After Tulan left, Song Yi and Jia looked at each other in silence, indulging in their own thoughts as the dripping sound of a water fountain nearby fell drop by drop.
At this moment, Song Jia sat down on the stone chair, staring at Tulan's previous location, then hesitantly asked, confused," Brother, why did you not ask lady snow white for help?"
This point made him stumped, with the help of that senior, the storm would subside like receding tides, yet Song Yi showed no intention of seeking help from that senior.
But, Song Yi shook his head and sighed," You don't understand... Our star system is extremely lacking in many aspects, including cultivation, resources, and even power... Even our purple bamboo might not attract her attention."
Actually, Yu Yan was very interested in the purple bamboo, but they weren't aware of this.
"They have no attachment to this star system, so why would they give a hand? If you visit the countryside of a developing nation with a middle-class income, would you help those poor homeless on the road? Even so, would you help every single homeless you see?"
"Even if we wanted to seek assistance, what can we offer that would appeal to that lady's eyes? You may not be aware of it, but the power beyond Heaven Immortal hold greater weight than you imagine!"
"Our father, Song Zan, left the stream precisely to seek this power!"
Song Jia was taken aback by Song Yi's words, then nodded his head with slumped shoulders," You're right, it's not that you didn't want to ask for help, it's that we are not qualified, not to mention this can be considered as an internal conflict within our own confines, how many star systems suffer the same fate as us?"
At this point, they both dejectedly stared at each other, then changed the topic.
"How many smaller families have visited us this month?" Song Yi rapped his gray, withered paled finger on the stone table.
"Smaller families? There's been several that have visited our family this month alone seeking mutual partner relationship." Upon hearing this, Song Jia coldly replied.
"After the battle eighty years ago, many families surrounding our Song's family has been eyeing us like we are on our last legs. On the surface, they put up a friendly face, but behind that friendly smile, is a devious plot to uproot our influence from the cultivation world!" He shouted, unable to hold in his anger as he snorted.
Looking at Song Jia's furious face, he chuckled, follow by a sentence that shocked Song Jia," They want to uproot out influence from the cultivation? Then give it to them!"
"B-Brother!" He called out, startled by Song Yi's declaration.
"You must understand. Holding onto that influence and power pushes us toward internal conflict, then why not let go? Yes, we lose some resources and faces in the short run, but looking at the bigger picture, do I, Song Yi, care about mere worldly possession?"
Song Jia can hear the ambition, and blazing determination from Song Yi's hoarse, ragged voice as he continues," Brother, do you know why father chose me to be the head of the family before he left and not you?" He looked at Song Jia straight in his confused gazed and asked.
"Why?" Song Jia asked, subconsciously inching his body forward.
"We are both similar in many aspects except for one!" He raised his finger.
This caused Song Jia to held his breath, paying close attention to Song Yi's mouth, which had formed a slight cheeky grin," Your eyes lack ambition! While you hold your sight on the trivial families, clans, and sects on earth, I always looked toward the starry skies!"
Hearing this point, Song Jia was further confused, unable to comprehend his words," What about the outer gods? Brother, don't brag too much, let alone the starry skies, even those pestering families are enough to give you a headache!"
"Hmph!" He mysteriously smiled, closed his eyes, and looked toward the ceiling of the cave, and if you pierce through that ceiling, you would see the moon directly above!
"I've thrown my bet, whether that young master takes it or not, will directly determine our family's fate!"
...
When Tulan vanished from the Song's Family Ancestral Mountain, she didn't directly return to Yu Yan's side.
"The smell of bamboo here is quite refreshing, I can take this time to take a stroll."
Instead, she appeared outside the entrance, landing herself in the middle of the bamboo forest, appreciating the natural landscape.
At this moment, a figure appeared behind a thick bundle of bamboo, attracting her attention.
"Hey beauty, I'm Song Cang, what's your name?" It was Song Cang who was waiting by outside Song Yi's ancestral mountain, waiting for Tulan to appear.
Seeing this, Tulan let out a strange look, but still coldly replied," You can call me sister snow white."
"Sister snow white?" Song Cang scoffed, laughing as he turn his head to Song Zi and Song Fa who stood by his side.
"Sister 'snow white', do you not know who young master Cang is?" Song Zi sneered sarcastically, raising his palm to introduce Song Cang.
"Oh? Who could this young master Cang be?" She 'curiously' asked, casting a proud look to grin from Song Cang's face.
"Young master Cang is one of the three direct descendant of Empyrean Song Yi! You should show some respect!" Song Zi declared with a haughty huff, raising his shoulder and pointing at Tulan's chest in an unhindered manner.
Tulan merely raised an eyebrow at Song Cang's status, unimpressed by his arrogant demeanor, "Oh, I see. I apologize for not recognizing your status, Young Master Cang," she said in a monotone voice, a hint of amusement in her tone.
Song Cang's grin widened at her response, thinking that he had won her respect. "Hmph, that's more like it," he said, puffing his chest out in pride.
Tulan simply raised an eyebrow at him, unimpressed by his display of arrogance, "I know exactly who I'm talking to," she replied calmly. "A man who thinks he's entitled to respect simply because of his family name."
Song Cang bristled at her words, but before he could say anything, Tulan continued. "But respect is earned, not given freely," she said, her eyes narrowing. "And as far as I can see, you haven't done anything worthy of respect."
This caused the trio to be stunned, then looked at each other.
"Have you heard of True Core, Loose Immortal, and Earth Immortal?"
"Empyrean are exalted figures in the cultivation world with the power of the illustrious Heaven Immortal above Earth Immortals, commanding the powers of heaven and earth!" He shouted, causing Tulan to scratch her ears.
Just then, she raised her hand to block her mouth, then asked," That amazing? Then what is after heaven immortal?"
Hearing this, Song Cang looked at her with a malicious, unfriendly stare," After heaven immortal?" He clicked his tongue," There is nothing after Heaven Immortal, it is the peak of cultivation!"
Seeing her quietness, Song Cang smiled and said with a lustful voice," I know you are here to collaborate with our song's family, how about it, spend a night with me and I will talk to my father about this!"
At this moment, Tulan shook her head, looking at the trio in front of her with disappointment.
Then, she raised her slender hand in a gentle manner.
When she was about to swipe her right hand, a voice caused her movement to come to a halt.
"Lady snow white, spare these juniors of mine." Then, Song Yi and Song Jia appeared from behind the mountain, looking at the trio with a grave expression.
They were talking with one another inside the cave, but the commotion outside caught their attention.
When Song Yi expanded his spiritual sense to the scene of the commotion, he saw Tulan and panicked!
Song Jia bowed his head, looking at the ground, then earnestly plead," Senior snow white, please don't take their words to heart."
"Father!" Song Cang ran over to Song Yi's side, then pointed at Tulan with a grievance cry," You don't need to collaborate with this family, they are ignorant brute that doesn't know the highs of hea—"
Thwack!
Song Yi skinny palm struck his face, stunning Song Cang as he was sent flying into a mound of bamboo, breaking several thick poles of bamboo in the process!
At this moment, Song Cang felt a throbbing pain in his back, which was embedded with several broken bamboo sticks, not only that, he looked at Song Yi, unable to process what just happened.
"Show some respect to lady snow white!" He raised his voice further, causing the temperature of the surroundings to drop as Song Zi and Song Fa dropped their knees, not daring to look in his direction.
Tulan watched the scene unfold with an amused expression, her lips curling up into a small smile. She had seen many people like Song Cang before.
"Even if your grandfather were here, he would still have to lower his head toward this senior, let alone you!"
"D-Don't know the highs of heaven? If I am the heavens, then this senior in front of you is god!"
Song Jia smiled wryly, shaking his head, not stopping Song Yi fiery stomping as he reprimanded Song Cang.
Just then, Song Yi turned his head toward Tulan and apologetically bowed," Lady snow white, It seems I've embarrassed myself in front of you... sigh."
Tulan lowered her hand, smiled, and muttered," It's fine, this is all just a misunderstanding... although this son of yours seems to be a bit foolish... I hope he won't be your next heir."
"Haha, of course not." Song Yi replied, crushing Song Cang's spirit as he heard his father agree with her words, casting foams from his mouth and soul to leave his pupil as he faint on the spot!
At this point, he inwardly screamed, 'What went wrong? Who was this senior? Why did his father bow his head? If only this 'senior' wasn't here!
Besides him, Song Zi and Song Fa were equally stunned, unable to believe that Song Cang was stripped of his qualification with just a single sentence from this lady.
Tulan feels gloomy as she looks at Song Cang, this catches Song Yi and Jia's attention, causing them to curse Song Cang even more!
"I was planning on taking a walk around your family's island for some scenery, but it seems like I have to return to young master's Yan side." She walked past the injured Song Cang who was fainted on the ground without sparing him a glance.
Her step was light, and even more surprisingly, not a single mote of dust caught in between her clothes as she slowly ascend with each step.
"Have a safe trip, senior!" Song Yi and Song Jia regretfully bid their farewell, then her figure turns illusionary, disappearing from view.
Underneath, Song Yi looked at Song Cang with surging anger that couldn't be hidden.