Ye Kun’s words infuriated Ye Xiao. 

“Ye Kun, are you really not going to leave him a way out?” he asked.

Ye Kun was expressionless. “Cultivators fight others and even defy the heavens, so why won’t you allow my grandson to fight the heir? Of course, he’s going to fight, and it’s going to be today!”

Ye Xiao’s expression turned ugly.

Ye Kun looked at Ye Mian and said firmly, “Kill him!”

Ye Mian immediately charged toward Ye Guan and appeared in front of the latter in the proverbial blink of an eye. He then sent a punch toward Ye Guan’s throat.

It was a killing move filled with Xiantian Energy. 

The elders were stupefied—it turned out that Ye Mian was a Xiantian Realm cultivator.

Meanwhile, Ye Guan extended his right hand and snatched Ye Mian’s fist.

Before anyone could react, Ye Guan twisted Ye Mian’s fist.

Crack!

A grotesque crisp noise echoed, but Ye Guan wasn’t done just yet. He used the momentum of the punch to twirl around before burying his own fist into Ye Mian’s stomach. 

Boom!

Ye Mian flew backward. When he landed, Ye Guan stepped on his stomach.

Everyone was stunned. Ye Guan didn’t lose his cultivation!

Grand Elder Ye Kun recovered from his trance and hurriedly spoke, “Ye Guan…”

Ye Guan turned to face the Grand Elder and smiled. “Yes?”

Ye Kun’s voice was trembling as he said, “We’re family, so please have mercy—”

Ye Guan blinked and exclaimed, “Who’s my family? I’m adopted!”

He then stomped on Ye Mian’s throat.

Crack!

Ye Mian’s eyes widened as blood burst out of his mouth.

“Aaaaaah!” The Grand Elder charged toward Ye Guan like a madman. 

However, Ye Xiao stood in his way and threw a punch. 

Boom!

There was a loud noise as Ye Kun flew backward.

Ye Xiao stared coldly at the hysterical Grand Elder and said, “They fought fairly!”

Ye Kun was furious, and he glared resentfully at Ye Guan. However, he decided not to say anything and turned around to leave. 

However, someone streaked across the shrine toward Ye Kun. Ye Kun’s expression abruptly changed as he immediately turned around, but before he could even react, a fist landed on his throat. 

Crack!

A crisp noise echoed throughout the shrine. Ye Kun’s eyes bulged before he collapsed to the floor.

The elders at the scene froze, and they looked at Ye Guan in shock.

Ye Guan glanced at Ye Kun’s corpse and explained calmly, “If I hadn’t killed him, then he would have eventually plotted revenge against me and would have ultimately harmed the clan’s harmony.”

The elders were silent. Ye Guan had gone a bit overboard, but none of them dared to go against him. After all, the winner had already been decided.

Ye Xiao shattered the silence. “Carry Ye Kun and Ye Mian’s corpses out!”

Two people immediately obliged and took Ye Kun and Ye Mian’s corpses away. 

Ye Xiao stared at Ye Guan with a complicated expression. 

“Little Guan, your cultivation…” he trailed off.

Ye Guan smiled softly. “Clan Leader, I wasn’t pretending. There was indeed something wrong with me, but the issue was finally resolved.”

Ye Xiao smiled. “That’s great!”

The elders also smiled upon hearing Ye Guan’s explanation. However, the Third Elder and the Sixth Elder looked pallid. It couldn’t be helped because they already knew that they were finished.

All of a sudden, a guard appeared by the entrance. He bowed toward Ye Xiao and said, “Clan Leader, the Clan Leader of the Nalan Clan has invited the heir to the Nalan Residence!”

Ye Xiao frowned and asked, “Did they mention why?”

The guard shook his head and replied, “No, they did not say anything…”

Ye Xiao looked at Ye Guan. Ye Guan smiled and said, “I’ll go!”

Seeing that, Ye Xiao spoke in a low voice. “I’ll go with you!”

Ye Guan shook his head and smiled. “I’ll be fine, Clan Leader…”

Ye Xiao thought about it before saying, “All right, but be careful.”

Ye Guan nodded. He glanced at the Third Elder and the Sixth Elder before walking out of the shrine. 

When Ye Guan finally left, the Second Elder sighed and said, “Clan Leader, your foresight saved us this time. If you weren’t here, then Little Guan could have fought and killed his way out of the Ye Clan today. We would have lost an extraordinary talent and offended an extremely powerful enemy! Clan Leader, you’re indeed a wise leader!”

The other elders hurriedly nodded in agreement.

Ye Xiao swept his gaze across everyone and shook his head. “He values relationships, so if our Ye Clan treats him well, then he will also treat us well!”

Ye Xiao sighed before continuing. “The Grand Elder shouldn’t have gone too far. After all, that lad had been bleeding and fighting for our clan for many years now, so the Grand Elder shouldn’t have forced him into a corner!”

The Second Elder nodded in agreement. “I-Indeed, the Grand Elder went too far! He… deserved his death!”

The other elders nodded once more. 

Ye Xiao suddenly said, “Third Elder, Sixth Elder, the two of you are already seventy-five this year, right?”

The Third Elder and the Sixth Elder stared blankly at Ye Xiao. However, their faces quickly turned sour. Seventy-five?! Seventy-five was the retirement age in the Ye Clan, but they were only sixty years old!

The Third Elder and the Sixth Elder looked like they aged significantly upon hearing Ye Xiao’s words. Ye Xiao looked at the two of them and said, “Send Grand Elder and Ye Mian off. After all, they have contributed to our clan as well. Sigh…”

Ye Xiao turned around to leave. 

The elders finally sighed in relief. Fortunately, they didn’t decide to take the Grand Elder’s side. Otherwise…

...

Ye Guan walked out of the Ancestral Shrine, and he turned around to find a hunchback. The hunchback told the Grand Elder about how Ye Guan was abandoned by the Guanxuan Academy. 

As far as Ye Guan could remember, the hunchback was delighted to see him fall.

The hunchback turned pallid upon seeing Ye Guan looking at him. He immediately kneeled and begged. “Heir…”

He had to beg because he had just seen Ye Kun and Ye Mian’s corpses being carried out of the shrine.

Ye Guan wordlessly smiled before walking away.

Not long after Ye Guan left, an old man in black stood in front of the hunchback. The old man in black didn’t say anything; he only stared coldly at the hunchback. 

However, the hunchback’s face turned ashen, and he soon collapsed to the ground. 

Meanwhile, Ye Guan was about to walk out of the main door, but he found Ye Qing standing by the main door.

Ye Qing smiled upon seeing him. “Congratulations, Brother Ye Guan!”

Ye Guan smiled as well before saying, “If my memories are serving me correctly, then Brother Ye Qing is already a Xiantian Realm cultivator, am I right?”

Ye Qing nodded and replied, “Yes!”

Ye Guan nodded lightly and said, “I have some knowledge about that realm, so if there’s anything you want to know, then feel free to ask.”

Ye Qing hurriedly bowed. “Thank you, Brother Ye Guan.”

Ye Guan patted Ye Qing’s shoulder. “We’re brothers, so you don’t have to be polite.”

With that, Ye Guan finally walked out of the Ye Clan.

Ye Qing watched on as Ye Guan left and smiled. There was a hint of helplessness in his smile. “To be in the same clan as someone so talented, it is the Ye Clan’s fortune but my misfortune!”

He then turned and left. 

...

When Ye Guan finally arrived at the Nalan Residence, an old man came out to greet him. The old man bowed slightly toward Ye Guan and said, “Young Master Ye, please!”

Ye Guan nodded and said, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” said the old man with a smile before bringing Ye Guan into the Nalan Residence.

As they walked down the residence, the maids couldn’t help but look at Ye Guan.

Ye Guan was wearing a dark robe and was walking with proper posture. His features were sharp and defined. His demeanor was extraordinary as well as he walked at a leisurely pace.

Ye Guan’s score was very high in the looks department.

The old man brought Ye Guan to a hall and said with a bow. “Young Master Ye, please!” 

“Okay!” Ye Guan smiled and walked into the hall. 

Upon entering, he saw Nalan Clan’s Clan Leader, Nalan Ming, sitting in the hall. Nalan Ming looked to be about forty years old with a slightly plump physique.

Nalan Ming looked at Ye Guan and said, “Have a seat!”

Ye Guan nodded and obliged.

Meanwhile, Nalan Ming was looking at Ye Guan as if he was pitiful.

What a great man. Why did he have to lose his cultivation?

Nalan Ming sighed inwardly before asking, “Little Guan, I’m sure you already know why I called you here, right?

Ye Guan nodded and replied, “It must be because of my engagement with Lady Jia.”

Nalan Ming looked at Ye Guan and said, “Why did you not reject her decision that day?”

Ye Guan smiled and asked, “Why would I reject it?”

Nalan Ming frowned slightly.

At the sight, Ye Guan’s smile deepened. “Lady Nalan Jia is beautiful. She’s the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and it is my honor to marry her!”

Nalan Jia was reading a book in a corner, and her lips curled up when she heard Ye Guan. She glanced briefly at Ye Guan before turning to look at her book once more.

Nalan Ming stared deeply at Ye Guan. Moments later, he sighed. “Little Guan, pardon me for being blunt. There were two reasons why I didn’t reject your engagement with her…

”The first reason is that your character is great. You’re the young heir of the Ye Clan, but you have no vices. The second reason is that you’re very talented with a bright future ahead of you, and you also had a guaranteed spot in Guanxuan Academy, but…” Nalan Ming trailed off before continuing. “Things have changed…”

Ye Guan nodded. “I am aware.”

A complicated look flitted across Nalan Ming’s eyes. “Little Guan, I thought long and hard about it, but Little Jia has become the direct disciple of Tutor Fei. She has a special physique with a bright future. However, you—forgive me for being direct, but the difference between the two of you would inevitably grow bigger, and it would eventually cause you pain.”

Ye Guan smiled and said, “I completely understand. I guess Uncle wants me to break off my engagement with Little Jia. I understand.”

“No!” Nalan Ming exclaimed and shook his head. “That’s not it!”

Ye Guan was astonished. 

Nalan Ming stared deeply at Ye Guan before saying, “I won’t kick a man while he’s down, I’m not that despicable. What I’m trying to say is that I hope you won’t lose hope and give up. I want you to understand your current situation as well. Men must be powerful because you have to be powerful to fight for what you want!”

Ye Guan was silent. It would be an understatement to say that he was surprised by the turn of events.

Nalan Ming added, “Little Guan, you’re at your lowest point in life, and I won’t put you down any further. However, you have to make a decision. Let me tell you the truth—Little Jia and I are under a lot of pressure because Tutor Fei doesn’t like how you’re engaged to Little Jia…”

”Little Jia also has many suitors in Guanxuan Academy. A few of them definitely have bad intentions, and I’m sure that their backing is strong as well.” Nalan Ming paused. He looked straight into Ye Guan’s eyes before continuing. “You have to deal with them by yourself!”

“Understood!” Ye Guan nodded slightly. He then stood up and walked over to Nalan Jia. 

Nalan Ming remained silent.

Nalan Jia smiled as Ye Guan arrived in front of her. 

Ye Guan smiled and asked, “Do you like me?”

Nalan Jia shook her head. “I can’t say for sure, but I don’t hate you.”

Ye Guan smiled softly and asked, “Why did you agree to the engagement back then?”

Nalan Jia looked at Ye Guan’s face and replied, “Because you’re handsome!” 

Ye Guan smiled at the quick reply, “Our engagement is between the two of us. The two of us can break our engagement off at any time, but other people do not have that right.”

Nalan Jia blinked and said, “My tutor will visit you tomorrow. She has a bad temper, and she won’t hesitate to use lethal force if provoked…”

Ye Guan replied calmly, “It’s fine, I know how to read along the lines.”

He showed her the Mixed Origin Pill and said solemnly, “I appreciate the pill. Regardless of what happens between the two of us in the future, I will never forget your kindness.”

Ye Guan turned around to leave. As he walked out of the hall, he bowed slightly to Nalan Ming and said, “Uncle, I’m off.”

With that, he turned around once more and finally left the Nalan Residence. 

Nalan Ming looked at Ye Guan before walking over to Nalan Jia.

“His composure is very rare among youngsters of his age,” he said softly.

Nalan Jia nodded and replied, “He’s brave enough to look straight at me, and he has never looked at someone else but me!”

Nalan Ming looked at Nalan Jia. 

Nalan Jia smiled and added, “He’s confident in himself as well. Men’s confidence stems only from either of the two reasons: power and influence. Father, where do you think his confidence is coming from?”

Nalan Ming stiffened. 

Nalan Jia looked at the ancient book in her hands and smiled. 

“I’m starting to like him a bit,” she said.

Nalan Jia's smile deepened as she continued. “I like his confidence, I like his character, and I also like that he isn’t pretentious at all. Of course, I also like his looks! He’s so handsome!”

Nalan Ming stood rooted as he froze right there and then.