Inside the Ye Clan's Guest Hall, sandalwood incense mixed with oppressive dragon might, making the air so heavy it was hard to breathe.
The Black Dragon Nest's dragon-shaped warship had just docked at the Ancestral Land's pier when Young Master Long Jinghong entered the hall with two Immortal Realm elders. He wore a gold-threaded dragon robe, a gem-studded dragon pendant clinking at his waist. Handsome but arrogant, faint Imperial Dragon Blood aura wrapped around him—each step cracked the bluestone floor. At twelve, this ancient royal genius had reached Perfect Divine Treasury, with 500,000 jin of physical strength: the undisputed top young talent in the Yanhuang Continent.
"Elder Ye Canglan, long time no see." Long Jinghong's gaze swept the hall, finally landing on Ye Tian. A sneer curled his lips: "This is the Ye Clan's so-called Qilin Son? A three-year-old brat—hardly worth my trip. The Ye Clan must be truly desperate for talent."
Beside him, Black Dragon Nest Great Elder Long Kun added, his tone threatening: "Elder Ye, let's be honest. The Late Ancient Era's law shift made the Desolate Ancient Holy Body a useless relic. This child only lives because of the Ye Clan's protection. My Young Master has pure Imperial Dragon Blood—he's the chosen strong one. Today, we're here to let the Ye Clan face reality: the peak of the Yanhuang Continent's younger generation belongs to the Black Dragon Nest… and my Young Master."
The Ye Clan's elders' faces turned livid, but they dared not act. The Black Dragon Nest's Immortal Realm elders were far stronger than the Ye Clan's current elders; a fight would only lead to mutual destruction.
Ye Canglan suppressed his anger: "Young Master Long, the Ye and Black Dragon Clans have a non-aggression pact. Your provocation today is highly inappropriate!"
"Inappropriate?" Long Jinghong scoffed. He circulated his Imperial Dragon Blood, and a surge of dragon might swept the hall—tables and chairs trembled, and many Ye disciples paled, struggling to breathe. "I'm telling the truth! A Holy Body abandoned by the Heavens has no right to be called a Qilin Son. Today, I'll teach him what a true genius… and a true supreme physique is!"
Without warning, he flicked his finger. A condensed dragon-shaped energy blast shot toward Ye Tian's face, carrying 300,000 jin of force—clearly intended to humiliate Ye Tian in public.
"Presumptuous!" Ye Canglan's face darkened, ready to block.
"Grandpa, it's fine." Ye Tian raised a hand to stop him, his expression calm.
Just as the dragon blast was about to hit, Ye Tian activated Spirit Rhinoceros Step, dodging like a ghost. Golden blood energy surged in his body, channeling all his Divine Treasury power into his right fist. He countered with a punch—using only his Holy Body's physical strength, no spiritual energy—his fist wind carrying faint Holy Might, striking directly at Long Jinghong's chest.
"A mere firefly dares to compete with the sun and moon?" Long Jinghong sneered. He didn't expect Ye Tian to fight back, let alone with physical strength. He circulated his Imperial Dragon Blood, summoning a dragon-scale shield in front of him. In his mind, a three-year-old's attack was trivial—his shield could block even a Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator's full power.
BOOM!
Fist met shield. A deafening crash shook the hall, and shockwaves scattered splinters of wood. The golden Holy Body blood energy surged like a tide, tearing through the dragon-scale shield effortlessly. The remaining force slammed into Long Jinghong's chest.
"Pfft!"
Long Jinghong's face turned pale—his disdain replaced by shock and pain. He flew backward like a broken kite, crashing into a dragon-carved pillar, which cracked. He struggled to stand, spitting blood, his aura instantly unstable.
"How… how can you be this strong?" Long Jinghong clutched his chest, staring at Ye Tian in disbelief. He could feel the punch had carried at least 600,000 jin of force—stronger than his own physical strength.
Silence fell. The Ye Clan's elders and disciples stared in shock—no one had expected three-year-old Ye Tian to defeat Perfect Divine Treasury Long Jinghong in one punch… with only physical strength.
The Black Dragon Nest's elders' faces turned livid, their eyes full of shock and anger. Long Kun stepped in front of Long Jinghong, glaring at Ye Tian warily: "What physique are you? How can you have such terrifying physical strength?"
Ye Tian stepped forward, golden blood energy stirring around him. His Holy Body's pressure suppressed the remaining dragon might, making the Black Dragon Nest members' breaths hitch: "Chaos Holy Body. Not the 'useless relic' you claim."
Long Jinghong struggled to his feet, his eyes filled with resentment: "Impossible! The Desolate Ancient Holy Body declined long ago, trapped by Heavenly Shackles. How can you have this power?"
"Heavenly Shackles?" Ye Tian smirked, his tone mocking. "They're just stepping stones on my path to supremacy. A frog in a well like you could never understand the Holy Body's true power."
[Ding! Detected: Host has defeated an ancient royal genius. Sign-in reward triggered: Holy Body Defense Technique Dragon-Phoenix Indestructible Body (Initiate), Imperial Dragon Blood Refining Liquid, 10% increase in physical strength!]
The system's voice rang out. Ye Tian's physical strength surged to 800,000 jin, and his Holy Body became even more indestructible.
Black Dragon Nest Second Elder Long Yan's eyes flashed with killing intent, and his Immortal Realm aura leaked faintly—but Long Kun stopped him: "This is the Ye Clan's Ancestral Land. That existence may be watching. We can't act rashly. We've achieved our goal today—no need to start a war over a child."
Long Kun knew Ye Xuanye, the 18th Ancestor who'd touched the Emperor Realm, was likely watching. If he harmed Ye Tian, the entire Black Dragon Nest delegation would die. He looked at Ye Canglan, his tone grim: "We'll remember today. In ten years, at the Yanhuang Continent Genius Tournament, my Young Master will return to settle this debt!"
Long Jinghong glared at Ye Tian, his teeth clenched: "Ye Tian, you wait! At the Genius Tournament, I'll defeat you—ruin your reputation, and make the Ye Clan a laughingstock across the Yanhuang Continent!"
"Anytime." Ye Tian replied calmly, as if Long Jinghong's threat was irrelevant.
Long Kun snorted, and the Black Dragon Nest members left with Long Jinghong. The Guest Hall erupted in cheers.
The elders crowded around Ye Tian, their faces full of awe and joy. Ye Canglan laughed heartily, patting Ye Tian's shoulder: "Good grandson! Truly our Qilin Son—even the Black Dragon Nest's Phoenix Goddess isn't your match!"
Ye Tian smiled faintly. The Black Dragon Nest, the Ten-Thousand Phoenix Sacred Mountain—they were just stepping stones on his path. The peak of the Hongmeng Realm would soon be his!