Chapter 499: The Grand Ambition of the World

"Yes, yes!" Yun Xiao quickly nodded in agreement. "My father is a very gentle person; he'll definitely like Big Brother Yun."

Yun Che took a long look at Yun Xiao, sighing inwardly. Even though the Yun family had fallen from grace, they were still one of the Twelve Guardian Families of the Demon Emperor and among the most powerful clans in the Illusory Demon Realm. Yun Xiao, as the Yun family patriarch's only son, held an undeniably noble status. Yet, there was not a trace of arrogance in him. He acted and spoke with extreme humility and gentleness, even a degree of caution and forbearance. Despite Tian Xia Yi's blunt and often unkind remarks, Yun Xiao never lost his temper or retorted.

Yun Xiao showed not just enthusiasm but also profound joy when Yun Che agreed to visit his home. This overflowing delight suggested to Yun Che that despite his noble status, excellent temperament, and refined upbringing, Yun Xiao seemed to have very few friends.

It was as if he had been completely isolated.

"I've also long wished to meet Senior Yun; I greatly admire him," Yun Che said, nodding. "Since that's the case, let's head to Demon Imperial City now. As this is my first time there, and I might be staying for a while, I'll be relying on your kind guidance."

"Haha, there's no need to be polite. You saved my sister's life, and our Spirit Race always repays kindness. Whenever you need us, just say the word; I, Tian Xia Yi, won't even bat an eyelid," Tian Xia Yi said cheerfully. He then checked Tian Xia Qi's injuries again. "Seventh Sister, can you fly back on your own? Don't push yourself if you're injured."

"I told you, I only have minor injuries; I could fly back and forth a dozen times!" Tian Xia Qi said, looking worriedly at Yun Xiao and supporting his shoulder. "Big Brother Yun is the one who's seriously hurt."

"Hmph! This kid brought it upon himself; he deserves whatever he gets, even death! It's his good fortune that he didn't drag you down, or else I would've slapped him dead!" Tian Xia Yi glared at Yun Xiao, still speaking crossly. It wasn't just that his anger hadn't subsided; it had been building for a long time. Almost everyone in their entire clan opposed the relationship between Tian Xia Qi and Yun Xiao.

Tian Xia Qi's eyebrows shot up, ready to explode at Tian Xia Yi, but Yun Xiao stopped her with a hand. Yun Xiao was long accustomed to Tian Xia Yi's sarcasm. He shook his head at Tian Xia Qi. "Seventh Sister, don't be angry with Big Brother. This really was my fault. If I hadn't secretly asked you to meet, none of this would have happened. And if we hadn't met Big Brother Yun, the consequences would have been unimaginable... Let Big Brother scold me; it actually makes me feel a bit better."

Tian Xia Qi looked at him with sympathy, then turned to glare fiercely at Tian Xia Yi before pointedly looking away. She pulled Yun Xiao's arm. "Hmph, ignore him. Big Brother Yun, let's go."

"Don't you dare take him! Let him fly himself!" Tian Xia Yi said coldly, showing no quarter.

"Big Brother, you're going too far!" Tian Xia Qi's eyes flashed with anger. "Big Brother Yun suffered such severe injuries protecting me! His injuries have only just stabilized, and moving profound energy would be very dangerous. How can you be so unreasonable?"

"Hmph! He himself said it was his own fault," Tian Xia Yi said, turning his face away. "He's only slightly injured and needs a woman to support him? What kind of man is that! If he were a man, he'd crawl back by himself even if he couldn't fly!"

"Perhaps I should help," Yun Che interjected, seeing the situation suddenly escalate. He stepped forward and supported Yun Xiao. "Big Brother Tian Xia, Yun Xiao is indeed seriously injured and shouldn't exert profound energy. Walking back would take too long, and since I'm accompanying him to visit Senior Yun, I'll take him with me."

Tian Xia Yi naturally had nothing more to say to Yun Che. He nodded. "I certainly can't object to what you've said, Brother Yun... Seventh Sister, let's go."

The four of them soared into the air. With their power, a distance of less than a hundred miles would be covered quickly. As Demon Imperial City grew closer in his sight, Yun Che sighed repeatedly to himself. He had arrived in this world unprepared and, just as unprepared, had met these individuals. Before this, his journey on the Primordial Profound Ark had undoubtedly been a monumental catastrophe, and his survival was a miracle. But now, he wasn't sure if he should feel fortunate.

Because without the calamity of the Primordial Profound Ark, he wouldn't know when he would ever have arrived at this place.

Demon Imperial City drew nearer. When they were still several miles from the main city gate, a group of three people flew towards them with lightning speed. Seeing the approaching figures, Tian Xia Yi and Tian Xia Qi stopped. Tian Xia Qi exclaimed in surprise, "Third Brother! Sixth Brother! And... oh? Father!"

The three approaching figures also halted. They were three elf men. The two beside the central figure were similar in build and age to Tian Xia Yi, and while their profound energy was not as strong as his, it was still astonishingly dense. What caught Yun Che's attention was the elf in the middle. He appeared to be in his thirties, but his brow held an elusive accumulation of years. His aura was as vast as the starry sky, making it impossible for Yun Che to discern its limits, and the very presence of his profound energy seemed to ebb and flow, almost imperceptible.

Yun Che had only felt this kind of presence from Gu Cang before.

However, back then, his profound energy was only at the Earth Profound Realm. Now, he was far stronger, which meant the middle-aged elf before him was vastly more powerful than Gu Cang!

Gu Cang was a true Emperor Profound Realm expert, one of the top existences on the Profound Sky Continent. The man before Yun Che was undoubtedly the pinnacle of the pinnacle... a truly supreme figure who looked down upon the world!

"To meet an Emperor Profound Realm expert so soon," Jasmine's soft voice echoed in Yun Che's mind.

Seeing Tian Xia Qi safe and sound, the solemn expressions on the three men's faces relaxed. The elf on the right stepped forward and said, "Seventh Sister, it's good you're alright. Your Third Brother was so scared his heart nearly stopped."

"Of course, I'm fine. Big Brother is already here, so why did you all... Father, why did you come yourself?" Tian Xia Qi secretly glanced at Yun Xiao, feeling a sense of unease.

Yun Xiao stepped forward, nervously saying, "This junior, Yun Xiao, greets Uncle Tian Xia."

"Hmph!" The elf man merely gave a dismissive snort in response to Yun Xiao's respectful greeting. He didn't even spare him a glance, walking directly to Tian Xia Qi. After quickly checking her aura and injuries, he finally relaxed. "I heard your Big Brother say you were ambushed by three Overlords. How could I possibly stay put? Your father only has one daughter; if anything had happened to you..."

At this point, his anger suddenly flared. He sharply turned his gaze to Yun Xiao. The furious pressure from an Emperor Profound Realm expert was no small matter, causing Yun Xiao, already severely wounded, to turn pale. If Yun Che hadn't swiftly stepped forward to stabilize his injuries with profound energy, Yun Xiao would have spit blood on the spot. "You little brat from the Yun family! If anything had truly happened to my Qi Bao this time, I, Tian Xia Xiong Tu, would tear your Yun family apart!!"

"Uncle Tian Xia, I..." Yun Xiao stammered, opening his mouth weakly.

"Shut up!" Tian Xia Xiong Tu roared, his eyes blazing. "I don't want to hear another word from you! If it weren't for the Demon King and your father, I would cripple you right here and now! Get lost immediately! If you ever dare to approach my daughter again, I'll break your legs!"

Yun Che's ears buzzed from Tian Xia Xiong Tu's voice. He had previously thought Tian Xia Yi's attitude towards Yun Xiao was dreadful, but seeing Tian Xia Xiong Tu's demeanor now... he began to feel that Tian Xia Yi was incredibly gentle by comparison!

"Father!" Tian Xia Qi quickly stepped in front of Tian Xia Xiong Tu. "Why are you being so mean to Big Brother Yun? This has nothing to do with him; I was the one who wanted to come out. Besides, those three black-clothed men only wanted to kill me; they had no intention of harming Big Brother Yun. If Big Brother Yun hadn't desperately protected me, I... I wouldn't have seen you again, Father."

"Hmph! You don't need to speak for him," Tian Xia Xiong Tu said, waving his hand dismissively. "Your Sixth Brother already confessed. He personally heard that this brat sent you a message, arranging to meet seventy miles outside the city... That's outrageous!!"

"Ah..." Tian Xia Qi was instantly speechless, then looked at the young elf man to her left... who was her Sixth Brother. Tian Xia Liu scratched his forehead, wearing an innocent expression.

"In any case, this has nothing to do with Big Brother Yun!" Tian Xia Qi declared, exasperated.

"You shut up too!" Tian Xia Xiong Tu growled. He had six sons but only one daughter, whom he cherished deeply and never brought himself to scold. So, his roar startled all four siblings. Clearly, Tian Xia Xiong Tu was truly enraged. After all, this was a grave matter that had nearly cost Tian Xia Qi her life; how could he remain calm? He stared directly at the now-silent Yun Xiao, his voice low. "I'll say it again: get out, immediately! Tomorrow, I will go find Yun Qinghong. His son almost caused my daughter to lose her life, and I want to see what explanation he gives me!"

"Father..." Tian Xia Qi gripped Tian Xia Xiong Tu's arm tightly, fearing he might attack Yun Xiao. Faced with the furious Tian Xia Xiong Tu, she was helpless.

"Cough, cough..." At this moment, Yun Che, a complete outsider, stepped to Yun Xiao's side and spoke. "Senior Tian Xia, your anger stems from your fierce protectiveness of your daughter, which is perfectly natural and understandable. However... perhaps Senior Tian Xia could momentarily calm his anger and hear a few words from this junior?"

Tian Xia Xiong Tu glanced sideways at him, stating flatly, "And who are you?"

Tian Xia Yi said, "Father, this is little Brother Yun Che. He's from the Southern Realm and is on his first journey of cultivation. It wasn't your son who saved Seventh Sister, but him. If it weren't for him, Seventh Sister might truly have..."

"Oh?" At Tian Xia Yi's words, the gazes of Tian Xia Xiong Tu, Tian Xia San, and Tian Xia Liu naturally shifted, becoming distinctly different when they looked at Yun Che. However, his profound energy aura made all three of them frown simultaneously. Tian Xia Yi, knowing what they were thinking, said in a very low voice, "Father, Third Brother, Sixth Brother, do not underestimate him. His talent is terrifyingly high. Although his profound energy is only at the Sky Profound Realm, he can kill a first-level Overlord with a single move! I also tested his strength earlier... his power is comparable to a fourth-level Overlord! Perhaps even higher."

"What!?" Tian Xia Yi's words astonished even Tian Xia Xiong Tu, an Emperor Profound Realm expert. Sky Profound Realm peak, comparable to a mid-stage Overlord?

If Tian Xia Yi hadn't said it himself, Tian Xia Xiong Tu, with all his vast experience, would never have believed it.

"So, it was Brother Yun who saved my sister; how rude of me. I am Tian Xia San, and I thank Brother Yun for this great life-saving kindness." Tian Xia San clasped his hands and bowed to Yun Che.

"I am Tian Xia Liu. You saved my sister's life, which is equivalent to saving mine. Such great kindness will surely be repaid," Tian Xia Liu said gratefully.

Tian Xia Xiong Tu's expression softened. He nodded at Yun Che, saying admiringly, "So you are the one who saved my daughter's life. Our Spirit Race always repays kindness, especially such a great one. You may say whatever you wish. If you have any requests, feel free to make them."

"I dare not make demands. This junior merely has some humble observations," Yun Che said with a slight smile, slowly. "Before I rescued Yun Xiao and Seventh Sister, I heard those three black-clothed men explicitly state that they only wanted Seventh Sister's life and would not kill Yun Xiao. In fact, when one of the black-clothed men attacked Yun Xiao, he quickly held back his power, seemingly afraid of harming him... Senior and Big Brothers Tian Xia, have you perhaps considered the reason behind this?"

"Yes, they did say that," Tian Xia Qi immediately confirmed, nodding. "From the very beginning, they said they only wanted my life and told Big Brother Yun to leave immediately... But Big Brother Yun didn't leave and desperately protected me. They seemed afraid of accidentally killing him, so they held back when attacking me."

All four frowned. Tian Xia San murmured, "Could it be that those three black-clothed men were from the Yun family? No! They shouldn't have any reason to do something like this."

"Of course, it couldn't have been the Yun family," Yun Che said unhurriedly. "Although this junior is on his first journey of cultivation and unfamiliar with the Twelve Guardian Families, if I'm not mistaken, your Spirit Race and the Yun clan are at least not enemies, are they? Perhaps even on good terms?"

"That's correct," Tian Xia Yi nodded. "Senior Demon King Yun Canghai once showed great kindness to my father, and our clan has been on good terms with the Yun family ever since. A hundred years ago, when the Demon King's fate became unknown, the Yun family fell into disarray, and our relationship with them gradually cooled over the years, but we've never been hostile."

"Then," Yun Che's expression grew serious. "If Seventh Sister had truly fallen victim this time, but Yun Xiao remained unharmed, what would the relationship between your clan and the Yun family become?"

Yun Che's single sentence struck everyone like a clap of thunder. After a moment's thought, all their expressions drastically changed.

Yun Che nodded and continued, "Precisely! If both Seventh Sister and Yun Xiao had met with foul play, then your clan and the Yun family would share a common enemy and seek out the perpetrators together. But if only Seventh Sister were harmed, and Yun Xiao remained safe, especially since she was lured out by Yun Xiao, then before finding the true culprits, Senior Tian Xia and the Big Brothers Tian Xia—given your profound affection for Seventh Sister—would inevitably turn your full anger on the Yun family. This might even spark a deep feud. Hatred would lead to conflict, which would cause the hatred to spread, ultimately potentially escalating into an unending blood feud between your two clans!"

"If the sole purpose of those three black-clothed men was merely to take Seventh Sister's life, then leaving Yun Xiao alive would offer no benefit. On the contrary, he could have found clues at the scene, potentially leading to their exposure later. Yet, they were willing to risk exposure just to kill Seventh Sister and leave Yun Xiao alive... Their true objective is self-evident!"

Yun Che's gaze swept over them. "Even with Seventh Sister safe, Senior Tian Xia is already this enraged. If something had truly happened, it's easy to imagine the fallout. If Senior Tian Xia's anger doesn't subside and he personally goes to the Yun family tomorrow to confront Senior Yun, wouldn't that escalation play right into the hands of the schemers behind this?"

"Of course, these are merely some humble observations and conjectures from this junior. I'm sure Senior Tian Xia already sees things clearly."

Tian Xia Xiong Tu was naturally no fool. His earlier rage had prevented him from thinking too deeply, but Yun Che's words were like a splash of cold water, instantly clearing his mind. His gaze deepened, and he slowly nodded. "You are right."