Otherwise, even I can’t protect you.

Hearing this, Lin Xun felt an indescribable warmth in his heart. Even in such dire straits, she still cared about his safety! However, he was no longer the youngster who needed her protection. Now, it was his turn to do something for her.

"Lin Xun, please sit down. Shanhai, please pour some tea," Xi gently instructed.

Ji Shanhai began to bustle about. After Lin Xun sat down, he composed himself and said, "Senior, I overheard your conversation with Miss Shanhai outside the pavilion. Allow me to speak boldly, but I came here to avenge you. If you no longer wish to stay in the Ji Clan, I can take you away immediately."

His voice was calm yet firm. Ji Shanhai, who was pouring tea, trembled slightly and exclaimed with delight, "Brother Lin, are you serious?"

Lin Xun replied, "I would not joke about this."

Xi could also see that Lin Xun was serious, and she was deeply moved. Her clansmen constantly claimed to care for her and consider her wishes, but they had never truly cared about what she actually wanted.

However, Lin Xun was different. This young man, whom she had watched rise to power, had clearly taken a great risk to come to the Ninth Heaven Domain just to avenge her and perhaps even to take her away. How could she not be moved by such dedication?

Unfortunately, the thought of her clan's situation chilled her to the bone. She said, "Over the years, I've heard some things about you. I know you're now a pavilion master in the Origin Sect Ancestral Court, and your name is now renowned throughout the nine heaven domains. You are legendary. If you continue on your path, one day you’ll reign supreme. Under such circumstances, you absolutely mustn't get involved in the messy affairs of the Ji Clan.”

Her tone was gentle and tactful, making Lin Xun both touched and amused. Clearly, Xi didn't believe he had the ability to take her away.

Ji Shanhai couldn't help but say, "Sister, allow me to ask Brother Lin a few questions first."

As she spoke, her beautiful eyes turned to Lin Xun. "Brother Lin, you must have been confident to come, right?"

Lin Xun nodded. "Of course."

"Then what is your current cultivation level?" Ji Shanhai asked.

Lin Xun didn't hide anything as he replied, "Advanced Law Transcendence Realm."

Ji Shanhai nearly spilled the tea she had just poured as she exclaimed, "Advanced Law Transcendence Realm?!"

Less than a hundred years had passed since they had parted ways in the Ten Directions Demon Realm, and Lin Xun had already reached the Eternal Stage? Moreover, he was already at the advanced Law Transcendence Realm?!

Ji Shanhai was utterly astonished. Xi, standing to the side, was also stunned, her cool eyes fixed on Lin Xun, as if she were seeing him in a new light.

After a long pause, she took a deep breath and said, "Even if you've stepped onto the Eternal Path, it's no use. This is the Ninth Heaven Domain, the domain of the Eternal Divine Clans. Let alone you, even with a few more Eternals, you can't interfere in the affairs between the Ji and Taihao Clans."

Lin Xun finally couldn't hold back and said, "Senior, to me, let alone the Ji Clan now, even the other Eternal Divine Clans are nothing to me."

If it were anyone else, they would probably have thought he was being arrogant and boastful. Of course, although Xi and Ji Shanhai knew very well that Lin Xun wasn't just talking big, they still found his declaration amusing.

This guy, after stepping onto the Eternal Stage, actually didn’t take the Eternal Divine Clans seriously? Apparently, he still didn’t understand just how powerful the foundations of the Eternal Divine Clans were.

Just then, a voice rang out from outside the room, "Who dares to shout like that? Aren't you afraid of biting off more than you can chew?"

The door was pushed open, and a group of people entered. Leading them was a middle-aged man in a black robe, a white jade belt around his waist, his figure imposing and dignified. Behind him was a group of men and women.

The one who had spoken was a beautiful woman with a curvaceous figure, but her expression was extremely aloof.

Xi and Ji Shanhai rose to greet the middle-aged man. "Second Uncle."

At the same time, Lin Xun heard Ji Shanhai's voice transmission, "This is my cousin, Ji Molei. Those are his children."

Lin Xun remained unmoved, too lazy to concern himself with such relationships. In the entire Ji Clan, he only cared about Xi and Shanhai; he couldn't be bothered with the names, identities, or status of others.

Of course, he had become the focus of everyone's attention. As soon as Ji Molei and the others entered, they noticed him, a stranger. The pretty woman who had spoken earlier stared at Lin Xun with eyes as sharp as blades. "Who are you? How did you get in here? Don't you know this is a private area of my clan?"

"Ji Qiao, how can you speak like that? He's my friend, and he's here for my sister's wedding banquet," Ji Shanhai said, displeased.

The pretty woman called Ji Qiao scoffed, "Shanhai, this is Xi's boudoir. How can a strange man be allowed in the night before her wedding? If word gets out and the Taihao Clan finds out, can you bear the consequences?"

"You..." Ji Shanhai was annoyed and about to say something when Xi stopped her, saying, "Alright, we're all family, don't argue."

Then she looked at Ji Molei and asked, "Second Uncle, what brings you here?"

Ji Molei's gaze had been fixed on Lin Xun. Hearing this, he said calmly, "Shanhai, please ask your friend to leave."

Ji Shanhai couldn't help but look at Xi, who nodded.

Lin Xun suddenly interjected, "Miss Shanhai, have you and your sister suffered any injustice at the hands of these people over the years?"

His one question drew the attention of everyone present.

"What do you mean?" Ji Qiao's eyes suddenly turned cold, her tone aggressive. "Cousin Shanhai, your friend previously boasted that he doesn’t take the Eternal Divine Clans seriously, and now he seems to be planning to cause trouble here. Isn't that a bit too presumptuous and arrogant of him?"

The other men and women also had cold, sharp eyes. This was the Ji Clan’s stronghold! Despite that, a strange, unknown person had dared to make a scene here; he was simply courting death!

Even Ji Molei frowned, saying, "Tomorrow is Xi'er's wedding day, and I don't want to cause any trouble. Shanhai, if you don't want your friend to suffer, you'd better take him away now. Remember, I don't want to see him again."

His eyes were full of indifference and coldness, and there was a deep-seated disdain in his demeanor. This young man who appeared out of nowhere—if it weren't for Xi and Ji Shanhai's sake, he wouldn't have bothered to say a word; he would have simply ordered his attendants to kill him.

Ji Shanhai hurriedly said to Lin Xun, "Let's leave first."

However, Lin Xun shook his head and said, "Leaving is fine too, but I'll help you vent your anger first, then I'll take you all with me."

"What?" Lin Xun's words immediately caused an uproar. Ji Qiao laughed mockingly, "What a fool! Cousin Shanhai, where did you make such friends? They're simply..."

Before she could finish, an invisible slap landed on her pretty cheek, sending her sprawling to her knees with a thud. Blood spurted from her mouth and nose. Her hair became disheveled, and she was a truly wretched sight.

"A venomous tongue brings trouble. This is what they call 'trouble comes from the mouth,'" Lin Xun said softly.

He...he actually dared to hurt someone?! Everyone present was stunned, utterly unable to believe that someone had actually viciously slapped one of their clansmen on their own territory, right in front of them. This was completely unexpected. They'd seen people courting death, but never one this suicidal!

Even Ji Molei was enraged, his face darkening. Ji Shanhai inwardly cried out in alarm. Even she hadn't anticipated Lin Xun's sudden attack, without a single warning. She was about to speak to stop him when Ji Molei coldly declared, "No one is allowed to interfere! If this brat doesn't die today, what will become of the Ji Clan’s reputation?"

As he spoke, he suddenly stepped forward, pressing a palm towards Lin Xun's head.

Boom!

The power of a peak Transcendence Stage expert spread with this palm strike, incredibly forceful. However, Lin Xun stood still, and the palm halted a foot in front of him. No matter how much force Ji Molei exerted, he couldn't advance an inch further. His expression instantly changed.

Bang! The next moment, a terrifying pressure surged forth. Ji Molei's vision blurred, and he collapsed to his knees, his body completely immobilized, unable to lift his head.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Lin Xun hadn't made a single move. Seeing this, the other men and women were dumbfounded, their scalps tingling with shock, unable to believe it.

A guy from who-knew-where had not only dared to slap one of their members on their turf, but also forced their father to kneel—this was an immense humiliation!

"You...you..." A young man in a fine robe pointed at Lin Xun, his voice trembling with fear, but he couldn't utter a word.

"Coward." Lin Xun uttered, full of disdain.

With that, the men and women all knelt down, forming a dense row. Xi and Shanhai were completely stunned by this turn of events. Even they hadn't expected Lin Xun to act so swiftly and decisively; it was simply...unexpected.

By the time they tried to stop him, it was already too late.

Ji Qiao, kneeling on the ground, screamed shrilly, "Help! Help! Someone's committing violence in our Ji Clan’s stronghold!"

Lin Xun laughed. "This pavilion is already covered by my power. Even if you scream your lungs out, it's useless."

Those words silenced Ji Qiao abruptly. She then cried out in shock and anger, "Who are you? What are you doing here? Cousin Shanhai, he's your friend! Are you colluding with outsiders, planning to harm us? Don’t you know that's treason?"

He found this woman to be far too noisy. Lin Xun flicked his finger, and she rolled her eyes and fainted instantly. The room became much quieter.

"Lin Xun, you've really gotten yourself into big trouble this time." Xi sighed softly, a hint of worry appearing between her brows. She was also in a state of utter confusion, unsure of what to do. What was done was done; there was no going back.

Even if she could protect Lin Xun now, in the Ninth Heaven Domain, with the power of the Ji Clan, how could they possibly let him leave alive?

Lin Xun said nonchalantly, "Senior, don't worry. Just tell me who has bullied you all these years, and I'll handle the rest."

He paused, a cold glint flashing in his dark eyes, and said, "Of course, if you find it difficult to speak, that's fine too. I'll search the souls of these guys one by one; I'll find out who has wronged you all these years!"

These words stunned Xi. After so many years, this kid has become increasingly domineering...