Chapter 20 - ch 467-72

Chapter 467 Complete Breakthrough (Part 2)

"What did he say..."

All the spectators trembled, somewhat disbelieving Gu Yun's words.

How could Gu Yun possibly deal with an attack that even a Great Emperor would have to avoid?

Jiang Daoxuan was also completely baffled: "Could it be that the Immortal Ancient Gu Family even gave Gu Yun an Imperial Armament?"

Treasures of that level were priceless in the Gengjin Immortal Palace, but the Immortal Ancient Gu Family might not be unable to produce one.

It was just that Jiang Daoxuan wasn't sure if they would hand such an item to a junior like Gu Yun.

When a three-year-old child carries a gold brick through a bustling market, everyone becomes a devil.

After this battle, the news of Gu Yun possessing an Imperial Armament would instantly spread throughout the Three Thousand Dao Domains. The enemies he would face would not be limited to cultivators of the same level.

But looking at his composed demeanor, perhaps... Several imposing figures appeared in Jiang Daoxuan's mind, and his expression twitched. No way, for Gu Yun's safety, the Gu Family wouldn't have equipped him with such powerful protectors, would they?!

"Second Brother, if His Highness shows any sign of weakness, we must intervene and save him!"

Beside him, the Gengjin Immortal Palace's Grand Elder was secretly plotting through a sound transmission.

"Wouldn't acting rashly make His Highness resent us, thinking we look down on him..."

"What are you kidding? Is there anything more important than life? Second Brother, do you want to be suppressed by Jiang Daoxuan for the rest of your life?"

"But Jiang Lan has already been involved. Don't you see how doting His Highness is towards her? How can we compete with the Jiang family?"

"Heh, so what? After all, it's not a formal marriage. Once a rift appears, it's hard to heal. If a 'The Prince Replaced by a Civet Cat' (raccoon dog for a crown prince) incident occurs, how can His Highness continue to trust the Jiang family?"

"Besides, even if that's the case, so what?"

"As long as we can connect with His Highness, there might be a chance in the future to bypass Jiang Daoxuan directly."

"Perhaps we might even have the opportunity to stand as equals!"

The Gengjin Immortal Palace's Grand Elder said.

After their secret plotting, both made preparations in secret, ready to act at any moment.

All the various factions had their own thoughts, but when two slow words left the young man's mouth, the scene suddenly fell into a very eerie silence.

All eyes were drawn to the single finger the young man extended, just as he was about to be completely engulfed by Lin Chen's fiery stream of light.

Buzz!

An invisible, absolute will, transcending all the myriad Dao, like the pronouncements of a creator deity, suddenly descended!

Lin Chen's pouncing figure, burning with dark gold flames and carrying the might to destroy the heavens and earth, was like an insect trapped in the stickiest amber, instantly freezing in mid-air less than ten feet from Gu Yun.

His ferocious, wild laughter, the boiling killing intent in his eyes, the violent energy flames around him... everything was forcibly frozen! He maintained the posture of an attack, yet could no longer advance an inch.

"H-how is this possible?!"

Lin Chen's throat became incredibly dry.

He knew very well that Gu Yun had made his move.

There was no earth-shattering aura.

No dazzling divine light or strange phenomena.

Yet he had already been suppressed.

"System, System, where are you? Quickly save me, save me!!!"

Lin Chen called out anxiously. The strength Gu Yun displayed was simply too terrifying, far exceeding Jiang Daoxuan's full power. It definitely couldn't be described as simple Great Emperor cultivation.

Even Gu Yaozi was completely shocked by the young man's strength, her beautiful face filled with intense astonishment, unable to control herself.

"How can he possess such strength?"

"Liu Tianhuang, what exactly have you done to little Yun'er?!!!"

She was naturally clear about the safeguards the Immortal Ancient Gu Family had arranged for Gu Yun, which was why the current situation left her so bewildered.

Unable to find the source of Gu Yun's strength, she could only attribute the reason to Liu Tianhuang.

As Gu Yun's master, she might have made preparations in advance.

Lin Chen was burning with anxiety, calling for the System's help, but his System did not bring any good news; a piercing alarm blared:

"Warning! Detecting late-stage Emperor-level energy fluctuations. Current Host capabilities are insufficient to resist. Recommend immediate withdrawal!!"

"N-no, that's impossible. How could he have Great Emperor cultivation?"

"How old is he? System, quickly analyze it for me, analyze it carefully! This is some kind of illusion, it's absolutely not real, not real!!"

Lin Chen was on the verge of losing his mind. Although he had only transmigrated for a month, after merging with the original body's memories, he had an understanding of the cultivation speed in the Three Thousand Dao Domains. Those who achieved Great Emperor status, which one hadn't endured Thousand Yearss and tens of thousands of years of hardship and suffering? He couldn't believe that someone like Gu Yun could exist in this world.

"Ding! Danger, warning! Warning!"

"Host, please leave quickly, leave quickly!"

The System did not respond to Lin Chen's roar. Instead, with its cold and reserved mechanical voice, it calmly and indifferently spoke the most terrifying words, urging the young man to leave.

"Impossible!!! What are you kidding?! Haven't you seen my Lan'er still in that bastard's arms?"

"You want me to leave now? Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

"Today, I, Lin Chen, will definitely fight this evil creature to the death!"

"You can't even see through a mere illusion, you're simply a piece of trash! I don't need you to control me, you just need to lend me your strength, and watch how I tear apart this foolish illusion!"

Lin Chen stubbornly insisted, roaring as he charged towards Gu Yun's location.

Unfortunately, it was all sound and fury; no matter how frantic he became, he remained trapped in place, unable to advance another step.

The young man's finger was like an insurmountable mountain, completely extinguishing his desires in the world.

"That's all you've got?"

"I thought you could last a bit longer."

"How ridiculous."

Gu Yun's eyes were cold and indifferent, looking at Lin Chen, who couldn't move an inch, his voice flat and distant.

"Hmph, you bastard, just you wait! Once I find the weakness in your attack, I'll make you understand what divine retribution is!"

Lin Chen roared, like a hysterical, ferocious beast.

The two stood in the void, reflecting each other, forming the most vivid contrast, the savior and the demon of destruction, never more clearly depicted than now.

The savior god was sacred and majestic, while the demon of destruction struggled in his death throes.

One above, one below; one still, one moving; one sacred, one defiled; one life, one death.

There was no more shocking scene than this, and it was easily etched into the hearts of all the survivors of the Gengjin Dao Domain.

Everyone would remember everything that happened at this moment. Gu Yun's finger was as steady as a mountain, releasing an invisible force field that firmly confined the crazed Lin Chen ten feet away.

At such a distance, he could just see Jiang Lan's exquisite face sleeping peacefully in Gu Yun's arms.

His heart bled, and no matter how he roared, struggled, or burned his essence, he couldn't budge an inch.

"Lan'er, wake up, wake up! Don't yield to this bastard!"

"Brother Chen, your Brother Chen is back!"

Seeing that his abilities couldn't break through Gu Yun's defense, Lin Chen had to find another way, hoping to awaken Jiang Lan for a coordinated inside-outside attack.

Hearing this, the beauty in the young man's arms stirred slightly.

"Mmm..."

With a soft moan, Jiang Lan slowly opened her eyes.

At first, she was a little disoriented, but when she felt the familiar and reassuring embrace, and the cool scent lingering at her nose, her consciousness instantly cleared.

The strong wind high in the sky blew past her perfect body through her loose nightgown. Jiang Lan, having lost all her cultivation, couldn't help but shiver slightly, naturally leaning closer to Gu Yun.

"What's wrong? Why did you bring me here?"

With her vision restricted, Jiang Lan only realized she seemed to be thousands of meters in the air. She thought Gu Yun had some new trick up his sleeve, and a blush crept onto her pretty face: "Honestly, if you're going to do this, at least restore my cultivation."

"Anyway, even if I had the power of the Quasi-Emperor Realm, I wouldn't be able to escape your grasp."

"No, Lan'er, what are you doing?!!!!"

Jiang Lan's smile froze as a ferocious roar echoed through the heavens and earth.

Jiang Lan looked in the direction of the sound and saw Lin Chen, who was confined in place, disheveled, ferocious, and roaring like a demon from hell.

"Lin... Chen..."

The completely different appearance shattered the filter in Jiang Lan's mind. The person she had once yearned for now appeared utterly ugly and unfamiliar in her eyes. Her peripheral vision swept across the Gengjin Dao Domain, which resembled a hideous hell, and a cold sense of disgust rose from the depths of Jiang Lan's heart.

"Jiang Lan! Do you know what you're doing?!!! You are my woman! How can you lie in his arms? Do you have no shame?!!"

"Do you deserve my heart that traveled thousands of miles, even slaughtering all living beings, just to save you?!!!"

"Ding! Child of Destiny Lin Chen has completely collapsed. destiny value has decreased by 10,000 points."

"Heh..."

"Save me?"

Jiang Lan's lips twisted into a smile uglier than a cry: "Are you saving me, or are you satisfying your perverted desires?!!"

"Ten Thousand Yearss have passed, and I have never waited for a true fated one riding a colorful auspicious cloud to take me away. All that came was a cold-blooded, evil death demon, wanting to drag me with him into that endless abyss!!"

"Jiang Lan! What nonsense are you talking about?! Didn't you always say that the Jiang family was a quagmire, and you didn't like the life they gave you?"

Lin Chen's eyes were filled with pain, his expression despairing: "Now I'm here. I've come to take you away. I have the power to do so."

"Even Jiang Daoxuan can't stop me. I can do whatever I want. Wasn't this your wish and mine ten Thousand Yearss ago?"

"Quick, Lan'er, leave that bastard and come to my side!"

"Look clearly, he is the demon who imprisoned you! He is the one who bewitched you! I am the one who truly loves you! For you, I can slaughter everyone under heaven! For you, I can destroy all obstacles!"

"Lan'er, come back to my side. Let's leave this place and go to a place where only we exist! I..."

"Shut up!!! Don't call me Lan'er!!!"

Jiang Lan's voice suddenly rose, like a drawn ice blade, filled with extreme disgust and contempt.

"Look at yourself now, Lin Chen, like a stray dog with its teeth pulled out and its spine broken, only able to bark wildly to hide its fear."

Her tone was filled with extreme disdain: "Do you think your anger is tragic?"

"In reality, your roaring is just covering up your incompetence!"

"You are too ridiculous! Using my big brother's compassion for commoners to commit such beastly acts, you have truly lived a wasted life!!!"

"The life I want is not to conspire with you and slaughter indiscriminately!"

"What about him?"

"Can this playboy give you the life you want?!"

"Jiang Lan, don't be ridiculous. He's not me, he doesn't love you at all!"

"Love?"

"Heh heh, what good is that?"

"You can't even budge his outstretched finger. The love of a useless person has no value."

"Lan'er, why did it turn out like this?"

"Why can't we go back to how it was before, we..."

"We can't go back, Lin Chen!! I am already His Highness's person."

"From my person to my heart, top to bottom, inside and out, every inch of my body, all belongs to... my His Highness!"

Jiang Lan was incredibly resolute at this moment. She wrapped her arms around Gu Yun's neck and said affectionately.

"Your Highness! Send him to salvation, I don't want to see that disgusting, ugly face anymore."

"Boom—!!!"

Every word Jiang Lan spoke transformed into an invisible giant hammer, carrying the power to shatter everything, fiercely striking the pillar of Lin Chen's spiritual world.

His last shred of hope — the illusion that Jiang Lan was bewitched, was helpless, and deep down still loved him — was torn to shreds by Jiang Lan herself, in the most cruel, contemptuous, and disdainful way.

She chose Gu Yun, she chose this dissolute young master, this playboy, whom she should have detested the most.

The sight of her nestled in Gu Yun's arms, every word that came from her mouth, became the most vicious curse in the world, torturing Lin Chen's soul inch by inch!

"Pfft—!!!"

Lin Chen violently spat out a large mouthful of blood. This blood was no longer bright red, but dark black, mixed with fragments of internal organs and primordial essence.

"Hahahahaha, hahahahaha!!!!"

Lin Chen threw his head back and laughed wildly, as if he had fallen into an unparalleled frenzy.

More insane than anything before!

"Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully crushing the Child of Destiny Lin Chen's Dao Heart! Plundering 20,000 points of destiny value!"

The cold and excited notification sound of the Heavenly Mandate Villain System echoed in Gu Yun's mind.

Another 20,000 points of destiny value were extracted. It seemed that Jiang Lan's position in Lin Chen's heart was truly extraordinary.

"Please note, Host, this guy is about to go all out and break the pot."

Little Tongzi's slightly anxious voice came, panting, seemingly a little excited.

"What were you doing just now?"

Gu Yun was a little curious.

"Hehehe, thanks to Master this time, I'm pretty much full."

"Unfortunately, Tongzi's current ability is limited; I can only devour 1000 system points at a time. Now I need to go back and digest it properly."

"1000 points?"

"You mean I still can't kill Lin Chen?"

Gu Yun frowned, somewhat displeased.

//468//

Chapter 468 Gu Yun's Plan (Two-in-One, Unfinished)

The previous chapter is not finished yet, and this one is the same. The author's flight was delayed today, and he really didn't have time to write the novel, so he could only stay up late to complete these two chapters. I am very sorry, everyone. It's best for you to check tomorrow morning.

Lin Chen's panicked escape did not disturb Gu Yun's mood.

Facing a system opponent for the first time, he naturally didn't expect to completely eliminate him in one go.

To achieve the current results, weakening Lin Chen's system value by 1000 points, was already a great achievement.

It's just a pity… He removed his hand from Jiang Lan's eyes; she was still a bit shaken and her expression was complicated. Such a useful pawn had completely lost its purpose, and he wouldn't be able to repeatedly 'whip the corpse' in the future, which was a great regret for the young man.

"What? Still thinking about him? Have you forgotten who you are?"

Gu Yun sneered and gripped Jiang Lan's neck.

"Laner wouldn't dare. Laner lives for Your Highness and dies for Your Highness. She has absolutely no relationship with Lin Chen anymore."

"Laner's performance just now should have already proven Laner's determination!"

This time, Jiang Lan did not flinch. She looked directly at Gu Yun, trying to discern something from the young man's eyes, but ultimately, she was somewhat disappointed.

Those eyes remained calm and indifferent, devoid of emotion, which made Jiang Lan feel despair. She felt that no matter what she did, she could never gain Gu Yun's approval. Perhaps this was her destiny.

Jiang Lan closed her eyes: "If Your Highness does not trust Laner, Laner is willing to prove her resolve with death."

"I just hope Your Highness doesn't tell Qing'er. She is still a child who doesn't know better, and it was because of me that she made the wrong choice."

"All disrespect stemmed from me. Dust to dust, ashes to ashes, with my death, the debt is cleared. Your Highness can let Qing'er stay by your side and serve you well; I'm sure that girl wouldn't be unwilling."

At this thought, Jiang Lan's heart became incomparably bitter.

Why did she bother doing so much back then? She had seen the young girl's charm too many times, and each time she was enjoying it, playing hard to get. Compared to her, an elder, the girl understood even better how to win the young man's favor, as if she had found her true love.

If only she had known, why bother then?

Jiang Lan shook her head, feeling a bit helpless.

"What? You finally see it now?"

"It really is Jiang Lan's brilliant plan to bring peace to the world, not only losing Ah Qing but also dragging herself into it?"

Gu Yun gently pulled Jiang Lan into his embrace. The sudden tenderness made Jiang Lan, who was accustomed to the young man's coldness, stiffen all over.

"Your Highness… Laner…"

"You don't need to say anymore."

"I've seen Qing'er's performance these past few days, and the anger in my heart has subsided quite a bit."

"As for you… you messed with matchmaking and now you've harmed yourself. Do you know your mistake?"

Even keeping a dog for a long time would develop feelings, let alone Jiang Lan, who had shared his bed for so long.

Time is a powerful tool for changing a person.

And Gu Yun's greatest advantage now was being able to easily shorten this period indefinitely.

This was true for Jiang Lan, and it would be true for the other female protagonists of destiny in the future.

Although Jiang Lan didn't have good intentions regarding the substitute marriage, it actually, by a strange twist of fate, saved him a lot of trouble. After all, if a cultivator of the Quasi-Emperor Realm didn't willingly submit, it could be quite troublesome.

Gu Yun's fingers gently brushed Jiang Lan's cheek; the warmth of his fingertips made her tremble all over.

Her once proud eyes were now filled with tears, like a butterfly's wings, wet with rain, trembling slightly.

"Your Highness… Laner knows her mistake…"

Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum, carrying an unprecedented fragility.

Ultimately, she still inevitably walked down this path, in such an undignified manner.

But… recalling the bits and pieces of the scene, a blush inevitably spread across Jiang Lan's pretty face.

It seems… it's not so bad after all.

//469//

Chapter 469: Clearing the Clouds and Revealing the Blue Sky, Subjugating the Gengjin Immortal Palace (Two in One)

Seeing Jiang Lan submit, Gu Yun did not say much.

The golden light gradually dispersed, and the destructive aura lingering between heaven and earth slowly subsided.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast upon the scarred earth, coating it in a layer of tragic and desolate gold.

Below, the deathly silence lasted only a brief moment, then was replaced by the ecstasy of surviving the ordeal and the heartfelt sobs of relief.

"We won! His Highness the Emperor's Son won!"

"The demon has been punished! We are saved!"

"Wuwuwu... Father, Mother... Did you see it? His Highness avenged us..."

Countless survivors knelt on the ground, kowtowing to the figure in the sky, tears of gratitude streaming down their faces, their voices converging into a roar that shook the heavens.

In their eyes, Gu Yun's figure was no different from a true deity.

The young man raised his gaze, looking at the massive fleet that still hung over the sky like dark clouds pressing down on a city, a faint, cold smile playing on the corner of his lips.

"Just a small star domain can create such war machines. It seems the potential of this Infinite Troop Spawning System is not small."

"That's right! But he's just a fake, so he can't fully demonstrate the potential of this function."

"Host, the system has absorbed 1500 system points and can now materialize a part of the Infinite Troop Spawning System's capabilities for His Highness."

"Oh?!"

This was an unexpected surprise. He had thought he would have to kill Lin Chen to seize the system, but now there was another plan.

You are 1500 system points.

I am also 1500 system points. Who is the legitimate one is still uncertain!

"Host, do you want the system to demonstrate it for you now?!"

"Wait, there's no need for that right now."

"First, retrieve all those scrap metals in the sky for me. They're an eyesore."

Gu Yun instructed, naturally, he couldn't test new abilities in public.

The strength he always displayed was only the tip of the iceberg of what he truly possessed. Of course, now that he had been relying on the Great Emperor cultivation experience card for a long time, Gu Yun rarely used his actual trump cards.

Of course... even though he had such trump cards, he would always remember that he was merely a weak Saint Realm cultivator.

"Alright, Host!!"

It seemed to be the first time it had acquired system points, and the system appeared very excited.

Then, under everyone's gaze, Gu Yun looked indifferently at the sky, then casually made a grasping motion upwards with one hand.

There were no earth-shattering energy fluctuations, no dazzling divine light explosions, not even a single trace of spiritual energy leakage.

What followed was—

A scene that left all the survivors below, including Jiang Daoxuan and other high-ranking officials of Gengjin Immortal Palace, dumbfounded and unforgettable for life!

That massive fleet, which had originally been like dark clouds pressing down on a city, obscuring the sky and sun, emitting a cold metallic luster and an aura of destruction—tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of colossal warships, menacing fort, and war fortresses—began to decompose and dissipate at a speed visible to the naked eye, like ice and snow encountering the scorching sun, or dust being wiped away by an invisible giant hand!

"This..."

"It was erased?"

Even with Jiang Daoxuan's knowledge and composure, his pupils contracted violently as he gazed up in disbelief at the rapidly clearing and vast sky.

He had already lost count of how many shocks Gu Yun had given him in such a short time.

The other survivors didn't care so much; in their eyes, what Gu Yun had displayed... was a miracle!!

That vast fleet, which had plunged the entire Gengjin Dao Domain into despair and which countless cultivators had failed to stop despite their continuous efforts, simply vanished without a trace.

It was as if an invisible hand of a deity had gently erased it from a painting, leaving not a single wreck, not a wisp of smoke.

"A miracle! A true miracle!!"

"His Highness's divine power is boundless! His benevolence spans eternity!!"

"We are willing to follow His Highness forever, even if it means sacrificing our lives!"

More fervent and pious cheers swept through the ruins like a tsunami, and the surging power of faith once again rose like a golden torrent from every kneeling figure, madly pouring into Gu Yun's body, purer and more massive than before.

The young man's cultivation began to surge, and the bottleneck that had held him back for a long time gradually loosened.

"Only one step away from the Saint King."

Feeling the changes within himself, Gu Yun's mind was calm. Going back to work hard with Jiang Qing and Jiang Lan, he should be able to break through very soon.

"Ding! Ship recovery complete. Congratulations to the Host for acquiring 80,000 Villain Points."

"Villain Points?"

"That's right, Influence Points and Villain Points are actually from the same source, but the acquisition methods are different, so the system has helped the Host integrate them."

"From now on, the Host can also purchase ships in the system with Villain Points. How about it? Isn't the system awesome! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧"

The little system's voice sounded as if it were seeking credit.

"Not bad."

"Let me see."

Gu Yun responded indifferently, not expecting so many ships to only exchange for 80,000 Villain Points.

It seemed that these so-called Influence Points were not as precious as he had imagined, but perhaps it was also because Lin Chen had acquired the system for too short a time, and his foundation was not strong enough to pose an effective threat to him.

Soon, the prices of various grades of ships appeared in the system store.

"Dao Body Realm ship, 100 Villain Points."

"Xiantai Realm ship, 1000 ~ 2000 Villain Points."

"Quasi-Emperor-level ship, 30000 ~ 50000 Villain Points."

"Great Emperor-level ship, 100000 Villain Points."

"Great Emperor-level, only 100,000 Villain Points?"

Gu Yun raised an eyebrow, somewhat disbelieving. This price was a bit too cheap, after all, he only needed to spend this amount to achieve minor completion in a Great Dao.

Not to mention top-tier Great Daos like the Great Dao of Power, whose consumption was astronomical.

As a result, now, with just 100,000 Villain Points, he could exchange for a Great Emperor-level ship, which would be a permanent solution.

"Ding! Indeed, as the Host said, a Great Emperor-level ship requires 100,000 Villain Points."

"This is because although ships are powerful, they are inanimate objects and cannot unleash their full power in the hands of a weaker commander."

"Moreover, a ship is just a large carrying device; to fully unleash its power, it also needs to be equipped with high-level main cannons and so on."

"So that's how it is."

Gu Yun was a bit dissatisfied. If that were the case, the cost-effectiveness would be greatly reduced.

"Could it be that you haven't fully extracted the system points, leading to an artificially high price?"

"Uh..."

"The Host indeed has a discerning eye."

"The ability to manufacture ships is closely related to the system points the system possesses. If Lin Chen is completely eliminated and his system is thoroughly refined, the cost for the Host to acquire ships and devices in the future will be halved."

"Alright, then I won't waste Villain Points for now."

A false alarm.

Every drop of Villain Points was precious, and Gu Yun would not waste it at a time like this. He could summon Emperor-level helpers, so there was truly no need.

"Your Highness..."

Beside him, Jiang Lan's soft voice, tinged with a hint of trembling and immense reverence, sounded.

This once resolute female Quasi-Emperor now looked up at Gu Yun's profile, her beautiful eyes filled with an indescribable mix of emotions.

Fear, adoration, dependence, submission—it was a sense of belonging, as if she had resigned herself to fate. Her life was already controlled by this man, and from now on, she would only live for him...

"The filth here has been cleared, it's time to leave."

Gu Yun did not respond much. He embraced Jiang Lan and stepped out.

He descended from the sky, his robes fluttering, unstained by dust.

Elder Zhou, Elder Qi, and others rushed forward, but none were as quick as Jiang Daoxuan: "Congratulations, Your Highness, for slaying the demon and saving billions of lives in the Gengjin Dao Domain from suffering! For this grace and virtue, the Gengjin Immortal Palace, from top to bottom, will never forget it!"

"Palace Master Jiang, why be so formal?"

"Now that I am also related to the Palace Master by marriage, theoretically speaking, I am half a person of the Gengjin Dao Domain. Now that the Dao Domain has suffered such a disaster, this disciple has merely exerted a small effort, it's not worth mentioning."

"Your Highness, why do you say such a thing? The Divine Son of the Gu Family possesses unparalleled divine might, saving hundreds of millions of citizens of our Gengjin Dao Domain from suffering. Everyone in our Immortal Palace has witnessed this. Daoxuan is here to express his gratitude!!"

After the polite exchange, Gu Yun did not intend to chat further with Jiang Daoxuan.

The latter's eyes inadvertently swept over Jiang Lan's position. His sister was nestled in Gu Yun's embrace, her ears flushed red, not daring to look at anyone present.

Almost everyone understood tacitly, but at this moment, no one pointed it out.

"Palace Master Jiang, although the demonic plague has been eradicated, the Gengjin Dao Domain is in ruins, and people are in a state of panic. What are your plans for the aftermath?"

"Although Lin Chen has left, he is not dead. There is still a possibility of his return in the future, so plans must be made early!"

"What..."

Jiang Daoxuan's heart trembled, his pupils slightly quivering as he looked at Gu Yun.

What was he thinking?

Was he deliberately let go by His Highness? Or... even His Highness couldn't completely stop him?

Countless questions and conjectures swarmed into his mind like venomous snakes, making him restless.

If Lin Chen was not dead, given the strangeness and growth rate he had displayed, his return was almost inevitable!

At that time, his Gengjin Dao Domain would undoubtedly be the first to bear the brunt!

Gu Yun could leave, but where could he, Jiang Daoxuan, and the Gengjin Immortal Palace escape to?

In an instant, a cold sweat broke out on Jiang Daoxuan's back.

He looked at Gu Yun's calm and unruffled expression, and inwardly sighed, truly worthy of the Immortal Ancient Gu Family; just a few words from a young man could make him so uneasy.

Now, the Gengjin Immortal Palace was already bound to the Immortal Ancient Gu Family's chariot, with no path of retreat.

Jiang Daoxuan's heart was filled with bitterness, but he dared not show the slightest hint of it on his face. Instead, he forced a grateful smile, his tone becoming even more respectful: "Your Highness is right."

"Daoxuan was foolish and did not realize that the demon was unpredictable, and he still had a massive fleet behind him. I don't know which force it belongs to. If he returns, our Gengjin Immortal Palace may indeed find it difficult to resist."

"I hope, Your Highness... I hope Your Highness, for Qing'er's sake, can show us a way out."

As he spoke, Jiang Lan, who was in Gu Yun's embrace, trembled almost imperceptibly.

Gu Yun quietly watched Jiang Daoxuan's performance, smiling as he responded: "Palace Master Jiang, there's no need to be so worried."

"No matter what, Qing'er is already my officially wedded Imperial Consort. By reason and by emotion, I will ensure the safety of the Gengjin Dao Domain!"

"Then I shall trouble His Highness the Emperor's Son."

"Thank you, His Highness the Emperor's Son, for saving our lives."

"Your Highness the Emperor's Son's great kindness, our Gengjin Dao Domain will never forget it."

For a moment, countless expressions of gratitude sounded. After the pleasantries, guests from various forces took their leave.

Soon, only a few people from the Gengjin Immortal Palace remained.

"Everyone, could you please step aside for a moment? I have a few more words to say to Palace Master Jiang."

Gu Yun smiled as he looked at the cultivators present, speaking calmly.

Elder Zhou and the others exchanged glances: "Your Highness has important matters; there's no need to explain. We shall naturally withdraw!"

With that, they and those around them left directly, not daring to linger.

Only three people remained in the field, and the atmosphere instantly became quiet.

"Palace Master Jiang, let's be frank. You should be able to guess the purpose of my visit."

Gu Yun looked at Jiang Daoxuan, no longer playing guessing games.

"Please speak, Your Highness."

Nominally, there was a father-in-law and son-in-law relationship between them, but Jiang Daoxuan dared not put on airs in front of Gu Yun, and the young man didn't feel there was anything wrong with that.

In the Three Thousand Dao Domains, strength was paramount.

"Very simple. You, submit to me."

Gu Yun's words were simple and direct, leaving both Jiang Lan and Jiang Daoxuan speechless.

"Your Highness truly doesn't give this old man any face."

Jiang Daoxuan gave an awkward laugh.

"Do you think it's necessary?"

"My trip was originally for Jiang Qing, but you've seen the result now..."

Gu Yun waved his hand.

Jiang Lan felt some dissatisfaction in her heart. Was she that bad? Clearly, when they were in the Great Luo Dao Pagoda, Gu Yun simply couldn't get enough of her, even after Xiao Qing'er joined them.

The young man still preferred to play with her a bit more, so why did he sound so disgusted now?

If you're disgusted, then don't touch me...

"The Immortal Palace, after all, needs to make some compensation, doesn't it?"

Gu Yun shrugged, as if this was just a trivial matter.

The crucial matter of determining the core ownership of a major Immortal Palace was almost settled in these few words.

"Your Highness... do you want me, or the entire Gengjin Immortal Palace?"

Gu Yun chuckled: "Palace Master Jiang, you jest. The Immortal Ancient Gu Family does not lack a cultivator at the Emperor-level Fourth Heaven."

"..."

"Actually, you don't have to worry. Jiang Qing and Jiang Lan are both in my life now, and the Gengjin Immortal Palace will still be your Gengjin Immortal Palace."

"And its status will definitely be more stable than before. It's just that I need you to help me with some things on a daily basis and secretly follow my orders. I think these... shouldn't be difficult to do, right?"

Jiang Daoxuan's eyes lit up: "Your Highness means that you will not interfere with the internal affairs of my Gengjin Immortal Palace?"

"Hehe, of course..."

"I naturally will not."

The young man inwardly complained. He didn't have that much free time to worry about these matters. A vast Immortal Palace, if not managed well, with its complex affairs, would be enough to drive a person completely insane.

How exactly, he could clearly see from his miserable old father.

"Then... Daoxuan will follow Your Highness's command!"

Jiang Daoxuan basically didn't hesitate at all. It was a no-risk, high-profit deal, and only a fool would hesitate.

"Good, Palace Master Jiang has made the correct choice."

"I've stayed in the Gengjin Immortal Palace long enough."

"I won't bother you any longer..."

"Wait a moment, Your Highness, before you leave, can I see Qing'er one last time?"

///470//

Chapter 470 Return, News about Bai Hao (Two in One)

Gu Yun's steps, which had been about to depart, paused slightly as he turned around and saw the undeniable concern and expectation in Jiang Daoxuan's eyes.

A faint smile touched his lips: "I didn't expect Palace Master Jiang to care so much about this father-daughter bond."

Jiang Daoxuan sighed faintly: "Your Highness jests. How can my actions be considered those of a qualified father?"

At this moment, Jiang Daoxuan resembled an old man who had lost all his strength.

His original grand scheme had almost entirely come to fruition, but his losses were far greater.

Jiang Lan and Xiao Qing, the two people closest to him in the Immortal Palace, had now become companions to the young man before him.

And the Immortal Palace itself would become a subordinate of the Gu Family; all his ambitions and calculations had ultimately amounted to nothing.

However, Jiang Daoxuan held no resentment; his heart only held the acceptance of a lost gamble.

With such a wise and mighty person leading the Immortal Ancient Gu Family forward, he had reason to believe that he… and the entire Gengjin Immortal Palace could set sail together with it.

This was also why he, a dignified Great Emperor, was willing to bow his head to Gu Yun, a junior.

After all, Gu Yun currently lacked that kind of oppressive aura; everyone knew that the Immortal Ancient Gu Family must have given him some trump card to allow him to erupt with such terrifying combat power just now.

But… what of it?

The young man had calculated everything; he just needed some support in the end. Strength was something Gu Yun would possess sooner or later.

"From childhood, the ideologies I instilled in Xiao Qing had completely stripped her of her personality. She was born for the Immortal Palace, and in the future, she was meant to be a chess piece for the Immortal Palace's prosperity."

"But… when the time for parting truly came, I felt an inexplicable reluctance in my heart."

Gu Yun chuckled softly: "Palace Master Jiang, what are you saying?"

"From now on, the Immortal Palace and the Gu Family will be closely linked; how could I let you two, father and daughter, be separated?"

"Lan'er… please move aside for a moment."

Gu Yun released Jiang Lan.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Jiang Lan responded softly and rose from Gu Yun's embrace.

After this period of adjustment, she had barely regained some of her usual composure.

However, when she looked at Jiang Daoxuan, her gaze was somewhat complex.

Jiang Daoxuan was somewhat puzzled; he had thought the young man had hidden Xiao Qing, but now it seemed not to be as he had imagined.

Then he saw the young man's mind stir, and divine light shimmered around him again.

"This…"

Jiang Daoxuan was slightly shocked and looked at his younger sister, seeking an answer.

Jiang Lan sighed and explained: "Thanks to Your Highness, both Qing'er and I can cultivate within his spatial treasure."

"Qing'er was a bit tired earlier; she should have recovered by now."

"Tired, you say?"

"I didn't expect that after receiving that inheritance, she would still have the desire to cultivate. Good, very good."

Jiang Daoxuan said.

"Uh…"

Jiang Lan's cheeks flushed crimson: "You could say that. Her cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds; it's indeed incomparable to before."

"That's good, that's very good."

Jiang Daoxuan breathed a sigh of relief: "When you are by His Highness's side in the future, you must support each other. From now on, the Immortal Palace and you two will share the same breath and destiny."

"Mm…"

Jiang Lan had no desire to discuss such grand matters with Jiang Daoxuan.

She could almost guess what was about to happen and even wanted to flee this place immediately.

Jiang Daoxuan, however, had not yet foreseen the gravity of the situation; his eyes were filled with expectation. Some things are only cherished after they are lost.

But… he had made this choice, and he did not regret it. He only hoped that his daughter would also be happy and joyful in the future.

A dazzling white light flashed before his eyes, and then he saw a slight ripple, like water, around Gu Yun's body.

"Brother, Brother Yun, why did you leave so soon?"

"I still want more~~~"

Just then, an incredibly soft voice suddenly sounded in Jiang Daoxuan's ears, and his smile instantly froze on his face.

The moment Xiao Qing appeared, she clung to Gu Yun's body like an octopus.

Her soft arms instantly wrapped around Gu Yun's neck, and her full bosom, with its astonishing elasticity and warmth, pressed tightly against the young man's chest without any gap.

Two fair, slender, well-proportioned legs nimbly wrapped around him, coiling around Gu Yun's strong waist like snakes.

She seemed to have just been roused from a warm, comfortable rest; her hair was slightly disheveled, with a few strands playfully sticking to her peach-blush cheeks and her sweat-dampened, snow-white neck.

Her limpid eyes were hazy and misty, filled with lingering moisture, and as her gaze shifted, a natural charm emanated from her.

She was draped in a loose, moon-white robe; the voluminous fabric nicely enveloped her petite and delicate figure.

Her long sleeves playfully fluttered against the young man's body, exuding a captivating and alluring charm.

Such a posture was utterly shameful, and coupled with that naturally soft and alluring tone, Jiang Daoxuan almost thought he had come to the wrong place.

What a joke, was this still his disobedient, ignorant daughter?

Why, in front of Gu Yun, was she like a…

He truly didn't understand the affairs of young people.

Jiang Lan, even more helplessly, covered her eyes, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into immediately.

The scene fell into an eerie silence, and even Gu Yun didn't know what to say.

Seeing Gu Yun somewhat unmoved, Xiao Qing was a bit puzzled. By all accounts, with such an offensive, the young man should have been unable to resist.

She had also planned to thoroughly exploit him, hehehe.

But now the situation was a bit beyond the young girl's expectation, so she had to make a change.

"Brother Yun, Brother Yun, what's wrong? Why aren't you speaking?"

"Is there anything else Xiao Qing did wrong?"

"Tell Qing'er, Qing'er will change~~~"

Xiao Qing pressed her face against Gu Yun's cheek, her warm breath caressing his earlobe. Her voice was soft and alluring, even carrying a hint of a wronged tremor.

As she spoke, her jade feet, wrapped around Gu Yun's waist, restlessly rubbed against him, her rounded toes inadvertently brushing against the fabric at his waist, creating a subtle tickle.

Her sleeves slipped down, revealing a section of her snow-white, lotus-root-like arm, and she hugged him even tighter, as if wanting to completely melt into his body.

This scene was utterly seductive and enchanting, yet also utterly awkward.

"…"

Jiang Daoxuan only felt a rush of blood to his head, and his vision blurred.

He had lived countless years, experienced countless storms, yet never had there been a moment like this…

What a sin!!!

Jiang Lan had already turned her head away, her ears burning red. One hand weakly covered her eyes, but her fingers were spread wide, while the other hand tightly clutched the corner of her clothes, her body trembling slightly. Although she was accustomed to such scenes, this was in front of her elder brother, and her habit of feeling embarrassed for others resurfaced.

The little one wriggled her body, continuing to breathe like orchids into the young man's ear. Feeling the effect, she became even more smug, but at the same time, her gaze darted to Jiang Daoxuan, who stood beside her like a statue.

Those hazy, spring-filled, limpid eyes instantly widened!

All the charm, laziness, and that confident coquettishness, like a flame extinguished by ice water, hissed and vanished without a trace.

In their place were extreme terror, embarrassment, and disbelief!

"Dad… Daddy?!!!"

A shriek pierced everyone's eardrums. Fortunately, there were no outsiders present, otherwise Xiao Qing would probably have been utterly mortified.

But even so, it made her feel incredibly awkward, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on; all the hairs on her body stood on end, and she suddenly wanted to spring away from Gu Yun.

However, she was wrapped too tightly. With a sudden struggle, she caused Gu Yun to sway with her, and their bodies came into even closer contact, producing a muffled sound that made one's heart pound.

"I… I… You… Why are you here?!"

Finally managing to get off the young man, Xiao Qing was incoherent, her pretty face so red it looked like it would drip blood.

Her mind was blank, and she wished time could flow backward at this moment.

What had she just done?!!

"Now you know fear?"

Gu Yun chuckled softly, placing his hand on Xiao Qing's head with a smile.

The latter, with unknown courage, glared shyly at Gu Yun; a tremendous sense of shame had already overwhelmed her.

Daring not to look at Jiang Daoxuan a second time, she hid behind Gu Yun like an ostrich.

"…"

Dead silence.

The wind blew across the ruins, stirring up a few charred fragments, making a rustling sound.

"Ahem, Qing'er, have you been well during this time?"

Although it had only been a short time since they last met, Jiang Daoxuan felt as if ages had passed. In the young man's hands, his daughter had actually evolved into her current appearance, which made him regard Gu Yun even more highly.

"Good…"

Xiao Qing responded softly, not daring to look at her father again.

Jiang Daoxuan's mouth twitched; what kind of question was he asking? It was truly superfluous.

Was there any need to ask? Looking at her, she probably had already been living a so-called immortal life, clinging to Gu Yun the moment she appeared. Perhaps he had inadvertently found the most suitable husband for his daughter.

If he had known this earlier, what was the point of running away from the marriage then…

Jiang Daoxuan felt somewhat speechless, glancing at Jiang Lan, who stood beside him, feigning transparency by looking at her nose. He sighed deeply.

What a mess this was.

And he had felt so guilty during this time.

"Since Qing'er is well by His Highness's side, then I am relieved."

Jiang Daoxuan forced these words out, his voice dry, every word imbued with an unspeakable awkwardness.

All the words he had intended to say lost their meaning the moment he saw his daughter. Now, he only wanted to quickly leave this place that had made him lose face.

"Mm…"

Xiao Qing hid behind Gu Yun, revealing only half of her side profile, which was red enough to steam, and a small hand nervously clutching Gu Yun's clothes. Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum, serving as a response.

"From now on, Your Highness will have to trouble yourself."

"Palace Master Jiang, why do you say that? Qing'er is mischievous and adorable; I truly like her."

"That's good, that's good."

Jiang Daoxuan gave an awkward laugh; he truly couldn't stay any longer. If he stayed another moment, he felt his Great Emperor's state of mind would crack.

He forcefully changed the subject and bowed deeply to Gu Yun: "Your Highness, although the demonic scourge has been eliminated, the ruins of the Immortal Palace still need to be cleared, and numerous matters are intertwined. Daoxuan… will take his leave first to handle the aftermath."

He now only wanted to immediately immerse himself in busy administrative affairs, to numb himself with endless work, attempting to forget the soul-shattering scene he had just witnessed.

"Mm, go."

Gu Yun nodded slightly, granting permission.

Jiang Daoxuan felt as if he had been granted a great pardon and almost fled, turning around. With one step, his figure blurred, about to tear through space and depart.

"Daddy!"

Just then, Xiao Qing suddenly seemed to gather immense courage, poking half her body out from behind Gu Yun and calling out.

Jiang Daoxuan's body stiffened. He turned his head rigidly, forcing out an extremely strained smile: "Qing'er… is there anything else?"

He prayed in his heart, please don't let it be anything shocking again.

Xiao Qing's pretty face was still crimson, her gaze darting away, not daring to meet his. Her small hand nervously clutched the corner of her clothes, and her voice was faint but carried a subtle hint of concern: "You… you also take care of yourself… don't overwork yourself…"

After saying this, she seemed to have exhausted all her courage. With a whoosh, she pulled her head back behind Gu Yun, refusing to show her face again.

Jiang Daoxuan was stunned.

Looking at his daughter's extremely embarrassed yet still unable to resist expressing concern for him, an extremely complex emotion surged into his heart.

He was silent for a moment, and the stiffness on his face eased slightly.

"Mm… Daddy knows. You… also follow His Highness well."

He finished speaking in a low voice, no longer lingering. His figure completely merged into the spatial ripples and disappeared.

He's finally gone…

Of the three people present, except for Gu Yun, the other two women almost simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief.

That toe-curlingly awkward atmosphere finally dissipated for the most part with Jiang Daoxuan's departure.

Jiang Lan rubbed her still slightly flushed cheeks and helplessly glared at Xiao Qing, who was still hiding behind Gu Yun: "You girl! You're really… really becoming more and more unruly! Just now… just now, what a disgrace!"

Xiao Qing poked half her face out from behind Gu Yun and stuck out her pink little tongue. Although still blushing, her courage seemed to have returned somewhat after her father left. She mumbled softly: "I didn't do it on purpose… Who knew Daddy would be there… Besides, Brother Yun didn't say anything…"

As she spoke, she secretly glanced up at Gu Yun. Seeing that he wasn't angry, and even had a smile on his lips, she immediately became emboldened again. Her small hand quietly wrapped around Gu Yun's waist once more, and her body softly pressed back against him.

Gu Yun felt the soft body pressing against him again from behind, and the restless small hand gently drawing circles on his waist. The smile in his eyes took on a dangerous glint: "You wanted to run away from the marriage before, and now what's this all about?"

He turned around, extended an arm, and easily pulled the fragrant, soft body into his embrace, his fingertips lifting her smooth chin.

"What, you still want more? Want what?"

"That was just Qing'er being young and ignorant. Now Qing'er can't leave Your Highness."

"Please feel free to ravage Qing'er, my Your Highness~~~"

Xiao Qing stared directly at Gu Yun, showing no sign of shyness; the drastic contrast between before and after was truly remarkable.

Jiang Lan's face was beet red; she truly hadn't expected her little niece to be like this after the seal was completely broken.

"You little demon."

Gu Yun chuckled softly, directly lifted Xiao Qing into his arms, and was about to enter the Great Luo Dao Pagoda to carry out justice then and there.

Just then, the token at his waist suddenly glowed.

Bai Hao's phantom appeared on it.

"Big Brother, Big Brother, it's exactly as you said! Lately, I feel like Bai Li seems to have a problem!"

//471//

Chapter 471 The Mysterious Bai Li (Two in One)

The cunning phantom appeared before the three, his expression quite agitated.

Seeing Bai Hao arrive, Gu Yun suppressed the urge to immediately deal with Jiang Qing and put her down.

The young girl pouted her red lips in dissatisfaction. After losing so much face with her father, she had originally planned to recover some of it with Gu Yun, but she didn't expect to be disturbed in such a way.

However, she also knew what was important. If even Gu Yun took it seriously, it must be extraordinary. As a newcomer, she had to maintain the good impression she had just managed to turn around.

But even though she got off the young man, her small hand still clutched Gu Yun's sleeve tightly, her body leaning softly against his shoulder, her attitude incredibly intimate.

Jiang Lan also composed herself. She thought more than Jiang Qing. How could someone important enough for Gu Yun to take seriously be a simple person?

Perhaps he was another troublesome fellow like Lin Chen.

She wondered if she was even qualified to listen to such confidential matters.

"Big Brother, did I come at a bad time?"

Looking at the intimate atmosphere, Bai Hao scratched his head uncomfortably, feeling a little guilty.

"It's fine."

"Tell me in detail, what has Bai Li been doing?"

Gu Yun said with a smile. After all, he only had some ideas, and he could deal with them later.

And this Child of Destiny, whom he had discovered long ago, finally showed some unusual activity.

That made him even more interested.

As his strength increased, the enemies he encountered became more and more troublesome. There might be many System-type Children of Destiny like Lin Chen, specifically created to fill in plot holes.

So, if that was the case, what kind of fortuitous encounters would Bai Li, who originally possessed the Child of Destiny's fate, have?

Gu Yun didn't know, but now, through Bai Hao, he might be able to get a glimpse.

Seeing Gu Yun's serious expression, Bai Hao stopped joking around, quickly reined in the playful look on his face, and said earnestly, "Big Brother, didn't you tell me to keep a close eye on Bai Li's movements as the New Year approached?"

"What happened?"

"You didn't do it?"

"How could that be? Big Brother, you gave the order, how could I not do it?"

Bai Hao waved his hand and said, "As expected, Big Brother, this kid's whereabouts have been incredibly secretive lately. He often leaves home alone and stays away for most of the day."

"I always felt there was something off about it, so I sent people to follow him once."

"Heh, guess what."

"Get to the point!"

Gu Yun patted his bottom and said in an annoyed tone.

This made Jiang Lan's pretty face flush slightly, and her beautiful eyes secretly glanced at Gu Yun.

"Oh, oh, alright, this is where the most terrifying part comes in."

"I sent at least seven or eight, if not more than ten, people, and every single one of them was at least at the Xiantai Realm."

"Bai Li is just a wild kid picked up from outside, with no talent and no backing. To this day, he's still only at the peak of the Dao Palace Realm, not even touching the threshold of the Four Extremities Secret Realm!"

"Logically speaking, any one of the people I sent could crush him a hundred times over like an ant!"

"But then the strange thing happened..."

Bai Hao's voice carried a hint of fear: "Those people just vanished into thin air!"

"No sign of them alive, no bodies found dead! I later went to the last location they sent back a message from to check, and there wasn't even a single trace of a struggle left!"

"I think that kid must have some expert protecting him from behind. I can't tell Father about this, so..."

"So you came to me?"

Gu Yun's lips curved into a playful smile, his arms intimately wrapped around Jiang Lan and Jiang Qing, who were like sister flowers, looking like a dissolute young master.

"Hehe, yes, Big Brother, didn't you say at the time that you wanted me to keep a close eye on Bai Li and report any unusual activity to you?"

"Now, even Xiantai Realm cultivators have perished. It's clear that the person behind that kid is extraordinary. Perhaps there's a Quasi-Emperor or even a Great Emperor-level expert as his trump card."

"Hmph, I knew it. How could a helpless infant born in a small village on the border survive in such an environment?"

"This Bai Li, he's definitely problematic!"

Bai Hao vowed, "Perhaps he came with some mission, intending to target my Bai family."

"My parents are blinded by so-called familial affection and haven't seen the danger within. Big Brother, you must help me!!!"

He looked at the young man and couldn't help but lament.

Gu Yun looked at him like this and couldn't help but find it a little funny.

With a flash of his figure, the three had already returned to the flying boat.

Gu Yun found a soft couch, leaned back lazily, his left and right arms respectively embracing Jiang Lan's slender, soft waist and Jiang Qing's warm, jade-like shoulder, his fingertips unconsciously caressing their delicate skin, a calm smile always on his lips.

"Hmm, that analysis is indeed very reasonable."

Gu Yun responded casually, then changed the topic, "However, you said there's an expert protecting him from behind, possibly even a Quasi-Emperor or Great Emperor... Where's the evidence?"

"Ah? Evidence?" Bai Hao was stunned, scratching his head. "This... the people are gone, isn't that the best evidence? If it weren't for a super expert making a move, how could Xiantai Realm cultivators disappear so silently?"

"Foolish." Gu Yun evaluated mercilessly, "If a Quasi-Emperor or Great Emperor truly made a move to eliminate a few Xiantai Realm ants, would they need to be so secretive, not even leaving a trace? They would just crush them directly, who would dare to say anything? Deliberately erasing traces, on the contrary, shows a lack of confidence, or... their methods are not pure power suppression, but some more bizarre way."

Bai Hao was stunned by what he said, opening his mouth but finding himself unable to refute.

That's right, if it were his father or those old ancestors in the family, they wouldn't bother to hide anything when dealing with a few Xiantai Realm cultivators.

Even Quasi-Emperor Realm cultivators probably wouldn't bother with such things.

"Uh... then that just proves Bai Li has something fishy going on behind him. Maybe he's connected to some cult organization."

"Think about it, wasn't he born on the edge of a forbidden zone? Then he was abandoned for a period of time."

"Perhaps he's already been possessed by those strange forbidden zone creatures and wants to threaten our Three Thousand Dao Domains. Big Brother, if that's the case, we must be on guard."

"If so, sending more people to keep an eye on him would just be pointless, like sending them to their deaths."

"Then what should we do? Should we just let him continue being so mysterious?"

Bai Hao became anxious: "Big Brother, those forbidden zone creatures were severely massacred by Second Master Gu. If they really infiltrate the Dao Domain, it might be detrimental to the Gu Family."

"Bai Hao..."

Gu Yun's voice sank.

Bai Hao knew he had misspoken and quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Big Brother, I was a bit overly concerned."

"You also know that during this time, because of Bai Li, the atmosphere in the Zongheng Merchant Guild and even the Bai family has been very delicate."

"What do your parents think?"

"Them? They're ambivalent. Anyway, they've already investigated Bai Li's bloodline, and it's indeed their son. There's no mistake."

"It's just that they seem to dislike the rustic air about that kid. He doesn't have any of a Bai family young master's demeanor. Even if they take him out, he'd only embarrass the Bai family and make the other three families laugh. They usually just let him stay in the compound and rarely give him opportunities to go out."

"Rustic?"

Gu Yun chuckled. What rustic? In reality, time had diluted everything. Merchants were inherently profit-driven, and a mere son, without the constant companionship of growing up together, even if reunited now, there wasn't much affection between them.

From Bai Li's perspective, it was indeed disheartening.

But for Bai Hao, it was an undeserved calamity. His position as the heir, which was originally stable, became somewhat precarious due to Bai Li's sudden return.

How could he tolerate it?

"Big Brother, do you think I should directly ask a Quasi-Emperor level expert to follow him? I'm sure no matter how strange Bai Li's methods are, he won't be able to cause any trouble under a Quasi-Emperor Realm expert."

Bai Hao spoke with great excitement.

"Under what pretense?"

"Pretense..."

Bai Hao choked, looking at the young man in confusion: "Big Brother, what do you mean? Do we, members of the Bai family, need a pretense to act?"

"Who do you think you're trying to kill?"

Gu Yun smiled faintly: "That's your own elder brother, the eldest young master of the Bai family. Will those Quasi-Emperor experts you can mobilize still follow your lead once they learn his identity?"

"Furthermore, can you be sure who is behind the other party?"

"Will sending a Quasi-Emperor alert the enemy?"

"Then... then what do you say, Big Brother?"

"We can't just stand by and watch, can we?"

"I always feel uneasy, like that kid is brewing something big!!"

Bai Hao said with a bitter face, feeling very anxious in his heart. Lately, he found Bai Li increasingly annoying, always feeling that he would be detrimental to him. That's why he thought of making the first move, expecting to get Gu Yun's support, but unexpectedly met with opposition. This made him lose his composure for a moment.

"When you sent those Sendai cultivators to track Bai Li, was he discovered?"

"No, absolutely not!"

"How could I do such a childish thing?"

"Then there you have it, Bai Hao. The current situation is that you are in the dark, and he is in the light. You are in the dark, so what exactly are you worried about?"

Gu Yun said with a smile.

Bai Hao was stunned for a moment: "That's true, but as long as he exists, he will pose a threat to me."

"I cannot allow such a thing to happen."

The struggle for the heir's position has always been like this.

Even biological brothers who grew up together can turn against each other, let alone Bai Hao and Bai Li, who have almost no relationship.

"Then you should start from a direction with more decisive power."

"A direction with more decisive power..."

"What you desire is nothing more than the position of the Bai family head, and the person who can determine the ownership of that position, isn't that your father, President Bai?"

"Why are you wasting time on Bai Li instead of making some moves with your father?!"

"This..."

"Do you think President Bai cares more about you, his son with whom he has spent many years, or an abandoned person who fell from the sky?"

"But if I act proactively, it will inevitably arouse Father's suspicion."

"What, is your father very good to Bai Li?"

"Of course, he..."

Bai Hao's words caught in his throat. He wanted to say that Bai Li's appearance had taken away his favor, but in reality, that wasn't the case.

For this crude and ignorant eldest son, apart from the initial joy of reunion, the Bai family head actually only felt disdain.

He merely maintained a superficial harmony due to his status, and he originally thought Bai Li would recognize his place, but recently, it seemed he had become a bit restless.

"Find a way to throw dirt on him, so President Bai stands on your side, wouldn't that be good?"

"I shouldn't have to teach you this step by step, should I?"

Gu Yun said lightly.

"No, no, of course not. Thank you for your guidance, Big Brother, hehe, I'll go do it right away!"

Bai Hao said with a smile, his tone respectful and humble.

The phantom quickly disappeared, and the two women also breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your Highness..."

"This..."

Jiang Lan looked at the young man, her expression a little strange.

As a member of the Jiang family, she naturally understood the internal struggles within these great families.

However, Gu Yun's blatant interference might also cause some unstable factors.

"Are you worried that President Bai will know I'm meddling and it will interfere with my plans?"

Gu Yun asked.

"Hmm... As a giant, the Zongheng Merchant Guild's influence spans the entire Three Thousand Dao Domains, and its foundation is also extremely strong."

"The issue of succession is paramount for any force. If President Bai learns that Young Master Bai Hao is conspiring with Your Highness to eliminate another young master of the Bai family, it might affect Your Highness's relationship with the Bai family."

"Hehe."

"Laner, you don't understand President Bai, so you naturally don't know the inside story. Not everyone cares about family affection."

"Although Jiang Daoxuan is ruthless, he is not heartless. This is completely different from President Bai."

"As one of the four helmsmen behind the Zongheng Merchant Guild, he has no so-called romantic feelings for his children in his heart."

"Just a son for whom he has no affection, if the profit is sufficient, even Bai Hao, he would sell without hesitation."

"To talk about sentiment when discussing profit is perhaps a bit... too naive."

Gu Yun pinched Jiang Lan's chin, examining her carefully from top to bottom, his direct gaze carrying a smile.

This made Jiang Lan's pretty face flush slightly. In every aspect, she seemed to be completely outmatched by this young man.

"Laner thanks Your Highness for the guidance."

"It's not really guidance, as I said, when discussing profit, talking about sentiment is too naive."

Gu Yun patted Jiang Lan's head and said no more. Was he not also using Bai Hao?

Bai Li's plot needed to proceed naturally, and it needed Bai Hao to fan the flames. Gu Yun naturally wouldn't change this.

Now that the stage was set, he would set off to enjoy the show.

"Your Highness..."

Jiang Lan still wanted to ask.

But the young man interrupted directly, "That's enough, I'm a bit tired."

"This..."

"Oh my, Aunt Lan, why are you so insensible?"

Xiao Qing'er, who was beside them, had already tied up her disheveled hair. She didn't understand what Gu Yun and Bai Hao had been mumbling about earlier.

But she knew exactly what to do now.

"Laner, sometimes you should learn a thing or two from Qing'er."

Gu Yun said with a light chuckle, patting Xiao Qing'er's head, affirming her efforts.

"Yes~~"

Jiang Lan's pretty face was flushed, and suppressing the shame in her heart, she leaned in and kissed the young man's lips.

A long while passed.

Gu Yun was immersed in the tender embrace when a resentful voice suddenly echoed in his mind: "You're certainly having a good time."

//472//

Chapter 472 Aunt Zi is Always There (Two in One)

"It's Aunt Zi!!!"

Gu Yun quickly identified the source of the voice. His expression stiffened slightly, and his divine sense instantly spread out like a tide.

Above the luxurious main cabin of the flying boat, a graceful, slender figure in purple had appeared at some unknown time.

Gu Yaozi was lounging lazily on the glazed tiles of the flying boat's roof, one hand propping her chin, the other idly playing with a strand of fallen hair.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast a warm, golden halo over her exquisite profile. Her enchanting phoenix eyes, peering through the protective light shield of the flying boat, were precisely "fixed" on the amorous scene within the cabin, her expression quite playful.

Gu Yun secretly cursed under his breath.

In his previous arrangements, he had kept Gu Yaozi hidden, intending her as the ultimate safeguard against Lin Chen's final trump card.

Who would have thought that the system would then provide an Emperor cultivation experience card, coupled with the unexpected gain of Faith Power, which had momentarily spurred him to personally intervene, displaying his might before everyone.

Later, he was further misled by the adulation of the crowd, and Bai Hao's news about Bai Li captured his last bit of attention.

He had, for a moment, completely overlooked and forgotten about this most significant trump card he had originally prepared.

Seeing her current half-smile and playful gaze, it was clear she had arrived early and had taken in everything within the flying boat… especially the scene of him embracing two women, speaking with Bai Hao, and now being intimate with the two girls.

Before the events began, he had spoken so confidently, even considering her his final trump card, yet he hadn't needed to use her in the end. His actions now seemed to be making fun of her.

Even with Gu Yun's composure, beads of sweat couldn't help but trickle down his forehead.

"Your Highness… what's wrong?"

Jiang Lan caught Gu Yun's momentary stiffness and change in aura. She frowned slightly, asking softly with some concern.

Jiang Qing also stopped her movements, blinking her hazy, big eyes, looking at Gu Yun in confusion.

The happiness built upon Gu Yun's presence, *poof*, vanished! Who could bear that?

Two pairs of limpid eyes, filled with direct adoration, stared at Gu Yun, making it unbearable for a hot-blooded young man.

Gu Yun wished he could immediately regain his vigor and fiercely suppress these two little enchantresses.

However, there were priorities, and Aunt Zi was more important right now. The young man quickly composed himself, his face returning to calm, and he gently patted the shoulders of the two women, saying, "You two should enter the Pagoda and wait for a moment."

"I'll satisfy you both later."

"Ah… alright… alright…"

Jiang Lan and Jiang Qing looked a bit disappointed, their timid eyes surveying Gu Yun up and down.

They felt even more self-reproach, perhaps having underestimated their own charm. At a time like this, they had to save face for the man.

Jiang Qing reluctantly let go of his hand: "Alright then, Big Brother Yun must come back soon."

"I…"

She twisted her waist, getting off the young man, her bright eyes filled with deep regret and loss, but also understanding.

"!"

Gu Yun's body stiffened abruptly. Even with his composure, he now wanted to regain his vigor and discipline this little enchantress on the spot.

But remembering Aunt Zi, he could only suppress this agitation. They say what you can't have always stirs you up, and Gu Yun seemed to have grasped the true meaning of this saying.

"Xiao Qing'er, stop messing around!"

Jiang Lan quickly pulled Jiang Qing aside, saying with concern, "Let Your Highness rest for a bit; he's also very tired."

As she spoke, she suppressed the softness in her body and the reluctance in her heart, carefully tidying Gu Yun's slightly disheveled clothes.

"Your Highness, rest assured, Qing'er and I will wait for you to return."

Gu Yun's mouth twitched. Jiang Lan's words were indeed out of concern for him, but he couldn't help but find them strange no matter how he heard them.

The young man had no time to dwell on these things. Right now, Aunt Zi, who had been left waiting for so long, was more important.

With a wave of his hand, the two women's bodies began to dematerialize.

"When I return, I hope you two can still cultivate peacefully!"

Gu Yun's sharp gaze made the two, who were about to enter the Great Luo Dao Pagoda, shiver all over. They exchanged glances, somewhat perplexed.

They were clearly concerned about Gu Yun's well-being, so why did His Highness still seem so angry?

"Your Highness, your health is still most important."

Jiang Lan didn't know what else to say and finally spoke with a tone of concern.

With a flash of light, the figures of the two women disappeared simultaneously, having been taken into the Great Luo Dao Pagoda.

"They really need to be disciplined."

Gu Yun's lips curved into a faint smile; he already had a plan in mind.

He stretched languidly, restoring himself to his normal state.

Gu Yun straightened his disheveled robes, and with a flicker of his body, appeared on top of the flying boat.

The setting sun was perfect, dyeing the boundless sea of clouds into a magnificent expanse of orange-red and golden scales.

Gu Yaozi still maintained her lazy, reclining posture, her purple cloud immortal dress spread out on the glazed tiles, its hem outlining breathtaking curves.

She didn't even turn to look at Gu Yun, merely extended a slender, jade-like finger, gently stroking the warm glazed tile surface that had been bathed in the sunset, her tone carrying a slow, teasing note: "Oh, our little Highness is finally done being busy? I thought I'd have to wait until your flying boat returned to the Supreme Divine Dynasty before you remembered this 'old bone' of mine, forgotten in a corner and past her prime."

Her voice was light and ethereal, and when combined with her peerlessly beautiful, captivating face, it seemed both oddly incongruous and full of oppressive power.

Gu Yun gave a dry laugh and sat down beside Gu Yaozi.

He reached out and began gently massaging her stunning, curvaceous jade legs, which were wrapped in the purple cloud immortal dress, with a moderate amount of force: "Aunt Zi, what are you talking about?"

"With your charm, people would believe it even if you said you were my younger sister. The sun and moon would dim before you. How can you belittle yourself and call yourself an old bone?"

"You truly humble this junior."

As he spoke, his fingertips seemed to inadvertently brush against the smooth silk fabric, feeling the astonishing elasticity and warmth of the skin beneath.

"Hmph, smooth talker."

Gu Yaozi snorted lightly, seemingly displeased, but did not swat Gu Yun's hand away. Instead, she subtly adjusted her posture, making his "service" more convenient.

Her phoenix eyes slanted at him, a dangerous hint of charm swirling within her gaze: "You little rascal, you only know how to say pretty words!"

"Before, you swore you had some 'important arrangements' for me? Hmm? And what was the result?"

Her voice suddenly rose, carrying a sharp edge, "You made me a mere spectator for nothing? Like a maid, waiting on the side, listening to you and those two little Jiang family girls flirting and being lovey-dovey? Gu Yun! You're really something!!"

"When dealing with the fleet leader, you must have felt very handsome and mighty, didn't you?"

Gu Yun's scalp tingled as he listened, and his leg-massaging movements became more vigorous, his fingertips even adding a touch of gentle spiritual energy for massage. He hastily explained, "Aunt Zi, you're truly wronging me here. They say plans can't keep up with changes. I originally intended to rely on you, but who knew that Lin Chen had obtained some strange methods and trump cards from who knows where, to the point that even a group of Great Emperors couldn't inflict effective damage on him."

"At that time, I was worried that something might go wrong, and even more afraid that if Aunt Zi, out of concern, intervened personally, she might be harmed by those strange methods! That's why I had no choice but to use my trump card, thinking of a quick resolution to avoid any unforeseen complications."

"Everything was to spare Aunt Zi the trouble of acting personally and getting entangled in unnecessary karma, which would be detrimental to your future breakthrough to the Supreme Emperor realm!"

As Gu Yun spoke, his small hand had, at some point, quietly moved upwards, tightly grasping one of Gu Yaozi's soft, boneless, slender jade hands. He looked at her earnestly, as if every word came from the bottom of his heart.

Hearing these words, Gu Yaozi's lips curved into a half-smile. She let out a soft hmph, allowing him to hold her hand: "Hmph, what karma or detriment? The mere Emperor realm, if I wish to enter, when can I not? Why should I avoid such things?"

She leaned in slightly, a rich, alluring fragrance wafting over him, her phoenix eyes looking directly at Gu Yun: "You little rascal, don't you dare act on your own like this again! Do you hear me?"

"Otherwise… otherwise, I won't be able to explain to Big Brother and Sister-in-law. I'd be a truly incompetent Dao Protector!"

"Your Aunt Zi is not so weak that she needs a junior like you to worry about and protect her! While Lin Chen's power is strange, it's not without a solution."

"Our Immortal Ancient Gu Family's Quasi-Emperors are not like those ordinary ones in the world!"

Gu Yaozi's words carried an unprecedented, powerful confidence. Even after personally witnessing Jiang Daoxuan and several other Great Emperors being helpless against Lin Chen, her belief remained unshaken.

This also caused Gu Yun's gaze to subtly change, and he mused inwardly: "Aunt Zi, like Master, is someone who, despite having no Heavenly Mandate blessings, can rank among the top of the xuan qing treasure mirror. She must also possess hidden, unimaginable secret methods."

This realization, far from making him feel distant, instead ignited a more fervent desire for conquest and intimacy as he looked at the exquisite, alluring, and somewhat languidly domineering face so close to him.

Their relationship was already ambiguous, just a single layer of paper away from being broken through.

Gu Yun thought, his hands moving without stopping, tracing the perfect curve of her leg, trying to move a few inches higher.

A gentle breeze blew, and her wide skirt seemed like a beautiful flower blooming in the void.

The young man was full of anticipation, his mouth readily agreeing: "Mmm, Aunt Zi, Yun'er understands. Next time, I will certainly let Aunt Zi display your divine might first, and Yun'er will cheer you on from behind…"

However, before he could finish speaking—

"Clap!"

A crisp, light sound.

Gu Yaozi's jade hand had, at some unknown point, pointed out, landing precisely and lightly on the back of Gu Yun's "perverted hand" that was trying to take liberties.

It didn't hurt, but it carried an unmistakable warning.

"You little rascal," Gu Yaozi's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, her red lips curving into a dangerous yet alluring smile, "If you're massaging, then just massage properly. Where are you putting your hand? Do you really think your Aunt Zi is like those Jiang family sisters, ready for you to pluck?"

She slowly sat upright, looking down at Gu Yun, who was half-kneeling before her. She extended a slender finger and gently lifted Gu Yun's chin, forcing him to meet her eyes, which were as deep as a star-sea yet burned with a hidden fire.

"You say you know you're wrong, but your hands show no sign of submission?"

Her voice dropped, carrying a teasing languor and playfulness, "It seems… those two little beauties just now didn't fully satisfy our little Highness, did they? This frustration… is it hard to bear?"

She lifted her jade foot and lightly tapped Gu Yun, smiling softly: "Do you want Aunt Zi to help you out?"

Gu Yun's expression subtly changed, not expecting to be turned into the passive party.

The icy temperature of her fingertips passed through his skin, carrying faint currents that seemed to stir the young man's already agitated heart.

"Don't even think about making a move, okay? Your method of reaching Emperor Seventh Layer was indeed formidable, but in front of me, it's still a bit lacking."

Gu Yaozi smiled softly, her jade feet playfully teasing little Gu Yun, who was seething with frustration.

"Aunt Zi…"

"Shhh…"

Gu Yaozi's other finger gently pressed against his lips, stopping his subsequent words.

Her fingertips were warm and soft, carrying a faint scent of purple orchids, incredibly alluring to the touch.

"Little Yun, don't rush…"

"Aunt Zi is yours; it's only a matter of time. Why be so eager at this moment?"

She leaned down, her exquisite face close to Gu Yun's, their breaths audible to each other.

Her phoenix eyes held a deep, mischievous smile, her red lips slightly parted, exhaling like orchids, every word like a hook, scratching at Gu Yun's heart.

"Gulp…"

Gu Yun swallowed uncontrollably.

Gu Yaozi was satisfied, and then turned to leave: "Now… focus on improving your strength, don't think about these frivolous things. If the matter comes to light, even if your Big Brother Changqing beats you to death, Aunt Zi won't be able to help you."

Wiping her skirt, Gu Yaozi's figure disappeared.

"I won't be going to the Supreme Divine Dynasty."

"Remember to call me if you need me."

"I'm always here."

As before, Gu Yaozi still regarded the Supreme Divine Dynasty as forbidden ground.

She and Master, it was unclear what conflict existed between them.

Watching the beautiful woman disappear, Gu Yun shook his head slightly, tidied his clothes, and turned around.

It was time to teach those two little girls who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth a lesson…

Within the Great Luo Dao Pagoda.

"Aunt Lan, what do you think happened to His Highness?"

"It had just begun."

Jiang Qing's feet dangled, swinging gently as she sat on a brick wall, feeling sullen.

Jiang Lan looked at her dear niece, sighing helplessly: "You silly girl, does His Highness need to report everything he does to you?"

"But it just doesn't make sense."

"It is indeed a bit unusual, but it's also quite normal. You've witnessed His Highness's hard work, and as his women, we should be more understanding."

"This is not only good for His Highness but also for our future."

"Auntie, you seem to have been completely won over by His Highness, haven't you?"

"You look like a reassuring, capable wife now."

Jiang Qing jumped down and landed on Jiang Lan's back, sprawling out on it. The two beauties, one large and one small, were incredibly alluring.

"Pfft, don't talk nonsense. I am a sinful woman; everything I do now is merely atonement."

"Hmph hmph, if atonement means being as blissfully dazed as you, then I'd be happy to atone every day!"

Jiang Qing chuckled, gently holding Jiang Lan, unable to let go: "Auntie."

"Look, no wonder His Highness likes you more."

"Little girl, are you asking for a beating?"

Jiang Lan was not to be outdone. Her favorability had already risen, and Gu Yun had long since removed the seal on her, but she didn't use her strength. She frolicked with Jiang Qing like a little girl, eventually lying on the grass, panting.

"Like this, it's actually quite nice."

"Yes, it's just a pity His Highness isn't here."

"Then, would you like me to help you?"

Jiang Lan couldn't bear to see Jiang Qing in such distress and softly offered.

Jiang Qing paused for a second.

Jiang Lan's expression was sincere, but the next second, it froze on her face.

"Laner, how do you plan to help?"