This battle almost shattered Chu Hongwu’s martial arts spirit.

If it were just a matter of losing, it wouldn’t matter much.

There is no undefeated person in the world, losing isn’t necessarily a bad thing, the key is that Chu Hongwu lost too humiliatingly.

He used everything he had learned in his life to fight against Ji Liuying, trying to seize the advantage at every turn, but Ji Liuying easily resolved them effortlessly.

The Innate Eight Techniques seemed omnipotent in Ji Liuying’s hands, capable of adapting to any tactic, dissolving his power into nothingness.

Chu Hongwu felt like he was not battling a peer, but rather confronting an almighty divine being.

When you’ve exhausted all your power, thinking you can reach the opponent’s peak, only to find the opponent remains as unfathomable as the vast ocean, the blow is immense.

"Impossible... absolutely impossible..." Chu Hongwu couldn’t believe anyone among his peers could reach such a level, completely overturning his previous worldview.

He thought he was already a leader among his generation and never imagined he would be suppressed to such an extent by a fellow contemporary.

Until the end, when Ji Liuying activated the Secret Realm aura, revealing his identity as an Eight Sense, outsiders felt Chu Hongwu’s defeat was deserved, given he was a rank below Ji Liuying.

But Chu Hongwu understood well that Ji Liuying didn’t win by rank suppression; even if Ji Liuying had been Seven Sense, he would still have been defeated.

"Ji Liuying, I won’t forget you." Chu Hongwu gritted his teeth as he saw the guest off, his words cryptic, leaving uncertainty whether he was being fierce or hinting at something else.

Ji Prodigy wanted to say something several times while taking Ji Liuying back, but ultimately he kept quiet, deciding inwardly that if Chu Hongwu wouldn’t relent, he must ensure Ji Liuying was protected - the Ji Family cannot yield in matters concerning Ji Liuying any further.

Ji Liuying’s mind was elsewhere though; once home, she couldn’t wait another moment and rushed to Chen Guan’s courtyard.

"Master..." Ji Liuying ran to Chen Guan, having much to say but momentarily unsure where to start.

"Is the matter resolved?" Chen Guan asked with a smile.

"It’s resolved... Initially I thought it would be a tough battle... Who knew, using the Secret Technique and Secret Skill you taught, that Chu Hongwu was completely no match for me..." Ji Liuying, like a bursting dam, spilled out everything she wanted to say even somewhat incoherently.

At this moment, Ji Liuying had no doubts about Chen Guan anymore; she considered him a great benefactor, perhaps even the benefactor of the entire Ji Family, most surely the teacher King Ji spoke of.

Bringing such Secret Techniques and Secret Skills back to the Ji Family at such a time was a grace greater than mountains and seas.

Having grown up without much security or reliance, Ji Liuying found a sliver of dependency deep within her heart.

Chen Guan, listening to Ji Liuying’s enthusiastic narrative, thought to himself: "Indeed, she was the correct choice. Her talent and capabilities are excellent, well-suited to the Secret Technique and Secret Skill teamed with her. As long as the Ji family’s higher-ups aren’t blind, they’ll surely focus on cultivating Ji Liuying, possibly she’ll become the next Ji Changsheng..."

This was precisely what Chen Guan desired - having a Ji family ace inclined towards him with good relations was naturally more beneficial than detrimental.

Events unfolded just as Chen Guan predicted, Ji Liuying gained the attention of the Ji family, and, after several assessments, Ji Liuying was earmarked for cultivation as one of the family’s ace candidates.

Chen Guan wasn’t worried that anyone would overtake Ji Liuying; with the Spirit of the Cheerleaders’ blessing, combined with Ji Liuying’s own talent and the techniques left by Ji Changsheng, she’s destined to become a leading figure in the Ji family.

"It’s time to retrieve the ring left by Ji Changsheng; I’m curious what exactly he left for me?" Currently living in Ji Liuying’s house with her protection meant nobody would come investigate him - a colossal advantage.

Chen Guan only needed to quietly take the ring, return to Ji Liuying’s residence, and remain undetected even if the Ji family city were turned upside down.

After diligent preparation, Chen Guan disguised himself and headed out, releasing Ming Fei when still a long way away from the ring.

Ming Fei seldom acted alone, but now, at the same Eight Sense, 71-level as Chen Guan, her actual combat ability was exceptionally strong.

However, using her for support benefitted Chen Guan more, so he generally wouldn’t let Ming Fei fight alone.

Ming Fei’s body was wrapped in armor resembling star gauze, making her true appearance indiscernible.

Such a unique look is rare, making it hard not to leave a deep impression.

When Ming Fei approached the ring’s area, she quickly drew attention from many.

Upon perceiving Ming Fei as a Secret Spirit, more focus fell on her physique rather than any potential action she might take regarding the ring.

The ring left by Ji Changsheng was meant for people; even Celestial Kings couldn’t take it, a Secret Spirit certainly couldn’t either.

No one anticipated that the ring could be taken by a Secret Spirit.

Everyone knew Ji Changsheng’s ring was for the teacher he spoke of.

King Ji’s teacher couldn’t possibly be a Secret Spirit, could it?

So, when Ming Fei reached near the ring, nobody realized the gravity of the situation.

Despite Ming Fei’s veiled face, her tall figure and remarkable aura instinctively cleared a path among those ahead of her.

Ming Fei reached out a star gauze-covered hand, gripping the ring seemingly fixed in space.

In the next moment, under astonished gazes, Ming Fei placed the ring on her finger.

Before people could react, Ming Fei turned and transformed into a flurry of starlight, disappearing along with the ring.

"The ring... the ring is gone..." The people, realizing it then, rushed forward frantically. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

They couldn’t believe the ring untouched even by Celestial Kings had been taken by a Secret Spirit, while remaining in the dark about the owner of that spirit.

Instantly, the entire Ji family city was locked down; not even a fly was allowed to escape.

The Ten Great Families guarding the place weren’t solely there to see who could take the ring.

If they couldn’t take the ring themselves, they would seize it from whoever succeeded.

The treasure left by King Ji was not to fall into outsiders’ hands.

Of course, the definition of outsider varied from person to person.

To the Ji Family, everyone else was an outsider; to the Ten Great Families, anyone outside their circle was foreign.

Everyone wished to catch the ring’s thief, yet, although the Ji family city was sealed, even turned upside down, the culprit remained elusive.

Meanwhile, Chen Guan was at Ji Liuying’s home, carefully examining the ring on Ming Fei’s hand.

Due to Ji Liuying’s connection, no investigators dared intrude.