Driven away?
Driven away?
The crowd in the hall was utterly petrified!
Immortal Ancient Yao froze for a moment, then, as if possessed, she rushed out of the hall.
Inside, Immortal Ancient Tong glared furiously at his wife, “Foolish woman! Foolish woman! Long hair, short sight! You’ve infuriated me!”
The woman: “…”
At that moment, Li Lan abruptly pocketed the *Divine Path Codex*. Seeing this, Immortal Ancient Tong’s face changed drastically, “Brother Li Lan, what’s the meaning of this?”
Li Lan said gravely, “This is Young Master Ye’s wedding gift, given to my daughter. If it’s hers, it’s the Li family’s. Any problem?”
The crowd: “…”
Immortal Ancient Tong stared at Li Lan, eyes blazing, “Brother Li, this was a gift from Young Master Ye to my son!”
Li Lan sneered, “A gift for your son? You and your wife drove him out! And you claim it’s for your son… bah, how shameless!”
Immortal Ancient Tong’s face darkened, “Li Lan, today is my son’s and your daughter’s wedding day. Don’t force me to turn against you!”
Li Lan scoffed, “Turn against me then!”
He’d long coveted the *Divine Path Codex*, but it was too expensive, buying it would cripple his finances. He never imagined acquiring it so easily here. There was no way he’d give it up, even if it meant a fight!
Seeing Li Lan’s refusal, Immortal Ancient Tong’s expression grew grim, his fists clenched, ready to act.
Li Lan stood his ground, unyielding.
The festive atmosphere vanished instantly!
Nearby, Li Xue’s face paled, a wave of desolation rising within her. She turned to Immortal Ancient Yuan, who was fixated on the *Divine Path Codex* in Li Lan’s hands.
Seeing this, Li Xue froze, then gave a bitter smile, turned, and left.
No one in the hall noticed her departure, not even Immortal Ancient Yuan.
…
Outside Immortal Ancient City, Ye Xuan drove his carriage slowly into the distance.
In his hand was an ancient book, *Divine Ease*, reputedly authored by a distant emperor. It was fascinating, and he enjoyed reading it immensely.
Suddenly, the space behind him trembled, and his carriage stopped. A woman appeared before him, Immortal Ancient Yao, who had chased after him.
Looking at Ye Xuan, she said softly, “Are you angry?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
Immortal Ancient Yao was silent for a moment, then said, “I’m sorry! I was delayed and couldn’t come out right away!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “It’s not your fault.”
Immortal Ancient Yao looked at him, “On behalf of my clan, I apologize.”
Ye Xuan shook his head, “No need.”
Immortal Ancient Yao fell silent.
Ye Xuan smiled, “I understand them, actually.”
She looked at him, and he continued softly, “This is a restless world, people chase fame and fortune, it’s normal. They saw we’re friends and feared something more might develop. That’s understandable. You’re from a great clan, if you marry, it’ll surely be to someone of equal status, right?”
Immortal Ancient Yao remained silent.
Ye Xuan added, “Miss Yao, are we friends?”
She nodded.
He smiled, “Don’t let worldly constraints bind you. Follow your heart, live freely.”
With that, he drove his carriage away.
Immortal Ancient Yao stood in silence for a long time, sighed softly, and turned back.
When she returned to Immortal Ancient City, the wedding was over, replaced by conflict!
Immortal Ancient Tong and Li Lan were fighting!
The visiting faction leaders watched in stunned disbelief, allies turned enemies in an instant!
Utterly absurd!
Even more absurd was that Ye Xuan from the Observing Mystery Academy had given the *Divine Path Codex* as a wedding gift!
Was he foolishly wealthy?
Some factions left to investigate Ye Xuan, realizing anyone who could gift the *Divine Path Codex* was no ordinary person.
Others gloated, amused that Immortal Ancient Tong and his wife had driven Ye Xuan out, an utterly baffling move.
Upon her return, Immortal Ancient Yao halted the fight between Immortal Ancient Tong and Li Lan.
Expressionless, she said, “Now, Immortal Ancient City and the Mysterious Realm are a laughingstock. Do you still wish to continue?”
Immortal Ancient Tong’s face darkened, “The *Divine Path Codex* belongs to our clan!”
Immortal Ancient Yao glanced at him, “And not to the Mysterious Realm?”
Immortal Ancient Tong froze.
She turned to Immortal Ancient Yuan, snapping, “Fool, haven’t you noticed your wife is gone?”
Immortal Ancient Yuan looked around, stunned to find Li Xue missing.
Immortal Ancient Yao glared at him, “Is the *Divine Path Codex* more important than your wife?”
Immortal Ancient Yuan lowered his head, not daring to argue.
She shouted, “Go find her!”
He hurriedly left.
Immortal Ancient Yao turned to Li Lan, “Uncle Li, we formed this alliance for unity. Is it worth turning allies into enemies over a book?”
Li Lan was silent.
After a moment, Immortal Ancient Yao said, “Young Master Ye gave this as a gift to both our clan and yours. I suggest we share it. What do you think?”
Li Lan considered, then said, “Agreed.”
Immortal Ancient Tong, after a long pause, also said, “Agreed.”
Immortal Ancient Yao nodded, then looked at her mother, who grew uneasy under her gaze.
Walking to her, Immortal Ancient Yao said softly, “Mother, I’m grown. My affairs no longer need you or Father’s interference.”
She turned and left.
Her parents’ faces were grim.
…
Immortal Ancient Yao returned to the main hall, now empty of guests.
She suddenly said, “Come out!”
A white-robed elder emerged behind her.
Calmly, she asked, “He had no seat when he entered, did he?”
The elder nodded.
Immortal Ancient Yao was silent for a long time, then asked, “Was he angry then?”
The elder hesitated, “Young Master Ye didn’t seem angry. He was looking around, likely for you, Miss.”
Her right hand clenched, eyes cold. After a pause, she asked, “Did he say anything when he left?”
The elder hesitated.
Her eyes closed, “Speak!”
He said gravely, “Young Master Ye said he’d never return to Immortal Ancient City.”
Immortal Ancient Yao’s eyes snapped open, her fists tightened, and after a long moment, she closed them again…
…
Cloud Realm.
Atop Cloud Peak, a woman sat cross-legged, hands on her knees, in deep meditation.
She was the Lord of the Cloud Realm.
Between her hands, a faint light swirled, as she cultivated the *Divine Path Codex* written by Qin Guan.
An elder approached, saw her cultivating, bowed, and was about to leave when she said, “Speak!”
The elder nodded and recounted the events in Immortal Ancient City.
She frowned, “He used the *Divine Path Codex* as a gift?”
The elder nodded, “It shocked everyone!”
She asked, “Immortal Ancient Tong and his wife drove him out?”
The elder nodded.
She paused, then said, “Impressive!”
The elder gave a wry smile, “Young Master Ye seemed too ordinary.”
She shook her head, “It’s not that he’s ordinary, it’s that everyone’s been underestimating him.”
The elder frowned, “Underestimating him?”
She gazed at the distant clouds, “He’s no ordinary man.”
…
Immortal Treasure Pavilion.
In a small room, a veiled woman sat quietly, her face obscured.
Another woman approached and whispered something.
The veiled woman’s eyes narrowed, “He used the *Divine Path Codex* as a gift?”
The woman nodded, “Yes!”
The veiled woman was silent for a long time, then said, “Quite generous.”
The woman smiled, “Very generous, it stunned everyone! People are guessing he might like Miss Immortal Ancient Yao, so…”
She stopped, realizing she’d said too much.
The veiled woman was silent.
The woman hesitated, then asked, “Miss, should we keep monitoring Young Master Ye?”
The veiled woman said calmly, “Yes. Also, prepare, I’m going to visit the Observing Mystery Academy.”
The woman froze.
The veiled woman added, “Go make arrangements.”
The woman nodded quickly, “Yes!”
The veiled woman looked at a portrait of Ye Xuan before her, whispering, “Young Master Ye, just how mysterious are you? I’m truly curious.”
…
Ye Xuan drove his small carriage back to the Observing Mystery Academy. As he reached the gate, he froze.
A woman stood there, none other than Li Xue, still in her vibrant red wedding robe, as stunning as ever.
Seeing Ye Xuan, she bowed slightly, “Young Master Ye!”
He smiled, “Miss Li Xue, shouldn’t you be in Immortal Ancient City?”
She looked at him, “I want to join the Observing Mystery Academy.”
Ye Xuan blinked, “Join the Academy?”
She nodded.
“Why?” he asked.
She thought for a moment, then said, “I want to be someone as wise as you.”
Ye Xuan: “…”
She looked at him, “Is that possible?”
He smiled, “Welcome!”
She met his gaze, “But I might bring you trouble.”
Ye Xuan smiled faintly, “If I wish, I could make the myriad universes vanish in an instant.”
Li Xue: “…”
