Chapter 21: Preparing for the Tenth Birthday Banquet, the Ring Old Man Appears

Looking at Xiao Chen, who had fainted directly from rage.

Every member of the Jun family present at the martial arena shuddered.

Jun Xiaoyao was not only powerful in combat but also possessed a sharp tongue. With just a few words, he had nearly driven Xiao Chen to an early grave.

Jun Xiaoyao sighed slightly, feeling somewhat speechless. What he had said was, indeed, the truth.

Generally speaking, individuals like Xiao Chen, who were blessed with great providence, would typically experience a "small universe explosion" after having their cultivation destroyed and their talent stripped away. They would encounter various fortuitous encounters, grow steadily, and eventually sweep across the lands.

Thinking of it this way, Jun Xiaoyao was indeed doing what was best for Xiao Chen.

"Someone, throw him out outside the mountain gate," Jun Xiaoyao said with a wave of his hand.

Soon, Jun family guards arrived and dragged the unconscious Xiao Chen away.

At that moment, Jun Zhantian's figure suddenly materialized from the void.

"Grandfather," Jun Xiaoyao nodded slightly. He had long sensed that Jun Zhantian and the other clan elders were watching him from behind.

"Xiaoyao, do you know that wild fires cannot be burned out, and the spring breeze brings them back to life? To pull up weeds, one must remove the roots," Jun Zhantian said, his expression tightening slightly.

He feared that Jun Xiaoyao might develop a habit of arrogance and underestimating his enemies. Letting an enemy go like this was not a wise decision.

"Heh, rest assured, Grandfather. I have my own plans," Jun Xiaoyao smiled.

Did Jun Xiaoyao not understand the logic of pulling up the roots? However, to him, the current Xiao Chen was like a crop of leeks—to be harvested whenever needed.

Jun Xiaoyao had only harvested the dragon qi so far; he had far from squeezed out the full value of Xiao Chen's providence. Wouldn't it be more profitable to harvest him crop by crop? Once there was no more value left to extract, Jun Xiaoyao would naturally swat this fly away.

"As long as you have plans. A small character like this cannot stir up much trouble. You have one year left; you must prepare yourself," Jun Zhantian said.

Jun Xiaoyao nodded indifferently.

What Jun Zhantian was referring to was, naturally, his tenth birthday banquet. At that time, the Jun family would invite various powers from across the Desolate Heaven Immortal Domain, making it a world-renowned feast. Even Jun Xiaoyao's maternal clan, the ancient Jiang family, would likely send representatives. Furthermore, his mother, Jiang Rou, had always wanted to push the jewel of the Jiang family toward Jun Xiaoyao.

Additionally, the Jun family would announce his status as the Zero-Number Sequence during the banquet. By then, the Jun family would surely undergo a massive upheaval, and the various major sequences would certainly react. Thus, Jun Zhantian wanted Jun Xiaoyao to be prepared.

"Rest assured, Grandfather. I will never disappoint you, Mother, or the Eighteenth Ancestor," Jun Xiaoyao said with certainty.

He had not forgotten that there would be an opportunity to "sign in" during the tenth birthday banquet. The rewards obtained then might provide a massive boost to his strength.

"I naturally trust you," Jun Zhantian smiled with satisfaction.

After the commotion subsided, Jun Xiaoyao returned to the Heavenly Emperor Palace to completely refine the dragon qi. Bai Yu'er also stayed at the palace temporarily. She had also obtained a small portion of the dragon qi, which, combined with her own Vermilion Bird Divine Fire, would cause her talent and strength to skyrocket. Most importantly, she had now devoted herself entirely to following Jun Xiaoyao.

In contrast to the bountiful harvest of Jun Xiaoyao, Xiao Chen's current situation was quite miserable.

He slowly opened his eyes, only to find himself outside the Jun family mountain gate.

"Cough, cough..."

Xiao Chen struggled to stand. His body was covered in wounds, and he suffered from numerous internal injuries; his meridians were destroyed, and his bones were shattered. He was, quite literally, at his lowest point.

Many cultivators were gathered outside the Jun family gates to watch the spectacle. After all, Xiao Chen had entered the Jun family quite arrogantly earlier, only to be thrown out in such a pathetic state shortly after.

"Was that prince of the Azure Dragon Ancient Kingdom crippled?"

"Seems so. He's like a dog."

"It's his own fault for being blind and daring to provoke the Jun family's Divine Son. I bet even his fiancée has run off. Serves him right!"

The surrounding onlookers mocked him with disdain and contempt.

Xiao Chen clenched his fists tightly and walked away step by step. Only after he had escaped the sight of the crowd did he roar toward the sky, repeatedly slamming his fists against an ancient tree in front of him.

"Damn it, Jun Xiaoyao! If there is even a sliver of a chance, I will repay today's pain a thousandfold!"

As Xiao Chen roared, the blood on his body unconsciously soaked into the Coiling Dragon Ring on his finger.

"Do all the descendants of my Azure Dragon Ancient Kingdom lack ambition like you?"

Suddenly, an old voice rang out.

"Who is it?" Xiao Chen's gaze searched the surroundings.

In the next moment, his eyes fell upon the Coiling Dragon Ring. The ring suddenly flashed with a green light. Immediately after, a phantom of an old man with white eyebrows, dressed in a green dragon robe, appeared before Xiao Chen.

"You... you are..." Xiao Chen's eyes widened as he stared at the old man. The old man even had two dragon horns growing from his head. In a daze, Xiao Chen felt as if he had seen this old man somewhere before.

"Heh, has the descendant already forgotten this old man?" the dragon-horned elder in green robes smiled.

"You are... the founding ancestor of my Azure Dragon Ancient Kingdom, the Azure Dragon Perfected One!" A flash of realization struck Xiao Chen's mind, and he gasped sharply.

He finally remembered. This old man's appearance was identical to the statue of the founding ancestor standing in the Azure Dragon Ancient Kingdom's imperial palace! And according to historical records, this founding ancestor, the Azure Dragon Perfected One, was a Quasi-Supreme! He was only half a step away from truly entering the Supreme Realm!

What a powerful realm that was—only one step away from the true Supreme Realm.

"First Prince of the Azure Dragon Ancient Kingdom, Xiao Chen, greets the Ancestor!" Xiao Chen's face was filled with excitement, his entire body trembling. He had not expected that the Coiling Dragon Ring, a relic from his mother, would house the soul of the founding ancestor.

As expected, heaven never closes all doors!

Looking at Xiao Chen, the Azure Dragon Perfected One spoke: "This seat awakened years ago. Sensing that you were the child of providence for the current Azure Dragon Ancient Kingdom, I have been funneling mana and various resources to you. I did not expect you to still fall to that Jun family Divine Son."

Hearing this, a cold, hateful expression appeared on Xiao Chen's face. "Ancestor, why didn't you act directly back then to suppress and kill that Jun Xiaoyao?"

"Hmph, ignorant. If I had acted then, the result would have been that neither you nor I would have made it out of the Jun family alive!" the Azure Dragon Perfected One snapped coldly.

He had actually been quite satisfied with Xiao Chen's performance, but now, Xiao Chen's heart was in turmoil.

"Ancestor, you are a Quasi-Supreme! Is it still not enough to make the Jun family wary?" Xiao Chen asked unwillingly.

The Azure Dragon Perfected One shook his head. "Forget the fact that my current strength is less than one-tenth of what it was; even at my peak, I could not do anything to the Jun family. The ancient families are not as simple as you imagine."

"In that case, will I never be able to avenge myself in this lifetime...?" Xiao Chen gritted his teeth. He was crippled, and the Azure Dragon Perfected One could not help him.

"Do not be discouraged. You are the child of providence; the Azure Dragon Ancient Kingdom will need you in the future. This seat will not let you end things so dejectedly," the Azure Dragon Perfected One said.

"I beg the Ancestor for help! No matter the cost, I am willing!" Xiao Chen said with absolute determination.

A look of gratification appeared in the Azure Dragon Perfected One's eyes as he produced a green scroll.

"Although your meridians and cultivation have been destroyed, it can be seen as a blessing in disguise. This Quasi-Supreme technique, the Azure Heaven Dragon Transformation Art, is the technique I once practiced. I shall pass it to you."

"Azure Heaven Dragon Transformation—destruction is the precursor to creation!"

Hearing this, the fire of hope reignited in Xiao Chen's originally despairing eyes. His entire being seemed to revive, filled with fighting spirit!

"Jun Xiaoyao, your greatest mistake was being too arrogant and conceited to leave me a path to live!"

"This grudge, I, Xiao Chen, will surely repay a hundredfold!"