Protect Our Patriarch

...

After some time had passed.

On a secluded barren mountain situated between the Southern Desolate Swamp and Tianfu Commandery, a woman with fiery red hair and snow-white skin, her waist as slender as a willow branch, stood alongside a child who only reached her waist. They gazed into the distance towards the direction of the majestic Dragon Marsh.

These two were none other than the Blood Child Demon Lord and the Yin Snake Demon Concubine.

To avoid being detected by the Ancestor Dragon in the Dragon Marsh, both of them had concealed their auras, making them blend in with the surrounding vegetation and rocks, undetectable to any senses.

The cold wind howled on the mountaintop, yet it couldn't extinguish the fire burning in their hearts.

"Everything is ready. Now, we just wait for the forces of Southern Qin and Western Jin to reach the border," the Blood Child Demon Lord said, standing with his hands behind his back, his childlike face filled with ambition. "As long as the Great Qian's border is under pressure, Long Chang and Jiang Zhencang, those two old fellows, will have to go to the front lines."

"When the battle reaches its climax, and they are completely tied down along with the elite troops, with everyone's attention focused on the war, we can strike at the opportune moment. You will distract the Ancestor Dragon in the Dragon Marsh, while I will sweep the treasures from the Blood Venerable's relics!"

The Yin Snake Demon Concubine wore a confident smile. "Demon Lord, you're wise. Even if they realize something is wrong, we'll have already escaped far away with the treasures left by the Blood Venerable. When they return, all they'll find is an empty ruin."

In reality, as long as the border conflict continued in a stalemate, Long Chang and Jiang Zhencang, both in the Void Realm, along with the Great Qian's most elite troops, would be tied up on the battlefield. Even if they sensed something was wrong, they might not be able to break free.

After all, there were only two of them, and they couldn't be everywhere at once.

With their strength, as long as they weren't directly blocked by Long Chang and Jiang Zhencang or surrounded by the army, they could come and go freely within the Great Qian.

Now, everything was in place, just waiting for the war to erupt and for the Red Enchantress Demon Envoy to send back accurate information.

This plan was as good as set.

As the shadow of war loomed over the Great Qian, the Holy Son Struggle held by the Lingyun Holy Land was also reaching its conclusion.

On this day.

Various big shots gathered once again at the Lingyun Sacred Hall to witness the final outcome of the Holy Son Struggle.

The big shots of the Holy Land were very busy.

Only a monumental event like the Holy Son Struggle could bring them together. Even Wang Shouzhe and Emperor Longchang had traveled from the Changning Wang's Clan to the Holy Land, showing great interest in the final result.

Holy Master Jiang and Emperor Longchang sat in the prime seats for the audience, highlighting the status of the Void Realm.

The Divine Realm big shots and Wang Shouzhe were arranged in the second row, followed by the Purple Mansion Realm elders from various peaks and branches, as well as other spectators.

"Your Majesty has been enjoying retirement at the Wang's Clan recently, and the effect is quite remarkable," Jiang Zhencang remarked with slight surprise. "You look much better than you did a century ago."

Although they had met through the Wang's Clan's newly developed instant communication, it wasn't as clear and direct as meeting in person to observe the changes in his life signs.

"Naturally," Emperor Longchang said with a self-satisfied expression. "The Wang's Clan is indeed a perfect place for retirement. Everything is flawless, except for that kid Wang Shouzhe occasionally getting in your way."

"Uh..." Wang Shouzhe, sitting not far behind him, showed a speechless expression. You're an outsider who refuses to leave after retirement, and you still complain about me, the Clan Leader of the Wang's Clan, visiting?

"Hahaha~" Jiang Zhencang laughed heartily. "Indeed, Shouzhe is quite good in every way. But for some reason, he always gives off a subtle feeling of annoyance, making one want to give him a beating."

"Isn't that true?" Emperor Longchang felt he had found a kindred spirit. "If it weren't for my good self-restraint, I would have already shown him how many eyes the Horse King has."

"That's true, but Shouzhe is still quite useful at the moment. We need him to strategize behind the scenes for this war," Jiang Zhencang said with a sense of camaraderie. "Once peace is restored, you can settle accounts with him later."

"Hmph, I have the same plan. Once we win this war, I must teach him a lesson to vent my frustration."

The two Void Realm big shots were having a lively discussion, prompting Wang Shouzhe to cough twice to remind them. Can't you consider the feelings of the person involved when discussing such matters right in front of them?

"Everyone, please quiet down," Jin Ji Daoist, who had been stationed at the Lingyun Holy Land for some time, said with a hint of excitement. "The Holy Son Struggle has reached a fever pitch, and you can't imagine what has happened."

With Jin Ji Daoist's announcement.

All the Void Realm, Divine Realm, and Purple Mansion Realm elders refocused their attention.

"Jin Ji, what are you talking about?" a Purple Mansion Realm elder who was on good terms with him said. "Stop keeping us in suspense. Could it be that someone has performed an extraordinary feat in the Winter is Coming trial?"

Since the official competition began, Jiang Zhencang had revealed the results and processes of past trials, and everyone understood what the Holy Son Struggle was about.

The main competition was to test the candidates' overall abilities and whether they could lead their people through the harsh winter.

In addition to facing increasingly harsh natural environments, more and more refugees, bandits, and wandering armies, the most crucial challenge was to resist the oppression of the ruling class in the area—Frost City—at the last moment.

If they chose to comply, most of their hard-earned resources would be confiscated, and many of their people wouldn't survive the winter, resulting in a low score and elimination.

If they chose to resist, they had to withstand increasingly fierce attacks from Frost City. If they failed even once, their people would suffer heavy casualties, naturally leading to a low score.

The previous winner, Holy Master Jiang, had achieved an excellent score by successfully repelling nine attacks from Frost City with relatively low casualties, earning the title of Holy Son.

"Jin Ji, has someone achieved a better result than Jiang Zhencang this time?" The Lingyun Codex flew out from Jiang Zhencang's soul, and the image of Lingyun appeared, excitedly saying, "Could it be that someone not only repelled Frost City's attacks but also launched an effective counterattack? Who is it? Is it Yaoyao, Lu Wei, or perhaps Xuan'er and Lici?"

In the past, some Holy Son candidates had tried to launch attacks on Frost City with unconventional strategies, but the results were predictable, as they were crushed by Frost City's formidable military power.

Recently, Jiang Zhencang had been busy with various collaborations with the Wang's Clan and coordinating with Prince An and others for the war, so the Lingyun Codex residing in Jiang Zhencang's soul couldn't keep track of the Holy Son Struggle's progress daily.

Instead, Jin Ji Daoist and a few Purple Mansion Masters were tasked with monitoring it.

However, there was no need to worry about cheating.

Every Holy Son candidate's journey was meticulously recorded, so there was no fear of foul play.

Amidst the urging voices, Jin Ji Daoist, one of the monitors, activated the crystal screen, and the protagonist on the screen was Zhen Shicong, a disciple of the Heavenly Fire Master.

"Huh? How did that kid Zhen Shicong end up in Frost City?"

"Godfather, I led the army to clear out the rebel alliance formed by the northern troublemakers. Here is the detailed list of spoils."

"Cong'er is indeed outstanding. Your godfather didn't misjudge you."

...

The elders and grand elders were stunned by this scene. This... did that kid Zhen Shicong defect to Frost City and become the city lord's godson? Isn't this treason?

"Heavenly Fire Master, look at the fine disciple you've trained!" Langya Daoist glared angrily. "It's one thing to be impetuous on ordinary days, but to do something so disgraceful at such a critical moment."

"Langya, what does my Lihuo lineage's disciple have to do with you?" Heavenly Fire Master retorted in embarrassment. "My Cong'er has always been clever, and joining Frost City must be part of his plan."

"Master," Jin Ji Daoist hurriedly explained awkwardly, "this is indeed a strategy by Zhen Shicong. By repeatedly making contributions, he has gained the trust of Frost City's city lord and has already eliminated several successors."

What?

The audience was in an uproar. Zhen Shicong not only took an unconventional path but also achieved remarkable success. If he truly succeeded, wouldn't that mean indirectly conquering Frost City?

"Hahaha," Heavenly Fire Master laughed heartily. "I knew it. Although Cong'er's bloodline aptitude isn't as good as Wang Liyao and the others, he shines brightly in real trials. It's just a pity that his initial points were low; otherwise, he would have had an 80% chance of securing the position of Holy Son."

Langya Daoist felt quite embarrassed. That kid Zhen Shicong, who usually seemed unreliable, had unexpectedly achieved something impressive.

"Master, don't worry," Jin Ji Daoist said. "Our Junior Brother Ce has also performed well. Not only did he withstand over a dozen attacks from Frost City, but he also united many refugee leaders, becoming a formidable force against Frost City."

As he spoke, Jin Ji Daoist adjusted the screen to showcase Gongyang Ce's impressive achievements.

Langya Daoist's face lit up with joy, and he quickly reviewed Gongyang Ce's past experiences. Indeed, he had steadily built a significant advantage, meticulously establishing a powerful force second only to Frost City, with ample resources to easily survive the winter.

This achievement was already far superior to what his master Jiang Zhencang had accomplished in the past.

"Excellent, excellent, truly worthy of being my disciple," Langya Daoist said with satisfaction. "Even if he loses in the overall score, it's only because his bloodline is slightly inferior. What a pity, what a pity."

"Hmph, what's there to pity?" Yunyang Daoist sneered. "A weaker bloodline is still weaker. In the future, a mid-Void Realm cultivator can easily handle two or three early Void Realm cultivators working together, and my Lici is especially skilled in combat, capable of taking on three opponents at once."

"Hmph, having strength alone makes one a brute," Langya Daoist retorted.

"Langya, you old dog, how dare you insult my Lici. You're suppressing her because you can't stand others being geniuses. My Yunyang and my disciple will remember this grudge," Yunyang Daoist said furiously. "When my Lici reaches the Void Realm, she'll crush you with a single finger."

Langya Daoist's face turned black. When did I ever suppress Lici?

Yunyang, that brat, is still so unreasonable, petty, and vengeful.

"Master..." Jin Ji Daoist whispered, "Junior Brother Ce performed well, but this time, the candidates from various branches also did exceptionally well."

"Jin Ji, I want to see our Bao Bucheng."

"I want to see our Du Gu Feihong."

The Divine Realm big shots called out, putting pressure on Jin Ji Daoist.

Jin Ji Daoist hurriedly adjusted the screen, showcasing each Holy Son candidate. Indeed, this Holy Son Struggle was full of surprises, with each candidate employing their unique methods.

For instance, Bao Bucheng from the Xuandan Pavilion relied on his outstanding alchemy skills to produce many excellent pills, such as Inedia Pills, Strength Pills, and Rejuvenation Pills, which were highly effective.

With a large supply of pills, his army had a significant advantage in battles, quickly recovering even when injured. He also collected many treasures and refined several batches of powerful pills, cultivating a group of elite experts.

Although his overall achievement wasn't as impressive as Gongyang Ce's, it was still far superior to Jiang Zhencang's performance in the past.

Then there was Yu Nianyun from the Heavenly Demon lineage. Although she lacked intelligence, her strong talent and bloodline made up for it. When she transformed into a White Tiger Fierce Beast on the battlefield, she could sweep through the enemy, turning the tide of battle.

Although she couldn't conquer Frost City, Frost City was helpless against her.

Overall, her achievements were also far superior to Jiang Zhencang's in the past.

Additionally, there was Shi Maotian from the Earth Element lineage, a Holy Son candidate with a low presence who also found his own path. He created affordable and effective rock armor, significantly enhancing his army's defense.

He himself could also clad himself in rock, transforming into a massive mountain giant, making significant contributions on the battlefield.

Similarly, he was far superior to Jiang Zhencang's past performance.

And then there was Du Gu Feihong, rumored to be Master Zixiao's illegitimate child. Cold and powerful, he used terrifying lightning techniques to conquer various bandits and rebels, assembling a massive army known as the Thunder King, subtly opposing Frost City.

Undoubtedly, he was also far superior to Jiang Zhencang's past performance.

At this point, Jiang Zhencang's expression had become extremely unnatural. It was fortunate that he participated in the previous Holy Son Struggle; otherwise, in this one, wouldn't he be ranked at the bottom?

It felt like everyone was stronger than him.

"Jin Ji, why haven't you shown my Lici's situation?" Yunyang Daoist shouted angrily. "Are you under Langya's influence, suppressing my Lici?"

"Master, please don't misunderstand," Jin Ji Daoist quickly explained. "It's because Junior Sister Lici is too formidable, so naturally, she should be shown later. I'll show it now."

"Good, good, good!" Yunyang Daoist was overjoyed. "Lici, well done, truly worthy of being my disciple."

Soon.

The crystal screen displayed Lici's scene.

It was a grand war, with two massive armies clashing fiercely in front of the majestic Frost City.

As the commander, Wang Lici was not in the rear directing but stood at the forefront of the vanguard.

Behind her, a hundred-zhang-tall ancient fierce beast's shadow had materialized, wielding a massive metal rod from who knows where. With a single strike, a large section of Frost City's wall crumbled.

Simultaneously, the fierce beast inhaled and swallowed, and those Frost City soldiers who couldn't escape in time were sucked into an endless vortex, becoming the beast's strength.

"Heaven-blessed 'Ci', Heaven-blessed 'Ci'!"

The morale of her army soared, while Frost City's morale plummeted.

"This is..." Jiang Zhencang and Emperor Longchang's expressions changed dramatically. "Such a powerful fierce beast bloodline, could it be the legendary True Immortal-level fierce beast Glutton?"

The two big shots, who had lived for thousands of years, were well-informed and recognized Wang Lici's bloodline.

"Hahaha~~" Spirit Artifact Lingyun laughed joyfully. "Ci'er is actually a Glutton bloodline, it seems my Lingyun's opportunity has arrived."

Among the audience.

The onlookers, including Jiang Xingyuan, had faces as dark as charcoal. Damn it, what was he thinking when he invited Lici Fairy to dinner?

This is the Glutton bloodline, the king of devouring bloodlines in legends!

Who would have thought that a casual encounter would lead to meeting a powerful bloodline only recorded in ancient texts, and he even invited her to dinner!

"Glutton, huh?"

The little green dragon, claiming to be the Yi Wood Green Dragon Ancestor, muttered to itself, sweating profusely. Damn, it was lucky to encounter a Glutton bloodline that hadn't fully matured yet.

If luck hadn't been on its side and Lici had already matured, the Green Dragon clan might have been completely devoured.

Luck, luck indeed, the Green Dragon Ancestor thought with lingering fear.

"Lici Sister, mighty and powerful, conquer Frost City, win the position of Saintess," her most loyal fan, Lan Wan'er, screamed.

"This round is as good as won," praised Yao Chengchao, a collaborator. "Lici Sister has deep ties with my Yao's Clan. Luck, my luck is good indeed."