Chapter 520: Stone-shattering Thunderclap

"Presumptuous!"

Yun Che's words stunned the entire audience and enraged Yun Waitian. He pointed at Yun Che and roared, "Arrogant youngster, how dare you offend His Highness Huiye like this! If it weren't for Yun Qinghong's sake, just for those few words, I'd personally slap you a few times."

Yun Che, however, smiled casually, showing no panic. "Elder, your temper is quite explosive. Were my words just now wrong? This Prince, who is completely an outsider to the Yun family, can manage your Yun family's affairs, but I, a half-Yun family member, cannot? Furthermore, it seemed to be His Highness the Prince who just asked if anyone had any objections."

Seeing Yun Che not only refused to back down but argued back, Yun Waitian became so enraged he laughed instead. "His Highness Huiye, as a Prince, his words are worth a thousand pieces of gold, enlightening our Yun family regarding the Patriarch matter. What are you, to be compared with His Highness Huiye? As for objections, no one from our Yun family's Elder Council has said a word. When is it your turn, you insignificant little thing? Get lost! If you dare to say one more word..."

"Ah," His Highness Huiye raised a hand at this moment, stopping Yun Waitian's next words. His expression remained calm, without a hint of anger... and someone with no background and only a Sky Profound Realm aura truly had no right to provoke his anger. If he had genuinely become angry over this, people would find it strange. He said with a chuckle, "Elder, there's no need to get angry. A family changing its leader is a major event, and it's perfectly normal for someone to have an objection. Although Yun Che is not a direct Yun family member, he is, after all, the current Patriarch's adopted son. Saying he's 'half a Yun family member' is reasonable enough. Moreover, with his adopted father about to step down, it's only natural for him to want to speak. So, let's hear what he has to say."

"Your Highness," Yun Waitian said in a low voice, "This young man is said to have come from the Southern Realm and has only been in Demon Imperial City for two months. Few in our Yun family even know him. Someone as noble as Your Highness needn't listen to such nonsense from a mere boy."

"No, no," His Highness Huiye shook his head. "Yun Xinyue's succession to the Patriarch position was not decided by your Yun family, but proposed by this Prince. Yun Che is right; this Prince, compared to your Yun family, is indeed an outsider. It's perfectly normal for someone to object to an outsider's proposal. And Yun Che is the current Patriarch's adopted son. If I were to simply kick him out like this, wouldn't it make this Prince appear narrow-minded, arrogant, and unwilling to tolerate 'objections'?"

*Clap, clap, clap...*

Loud applause rang out. Yun Che clapped his hands and loudly praised, "As expected of the Prince! Such breadth of mind and courage are truly admirable—far superior to those who have lived for hundreds of years in vain."

"You!" Yun Waitian was instantly furious. His public offense against His Highness Huiye could perhaps be understood as reckless ignorance, but Yun Che's final words were a blatant mockery of him. However, after uttering "You," he did not erupt further, merely scoffing disdainfully. He considered his own status; losing his temper at such a junior in front of everyone would be beneath him. Yet, at present, having provoked His Highness Huiye, he was unlikely to have a good outcome. His Highness Huiye was certainly not a kind or tolerant person.

"Is he really the young man who saved Seventh that day?" From his seat, Peerless Invincible watched Yun Che and said thoughtfully.

"It's him," Peerless Prime nodded.

"This young man is a bit of a troublemaker," Peerless Invincible commented.

Peerless Prime pondered slightly, then said, "Although I've only met him once, he doesn't strike me as someone reckless or brainless."

"Heh heh," Peerless Invincible smiled faintly, shifting his gaze to linger on Yun Qinghong for a moment. He said meaningfully, "If Yun Qinghong truly adopted him as a son, then this young man is definitely not simple. Your father has said more than once that even if Yun Qinghong were completely crippled, he would absolutely not be someone to underestimate. Although the Yun family's control currently seems to be in Yun Waitian's hands, that's merely how it appears. Your father and I both refuse to believe Yun Qinghong has no hidden moves... If Yun Qinghong was willing to adopt this young man, then this child must truly be extraordinary."

Peerless Prime: "..."

"This Prince has already said, I don't want to hear pointless nonsense," His Highness Huiye said, his eyes slightly narrowed, looking at Yun Che with a playful gaze, as if facing an interesting toy. "You say you have an objection, which means you disagree with Yun Xinyue becoming the next Yun family Patriarch. Well then, state your reasons, or perhaps find someone more suitable to be the Yun family's leader than him. If your reasons are sufficient or convincing enough, then that would, of course, be for the best. If not, or if you're just stepping forward purely to obstruct... Heh, to maliciously cause trouble over such a significant matter, not to mention the entire Yun family, even this Prince might become angry."

As His Highness Huiye's words fell, a terrifying aura was released, causing some of the younger disciples in the audience to instinctively shiver. His Highness Huiye was one of the "Seven Illusory Demons," and his strength was beyond doubt. Born into royalty, his innate and cultivated royal presence was incomparable to that of ordinary people.

Yun Che said, his expression unchanged, "As someone half-belonging to the Yun family, whatever I say or do is naturally entirely for the Yun family's consideration. The Patriarch is the primary leader of a family, and the choice of Patriarch concerns the future of the entire clan—a matter that tolerates no oversight or carelessness. When nominating a family head, strong power is certainly important, but relatively speaking, it's secondary. What's more crucial is their disposition and character... Your Highness the Prince, I trust you will agree with this point."

His Highness Huiye smiled faintly, "Naturally. However, from your words, are you questioning Yun Xinyue's character? Yet, as this Prince understands, Yun Xinyue is not only exceptionally talented but also of impeccable character. Otherwise, no one in the entire clan would oppose his succession as the new Patriarch. Could it be that those who have lived in the same clan as Yun Xinyue for decades know less about him than you, an outsider who has only been in Demon Imperial City for two years?"

Yun Che, however, smiled strangely, saying meaningfully, "Little do people know that the most difficult thing to discern in this world is the human heart. I mentioned before that the reason Patriarch Yun adopted me as his son was because I saved his son, Yun Xiao, when I first arrived in Demon Imperial City. That day, accompanying Yun Xiao in the attack was Princess Peerless Seventh of the Peerless family. Both Yun Xiao and Peerless Seventh are descendants of family heads, and their simultaneous attack was no small matter. I believe everyone present must have heard about this."

"This Prince has indeed heard of it, but what does this have to do with whether Yun Xinyue can succeed as Patriarch?" His Highness Huiye asked with a faint smile.

"It does, of course it does, and it's of great significance!" Yun Che stated without hesitation. As he uttered these words, Yun Qinghong's brows on the wheelchair tightened abruptly, and a hint of coldness appeared in his eyes... but it quickly dissipated.

"Peerless Seventh and Yun Xiao were attacked, and the assailants were extremely ruthless, clearly intending to kill them. Naturally, Patriarch Peerless would be furious and conduct a thorough investigation into who was behind it. Senior Mu, Yun Xiao's maternal uncle, would certainly not ignore it either. As for the Yun family's response... Hmph, best not to mention it. However, the three individuals who ambushed Yun Xiao and Peerless Seventh that day were cloaked in black and masked, and they didn't reveal their profound arts, making it exceptionally difficult to trace their identities. Two months have passed, and neither the Peerless family nor Senior Mu has found any results..."

"What exactly are you trying to say?!" Yun Waitian impatiently snapped, "This is our Yun family's grand assembly, not a place for your nonsense!"

"Elder, don't be so anxious, the crucial point is here now," Yun Che said unhurriedly. "Yun Xiao and I are sworn brothers. The Yun family might ignore his attack, or even pretend not to know, but I, as his elder brother, cannot. For the past two months, I've been trying to find out who wanted to harm Yun Xiao and the Peerless family's Princess. Fortunately, my luck was good. A while ago, I finally learned the identity of one of the culprits."

From their seats, Peerless Prime and Peerless Invincible's expressions changed simultaneously, their gazes becoming intensely focused. Two months ago, Peerless Seventh had nearly died at the hands of black-clad assailants. Peerless Xiong Tu had been utterly enraged, sparing no effort to personally investigate the matter, but had found no results. Yun Che's words instantly captivated all their attention. Peerless Prime stood up directly and asked publicly, "Brother Yun, is this true? Who exactly is the person you've found?"

Mu Yubai rubbed his chin, frowning as he murmured, "What trick is this boy playing? If even old Peerless couldn't find anything, what could he possibly have uncovered?"

"Ah? Brother, did he really find something?" Yun Xiao's face was full of confusion. "But... he's barely left the house these past two months, this... this..."

"Husband, what is Che'er trying to do?" Mu Yurou grew increasingly bewildered and uneasy.

"No need to say more, just watch," Yun Qinghong said, his brows tightly furrowed, his hand subtly tightening its grip on the wheelchair armrest.

Yun Che turned sideways and said to Peerless Prime, "Brother Peerless, your family member nearly suffered a fatal blow from villains. I believe that even if you and Patriarch Peerless were to dismember those vile culprits, it would be hard to quell your hatred. However, today, I ask Brother Peerless and these Senior Peerless figures to control your emotions, because the identity of one of the culprits I've uncovered is truly surprising. When I reveal it, Brother Peerless might not even believe it."

Yun Che shifted his gaze, then fixed it directly on Yun Xinyue. "One of the culprits behind the assassination of Yun Xiao and Peerless Seventh is none other than the son of this formidable Elder in the Yun family... Yun Xinyue!"

As the name "Yun Xinyue" left Yun Che's lips, it was as if three thunderbolts had been dropped from thin air. The entire square fell into dead silence, then erupted into deafening noise.

However, these were not sounds of shock, but rather... thunderous laughter.