Son, Put Your Father To The Test (FF)

Zhao Fulong took a deep breath and spoke solemnly, "Is the royal family giving our Seven Martial Sect no way out today?"

"Hehe, having any way out at all should be enough for you. Beggars can't be choosers. Do you really think you can negotiate with the royal family?" The eunuch's smile was cold and insincere.

"Well then… it looks like we'll have to negotiate!" Zhao Fulong took a step forward, his aura surging. The four Supreme Elders of Seven Martial Sect behind him also stepped forward.

Boom!!

The heavens trembled fiercely as the combined auras of the five transformed into a massive tidal wave, crashing toward the royal family's forces.

"An ant trying to stop a chariot!" the eunuch sneered, stepping back as the "celestial soldiers" behind him stepped forward in unison.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

One by one, powerful auras exploded forth, some stronger than others, but even the weakest had reached the Heaven-Piercing Realm (Tongtian) First Layer!

"Seven Martial Sect, do not be foolish," a white-robed elder from the royal family's ancestral hall stepped forward, accompanied by eleven others.

Twelve in total, all at the peak of the Heaven-Piercing Realm!

As they emerged, they shone like the sun and moon in the sky, their auras so powerful that they dimmed even the midday sun.

"We are fully aware of what we're doing!" Zhao Fulong coldly replied.

"Are you also aware of the consequences of your actions?" the white-robed elder from the royal family asked indifferently.

"What consequences?" Zhao Fulong scoffed.

"Annihilation of your sect," the elder said calmly.

"What arrogance! Truly, the royal family lives up to its reputation, always looking down on the world and doing as it pleases!" At that moment, a mocking voice rang out as more figures rose from the forbidden valley of Seven Martial Sect.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Brilliant lights filled the sky as more than twenty figures appeared, each like a radiant sun, their oppressive auras making the very air seem to solidify.

"You?!" The white-robed elder's expression shifted slightly in surprise before returning to its usual calm. "So, you too wish to defy the royal decree?"

"We didn't want it to come to this, but the royal family's actions this time have gone too far. Staying silent is no longer an option," the Supreme Elder of North Snow Sword Sect said coldly. "Today, the royal family pressures Seven Martial Sect. If we remain silent, what happens when the royal family comes for North Snow Sword Sect tomorrow? Who will stand for us then?"

"Exactly!" another elder chimed in.

"We will stand with Seven Martial Sect!"

"My Crippled Sun Blade Sect (Que Ri Dao Zong) fears no battle!"

"Count me in as well!"

The other Supreme Elders of the Six Great Sects echoed their support, stepping forward to form a line.

Nearly thirty peak Heaven-Piercing Realm elders from the Six Great Sects stood side by side, forming an unbreakable wall, as if an indestructible fortress had risen in the sky!

Even with all the royal army's might, they suddenly seemed powerless in the face of these thirty figures.

"You all… fine, fine!" The royal family's white-robed elder's face twisted with frustration. "Let's see how long you can remain stubborn!"

With that, he raised his head and bowed deeply toward the sky. "Ancestor, please intervene."

All eyes turned upward, gazing toward the heavens, but the sky remained peaceful, with only blue skies and white clouds.

Were they bluffing?

Just as everyone began to doubt, the sky suddenly shifted. Strong winds roared, and massive golden clouds began to gather from the horizon.

Buzz! Buzz!

The golden clouds surged like a flood, rapidly filling the sky and dyeing the mountains of Seven Martial Sect in a golden hue.

Then, a black-robed elder appeared.

His head was bald, save for a thin ring of silver hair circling his ears. His appearance was ancient, like he was teetering on the edge of death.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

With every step this frail, bald elder took, the heavens trembled. Every step caused the hearts of those watching to shudder in fear.

A hazy outline of a grand palace surrounded his body, resembling the most majestic celestial palace. Around the palace were two faintly glowing rings, flickering in and out of sight.

"Welcome, Ancestor!"

"Welcome, Ancestor!"

Seeing this figure, the royal family's experts all bowed deeply. Even the twelve peak Heaven-Piercing Realm elders showed utmost respect.

A Saint Realm expert!

In the Nine Suns Dynasty, and even across the entire Seven Kingdoms, such a being was almost a myth. Each appearance of a Saint Realm expert caused an earthquake in the cultivation world.

"It's him!!"

The Supreme Elders of the Six Great Sects gasped in shock. Simultaneously, however, a smile tugged at their lips.

They recognized this figure.

This was one of the three Saint Realm experts who had helped establish the royal family over two thousand years ago. They had long preserved his image in their archives.

But now… this once mighty figure seemed far weaker.

Two thousand years ago, when he had first appeared, his ethereal palace had been surrounded by nine radiant rings—an unparalleled presence!

Nine rings symbolized the Saint Realm Ninth Layer!

Now, there were only two rings left. His cultivation had regressed to the Saint Realm Second Layer.

This was the very definition of being on the verge of death.

As the saying goes, even a dying camel is larger than a horse, but when the camel grows as weak as a horse, death isn't far behind.

"The royal family truly has fallen."

The native Supreme Elders of the Six Great Sects silently acknowledged this. This test had been worthwhile, and now they could sleep soundly knowing the royal family was no longer a threat.

Even the infiltrators sent by the Yang family's main branch relaxed—the royal family's decline was now undeniable. From here on out, they posed no danger.

This bald elder had once held a high position within the Yang family's main branch and was revered as the royal family's most senior ancestor.

If they had any other powerful experts, this frail elder wouldn't have had to appear in such a state. His current condition made one thing clear—the royal family had no way of resisting the decaying influence of the barren lands.

This barren land contained an invisible, corrosive energy that slowly eroded Saint Realm experts, causing them to weaken over time.

The royal family had clearly not found a way to resist this erosion, which meant they couldn't produce any new Saint Realm experts. Even their existing Saint Realm members were rapidly declining.

By now… they had likely lost most of them.

"Sigh… we are all born of the same root. Why must we make things so difficult for each other?" Zhao Fulong sighed quietly.

In the past, the royal family had thrived within the Yang family's main branch. They had even been contenders for leadership, and if not for one rebellious individual, they wouldn't have been so thoroughly suppressed.

As these thoughts raced through the minds of the elders, the bald elder reached the royal family's ranks.

But unexpectedly, he wasn't angry. Instead, he smiled warmly and asked, "Where are those two young men?"

Young men?

Everyone froze for a moment before quickly realizing he must mean Qin Chuan and Qin Zi.

But no one answered.

The bald elder chuckled softly and said, "I'm not here to punish anyone today. The youngsters in the palace can play their games, but I've lived for over two thousand years. I won't be dragged into their nonsense."

"Just one eunuch, using his power to bully those weaker than him, and now they've made such a fuss. It's embarrassing."

"I'm only here to meet those two young men."

What?!

Everyone was stunned, even the twelve peak Heaven-Piercing Realm elders from the royal family were left speechless.

What was going on?

Wasn't the ancestor supposed to be here to support them? Why did it sound like he was siding with the enemy?

No, wait!!

If the ancestor's will was the royal family's will, then they were the ones in the wrong!

"Young friends, would you come out to meet me?" the bald elder called out toward the forbidden valley.

There was no response.

He coughed awkwardly and smiled wryly. "At least grant this old man some face for coming all this way. Don't leave me hanging, alright?"

Everyone was shocked once again.

Such humble words—how could a Saint Realm expert speak like this? What kind of people were Qin Chuan and Qin Zi to warrant such respect?

The Supreme Elders of the Six Great Sects suddenly remembered something.

Qin Chuan had mentioned earlier:

He had only regained a little bit of his power!!

Ah, truly, just a little bit!