Start cultivating immortality by slacking off and posting ads

Chapter 219 Returning Home in Glory with the Totem, the Hidden Dragon Emerges and Stirs Up the Storm [Part Two]

The crimson light receded, transforming into the shape of the divine horse Jiliang.

It slowly trotted its feet, seemingly moving out of thin air towards the mountaintop.

It was noon, and when everyone looked up, Ji Liang's figure overlapped with the sun, making him appear even more sacred.

The Hufeng clan has not seen any trace of Shenma Jiliang for some years.

Its sudden appearance naturally caused a huge sensation.

Not only the sentries, commanders, and clan elders, but almost all the important figures in the city were alerted after the situation was discovered.

The advantage of the Windcaller Clan's speed becomes apparent.

Those with status within the clan all possessed bloodlines that were more refined and pure than the last.

Before Ji Liang had even taken a few steps, they had all gathered here at top speed.

The sentry who first noticed the situation had already been pushed to the edge along with his companions.

As they watched the rarely seen high-ranking members of the clan gather together, they were filled with emotion, but without the slightest surprise.

After all, the divine horse Jiliang, like the divine horse Chenghuang, is a totem with sacred symbolism for the Hufeng clan.

This outpost was bustling with activity like never before.

A sense of tension and excitement permeated the entire mountaintop.

Standing at the edge, they could still feel the gazes cast from all directions of Hufeng City, and faintly hear the cheers of joy.

It's fair to say that they've never received such attention in their entire lives.

Many of the elders who had just arrived were so excited that their beards trembled.

Looking at Jiliang bathed in sunlight, his eyes were filled with eagerness and greed.

However, they also knew that Shenma Jiliang was not for them.

After all, this is a divine totem! It is the most revered sacred totem of the Hufeng clan.

It has always been an honor that only the clan leader can enjoy, or an opportunity for the future heir.

"It's been so many years since we've seen such a wonderful thing come to us on its own initiative."

"Is my Windcaller clan destined to rise again?"

"It is a blessing bestowed upon our clan by Heaven, thanks to the clan chief's decades of hard work and dedication!"

"Indeed, or perhaps it's because they witnessed the commander's valiant fighting against the enemy!"

"With Ji Liang's certification, why call him Commander? He should be called Young Master."

The mountaintop was noisy and chaotic, with the elders talking amongst themselves. They had arrived late and were unaware that the divine horse, Jiliang, had someone on its back.

The elders from the clan who had arrived earlier exchanged glances but did not object.

'So what if they have an owner?' This thought arose simultaneously in the minds of the clan chief and the leader.

This horse is clearly a young foal, not yet old enough to recognize its master.

Given their familiarity with Ji Liang's habits, they still have a chance to abduct him.

Similar situations have occurred before in the history of the Hufeng clan.

Thinking this, the father and son forced themselves to remain calm, but their eyes kept flashing, filled with an undisguised greed and determination.

"Ta Tata..."

Shenma Jiliang stepped through the void, and although he did not land on solid ground, the sound of his footsteps could be clearly heard.

With its head held high and strides forward, it seemed to disregard everything. Despite being only at the Foundation Establishment stage, it gave off an air of arrogance and disdain.

"Why do I feel... this Jiliang is a bit unusual?"

"Yes, the foal has such an imposing presence."

"Hehe, you don't know this. Although I only met him once when I was young, I remember it very clearly. Ji Liang has always been like this!"

"Hey? Look, isn't there someone on that horse's back?"

"what?"

As Jiliang descended and the angle changed, everyone finally discovered that it was carrying a figure on its back.

"This... could it already belong to someone?"

"It's hard to say. Ji Liang and Cheng Huang are kind-hearted by nature, and they have a history of helping dangerous humans and carrying them to safety. Perhaps they were both on their way to Hufeng City and just wanted to help them?"

"I think you're all wrong! It must have been that ancestor who subdued the divine horse!"

"You mean... the one who helped the clan leader ascend to the throne and has been in seclusion ever since?"

"Who else could it be but him?"

As the eldest son of the current head of the Hufeng clan, Feng Boyuan also serves as the commander of the city's defense forces.

He stood calmly with his father, and when the silhouette of Ji Liang's back came into view, his gaze was fixed on it.

Therefore, as the divine horse Jiliang approached, Feng Boyuan was the first to clearly see the rider's appearance.

The expectation and authority on his face froze instantly, turning into incredulous astonishment.

He blurted out almost immediately, "Feng Bohan? How could it be him?! That illegitimate son?!"

The sound wasn't very loud.

But in the somber atmosphere, it sounded unusually jarring.

In addition, he was surrounded by Nascent Soul cultivators with profound cultivation, which was immediately heard by the group.

Bastard!

Feng Bohan!
These keywords made the hearts of the clan elders jump.

Worse!

If he had any other identity, why did he have to be the son of the clan chief?

Even if he is born out of wedlock, with Ji Liang by his side, he is a young master and a strong contender for the future succession of the clan leader!

"Tap!"

The divine horse Jiliang finally set foot on the mountaintop.

Feng Bohan dismounted, his posture upright like a mountain.

Yes, that's exactly the literal meaning.

His originally thin and short figure has been transformed into a tall and upright man under the grace of the great Nightmare Overlord. Except for his appearance, everything else has been completely transformed.

He is no longer the timid, unpopular illegitimate son he once was.

Instead, it carries the confidence that comes from experiencing life and death, and the fearlessness that comes from the bottom of one's heart after gaining immortality.

This was complemented by his black robe with gold patterns, which, despite lacking any official rank, exuded nobility and mystery.

Even though his cultivation level was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, he still exuded a strange sense of oppression.

The actions of Shenma Jiliang beside him caused a deep sinking feeling in the hearts of the Hufeng tribe members present and those watching from afar in the city, shattering the illusions of many.

After the rider dismounted, Ji Liang did not stand arrogantly with his head held high or walk aside alone.

Instead, she lowered her head affectionately and gently nuzzled Feng Bohan's shoulder with her nose.

It even let out a gentle, cheerful snort.

Then it gently nudged him with its huge horse head, urging him to come forward.

What you see before you is more than just warmth and dependence.

The Hufeng tribe, who are familiar with the habits of Shenma Jiliang, understand this.

These details clearly demonstrate that the two parties have already established a "recognition of master" relationship.

Especially the final arching motion with the horse's head signifies that Ji Liang allows the other party to speak, and that it acknowledges and agrees with all their words.

This action essentially indicates that the two parties have established a life-or-death relationship.

Once its master dies, Ji Liang will completely disappear, and even if it is captured, it will never recognize another as its master again.

When Chief Hufeng saw Feng Bohan's face clearly, his pupils suddenly contracted.

His body swayed almost imperceptibly.

The son before her, whom she had regarded as dust and couldn't even remember who his biological mother was.

He was completely different from the vague impression he had of him.

What stung him even more was that Jiliang, the totem beast representing the highest honor of the Hufeng clan, was so affectionate and docile towards a bastard son he had never even looked at!
A profound sense of absurdity and intense regret struck him clearly for the first time.

As Feng Boyuan watched this scene, the jealousy and shock in his heart almost burst forth from his eyes.

He was just thinking about how to subdue the divine horse Jiliang for the clan and thereby consolidate his position as the future clan leader.

Ideally, one should become the other party's contractor.

Now? This dream hadn't even begun before it was shattered by his most despised half-brother.

Ji Liang's affectionate behavior was like an invisible slap across his face.

The mountaintop was deathly silent.

The previous jubilation over the appearance of the divine horse and the clamor of speculation about its tamer have now turned into a suppressed silence.

Everyone recognized Feng Bohan and realized what this meant.

They couldn't help but exchange bewildered glances, as if they had already foreseen the future, and a drama of brothers fighting each other was about to unfold.

The gazes directed at the clan leader became extremely complex, while those directed at Feng Bohan and Ji Liang were filled with awe and incomprehension.

Feng Bohan remained indifferent to all of this.

His expression was calm, even carrying a faint, distant smile.

He did not immediately bow to the clan chief or his elder brother, but instead patted Ji Liang's neck affectionately.

He whispered soothingly, "Little Ji, it's time to go home."

This action once again made everyone feel the close relationship between the two.

However, his intentional or unintentional disregard for the clan hierarchy caused everyone's hearts to sink once again.

Chief Hufeng's Adam's apple bobbed, and his lips moved a few times.

With great difficulty, he managed to squeeze out a dry, hoarse question: "...Bo Han? You...this Ji Liang..."

The former clan leader's authority had vanished, leaving only an unbelievable state of disarray.

He couldn't even organize a complete question.

The facts before him completely overturned his understanding of his son, the clan's totem beast, and even the future of the clan.

Especially when I think about my absence on my son's one-month birthday and the neglect I've shown him for the past twenty years.

He was instantly overwhelmed by immense guilt and regret for "missing out on some treasure".

Hearing that difficult and intermittent question.

Feng Bohan then slowly shifted his gaze to his biological father and elder brother.

His gaze was calm and unwavering, devoid of resentment or affection, as if he were looking at two clansmen with whom he had only a casual relationship.

He bowed slightly, performing a perfectly standard, yet utterly devoid of warmth, clan salute.

"May the clan chief and the commander be well. Your unworthy descendant, Feng Bohan, has returned home with the clan's sacred totem, Jiliang!"

Chief Hufeng looked at his son, who was calmly bowing before him.

And beside the other party, there was that divine beast that even he himself had failed to obtain.

The scene of Feng Bohan being left unattended during his full moon celebration flashed involuntarily through his mind.

It felt like something was blocking my throat.

Upon hearing the title "Clan Chief,"

His body trembled involuntarily, and his hand unconsciously covered his chest.

The image of the young child in front of me when he was just a little kid couldn't help but come to mind.

Every time he approached her affectionately and called her "father," she would coldly interrupt him and make Feng Bohan call her "patriarch."

The past contempt and disapproval, after twenty years of twists and turns, have finally pierced my heart like a boomerang.

He was about to ask his son to change how he addressed him, but the phrase "unfilial descendant" that followed pierced his heart like a needle.

Chief Hufeng opened his mouth, as if to say something.

In the end, he could only move his lips with difficulty again, but could not utter a single word.

Compared to his father's guilt and remorse, Feng Boyuan felt only murderous intent.

However, when he heard the words "returned home," his face instantly turned from ashen to deathly pale.

Yes! The other party has already returned to Windcaller City.

If he returns in such a high-profile manner, what methods can I still use against him?
As expected, the clan will soon arrange a soul lamp for Feng Bohan.

With Ji Liang by his side, there was very little he could do.

If things go wrong, even a Nascent Soul cultivator could fall into an abyss of no return.

Feng Boyuan wanted to say something to save face.

They might display the demeanor of an elder brother, or remain indifferent, or even use sarcastic and threatening language.

But under Ji Liang's indifferent gaze and Feng Bohan's extremely calm yet fearless gaze toward everything, including life and death, he couldn't bring himself to speak.

On the top of the mountain.

After the deathly silence came a wider, irrepressible murmur.

As for outside the mountain peak.

Those Windcallers, who had somehow appeared suspended in mid-air, whispered amongst themselves without stopping.

Why are neither the clan chief nor the commander saying anything?

"Your question is truly impossible to answer."

"It seems that Feng Bohan's status as the master of Jiliang is unshakeable."

"Who says otherwise? The world in Hufeng City is about to change."

The way everyone looked at Feng Bohan completely changed.

Awe, envy, disbelief, and complex emotions toward the patriarch's family.

A son of a concubine, who was completely marginalized and even sent to a foreign land under the guise of studying abroad, returns as a king with a totem beast several years later.

This scene will become the most shocking topic of conversation in Hufeng City for a long time to come.

With both the clan leader and the eldest son remaining silent, the next steps were quickly taken over by the clan's Nascent Soul stage elders.

A grand welcome banquet was quickly arranged.

However, for some reason, during the preparation of the welcoming banquet...

The clan elder, along with several other Nascent Soul clan elders, first opened the ancestral hall and lit the soul lamp for Feng Bohan.

'Fortunately, my lord's transformation was incredibly miraculous; otherwise, whether a mere wisp of soul could have ignited the soul lamp would still be uncertain!'

Feng Bohan glanced back at the ancestral hall, and then headed towards the banquet hall surrounded by the crowd.

This grand welcoming banquet lasted for an extremely long time.

Noon, afternoon, evening, and even late at night.

The entire city of Windcaller was filled with the Windcaller people reveling in unrestrained joy.

For over a hundred years, the Hufeng clan has had no living totem beast.

Unbeknownst to them, even the purity of the clan's bloodline began to be affected, and the clan's ranking fell to the bottom of the eight major clans.

Now, the divine beast Jiliang has descended once again.

This foreshadows the resurgence of the Wind Clan, which will become even stronger and firmly solidify its ranking and position among the eight major clans.

As the main characters of this banquet, Feng Bohan and Ji Liang were naturally the focus of attention.

One man and one horse, who knows how much alcohol they were given.

By the time it was almost over, Feng Bohan was so weak he could barely walk.

Ji Liang's hooves were also weak, and he could only be carried by his servants in a specially made palanquin.

Both were taken to a newly arranged residence.

After settling them in, the servants quietly left.

"Snoring... snoring..."

"Snoring... snoring..."

The snoring of the man and the horse was deafening.

After an unknown amount of time, the two snoring sounds suddenly stopped simultaneously, and the room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

After a short pause, the man and the horse scrambled to their feet and exchanged a knowing glance.

After their previous acting duel, the two of them had become much more familiar with each other.

At least, Shenma Jiliang no longer dislikes or rejects Feng Bohan as much.

"Transform into a phantom and go for a stroll."

After exchanging ideas through the contract, they made a decision.

Just as it was about to transform, strange noises suddenly came from outside.

(End of this chapter)