Jun Beiyue had actually managed to see through the formation guarding the Dream Clan’s forbidden ground — could it be connected to the Dream Clan blood running through his veins? Or perhaps because he was Meng Wanyue’s son?

And if that were the case — what about Xiong Bao? Why hadn’t he inherited this same gift?

Baili Xiaosheng had no idea either, and Baili Weisheng, who might have known, was currently unavailable.

With the situation urgent, neither Jun Beiyue nor Ziqing had time to dwell on it further. Jun Beiyue immediately took the lead, guiding everyone toward wherever the crowds were.

As they made their way along the mountain path, little Xiong Bao remained thoroughly unwilling to accept this, puffing out his cheeks, eyes bulging like a goldfish’s, scanning everything intently, determined to see through it too. But in the end, all he saw remained the illusion conjured by the formation array.

Jun Beiyue led the way at the front, with everyone following behind. Before long, guards came into view directly ahead of them, facing them head-on — yet showing no sign at all of noticing them, unaware that the group was already right before their eyes!

A complicated look flashed through Jun Beiyue’s eyes. He gestured for everyone to ignore them and keep moving.

And so, right under the watchful eyes of dozens of guards stationed on either side, their entire group — four poison beasts included — walked brazenly straight from Xuyu Peak down to Xuyu Hall halfway down the mountainside, the very residence of the Dream Clan leader.

Just as Jun Beiyue stepped off the mountain path and descended the final stone step, he suddenly felt something strange — his entire body jolted, as if he’d just stepped through some kind of doorway.

It wasn’t just Jun Beiyue — everyone behind him felt the exact same sensation.

And when they had all fully emerged from the formation array, appearing now in the real world, the guards up on the mountain still hadn’t noticed a thing! This group had marched straight into the Dream Clan’s very heart as though walking through an empty, deserted place!

“Roaring Rabbit, call everyone down here!” Ziqing ordered.

“Yes!” Roaring Rabbit immediately stepped forward and let out a thunderous roar. “AWOOOO…”

Instantly, every single guard on the mountain and below snapped to attention. The moment they laid eyes on the group, they were struck utterly speechless with shock!

How could this be?

This group… this group had actually escaped the formation array entirely, and marched straight to the front of the clan leader’s hall!

Heavens, how had they done it — the formation guarding Xuyu Peak had never once been broken by anyone! The guards had been fully confident just moments ago, planning to simply trap them there until the clan leader returned to deal with them personally!

Now what were they supposed to do?

Looking at Jun Beiyue and Ziqing’s cold, stern expressions, and then at the four massive beasts, the Dream Clan guards genuinely didn’t dare make a move against them.

At best they knew some basic hand-to-hand combat — and the most formidable formation array they had was already broken. Sealing techniques and the like couldn’t just be conjured up on the spot either.

Every single guard stood utterly stunned into submission.

“Where is your clan leader? We need to see him!” Ziqing said coldly.

Only then did the lead guard snap back to his senses. “You… you all… wait here for a moment!”

With that, he took off running. But before the clan leader arrived, the Great Elder arrived first.

The Dream Clan leader had previously gone into seclusion to focus on the death seal, temporarily leaving clan affairs in the Great Elder’s hands. The moment Old Meng Five had brought word back, the clan leader had gone down the mountain to wait for them.

“Who are you people, daring to trespass into our Dream Clan’s forbidden ground! Speak your names at once!” The Great Elder demanded sharply the moment he arrived.

“Guests brought back by Fifth Elder. We have an urgent matter and request to see the Dream Clan leader immediately.”

Not knowing much about the Dream Clan yet, and unsure whether it was wise to reveal his identity, Jun Beiyue answered somewhat vaguely.

At these words, the Great Elder immediately sucked in a sharp breath. “You are… you’re Fourth Sister’s son… Jun Beiyue!”

A complicated look flickered through Jun Beiyue’s eyes, but he nodded regardless.

Overjoyed, the Great Elder immediately wrapped an arm around Jun Beiyue’s shoulders, exclaiming with feeling, “At last, you’ve finally arrived! Heh heh, nephew, I’m the Dream Clan’s Great Elder — your big uncle!”

Nephew, big uncle — such warm, affectionate terms. He patted Jun Beiyue’s shoulder, easygoing and approachable, like an elder deeply concerned for a younger family member.

Could this be considered a token acknowledgment of kinship?

Jun Beiyue felt a bit awkward. Coming to the Dream Clan, some degree of formal kinship recognition was inevitable, given the blood ties involved.

This wasn’t Da Zhou, after all — the formal etiquette between ruler and subject didn’t apply here.

Jun Beiyue smiled politely, though he wasn’t at all used to being touched by a stranger, and subtly extricated himself from the Great Elder’s grip, asking, “Where is the clan leader? We have a critically injured patient with us — there’s no time to lose.”

Once Old Meng Five had reported back on the events at the Da Zhou capital, the Dream Clan leader had convened a meeting to discuss the matter — so the Great Elder was already fully informed of everything.

He glanced at the unconscious Baili Weisheng and sighed repeatedly. “You all — to think you came straight here! The clan leader and Fifth Brother are still waiting for you at the harbor!”

As he spoke, he waved off the guards and ushered Jun Beiyue’s group inside. “Come, have some tea and rest a moment. Someone’s already gone to fetch the clan leader — he’ll be here shortly.”

Hearing this, Ziqing grew anxious. Even at the fastest pace, the harbor was at least a day away from here! How could that possibly count as “shortly”?

“Great Elder, the situation is urgent — could you find someone to guide me there? I’ll go fetch the clan leader myself!” Ziqing immediately proposed.

Only then did the Great Elder turn to look at Ziqing, a barely perceptible flicker of contempt crossing his eyes as he asked, feigning ignorance, “And this is…?”

“Han Ziqing. Just call me Ziqing,” Ziqing said, giving her name without further introduction. Since the Great Elder already recognized Jun Beiyue, he ought to already understand their relationship.

She was far too worried about Baili Weisheng’s condition — his unconscious state was the most terrifying part of it all.

No one even knew how long he’d been unconscious. If this dragged on any longer, and it reached a point beyond saving, what then?

Ziqing didn’t dare think further, focused only on quickly finding someone capable of saving him.

Yet the Great Elder was in no hurry at all, saying soothingly, “The clan leader is already on his way, he’ll arrive shortly — please, be patient. This old man actually has a very important matter he wishes to discuss with Beiyue.”

Watching this, Ziqing’s fists slowly clenched. Why was this Great Elder so utterly unreasonable?

Little Xiong Bao, watching from the side, murmured quietly, “Mommy — when you’ve had enough, you don’t need to keep enduring it. When discretion’s run its course, you don’t need to stay discreet anymore!”

Unexpectedly, the moment those words left his mouth, Jun Beiyue’s expression turned solemn. “Great Elder, the patient’s condition is critical — we cannot afford to lose even a moment, or the consequences will be beyond anyone’s ability to bear. I will go fetch the clan leader myself — please, have someone guide the way!”

Given Jun Beiyue’s temperament, these words were already remarkably courteous — but the icy, stern tone made it unmistakably clear to anyone listening that he was displeased.

The Great Elder’s expression changed instantly. “Is it truly that serious? Quickly, someone — guide the way!”

Was this Great Elder genuinely oblivious, or simply feigning ignorance?

Jun Beiyue had no more time to spare on the matter. He immediately took the Zizhu Beast and set off to fetch the clan leader, while Ziqing and the others stayed behind. With Jun Beiyue gone to retrieve him, Ziqing finally managed to calm down somewhat.

The Great Elder gave Ziqing a cold, appraising look up and down, then couldn’t help but speak. “Miss Han, there’s an important matter…”

Before the Great Elder could even finish, Ziqing’s heart gave a sudden lurch, and she instantly grew wary.

Miss Han?

Just moments ago, he’d called Jun Beiyue his nephew so warmly, “nephew” and “big uncle” spoken with such affection.

Knowing full well she was Jun Beiyue’s wife — and having just told him himself that she could simply be called Ziqing — yet the Great Elder still insisted on addressing her so formally as “Miss Han”?

The Great Elder was a man well advanced in years, holding an important position within the clan — surely not someone unfamiliar with the subtleties of social conduct. What did he mean by addressing her this way?

Ziqing still held out some hope for the Dream Clan, and having learned many hard lessons in the presence of elders before, she’d grown considerably wiser than she once was. She smiled graciously and said, “What matter would that be?”