Chapter 513: Cloud Family Comparison

Yun Che arrived at Yun Qinghong’s courtyard and immediately saw him in front of the lush green grape arbor. He was seated in an old wheelchair, which Yun Xiao was pushing from behind. Seeing Yun Che, Yun Xiao quickly came forward, excitedly saying, “Big Brother, you’re up so early today; were you woken up? Oh, right, today is the day of our Yun family’s Grand Clan Competition. It starts at nine o’clock. Do you want to come watch later, Big Brother?”

“Of course I want to watch; I’m very interested. By the way, where’s Mother?” Yun Che asked.

“Mother is still in her room,” Yun Xiao replied.

Yun Che nodded, then calmly said, “Go call Mother. We can already hear fighting from the Sacred Cloud Platform, so we should head over. There are also some things I want to discuss with Father alone.”

After two months of living together, Yun Xiao almost revered his sworn elder brother as a deity. Although he was curious about what Yun Che wanted to say to Yun Qinghong, he didn’t ask further. He released the wheelchair and said, “Okay, I’ll go now.”

Yun Xiao left, and Yun Che stepped forward, taking out a small jade token and placing it in front of Yun Qinghong. He lowered his voice and said, “Father, this is for you.”

“Oh?” Yun Qinghong turned his head. When Yun Che released his lightly clenched hand, revealing the jade token, the usually calm Yun Qinghong was suddenly as if struck by lightning. His pupils instantly constricted several times. He almost frantically picked up the small jade token, holding it with both hands as he sensed the aura on it. His hands trembled violently: “This… this… this is…”He sharply looked up at Yun Che: “Che’er, how… how did this thing come to be with you?! Where did you get it from?!!”

Yun Che was not at all surprised by Yun Qinghong’s reaction. While anyone else’s emotions would likely have completely spiraled out of control, he calmly said, “Father, the Grand Clan Competition begins in less than an hour. Now is not the time to discuss its origin. If Father can retain his position as family head today and re-establish his prestige, I will explain its origin in detail.”

Yun Qinghong stared at Yun Che, his gaze turbulent for a long time. After a while, he finally calmed down and slowly nodded: “Good… but when the time comes, you must tell me everything I want to know, without any deception.”

“Okay,” Yun Che nodded without hesitation. He looked at Yun Qinghong’s wrist and confirmed, “Father, can your and Mother’s ‘Seal of Profound Lock’ conceal you from everyone?”

“While it’s not foolproof, in their eyes, I’ve been a cripple for over twenty years, so they won’t deliberately probe me,” Yun Qinghong said. “Back then, these two Seal of Profound Locks were indispensable in helping your mother and me escape pursuit multiple times.”As Yun Qinghong spoke, he pulled down his sleeve, concealing what was on his wrist.

Today was the day of the Yun family’s Grand Clan Competition, such a major family event. Yet, even at this moment, the courtyard where Yun Qinghong, the family head, resided remained desolate, with not even a junior coming to deliver a message. This clearly showed how insignificant Yun Qinghong’s position as family head had become within the Yun family. From Yun Che’s expression, Yun Qinghong discerned his thoughts and smiled faintly: “No matter the world, profound strength reigns supreme. A cripple whose life is nearing its end, who beyond his closest kin and confidantes, would truly take him seriously? The fact that I, a cripple, have remained in this position of family head for over twenty years, even with the support of the Mu family, must have reached their limit of tolerance.”

“Have they forgotten who founded the Yun family and who led it to the pinnacle of the Illusory Demon Realm? If not for your line of family heads, how could these clan members possess their current status and glory!” Yun Che said with a furrowed brow. During his time in the Yun family, he had naturally learned more and more about them. The Yun family had been passed down for so many years, with the family head’s lineage always supreme. To prevent disputes over the position, a rule was established six thousand years ago: only a single heir per generation. Each family head could only have one son. Yun Canghai was an only son, Yun Qinghong was Yun Canghai’s only son, and Yun Qinghong, at least for now, also had only one son.Every generation of Yun family heads had been exceptionally outstanding. It was this line of family heads that made the Yun family one of the twelve Guardian Families that awed the Illusory Demon Realm, a transcendent existence second only to the Illusory Demon Royal Family for thousands of years.Yet, by Yun Qinghong’s generation, they were treated with such disdain.

Yun Qinghong shook his head and gave a self-deprecating smile: “They won’t think of these things. What they care about are only matters that affect their future interests… I suppose that’s human nature.”

“The Yun family’s ten-thousand-year heritage dictates that the family head’s position has always been about bloodline, not profound strength! Everyone in the Yun family should know perfectly well that even if you’re a cripple, you’re the only one truly qualified to hold the position of family head. Yet, it seems everyone is unconsciously forgetting this point,” Yun Che said with a faint sneer. “Furthermore, it’s one thing to disregard your status as family head because of your physical condition, but it seems there’s no longer even basic respect or a shred of importance given to you. Yun Xiao, as the family head’s son, can be casually bullied by an ordinary Yun family disciple. For a major event like the Grand Clan Competition, over two months, not a single person came to consult you… I don’t believe the Yun family, which has thrived for so many years, could be entirely composed of such selfish and unrighteous people.”

Yun Qinghong gently closed his eyes and said softly, “There was indeed no need to consult me about this clan competition. Because the so-called competition is just a facade; its true purpose is to make me, a cripple, abdicate. In less than a month, it will be the Little Demon Empress’s centennial ceremony. This ceremony is far from ordinary; it will very likely determine the future landscape of the entire Illusory Demon Realm, and even the fate of the twelve Guardian Families, especially the Yun family. At such a critical moment, for them to depose me, a crippled family head, is quite reasonable. Originally, I had already tacitly accepted this impending outcome, but then, I met you.”

Yun Qinghong gave a silent smile, his face full of melancholy.

Yun Xiao and Mu Yurou came out. They didn’t linger long. Soon, Yun Xiao was pushing Yun Qinghong in his wheelchair, and the four of them slowly walked towards the center of the Yun family, the site of this clan competition.

At the very center of the Yun family stood the Ancestral Stele, emitting purple profound light. The stele was over thirty meters tall, inscribed with the names of every generation’s family head. Among these, “Yun Canghai” was the most prominent, as two fiery red characters, “Demon King,” were marked to the right of his name.Out of dozens of Yun family heads throughout history, only Yun Canghai earned the honor of “Demon King.” This was not just Yun Canghai’s personal glory, but also brought glory to the Yun family for generations. However, this splendor, which would normally make other Guardian Families incredibly jealous and envious, had faded rapidly, like a falling star…

In front of the Ancestral Stele was a large plaza, surrounded by seating. In the center was a thirty-meter-square elevated platform, which was the Sacred Cloud Platform used for the Yun clan’s internal competitions. When Yun Che and the other three arrived, two young Yun family disciples were already fighting on the Sacred Cloud Platform.

The clan competition wouldn’t officially begin for over half an hour, but some Yun family disciples were already unable to resist starting their matches.Yun Che and his group had arrived relatively early. Although the place was already bustling, most present were young disciples. Some of these young disciples would approach the Yun Qinghong couple to greet them, while others would simply walk away or stare straight at the Sacred Cloud Platform, pretending not to see them. Yun Che glanced at the attire of these Yun family disciples… they were mostly sons of elders who held real power in the Yun family. They hadn’t experienced the glory of the Yun family led by Yun Canghai, nor had they witnessed Yun Qinghong’s awe-inspiring power among the Illusory Demon experts in his prime. In their eyes, he was merely a cripple with an empty title of family head, a figure far inferior to their elders… and he was about to be ousted from his position, so of course, they wouldn’t deign to show respect.

Yun Qinghong was long accustomed to such behavior. At that moment, on the Sacred Cloud Platform, two young Yun family disciples were engaged in combat. They appeared evenly matched, their swords whistling, purple lightning crackling, and two streaks of orange profound energy clashing intensely. Cheers and shouts continuously erupted from below. Finally, one of them seized an opportunity, a bolt of lightning striking the opponent down, then profound energy surged forth, directly knocking him off the Sacred Cloud Platform.

The two Yun family disciples on the platform were not old, but they were definitely outstanding among their peers in the Yun family. However, after watching their exchange, Yun Qinghong secretly shook his head, a hint of disappointment flashing across his face. He slightly turned and said, “Xiao’er, you go.”

“Ah?” Yun Xiao was momentarily stunned, then nodded: “Okay!”With that, Yun Xiao leaped up without hesitation, a purple light flashing in mid-air. When he landed on the platform, he was already gripping a long sword wreathed in purple light. This was the King Profound Sword – Thunderchaser – that Yun Qinghong had given him when he was eleven. He had used it ever since, never letting it leave his side. Combined with the Yun family’s core profound art, “Purple Cloud Art,” it could unleash immense power.

“Brother Yun Qiu, please enlighten me!” Yun Xiao gripped Thunderchaser tightly, his gaze fixed on his opponent, his expression serious and solemn. His ears completely shut out the chaotic murmurs around him. Over the years, as he grew older, the pressure of public opinion and the unusual stares he endured grew heavier and more numerous. He quietly endured all of it. To bring honor to his parents, and to gain the strength to protect them in the future, he desperately cultivated… Without profound aura, he made up for it with effort; without resources, he compensated with even greater effort.At twenty-two, he was a half-step Overlord! Among those his age, even against Yun family disciples who inherently possessed profound aura, he still stood in the upper ranks! No one but himself knew how much effort and hardship he had put in.He had always kept his parents’ safety in mind, never willing to contend with anyone, even enduring bullying and insults without complaint. But today… it was time to show his parents, and everyone, what he could do.

Seeing that the person who suddenly came up to challenge was Yun Xiao, Yun Qiu was slightly taken aback, because Yun Xiao was usually so low-key, never appearing in competitions. Immediately, his expression became slightly grave. Although Yun Xiao was younger than him and lacked profound aura, he had heard that Yun Xiao had already stepped into the half-step Overlord realm. Moreover, like many Yun family disciples, he had secretly mocked Yun Xiao’s bloodline many times. It would be quite embarrassing to be publicly defeated by someone without profound aura whom he often ridiculed.He immediately let out a low roar and launched the first attack. With a flick of his arm, a lightning chain emanated from his sword. At the same time, his profound aura transformed into a yellow sharp sword, descending from above, directly aiming for Yun Xiao’s crown.

Yun Xiao’s expression was calm. His sword tip thrust out, and a lightning chain likewise surged skyward. However, the lightning chain he released was exceptionally condensed, like a physical chain, emitting rich, crystalline purple light. The entire chain appeared to be forged from amethyst.Just from observing the lightning chains, it was immediately clear whose Purple Cloud Art was more profound!Both lightning chains entangled, but in just a few breaths, Yun Qiu’s lightning chain was “snapped” apart. Yun Xiao’s lightning chain did not take the opportunity to attack Yun Qiu but instead ascended, striking Yun Qiu’s profound aura with a violent hiss, shaking it far away, then disappearing into thin air.

Yun Qinghong slowly nodded, a relieved smile appearing on his face.

Yun Qiu staggered back a few steps, then plopped down onto the ground, momentarily stunned. His profound strength wasn’t as good as Yun Xiao’s, but not by much. He had thought that with the advantage of his profound aura, even if he wouldn’t win decisively, he certainly wouldn’t be easily defeated. To his surprise, the usually cautious, timid, and even somewhat submissive Yun Xiao had cultivated his profound strength and Purple Cloud Art to such a profound level that within a few breaths, he had been completely suppressed and defeated.