"When I was chatting with Zhou Liecheng, he once invited me to attend their Zhou Family's ancestral ceremony next month," Leng Ming shared the suspicion he had discovered with Jiang Chen. "He said he would openly challenge for the position of Family Head that day, forcing Zhou Jiang to step down, and wanted me to attend the ceremony. He even hinted that I should bring the retired emperor with me!"

"Hinted to bring the retired emperor with us?!" Jiang Chen was momentarily dazed, and his brow furrowed again.

After thinking for a while, Jiang Chen couldn't figure it out.

Eventually, Jiang Chen gently shook his head, "Let's not worry about it for now. We'll go see what happens at the Zhou Family's ceremony. Right now, we need to prepare for the Eight-Headed Serpent!"

"Okay."

Leng Ming nodded in agreement.

...

Days later, atop Jueluo Peak.

Today, like every other day, the members of the Huangluo Clan began their morning training.

Inside a solitary palace behind the palace complex.

Li Jiang, Zai Lun, and Jiang Chen were sitting on the floor, forming a triangle with Jiang Chen at the vertex, staring straight at the wall to the north. All three had extremely solemn expressions, seemingly ready to act at any moment.

At the foot of Jueluo Peak, two young men dressed in the uniforms of the Huangluo Clan's Imperial Guard Army were posted, one of them occasionally glancing into the surrounding jungle.

"Leng Ming, don't keep looking at us. You might expose us!" A soft voice rang in Leng Ming's ears.

Leng Ming's face changed slightly and he chuckled awkwardly, standing straight and no longer letting his gaze wander, sitting properly at his 'post'.

"Leng Ming, remember, when the fight starts, you must not leave my side," whispered Yan Hu, who was disguised as a guard. "The Young Master has delegated this. Today's battle concerns the survival of the Huangluo Clan. If the enemy becomes desperate, they might target you. I swear on my life to protect you. Don't act recklessly and lead me into a fire pit; I still want to serve the Young Master for many more years!"

"Don't worry, Brother Hu Zi; I won't act impulsively!" Leng Ming whispered back.

After a pause, a puzzled look crossed Leng Ming's face, and he asked softly, "Brother Hu Zi, why didn't Mr. Jiang ask for help from the Flame Dragon Group this time? Why only mobilize your own people? You should bring the Flame Dragon Group's people too, spare none!"

"The people from the Flame Dragon Group... might not be reliable," Yan Hu replied gravely.

"What?!"

Leng Ming exclaimed in shock, his face full of amazement as he looked at Yan Hu.

"Ming, remember your role. You're supposed to be a guard now!" A commanding voice rang in Leng Ming's ears. "We had no choice but to make you take on this role. If you mess this up, I'll have you locked in the cavern behind the palace for ten to eighteen years!"

Leng Ming shrank his neck in fear, glancing at the nearby jungle and awkwardly chuckled, "Third Elder, I'm sorry!"

"Brother Yan Hu, we'd also like to know. Just tell us briefly; I'm on the lookout and no one is approaching yet," the authoritative voice spoke again.

"It's not that the Flame Dragon Group is unreliable, but rather the Young Master suspects that there might be moles from the Soul Devouring Group or the Gene Organization within it," Yan Hu nodded slightly and explained softly.

"The last time Supreme Hu Sha secretly arrived at Dingjing, not even the Young Master was aware, but the people in the Flame Dragon Group who knew about it could be counted on one hand. However, the Gene Organization knew about it. A few days ago, when Supreme Hu Sha left Dingjing for Jincheng, the Gene Organization seized the opportunity to create trouble. This confirmed to the Young Master that there was a problem inside the Flame Dragon Group."

"And what does the Flame Dragon Group have to say about this?" the commanding voice asked again.

Yan Hu shook his head, "The Young Master hasn't told the Flame Dragon Group about this matter. Now is not the time to shake the morale, but, after today's matter, the Young Master should probably speak out. Even if the Young Master doesn't, the person in the cave behind the palace should probably ask!"

"The person in the cave? Who? Isn't it the retired ancestor?" Leng Ming, completely bemused, looked at Yan Hu.

"Be alert, they're coming!"

A dignified voice rang in Leng Ming's ear, and his expression suddenly tightened as he hurriedly straightened up.

Yan Hu's eyes changed slightly, cautiously scanning the surroundings.

Whoosh!

A breeze blew past.

Yan Hu and another waited a moment, and a hint of confusion appeared on Leng Ming's face. He looked at Yan Hu and opened his mouth.

"Shut up!" A voice full of vicissitudes yet bearing an authoritative tone entered Leng Ming's ears.

Leng Ming's body stiffened suddenly, his eyes filled with shock.

Snap!

"Great, the Supreme Elder is actually not dead. Our Huangluo Clan's glory will soon come! With Elder Li and the Supreme Elder, two supreme powerhouses, we are very likely to recreate the Huangluo era!"

At this moment, Yan Hu slapped Leng Ming on the shoulder, excitedly speaking while winking at him.

Leng Ming snapped out of it, realizing that the enemy had already arrived and Yan Hu was signaling him to play along.

Thus, Leng Ming quickly picked up the thread. "Oh yes, our Huangluo Clan is now the top Martial Arts force in Flame Dragon, and we won't be restrained by that darn Flame Dragon Group anymore!"

"But..."

Yan Hu slightly furrowed his brow: "It's just that I'm not sure when the Supreme Elder's injuries will heal. These days, Elder Li and Elder Zai Lun have been troubled by the Supreme Elder's condition."

"No worries, I heard that the elders have already found a way. To treat the Supreme Elder's injuries, they secretly captured Jiang Chen, the Family Head of the Jiang Family of Jincheng," Leng Ming waved his hand, looked around, and spoke in a low voice.

"What?"

Yan Hu feigned a surprised expression: "They captured Jiang Chen? He has a close relationship with the Flame Dragon Group. Won't this offend them? Also, why capture him? He's just a Semi-Venerable."

"You fool, if the Supreme Elder's injuries really heal, do we still need to fear the Flame Dragon Group?"

Leng Ming gave Yan Hu a disparaging look and whispered, "Let me tell you, I accidentally heard Elder Zai Lun say that Jiang Chen seems to have practiced a special type of Soul Martial Arts, capable of containing the Supreme Elder's injuries!"

"Really?" Yan Hu exclaimed in surprise.

"Of course it's true! Otherwise, why would the elder bother capturing him for no reason?" Leng Ming nodded as if it were obvious.

Whoosh!

A breeze blew past, heading toward the hillside!

Swoosh!

After the breeze, a figure suddenly appeared in front of Yan Hu and the other.

"Supr..." Leng Ming's eyes bulged as he exclaimed.

The suddenly appeared Supreme Emperor stared harshly at Leng Ming, silencing him with his glare.

"Yan Hu, the Soul Devouring Group has arrived a kilometer away, and the Eight-Headed Serpent's Soul Clone has already ascended the mountain; I must rush there now. I'll leave this rascal to you!" The Supreme Emperor turned to Yan Hu with hopeful expression.

Yan Hu solemnly said, "Senior, rest assured, as per the Young Master's orders, even at the cost of my life, I will ensure Leng Ming's safety!"

"Good! Thank you!"

The Supreme Emperor nodded, then his figure vanished from the spot.

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