Chen Xiong's face flushed with anger at his words.

Yuan Shang's eyes widened, and he stepped forward to shout, "You beast, what did you just say?!"

Peng Hetong was so frightened he hastily took a step back.

Jin Hankang burst out laughing. "What's wrong? Is there a problem with Chief Peng telling Alliance Leader Chen to take care of his health? Or do you intend to attack Chief Peng right in front of us, the three judges from the Long Capital Sect?"

As he spoke, Jin Hankang shot a cold glance at the two men behind him who were enjoying the show.

Shi Junneng sighed and stepped forward to mediate. "Alliance Leader Chen, Vice Alliance Leader Yuan, please focus on arranging the competition! The contestants have nearly all arrived!"

"That's right," Mo Yunchang added.

Seeing that these two only came out to play peacemaker after Jin Hankang had his fill of gloating, Yuan Shang ground his teeth in anger. He followed up with a cold laugh, "Fine! Let's get the competition started."

With that, Yuan Shang turned to Peng Hetong, his voice laced with threat. "Don't you worry. When your godfather Jin returns to Long Capital, I guarantee he won't be taking you with him. We'll still be colleagues after this!"

Finished, Yuan Shang and Chen Xiong turned and walked away.

Seeing the terrifying look in Yuan Shang's eyes, Peng Hetong shuddered and didn't dare say another word.

Seeing how timid he was, Jin Hankang scoffed, "What a useless coward! He only threatened you with words, and you're already this scared?"

Peng Hetong's face went pale, and he forced a dry laugh. "I... I was just a little scared..."

"If you're scared, then you shouldn't be standing by Elder Jin's side!"

Just then, another voice came from behind them.

The four men were startled and turned to look.

Huang Zhendong had arrived! He was the one who had just spoken. Behind him walked Huang Sheng, Huang Zhenyang, and an old man dressed in a gray tunic suit.

At this moment, the gray-clad old man emanated an incredibly formidable aura, causing the expressions of all the surrounding Martial Artists to change drastically. How could anyone possess such an overwhelming presence?

"Haha, if it isn't Family Head Huang! Why didn't you announce your arrival? We would have liked to welcome you at the entrance," Jin Hankang laughed heartily and stepped forward with an outstretched hand.

The Huang Family were the ones who had grievously injured Xu Ke, making them heroes. They were also one of Wong Ting's most trusted partners. When it came to their standing in Wong Ting's eyes, the Huang Family was far more important than he was. He needed to curry favor with them.

"You're too kind, Elder Jin," Huang Zhendong said with a smile. "This is Tianhai. Technically, we are the hosts here. If anyone should be doing the welcoming, it should be us welcoming you."

Jin Hankang's expression stiffened slightly. There was nothing friendly about Huang Zhendong's words. He was basically saying that Jin Hankang could be as arrogant as he liked, but this was still Tianhai's territory, and he shouldn't cross the line.

Seeing Jin Hankang's stiff expression, Huang Zhendong smiled and changed the subject. "Come, Huang Sheng, Zhenyang. Come and pay your respects to Elder Jin. The two gentlemen behind him are Elder Mo and Senior Shi."

"Elder Jin, Elder Mo, Senior Shi!" Huang Sheng and Huang Zhenyang nodded in greeting.

Mo Yunchang and Shi Junneng nodded back slightly, but their gazes were fixed on the gray-clad old man. The elder looked completely ordinary. His eyes were murky, revealing no particular brilliance, and his face was covered in age spots. His grizzled, sparse hair and withered appearance made him resemble a dead tree. However, none of them dared to underestimate him, because of the powerful aura he couldn't conceal.

Although Mo Yunchang and Shi Junneng were silent, it didn't mean they were weak. They were both Innate Maestros. Even so, they felt their hearts pound with fear in the gray-clad elder's presence. Just how powerful must a master be to instill such fear in them?

Seeing the two of them staring at the man behind him, Huang Zhendong smiled faintly. "Allow me to introduce you. This is Elder Shi Hongda, a dear friend of my father's." He then turned to the elder. "Elder Shi, these gentlemen are the elders of the Long Capital Martial Alliance."

Shi Hongda stepped forward. "A pleasure."

His voice was hoarse, like sandpaper scraping across a wooden table. What was even slightly comical was that Shi Hongda wasn't wearing dentures; one could see he had lost many teeth when he spoke.

But at this moment, no one dared to laugh.

Faced with Shi Hongda, all four men, including Peng Hetong, wore looks of utter disbelief as Huang Zhendong finished the introduction.

Shi Hongda? Didn't he die ten years ago after failing to break through to the Innate Great Perfection realm?!

Jin Hankang's pupils contracted, and he swallowed hard. "You are... Elder Shi?!"

He had seen Shi Hongda back when the man first became famous. In front of Shi Hongda, even the retired Jin Hankang was just a junior. But even though Shi Hongda had been old ten years ago, he hadn't looked so decrepit, with sparse white hair and so many age spots. A normal Martial Artist, even one who cultivated into their seventies or eighties, would never look so decayed. Because their vital essence was robust, they shouldn't look so withered. This was why Jin Hankang hadn't recognized him earlier.

"That's right," Shi Hongda nodded.

Jin Hankang was even more shocked now. "But, you weren't..."

"I was lucky. I succeeded in my breakthrough," Shi Hongda said, knowing what he wanted to ask.

As soon as he spoke, a dead silence fell over them.

At that moment, they finally understood why Shi Hongda's aura was so strong it couldn't be contained. It was because he had just broken through to Innate Great Perfection.

Seeing everyone's stunned reactions, the Huang Family members felt an indescribable sense of pride. Huang Zhenyang, in particular, looked so smug he might as well have had the words 'gloating triumph' written on his face. With Shi Hongda's successful breakthrough, the Huang Family's strength had risen to a new level.

The joy on Huang Sheng's face was impossible to hide. Learning about Xu Ke's severe injury last night had been good news. Then this morning, his father had suddenly appeared with Shi Hongda, which was another piece of good news. With this double blessing, Huang Sheng felt that from this moment on, the Huang Family was truly about to soar.

Seeing all this, a faint smile touched Huang Zhendong's lips. His gaze shifted to the spectator area. Many people there were also watching the commotion, and when they saw Shi Hongda confirm his identity, they too showed expressions of shock. Huang Zhendong was deliberately letting everyone present know of Shi Hongda's existence. Today, he had come to proclaim to the world—the Huang Family was now even stronger!

"Congratulations, Family Head Huang, and congratulations to you, Elder Shi. I never expected that Elder Shi would succeed in his breakthrough. This is truly news worth celebrating!"

At that moment, Ye Yunfeng approached with Ye Feng, Ye Chong, and their subordinates. Although Ye Yunfeng wore a smile, a clear shadow lurked in his eyes. His good mood from hearing about Xu Ke's grave injury had soured. He never imagined that Shi Hongda of the Huang Family was still alive.

The crowd turned to look.

"Family Head Ye, the joy is mutual," Huang Zhendong said with a faint smile.

Shi Hongda gave a slight nod to Ye Yunfeng.

A trace of wariness flashed in Ye Yunfeng's eyes. Without turning his head, he commanded, "Ye Chong, Ye Feng, go and pay your respects."

"Yes!"

The two brothers stepped forward and greeted every person of status present. Jin Hankang and the others offered a few words of false praise in return.

Only then did Ye Yunfeng speak again. "I truly didn't expect to witness such a joyous occasion for the Huang Family today. It truly delights me."

Though he spoke of delight, there was no trace of it in his eyes, only deep apprehension. Every great family has an Innate Great Perfection master! But the difference between having one more or one less has a huge impact on a faction's influence!

Huang Zhendong smiled, a hint of smugness in his eyes. "This is a small matter. Elder Shi has always been healthy and fortunate. His breakthrough is a trivial event. On the other hand, Xu Ke's severe injury is truly a regrettable matter for us who reside in Tianhai."

Hearing this, the onlookers pursed their lips. Elder Shi's breakthrough is trivial? You're regretful about Xu Ke's severe injury? If you weren't grinning from ear to ear, we might actually believe you.