212: Chapter 212 Grandmaster Uncle? He's my newly sworn master!

Mo Hehuan turned around, the severity on her face receding, replaced by a gentle expression as she walked toward the direction of Xu Ruyu.

Everyone's gaze followed her movement.

Mo Hehuan walked up to Xu Ruyu, and under the astonished gaze of everyone, she actually... bowed to Xu Ruyu, this youth who looked barely over twenty and whose cultivation seemed to be only at the Qi Refinement Stage!

It was not the casual nod of a senior to a Junior, nor the encouragement of a superior to a subordinate, but a peer-to-peer greeting, even carrying a hint of respect!

Then, amidst Xu Ruyu's astonishment, Lady Qingli's contemplative expression, and the dumbfounded expressions of everyone else, the Hehuan Fairy—Mo Hehuan—spoke clearly and enunciated every word with her clear, melodic voice:

"Mo Hehuan of the Hehuan Sect greets... Junior Brother."

Junior... Brother?!

These two words were like two red-hot branding irons, searing fiercely into the eardrums and hearts of everyone present!

Time seemed to freeze once again.

Xu Ruyu is... the Founding Ancestor's... Junior Brother?!

Doesn't that mean Xu Ruyu's seniority is... on par with the Founding Ancestor Mo Hehuan?!

And Mo Hehuan is the source of all the Hehuan Sect's orthodoxy, the Revered Master or Grand Junior Martial Uncle of Chen Yongheng, Li Mubai, Dao Ancestor Qinglian, and others... then Xu Ruyu... his seniority...

Some quick-witted people, like Chen Yongheng and Li Mubai, had instantly sorted out this terrifying web of relationships, their expressions becoming incredibly colorful!

The Founding Ancestor's Junior Brother, wouldn't that make him their Junior Martial Uncle (or Grand Junior Martial Uncle)?!

"Hiss—!"

The sound of gasps echoed one after another.

The first to react was that Second Generation Ancestor who had been slapped down by the Little Girl—Dao Ancestor Qinglian!

At this moment, she couldn't care about her disheveled state or the slap mark on her face. She scrambled to her feet and bowed deeply to the still-dazed Xu Ruyu, her voice trembling slightly from excitement and a sudden realization:

"Disciple Qinglian pays respects to Grand Junior Martial Uncle Ruyu!"

She used "Grand Junior Martial Uncle"! Directly elevating Xu Ruyu to the same generation as her Revered Master, Mo Hehuan, while she herself automatically lowered her generation!

This bow from Dao Ancestor Qinglian was like pushing over the first domino.

Chen Yongheng slapped his forehead hard and instantly "understood"!

That's right!

This person is the Ancestor's Junior Brother, wouldn't that make him his own Grand Junior Martial Uncle?!

He scrambled to get up, bowed and saluted Xu Ruyu, his tone carrying a hint of ingratiation and awe: "Disciple Chen Yongheng pays respects to Junior Martial Uncle Ruyu!"

Li Mubai followed suit and saluted: "Disciple Li Mubai pays respects to Grand Junior Martial Uncle Ruyu!"

The other summoned Ancestor soul bodies also reacted at this moment!

Regardless of their personalities or cultivation levels when they were alive, facing this sudden, terrifyingly high-ranking "Little Junior Martial Uncle/Grand Little Junior Martial Uncle/Little Ancestor," how could they dare to be negligent? Ignoring the pain and dimness of their soul bodies, they struggled to stand and bowed messily but with utmost respect toward Xu Ruyu:

"Pay respects to Ancestor Ruyu!"

"Pay respects to Grand Junior Martial Uncle!"

"Disciple pays respects to Ancestor!"

Although the titles were somewhat chaotic due to different calculation methods, the awe and ingratiation were genuine.

Around the Law Execution Platform, the living Hehuan Sect members, whether Elders or Disciples, were completely dumbfounded.

They watched their high-and-mighty ancestors, who only appeared in legends, bowing respectfully to Xu Ruyu—the "Personal Disciple" whom the Sect Master had just ordered to be beaten to death—calling him "Ancestor" and "Grand Junior Martial Uncle"...

This world... is too crazy!

Xiao Nianyin knelt on one knee, listening to the chorus of "Pay respects to Ancestor Ruyu" around her, watching the ancestor soul bodies she needed to look up to bowing respectfully to Xu Ruyu. She felt a chill surge from the soles of her feet to her crown, instantly freezing her as if she had fallen into a bottomless ice cellar!

Before, he was just a little ant she could easily manipulate, one she even felt murderous intent toward, a nominal "Personal Disciple"...

How, in the blink of an eye... did he become an "Ancestor" whom even the Founding Ancestor had to treat as a peer and whom all the ancestors had to bow to?!

The magnitude of this shift in status completely shattered her Dao Heart, leaving her in utter despair!

Everything she had done to Xu Ruyu before now seemed so ridiculous, so... suicidal!

However, just as everyone was dizzy from this incredible seniority relationship, having barely accepted the premise that "Xu Ruyu is the Founding Ancestor's Junior Brother and everyone's Ancestor," and were preparing to join in the salute—

A crisp, dissatisfied, and even exasperated voice suddenly exploded:

"Hey, hey, hey! You idiots! How are you still so unruly and disrespectful?!"

Everyone turned their heads in astonishment, only to see the white-haired Little Girl—Qingtian Old Ancestor—who had appeared out of nowhere with her hands on her hips, walking angrily between Mo Hehuan and Xu Ruyu.

She first slapped away Mo Hehuan's hand, which was still held in a bowing gesture, and then pointed at Mo Hehuan's nose, her little face flushed red from anger:

"Mo Hehuan! What is the meaning of this?! Huh?!"

"Xiao Yuer is my newly acknowledged Master! He is the Master I, Qingtian, just recognized! How dare you call him 'Junior Brother'?!"

The Little Girl's large amber eyes were wide open, her voice sharp and bright, ensuring everyone could hear clearly:

"If you call him Junior Brother, then what should I call you? Junior Martial Niece?! Then what should he call me?! Huh?!"

The more she spoke, the angrier she became, stomping her little feet on the ground: "Do you want a spanking too?! How dare you take advantage of me?!"

"Boom—!!!"

This time, it wasn't a thunderclap, but a cosmic explosion! It detonated in everyone's mind!

Everyone, including the ancestor soul bodies who were halfway through bowing, the Hehuan Sect members who were preparing to salute, the stunned Xiao Nianyin, the twitching-lipped Xu Ruyu, and Lady Qingli, who wore an "as I expected" expression mixed with a bit of amusement...

All! Were! Completely! Petrified!

The... Little Girl... Qingtian Old Ancestor's... newly acknowledged Revered Master?!

Xu Ruyu... is... Qingtian Old Ancestor's... Master?!

Mo Hehuan's Master's... Master?!

Then Xu Ruyu's... seniority...

Some Elders with weaker mental fortitude rolled their eyes and passed out completely.

The soul bodies of Chen Yongheng and Li Mubai flickered violently, nearly dissipating on the spot. They looked at each other and saw endless confusion and... despair in each other's eyes. This seniority... how is it supposed to be calculated?! It can't be calculated anymore!!!

The entire Law Execution Platform fell into a silence more dead and eerie than any before.

Only the Little Girl's angry panting and the faint tinkling of silver bells as she stomped her feet were exceptionally clear in the dead silence.