Zhang Family, Dongming Mountain.
A middle-aged man with somewhat narrow eyes stared at the invitation sent by the Ji Family, his expression grim.
After a moment.
He turned to his elder brother, the man with a lengthy beard under his chin, and spoke solemnly:
"Brother, concerning this matter, how do you think we should handle it?"
It was apparent that the narrow-eyed man's question wasn't about the invitation sent by the Ji Family.
The bearded man clearly understood this.
He pondered briefly and then said to the narrow-eyed man:
"Go ahead and deal with everything related to it.
Remember to be discreet."
The narrow-eyed man seemed somewhat unwilling.
But ultimately, he followed his brother's advice, nodded, and said:
"Alright, today I'll make sure all the remaining Sun Family members disappear."
Qianyang Mountain.
Location of the back mountain.
After Ji Haoyuan recounted all his experiences and predictions to Ji Bochang, Ji Bochang's eyes flickered with golden glimmers.
"It seems someone has indeed been coveting my Ji Family for a long time.
The appearance of Sun Renzheng is the best evidence."
The Sun Renzheng mentioned here by Ji Bochang is the masked elder.
Others might not know about Sun Renzheng's situation, but Ji Bochang was an exception.
If he remembered correctly, when the Sun Family faced the demon calamity years ago, Sun Renzheng happened to be absent from the clan, thereby avoiding a disaster.
Over the years, their Ji Family had been openly and covertly targeted numerous times by others.
If it were only ordinary Qi Refining cultivators, they wouldn't have the courage to confront their Ji Family.
Only if there was someone backing them, even possessing power comparable to their Ji Family, would those in the shadows dare to slowly step into the forefront, presenting a true challenge.
And all this was merely what they could see and speculate.
As for deeper matters...
At this moment, Ji Bochang and Ji Haoyuan had roughly guessed the situation.
However, until their relationship truly breaks down, they need to maintain an appearance of harmony.
"By the way, Ancestor, during my encounter with Sun Renzheng, I discovered a pill that can extend one's life."
After reaching a consensus with Ji Bochang on this matter, Ji Haoyuan shifted the topic.
He extracted a jade bottle containing the Ten-Year Pill and handed it to Ji Bochang with a smile.
Ji Bochang looked surprised at the sight.
He hadn't expected Ji Haoyuan would come across such an item.
For him now, it was something he desperately needed.
And when Ji Haoyuan laid out the piles of jade scrolls bearing various cultivation technique inheritances from the Sun Family before Ji Bochang, Ji Bochang could no longer remain calm.
As the Ji Family's elder, no one knew better than him what a family needed to perpetuate and develop.
Apart from necessary external resources like spirit veins, treasures, spiritual materials, the core essence that maintains a family's prosperity and continual growth is undoubtedly the family's core inheritance.
What Ji Haoyuan presented was exactly what a family or a sect valued the most.
It brought him more joy than obtaining the Ten-Year Pill.
Because with this batch of inherited cultivation technique jade scrolls, their Ji Family's descendants will undoubtedly have more choices on their cultivation paths.
Plus, one of the core cultivation techniques from the opposing family, the Wood Longevity Technique, bears many similarities to and complements their Ji Family's core cultivation technique, the Longevity Cyan Wood Technique.
This provided him with much reference and inspiration.
Coupling that with the Ten-Year Pill might allow him to take a further step in the coming years, even more so than simply healing some old injuries.
So, surviving a few more years, offering more chances to act might also be possible.
A few months later.
Ji Haoyuan's Foundation Establishment ceremony was held as scheduled on their Ji Family's Qianyang Mountain.
Besides those cultivators dependent on their Ji Family for survival, naturally, there were attendees from the other two Foundation Establishment families in Nanning County.
At this moment.
Inside the Ji Family's guest hall.
Ji Haoyuan and Ji Bochang were entertaining the Foundation Establishment elders from the Zhang Family and Liu Family.
They were Zhang Mingyuan from the Zhang Family, the narrow-eyed man, Zhang Mingze from the Zhang Family, the bearded man, and Liu Hongyu from the Liu Family, a middle-aged beautiful woman.
Their interactions seemed cordial and pleasant.
However, at that time, Liu Hongyu from the Liu Family suddenly turned to Ji Haoyuan and said in a meaningful tone:
"Haoyuan, before coming to your esteemed family, I made inquiries and heard that behind Sun Renzheng, there seems to be another family's shadow secretly supporting him.
At least, he appears to have formed a certain alliance or subordinate relationship with some family. Have you heard or guessed anything about this?"
With Liu Hongyu's words, the superficially harmonious atmosphere abruptly grew tense.
Clearly, no one expected Liu Hongyu to bring up such a matter at that moment.
This made Zhang Mingyuan and Zhang Mingze's eyes squint slightly.
Ji Haoyuan and Ji Bochang's expressions turned serious.
But quickly, they regained their composure.
Ji Haoyuan smiled and shook his head: "Thank you for the reminder Liu Dao You, but this matter, the ancestor and I are truly unaware.
However, since Sun Renzheng is dead, if everything stops here, the ancestor and I have no intention of pursuing it further."
"Really?"
Liu Hongyu responded with a meaningful smile.
"Perhaps I was a bit outspoken.
But I would like to know, if the two friends from the Zhang Family faced a similar situation, how would you handle it?"
As she spoke, Liu Hongyu's eyes turned towards Zhang Mingyuan and Zhang Mingze.
A hint of coldness appeared deep in Zhang Mingyuan's pupils.
Whereas Zhang Mingze displayed a harmonious smile.
He looked at Liu Hongyu and responded with a smile:
"Liu Dao You must be jesting; we came here to congratulate Haoyuan. Such baseless rumors should be set aside for now.
Regardless, our three families have been cooperating in Nanning County for hundreds of years. If anything truly arises, we will stand united against external forces."
At that, Zhang Mingze took out a jade box from himself, handed it to Ji Haoyuan with a smile:
"Haoyuan Dao You, I heard before coming that you practice Fire Attribute cultivation techniques. This piece of Flame Gold and Red Iron I hold should be beneficial to you.
This gift - my brother's and my gesture of congratulation on your Foundation Establishment, we hope you won't refuse."