Riding atop a golden warship, Ye Feng soared through the skies until he reached a mountain at the rear of the ancient clan's domain. At its peak stood a villa, shrouded in mist and clouds, exuding a surreal, almost divine atmosphere. Near the cliff's edge stood a solitary figure, hands clasped behind his back, gazing into the distance.
The moment Xiao Yixian, Ya Fei, and the others saw him, their hearts trembled. There was no presence, no aura—nothing to sense. It was as if the man had merged with the space around him. And yet, he was visibly there. The contradiction made the scene even more unsettling.
Xiao Yixian, Yafei, Qinglin, Mu Qingluan, and Xiao Yu instinctively turned toward Ye Feng. His presence gave them peace. With Ye Feng here, there was nothing to fear.
"Are you Gu Yuan?" Ye Feng asked calmly.
"The first genius of the Dou Qi Continent in a thousand years... has finally arrived," the man replied.
Before another breath could pass, both of them had vanished, appearing mid-air in an instant. Only a six-star Fighting Saint could teleport so effortlessly.
"If you've got something to say," Ye Feng said coolly, "say it in front of those who came with me."
Without waiting for agreement, Ye Feng pulled Gu Yuan back to the cliffside where they had met. His overwhelming force had executed a teleportation-like maneuver using only the fusion of body and soul—without relying on Dou Qi cultivation.
Gu Yuan narrowed his eyes.
"A six-star Fighting Saint... or higher?"
He was certain Ye Feng's cultivation had reached that level. But in truth, Ye Feng was still refining his physical body. His soul and body strength allowed him to mimic feats even Saints struggled to replicate.
"You didn't call me here just to exchange pleasantries, did you?" Ye Feng asked, cutting to the point.
Gu Yuan chuckled lightly, then gave a subtle glance to a nearby elder, who took the hint and respectfully retreated.
"I asked him to bring you here for two reasons," Gu Yuan began. "First, I wanted to meet the young man who has shaken the entirety of Zhongzhou."
"And second?"
"I wonder… have you ever married?"
"No."
"Oh?" Gu Yuan's eyes gleamed with interest.
"I do have many women," Ye Feng added bluntly. "Some I'm already married to."
As expected, Gu Yuan didn't dance around it. "To be honest, I wanted to speak to you about my daughter—Xun'er."
"Gu Xun'er?" Ye Feng raised an eyebrow. "You want me to become the Gu Clan's son-in-law?"
"That is my intention. But understand—I can't force her. With her divine bloodline, even I, the patriarch, have no authority over her decisions."
"So... you want me to pursue her?" Ye Feng said with a dry smirk.
"There are few juniors worthy of my recognition. You're one of them."
"What about Xiao Yan?"
Gu Yuan's expression darkened slightly. "He's unfit. When my daughter first entered the Xiao Clan, he crept into her room on the third night—claiming to help her warm her meridians using Dou Qi. That method is ineffective at best and suspicious at worst."
Ye Feng's brows twitched. So Gu Yuan knew everything. Ling Ying must have reported the incident.
"Later, he destroyed the Azure Lotus Earth Core Fire in the Tagor Desert just to further his own cultivation. Then, his actions in Zhongzhou… devouring Han Feng, annihilating Xingyun Pavilion's elders—his path reeks of ruthlessness."
Ye Feng didn't interrupt. It was true that ever since Yao Chen's twisted nature had been exposed, the butterfly effect had turned Xiao Yan more reckless.
"I fear that someone like him will eventually bring disaster to the Gu Clan," Gu Yuan said gravely.
Ye Feng glanced at him. "If that's the case, why not prevent him from entering the Heavenly Tomb?"
Gu Yuan didn't respond directly. Instead, he asked, "So, you agree to pursue Xun'er?"
"No. I never said that." Ye Feng's tone turned icy. "If anyone wants to pursue someone, she should be the one chasing me."
Gu Yuan raised his brows in surprise.
"Chief Gu Yuan, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave," Ye Feng said flatly.
It wasn't that Gu Xun'er wasn't beautiful—she was. But so were the countless women already by Ye Feng's side. Lowering himself to pursue another? That wasn't his style.
Gu Yuan tried again. "Then... what are your plans for the future?"
This question held more weight than idle curiosity. Gu Yuan feared Ye Feng's power. A man who could destroy thousands with a single punch and crush even Dou Zun in one strike—was no ally to take lightly.
A single Soul Emperor was already difficult enough to deal with. But if another like Ye Feng emerged, what then?
Ye Feng looked him in the eye and smiled. "Let me put your heart at ease, Patriarch. I have no desire to rule this small world. As long as no one threatens those close to me or crosses my bottom line, I have no interest in who rules the continent."
Gu Yuan finally smiled, truly relieved.
He called back an elder and ordered him to arrange a refined, isolated villa for Ye Feng.
But someone else had heard the entire conversation—Gu Xun'er.
"Grandpa Ling Ying… was that really everything Father said to Ye Feng?"
"Yes, Miss," Ling Ying answered truthfully.
"He really tried to match me with Ye Feng?" Her voice trembled slightly. "But my heart can't hold anyone except Brother Xiao Yan."
Ling Ying hesitated, then asked, "Miss… I've watched Xiao Yan grow up. May I ask—why are you so devoted to him?"
Gu Xun'er paused. Then, a distant light filled her eyes.
"When I was a child, Father sent me to the Xiao Clan. I was alone… But every night, a little boy would sneak into my room. He thought I was asleep, but I wasn't. For three whole months, he warmed my meridians with his Dou Qi—through rain or shine."
Ling Ying frowned. "Miss, Dou Qi alone is ineffective for warming meridians."
"But he didn't know that."
"Or maybe… he did it on purpose," Ling Ying said solemnly. "To win the favor of a rich heiress."
Gu Xun'er blinked in shock. "Deliberately?"
"Yes. When your father visited the Xiao Clan, even Xiao Yan was eavesdropping outside. He saw what your father was wearing—items that could purchase the entire Xiao estate. I've always suspected he had intentions from the start."
"No… he was so young back then." She looked away, unable to accept it.
"If you want to know the truth, test him."
"Test him how?"
"Lose everything. Strip away your identity and wealth. A man's sincerity is clearest when you have nothing."
"I won't." Gu Xun'er shook her head. "Grandpa Ling Ying, don't say things like that again. Don't test Brother Xiao Yan. He hates being tested."
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