Son, Put Your Father To The Test (FF)

"Ancestor!"

When the members of the royal family saw the limping old man, they all showed deep respect, though their hearts ached as well.

This was one of the last two remaining ancestors of the royal family, who had led the family to establish the kingdom more than two thousand years ago.

Now, this once pinnacle Saint-level powerhouse had declined to just the First Layer of the Saint Realm.

When he completely lost his Saint Realm strength, it would mean his demise.

"You must be Senior Yang Zizai."

The white-haired youth glanced at the old man's crippled leg and sighed mockingly, "How unpredictable life can be. A figure once so renowned across the Eastern Domain has ended up in such a pitiful state."

Then, his tone shifted sharply, dripping with sarcasm: "But you can't really blame anyone else. It's your own fault for letting a deviant demon emerge from your bloodline."

Hearing this, the old man's wrinkled face remained unmoved, his cloudy eyes calmly observing the young man.

"What's the wager?"

The elder clearly had no patience for small talk.

The white-haired youth, seeing the old man's calm demeanor, suddenly felt a bit of pressure and restrained his arrogance. After all, this was once a supreme powerhouse. Even in his weakened state, remnants of his past glory lingered.

Especially with such unwavering composure, the white-haired youth found his own confidence wavering.

Taking a deep breath, he pretended to remain calm and said, "As is customary, letting the older generation fight would cause too much destruction. So, how about we let the younger generation settle it with a best of three?"

At his words, three young figures stepped forward from behind him—two young men and one young woman, all about twenty years old.

The two men wore robes adorned with pythons, while the woman wore an elegant royal gown, clearly indicating they were part of the Vermilion Bird royal family.

"Very well."

The limping elder nodded and suggested, "Let's go to the Nine Suns Mountain. The battleground there is more durable."

The white-haired youth's expression stiffened.

He had come for Nine Suns Mountain, but entering its heart made him uneasy.

After all, a Saint-level peak expert had laid down the formations on Nine Suns Mountain. Though thousands of years had passed and the formations would have weakened, they hadn't completely deteriorated.

The remaining power in the formations could still pose a threat to him.

"What? Afraid?" The old man's face finally showed a rare expression—one of sarcasm.

"Hahaha, not at all. I trust your reputation, senior. Let's head to Nine Suns Mountain then!" The white-haired youth laughed, though it was clear he was forcing himself.

He had no choice but to agree, especially when trying to uphold an image of invincibility in front of his niece and the others. He couldn't afford to show fear now.

Having ventured outside and achieved his current level of power through hardship, returning home was all about showcasing his accomplishments. How could he possibly ruin the moment?

Soon, the group arrived at an ancient battleground on Nine Suns Mountain. The platform was a hundred meters in diameter, made of special stone and inscribed with various runes and formations to ensure its sturdiness.

"This Nine Suns Mountain is truly a treasure trove. On the way here, I spotted several stone carvings left by powerful warriors. Some were even created by Heavenly Saints." The white-haired youth mused, his eyes flashing with greed. Such a place was invaluable—it had to be his!

"The participants from the Nine Suns Kingdom have arrived."

Soon after, the emperor of the Nine Suns Kingdom appeared, leading three participants: Third Prince Yang Shengtian, Second Princess Yang Wanying, and… Qin Zi!

Tensions between Yang Shengtian and Qin Zi had already flared the moment they left the Spirit Pool. They had almost fought right then and there.

The emperor had intervened just in time, stopping them and bringing all three to the battleground.

As for Crown Prince Yang Qitian, he had been excluded.

After all, during the event at Wind and Thunder Valley, Yang Qitian had already lost to Qin Zi, which everyone knew. His spot had been taken by Qin Zi.

Though participating in this competition wasn't exactly a rewarding task, Qin Zi felt obliged. After all, he had just soaked in their Spirit Pool—it wouldn't be right to enjoy the benefits and then walk away.

Thus, he had been roped into it.

"Now that everyone's here, let's start. Three versus three. You can choose your opponents freely." The white-haired youth said arrogantly.

He had complete confidence in his juniors. They were all naturally gifted, and after acquiring a precious Thousand-Year Stalactite, their strength had skyrocketed.

All three had reached the Eighth Layer of the Nirvana Realm at such a young age—truly monstrous talent in the Seven Nations!

"I'll face you."

Second Princess Yang Wanying stepped forward, looking at the princess from the Vermilion Bird Kingdom with a calm gaze.

"Very well." The Vermilion Bird princess smiled faintly, and the battle began.

Boom! Boom!

"Vermilion Bird's Fire!"

"Nine Suns Circling the Sky!"

BANG!

The two princesses appeared graceful and refined, but their attacks were ruthless and devastating, each blow capable of splitting mountains.

The battle raged fiercely.

Meanwhile, Third Prince Yang Shengtian clenched his fists as he watched the Second Princess's elegance, a hint of sadness flashing in his eyes.

First genius of the royal family?

Heh...

Soon, the fight between the two princesses reached its climax.

"Nine Suns Annihilation Finger!"

Second Princess Yang Wanying's robes fluttered as she unleashed a devastating finger strike, a beam of annihilation power piercing through the defenses of the Vermilion Bird princess and drilling a hole through her shoulder.

"Ugh!"

The Vermilion Bird princess staggered backward, blood flowing from her right shoulder, her face pale.

The outcome was clear!

"How is this possible?"

The white-haired youth's expression shifted. He hadn't expected the Second Princess of the Nine Suns Kingdom to be this powerful.

This unexpected turn of events shook his confidence—perhaps his juniors weren't guaranteed to win after all.

Still…

Taking a deep breath, his eyes narrowed.

Even if they lost, he wasn't about to leave empty-handed.

No matter what, he wouldn't let this golden opportunity slip away!

"The next two, choose your opponents."

Third Prince Yang Shengtian looked down at Qin Zi, his tone commanding as he said coldly, "You pick first."

"Why should I pick first?" Qin Zi shot back.

Yang Shengtian's expression remained indifferent. "If I pick first, there won't be a third match."

Qin Zi caught the hidden meaning in those words. He studied this arrogant prince for a moment, then smiled. "You can try."

"Hmph."

Yang Shengtian sneered, glancing at Qin Zi as though he were a mere clown, then slowly walked forward.

There was no need for words.

But his meaning was clear: Just because you're weak doesn't mean I am. Questioning me only reveals your ignorance and pettiness.

Raising his right hand, Yang Shengtian pointed at one of the Vermilion Bird princes and said coolly, "You, fight me."