Is It Wrong to Bully the Novice Village for System Rewards?

Chapter 218: An Unprecedented, Colossal Crisis

Deep within the Ji Clan’s Ancestral Land.

A stunning woman in a flowing purple dress swept through the resplendent, golden corridors of the palace. Mystical light gathered beneath her feet, leaving trails of ethereal mist with every hurried step. It was Ji Chan’er, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Ji Clan’s main branch.

A moment later, she stopped before a quaintly styled pavilion and bowed her head respectfully. “Grandfather, your granddaughter is late. I beg your forgiveness.”

Soon, a dignified, heavy male voice echoed from within. “Chan’er, come in.”

The heavy doors to the pavilion swung open, revealing a massive black jade screen carved with a terrifying depiction of heavenly demons plunging the mortal realm into chaos.

“Yes,” Ji Chan’er replied, her expression turning solemn as she stepped around the screen.

Inside, the pavilion was thick with the scent of antique incense. Ji Yuntian, the ruthless Head of the Ji Clan, sat rigidly on a massive blackwood throne. He was staring intensely at an unrolled scroll on his desk, completely lost in thought.

From the corner of her eye, Ji Chan’er caught a glimpse of the scroll. Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as she recognized the bizarre symbols—they were copied directly from the stone slab of the third puzzle.

Grandfather is still obsessing over the Primordial Ruins…

Quickly withdrawing her gaze, she stood before the desk with a perfectly submissive demeanor and offered a light curtsey. “I pay my respects to Grandfather.”

“No need for such formality.” Ji Yuntian rolled up the scroll and looked at her, a rare glint of satisfaction breaking through his cold exterior. “To think you have already reached the absolute peak of the mid Nascent Soul stage so quickly. You are merely a hair’s breadth away from the late stage. To achieve such a realm at your age, you truly are the phoenix of our Ji Clan.”

Ji Chan’er’s expression remained flawlessly modest. “Grandfather flatters me. Without the clan’s vast resources and nurturing, how could your granddaughter have achieved anything?”

She wasn’t just being polite. Ever since she had successfully awakened the Thousand Illusions Heavenly Demon Body, Ji Yuntian had relentlessly showered her with high-tier resources and violently suppressed the rival factions within her uncle’s branch.

But she was far from naive. She knew exactly who her grandfather was—a cold-blooded, utilitarian titan of the demonic path. He didn’t care about blood kinship. His warmth and affection were strictly transactional, based entirely on the benefits she could bring to the Ji Clan. The moment she lost her value, she would be mercilessly thrown to the wolves.

Hearing her humble reply, Ji Yuntian raised an eyebrow in mild surprise before chuckling. “It is rare for you to remain so clear-headed.”

He leaned back into his throne, his posture relaxing as he smoothly shifted the topic. “Your previous assessment was correct. The Sect Leader agreed to our proposal to forcibly reclaim the two artifacts currently hoarded by the Situ and Shen clans. This maneuver guarantees our Ji Clan will be in the prime position to seize the Fated Chance hidden within the ruins.”

He paused, his aura suddenly sharpening into a deadly blade. “Chan’er, that ‘Big Qi’ who unlocked the first two puzzles… he is your subordinate, correct?”

As expected. Ji Chan’er’s heart skipped a beat, but her face remained a mask of calm. “Yes. Big Qi is your granddaughter’s closest and most trusted friend. I swear on my life that he is absolutely reliable and would never do anything to harm our clan.”

“If you trust him, then all is well,” Ji Yuntian said flatly. “Right now, the rest of The Saint Sect thinks some lucky Outer Sect Disciple accidentally tripped over a mysterious statue in the Mission Hall and walked away with a heavy reward. Only we know he also solved the first puzzle. Once is luck. Twice in a row? That is the absolute decree of destiny!”

Feigning a sudden realization, Ji Chan’er spoke up. “Does Grandfather suspect… he has a hidden connection to the Primordial Ruins?”

She already knew Qi Yuan could solve the third puzzle. Playing dumb now would only insult her grandfather’s terrifying paranoia and instantly cost her his trust.

“Exactly!” Ji Yuntian’s voice boomed with undeniable, absolute authority. “If we want to crack the third puzzle, Big Qi is our golden key. Since you trust him so much, I will give him a chance. Go back and tell him he has exactly one year.”

He slowly raised his eyes, locking onto hers with a cold, merciless stare. “Decipher the third puzzle within a year, and the Ji Clan will bestow upon him unimaginable wealth. If he fails… he dies.”

“What?!” Ji Chan’er trembled, her head snapping up in shock, her beautiful eyes wide with disbelief. “Grandfather! Big Qi told me he already has some inspiration! If we just give him a little more time, he can crack the slab! Why must we put a death warrant on his head?!”

Dropping her perfectly submissive act, she gritted her teeth, her voice ringing with stubborn resolve. “If Grandfather insists on threatening his life, then please forgive your granddaughter—I cannot deliver this order!”

“Outrageous!”

Ji Yuntian’s pupils shrank to pinpricks. Murderous fury flared in his eyes as he slammed his hand down. “Do you realize what you are saying, Chan’er?! You dare defy me for an outsider?! Have you forgotten you are a member of the Ji Clan?!”

Under the crushing weight of a peak Demonic Cultivator’s rage, the color drained from Ji Chan’er’s face. Yet, she stood her ground, refusing to break eye contact. She repeated, word for word, “I cannot obey this command!”

The pavilion descended into a suffocating, eerie silence.

Suddenly, Ji Yuntian let out a long, exhausted sigh. The terrifying pressure vanished from the room. “Chan’er… do you have any idea why I am pushing so aggressively?”

He flicked his sleeve. A dense, shadowy light instantly erupted from the walls, casting layer upon layer of absolute restrictions over the pavilion, completely severing the room from the outside world and blocking out all heavenly divinations.

Seeing his extreme paranoia, Ji Chan’er frowned in deep confusion. “Please enlighten me, Grandfather.”

Ji Yuntian’s face seemed to age decades in a single second. A flash of raw, unadulterated dread crossed his eyes.

“Do not be blinded by our current prestige,” he whispered harshly. “The Ji Clan appears to be at the absolute zenith of its power, dominating The Saint Sect as the undisputed leader of the three great families. But it is nothing more than a fragile illusion.”

He leaned forward, his voice heavy with impending doom. “The truth is… our Ancestor’s time is running out. If we cannot find a solution, his lifespan will completely deplete within ten years, and he will perish.”

“When he dies, the balance of power within The Saint Sect will instantly shatter, and our Ji Clan will be plunged into an unprecedented, colossal crisis!”

The Ancestor is dying?!

Ji Chan’er’s entire world violently shook, absolute terror wiping the very last trace of color from her face.