Chapter 41: Hope in the Ancestral Dragon's Nest, Long Aotian, and Ye Xingyun's Ambition

Jun Xiaoyao's tenth birthday banquet concluded amidst such a series of dramatic and breathtaking upheavals.

The sect leaders, elders, and young geniuses of various major powers could not erase the shock and wonder from their faces as they departed from the Jun family.

To them, what they had witnessed at the Jun residence had been nothing short of a soul-shaking experience.

In particular, the Jun family's Divine Son appeared like a young Great Emperor, possessing an invincible aura.

Whether it was the Star King Physique of the Ye family or the Dragon Son of the Ancestral Dragon Nest, both were handled as easily as soft persimmons in his hands.

Upon comparing themselves to the Jun family's Divine Son, some young geniuses could not help but sigh in despair.

With the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body combined with the Supreme Bone, Jun Xiaoyao's talent could no longer be described as monstrous; he possessed the natural bearing of a Great Emperor.

With Jun Xiaoyao present, what place would be left for anyone else in this era?

Even some of the older generation were lamenting that, given Jun Xiaoyao's current cultivation speed, would he not surpass them in just a few years?

Of course, besides Jun Xiaoyao, the performances of Jun Zhangjian and Jun Xuehuang were also remarkable, as they could casually slay the geniuses of the Primordial Royal Clans.

Most shocking of all, naturally, was the Jun family's Eighteenth Ancestor, who had not revealed himself from beginning to end.

An ancestor-level figure who had been buried in the Jun family's ancestral hall for countless years.

His ability to slay a quasi-supreme of the Ancestral Dragon Nest with three sword strikes left the crowd utterly stunned.

Everyone knew that after this tenth birthday banquet, the long-quiet Desolate Heaven Immortal Domain was likely to face turbulent storms.

***

Not long after the Jun family banquet ended.

Far away in the land of Hongzhou, within the headquarters of the Ancestral Dragon Nest, a furious dragon roar erupted, shaking the heavens and earth and causing the stars to tremble.

All living beings in Hongzhou felt as if they were facing a vast, world-destroying heavenly might.

"Is it the Supreme Sovereign of the Ancestral Dragon Nest? Why is he so enraged?" a Hongzhou inhabitant asked, their face pale.

News of the Jun family banquet would take some time to spread, so they were unaware of the cause.

Within the Ancestral Dragon Nest, many powerful divine senses were communicating.

"Calm your thunder for a moment. What use is this anger? Do you intend to charge into the Jun family?"

"That little brat of the Jun family dared to kill a Dragon Son of my lineage. He deserves death!"

"And that Jun Eighteenth... he actually dared to strike down You Long. Does he truly have no fear of our Ancestral Dragon Nest?" the angry voice said coldly.

"Jun Eighteenth is a madman. To kill him would be too difficult..."

"Do we need to inform Aotian of this?" another powerhouse of the Ancestral Dragon Nest sent out a divine sense.

"There is no need. Long Aotian is currently in seclusion refining his fifth Dragon Essence. Once he has refined all seven, combined with the Imperial Dragon Blood, he will be able to sweep through the younger generation of the Immortal Domain. Even that Jun family Divine Son could be slain easily!"

"Good. I shall wait for the day Aotian slays the Jun family Divine Son!"

"As for the Jun family, we will surely make them pay in blood in the future!"

...

On another side, within the void, a divine bird pulled a carriage through the sky.

Inside the carriage, a youth with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes slowly regained consciousness.

It was Ye Xingyun.

"Hiss... it hurts..."

As Ye Xingyun moved, he felt as if his body were about to fall apart, his face turning pale from the pain.

"Young Master, you are awake," Uncle Fu said from the side.

"Where am I..." Ye Xingyun was dazed for a moment before finally recalling everything from the banquet.

A thick sense of humiliation welled up in his heart.

As the chosen genius of the Desolate Ancient Ye Family, when had Ye Xingyun ever suffered such a loss?

Not to mention losing face in front of his goddess.

"Jun Xiaoyao..." Ye Xingyun gritted his teeth, his fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned white.

"Young Master, that Jun family Divine Son cannot be provoked. This old servant has received word that the Divine Son possesses not only the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body, but also a natural Supreme Bone. He even easily slew the Dragon Son of the Ancestral Dragon Nest," Uncle Fu lamented.

"What? There's more!?" Ye Xingyun froze, unable to believe his ears.

When Jun Xiaoyao fought him, he had actually been holding back, not even revealing his Supreme Bone.

Ye Xingyun felt an even deeper sense of humiliation; Jun Xiaoyao had simply not taken him seriously at all.

"Hateful..." Ye Xingyun felt both indignation and shame.

Suddenly, a blurred memory flashed through his mind.

He seemed to see a magnificent Star Palace, and a grand figure draped in the sun, moon, and stars, with their back turned to him.

"What was that? Was it a dream, or is it..." Ye Xingyun murmured in his heart.

He knew that in this world, there existed reincarnations of Saints and even Great Emperors.

Those reincarnated geniuses were the true "cheaters," with vision and cultivation far exceeding ordinary prodigies.

For example, the taboo genius of their Desolate Ancient Ye Family, Ye Guchen, was rumored to be the reincarnation of the Primordial Sword Demon, Dugu Wubai.

In historical records, that Sword Demon had once killed a quasi-emperor with the Emperor-Slaying Sword, possessing terrifying strength.

"Could it be that I, like Ye Guchen, am the reincarnation of some supreme being, and that Star Palace is a treasure trove left for me?" Ye Xingyun couldn't help but wonder.

This possibility was high.

As time passed, more of his memories would awaken. When that time came, he might be able to find that Star Palace and inherit all the opportunities of that supreme being.

"Jun Xiaoyao, the tables will turn. Once my memories awaken, I will rise with overwhelming strength."

"And Luo Li, I will make you realize who is truly worthy of you!"

Ye Xingyun felt revitalized. He felt as if he was about to take flight!

...

Meanwhile, on the Jun family side.

Having finished the banquet, Jun Xiaoyao was being relentlessly harassed by Jiang Luoli.

She clearly should have returned to the Jiang family, yet she refused to leave.

The girl that Ye Xingyun dreamed of possessing had become an inseparable nuisance to Jun Xiaoyao.

"Brother Xiaoyao, do you need a maid to serve tea and water?"

"Linglong is here."

"Brother Xiaoyao, do you need a maid to wash clothes and fold quilts?"

"Linglong is here."

"Brother Xiaoyao, do you need a maid to warm your bed and serve you?"

"Linglong is... cough, what are you talking about?" Jun Xiaoyao coughed, feeling utterly exasperated.

In the end, even Jiang Rou began to press him about marriage.

"Mother, the Eighteenth Ancestor is looking for me. I must take my leave," Jun Xiaoyao, unable to endure the clamor of the women, made a quick escape.

"Hmph, Brother Xiaoyao, Luoli will not give up!" Jiang Luoli said, clenching her small fists like a starstruck fangirl.

***

Jun Xiaoyao arrived at the deepest ancestral lands of the Jun family and saw the Eighteenth Ancestor.

Dressed in gray robes, the Eighteenth Ancestor was white-haired and sat cross-legged in the void.

Around him, terrifying visions manifested: the rotation of suns and moons, the extinction of life, the collapse of heavens, and the reversal of the galaxy.

His aura was incredibly powerful, making one feel as if they were facing the heavens themselves.

No wonder he possessed the ability to slay a quasi-supreme with three sword strikes.

Jun Xiaoyao marveled inwardly; not a single ancestor of the Jun family was a simple character.

Furthermore, if the Eighteenth Ancestor was this formidable, it seemed the Jun family had seventeen others just like him!

Seeing Jun Xiaoyao arrive, the Eighteenth Ancestor's aged face rarely broke into a smile.

"Very good!" the Eighteenth Ancestor said.

He was clearly praising Jun Xiaoyao's performance at the tenth birthday banquet.

Defeating Ye Xingyun went without saying, but tearing apart the Dragon Son of the Ancestral Dragon Nest had certainly brought great honor to the Jun family.

"May I ask what business the Ancestor has in summoning this junior?" Jun Xiaoyao bowed slightly, remaining composed.

When facing the Eighteenth Ancestor, even some of the clan elders would be trembling and extremely cautious.

But Jun Xiaoyao remained calm and indifferent.

This made the Eighteenth Ancestor even more satisfied.

With the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body and the Supreme Bone, his talent was beyond question.

But even more rare was that Jun Xiaoyao's temperament was so steady and composed, unlike a ten-year-old boy at all.

"Do you not wish to learn the Immortal-Slaying Sword Technique?" the Eighteenth Ancestor asked with a faint smile.

Jun Xiaoyao's eyes lit up.