Her master's call snapped Li Feihuang out of her daze. With a reluctant glance at Ye Chen's retreating figure, she hurriedly followed Lin Qingtan onto the skyship.

As the skyship began to move, Lin Qingtan glanced at her distracted disciple. "Why didn't you greet him? Didn't Ye Chen once help you secure the throne?"

Li Feihuang's expression grew even more complicated, a bitter pang rising in her heart. In the past, Ye Chen had been utterly devoted to her, catering to her every need. If it hadn't been for that matter of demanding he marry into her family, if they hadn't fallen out, the Kun Peng Imprint Ye Chen gifted to her master would likely have been hers instead.

She didn't want to speak of it. Admitting the truth would make her a laughingstock. To think she had tried to force the future Holy Son of Heavenly Evolution to marry into her family and even leave behind a wisp of his soul—such a story would surely provoke endless ridicule for her lack of foresight.

Lowering her head, Li Feihuang mumbled, "There was a misunderstanding." Then, shifting the topic, she frowned. "Master, are you really going to join Ye Chen's Holy Son Peak?"

Lin Qingtan nodded.

Li Feihuang's brows furrowed tighter. "If you join the Holy Son Peak, what about me?"

Lin Qingtan replied casually, "Naturally, you'll join me at the Holy Son Peak."

At those words, Li Feihuang's heart filled with resistance. That day, Ye Chen had unhesitatingly rejected her offer to be his servant, bringing her immense humiliation. It had fueled her determination to one day stand above him, to make him regret his choice. Later, she had become a direct disciple of the Holy Land, a step closer to her dream.

Yet, upon their reunion, Ye Chen had become the Holy Son. His displayed talent rivaled even Hua Yunfei's, and during his Nascent Soul tribulation, Kun Peng, one of the Vicious Ten, had appeared. Great powers at the Unity Realm were vying to be his Protector. This was something Li Feihuang could hardly accept.

But what pained her most was that Ye Chen truly seemed to have forgotten her entirely. Since their reunion, she had imagined countless scenarios of speaking with him—a warm smile to mend past grievances, a cold exchange with no words, or even Ye Chen mocking her. She could have accepted any of those outcomes.

Li Feihuang had never imagined that Ye Chen's eyes would never once linger on her. Being ignored by him was something she couldn't bear. Because of this, the idea of joining the Holy Son Peak was utterly unacceptable to her. If she joined as a disciple, wouldn't that make her Ye Chen's subordinate? To become the underling of someone she once considered her right-hand man—that was something Li Feihuang could not stomach.

"Master, I don't want to go to the Holy Son Peak. Isn't our current peak perfectly fine? We have plenty of resources," she pleaded. "If we go to the Holy Son Peak, there might not be enough cultivation resources. The strength of a peak affects many interests and could hinder our path to immortality."

Li Feihuang tried to persuade her master, but Lin Qingtan had already made up her mind. How could she be swayed? She replied calmly, "I've decided. If you don't wish to come, you can stay behind."

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Li Feihuang's face stiffened at her words.

Perhaps taking pity on her, Lin Qingtan softened slightly and added, "The new Holy Son carries immense fortune, and his future achievements will be limitless. For cultivators seeking the Dao, there are two paths: either become invincible yourself or follow someone with great fortune. But becoming invincible is incredibly difficult. Following someone with great fortune is no easy task either—just look at how even Unity Realm experts are vying to be his Protector. For cultivators, everything besides cultivation is trivial. Let go of your attachments."

With that, Lin Qingtan fell silent. She placed the Kun Peng Imprint Ye Chen had given her against her forehead, extending her spiritual sense to comprehend it. Soon, she entered a deep state of cultivation.

As for her disciple, she had said enough. The path was Li Feihuang's to walk—no amount of advice could force her to choose. Li Feihuang stared at the Kun Peng Imprint, her expression growing even more complicated.

...

"Senior Brother Ye?"

Ye Chen landed in front of An Miaoli. An Yuyi was the first to rush forward, clinging to his arm. Her large eyes sparkled with admiration. She could never forget the image of Ye Chen arriving with wings aglow with seven-colored divine light, suppressing enemies and saving her. And now, watching him face eighty-one heavenly tribulations and battle an ancient ferocious Kun Peng, while effortlessly erasing the once-terrifying Tian Mingzi without lifting a finger—it only deepened her awe. Holding onto Ye Chen, she felt an overwhelming sense of security.

The Divine Will Ancestor and others looked at Ye Chen with a mix of admiration and reverence. Who could have predicted that, in the blink of an eye, Ye Chen would become the Holy Son of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, with a Unity Realm expert guarding him from the void? It was staggering, leaving them at a loss for words.

Ye Chen chuckled softly, ruffling An Yuyi's fluffy hair before turning to An Miaoli. "I'll be heading to the Holy Land soon. Senior An, would you and Yuyi like to come with me?"

An Miaoli was, of course, a must-bring. With her near-Heavenly Spirit Root, her multiplier would surely skyrocket. Plus, being at the early Nascent Soul stage like him, she had a high chance of triggering a critical hit. She was the perfect candidate for gifting.

An Miaoli's heart stirred at the invitation. The Holy Land—how could any cultivator with ambitions for the immortal path not be tempted? Especially with Ye Chen there. An Yuyi didn't hesitate for a moment. "I want to go!"

An Miaoli, however, glanced at the Divine Will Ancestor. Having grown up in the Divine Will Sect, she couldn't just leave without the sect's approval.

Catching her gaze, the Divine Will Ancestor spoke without hesitation. "Go, go! What's there to hesitate about when it's the Holy Land? Just don't forget the Divine Will Sect. If we're ever in trouble, come back to help."

The Divine Will Ancestor was genuinely supportive, not speaking out of fear of Ye Chen. For a sect, a strong cultivator's greatest value was ensuring its legacy. If An Miaoli went to the Holy Land, she would undoubtedly grow stronger. Other forces, knowing the Divine Will Sect had a former grand elder in the Holy Land, would think twice before causing trouble. Her presence there would be a greater deterrent than if she stayed.

So, the Divine Will Ancestor agreed without hesitation.

Then, with a hopeful look at Ye Chen, he added, "Why not take me along too?"

He was curious and wanted to see the Holy Land for himself. Even if he left, the sect still had another Nascent Soul cultivator to hold the fort. Though that cultivator was a bit weak, with Tian Mingzi freshly dead, no one would dare stir trouble at the Divine Will Sect.

Ye Chen's lips twitched at the suggestion. He was well aware of the Divine Will Ancestor's track record—bluntly put, the old man was absurdly weak. While Ye Chen's Holy Son Peak would surely have ample resources in the future and could support more people, he couldn't just let anyone join.

Shaking his head, Ye Chen replied tactfully, "Ancestor, you're getting on in years. Why not stay and enjoy your later years at the Divine Will Sect? The immortal path might be too much to pursue."

His words were somewhat diplomatic, but not entirely. The Divine Will Ancestor, battered by recent setbacks, caught the hint of disdain and fumed, his lips twitching. "You little… Thirty years east, thirty years west… Don't bully the old and poor…"

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