In the depths of the universe, a palace floated above the Nine Heavens. The First Divine General, Taotie, gazed at the young man dozing on the dragon throne. Clasping his hands, he knelt on one knee and said respectfully, "Supreme Emperor, the Chaos Purple Lotus in the Sea of Myriad Flowers has bloomed today. Fairy Qing Yuan invites you to admire it with her.""I'm not going." The young man didn't even lift his eyelids. "Supreme Emperor, the princess of the Dragon Race from the East Sea has invited you to a game of chess.""Not interested.""Supreme Emperor, the Twelve-winged Archangel sisters from the Western Immortal Domain have recently researched a new type of magic and would like to ask you—""No, and no," the Supreme Emperor waved his hand impatiently. "Decline all future invitations.""But…" Beads of sweat formed on the First Divine General's forehead. He spoke cautiously, "Your Majesty, it has been five years since you returned from Earth. In all that time, you have not sought a single female companion, nor have you taken one step outside the palace. I take the liberty of asking, what is wrong?" The young man opened his eyes, and within them, countless stars seemed to explode. He was silent for a long moment before uttering a single word. "Tired." The First Divine General was speechless. "I've been undefeated for a hundred thousand years, without an opponent who can last more than a handful of exchanges. My cultivation has reached its limit, and I still don't have a single descendant. What's the point of living?" The Supreme Emperor heaved a long sigh. "Taotie, I'm preparing to pass on. From now on, the Heavenly Court is in your hands.""Supreme Emperor! You mustn't entertain such dark thoughts!" The First Divine General, Taotie, was so terrified he immediately prostrated himself, tears streaming down his face. Other emperors lamented that their lives weren't long enough, yet the ruler of the Heavenly Court felt life was meaningless and utterly boring, spending his days contemplating reincarnation as a mere mortal. Then again, it's somewhat understandable. The more powerful a being, the more difficult it is for them to produce offspring. This is a Heavenly Dao Law, and not even Xu Lai, the Lord of the Four Immortal Domains, was exempt. In his quest for an heir, the Supreme Emperor had tried every method imaginable over one hundred thousand years, all of which ended in failure. It was only thanks to his formidable willpower that he endured. Who else could possibly bear such torment and despair? Just as Divine General Taotie was trying to think of how to comfort the Supreme Emperor, the utterly bored Xu Lai released his Divine Sense, searching for a suitable planet on which to shed his mortal coil. As his Divine Sense swept over Earth… He shot to his feet, his gaze piercing through trillions of light-years. "This aura…" he said, his voice laced with disbelief and excitement. Divine General Taotie was completely baffled. "What is it?""A bloodline!""Hahahaha! Taotie, I've sensed my bloodline on Earth! It's my child!" Overcome with excitement, Xu Lai vanished in an instant, leaving only a single sentence echoing in the vast hall. "I'm going to Earth to be a father!""…" Divine General Taotie was left speechless. *** 「Earth.」 「Hua Country.」 「Early September, in Hangcheng.」 The weather was pleasant, and the sky was a clear, washed-out blue. Outside the main entrance of the Ye Family's villa, which was festooned with lanterns and streamers, a bustling crowd shouted congratulations, evidently celebrating some grand occasion. Dressed in a long white robe, Xu Lai stared at the gold-embossed plaque bearing the character 'Ye', a slight smile curling his lips. This is the place. My child is here. Sensing carefully, he realized it was a girl. One hundred thousand years. Xu Lai finally had a child, and it was the daughter he had always longed for! "Excuse me, handsome. Are you also here for the Ye Family's grand banquet?" a pleasant female voice asked. Turning toward the sound, he saw a beautiful woman in a long white dress with a gentle smile. She gazed at the unfamiliar man before her. Though his features were ordinary, he possessed an indescribable charisma that drew her in. His deep eyes seemed to hold the sun, moon, and stars. This man… he must have countless stories. So much so that Su Daiyi, the most sought-after heiress of the Su Family in Hangcheng, blushed and took the initiative to strike up a conversation, hoping to learn more. "I'm here to pick up my daughter," Xu Lai said, glancing briefly at Su Daiyi before looking away. All he wanted now was to rush into the Ye Family home and find his daughter. But as he drew near, he began to feel a little nervous, unsure how to face his daughter and the child's mother. "Your daughter?" Su Daiyi couldn't hide the disappointment on her face, but she quickly recovered with a slight smile. "This is the residence of the Ye Family, Hangcheng's foremost prestigious family. Why would your daughter be here, unless you're one of them?" As soon as she spoke, Su Daiyi realized something, and confusion filled her beautiful eyes. That's not right. The Ye Family's male line is sparse in this generation, with Ye Wuxuan as the only direct heir. This man is definitely not from the Ye Family! However, Xu Lai paid her no more attention, walking step by step toward the Ye Family villa. "Hey, why are you ignoring me?" Su Daiyi stomped her foot. Noticing he didn't have an invitation, she huffed, "Let's see how you get in without an invitation!" At the main entrance, a Ye Family steward was inspecting invitations one by one, flanked by two rows of ten burly security guards. Anyone who tried to slip in would be beaten so severely they'd be unable to care for themselves. Once the steward throws him out, I'll step in. Then he'll owe me a favor. Su Daiyi's lips curved into a smile, confident that everything was going according to plan. But then something happened that made her eyes widen in shock. She watched as Xu Lai walked right through the crowd, past the steward, and into the Ye Family grounds. No one checked for an invitation, and no one even questioned him. It was as if, in the eyes of everyone else, the man named Xu Lai simply didn't exist. Su Daiyi's heart nearly skipped a beat. She grabbed a woman she knew standing nearby and pointed at Xu Lai's receding back. "That man over there, how did he get in without an invitation?""Miss Su, there's no one there. You must be seeing things," the woman, a daughter from another wealthy family and a close acquaintance of Su Daiyi, teased with a light chuckle. Su Daiyi drew a sharp, cold breath and murmured, "Am I seeing a ghost?" At that moment, Xu Lai, now twenty meters away, turned his head. A smile graced his lips as his voice echoed right beside her ear, "I'm not a ghost.""A ghost!" Goosebumps erupted all over Su Daiyi's skin. She let out a shriek and scrambled away. Ghosts aren't frightening. The human heart is the most terrifying thing of all. Xu Lai thought with a sigh, leisurely surveying his surroundings. The walls of the Ye Family's banquet hall were lined with porcelain and various paintings. Though opulent, it all exuded an air of pretentious sophistication. It was the tasteless extravagance of the nouveau riche, devoid of any true heritage. Exactly ten tables were arranged in the great hall. Elegantly dressed guests sat holding glasses of red wine, chatting and laughing as they built connections or closed business deals. These people were, without exception, the elite of Hangcheng. Anyone with a net worth below ten million was not qualified to enter. "The Ye Family really spared no expense to celebrate becoming a Martial Dao family. The decorations alone must have cost over a hundred million.""Just that landscape painting by Tang Yin is probably worth more than a hundred million itself…""All because of one Ye Wuxuan and his extraordinary Martial Dao talent, the Ye Family rose from a low-tier family to become Hangcheng's most powerful in just a few short years. It's truly remarkable." Many guests sighed in admiration. They had witnessed history unfold, their eyes filled with longing. Martial Artists transcended ordinary humans, possessing unimaginably terrifying strength. Every great family took pride in their descendants becoming Martial Artists, but the path was far too arduous. For an ordinary clan like the Ye Family to become a Martial Dao family was a transformation as profound as a commoner becoming an emperor. No wonder this group of Hangcheng's powerful and influential figures felt such wistfulness; the Ye Family had accomplished a dream their own families had failed to achieve for decades. "But rumor has it that Ye Wuxuan, like most people, had no talent for the Martial Dao. They say it was only after he started drinking the fresh blood of an infant every day that…" a middle-aged man whispered. Before he could finish, the old man beside him turned pale and hissed, "Shut your mouth and get out!" The middle-aged man's expression faltered. He quickly covered his mouth and scurried out of the banquet hall. Many onlookers wore strange expressions. They had all heard this rumor, but none dared to discuss it in public. After all, the Ye Family of today… was an existence they could not afford to offend. Xu Lai frowned. A cultivation talent born from consuming the fresh blood of infants? The blood of an ordinary person couldn't possibly have such an effect. He vaguely sensed something was terribly wrong, and his gaze turned icy. If this has anything to do with my precious daughter… then the Ye Family will pay a price in blood today! ... Just as killing intent began to stir in Xu Lai's heart, an angry voice erupted. "You little bitch, where do you think you're running off to!" Everyone in the banquet hall looked over to see a little girl, about five or six years old, stumble and fall onto the red carpet. Her face, as delicate as a porcelain doll's, was pretty and cute. She wore patched-up clothes, and her large eyes were misty with tears and panic. Her small hands nervously clutched her sleeves as she sobbed, "I… I want to find my mommy. I miss her.""You're courting death!" the speaker, a security guard with a fierce expression, sneered. "Get back where you belong, or I'll throw you in the little dark room." The little dark room. The words made the little girl's frail body shudder. She didn't even dare to let out a sob. The guard grunted in satisfaction. "At least you know what's good for you. Xu Yiyi, you'd better—" But before he could finish, the little girl named Xu Yiyi scrambled to her feet and started running on her short legs. She was just too little. How could she possibly outrun a grown man? The guard was startled for a moment, but once he recovered, it took him only three steps to nearly catch her. Despair filled Xu Yiyi's heart. She had waited a full three months just for this one chance to escape. Was she going to be caught and dragged back like all the other times? Locked away in that lightless little dark room again? THUD! Distracted, the little girl wasn't paying attention and crashed right into Xu Lai's arms. "Sir! Thank you for helping me catch this little bitch. She's a servant of the Ye Family who doesn't know her place. I apologize for the disturbance," the security guard said respectfully. Xu Lai ignored the guard, his eyes fixed on the little girl in his embrace. The connection he felt, thicker than blood, made him want to roar to the heavens. He, The Supreme Emperor Xu Lai, had finally found his precious daughter! Suppressing the overwhelming excitement in his heart, Xu Lai asked, his voice trembling, "Your surname is Xu?" Frantic, Xu Yiyi clutched Xu Lai's sleeve and pleaded pitifully, "Uncle, please save me. I want to find my mommy…" Xu Lai gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and smiled. "Okay, Daddy will take you to her.""You're not my daddy. Mommy said my daddy went far, far away and that he'll come back when Yiyi is all grown up." Xu Yiyi lifted her small face and said angrily, "You're a bad person, too! You're trying to trick me so you can drink my blood!" Blood! That so-called pride of the Ye Family… they dared to drink his daughter's blood! A murderous rage surged within Xu Lai. Suddenly, in every corner of Earth, whether day or night, the sky was blotted out by dark clouds. A terrifying, world-ending aura permeated the atmosphere. Even the Heavenly Dao born of Earth itself trembled on the verge of collapse. "Sir, please hand this little bitch over to me." The burly guard's tone grew impatient. Is this man deaf? He's pretending not to hear me. Xu Lai laughed, a sound cold with fury. "What did you just call my daughter?""Little bitch." The guard blurted it out instinctively. The instant the words left his mouth, his body exploded into a fine mist of blood. The scene was unbelievably gory. However, Xu Lai had already scooped Xu Yiyi up and covered her eyes. "Yiyi, don't be afraid," he said softly. "Daddy's here. From this day forward, no one will ever be able to harm a single hair on your head." Xu Yiyi sniffed at Xu Lai. He had a nice smell, one that made her feel as safe and cherished as when she was with her mother. In a tiny voice, the little girl asked, "Are… are you really Yiyi's daddy?""Of course," Xu Lai said, lowering his hand from her eyes. Xu Yiyi opened her eyes and gazed into his for a long time. The suspicion in her eyes faded, replaced by pure joy. After that long look, she was certain. This was her daddy! Her eyes immediately welled up. She threw her arms around Xu Lai's neck and cried out plaintively, "Daddy!""Yes, I'm here, I'm here!" Xu Lai grinned from ear to ear; he was just so happy and so excited. "AH!""Someone's dead!" The banquet hall erupted in screams. The security guard had suddenly exploded into a mist of blood, causing the socialites who had been watching the spectacle to turn pale. Many of the women covered their mouths and began to retch. "Who dares cause trouble at my Ye Family's estate!" A clear, cold voice cut through the air, interrupting the father-daughter reunion. The newcomer was a stunningly beautiful young woman in a red evening gown. She wore a composed smile and was followed by more than a dozen security guards. "That's Ye Wanqing!""She's Ye Wuxuan's older sister, the fiancée of the Jiang Family's eldest young master from Yanjing, the hostess of this banquet, and the foremost of Hangcheng's three great beauties!" The crowd murmured in recognition and awe. Ye Wanqing's reputation was simply too formidable. Years ago, while her younger brother Ye Wuxuan was still a nobody, it was the outwardly gentle but inwardly venomous Ye Wanqing who had used countless plots and schemes to elevate the Ye Family's status in Hangcheng. It was even rumored that Ye Wuxuan's ability to begin his Cultivation and become a superior Martial Artist was all thanks to her machinations. Ruthless, domineering, and venomous as a viper—this was the unanimous consensus on Ye Wanqing among the heads of Hangcheng's great Wealthy Families. "Yiyi." Ye Wanqing's smile was gentle as she held out her hands. "Come to Auntie Qing. You shouldn't be with strangers, okay?""No…" Xu Yiyi shook her head so hard it looked like it might fall off. She tightened her grip on Xu Lai's neck and said fearfully, "Daddy, let's run! Auntie Qing is going to use needles on me to draw my blood again!" Xu Lai fell silent. So, this was the woman behind it all. His gaze locked onto her, and he spoke, each word dripping with ice. "Have you decided how you want to die?" The banquet hall fell into a deathly silence. Every guest wondered if they had heard him correctly. Even Ye Wanqing was momentarily stunned. She scrutinized Xu Lai, her brow furrowing slightly. "And who are you? I personally wrote every invitation to the Ye Family's banquet. I don't recall sending one to you.""My name is Xu Lai. Yiyi's father.""Oh." Ye Wanqing tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her smile fading. "So you're the one. The one who disappeared five years ago without a word, leaving Yiyi's mother, Ruan Tang, to give birth to her alone amidst a storm of ridicule and condemnation?""It was me," Xu Lai confirmed without denial or explanation. It was true. Five years ago, he had engaged in a consensual relationship with a woman from Earth. Afterward, he had returned to his palace and meditated for five years straight. He had not once extended his Divine Sense during that time; otherwise, he would have come to Earth much sooner. "Ruan Tang giving birth out of wedlock was a disgrace to the Ruan Family. It was I—Ye Wanqing!—who stepped forward in her time of crisis and offered to adopt Yiyi." Ye Wanqing lifted her chin, her gaze condescending. "You, on the other hand, have never fulfilled your duties as a father. What business do you have at my Ye Family's home today?""I've come to take my daughter home," Xu Lai stated calmly. "Yiyi may have the surname Xu, but I have raised her as my own. She is now a member of the Ye Family, and I will not permit anyone to take her away!" Ye Wanqing's voice was frigid, completely devoid of warmth. "Security! Break this man's legs and throw him out of the Ye Family estate!" The guests gasped. "He's done for. Miss Ye is angry. There'll be another nameless corpse by the river tonight.""He could have provoked anyone, but he chose Ye Wanqing. She's one of the last people in Hangcheng you should ever cross." Sighs of pity filled the hall. Nearly everyone looked at Xu Lai with compassion. No one believed this unknown man stood a chance against the Ye Family. In Hangcheng, the Ye Family was like the emperor—their position was unshakeable. ... As Ye Wanqing finished speaking, the dozen or so security guards behind her stepped forward in unison. They ferociously drew the batons from their waists, swinging them so hard they whistled through the air. "Daddy..." Xu Yiyi's petite body trembled slightly as she said in a panic, "Daddy, let's run!" Xu Lai ruffled his precious daughter's hair and smiled. "Sweetheart, there's no need to run. Daddy is an expert.""How much of an expert?" Xu Yiyi's large, sparkling eyes were filled with expectation. "About this much of an expert." Xu Lai casually held his hand level with his waist. Seeing his daughter pout in disappointment, Xu Lai hastily raised his hand high above his head. "This much of an expert!""Mwah! Daddy is the best!" Xu Yiyi planted a kiss on Xu Lai's cheek. This made Xu Lai so happy he nearly floated on air. Yiyi was just too adorable! However, Ye Wanqing's expression grew increasingly cold. She would not allow Xu Yiyi, whom she considered the Ye Family's private property, to have any connection to anyone else. Not even Xu Yiyi's biological parents! All possible complications had to be nipped in the bud. Only this could ensure that her brother, Ye Wuxuan, could always use the 'spirit blood' to nourish himself. This way, his Martial Dao cultivation would be unobstructed, and the Ye Family's future would be splendid! Ye Wanqing's voice turned icy. "What are you standing there for? Do it!""Yes, Miss," the security guards responded in unison as they gradually closed in. In the crowd, a woman looked on with a worried expression—it was Su Daiyi, the same woman who had been frightened by Xu Lai outside the Ye Family's gate. After calming down, she had also entered the banquet hall. Yet, after much hesitation, Su Daiyi couldn't find the courage to step forward. To incur the wrath of a powerful enemy like the Ye Family for a stranger would be completely irrational. So, Su Daiyi remained silent, watching as more than a dozen security guards swung their batons down on Xu Lai! But the anticipated screams never came. Instead, all the security guards were sent flying by an invisible force. They crashed to the ground, creating deep pits, without even managing a single cry of pain. All sixteen men were left seriously injured and unconscious. None were spared. "Hmm?" Ye Wanqing narrowed her eyes, a hint of surprise in her voice. "So you're a Martial Artist. I see, so that's where your confidence comes from." The guests were astonished. Xu Lai was actually a Martial Artist! "Unfortunately, the power of the Ye Family is beyond your imagination," Ye Wanqing said, without a hint of panic. After the initial surprise, she glanced up toward the second floor of the banquet hall. A moment later, a figure leaped down from the second floor. BOOM! The ground trembled, and the marble floor fractured into a spiderweb of cracks. A collective gasp went through the crowd; the second floor was nearly five meters from the ground! The person who had leaped down was an old man dressed in black martial arts attire, his expression filled with an ineffable pride. "It's Han Buming!""Master Han is a three-time champion of the Taekwondo Grand Tournament! He once killed a raging bull with a single kick! His strength is unfathomable!" It didn't take long for people to recognize the old man, sparking a wave of awe and apprehension. Han Buming's strength was truly formidable. One of the reasons for the Ye Family's rapid expansion in Hangcheng was that Ye Wanqing had used various means to win over this Martial Dao expert. This had made him a Venerate of the Ye Family, a deterrent powerful enough to prevent the other Wealthy Families from provoking them excessively. Now, as the Venerate of the Ye Family appeared, Su Daiyi broke into a cold sweat for Xu Lai. So what if you're a Martial Artist! Even if you are strong, could you be stronger than Master Han, who has immersed himself in the Martial Dao for fifty years and is an unparalleled master in the domain of Taekwondo? How could a mantis possibly hope to stop a chariot! Han Buming stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression aloof. "The Martial Dao is divided into nine grades, split into lower, middle, and upper tiers. The lower three grades cultivate strength. The middle three grades cultivate internal energy. The upper three grades stand at the pinnacle of the Martial Dao. Practitioners at this level are known as Martial Ancestors, and they cultivate Divine Skills!""Though your internal energy sent sixteen men flying, your technique is crude. In my eyes, it's full of flaws! Therefore, you are merely an ordinary Fourth Grade Martial Artist." Han Buming spoke with a touch of regret. "To reach the Fourth Grade at your age means you must have some talent, but you never should have come to the Ye Family looking for trouble, and you certainly shouldn't have provoked Miss Ye." Xu Lai has Martial Dao talent? A cold light flickered deep in Ye Wanqing's eyes. She let out a soft chuckle. "Xu Lai, I, Ye Wanqing, am not an unreasonable person. I'll give you one chance. If you cripple your own cultivation level and meridians, swear an oath to never set foot in Hangcheng again, and admit you have no relationship with Yiyi, I'll spare your life.""What if I say no?" Xu Lai asked coolly. This woman is truly vicious. She clearly wants me dead right here in the Ye Family's home, yet she hypocritically offers me a choice. How laughable. "My Ye Family's Venerate possesses astonishing martial strength," Ye Wanqing threatened openly. "If he accidentally kills someone, that is a consequence the Ye Family can afford to bear. After all, I must be responsible for Yiyi. I cannot allow bad people the slightest opportunity.""You're a first-class hypocrite," Xu Lai scoffed. "Since you're going to play the harlot, don't pretend to be a saint.""Daddy, Yiyi doesn't understand," Xu Yiyi said, blinking her large eyes. "Little children don't need to understand so much." Xu Lai stroked his precious daughter's hair and said softly, "Cover your eyes. Only open them when Daddy tells you to. It's about to get bloody.""Mmm-hmm," Xu Yiyi obediently did as she was told. At that moment, the entire hall fell deathly silent, every face a mask of stunned disbelief. They couldn't believe someone had dared to point a finger at Ye Wanqing and say such a thing, even if it was a widely known truth. Su Daiyi frowned. Even if he is an accomplished Martial Artist, he can't insult Ye Wanqing like that. She's the backbone of the Ye Family, and more importantly—the older sister of the prodigy, Ye Wuxuan! "How dare you..." Ye Wanqing's fists clenched, her knuckles turning white from the force. Her voice was ice. "Venerate Han, do it!""Understood, Miss Ye." Han Buming, a black belt tied around his waist, was full of vitality despite being over sixty and having a full head of white hair. He twisted his neck, a trace of scorn on his face. "I have studied Taekwondo for more than fifty years and have reached the early Fifth Grade. If you kill yourself now, you can avoid a great deal of physical pain!""Taekwondo? What's that?" Xu Lai muttered to himself. "It's not among the three thousand great Dao laws." Han Buming's face turned ashen. The hierarchy of the Martial Dao is strict. For a fledgling Fourth Grade Martial Artist to feign ignorance before a Fifth Grade master, claiming not to know Taekwondo… it was the height of disrespect. "Go to hell!" he roared, channeling all his strength into the instep of his foot as he unleashed a vicious sweeping kick. A powerful wind howled as he kicked. The tables and chairs in its path instantly exploded into a cloud of wooden splinters. He moved so fast that he left a trail of afterimages. The guests were utterly horrified. Was this the power of a Fifth Grade Martial Artist? The might of that single kick was terrifying.

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The air in the banquet hall was thick with perfume and whispered deals, but I barely noticed. All I could feel was the pulse of her blood—my blood—beating faintly across the room. After a hundred thousand years of emptiness, I’d finally found her. My daughter. Xu Yiyi. Five years old, trembling in the arms of a guard who called her ‘little bitch.’

I moved without thinking. One step, and the world slowed. The guard exploded into mist before he could react. Screams erupted. Glasses shattered. And there she was, clinging to me, her tiny voice breaking my heart. 'Daddy, let's run!'

I smiled, brushing her hair. 'No need to run, sweetheart. Daddy’s here.'

Then she appeared—Ye Wanqing, elegant in red, smiling like a viper. 'You have no right to take her,' she said. 'She belongs to us.'

My fingers twitched. The temperature dropped. Outside, the sky cracked open with thunder. 'You think,' I said softly, 'that I came all this way… just to ask nicely?'