indeed, Ancestor, in your current condition, once you show up, it might be exactly what they want.
Let me go.
Even if they have some backup, with my current situation, I'm not afraid of any storm they can stir."
On this point, Ji Haoyuan was fully confident.
Although Ji Bochang hesitated, he had to admit that Ji Haoyuan's words made some sense.
Most importantly, he knew the trump cards Ji Haoyuan possessed.
Even if there is really some conspiracy, he believed Ji Haoyuan could retreat unharmed.
"In that case, be cautious, Haoyuan.
If anything goes wrong, remember, prioritize your own safety above all."
"Rest assured, Ancestor, I understand."
Ji Haoyuan nodded.
He no longer hesitated.
Raising his hand to summon the Spiritual Artifact, the Crimson Flame Patterned Spear, his entire body turned into a crimson light, quickly heading towards the Luoh River Marketplace.
Luoh River Marketplace.
After the Defense Array was breached, Ji Yunshan and others quickly fell into a disadvantageous position.
There was no choice.
Currently, in the Luoh River Marketplace, only Ji Yunshan had reached the peak of the Qi Refining Stage.
Among the Ji Family, there were only three other practitioners at the late stage of Qi Refining.
On the other hand.
The opposing side had three cultivators at the peak of Qi Refining.
As for the remaining four or five, their cultivation was also in the late stage of Qi Refining.
Moreover, the Magical Artifacts and Talismans in their hands were all high-grade and supreme-grade.
In no way were they inferior to Ji Yunshan's group, and they might have even surpassed them.
With the Defense Array breached, both Ji Yunshan and the three late-stage Qi Refining Ji Family cultivators were more or less affected in terms of Heart and Magical Power.
Given such circumstances, the fact that Ji Yunshan and the others didn't collapse immediately was already quite good.
As for the other non-Ji Family cultivators in the marketplace, they had already fled for their lives at this point, having no intention of getting involved in their battle.
Puff!
After decapitating a young Ji Family member, the scar-faced leader's gaze turned increasingly fierce.
He snarled, "Kill them all!
Leave no Ji Family member alive!"
Bang!
With those words, a large saber, radiating a black glow, slashed diagonally towards Ji Yunshan.
The other people beside him also started their attacks again.
In an instant, all the Ji Family cultivators, including Ji Yunshan, kept retreating.
Just as Ji Yunshan and others were in an ever more perilous position, a piercing sound suddenly came from the distant sky.
Before anyone present could react, a long spear wrapped in rings of fire pierced through the chest of an attacking cultivator.
Bang!
The spear's sharp edge and flames erupted simultaneously.
The cultivator with a pierced chest couldn't even let out a sound before being reduced to ashes.
"What?"
The unexpected change instantly shocked the scar-faced leader and his men.
Ji Yunshan and others, on the other hand, showed joy.
They turned to the direction where the spear flew from.
And saw Ji Haoyuan's figure suddenly appear before them.
"It's Fifth Uncle!"
"Fifth Uncle is here!"
...
Clearly, Ji Yunshan and the others knew that Ji Haoyuan had already broken through to Foundation Establishment.
This was the reason why, despite knowing they were outmatched, they didn't consider retreating.
"Who are you...?"
In stark contrast, the originally high-spirited scar-faced leader and his men were now the ones astounded.
As outsiders, they clearly did not know that the Ji Family had gained a second Foundation Establishment cultivator.
At this moment, feeling the powerful Spiritual Pressure from Ji Haoyuan, completely different from that of a Qi Refining stage cultivator, the scar-faced leader and his entire group turned pale.
"Run!"
Almost instinctively, the thought of fleeing surfaced in the minds of the scar-faced leader and his men.
But before they could act, Ji Haoyuan's Crimson Flame Patterned Spear had already turned into a streak of crimson light.
With just two swift sounds.
The bodies of two more attacking Tribulation Cultivators were once again pierced through.
The defense spells and talismans they had set in advance were as fragile as paper, rendering them completely useless.
This left the remaining scar-faced leader and his men with uncontrollable expressions of terror.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
No longer hesitating, the scar-faced leader and his men each summoned their Magical Artifacts and fled in all directions.
Seeing this, a hint of coldness flashed in Ji Haoyuan's eyes.
"Run? Can you escape?"
With those words, a spell quickly formed in Ji Haoyuan's hands.
In the next moment, like a meteor shower, a near-overwhelming rain of fire rapidly shot towards the scar-faced leader and his men.
It was the modified second-level spell, the Flowing Fire Skill!