Chapter 572: Cloud Family's Son

A collective gasp rippled through the Demon Imperial Hall. All the elders and disciples of the Yun family sprang to their feet, eyes wide with disbelief, almost convinced they were hallucinating. "A Profound Handle... it's a Profound Handle! It's *our* Yun family's Profound Handle!"

"What... what is happening? Could Yun Che truly be one of us, from the Yun family?"

"It's unbelievable, but that's a genuine Profound Handle! How could anyone not of the Yun family possess a Profound Handle... especially such a powerful azure one!"

"He... he... he really is one of us, from the Yun family!" an elder from the Yun family exclaimed excitedly.

"This... this is impossible!" King Zhong, Helian Kuang, Jiufang Kui, Chi Yang Bailie, and the others watched their faces contort. They stared at the Profound Handle before Yun Che, utterly unwilling to believe their eyes. Their earlier certainty and sneering confidence were replaced by shock, then escalating dread. They knew full well the repercussions if Yun Che truly belonged to the Yun family.

But Yun Che... Yun Qinghong's adopted son, someone who had only first arrived in Demon Imperial City three months ago—how could he be a son of the Yun family? Prior to three months ago, no one had ever heard of him. Even King Huai couldn't trace his origins. His profound arts and profound skills bore no relation to the Yun family whatsoever. Furthermore, by the expressions on the Yun family members' faces, it seemed they had no idea he was one of their own either.

Yet, the Profound Handle Yun Che had unleashed was the most undeniable proof. The Yun family's Profound Handle was unparalleled. While its visual form might be replicated with profound energy, the unique bloodline aura and power of the Profound Handle, exclusive to the Yun family, were utterly impossible to imitate.

The entire hall devolved into complete chaos. This was arguably the most tumultuous day of their lives, pushing their normally robust nerves to the brink of utter collapse with each successive shock. They felt that even the most vivid dream couldn't rival the sheer bizarre, convoluted, and incredible events unfolding today.

Behind Yun Che, Yun Waitian and Yun Duanshui had completely lost their usual composure. Each was so agitated, their breathing ragged, almost on the verge of tears. Despite their immense surprise and confusion, the Profound Handle was the most concrete proof in this world, and as Yun family elders, there was simply no way they could be mistaken about it.

Faced with Yun Che's Profound Handle, their excitement was uncontrollable. This signified far more than just the Yun family's complete triumph today. Yun Che being Yun Qinghong's adopted son versus a true blood member of the Yun family were two vastly different concepts! This generation of the Yun family had fallen into severe decline, languishing at the bottom of the twelve families, a decline that was only accelerating. But now, with Yun Che among them, how could they possibly fear not flourishing or rising again in the future?

"King Huai, surely you recognize my Yun family's Profound Handle, don't you?" Yun Che's lips curved into a slight smile as he fixed his gaze on King Huai. While his expression appeared nonchalant, he was in fact maintaining it with considerable effort. Since he intended to display his Profound Handle before all these powerful individuals, he naturally had to present it in its most potent form! His grandfather, Yun Canghai, possessed an azure Profound Handle, as did his father, Yun Qinghong. As Yun Canghai's grandson and Yun Qinghong's son, how could he possibly bring disgrace to them regarding the Yun family's soul-powered Profound Handle?

His current most potent state for the Profound Handle was azure. To achieve this azure Profound Handle, he had to be in his Purgatory state.

Thus, every moment he sustained the azure Profound Handle placed an enormous strain on his body. So, as his words concluded, he casually waved his arm, and the Profound Handle dissolved into a stream of azure light, returning to his arm.

King Huai's expression remained outwardly calm, yet his lips were distinctly trembling. Confronted by Yun Che's question, he, a man renowned for his shrewd planning and control, found himself unable to utter a single word for a prolonged moment.

Before this Grand Ceremony of the Demon Queen, he had meticulously planned and thoroughly prepared. His ambition was poised to truly erupt today. Targeting the Yun family at the ceremony's outset was the first step; severely crippling all the opposing Guardian Families and Princely Mansions was the second...

He had been certain he was steadily guiding and controlling every aspect. Yet, at this very moment, he suddenly realized that the situation was entirely out of his control; everything was clearly being manipulated by the young man before him—even King Huai himself!

From being the first to step forward and accept the challenge, to cleverly using sharp words to half-coax, half-force them into offering "stakes," to single-handedly winning six consecutive matches when everyone thought the Western District had been utterly defeated... and now, to suddenly unveil his Profound Handle!!

King Huai was utterly convinced: Yun Che must have anticipated that after his victory over Hui Ran, King Huai would declare his lack of a Profound Handle, thus disqualifying him from representing the Yun family. Simultaneously, King Huai had also declared that if Yun Che *were* a son of the Yun family, he would raise no further objections regarding the "stakes."

For a true son of the Yun family, the power of the Profound Handle was an immense asset, yet Yun Che had fought six consecutive battles without once employing it. Clearly, his intention was to draw King Huai into making those very statements, leaving him no room for retreat.

King Huai had lived his life with unwavering arrogance. For the first time ever, he felt as though he was being played for a fool, manipulated like a puppet. And his tormentor was merely a young man of only twenty-two years!

He was also experiencing for the first time the bitter taste of profound regret and the feeling of having "lost everything." In his campaign against the Yun family, he had the solid backing of seven great families and sixty princely mansions, giving him a clear upper hand. Yet, in his eagerness to crush their morale and dignity, he had proposed a duel to determine the Yun family's future... only to receive this devastating outcome.

Whether his goal was to target the Yun family or severely undermine their morale, he should have succeeded. However, an entirely unforeseen variable emerged: Yun Che.

As he now faced Yun Che, who wore a faint smile, a chilling sensation crept into King Huai's heart. He had never in his wildest dreams imagined that the first person to make his heart pound with unease would be a mere twenty-two-year-old youth.

Expelling the Yun family... he had schemed and prepared for this for a long time. His very first move at the Demon Queen's Grand Ceremony had met with a disastrous defeat because of Yun Che, and his attempt to severely undermine the opponent's morale had backfired severalfold... bolstering them while harming himself!

Each of the seven great families now owed five jin of Violet Vein Divine Crystals, and he himself owed a staggering twenty jin... what had started as a joke had now spiraled into a relentless nightmare!

King Huai gritted his teeth, his chest heaving. Forcing himself to regain composure, he suddenly turned to Yun Qinghong and demanded sharply, "Yun Qinghong, what is the meaning of this?!"

The moment he spoke, many people paused, their expressions turning peculiar. In this situation, instead of responding to Yun Che, he had abruptly turned to question Yun Qinghong, asking "What is this?" It was clear to everyone that King Huai had completely lost his composure and was utterly flustered.

Yun Qinghong offered a faint smile and calmly replied, "As you can see, what he just displayed is indeed the Profound Handle power of my Yun family. Being so close, King Huai, I presume you couldn't possibly fail to recognize it?"

"This is impossible!" King Huai roared back. "Your Yun family has never had anyone like him! He only first appeared in Demon Imperial City three months ago... how could he possibly be a member of your Yun family?"

"I have no obligation to explain that to you," Yun Qinghong stated calmly. "Nor is there any need to argue. You yourself just declared that the Profound Handle is the most irrefutable proof of a Yun family identity; whether he is one of us, you must surely understand by now. However, there is one additional detail I can share: Yun Che is not only a son of my Yun family, but he is also my own biological son, and the future master of the Yun family!"

The moment these words were uttered, the Demon Imperial Hall, which had only just begun to quiet, erupted once more as if struck by a thunderbolt, instantly engulfed in a surging tide of voices.

"Yun Che is the Yun family head's son... this... this is unbelievable..."

"Considering the Yun family head's stature, and that he spoke these words before the Little Demon Empress and all the realm's heroes, how could it possibly be false?"

"Back then, when Yun Xiao's identity was questioned by everyone, the Yun family head never responded to any doubts, neither confirming nor denying. Yet now, he publicly declares Yun Che to be his biological son, his gaze burning with conviction, his voice resonating with certainty... it doesn't seem false in the slightest."

"Upon closer consideration, it's actually not hard to accept. While Yun Che has undoubtedly stolen the spotlight today, he has also thoroughly alienated King Huai, the seven great Guardian Families, and sixty princely mansions! If he were merely an adopted son, why would he fight with such ferocity? It's because he is a true son of the Yun family, and even more so, Yun Qinghong's own son! Beyond Yun Canghai's grandson and Yun Qinghong's son, whose lineage within the Yun family could possess such exceptional talent, strength, and audacity?"

"Could Yun Che be Yun Qinghong's illegitimate son from outside the family?"

"No, no! Yun Qinghong's character is exceptionally upright. While he might openly take a concubine, he would absolutely never secretly involve himself with other women. More than twenty years ago, after Yun Qinghong and his wife returned from the Profound Sky Continent, they were severely injured and consulted many renowned physicians. According to incidental revelations from those physicians, Madam Yun contracted a cold poison while pregnant and, to protect the child within her womb, forced the poison into her own vital organs. This caused the cold poison to spread throughout her body, rendering it untreatable. This implies that Madam Yun did indeed give birth to a child for Yun Qinghong at that time... and it's widely known that Yun Xiao possesses no Profound Handle..."

"So... is it possible that the Yun family head deliberately hid this son because the Yun family's situation was precarious at the time, perhaps even finding an extraordinary master for him... and that Yun Xiao, whom they brought back, was merely a decoy?"

"Highly likely!"

Countless gasps, discussions, and speculations filled every corner of the hall. The most stunned, without a doubt, were the Yun family members. That Yun Che possessed Yun family blood and was one of their own had already brought immense joy to everyone. But if he were Yun Qinghong's son... that would be an even greater, heaven-sent blessing for the Yun family! It signified that the lineage of the Yun family head was unbroken!

The Yun family elders and grand elders naturally understood Yun Qinghong's temperament perfectly. How could the words he proclaimed in such a setting, and with such a tone, possibly be false?

"Phew... this turn of events is too bizarre," Su Xiangnan exhaled a long breath, a profound sense of awe in his voice.

"Yun Canghai's grandson, Yun Qinghong's son... no wonder, no wonder..." Tianxia Xiongtu nodded, a dazed expression on his face. The Yun family had always passed its legacy through a single heir each generation, and without exception, every heir was a dragon among men, an emperor among dragons.

"The Yun family is truly on the verge of rising again," Yan Zijing remarked with a sigh.

Old Master Mu Feiyan sat there utterly stunned for a long while, then, as if jolted awake from a dream, he abruptly stood up with a gasp, his beard trembling with excitement. "Could it be... could it be... he is Rou'er's child... the one lost on the Profound Sky Continent..."

What Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou had experienced on the Profound Sky Continent all those years ago, particularly concerning their child, was unknown to outsiders. But as Mu Yurou's father, how could he not be aware?

"There's no mistake!" Mu Yuqing exclaimed with equal excitement. "He possesses the Yun family bloodline, he has my brother-in-law's direct affirmation, and there's the way my sister looks at him... and most importantly, aside from my sister's son—your grandson, Father—whose child could possibly be this exceptional?"

Mu Feiyan, despite his centuries of age, had always dismissed his three sons' flattery with disdain. Yet, Mu Yuqing's particular compliment made Mu Feiyan's heart swell with joy. He leaned forward, his hands trembling. "Yes... Rou'er's child, my grandson... Ha... hahahaha... This is my grandson... my own grandson!!"

"So this kid is actually our nephew!" Mu Yukong grinned with excitement. He turned his head, only to see Mu Yubai covering his face with his hands, his head almost touching his lap. Mu Yukong glared, then slapped him. "Hey, Eldest Brother! Little Sister's son is back, he's our own nephew... what's with that reaction?"

"Heh heh," Mu Yuqing chuckled, a hint of schadenfreude in his voice. "Our Eldest Brother was just clamoring to become sworn brothers with our nephew..."

"Shut up!" Mu Yubai snapped, kicking Mu Yuqing in the backside. "Anyone who dares to bring that up again will have me to contend with!"