“What is Jiang Yichen thinking? He dares forcibly seize even the Cauldron of All Creation’s Primal Breath?” Li Heishui’s eyes shot up.

This cauldron was priceless — it had stirred up boundless turbulence on account of itself. In a certain sense, the enmity Ye Fan had accumulated with the various holy lands in the past all had its origin in this object.

The exclusive sacred artifact of an ancient Great Emperor — even exchanging ancient scriptures for it would be difficult. Who could remain unmoved? Ye Fan had faced death nine times for it, nearly losing his life on multiple occasions.

With no other option, he had temporarily entrusted this cauldron to Xiao Tingting, relying on the Peerless Divine King’s prestige to safeguard it — otherwise, he simply would not have survived.

Not one of their group had imagined that Jiang Yichen would be so bold — daring to seize this opportunity to claim it for himself. He was truly making a cunning calculation.

In the past, the holy lands had all coveted it intensely, and Ye Fan had risked his life to protect this sacred artifact. Yet Jiang Yichen wanted to seize it through underhanded means, which sent their blood boiling.

Even Ye Fan could not suppress his anger at this moment. This cauldron had been won with his life — how could he tolerate someone scheming to take it away?

“This fellow’s ambitions are something else. He actually went through with it — daring to swallow something like this!” Wu Zhongtian said with a cold laugh.

“Damn it, even this Emperor hasn’t gotten to touch it — what gives him the right? He must be tired of living!” The Great Black Dog bared its teeth. True to its nature — all things under heaven should belong to it — it was especially furious right now.

Ye Fan’s expression suddenly shifted and he said, “Don’t act rashly. It’s likely more complicated than we imagine. If the elder generation of the Jiang Family wants to seize it, then we’ll have a serious problem on our hands.”

“Big brother—” Tingting was filled with self-reproach and lowered her head. If such an important sacred artifact were lost, she would never be at peace.

“It’s fine. Tingting, don’t overthink it — this has nothing to do with you.” Ye Fan smiled and tousled her hair.

“Little big sister, be happy — smile!” Xiao Nannan fluttered her big eyes, standing there like a little adult.

“Let’s go. We’re going to find Jiang Yichen right now. He dares seize even my niece’s belongings — damn it, I’ll flay him alive!” Jiang Huairen was normally called Jiang Troublemaker, and he was naturally not someone to be trifled with.

“Let’s go — find that fellow and settle accounts first. If the Jiang Family shields him, we leave immediately and wait for him outside. He’d better never show his face in the North Domain again for the rest of his life!” Liu Kou said.

In truth, these several individuals were descendants of the thirteen great outlaws — all of them untameable and unruly. In the past, they had dared encircle and slaughter even a sacred son and sacred daughter of the Yaochi. They were a pack of dangerous, wolf-like figures.

First they sent Old Uncle Jiang back to his lodgings, then had Tingting lead the way — otherwise, with so many divine islands and great peaks in this territory, they had no way to barge around blindly and no hope of finding Jiang Yichen.

“Little big sister, don’t worry. The big brothers are terribly capable — even the ancient tree spirit got so scared it ran away…” Xiao Nannan was clearly referring to the ancient Dao-attaining tea tree.

This left several of the group looking rather sheepish, for it was their own excessive greed that had driven even the ancient tree to flee from them.

“Little one, what’s your name?” Tingting liked Xiao Nannan very much. Seeing how adorably obedient she was, she took her small hand and walked with her.

“My name is Nannan.” The little one had innocently taken this term of endearment as her own actual name. In truth, regarding her own past, these two characters were all she remembered.

Ye Fan had once analyzed it carefully — the little one must have had a deeply meaningful past, which was the reason she hadn’t forgotten those two characters. But what her true origins were, no one knew. She could stop the passage of time upon herself, remaining forever at the appearance of a little over two years old, while her memories might go blank at any moment.

Ahead, a large ancient island came into view, its ancient trees towering to the sky, a silver waterfall hanging like a white sash, a cluster of mountain peaks standing in rows — an extraordinarily beautiful and spiritually vibrant place.

It was clear that Jiang Yichen held an unusual position among the Jiang Family’s younger generation. To have been given such a place for his cultivation, very few of the young members had this privilege.

“His great-grandfather is an absolute pinnacle powerhouse, and he is also closely aligned with the family’s head. This one gets whatever he wants — wind or rain — and his own character is fierce and ruthless. Ordinary people truly don’t dare offend him.”

Liu Kou and the others were fairly well-informed about the younger generation of the North Domain and even knew Jiang Yichen’s background.

“Who are you people? Why are you trespassing on the Meteor Island?” Several figures flew out, blocking their path.

“Meteor Island? Looks more like a Ill-Omen Island to me!” the Great Black Dog said, baring its teeth.

Those figures immediately changed color, guessing the identities of those before them. Especially the Great Black Dog and Ye Fan — in their eyes, these were absolutely “notorious” figures.

“This place is an important Jiang Family ground. You are not permitted to barge in!” The several figures lined up abreast and blocked the path forward, refusing to let them onto the island.

Jiang Huairen’s expression immediately darkened. He sensed something of Tingting’s situation — she was nominally the little princess of the Jiang Clan now, yet these people had not come forward to pay their respects the moment they saw her.

He thought of Tingting’s circumstances in the past, when certain Jiang Family members had treated her so unjustly — even Old Uncle Jiang had been forced to open a small restaurant outside to make a living. At that recollection, his anger surged.

“All of you get out of the way. Tell Jiang Yichen to drag himself out here!” When Jiang Troublemaker’s temper flared, he was the sort to recognize no one as kin. Though he was technically a Jiang Clan member himself, he didn’t give it a second thought.

Ye Fan also recalled many things from the past — in that winter of heavy snowfall, when he had come to the Jiang Clan and seen in the bitter wind how the Jiang Family’s members made things difficult for Old Uncle Jiang. Jiang Yichen had been the ringleader. His fury at that injustice had moved him to strike back on the ancient family’s own territory — he’d ambushed Jiang Yichen, killed several cultivators in succession, and subdued him. It was only when the Peerless Divine King bade him grant amnesty to all the imprisoned holy land disciples that he had released Jiang Yichen along with the rest.

“Outrageous! Do you know what sort of place this is?! Even as guests of our Jiang Clan, you must know your manners!” One of the figures bellowed, hoping to use this to cow them.

“Are you blind? The little princess of the Jiang Clan is right here — can’t you see her? Or are you deliberately ignoring her?” Jiang Huairen roared.

“We pay our respects to the little princess!” Upon hearing this, those figures hastily came forward to bow.

In the past, they had indeed been able to look straight through Tingting. As a Supreme Yin Physique, she was not expected to live many years, and she had been “picked up” from outside — by no means considered a true member of the line.

Now everything was different. She was the only person the Peerless Divine King had taken away, who had followed him in cultivation for more than half a year. The supreme “Battle” character secret among the Nine Secrets had very possibly fallen into this little girl’s hands.

Moreover, with a great outlaw elder ancestor backing her up, Tingting’s status had become extremely elevated, and no one dared to bully her the way they had before.

It was simply that, owing to their past attitude, they still found it somewhat difficult to make the adjustment.

“Please wait a moment — we’ll go and report.”

One person flew quickly onto the island to report to Jiang Yichen, not daring to delay further.

After a very long time, that person finally flew back out, his face written all over with apologies, speaking very politely: “We are truly very sorry to all of you. The young master is in seclusion — we have no way to rouse him. Please come back in a few days.”

Wu Zhongtian immediately broke into a cold laugh. “He wasn’t in seclusion earlier, he wasn’t in seclusion later — and it just happens to be right now?”

“It’s plain as the nose on your face what’s going on here. He actually won’t receive us. He might escape this time, but can he escape forever?” Liu Kou said coldly.

“Since he’s putting on such airs and doesn’t deign to come out and meet us, we’ll go see him ourselves!” Jiang Huairen’s temper surged.

“You are not permitted to enter!” The figures blocked them.

“Stand aside. I want to see my elder brother — can you really stop me?” Tingting stepped forward. Though she was only a nine-year-old child, when she spoke with seriousness, she carried a certain authority.

The figures exchanged glances with one another. This little girl was nothing before, but now she was genuinely not someone to trifle with.

“This is our Jiang Family’s territory. Do you people still want to block the way? Would you even refuse entry to the Divine King Elder Ancestor himself when he returns someday?” Tingting’s voice was clear and bright as she demanded an answer.

“This—”

“Step aside!” Tingting flew forward at the head of the group.

Ye Fan and the others exchanged nods and flew in together. Those figures did not dare stop them.

They did not stop along the way but proceeded straight to the center of the ancient island. There, several great peaks stood together side by side, ancient vines clinging vigorous and weathered to their summits, spiritual springs gurgling and flowing, clouds and mist coiling, rosy evening clouds billowing — majestic and beautiful.

“Jiang Yichen! Get out here!” Jiang Huairen bellowed.

The divine island was silent and still — no one responded. Only a flock of spiritual birds startled and soared up into the sky.

“If you don’t come out, I’ll suppress these several great peaks together and take you along with them!”

As soon as these words were spoken, there was finally some movement. Six elders flew out, and one of them called out loudly: “Who dares make such an uproar here, disregarding clan rules? Do you want to be heavily punished?”

These several elders were all powerhouses of the Dragon Transformation secret realm — not core Jiang Family members, but people assigned to protect Jiang Yichen.

Tingting stepped forward. “Several elders, please invite my elder brother out. I have important matters to discuss with him.”

These individuals had considerable standing, but seeing Tingting come in person, they could not simply obstruct her — they genuinely did not dare to stand against this little princess. Things were very different now than they had been before.

“The young master is in seclusion — it’s truly inconvenient for him to come out.” One of them made an excuse.

“His airs are outrageously excessive. Since he’s too proud to come out and meet us, we’ll go see him ourselves!” Liu Kou said.

“Enough nonsense — seal the mountain and have him refined alive!” Li Heishui shouted.

This was of course a harsh threat, merely to force Jiang Yichen out. After all, everyone present was a “notoriously” descended great outlaw offspring — ordinary people would believe them capable of such a thing.

“Hmph!”

From a distance, a cold snort rang out, and from amid a stretch of magnificent ancient architecture, a young man emerged. He regarded them with a cold and indifferent gaze. “What remarkable gall — you’ve actually come to cause trouble at my Jiang Family’s grounds. You have absolutely no idea how vast heaven and earth are. Someone come! Sound the Heaven-Resonant Bell — call together the masters. Seize all of them for me and drag them out to be executed!”

Jiang Yichen was dressed in a cyan robe, hands clasped behind his back, standing atop the mountain peak with consummate arrogance. He swept a cold, indifferent gaze over everyone, the corners of his mouth curling into a chillingly cold smile.

“This fellow is genuinely ruthless — he wants to use this as a pretext to kill us all. That he could do something like this makes him even worse than we imagined.” Liu Kou gritted his teeth.

They were not afraid, however. As descendants of the thirteen great outlaws, even if they truly stirred up great trouble, anyone wanting to kill them would still have to weigh the implications of the other great outlaws. All the more so since they had committed no great crime.

Nearby, several of the elders truly moved to sound the Heaven-Resonant Bell and summon Jiang Clan masters to come strike them down.

Jiang Huairen stepped forward and shouted: “Are you all looking to rebel?! Don’t you see the little princess is right here?! She was the one who brought us here — are you trying to kill her? Are you tired of living?!”

Those several elders were furious, but they too did not dare act rashly.

“You have coerced our Jiang Clan’s little princess — you deserve death! Sound the Heaven-Resonant Bell and rescue Tingting — execute every one of them!” Jiang Yichen smiled a viciously cold smile, then lowered his voice: “Causing trouble on my Jiang Family’s own grounds — you’re asking for death!”

As he spoke, his cruel gaze swept over everyone and finally fixed upon Ye Fan, revealing an expression of boundless hatred. A venomous light flashed and disappeared from his eyes — he had by no means forgotten the humiliation of being subdued.

“Damn it, this fellow is dangerously cunning. On his own turf, he won’t reason things through — he genuinely wants to get us all killed!” Liu Kou felt things were going badly and wanted to strike first.

Ye Fan suddenly broke into a smile. He patted Jiang Huairen on the shoulder and said, “Let him sound the Heaven-Resonant Bell. Don’t forget who you are — as a Jiang Clan member yourself, a descendant of the Divine King, you are his uncle. Walking up there and slapping him across the face would be perfectly within your rights. When people arrive, all they could do is watch!”

“Damn it — I nearly forgot. Right now that elder ancestor of the Jiang Family has my grandfather accompanying him every day, doing everything to get him to return to the clan — and he even gave me a divine wood token.”

Jiang Huairen came to his senses all at once and produced the divine wood token from his chest — it was what they had used to enter the Jiang Family in the first place, and no one had dared stop them.

“Go ahead and sound the Heaven-Resonant Bell — call all the masters here to watch me slap him across the face!” Jiang Huairen said.

Upon seeing the divine wood token, all several elders changed color — even Jiang Yichen’s expression shifted abruptly, turning extremely ugly.

“Kid, hand over the Cauldron of All Creation’s Primal Breath,” Wu Zhongtian said with a cold laugh.

“Hmph. What remarkable gall you all have. The Cauldron of All Creation’s Primal Breath belongs to Tingting. As a member of our Jiang Clan, naturally it is also a sacred artifact of our Jiang Family — and you people actually dare come here demanding it!” Jiang Yichen laughed coldly.

“You actually have the nerve to say that?!” Jiang Huairen turned against him on the spot.

Ye Fan’s eyes also turned ice cold. When he had given this cauldron to Xiao Tingting in the past, he had stated openly before all present that it was being lent out temporarily and that he would one day come back to retrieve it.

Now Jiang Yichen was speaking these words, plainly intending to claim it for himself with no intention of returning it — while putting on an air of perfect righteousness, calling it the Jiang Family’s sacred artifact.

“I’ve never seen anyone so shameless!” the Great Black Dog bared its teeth. It nearly rose up on its hind legs and swatted him with one of its great paws.

“Yichen brother, you’ve had the Cauldron of All Creation’s Primal Breath on loan for a very long time. It should be returned to me.” Tingting stepped forward, her voice clear and bright, asking for it back.

Jiang Yichen’s expression turned cold. “Tingting, you need to understand — people’s hearts are treacherous. This is a sacred artifact of our Jiang Clan. If I gave it back to you right now, it would definitely be schemed away by certain unsavory people.”

“You contemptible whelp — how can you speak such shameless words?! Do you think you know how the Cauldron of All Creation’s Primal Breath ended up entering the Jiang Family? With your standing, you want to forcibly seize this sacred artifact? You’re not even qualified!” Li Heishui said.

Ye Fan waved his hand. “Talking to him like this clearly isn’t going to work right now. He’s going to insist it belongs to the Jiang Family and won’t produce it. Troublemaker — you’re up.”

The moment Jiang Huairen heard this, he understood the intent at once, and broke into a great laugh. “Fine! Jiang Yichen, though I’m ashamed to have a big nephew like you, today I have no choice but to acknowledge the relationship!”

He then turned around and said, “All of you help me out — pin him down. This uncle of his is going to administer family punishment and give him a thorough lesson.”

Speaking of seniority — he was Tingting’s little uncle, which made him legitimately Jiang Yichen’s uncle as well, even if they were of similar age.

“Swish!”

Ye Fan, Li Heishui, Wu Zhongtian, and the others surrounded all four directions, each of them wearing a cold smile.

“What are you all trying to do?!” Jiang Yichen’s color changed.

“I’m your uncle, administering family punishment — I’m going to give you a thorough slapping.” Jiang Huairen smiled unkindly.

“You dare!” Jiang Yichen erupted in fury.

“What is there that I don’t dare? Today they’re all outsiders who have no right to engage in violence on Jiang Family grounds — but I have that right.” Jiang Huairen smiled coldly. “Call me uncle, and then I’ll deal with you thoroughly.”

“You—! You’re looking for death!” Jiang Yichen’s face darkened.

“Swish!”

The void was locked in place by Ye Fan and the others working together.

“Crack!”

Jiang Huairen, divine wood token in hand, darted forward like a phantom and delivered a roundhouse slap squarely across Jiang Yichen’s face.

“Hurry — sound the Heaven-Resonant Bell!” Jiang Yichen found his body bound within the void and cried out in panic.

“I am your elder brother, and you have dared to be utterly unfilial toward me — you even wanted to kill me. Today I’ll knock every tooth out of your mouth! As your clan uncle I am as your father — and this is your lesson!” Jiang Huairen tacked on a charge for good measure, then swung his great open palm.

“Crack!”

The crisp sound of a slap rang out.

“Hand over the Cauldron of All Creation’s Primal Breath — or today I’ll slap your mouth to pieces!”