Chapter 2178

Seeing these two wanting to leave, Hong Zun naturally did everything he could to stop them.

But the strength gap was there, and that blow just now had already added injury to injury.

Just as he tried to step forward, a mouthful of fresh blood spurted out, and on top of that, the side effects of the Mìfǎ erupted early due to his wounds.

It was literally a case of pulling one thread and moving the whole body; despite his great reluctance, Hong Zun only felt the world spin.

He strained his right hand forward, as if trying to grab the two thieves with all his might to save Xu Jie, but no matter how hard he tried, his body seemed not to obey.

Moreover, the scene before his eyes quickly darkened, his eyelids grew heavier, and the meridians inside his body screamed with pain.

"Thief, stop and return my disciple………………"

At the last moment, Hong Zun kept murmuring those words, but his body, already unconscious, fell from the sky and crashed hard into the forest below.

Xu Jie was taken by several people and immediately brought back to Wuji Xiancheng.

Upon arriving at Wuji Xiancheng, he was directly thrown into a secret chamber filled with Formations and heavily guarded.

Not only that, the leading Li family member arranged dozens of clansmen around, with three layers inside and three outside, keeping strict watch.

"Watch him well; he must not be allowed to escape."

"Yes."

"He must not be allowed to die either."

"Yes."

Even suicide was forbidden; after giving these orders, the person hurried off to report to the patriarch.

It was still that same Dong Fu; the two Li family patriarchs sat in the center, while the Li clansman from before stood below.

He was merely a Steward of the Li family, but having achieved such great merit this time, he was naturally overjoyed.

With this achievement, the Elder position might no longer be just a dream.

So, after respectfully recounting the events truthfully, he waited for the two patriarchs' reply.

After a moment of silence, one of the patriarchs frowned and spoke.

"Are you sure the one you brought back is Xu Jie?"

"Huh???"

Upon hearing this, the Li family Steward was startled, but he still lowered his head and said.

"Patriarch, I personally heard his Shīzūn call him Xu Jie, so it should be correct."

This was his main basis for confirming Xu Jie's identity, but the two patriarchs muttered strangely in response.

"Then that's strange—how could he have only Emperor Sovereign Realm cultivation?"

The reports said Xu Jie was a Yāoniè; as a Heavenly Pride Yāoniè, how could he have only Emperor Sovereign Realm cultivation? That's impossible.

Emperor Sovereign Realm, placed among the younger generation of the Immortal Realm, is not even worthy of being called a Heavenly Pride—it's utterly ordinary.

Precisely because his cultivation didn't match, the two patriarchs doubted his identity.

In response, the Li family Steward spoke up to explain.

"Earlier, Hongyun of the Hong family said that Xu Jie is meticulous and cautious, especially skilled at concealing his cultivation; perhaps he has practiced some Xiūliàn to mask his aura with a Mìfǎ, which would explain this………………"

"Masking his aura?"

The two patriarchs neither refuted nor agreed with that.

Even if he were masterful at hiding his aura, with their cultivation levels they should at least see some trace.

When Xu Jie was first brought to the lord's manor, the two patriarchs had carefully scanned him with their divine sense.

No matter how they looked, his cultivation was definitely Emperor Sovereign Realm.

It was truly strange, but following the principle of 'better to kill a mistake than let it go,' the speaking patriarch said slowly.

"Forget it, I'll go see for myself first to confirm his identity; besides, you go bring Hongyun to the secret chamber so he can personally verify this person's identity."

In the Lingtai Dong, Hongyun had personally seen "Xu Jie" and even exchanged blows with him; having him come to verify would naturally make everything clear.

Although the Hong family harbored resentment over the Lingtai Dong incident, there was nothing else to be done for now.

All we can do is settle this first, then give the Hong family some benefits later.

Upon hearing the patriarch's order, the Steward respectfully nodded; meanwhile, the patriarch seated above gradually faded, vanishing from the spot in an instant.

Inside the secret chamber, the patriarch appeared, and the Li family members guarding it all bowed.

He gave a slight nod, the patriarch said nothing more, and went straight into the secret chamber.

Inside the secret chamber, they saw Xu Jie, who had been fed healing pills; his injuries had improved somewhat, at least no longer threatening his life.

But he still looked rather miserable overall.

They examined Xu Jie from head to toe; he showed no sign of any aura-concealing technique—just an Emperor Sovereign Realm ant.

Nevertheless, the patriarch asked in a low voice.

"Are you Xu Jie?"

Hearing this, Xu Jie lifted his gaze to the patriarch, already knowing where he was, and showed no trace of weakness; he spat with utter contempt.

"Pah, I, your grandfather, neither change my name when I walk nor alter my surname when I sit—I am Xu Jie; if your Li family wants to kill or cut me, come on."

Within the Sect, Xu Jie might be a petty opportunist, a profiteer.

Always taking advantage of any gain, unwilling to suffer any loss.

Yet when facing enemies, Xu Jie is certainly not a coward who clings to life; he would rather die than disgrace the Dao One Immortal Sect's integrity.

In response to Xu Jie's attitude, the patriarch merely tapped a finger, and a stream of Línglì entered his body.

That Línglì was strong and violent, rampaging through Xu Jie's body; the intense pain made him involuntarily emit low groans he tried hard to suppress.

He clenched his teeth tightly, but the pain still forced him to make a sound.

This was both a punishment for Xu Jie and a way to ascertain the boy's true cultivation level.

But as that stream of Línglì finished its circuit through Xu Jie's body, the patriarch's brows knit tightly together.

This child is indeed of Emperor Sovereign Realm cultivation, no mistake.

They personally took action; the examination definitely has no problem. This old ancestor, face blackened, looked at Xu Jie and asked coldly.

"Are you Xu Jie?"

"Heh, as I said, you are your Xu grandfather."

His tortured face was pallid, his whole body like a puddle of mud, yet because his hands were bound by iron-chain magical artifacts, he hung suspended in midair, his hair disheveled, fresh blood mixed with saliva continuously flowing from his mouth.

Nevertheless, even so, Xu Jie showed no trace of weakness, let alone begging for mercy.

Spitting out mouthfuls of blood, Xu Jie with difficulty lifted his head to look at this Li family old ancestor; his eyes held no fear, and the corner of his mouth curled into a cold smile.

In the secret chamber, the old and the young stared at each other; after a few moments of mutual gaze, the Li family old ancestor's complexion gradually turned cold as he spoke.

"You are not Xu Jie."

Xu Jie is a monster-like talent; have you ever seen a monster-like talent who, at this age, still only has Emperor Sovereign Realm cultivation?

With those monsters' physiques and talents, even if you fished three days and dried nets two days, by the time you reached Xu Jie's age, it would be impossible to have only Emperor Sovereign Realm cultivation.

Therefore, this child must be an impostor.