Chapter 32: The Uninvited Guest
With me here, why should the Jun Family worry about failing to produce a Great Emperor?
That single statement from Jun Xiaoyao was awe-inspiring, as though it could swallow rivers and mountains for thousands of miles!
The entire great hall, and even the entirety of the Jun Family estate, seemed to echo with Jun Xiaoyao’s words.
In that instant, everyone from the various major forces who had come to the banquet froze in place.
Boom!
The sky above suddenly darkened, and thunder rolled as if answering Jun Xiaoyao’s proclamation.
Words are not spoken lightly.
Some words must bear a grand karmic weight.
“The Jun Family Divine Child certainly exudes an invincible aura!”
“Judging from the Divine Child’s words, could he truly believe he’ll prove himself as a Great Emperor?”
“This era’s Emperor’s Path just got a lot more interesting…”
Many of the older-generation powerhouses sighed in admiration.
Meanwhile, the beauties from every faction felt their hearts waver because of Jun Xiaoyao’s declaration.
What beauty wouldn’t wish to be paired with a hero?
“A true man should be like this…” The Princess of Great Shang murmured, her heart long since captivated.
As for Jiang Luoli, she was so entranced that she nearly let her saliva drip, completely forgetting the image of the Jiang Family’s precious jewel.
Jun Xiaoyao paid no mind to the others’ reactions. Instead, he leveled a lofty gaze at Jun Wanjie and said plainly, “Does this answer satisfy you?”
His simple counter-question made Jun Wanjie choke on his words, leaving his face grim and unable to retort.
Even he had nearly been intimidated by Jun Xiaoyao’s overwhelming aura moments ago.
Right then, a hoary voice resounded from deep within the Jun Family grounds, uttering a single word.
“Good.”
With that one word, everyone’s expressions changed drastically.
“It’s the Eighteenth Ancestor!” Even Jun Zhantian’s tone trembled slightly.
The Eighteenth Ancestor was a patriarch-level figure of the Jun Family who almost never appeared.
The last time he had shown himself was at Jun Xiaoyao’s birth.
Although he still did not reveal himself this time, that single utterance of approval was clearly praise for Jun Xiaoyao’s grand ambition.
Declaring one’s intention to become an Emperor is not a boast just anyone dares to make.
Even top-tier geniuses often feel uneasy about such a claim.
Now that even the Eighteenth Ancestor had spoken, what could Jun Wanjie possibly say?
No matter his cold and domineering nature, not even a hundred times more courage would embolden him to defy the Eighteenth Ancestor.
“It was my oversight. I have other matters to tend to, so I’ll be taking my leave.”
Jun Wanjie shot Jun Xiaoyao a frosty look, then turned and left without the slightest hesitation.
Remaining here any longer would only irritate him further.
Jun Zhantian watched him go, letting out a quiet breath of relief.
Though Jun Wanjie was unruly and overbearing, he at least wasn’t ignorant of the bigger picture.
If he’d refused to let the matter drop and tried to start a fight with Jun Xiaoyao right here, it would only bring shame upon the Jun Family.
Jun Xiaoyao watched Jun Wanjie’s retreating figure, recalling that cold glare from a moment before.
He knew Jun Wanjie was still unwilling to accept this.
Even if he had stepped down for now, he would doubtless cause trouble in the future.
“Jun Wanjie, make sure you don’t follow Xiao Chen’s foolish path. Otherwise, even if you’re of the Jun Family, I won’t show any mercy.” Jun Xiaoyao murmured inwardly.
He would sweep away any obstacle that stood in his path.
No matter if that obstacle came from the outside or from his own kin.
With Jun Wanjie’s departure, the atmosphere in the great hall returned to normal.
“Congratulations, Divine Child.” Jun Xuehuang rose and raised her cup to Jun Xiaoyao.
She harbored none of Jun Wanjie’s hostility toward him—if anything, she felt only a mild jealousy.
“Thank you.” Jun Xiaoyao smiled and raised his cup in return.
He had always appreciated people who understood the situation.
“Congratulations to you, Divine Child as well.” Jun Zhangjian also stood to offer his congratulations.
He no longer addressed Jun Xiaoyao as “Xiaoyao Younger Cousin,” for he realized he no longer had the right.
Now that Jun Xiaoyao was both the Divine Child and the Zero Sequence of the Jun Family, none among the younger generation could surpass him in status.
Even the First Sequence, who had remained behind closed doors, or the Second and Third Sequences who were out training, could not rival his standing.
“I wonder how they’ll react once they find out Xiaoyao Younger Cousin has become the Zero Sequence,” Jun Zhangjian mused silently.
Although he was also among the Sequences, facing those few at the top left him without even the courage to draw his sword.
None who occupied the highest Sequence ranks were simple—some possessed Double Pupils, while others had inherited forbidden lineages.
Jun Xiaoyao was well aware that those Sequences were no trivial figures.
Still, he believed that with his talent and strength, any problem would be dealt with in due time.
Afterward, the feast continued.
Jun Xiaoyao was quietly wondering why the system had yet to prompt him for a sign-in.
Just then, someone’s voice came from the skies outside the Jun Family’s main gate—arrogant, cold, and tinged with mocking amusement.
“Jun Family Divine Child, you do speak in bold terms. I wonder if your skills can back it up?”
As soon as that voice reached the great hall, everyone visibly tensed.
Who would dare utter such words at the Jun Family Divine Child’s tenth birthday banquet?
If one wanted to die, there were easier ways...
Outside, representatives from various factions looked skyward.
In the distance, they saw a flood dragon with green wings soaring across the heavens, carrying a group upon its back.
Some of them had horns on their heads, some had wings growing from their backs, and some were covered in scales—clearly not members of the human race.
At the forefront stood a young man dressed in luxurious golden robes, with a pair of dragon horns protruding from his head, radiating a fierce and arrogant air.
It was he who had just spoken.
“That’s the Dragon Child from the Primordial Royal Clan known as the Ancestral Dragon Nest!” an elderly figure from a major force gasped.
The Primordial Royal Clans are forces on par with the Desolate Ancient Aristocratic Families, Supreme Holy Lands, or Immortal Divine Dynasties at the very peak of power.
Their ancient emperors could stand shoulder to shoulder with human Great Emperors.
In some eras, they even reigned alone over the Immortal Realm, ruling above trillions of living beings.
The Ancestral Dragon Nest is a top-tier presence among these Primordial Royal Clans, rivaling the Myriad Phoenix Spirit Mountain, the Ancient Qilin Cavern, and others.
Yet here they were: the Dragon Child of the Ancestral Dragon Nest had come to the Jun Family Divine Child’s tenth birthday banquet.
Even a fool could see they were not here on friendly terms.
Some, recalling the festering enmity between the Ancestral Dragon Nest and the Jun Family, could hardly hide the gleam in their eyes.
It seemed there would be yet another spectacle today.
“The Ancestral Dragon Nest?” Jun Xiaoyao said quietly to himself.
He did remember that Jun Zhantian had mentioned such a faction.
The Ancestral Dragon Nest was effectively a rival force to the Jun Family.
In this generation, they had produced a forbidden Primordial Scion named Long Aotian, who cultivated Imperial Dragon Blood and had once crushed several of the Jun Family’s prodigies.
Of course, the Jun Family’s Sequences had also slain some of the Ancestral Dragon Nest’s geniuses.
The two factions were like fire and water—it was impossible for them to coexist peacefully.
His father, the White-Clothed God King Jun Wuhui, had once killed one of the Ancestral Dragon Nest’s Quasi-Supremes while still in the Saint Realm, becoming renowned for that battle.
“Tch, this is frustrating,” Jun Zhantian snapped, his face darkening.
Naturally, they would never invite the Ancestral Dragon Nest to attend.
“What’s the matter? Is the mighty Jun Family afraid to let guests in?” Long Haotian, the Dragon Child of the Ancestral Dragon Nest, stood arrogantly, his tone filled with scorn.
At those words, Jun Zhangjian, Jun Xuehuang, and the other Sequences bristled with anger.
The Dragon Child was certainly as overbearing as rumors said.
“Grandfather, let them in,” Jun Xiaoyao said, hands clasped behind his back and expression calm. “They’re just a few mud eels, after all.”