Chapter 501 - Returning to One's Roots
"Can one enter the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley normally?" Yun Che asked.
"Of course not." Yun Xiao shook his head firmly. "Every time someone enters, the Illusion Demon Royal Clan closes the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley and uses five years for resource regeneration. Five years is very short, but with the dense and terrifying flame and thundercloud power of the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley, various spirit bodies and treasures gestate very quickly. Under normal circumstances, entry into the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley is absolutely forbidden, not even for the Illusion Demon Royal Clan themselves."
"Flames... thunderclouds... there are the Golden Crow's inheritances there, so flames are normal. Why are there also thunder and lightning?" Yun Che asked in confusion.
"This, I don't know either. It seems this has always been an unsolved mystery of the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley. I heard from Father that perhaps somewhere in the valley, there exists a powerful thunder-type profound beast or a thunder-type supreme treasure, but that's just a guess."
Yun Che nodded, then lifted his head to look north. Although he didn't know the exact location of the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley, he possessed the Phoenix Force and was far more sensitive to flame profound energy than ordinary people. In a place north of Yao Huang City, he vaguely sensed the existence of a flame aura. Perhaps that was where the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley was located.
The Tian Xuan Continent was divided into seven kingdoms, with the Four Sacred Grounds transcending them, calling themselves Guardians but existing as transcendent Arbiters. However, the territory of the Illusion Demon Royal Clan exceeded that of the Tian Xuan Continent, and it was not divided into territories but centered on the Illusion Demon Royal Clan. In terms of power level, the Yao Huang City where Yun Che currently was, was comparable to the Four Sacred Grounds of the Tian Xuan Continent.
Without a doubt, as soon as one entered Yao Huang City, the profound force aura became extremely intense. Thrones, which were extremely rare in the seven Tian Xuan kingdoms, were everywhere here, and even the exceedingly rare Overlord Emperors existed in large numbers. As Yun Che flew toward the Yun Family's location, he sensed no less than twenty Overlord Emperor auras along the way. The scale of the forces in Yao Huang City was evident.
However, the clash between the Illusion Demon Royal Clan and the Tian Xuan Continent ultimately ended with the Illusion Demon Royal Clan suffering a great loss, and they had never taken any vengeful action since... It seemed that in comprehensive strength, the Illusion Demon Royal Clan was still somewhat inferior to the Four Sacred Grounds.
"We're almost there. That gate shimmering with purple light ahead is it." Yun Xiao pointed forward and downward.
The Yun Family was not as large as Yun Che had imagined. Its clan grounds were smaller than even the Fenghuang God Sect, let alone the Fen Tian Gate he had destroyed, which surprised Yun Che. But thinking that his biological grandfather and biological father seemed to each have only one son, he subconsciously thought... Could it be that the existence of the Yun Family had encountered heaven's jealousy and been limited in reproductive capacity?
When they reached the air above the Yun Family's main gate, Yun Che descended slowly with Yun Xiao. Looking at the gate that was familiar yet unfamiliar, Yun Che caught a fleeting trace of hesitation in Yun Xiao's eyes.
"Brother Yun, um..." Yun Xiao said hesitantly. "Although I am nominally the Young Family Head of the Yun Family, most people don't seem to like me very much. So if anyone is rude, Brother Yun doesn't need to bother with them."
Yun Che's heart stirred slightly. He nodded and said, "Mm, I understand. Don't worry. My main purpose in coming here is to pay respects to the Yun Family Patriarch. Everything else doesn't matter."
Yun Che followed Yun Xiao through the Yun Family's main gate. The moment he stepped inside, his heart still surged uncontrollably. The ground beneath his feet, the air at his nose, everything before his eyes was so unfamiliar. He had set foot in this place for the first time in his life, yet this was his true clan's location. The blood flowing through his veins came from here. His biological father, his biological mother... they were all here...
I... am really... back in this place...
Yun Xiao's injuries were severe, but he clearly didn't want his family members to discover he was hurt. As he entered the gate, he tried to calm his expression and straighten his back. But as soon as they went in, a young man who looked to be in his twenties or thirties came walking toward them. The moment he saw Yun Xiao, a disgusting smile immediately appeared on his face. "Aiyo! Isn't this the great Young Family Head Yun Xiao? Why are you back so early today? Couldn't find any fun outside or what... Oh?"
The young man quickly noticed Yun Xiao's injuries. His eyes narrowed, and then he laughed with malicious glee. "Hahaha! So that's it, you got hurt! Which family's young master did you spar with? Tsk tsk, you're at least the nominal Young Family Head of our Yun Family. Losing a spar and ending up in such a pitiful state—how embarrassing for the Yun Family!"
This person's words toward Yun Xiao were particularly vicious and stinging. He called him "Young Family Head" but showed not the slightest respect, even his eyes were full of mockery and derision. Yun Xiao's hands tightened, but he forced himself to ignore him and directly said to Yun Che, "Brother Yun, don't mind him. Let me take you to see my father."
Having said that, Yun Xiao pulled Yun Che and walked straight past the young man. He had endured similar treatment so many times that he had almost become accustomed and numb to it. Over the years, the thing he had trained the most was endurance... if not for himself, then for his father and mother.
As Yun Xiao left, the young man refused to let it go. He turned sideways and sneered contemptuously, "Yo! Great Young Family Head, where did you pick up this lover boy? With such delicate skin, even I want to touch him. It seems the Young Family Head has finally realized he can't have that swan meat from the Elf Clan, so he's switched to keeping a pretty boy... Come to think of it, rather than daydreaming about eating swan meat, keeping a pretty boy is much more practical, hahaha!"
Yun Che's footsteps abruptly stopped. This was no longer mockery—it was vicious, poisonous humiliation. From Yun Xiao's account and the attitude of those from the Tianxia Clan toward him, Yun Che knew that although Yun Xiao bore the title of Young Family Head, his days in the clan were not easy. But he had never imagined it would be this bad.
What Yun Xiao could endure, he could not! If he could endure this, he wouldn't be Yun Che!
Just as Yun Che was about to turn around, a clear rebuke came from behind. "Yun Hao! How can you be so disrespectful to the Young Family Head! Apologize to the Young Family Head at once!"
Yun Che diverted his attention and looked toward the source of the voice. A young man in white robes as white as clouds walked over. He looked about twenty-five years old, with a heroic spirit in his brows. Though young, his profound force aura was extremely dense—at least a dozen times stronger than Yun Xiao's, who was at the Half-step Overlord Emperor realm.
"Ah... Brother Xinyue!"
Seeing this person, Yun Hao's ugly demeanor from when he faced Yun Xiao instantly vanished, replaced by a sycophantic approach. "Brother Xinyue, are you going out? Little brother rarely sees you going out at this hour."
"Hmph!" The young man gave him a cold glare and rebuked, "Did you not hear what I just said? Apologize to the Young Family Head right now!"
Yun Hao shrank his neck but didn't dare disobey. Facing Yun Xiao, he gritted his teeth and was about to bow his head. Yun Xiao quickly waved his hand and said, "Brother Xinyue, no need. Yun Hao was just joking. It's fine."
"Right, right, right, I was just joking." Yun Hao quickly nodded with a grin, then secretly glanced at Yun Xiao with an expression that said "you know your place."
"Hmph!" The young man snorted again. "The Young Family Head is gentle and generous, yet you blind fools bully him day after day because of it... If I see this again, I will not be lenient!"
"Brother Xinyue's lesson is right. I absolutely won't dare next time." Yun Hao replied with a cheeky grin, then retreated behind the man, but shot Yun Xiao a sneering glare.
The young man's expression softened, revealing a gentle smile. He said to Yun Xiao, "Brother Yun Xiao, next time someone bullies you, don't swallow your anger... Oh? From the look of you... you're injured? What happened?"
Yun Xiao quickly shook his head and said, "It's nothing, not a serious injury. It will heal in ten days or half a month. Brother Xinyue doesn't need to worry."
The young man didn't press further. With concern, he said, "Judging by your appearance, it doesn't look like a minor injury. Go get treated quickly... By the way," he turned his gaze to Yun Che, "and this is?"
"This is a friend I just met, Yun Che." Yun Xiao introduced, and when facing this person, his expression was noticeably relaxed. "Brother Yun, this is my clan brother, Yun Xinyue."
Yun Che nodded and exchanged greetings.
"Oh? This brother is also surnamed Yun? What a coincidence." Yun Xinyue clasped his hands to Yun Che. "It's rare to see Brother Yun Xiao bring a friend back. I'm sure Brother Yun Che must be a dragon among men. When you have free time in the future, I look forward to getting to know you better."
"Of course! Brother Yun is very amazing!" Yun Xiao said with pride. Seeing several people approaching from a distance, he quickly said, "Brother Xinyue, I have something to see my father about, so I'll take my leave for now. Thank you again for helping me out."
"Go ahead." Yun Xinyue said with a faint smile.
Yun Che gave Yun Xinyue a light, indifferent glance, then turned around and followed Yun Xiao straight to where his father was. But after he had taken a few steps, a fleeting cold gleam suddenly swept across from behind him.
Yun Che's brows twitched slightly, but his steps did not stop.
Killing intent!!
This was something Yun Che would never mistake!
And this trace of killing intent was not directed at Yun Xiao... but at himself!
He was clearly entering the Yun Family for the first time. Before this, he had never met anyone from the Yun Family except Yun Xiao, had never even entered Yao Huang City, and the number of people he knew added up to less than a handful. Why would anyone harbor killing intent toward him?
He had only approached Yao Huang City today... and the only thing he had done was that one thing...
Then, there was only one possibility!
"Yun Xiao, who is that Yun Xinyue? His prestige seems much higher than yours as the Young Family Head," Yun Che suddenly asked.
Yun Xiao scratched his head and laughed with some helplessness and embarrassment. "Brother Xinyue's prestige is naturally much higher than mine. His father is the strongest among the Yun Family's Thirty-Six Elders, the Seventh Elder Yun Waitian. And he himself is the strongest of our generation in the Yun Family. At only twenty-seven years old, he is already at the fourth level of the Overlord Xuan realm, and he awakened the only cyan Arcane Firmament of this generation. With his Arcane Firmament, he has never had an opponent within the same level and can even fight against the fifth level of the Overlord Xuan realm. He is known as the hope of the Yun Family's rise, and everyone in the clan says he is the most qualified to become the next..."
Here, Yun Xiao's voice suddenly cut off, but Yun Che could easily guess what he didn't say.
"You seem to have a very good impression of him?" Yun Che asked what seemed like an irrelevant question.
"Mm." Yun Xiao nodded. "Brother Xinyue not only has extremely high talent, but also a very gentle temperament. Because of some bloodline matters, I often suffer all sorts of criticism, ridicule, and bullying. But Brother Xinyue never mocks me. Instead, he often helps me out of trouble, even personally teaching those who bully me a lesson. I've always been very grateful to him."
"Because of some bloodline matters? What do you mean?" Yun Che asked sidelong.
Yun Xiao, having accidentally let it slip, showed a slight panic on his face. "N-nothing, just some small matters."
Yun Che didn't press further, but instead asked, "Do you also think he is very suitable to become the next Yun Family Patriarch?"
Yun Xiao had never expected Yun Che to ask such a direct question. He was stunned for a moment, then gave a bitter laugh. "Although I bear the title of Young Family Head, you've seen it yourself—this title on me is just a joke. In terms of strength, persuasiveness, and most importantly... in any case, I know I can never become the Patriarch in the future. If it were Brother Xinyue, I think I would also be very supportive. Perhaps Brother Xinyue really is the hope for our Yun Family's resurgence."
Yun Che gave him a deep look and said with a half-smile, "This Yun Xinyue is really not simple."
"Of course he's not simple! He is the undisputed number one of our Yun Family's generation. Even people from the Illusion Demon Royal Clan think highly of him." Yun Xiao said with some pride.
Little did he know, the "not simple" in Yun Che's words and the "not simple" in his own words were two completely different concepts.