Xiahou Xing said with unconcern, "Your words are too harsh. Our Xiahou family has always been loyal to the Zhou family, never forgetting our identity and duty as descendants of the Sacred Generals. But everything is reciprocal. If the Zhou family abandons our Xiahou family for an outsider of unknown origin, then don't blame us for being unrighteous! Our old patriarch will not agree."
As soon as Xiahou Xing spoke.
Many people's expressions changed slightly.
"What? Wasn't the old patriarch of the Xiahou family supposed to have reached the end of his lifespan a hundred years ago and rumored to have passed away? He's not dead!"
"Hiss, the old patriarch of the Xiahou family was already at the peak of the eighth stage of the Manifestation Realm a hundred years ago. Could it be that not only did he not die, but he advanced further to become a Saint King!"
"Damn, no wonder Xiahou Xing dared to negotiate with Zhou Fusheng like this. If it were just these people from the Xiahou family, their weight might not be enough, but if a Saint King is added, the weight immediately becomes different."
"I never expected that a Saint King, comparable to the Ten Great Sacred Generals, would emerge from the Xiahou family. With this, even the Zhou family would have to re-examine the status and weight of the Xiahou family."
"Then, isn't this kid doomed! The Zhou family can't protect him either."
In an instant, the situation changed dramatically.
Xiahou Xing's words were like a bombshell, and as soon as they were dropped, they achieved unexpected results.
Even Zhou Fusheng's expression changed.
He shook his head at Ling Fan, appearing somewhat powerless.
Manifestation Realm Ninth Stage.
It seemed like only a small realm difference from the Manifestation Realm Eighth Stage, but the gap was immeasurable, even greater than the gap between the Quasi-Saint Realm and the Saint Realm.
Saint King.
The absolute king among Saints, truly standing at the pinnacle of the Manifestation Realm, wielding earth-shattering supreme power. It could be said that a Saint King was the absolute sovereign of a small realm like the Jiuhua Realm.
A ceiling-like existence.
Zhou Fusheng, bearing the bloodline of a Great Emperor, possessed talent and aptitude ten times greater than Xiahou Yuan, but he had been stuck at the peak of the Manifestation Realm Eighth Stage for decades without being able to take that step to become a Saint King.
He could disregard Xiahou Xing, and he could disregard any expert from the Xiahou family.
But he could not disregard a Saint King.
After all, even their Zhou family only had three Saint King ancestors.
And these three Saint King ancestors had to face twice their number of peak experts in the same realm.
The addition of a Saint King could provide great help to their Zhou family, even changing the situation.
"Patriarch Xiahou, I didn't expect your old patriarch to take that crucial step between life and death, reaching the pinnacle! It's truly remarkable," Zhou Fusheng sighed and said.
"For my sake, will you set aside your grievances with this young friend?"
Zhou Fusheng took a step back and said.
"Unless he dies, this matter will not be settled like this!" Xiahou Xing, unyielding, revealed a sinister smile.
The experts from the Xiahou family behind him also looked arrogant, staring at Ling Fan with ill intentions, as if they wanted to devour this young man who dared to offend the Xiahou clan's authority with their gazes.
"This!"
Zhou Fusheng's expression became somewhat grim.
Although he wanted to protect this young man of extraordinary strength, after weighing the situation, he remained silent. Facing the Xiahou clan, which had a Saint King, he finally compromised.
Xiahou Xing smiled triumphantly, "Patriarch Zhou still considers the overall situation! In that case, this kid's life will be handled by our Xiahou clan."
He was about to make a move against Ling Fan.
But he saw that Ling Fan's face showed no fear at all; instead, he maintained a calm and detached demeanor.
Under the gaze of countless eyes.
Ling Fan, with his hands behind his back, strode forward as if no one else was present.
In front of him stood a tall and majestic statue, like a deity looking down on all beings, reaching into the clouds.
This was the statue of the Zhou family's ancestor, the peerless Great Emperor Zhou Yun Chang.
"Zhou Yun Chang, your descendants truly disappoint me."
Faint words came from Ling Fan's mouth.
His body appeared incredibly small before the towering statue, yet his words were incredibly sharp.
Everyone was stunned by his words.
No one had expected that this young man would dare to speak so presumptuously in front of all the Zhou family experts, before the statue of the Zhou family's ancestor, the Great Emperor!
This was a grave offense to the Zhou family.
"Good, good, good! This scoundrel truly deserves to die. Even our Xiahou clan wouldn't dare to disrespect this peerless Great Emperor, yet he dares to call him by name and criticize his descendants!" Xiahou Xing sneered repeatedly. He was about to make a move, but now that he saw Ling Fan repeatedly courting death, even offending the Zhou family to the extreme, he didn't need to act.
"Damn, has this kid gone mad! How dare he?"
"The Zhou family head protected him so much just now, and only compromised when Xiahou Xing brought up the Xiahou old patriarch. Now he has completely offended the Zhou family, truly a mad dog."
Misfortune from heaven may be forgiven, but self-inflicted misfortune cannot be.
"Just wait and see, the Zhou family will not spare him for disrespecting that mythical peerless Great Emperor of the Zhou family."
The crowd whispered to each other.
Indeed.
A powerful and boundless will erupted from the depths of the Zhou family's ancestral land and descended here.
"Insulting my Zhou family's former Emperor is an unforgivable crime."
A majestic voice echoed through the heavens and earth. With the descent of that powerful will, everyone's color changed. Before that powerful will, they felt like a small boat in a raging sea, about to be swallowed by monstrous waves at any moment.
"Zhou family ancestor, forgive us! Saint Ling..."
The Great Elder of Demon Suppression quickly spoke.
However, he was directly repelled by a powerful force.
"Descendant of the First Sacred General, you brought such a madman into the Zhou family's ancestral land, offending the heavenly might of our ancestors. You are also guilty. What right do you have to speak? Wait for your punishment by the side!"
An angry voice resounded.
Everyone trembled under its authority.
Then, that incomparably powerful will descended upon Ling Fan with a thunderous roar.
"Kneel!"
Streams of terrifying power formed a storm, accompanied by this "Kneel," booming and impacting Ling Fan.
However, Ling Fan's body remained unmoved.
Like a massive reef in a raging sea, it seemed as if it could never be shaken.
"Your ancestors only had the right to kneel and salute before me. If he knew what you unworthy descendants have done, Zhou Yun Chang would probably crawl out of his coffin in anger and slap your faces."
Ling Fan snorted coldly.