"That's good," Ye Junlin nodded with satisfaction.
The two then soared into the sky, accompanied by thunderous cheers from the crowd.
Back at the imperial court—
Hong Qianye's face twisted with resentment. He silently cursed Ye Junlin's ancestors a thousand times over.
Inside the imperial court—
The Wei Emperor, dressed in an ornate dragon robe, sat solemnly on his throne, flipping through memorials from his ministers. His aging face was etched with fatigue, and his brows were furrowed in deep worry.
The civil and military officials stood in tense silence, heads lowered. The atmosphere was stifling.
"Sigh…"
After a long pause, the Wei Emperor exhaled wearily.
He tossed aside the memorial in his hand, rubbed his temples, and spoke with a heavy heart, "At this rate, our vast empire will be destroyed by these dark forces…"
The death toll in the report was devastating.
The Great Wei Dynasty, once boasting a population of eighty million, had lost over thirty million lives in just a few years. And things were only getting worse.
The people lived in constant fear and unease.
Even the imperial court was left paralyzed by uncertainty and dread.
"Your Majesty, our Wei Kingdom is under the protection of the Xuantian Sect. Surely the immortals won't abandon us."
A minister spoke with cautious hope.
"The Xuantian Sect…"
The Emperor gave a bitter smile, shaking his head. Disappointment clouded his eyes.
Years ago, the sect had sent an investigative team—but they disappeared not long after arriving in Wei.
Since then, there had been no support, no response.
Could they still be relied on?
Suddenly, a clear voice called out from outside the court.
"Father! Father!"
A young girl, around thirteen years old, burst into the hall. Her fair skin and delicate features hinted at a future beauty.
"Ling'er? What is it?" the Wei Emperor asked, startled.
She was his most beloved daughter. If anyone else had barged in like this, they would've been executed on the spot.
The little princess held up a letter, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "It's from Second Brother! He sent a message!"
"The Second Prince?"
The ministers all looked at each other in surprise.
It was well-known that the Second Prince had been chosen by a cultivator from the Xuantian Sect at a young age and had gone to train there.
Sects only recruited based on talent—even royal blood couldn't change that.
The Xuantian Sect was especially strict. Nepotism was unheard of.
So, when the Second Prince had been accepted, the Emperor had been overjoyed. He granted a nationwide amnesty and threw a grand celebration that year.
But in recent years, the prince had focused solely on his cultivation, cutting off nearly all contact.
This sudden letter sparked intense curiosity.
"Quick, let me see it!"
The Emperor eagerly took the letter and read it.
His expression shifted as he read—first surprise, then joy. He suddenly laughed heartily and slapped the table in delight.
"Hahaha! Wonderful news!"
The ministers were puzzled. "Your Majesty, what's happened?"
Still beaming, the Wei Emperor said, "My son wrote that the Xuantian Sect has taken our crisis seriously. They're likely sending the head of Mysterious Peak to handle it personally. We just need to wait for good news!"
The ministers' eyes lit up.
Though mortals, their high status meant they had some awareness of sect affairs across the Arid Province.
Rumor had it that the Xuantian Sect had recently crushed the Wind Thunder Sect—led by none other than the head of Mysterious Peak, Ye Junlin.
A Nascent Soul Stage cultivator.
His power was said to rival that of the legendary immortals.
Now that Ye Junlin was coming personally to aid the Wei Kingdom, how could they not rejoice?
The Wei Emperor's heart swelled with hope. This was the best news he had heard in years.
"Ling'er, our kingdom is saved!"
He scooped up his daughter and kissed her cheek.
"Hehe!" The princess giggled, her smile radiant and full of joy.
Suddenly—
A palace guard rushed in, looking panicked. "Your Majesty! Two immortals have descended outside!"
"They must be from the Xuantian Sect!"
"All ministers—follow me to greet them!"
The Emperor quickly led the way.
At the imperial palace square—
Clouds glowed brilliantly overhead. Under countless stunned gazes, two glowing figures descended from the sky, cloaked in divine radiance.
"Little Hong, don't you think this entrance I picked is dramatic and stylish?"
Ye Junlin stood with hands behind his back, clearly pleased with himself.
He was intentionally making a show of it—hoping to draw out hidden enemies.
Hong Qianye rolled his eyes. So childish, he thought.
Still, he clasped his hands and said respectfully, "Master is indeed wise. It's a brilliant entrance."
"Welcome, honored immortals!"
The Wei Emperor and his ministers hurried out, kneeling in reverence before Ye Junlin and Hong Qianye.
To them, these cultivators were like gods—able to summon storms and reshape the land.
The Emperor studied the silver-haired young man closely. His heart surged with joy.
The letter had mentioned the head of Mysterious Peak had distinctive silver hair—this had to be Ye Junlin.
Then he turned to Hong Qianye, and his heart skipped a beat.
Even among the countless concubines in the palace, none could match this man's beauty.
A breathtakingly elegant presence…
He quickly reined in his thoughts. Standing beside Ye Junlin, even casting a glance felt disrespectful.
"Ahem." Ye Junlin cleared his throat, his voice laced with spiritual power, echoing through the courtyard.
"I've come to resolve the Wei Kingdom's crisis. There's no need for panic."
"On behalf of all Wei's people, I thank the immortal!"
The Emperor knelt again, moved to the point of tears.
All the officials around them fell to their knees, placing their hopes entirely on Ye Junlin.
"Rise."
Ye Junlin raised a hand, and an invisible force lifted the Emperor and ministers gently to their feet.
"If the immortal has any requests, please give the word," the Emperor said respectfully.
"Prepare accommodations for me and my disciple."
"Right this way!"
The Emperor gestured with great enthusiasm. As Hong Qianye passed by, he couldn't help but glance again.
So this stunning man was the disciple?
Behind him, the little princess peeked out, mesmerized by Hong Qianye's cold and noble aura. He's so cool… I want to be like him when I grow up.
Meanwhile, Hong Qianye's expression remained cold and indifferent. He didn't spare a single glance at the ministers.
To him, the Emperor, the court, and the entire kingdom were nothing but ants.
He was here for one reason—to uncover the mastermind behind the chaos.
Inside Jing Tai Palace—
A luxurious, climate-controlled residence that took years and a fortune to build. Normally reserved for the Emperor, it was now handed over entirely to Ye Junlin and his disciple.
"If I need anything, I'll let you know."
"It's an honor to serve the immortal."
The Wei Emperor bowed deeply and took his leave.
Creak—
The doors closed behind him.
Ye Junlin flopped onto a reclining chair carved from thousand-year-old nanmu wood. He picked up a few grapes from the table and popped them into his mouth, clearly enjoying himself.
He looked nothing like the awe-inspiring cultivator from moments ago.
Hong Qianye turned away, unable to watch.
This was without a doubt the most unreliable Transformation Stage cultivator he had ever seen.
Most cultivators focused on meditation, refining their techniques, or cultivating.
But this man?
He lounged around eating fruit like it was a vacation, with zero concern for cultivation.
How did he even reach the Transformation Stage?
"Hmph. Whatever. At this rate, I'll surpass him in no time. Then I can finally make my move."
If Ye Junlin could hear his thoughts, he'd probably laugh.
Work hard on cultivation? Nah. I just chill and level up. Power comes naturally.
Who says lying flat isn't a talent?
Just then, Ye Junlin kicked off his cloud-patterned battle boots. A basin of steaming water appeared at his feet.
He dipped his feet in and sighed in contentment.
As Hong Qianye rolled his eyes again, a lazy voice drifted over.
"Little Hong, come wash my feet."
His expression froze.
For a second, he thought he'd misheard.
Then his brow twitched, veins popping on his forehead.
"What did you just say?!"
---