Yu Cheng stepped out of the grand hall and cast a cold, piercing gaze at Xian Wu. His expression was grim, his posture rigid as though bearing the weight of disappointment and disdain.
"Father!"
Kneeling on the cobblestone path, Yu Zhen's voice trembled as she pleaded, "Please, listen to me!"
Yu Cheng's expression remained icy, unmoved by the sight of his kneeling daughter. "I am not your father," he said, his voice steady and devoid of emotion. "Not since the day you turned your back on the Yu Family. As your elder brother rightly pointed out, this family has no room for someone who prioritizes personal desires over familial duty. Return to where you came from. You are no longer welcome here."
The crowd of Yu Family members stood in stunned silence. His words, laced with finality, hung heavily in the air.
"If only you had done what was required," Yu Cheng continued, his voice hardening further. "I might have already achieved the Soul formation Realm. Your selfishness has obstructed my path. For that, you deserve nothing but contempt."
Yu Shuo, her elder brother, sneered from the side. "Father is absolutely right," he said, his tone dripping with derision. "You chose to abandon the Yu Family to escape an arranged marriage, claiming it would make you unhappy. Now that you're wallowing in mediocrity in a place like Feihua City, why do you dare crawl back here? Let me guess—your Xian Family has fallen on hard times, and now you expect us to bail you out?"
Without waiting for a response, he added with venom, "If you're here seeking cultivation resources for your son, let me save you the trouble. Our resources would be better spent feeding dogs than wasted on someone like you."
Xian Yue, standing silently at his mother's side, clenched his fists. His sharp eyes locked on Yu Shuo, and a dangerous glint flashed in his gaze. Were it not for his mother, he might have acted already, and no force under heaven could have stopped him.
"You think we need anything from the Yu Family?" Xian Yue muttered under his breath, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "What a joke."
Before the confrontation could escalate further, a booming voice echoed across the courtyard. "Well said!"
Heads turned as a group of individuals descended from the skies, their imposing auras announcing their extraordinary power. At the forefront was an elderly man in a pristine white robe, his snow-white hair and beard lending him an air of wisdom. In his hand, he held a ceremonial whisk, and his every step exuded authority.
Yu Cheng's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of caution appearing in his eyes. The old man radiated the unmistakable energy of a Soul formation Realm cultivator—a level of power far beyond Yu Cheng's own.
"May I inquire who you are, esteemed elder?" Yu Cheng asked respectfully, bowing slightly.
The old man stroked his beard and replied, "Chen Wuji of the Extreme Profundities Sect."
The name sent ripples through the Yu Family ranks. The Extreme Profundities Sect was a powerhouse, second only to the twelve overlord sects of the Southern Domain.
Yu Cheng hastily dropped to his knees. "Junior Yu Cheng greets the honored elder from the Extreme Profundities Sect," he said, his voice filled with reverence.
The rest of the Yu Family quickly followed suit, bowing deeply.
Meanwhile, Xian Chen helped his mother to her feet. The Yu Family's rejection was clear, and there was no reason to linger any longer.
Chen Wuji chuckled as he surveyed the scene. "No need for such formalities," he said. "I happened to witness a bit of conflict here. Do you require the assistance of the Extreme Profundities Sect to resolve this matter?"
Yu Cheng rose cautiously, his face regaining its mask of calm. "Thank you for your concern, Elder Chen, but this is merely a trivial family issue."
Chen Wuji's expression darkened. "If it were my sect, we would have dealt with such a matter swiftly. A traitor to the family deserves no mercy," he said coldly, his gaze falling on Yu Zhen.
Before anyone could react, a powerful force erupted from Xian Chen. In a flash, he closed the distance between himself and Chen Wuji, his hand clamping down on the elder's face like a vice.
"You dare meddle in my family's affairs?" Xian Yue's voice was as sharp as a blade, his cold eyes boring into Chen Wuji's.
The elder struggled, a surge of energy radiating from his body as a Soul formation materialized behind him. But before he could muster a proper defense, the formation shattered with a deafening crack, and Chen Wuji spat a mouthful of blood.
The other members of the Extreme Profundities Sect reacted swiftly. A second elder, also at the Soul formation Realm, launched a palm strike toward Xian Yue. Several disciples followed suit, their combined attacks aimed at overwhelming him.
"Enough," Xian Wu, Xian Yue's father, growled. His voice carried an irresistible force, sending the attackers flying backward. Blood sprayed from their mouths as they hit the ground, incapacitated.
"Mercy, young master, mercy!" cried He Tianwu, an opportunistic official who had accompanied the Extreme Profundities Sect. He rushed forward, raising his hands in submission. "This is all a misunderstanding!"
Xian Yue sneered. "A misunderstanding? Then enlighten me—what exactly did I misunderstand?"
"Elder Chen's words were not meant as an insult to you!" He Tianwu stammered, sweat dripping down his face.
Xian Yue tilted his head mockingly. "Oh? Are you suggesting I misheard him? Or perhaps I'm incapable of understanding simple words?"
He Tianwu froze, his mouth opening and closing without sound.
Seeing his ally faltering, Yu Cheng tried to intervene. "Young Master Xian, perhaps we should put this matter behind us—"
Before he could finish, a sickening sound filled the air. Xian Yue's grip tightened, and Chen Wuji's head burst like a ripe fruit. Blood and fragments of bone scattered across the ground.
"You talk too much," Xian Yue said calmly, wiping his hand on a cloth.
The remaining elder of the Extreme Profundities Sect stared in shock and horror. "You dare kill an elder of the Extreme Profundities Sect?!" he roared.
Xian Yue smirked. "And what of it?"
The elder trembled with rage. "Mark my words, boy. No matter where you run, the Extreme Profundities Sect will hunt you down and exact vengeance!"
Xian Chen stepped forward, his presence radiating overwhelming pressure. "Is that so? Then let me make one thing clear—if your sect wishes to challenge me, let them come. I will annihilate every last one of you."
His words were not spoken in anger but with the quiet confidence of someone who knew his power was absolute.
The elder paled, his bravado evaporating under Xian Yue's gaze. He turned to Yu Cheng, desperation in his eyes. "Clan Chief Yu, surely you will not stand by and let this happen!"
But Yu Cheng was paralyzed, his mind racing. The display of power he had just witnessed defied comprehension. Xian Chen and his father, Xian Wu, were no mere mortals. They had demonstrated strength that far surpassed the Soul formation Realm.
Realizing that no help would come, the elder slumped to the ground.
Xian Yue turned back to his mother. "Come, Mother. There's no need to waste another moment here."
With a wave of his hand, he summoned a radiant portal. Stepping through it, he left the Yu Family—and their ambitions—far behind.
For Xian Yue, this was only the beginning.