Chapter 516: 辉夜郡王

“Good… very good!” Helian Peng nodded heavily and clapped his hands. “I’ve long heard that Nephew Xinyue’s talent is extraordinary. Seeing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation, even three points stronger than my good-for-nothing son. It seems that with Nephew Xinyue around, the rumors of the Yun family’s impending complete decline will only be a joke.”

Watching Yun Xinyue’s performance, Helian Peng showed astonishment. His words were full of high praise, and he even used the affectionate term “nephew.” Although Yun Waitian found it a little strange, he couldn’t hide his pride. He said, “Brother Helian, you flatter him. My son Xinyue is still young and has much to learn. I hope you will offer him more guidance in the future.”

“Brother Yun, you’re too modest,” Helian Peng said with a chuckle.

“Hmph, this Yun Xinyue’s talent is indeed impressive. The Yun family hasn’t been able to enter the Golden Crow Thunder Flame Valley for a century, yet they can still cultivate such a junior, especially one born with a Cyan Profound Core. It’s truly rare. However, Helian Peng is praising him far too much,” Under Heaven First muttered softly.

“Heh heh,” Under Heaven Unrivaled smiled faintly, glancing into the distance. “Don’t overthink it. Today, we are merely spectators.”

Helian Peng’s praise was greatly appreciated by the Yun family elders, who felt that Yun Xinyue had brought immense honor back to the Yun family during its lowest point. Naturally, they held him in even higher regard and admiration. The young disciples of the Yun family gazed at Yun Xinyue with fervent eyes, filled with envy and adoration.

Yun Xiao returned to Yun Qinghong’s side, showing little dejection. His defeat to Yun Xinyue was not at all unacceptable; in fact, it was quite normal. Yun Qinghong glanced at him and said, “Xiao’er, remember this: no matter when or who you face, never believe you should be weaker than someone else. And never think that your defeat was deserved! That is the mindset of cowards and good-for-nothings!”

Yun Qinghong’s words resonated like a clap of thunder in Yun Xiao’s ears. His body straightened abruptly, and he said solemnly, “Yes, son has received your instruction.”

The time for the Yun family’s grand competition to officially begin was drawing near. At this moment, the three Grand Elders, whom the Yun family members had been quietly awaiting, finally arrived.

Above the Sacred Cloud Platform, three purple clouds drifted silently. Every member of the Yun family, from the core elders to the younger generation, stood up, gazing respectfully at the sky. Then, three rays of purple light simultaneously unfurled, casting intense violet lightning glows. Within the purple light, three figures slowly emerged. They floated side by side in the air, and three overlapping auras, vast as the starry sky and immense as the boundless ocean, slowly and silently enveloped the area. These auras held no hostility, yet under their influence, everyone felt as if bathed in holy light, even experiencing an impulse to kneel and worship.

These three, like three saints from beyond the heavens, gazed down from above upon all the Yun family members.

Under Heaven Unrivaled, Mu Yubai, and Helian Peng also stood up… for in terms of seniority, they were mere juniors before these three.

These three appeared to be middle-aged men with dark hair and beards, yet their auras were imbued with the profound accumulation of time, allowing one to distinctly feel a heavy sense of ancientness.

Yun He, Yun Jiang, and Yun Xi were the Yun family’s only three surviving Grand Elders. A century ago, among the Grand Elders of the Yun family, their strength ranked at the bottom. However, with the ten strongest Yun family members and Demon King Yun Canghai perishing on the Heaven Profound Continent, they became the three strongest individuals in the Yun family… and also the three strongest cornerstones of the entire Yun family.

Yun Waitian floated half a body length upwards, bowed, and said respectfully, “Welcome, three Grand Elders!”

“Welcome, three Grand Elders!” the entire Yun family shouted in unison.

“Xiao’er, help me up,” Yun Qinghong said.

With Yun Xiao’s support, Yun Qinghong slowly stood up. From above, the central Grand Elder spoke, “Qinghong, your body is unwell; there’s no need to adhere to these formalities. Please sit.”

Yun Qinghong, however, shook his head, stood up straight, and offered a respectful junior’s bow to the three Grand Elders: “Hierarchy and respect for elders are fundamental. My Yun family has prospered for ten thousand years, witnessed by heaven and earth! As the master of the Yun family, how could I disregard these basic courtesies?”

Yun He, Yun Jiang, and Yun Xi vaguely understood the hidden meaning in Yun Qinghong’s words. They exchanged glances, each sighing softly in resignation. Yun He raised a hand and said, “Qinghong, your upright character is both good and not so good… All of you, please be seated.”

“We warmly welcome our esteemed guests, but today’s matter is an internal affair of our Yun family, and it may concern the future direction of our family. We hope that our guests will simply observe and refrain from undue interference,” Yun Xi stated blandly. Clearly, they were wary of the arrival of the Helian and Under Heaven families.

“Naturally,” Helian Peng said casually.

Yun He, Yun Jiang, and Yun Xi descended and took their seats at the central platform. Among the three, Yun He had the highest seniority and the greatest strength. After seating himself, he nodded slightly and said, “Since everyone has arrived, let us begin.”

Yun Waitian stood up, about to leap towards the Sacred Cloud Platform. At that moment, a slightly arrogant yet authoritative voice drifted down from above: “The Yun family is truly lively today. It’s well worth His Royal Highness’s personal visit.”

Yun Waitian’s movements halted, and he looked up in disbelief. A young man, clad entirely in silver, wearing a silver crown, and holding a folding fan, slowly appeared. He looked to be just over twenty, with a delicate and refined face, yet his gaze was piercing and intimidating. He exuded an almost innate nobility, and even when facing the three Yun family Grand Elders below, his imposing aura did not diminish in the slightest.

Behind him, another figure also emerged. This person was short and hunched, with withered yellow hair and dust-stained gray-yellow clothes. What was most striking were his neck and hands… which were covered in withered yellow, scale-like patterns… No, they *were* scales!

“Prince Huiye! And Venerable Rock Dragon!” Yun Waitian exclaimed in shock. All the Yun family elders, including the three Grand Elders, also showed expressions of surprise.

“Heh heh, I’ve come uninvited. I trust you don’t mind?” the young man said with a chuckle. His demeanor and voice were very calm, yet every word carried an inexplicable sense of pressure, making it almost impossible for anyone to muster even a hint of opposition.

Another “uninvited guest.” The Yun family’s grand competition today certainly had more uninvited visitors than usual. The Mu family’s presence was normal, and the arrival of the Under Heaven and Helian families was surprising, but only somewhat so… However, the arrival of Prince Huiye was something no one could have ever imagined.

By now, even a fool would have sensed that something was amiss.

“What… what are you saying?” Yun Waitian’s voice trembled slightly, revealing his extreme shock and excitement. “For His Royal Highness Huiye to personally visit my Yun family is a great blessing for us. How could we possibly mind? May I ask… may I ask what instructions Your Royal Highness has in personally coming here? My Yun family will certainly do its utmost to serve you.”

“No instructions, actually,” Prince Huiye said with a chuckle. “I merely heard that today is your Yun family’s grand competition, and as I had nothing to do, I came to observe. It seems the full family competition hasn’t officially begun yet, which is excellent. Might I ask if suitable seating can be prepared for me and my attendant to watch?”

“Of course… Prince Huiye, please take the honored seat.” Yun Waitian immediately guided him personally to a seat.

“Who is this person?” Yun Che asked. Yun Waitian, despite being the Yun family’s Grand Elder, showed him exceptional respect and addressed him as “Your Royal Highness,” clearly indicating his extraordinary status.

“Prince Huiye of the Illusory Demon Royal Family,” Yun Qinghong explained calmly. “The Illusory Demon Royal Family has no princes; the status of a prince is essentially second only to the Demon Emperor’s lineage. If he were just an ordinary prince, Yun Waitian wouldn’t be like this. This Prince Huiye comes from an extraordinary background. He ranks third among the ‘Seven Children of Illusory Demon,’ and his elder brother is the leader of the Seven Children. His father and grandfather are also not to be underestimated. This faction, within the current Illusory Demon Royal Family, possesses overall strength and even prestige that almost overshadows the Little Demon Empress! Even the Little Demon Empress finds it difficult to command them.”

Yun Che frowned. “The Seven Children of Illusory Demon?”

“I know about them,” Yun Xiao said. “The Seven Children of Illusory Demon are the seven strongest individuals of the younger generation in the Illusory Demon Royal Family. Once recognized as one of the Seven Children, they gain a transcendent status within the royal family and receive prioritized cultivation. Prince Huiye ranking third means he’s an incredibly powerful figure. I also heard that, apart from the Little Demon Empress, their lineage possesses the purest Demon Emperor bloodline in the entire Illusory Demon Realm.”

“Precisely,” Yun Qinghong slowly nodded. “The person accompanying him is known as ‘Venerable Rock Dragon.’ He has been Prince Huiye’s personal guardian for ten years. His true form is a hundred-zhang true dragon, possessing the power of the earth, and is incredibly formidable…” His eyes slowly narrowed, and his gaze turned grim. “First Helian Peng, and now even Prince Huiye… It seems things are about to get truly lively this time.”

Yun Che’s brows furrowed, and he slowly exhaled. During his two months in Demon Imperial City, it was naturally impossible for him to fully grasp the city’s intricate structure, nor had he gotten to know many people outside the Yun family. All he knew was the Yun family’s predicament, and the basic situations of the Illusory Demon Royal Family and the other eleven Guardian Families.

He couldn’t fathom the true strength of the Illusory Demon Royal Family. However, Prince Huiye’s appearance made him realize that what he was about to face was far more complex, difficult, and dangerous than he had anticipated. Yet, this did not make him change the decision he had already made.

The Little Demon Empress’s centennial ascension ceremony was less than a month away. To restore the Yun family’s prestige, that would be the best stage. But before then, no matter what, he first had to protect Yun Qinghong’s position as family master; he absolutely could not let anyone seize it!