Chapter 1500: Xiao Clan's Birthday Feast
Cang Feng Kingdom, Liu Yun City, Xiao Sect.
Today's Liu Yun City was as peaceful as ever, with a touch of liveliness amidst the calm tranquility.
Liu Yun City, the smallest city in the Cang Feng Kingdom, had now become the most special place on the Tian Xuan Continent. In the world of profound cultivation, there was no one who did not know that this was the birthplace of Yun Zhenren.
However, Liu Yun City had not undergone any noticeable changes because of this. It remained as remote and peaceful as before. Every day, a large number of profound practitioners from the Tian Xuan Continent, and even the Huan Yao Realm, would come to witness and pay homage to the land where Yun Zhenren was born. But they all observed from afar, never daring to disturb or desecrate this quiet little town.
As for the people of Liu Yun City, due to their limited level of understanding, very few truly grasped what the name "Yun Zhenren" represented in this era.
And even fewer knew that today, the Xiao Sect was gathering the most prominent figures from the Tian Xuan Continent and even the entire planet.
"Wishing Great-Grandfather a long and healthy life, may your years be as enduring as the Southern Mountain... Please drink tea, Great-Grandfather."
Xiao Lie sat upright in the main hall. Before him, Xiao Yong'an knelt properly, earnestly offering him tea.
"Good, good child." Xiao Lie chuckled as he accepted the cup, drank it all in one go, a gentle smile on his face.
Once, at just over fifty years of age and with a Spirit Xuan Realm cultivation, he had already shown signs of aging. Later, upon hearing the news of Yun Che's death, his hair had turned white almost overnight. Now, at his seventieth birthday, his hair and beard were black, his complexion rosy, and he looked no more than forty—a far cry from his former self.
This was the Xiao Sect, the place Xiao Lie loved most, a place he could never bear to leave for long, even after being wronged and let down. Yun Che had arrived early with his daughter and the women, while Xiao Yun came with his wife and son, all offering their birthday wishes and tea.
"...Wuxin offers tea to Great-Grandfather."
After Xiao Yong'an, Yun Wuxin knelt down and respectfully presented her tea.
Xiao Lie took the teacup and sighed with a smile, "Unknowingly, Che'er's daughter has grown so big. Time really does not wait for anyone."
"But Great-Grandfather is getting younger and younger!" Yun Wuxin blinked her long eyelashes and said with a giggle. "So time can't catch up with Great-Grandfather at all. Great-Grandfather still has many, many more seventieth birthdays to come."
"Hahahaha!" Xiao Lie laughed heartily. "With such an obedient great-granddaughter as Xin'er, Great-Grandfather is not in a hurry to grow old."
With his laughter, he downed the tea in one gulp. The warmth of the tea did not stop at his lungs but spread throughout his entire body.
After the two youngest had finished offering tea, Yun Che looked at Xiao Yun, and Xiao Yun looked back at him, smiling. "Brother, please go first."
Although Yun Che did not bear the surname Xiao, in Xiao Yun's eyes, he was no different from a blood brother.
"Alright!"
Yun Che did not decline. He stepped forward, poured tea, raised the cup, and knelt before Xiao Lie. "Grandson Yun Che offers tea to Grandfather. May Grandfather's fortune be as vast as the heavens, and may he live forever without end."
Simple and sincere birthday wishes, every word resounding with conviction. In this world, how many people could make him kneel so willingly and respectfully?
Other than his parents, only Xiao Lie.
Xiao Lie took the teacup but did not drink. He looked at Yun Che and suddenly sighed. "Che'er... Back then, after Ying'er passed away, I did hold some resentment toward you, even hatred at times. But now... I have received ten thousand times the reward and blessings. Having a grandson like you is the fortune of my life."
Yun Che shook his head and said softly, "Uncle Xiao, Aunt Xiao, and Grandma all passed away because of me. Grandfather should have resented me and hated me. But never for a single day or moment did you abandon or look down on me. Instead, you raised me safely to adulthood, treating me even better than Lingxi. Even when I did wrong, you wouldn't bear to scold me harshly. You endured cold stares for me, swallowed your pride for me, and for the sake of my profound veins... Grandfather, once known for your fierce temper, begged countless people on your knees."
"Everything now is not a repayment of blessings, but merely the duty of a grown descendant to honor Grandfather—a duty that is natural and right. It is still far from even one ten-thousandth of the grace Grandfather bestowed in raising me."
"To have met Grandfather in this life is the fortune of my life."
Xiao Lie smiled... That frail figure who always needed his protection was still vivid before his eyes, as if it were yesterday. And now, in just over ten years, he had reached a mythological height, looking down upon all living beings on the continent.
But he had never changed. Kneeling before him, he was still the same as in his youth.
Beside Yun Che, Cang Yue knelt gracefully. "Granddaughter-in-law Cang Yue offers tea to Grandfather."
Yun Che had married Xia Qingyue first, with Cang Yue coming later. But in everyone's eyes, Cang Yue was Yun Che's true wife. Even Xiao Yaohou addressed her as "elder sister."
Having been on the throne for many years, Cang Yue was no longer the naive girl she once was. Every move she made bore the demeanor of an emperor. And the title of "Yun Che's true wife" made her far more than just the "Cang Feng Empress"—her status was unparalleled by any emperor on the Tian Xuan Continent.
"Yue'er," Xiao Lie looked at Cang Yue and said with a chuckle, "Although state affairs are important, you and Che'er have been married for over ten years now. It's time to have a child. That would also continue the bloodline of the Cangfeng Imperial Clan."
"...Yes, Yue'er will keep that in mind." Cang Yue lowered her head slightly, her beautiful eyes subtly glancing at Yun Che.
"Uh... Yue'er and I will definitely work hard, work hard." Yun Che quickly said, but inwardly he felt quite troubled.
After obtaining the Dragon God's bloodline, especially the Dragon God's marrow, although his essence was still human, his body had been increasingly tending toward that of a dragon—more precisely, the Dragon God, the supreme existence among dragons in ancient times.
Dragons were inherently lustful, so Yun Che was certainly a diligent man. But at the same time, it was extremely difficult for dragons to have offspring—the higher the level of the dragon, the more so.
From many years ago, Yun Che had vaguely noticed this.
Cang Yue was the emperor of Cang Feng, and Xiao Yaohou was the ruler of Huan Yao. They both very much wanted to bear Yun Che's child, but for years, they had never succeeded.
Yun Che had even secretly used spiritual medicines that could guarantee a woman's pregnancy... But they worked instantly on Xiao Yun and Tianxia Diqi, yet were completely ineffective on him!
This truly frustrated him.
It seemed the only way was to be even more diligent than before... Yun Che silently resolved: I wonder who my second child will be with? Will he or she be as adorable as Wuxin?
Crack...
As the thought passed, his body suddenly trembled violently—his heart felt as if it had been pierced by a poisoned steel needle, stabbing into his very soul.
Wh-What's going on...
Yun Che was facing Xiao Lie, so no one noticed his momentary abnormality.
After Cang Yue, it was Xiao Yaohou's turn to offer tea. She was the only other woman present who was married to Yun Che, aside from Cang Yue. However, their situation was somewhat different—after all, their descendants would bear the surname "Huan" and would be the future rulers of Huan Yao.
"Caiyi," Xiao Lie said with a warm smile, "Now that the Huan Yao Realm is at peace and there is no need to worry about chaos, you have worked hard for a hundred years. It's time to rest. Bear a child with Che'er soon, so we can start grooming the next Demon Emperor."
"Yes." Xiao Yaohou agreed respectfully.
After Xiao Yaohou was Chu Yuechan. Although she was not married to Yun Che, she was the only woman who had borne him a child, giving her an extraordinary status in both the Yun and Xiao families. Looking at Chu Yuechan, Xiao Lie's expression softened. "Yuechan, Che'er has wronged you greatly. Our Yun and Xiao families owe you countless debts. For Che'er to have you by his side in this life is his greatest fortune."
"Che'er, although I know well that you two have long since transcended worldly customs, our Yun and Xiao families are still rooted in the mundane world. Grandfather hopes to see you marry Yuechan in a grand ceremony and give her a proper title."
"Hahaha! Father is right."
Just as Yun Che was about to respond, a hearty laugh rang out. Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou entered side by side. After kneeling to offer their birthday wishes, Yun Qinghong continued, "Che'er, your grandfather's words are mine as well. Not just Yuechan, but Xue'er has had a marriage contract with you for years, yet it's been delayed. And Ling'er—she followed you from the Cang Yun Continent and has been with you for so many years. When are you planning to marry her?"
Mu Yurou added with a smile, "And Lingxi and Xian'er. Lingxi goes without saying, but Xian'er is the Phoenix's daughter, admired by all. Now the whole continent knows she is your personal maidservant. It will be hard for her to marry anyone else in the future. You can't keep her as a maidservant forever, can you?"
These words startled Feng Xian'er greatly. She said in a panicked voice, "Xian'er is unworthy... Xian'er is fortunate enough to be a maidservant by Young Master's side. How could I... how could I..."
She lowered her head deeply, not daring to meet anyone's gaze.
"Xian'er," Mu Yurou said with a smile, "When Che'er was at his lowest, you were by his side every step of the way. You have a kind and pure heart. Everyone has seen how good you are to Che'er. If you were to enter our Yun family and always be by Che'er's side, we, as his parents, would be overjoyed."
"Che'er, if you find the formalities troublesome, just nod your head, and we'll take care of the rest," Mu Yurou continued. "After all, you are not a woman. A title means far more to a woman than you might think."
Yun Che looked at Chu Yuechan, Feng Xue'er, Su Ling'er, Xiao Lingxi, and Feng Xian'er... He saw the changes in their expressions. Even Chu Yuechan, the most reserved of them all, had a faint, hidden radiance in her eyes.
He nodded gently and smiled. "Alright, everything will be as Grandfather, Father, and Mother decide."
Yun Qinghong smiled, and Mu Yurou's face bloomed like a flower. "That's my good boy. Che'er and Xue'er were the first to be betrothed. The end of next month will be late autumn, which is an excellent day. We'll have enough time to prepare. Our Yun family will welcome Xue'er in a grand ceremony."
"Mother..." Feng Xue'er bit her lip. Even though she was the revered Phoenix Divine Maiden in the eyes of the world, she still felt shy in this moment.
"And Xian'er," Mu Yurou continued, "You and Xue'er come from the same lineage. How about you be Xue'er's accompanying bride?"
Mu Yurou had clearly already thought this through. Feng Xian'er was the youngest, and she held deep, bone-deep admiration and reverence for Yun Che—so much so that she always considered herself a maidservant before Yun Che and the other women. If she were to marry into the Yun family directly, she would likely feel lost.
"Ah..." Feng Xian'er let out a soft exclamation, nervously twisting the hem of her skirt with both hands. Her face flushed crimson. "I... I..."
"Xian'er, you are willing to serve Che'er as a maidservant for life, but what about your parents?" Mu Yurou said with a smile. "Even if it's just to give your parents peace of mind... Though it may be a bit unfair to you."
"No, it's not unfair..." Feng Xian'er shook her head vigorously. The surreal feeling, more dreamlike than reality, nearly robbed her of the ability to think. Finally, she lowered her head deeply and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum, "I will... do as... Madam decides."
"Haha, calling me 'Madam' is fine for now, but in two months, you'll have to change your address along with Xue'er," Yun Qinghong said with a big laugh. With that one sentence, the blush on Feng Xian'er's face spread all the way down her neck, and her heart felt like it was about to leap out.
"As for the exact wedding date, I'll go discuss it with Brother Feng tomorrow."
No sooner had Yun Qinghong finished speaking than a dignified laugh came from outside. "Hahaha! No need to wait until tomorrow. We can decide today!"
"Father!" Feng Xue'er turned her phoenix-like eyes and let out a soft laugh.
Feng Hengkong strode in and bowed deeply to Xiao Lie. "Old Master Xiao, Feng Hengkong of Shenhuang has come specially to wish you a happy birthday!"
In terms of age, he was several hundred years older than Xiao Lie. But because his daughter was with Yun Che, his status dropped by a generation.
Especially... at seventy years old, this was not even considered a "longevity" event in the Shen Realm, let alone the higher levels of the Tian Xuan Continent. For someone like Feng Hengkong, this was the first time in his life he was celebrating a birthday for someone under five hundred years old.
But... no matter how ordinary Xiao Lie was, he was Yun Che's grandfather!
"Father, why are you here?" Feng Xue'er asked.
"It's not just me," Feng Hengkong said. "All around, countless people are rushing here. And everyone who dares to come is no small name."
"..." Yun Che rubbed his forehead and snorted helplessly. "These guys..."
"Hehe, that's only natural," Yun Qinghong said with a smile. "Now, whether it's the Tian Xuan Continent or the Huan Yao Realm, anything concerning you is taken seriously. Today is Father's seventieth birthday. Although it hasn't been publicly announced, how could they not know or ignore it?"
Yun Qinghong was clearly neither surprised nor concerned about this. He directly changed the subject. "It seems Brother Feng has no objections to the wedding date for Xue'er and Che'er?"
"Of course not," Feng Hengkong said with a laugh. "The major sects and powers on the continent have been waiting for their wedding for a long time. Once the news spreads, it will cause quite a stir."
The marriage between Yun Zhenren and the Phoenix Divine Maiden—the supreme man and woman of the Tian Xuan Continent—would undoubtedly be a grand event in the continent's profound world.
"With Xue'er and Xian'er settled, there's still Yuechan, Lingxi, and Ling'er..." Mu Yurou looked at her future daughters-in-law with a beaming smile.
"Don't rush Lingxi's matter," Xiao Lie said, his expression turning somewhat serious.
His words, along with his somewhat flat tone, made Mu Yurou's smile freeze slightly. Xiao Lingxi, whose heart had been racing, also turned her head in confusion.
Yun Che felt a twinge in his heart. He weighed his words and finally spoke quite directly. "Grandfather, regarding Lingxi and me... does Grandfather still have a knot in his heart?"
The hall grew quieter. Although Yun Che and Xiao Lingxi had grown up together as childhood sweethearts and shared a deep bond, and although there was no blood relation between them, in the eyes of Liu Yun City, until Yun Che turned sixteen, she was his little aunt.
"It's not a knot," Xiao Lie shook his head and then let out a soft sigh. "It's reluctance."
"Huh?" Yun Che was taken aback. "Does Grandfather want Lingxi to stay with you for a few more years? No need to worry about that, Grandfather. No matter what, you will never lose Lingxi."
"That's not it," Xiao Lie suddenly broke into a smile, a hint of mischief in his expression. "I want to hear you call me 'Grandfather' for a few more years. If you start calling me 'Father-in-law' too soon, I'm afraid I won't be able to adapt. Hahahaha!"
As his words fell, looking at Yun Che's dumbfounded expression, Xiao Lie laughed heartily.
Everyone was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, lasting a long time.
"Father, really!" Xiao Lingxi pouted softly. She stole a glance at Yun Che and giggled lightly.
After Yun Che had finished his tea offering, Xiao Yun stepped forward with his wife, Tianxia Diqi. After offering tea, they did not rise. Xiao Yun looked up and said, "Grandfather, actually, Qimei and I have another news for you today."
"Oh?" Xiao Lie's brows lifted with a smile.
On the other side, Su Ling'er's lips curled slightly... She clearly knew what Xiao Yun was about to say.
Xiao Yun held Tianxia Diqi's hand and said with barely contained excitement, "Qimei is... pregnant again."
"Oh!?" Xiao Lie's arms tightened, and he stood up excitedly. "Really? Really?"
"Yes!" Tianxia Diqi beamed openly. "It's been two months. Yun gege and I went to see Ling'er about it... It's a girl. Yun gege was overjoyed."
"Hehehehe," Xiao Yun laughed foolishly. Ever since Yun Che had found Yun Wuxin, Xiao Yun had dreamed of having a daughter.
"Good... good, a girl is good, a girl is good." Xiao Lie was trembling with excitement. He shifted his feet and rubbed his hands together, unsure where to put them. "Now Yun'er has both a son and a daughter... Good... Your father and grandmother must be overjoyed in heaven, overjoyed."
He was so excited and happy that he started to ramble a little, and his eyes glistened with a layer of mist.
From a bleak and lonely life to finding Xiao Yun, and now seeing his grandson with both a son and a daughter... His life was truly complete, with nothing left to wish for.
Yun Che smiled. "Grandfather, your soon-to-be-born great-granddaughter will be the first girl of this generation in the Xiao Clan. Why don't you give her a name?"
Xiao Yun immediately nodded. "Yes! This should be left to Grandfather!"
"..." Xiao Lie did not refuse. He took a few breaths to calm his excitement, thought for a moment, and said, "Then let's name her... 'Yongning.'"
"Yong'an... Yongning..." Tianxia Diqi laughed. "Then I will thank her great-grandfather for this name on behalf of my daughter, Yongning."
Today, the Xiao family was undoubtedly blessed with double happiness. The small Xiao Sect, the modest hall, was filled with laughter and joy.
At that moment, a guard from the main gate hurried in and reported, "Supreme Sea Palace's Zi Ji, Canglan Nation's ruler, and Tianxiang Nation's ruler have all arrived with heavy gifts, requesting an audience with Elder Xiao."
Yun Che waved his hand. "Let them wait outside. No entry, no noise... They'd better just leave their gifts and get lost."
Xiao Lie most enjoyed peace and quiet. These people coming in droves was nothing more than flattery that missed the mark.
"No need," Xiao Lie raised his hand and said with a chuckle. "Let them all come in. They have come from afar for me. I must not be discourteous."
Yun Che nodded. "Alright, we'll follow Grandfather's wishes."
Since Xiao Lie was in the mood to entertain guests, Yun Che decided to take a temporary leave. If he stayed, those "honored guests" from afar wouldn't even dare to breathe loudly, let alone offer birthday wishes.
"Yun Che," Chu Yuechan came to his side and said softly, "I have decided to return to Bing Yun Fairy Palace. It is still the place that suits me best."
"Oh?" Yun Che's eyes lit up. "Are you going to take the position of Palace Master?"
Chu Yuechan had been at Bing Yun Fairy Palace for decades. She knew it deeply and had strong feelings for it. As the former head of the Ice Cloud Seven Immortals, her seniority and prestige were unmatched. With her cultivation reaching the divine path under the Life Divine Water bestowed by Yun Che, she would undoubtedly become the core pillar if she returned to Bing Yun Fairy Palace.
But Chu Yuechan shook her head. "Qianxue and Yueli had that intention, but I refused. However, I have agreed to temporarily serve as Vice Palace Master."
"That works too." Yun Che smiled. Now that Yun Wuxin had grown up and no longer needed her constant company, Bing Yun Fairy Palace was indeed the most suitable place for her.
The return of the legendary Ice Chan Immortal to Bing Yun Fairy Palace would undoubtedly be a major sensation in the profound world.
"Brother-in-law!"
Xia Yuanba's voice came from afar. Locking onto Yun Che's aura, his massive figure soon appeared overhead and landed before him. "Today is Grandpa Xiao's seventieth birthday feast... I'm not late, am I?"
Sensing the surrounding auras, he muttered involuntarily, "It's quite lively."
"Yeah, too lively for its own good." Yun Che curled his lips helplessly, then seemingly nonchalantly, he lifted his fingers to touch the pendant around his neck.
Xia Yuanba's gaze naturally followed, and he asked with curiosity, "Is that... a Liu Yin Stone?"
Yun Che immediately nodded. He held up three Liu Yin Stones and said, "This is a gift from Wuxin. She found them herself and made them herself! Pretty, right?"
"Uh..." Xia Yuanba didn't understand why Yun Che had suddenly become so excited.
"Listen..." Yun Che gently touched the heart-shaped Liu Yin Stone in the middle. Instantly, Yun Wuxin's sweet voice sounded: "Daddy, Wuxin misses you."
Yun Che's lips curled up, and he couldn't help but smile. Xia Yuanba blinked and said with a touch of feeling, "That is... a bit enviable."
"Right!" Yun Che said with a grin. "So, Yuanba, you should find a wife soon, and then have a few kids. You'll find that the whole world changes."
Xia Yuanba shrank his neck, resisting as he always did. "Better not. Women are too troublesome. Being alone is better."
"Even if you're not in a hurry, your father must be anxious by now." Yun Che tapped Xia Yuanba's shoulder, speaking from the position of someone who had been there.
"That... let's talk about it later." Xia Yuanba shook his head again. Ever since his Overlord Emperor Divine Meridian had truly awakened, he had become a complete fanatic of the profound way, with little interest in anything else.
"Speaking of which, brother-in-law, there's something I've been wanting to ask you."
"Oh?" Yun Che sensed that Xia Yuanba's expression had become heavy and complicated.
"I want to ask..." Xia Yuanba took a slight breath and said, "Do you know where my sister is? Or have you already seen her?"
"..." Yun Che's expression tightened. After a moment of thought, he said, "Why do you ask that?"
Yun Che's reaction had essentially given Xia Yuanba his answer. He said seriously, "Before, you always said that your sister was blessed by heaven and would be fine. You weren't too worried, but you never stopped searching for her using various methods and gathering information. But since you returned from the Shen Realm, you've never personally searched for my sister's trail, nor have you ordered any sects from the Tian Xuan Continent or Huan Yao Realm to look for her. And after that, when you told me that my sister was safe, your eyes and tone were different from before."
Xia Yuanba had experienced countless storms. The awakening of his Overlord Emperor Divine Meridian, and his ascension to the position of Saint Emperor of the Huangji Sacred Domain, had stripped away his former naivety, making him more meticulous by the day.
Yun Che fell silent. Finally, he said, "You're right. I have indeed seen Qingyue."
"Ah!" Xia Yuanba's body shook, and he stepped forward in excitement. "Where is my sister now? How is she? Has she suffered any grievances or been bullied?"
"She is in the Shen Realm," Yun Che said. "She is doing very well. You don't need to worry at all. Her current cultivation and status in the Shen Realm are far beyond anything you could imagine. However, she cannot return."
"Why?" Xia Yuanba blurted out. "What happened to her over there? How is she right now? Why can't she come back?"
"It's a complicated situation. It's hard to explain in a few words." Yun Che could only answer this way. Xia Yuanba was at the top of the Blue Pole Star, but the power and laws of survival in the Shen Realm were still beyond his imagination. "But one thing I can tell you for sure: it's not that she doesn't want to come back, nor that she's unwilling. She has never abandoned you. There's a special reason."
"Oh, and," Yun Che continued, "In the Shen Realm, Qingyue has found her mother."
Xia Yuanba's body trembled again, even more violently than before. "You mean... my sister found her mother? Is this true!?"
"Yes," Yun Che nodded. "Not only did she find her, but they are reunited and living together in the same place."
But...
Xia Yuanba clenched his fists. His face flushed red with intense emotion. His lips quivered, and he wanted to ask so many things that he didn't know where to start. Finally, he said hoarsely, "Where are Mother and Sister? I want to go to the Shen Realm to find them. Right now!"
Xia Yuanba's response was exactly what Yun Che had expected. He shook his head. "No."
"...Why?" Xia Yuanba struggled to suppress his nearly uncontrollable emotions.
"You took the Life Divine Water, and your cultivation has just entered the Divine Origin Realm. You are the supreme existence on the Tian Xuan Continent. But in the Shen Realm, the power of those strong ones is far beyond what you can imagine. Your sister cannot return, and she has repeatedly hinted that I should not reveal any information about her to you as much as possible... You should understand the reason."
Xia Yuanba: "..."
Seeing Xia Yuanba's expression, Yun Che smiled again. "Haha, it's not that serious. Let's do this, Yuanba. Give yourself two years. If, in two years, you can stabilize your footing at the Divine Origin Realm, I'll take you to the Shen Realm to see her. How about that?"
"Alright!" Xia Yuanba agreed without a second thought.
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[This chapter is 7K words. Did you detect any hint of ominousness amidst the gentle, mundane plot?]