The old woman froze for a moment.
She asked urgently, "Why? My dear child, do you know why Zhi Yue was so obsessed with becoming the King of the Shi Tribe? Once you become King, you can use all of the clan's resources freely. With the King's Scepter, you can fully awaken your bloodline and cultivate without hindrance. As long as you're willing, with the King Stone in hand, you'll become the next peerless powerhouse! From then on, the world will be yours to command!"
Being King of a clan was a supreme opportunity—one that anyone would die for.
The old woman truly couldn't understand why he'd ever refuse.
Yu Songnian smiled lightly. "It does sound tempting, Grandmother. But I've already received the greatest opportunity under heaven. The world's already mine to roam."
"What opportunity?" she asked, puzzled.
His tone softened. "I'm a disciple of the Wushuang Sect. That alone is the greatest opportunity in the world."
The old woman was stunned.
She was trying to pass the throne of the Shi Tribe to him, yet Yu Songnian was saying that being a disciple of some sect was better than being King?
That was absurd!
Had her grandson been brainwashed by some evil cult?
She hurriedly asked, "Wushuang Sect? What kind of sect is that? Who's its Sect Master? Did she threaten you? Or deceive you? Songnian, you're still young, it's easy to be tricked. Bring her here, I'll talk to her myself."
If that Sect Master was reasonable, she could always offer some benefits to make her back off. Once she did, Yu Songnian wouldn't have any reason to insist on staying.
"Sect Master?" Yu Songnian's eyes flickered. "Our Sect Master Yun's right outside. I'll invite her in."
With that, he opened the door.
The old woman blinked in confusion.
Outside?
That white-haired woman?!
"Sect Master, my grandmother wants to speak with you," Yu Songnian said.
Yun Jin looked slightly surprised but nodded. She'd deliberately sealed her hearing earlier, so she hadn't caught the conversation between the two. She really had no idea what was going on.
Yun Jin stepped forward to face the old woman.
The old woman stared at her, and she stared back.
The two women locked eyes in silence.
"You…" The old woman's gaze grew complicated.
Yun Jin was puzzled. "Senior, please speak freely."
The old woman looked like she didn't know how to start. Yu Songnian chuckled and said, "Sect Master, my grandmother thinks you tricked me into joining the Wushuang Sect and threatened me not to leave."
"???"
Yun Jin blinked, completely taken aback.
Since when did this third senior brother of hers start joking around? This was definitely new.
He looked more relaxed than she'd ever seen him, like he'd finally let go of some long-held burden.
The old woman, meanwhile, was starting to feel awkward. After all, this woman had helped her tremendously. Without Yun Jin, she wouldn't have learned what happened to Zhi Yin, let alone reunited with Yu Songnian.
Still, if Yu Songnian wanted a bright future, staying with the Shi Tribe and wielding the King Stone was his best path. So, feeling a little embarrassed, the old woman said, "I still must thank you for bringing me news of Zhi Yin, and for letting me meet Songnian again."
Yun Jin replied casually, "It was nothing."
The old woman hesitated, then said softly, "Songnian said you're the Sect Master of Wushuang Sect, and that he joined your sect."
Yun Jin nodded. "That's right."
The old woman continued, "Songnian holds the Shi Tribe's only King's Stone. If he's willing to stay, I'll ensure that when he reaches the Mahayana stage, he'll inherit the entire Shi Tribe. The position of King will be his, and no one will oppose it."
Her eyes gleamed with a feverish light. "That position was meant for Zhi Yin. Now that she's gone, it's only fitting that Songnian takes her place. The Shi Tribe needs a new King, and Songnian needs greater resources. It's the best outcome for both sides.
As long as you're willing to let him go, I promise on behalf of the Shi Tribe—anything within our power, as long as Sect Master asks, we'll never refuse."
She looked at Yun Jin expectantly.
"Looks like my grandmother doubts Wushuang Sect's strength," Yu Songnian said with a grin.
Yun Jin shot him a glance.
This senior brother of hers was getting cheeky!
She chuckled. "Since Senior says so, then fine. Yu Songnian can stay here."
The old woman's eyes lit up. "Truly?"
This time, it was Yu Songnian's turn to panic.
"No, no, that's not true! Even if you made me King of the entire Nanlan Continent, I'd still rather be the most ordinary disciple in Wushuang Sect! Grandmother, have you never wondered how I, with only Divine Transformation cultivation, managed to cross the Savage Beast Mountains and make it here from the human territories?"
The old woman froze, a little puzzled. "How?"
Yu Songnian's tone turned calm. "The Wushuang Sect controls the power of space. We can travel freely between continents. Not just here—the Boundless Sea, the Extreme Ice Plains, every region is open to us. Staying with the Wushuang Sect, I already have the freest future anyone could ask for. I've seen how vast the world is. I know there's always a higher sky, another realm beyond the next. Knowing that, how could something as small as a single clan, a single continent, ever be my end?
I'll keep following Sect Master to see even broader worlds. Just like Mother said, this world is endless. Since I've already set out on my journey, there's no way I'm stopping now."
His voice was steady, every word filled with conviction.
The old woman's expression turned dazed.
She'd lived her entire life under the sky of the Nanlan Continent.
But Yu Songnian—
He'd already seen countless other skies.
Once someone knows how vast the heavens are, how could they ever be content staying in one place?
After a long silence, a faint smile appeared on her lips. "Alright, I understand."
Yu Songnian finally exhaled in relief.
"But you can still think about becoming the King," the old woman suddenly said.
His expression froze instantly.
Seeing his reaction, the old woman couldn't help but laugh. "Didn't you say Wushuang Sect commands the power of space? If you can travel back and forth freely, then even as King, you can still go wherever you wish. The Shi Tribe just needs a spiritual leader, not someone chained to the throne."
That...
Yu Songnian hesitated. He instinctively looked at Yun Jin.
She blinked and deliberately pretended not to notice.
This was a choice only he could make.
"You don't have to answer right now," the old woman said with a smile. "Let's deal with that unfilial child first. After that, we'll talk about the future."
Moments ago, she'd looked frail and old, but now her eyes gleamed with purpose again. It was as if she'd found a new reason to live.