The Name of Eternals

Chapter 231: Measuring the Sacred Bone

Hearing Ji Tianchao's furious rebuke, many of the onlookers felt ashamed. Indeed, the boy had brought Ji Yunge back to the Ji family, a war god who had protected them. His soul returning was a significant merit for the Ji family. Even if the boy were a criminal, he would deserve pardon for this act alone.

In the silence that followed, Ji Tianchao glanced at Ji Qingfeng, disappointment clear in his eyes. He knew well that the grievances between their fathers had trickled down to their generation, but he never liked explaining himself. He just hoped to kill more enemies and slay more demons to show his siblings the truth behind their father's favoritism. He couldn't reject his father's love, but he could return it to the family.

Among the crowd, someone rushed forward, noticing the unconscious Ji Yufen inside the guest hall and exclaimed in shock: "Yufen!"

Hearing his mother's call, the boy at Li Hao's feet began to regain consciousness.

"Who is this bastard that dares to harm my son?"

The elegantly dressed woman in dark green angrily glared at Li Hao, cursing.

Ji Tianchao and the others' expressions changed. Despite Ji Qingqing's mistake of marrying an outsider, Li Hao was still their grandnephew, sharing their bloodline.

"Shut up!"

Ji Tianchao's voice thundered with authority.

The elegant woman's face paled upon hearing his commanding voice, realizing her mistake. Still, she couldn't contain her anger: "War God Tianchao, my son is a Tianjiao, you can't favor an outsider…"

"Your son dares to call himself a Tianjiao?"

Ji Tianchao snarled, "Defeated and still has the nerve to insult others? Since when do our Ji family Tianjiao behave like this?"

The woman hurriedly said, "But my son entered the Three Immortal Realms at fifteen. His talent is unparalleled. Given twenty more years, he might reach the Dao Realm. How can he not be a Tianjiao?"

"If your son is a Tianjiao, how could he be defeated?"

Ji Tianchao coldly replied.

A fifteen-year-old reaching the Three Immortal Realms was indeed exceptional, but only he could dismiss such a talent because he was even more extraordinary in his youth.

"Who knows what tricks that outsider used? My son earned his title through real battles," the woman gritted her teeth, glaring at Li Hao.

Ji Tianchao's eyes turned icy, "If you're not convinced, let them fight publicly again. If your son loses, he loses the title of Tianjiao. How about that?"

The woman's face turned pale, struggling to find words before falling silent.

Seeing her reluctance, Ji Tianchao snorted, "Your son has some talent, but with a mother like you spoiling him, he's doomed. Arrogant and disrespectful, he's no Tianjiao. For the next ten years, he'll train at Bitter Cliff Mountain. If he doesn't attain Inverse Fate, you two won't meet."

"War God Tianchao!"

The woman called out anxiously, but under Ji Tianchao's cold gaze, she fell silent, her heart freezing.

"Ninth Brother, are you favoring this boy?"

A figure stepped forward from the crowd, dressed in a dark ink robe, exuding an air of authority.

Seeing him, Ji Tianchao and Ji Yunqing's expressions changed.

"Elder Brother!"

Ji Tianchao's eyes flickered with complexity and anger.

"I don't deserve that title."

The ink-robed elder said coldly, "Upholding family law and rules is essential for our clan's survival. You've already broken the rules. Will you continue?"

Ji Tianchao understood the implication in his words, his gaze turning somber, tinged with pain: "Elder Brother, Third Brother just passed away."

The ink-robed elder's indifferent expression faltered slightly upon hearing this.

Surprise flashed in his eyes, and seeing the pain in Ji Tianchao's gaze, his hand clenched unconsciously within his sleeve.

However, his expression quickly reverted to coldness, even colder than before: "He didn't come to see me before he left?"

Ji Tianchao laughed bitterly, "Elder Brother, he was just a wounded soul. Shouldn't you have gone to see him?"

The ink-robed elder remained silent.

Ji Tianchao looked at him deeply, disappointment evident, but quickly suppressed his emotions, his gaze turning icy as he addressed the crowd.

Seeing the many faces present, he coldly and deliberately stated: "Our clan's laws and rules must be upheld. However, our clan respects strength above all. Those who excel can rise. Regardless of their origin, whether direct or branch, even a servant can become a Tianjiao and enjoy the clan's best resources if they are exceptional."

"Does anyone oppose this?"

The crowd remained silent. This had long been the Ji family's principle, and no one opposed it.

Strength was paramount, a common understanding in the Great Desolate Heaven.

Ji Tianchao's cold gaze swept over them, "Since we agree, this boy defeated Ji Yufen, proving himself a Tianjiao. He deserves the same treatment as any Tianjiao in our clan!"

Ji Qingfeng's face changed, looking at his father, but the ink-robed elder was gazing towards the mountain peak, lost in thought.

"I haven't lost yet!"

Amid the silence, a voice arose. Ji Yufen had awakened and was climbing up.

His face was red with shame and anger, feeling humiliated to have been defeated by an outsider in front of so many people.

"Go back to sleep."

Li Hao raised his hand and slapped the back of Ji Yufen's head, sending him back into the hole at his feet.

The newly awakened boy fell back into unconsciousness.

Everyone's eyes twitched. This outsider wasn't here to ingratiate himself but was fiercely assertive!

"Yufen!"

The elegant woman nearly fainted from anger.

Ji Tianchao and Ji Yunyu were momentarily stunned, seeing Li Hao's indifferent expression as if nothing had happened. They couldn't help but find it amusing.

This boy didn't seem as timid as they had thought.

Ji Qingyuan and the others' expressions changed, realizing that the boy was formidable, easily overpowering Ji Yufen.

Further debate was meaningless.

In the silence, Ji Daoxin appeared between the two war gods, surveying the scene before speaking: "This boy carries our Ji family's bloodline. For bringing back the war god, he may enter our family records. Having defeated Yufen, he is a Tianjiao and should be treated as such."

Seeing the patriarch, everyone's expressions changed, and they bowed quickly.

Ji Daoxin finished speaking, glanced at the boy in the guest hall, and then addressed Ji Tianchao: "Have the boy tested for a Sacred Bone. If he possesses one, there will be no further disputes."

Ji Tianchao nodded slightly.

In ancient sacred clans, the Sacred Bone was highly revered. If the boy had one, driving him out would face significant opposition.

A Sacred Bone signified the potential to become a sage, a future leader for the clan!

Ji Yunyu, seeing the matter settled, breathed a sigh of relief. She approached Li Hao, examining him closely, noticing a resemblance to Qingqing in his features. "You're Qingqing's child, right? What's your name?"

"Leping."

Ji Yunyu murmured the name, "Your mother gave you that name, didn't she?"

"How did you know?" Li Hao was surprised.

"Qingqing never liked fighting. She probably hoped her child would live peacefully and happily," Ji Yunyu explained.

Li Hao fell silent.

That woman disliked fighting yet married a general who spent his life in battles.

"Come, let's test your Sacred Bone. With your extraordinary talent, you might have a Sacred Bone, with the potential to become a sage!" Ji Yunyu said gently, her old face kind.

Li Hao, having learned about the Ji family from Ji Yunge during their journey, had no objections.

Accompanied by Ji Yunyu, he approached Ji Tianchao and the others.

Ji Yunyu didn't rush to introduce Li Hao to them, planning to do so once everything settled.

Ji Daoxin smiled at Li Hao and then led the way.

Ji Qingyuan and the others followed, curious if the boy with higher talent than Ji Yufen indeed had a Sacred Bone.

If he did, the Ji family might see the rise of another war god, a cause for great celebration!

Despite internal conflicts, the Ji family respected their war gods immensely.

Of course, there were exceptions, given the sheer number of people.

"The boy is going to test for a Sacred Bone. Do you think he has one?"

"Probably! How else could an outsider be so strong, easily overpowering Ji Yufen?"

"Not just Ji Yufen. Didn't you see? Even Ji Mingque didn't fare well against him. If he doesn't have a Sacred Bone, how could he be so powerful?"

"Are we witnessing the rise of another war god in our Ji family?"

"Haha, that would be wonderful! War God Yunge's return, along with a potential new war god, is a blessing for our Ji family!"

The street buzzed with discussions as people hurried to the sacrificial altar on the mountainside, eager to see if the boy truly had a Sacred Bone.

In front of the sacrificial altar.

The expansive area resembled a dojo, with a high altar.

Hearing about the Sacred Bone test, many prominent Ji family members gathered. Those eligible to come here were of significant status and high cultivation levels.

Ji Daoxin instructed the elders to prepare the ancestral incense.

Testing the Sacred Bone required rituals and ceremonies.

More people arrived during this process.

Li Hao stood by Ji Yunyu, surrounded by Ji Tianchao and the others, seemingly to protect him.

Not far away, Ji Qingfeng and his group stood, along with several other Yun generation members, who regarded Ji Tianchao's group coldly, pretending not to see them.

Seeing the growing crowd, Li Hao glanced towards the mountain peak, asking Ji Yunyu: "Elder, is Yunge still here?"

Ji Yunyu paused, while Ji Tianchao and the others trembled slightly, remaining silent.

The ink-robed elder and others looked at Li Hao, his concern evident in his voice.

Though they had disputes with Ji Tianchao and his brothers, Ji Yunge had been amiable, neither particularly close nor distant. His return meant something, and they remembered the boy who had brought him back.

"Silence."

Ji Qingfeng grumbled.

"Qingfeng."

The ink-robed elder spoke softly.

Ji Qingfeng looked up at his father, surprised by his cold gaze.

"Third Brother is gone."

Ji Yunyu whispered, her voice carrying a profound sadness. The others' bodies trembled, realizing their third brother was truly gone.

Their faces darkened, recalling how they missed saying goodbye to Ji Yunge twice.

Li Hao paused, realizing the war god had dissipated.

He fell silent, sighing inwardly.

At this moment, the rituals concluded, and Ji Daoxin called Li Hao forward.

Ji Yunyu composed herself, giving Li Hao some final advice.

Li Hao nodded and floated forward, approaching Ji Daoxin.

Instantly, all eyes focused on him.

Latecomers heard about Li Hao defeating Ji Yufen and bringing back Ji Yunge, curious to see him.

"Is that him?"

"So young and able to defeat Ji Yufen."

"Ji Yufen may not be the strongest Tianjiao, but he's the best at his age."

"He looks even younger than Ji Yufen?"

Low murmurs spread among the crowd.

Ji Daoxin instructed, "Place your blood on the Sacred Pillar."

A massive silver-white Sacred Pillar, inscribed with ancient patterns and profound truths, stood on the altar.

Li Hao nodded, biting his finger. His teeth were sturdier than his finger; otherwise, his Nine-Cast Body would be nearly impervious.

Controlling his breath to open the wound, he squeezed out blood, smearing it on the Sacred Pillar.

Once his breath steadied, the wound healed instantly.