"Of these nine households, the strongest are the Dugu Household, the Tuoba Household, and the Iron Household."
A hint of apprehension showed in Gong Shisan's eyes. "All three have Spirit Transformation Venerable mighty experts presiding over them. The Dugu Household, in particular, sits firmly in the foremost seat among the Nine Nether Aristocratic Clans."
Qing Chen's gaze shifted slightly. "Oh? The Dugu Household is that powerful?"
"Powerful hardly begins to describe it." Gong Shisan sighed, his tone taking on a measure of admiration. "Five thousand years ago, that ancestor of the Dugu Household, known as Dugu Wudi, fought his way forward from his youth, defeating every peer in the Nine Netherworlds without finding an equal."
"Later, he felt the Nine Netherworlds was too small, so he broke free of its confines and challenged cultivators throughout Great Jin. He even fought his way into the Demon Kingdom, the Western Regions, Southern Yue, and among the barbarian cultivators, forcibly carving out a name as number one on the Heavenly Gang Ranking."
"As time passed, people actually forgot his name, and everyone called him Dugu Wudi. That was also when our Nine Nether Aristocratic Clans enjoyed their greatest prestige and power. You know the Eastern Prince, don't you? Even he fell slightly short of him back then."
Qing Chen frowned at this.
He knew the Eastern Prince all too well: one man with one spear who had subdued the Deep-Sea Demon Race of the Gouwu Sea.
For even the Eastern Prince to acknowledge that title, the Dugu ancestor's strength had probably already reached an unfathomable level.
Qing Chen furrowed his brow. "Wasn't it the Iron Household that obtained it in the last Ancient Blood Contest? That must have been nine thousand years ago. Wouldn't that Iron Household ancestor be even stronger?"
Gong Shisan