"Zhang Chonglou, what do you mean!"

Upon hearing Zhang Chonglou's words, Gongsun Zhi became anxious: "You know what kind of existence the Eternal Life Hall is. Each of them is ruthless, and now your Daoist sect is weakening, you might not even be able to protect yourselves. Back then, I mistakenly killed a good man with Daoist techniques, was expelled from the Daoist sect, and vowed never to use Daoist techniques again, even forbade my descendants from studying Daoist arts, just to avoid getting involved in those troubles. Now, you say Fengying is already involved! What are you trying to say!"

Zhang Chonglou chuckled, calming him: "Gongsun Zhi, there's no need to get so worked up. The past is in the past, but this matter involves too many parties. Not only is the Eternal Life Hall involved, but even the Witch God Sect and Medicine King Valley are implicated, and it seems like even the long-vanished Yin Ghost Sect is involved too."

"What did you say!" Gongsun Zhi's eyes widened: "What's going on?"

Zhang Chonglou said: "The Eternal Life Hall is coming fiercely this time, and it would be difficult to deal with them relying solely on our Daoist sect's strength. The Buddhist side also sent a young monk, who seems to have a good relationship with that boy Ye Guichen. Although I haven't met them, they should also know a lot about the Eternal Life Hall. Therefore, in this situation, no one can remain unaffected."

Pausing for a moment, he continued: "I also know your plan. You want Lao Wu to marry that girl Fengying so that our Heavenly Master Tao can protect her, and even your Gongsun family. But as far as I can tell, that girl Fengying won't listen to you."

Gongsun Zhi was furious: "What do you mean by that?"

"Do you know who that boy Ye Guichen is?"

"How would I know!" Gongsun Zhi replied testily: "I don't want to know either!"

"Haha, his master is Li Fengxian, and he himself is now the grand master of the Heavenly God Temple." Ignoring Gongsun Zhi, Zhang Chonglou smiled and said.

"What? The grand master?" Gongsun Zhi was shocked: "That boy is the grand master of the Heavenly God Temple?"

Zhang Chonglou nodded: "Not only that, do you know what Li Fengxian told me back then?"

This piqued Gongsun Zhi's curiosity, "What did he say?"

"Ye Guichen, a genius unseen for millennia."

Gongsun Zhi scoffed disdainfully: "So what? Li Fengxian is just a mad doctor, his words hold no credibility."

Zhang Chonglou shook his head: "Wrong, Li Fengxian's medical skills are unparalleled, you and I both agree on that. But when it comes to judging people, he's also quite adept. When Li Fengxian brought that boy Ye Guichen to Heavenly Master Tao, he didn't explicitly state it, but his implication was very clear: that boy Ye Guichen is likely closely related to the seven hidden kings."

"What?" Gongsun Zhi was incredibly shocked: "The Seven Kings? Are you saying, the Seven Kings under the Netherworld Emperor?"

Zhang Chonglou said thoughtfully: "Yes, most people don't know what the Seven Kings are or who they are. But we know, the terror of the Seven Kings is unimaginable. The Eternal Life Hall is not of concern to me; I'm worried that if the Seven Kings reemerge, it would be the greatest crisis."

Gongsun Zhi furrowed his brows: "Zhang Chonglou, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Zhang Chonglou hinted: "There's a legend that back then, the Netherworld Emperor was betrayed and killed, his entire family slaughtered, but one son escaped to this mortal land..."

Gongsun Zhi's eyes widened as if he were hearing a fantastical tale, he asked in a trembling voice: "Are you, are you saying, that the son of the Nether Emperor is that boy Ye Guichen?"

Zhang Chonglou smiled: "It's just a guess, haha, but the urgent matter is to deal with the Eternal Life Hall. Other matters should be dealt with gradually. As for that girl Fengying and Lao Wu's affair, let them handle it themselves. We're of an age now; let the young ones make their decisions."

Gongsun Zhi's lips moved twice, wanting to say something, but suddenly he heard the noisy shouts coming from outside.

"Ye Guichen! Come out and face me!"

"Fifth Master, what are you doing?"

"I want to challenge Ye Guichen, get him out here!"

"Fifth Brother, what has Brother Ye done to offend you, why suddenly challenge him?"

The noise outside grew more intense.

Zhang Chonglou squinted with a smile: "Gongsun Zhi, not going out to have a look?"

"Hmph!" Gongsun Zhi glared at Zhang Chonglou, downed the tea in front of him, and strode out briskly.

Zhang Chonglou smiled wryly: "This old guy, quite the temper."

The cup of tea, which he had just poured, remained untasted by him, but was drunk by Gongsun Zhi.

Outside the courtyard where Ye Guichen was, Liu Xuanji was shouting.

His shouting attracted quite a few disciples of Heavenly Master Tao.

Even other Dao sect members were drawn over.

Ye Guichen and Luo Huasheng were happily sparring in the courtyard when suddenly they heard the yelling outside, puzzled: "Who dares to shout so boldly here?"

Luo Huasheng, shirtless, his explosive muscles resembling a bronze-skinned arhat, looked extremely impressive.

Although Ye Guichen was clothed, his body was soaked with sweat, and his muscular build was unconsciously revealed.

Moreover, unknowingly, he had drunk an entire barrel of spiritual spring water.

The pores throughout his body seemed to open up completely, and the mysterious energy in his dantian became increasingly dense.

Ye Guichen couldn't help but practice the first layer of the Xuanming Prison Suppressing Technique once, and the power unleashed was so immense, it knocked down a century-old tree from over ten meters away with a single punch.

Luo Huasheng was startled by Ye Guichen's forceful strike.

He hadn't even seen how Ye Guichen made the move and stammered a bit: "Brother Ye, that tree is part of Heavenly Master Tao's property, won't they give us trouble later?"

Ye Guichen chuckled: "What's there to fear!"

After a round of drinks, their friendship had rapidly warmed, no longer addressing each other formally, but as brothers.

Since Ye Guichen was a year older than Luo Huasheng, Luo Huasheng unceremoniously called Ye Guichen his elder brother.

Hearing the commotion outside, Ye Guichen tossed the wine jar on the ground and strode out: "Who's calling for me in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"

Luo Huasheng followed closely behind.

Once out of the courtyard, Ye Guichen saw quite a few people standing outside.

The most noticeable was a spirited young man in a white robe.

However, the youth's face was filled with resentment, as if Ye Guichen were his greatest enemy.

"You are Ye Guichen?" Liu Xuanji raised his sword, pointing it at Ye Guichen, shouting angrily.

Ye Guichen was baffled: "I am, may I ask..."

"Brother Ye, Brother Ye, this is my Fifth Brother, Brother Liu Xuanji, known as the Sword Obsessed. I don't know what happened, but he suddenly said he wanted to challenge you," Zhang Chongchen explained awkwardly.

"Challenge?" Ye Guichen was puzzled: "Do we have a grudge?"

"No grudge!" Liu Xuanji shook his head.

"Then do we have a vendetta?" Ye Guichen asked again.

Liu Xuanji shook his head again: "No vendetta!"

"No vendetta, no grudge, what are you challenging for?" Ye Guichen waved his hand: "Brother Zhang, does your Fifth Brother have a problem with his head? In the middle of the night, while Brother Hua Sheng and I are enjoying a good drink, he comes to disturb us, clearly he's got nothing better to do."

Having said that, he turned and was about to head back to the courtyard.