Wei Lan looked at Ye Xuan, saying nothing.
Her instincts told her Ye Xuan was bluffing!
After all, she grew up in the imperial palace and wasn’t naive. Over the years, without some wit, she wouldn’t have survived this long.
But the Dao Pen was real!
The Dao Pen!
Glancing at the pen at Ye Xuan’s waist, Wei Lan sighed softly, “Young Master Ye, you’re becoming more and more mysterious.”
The more she interacted with Ye Xuan, the more enigmatic he seemed.
A man shrouded in mystery.
Ye Xuan smiled, “Your Highness Lan, it’s a simple choice. It’s up to you.”
Wei Lan looked at him, “So, I only get your help if I join Guanhua Academy. Is that it?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
He wasn’t a saint.
If she didn’t join Guanhua Academy and wasn’t his woman, why should he help her?
Wei Lan was silent for a moment, then said, “How can I trust that following you is better than following the Milky Way Alliance? Young Master Ye, you know what I’d have to give up if I choose you.”
Ye Xuan blinked, “You can also choose not to follow me. I don’t mind.”
Wei Lan fell silent, her right hand slowly clenching.
This man wasn’t falling for her tactics.
Should she bet on him?
Wei Lan hesitated.
She knew full well what losing this bet would mean.
Ye Xuan smiled, “Make your choice. I won’t force you.”
With that, he turned to leave.
Suddenly, Wei Lan said, “I agree.”
Ye Xuan stopped and turned to her, “Miss Lan, think carefully. Choosing me might mean offending the Milky Way Alliance and even your father.”
Wei Lan stepped forward, smiling, “Young Master Ye, I choose to trust you.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Why?”
Wei Lan looked him in the eyes, “No reason. I just do.”
She was gambling.
A huge gamble.
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then said, “To Great Wei.”
Wei Lan was taken aback, “What for?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “You’re now part of Guanhua Academy. Your matters are mine to handle. Let’s go get your father to cancel your engagement with the Milky Way Alliance.”
With that, he turned and left.
Wei Lan watched his retreating figure, stunned for a moment, before hurrying after him.
In Great Wei, the imperial palace.
Wei Yuan looked at Ye Xuan, “Cancel the engagement?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Yes.”
Wei Yuan turned to Wei Lan, “Is this your decision?”
Wei Lan nodded, “Yes.”
Wei Yuan’s eyes narrowed, a cold glint flashing within, “Do you know what you’re doing?”
Before Wei Lan could speak, Ye Xuan interjected, “She knows exactly what she’s doing.”
Wei Yuan looked at Ye Xuan, none too politely, “Young Master Ye, this is a family matter.”
Ye Xuan casually brushed his chest, lifting the Dao Pen from his waist, and said, “She’s now part of my academy.”
Wei Yuan’s gaze fell on the Dao Pen, and he couldn’t help but stand, his voice trembling, “This… the Dao Pen?”
Ye Xuan blinked, “To me, it’s just an ordinary pen.”
The Dao Pen: “…”
Wei Yuan looked at Ye Xuan, his expression shifting. After a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “Young Master Ye, you and the Master of the Dao Pen…”
Ye Xuan smiled, “I have no connection to the Master of the Dao Pen, honestly.”
Wei Yuan fell silent.
No connection?
If there’s no connection, how is that pen in your hands?
Ye Xuan continued, “As Miss Lan’s father, I’ll call you Elder Wei. You’re an ancient titan, suppressing your realm to stay in the mortal world. For what purpose?”
Wei Yuan remained silent.
Ye Xuan smiled, “For profit, of course. Your cultivation requires vast resources, right?”
Wei Yuan nodded.
Ye Xuan went on, “You fight for the mortal realm for profit, but you seem to have overlooked something: the mortal realm was created by the Master of the Dao Pen.”
Wei Yuan’s expression darkened.
He had indeed overlooked that.
Ye Xuan added, “The Master of the Dao Pen is the true lord of the mortal realm.”
Wei Yuan glanced at him, “Is this the Master of the Dao Pen’s will?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “What do you think?”
Wei Yuan was silent.
He couldn’t quite figure out if this was the Master of the Dao Pen’s will or Ye Xuan’s.
His instincts told him this young man was a bit too flashy.
Ye Xuan continued, “Order.”
Wei Yuan’s eyes narrowed, “Order?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “The Master of the Dao Pen wants to establish a new order, and I… am the spokesperson for this new order.”
Wei Lan turned to Ye Xuan, her face full of shock.
Wei Yuan stared at Ye Xuan, silent.
Ye Xuan continued, “Don’t believe me?”
Wei Yuan glanced at the Dao Pen at Ye Xuan’s waist, remaining silent.
Ye Xuan smiled, “I don’t need to explain this to you, but since I’m friends with Miss Lan, I don’t want her or her family to fall into ruin. Elder Wei, my academy represents a new order, and I aim to establish this order not just in the mortal realm but across the entire universe. I’m sure you’ve investigated me…”
Wei Yuan suddenly said, “I haven’t.”
Ye Xuan froze, looking at Wei Yuan. Wei Yuan hesitated, then said, “I really haven’t.”
Ye Xuan’s face darkened, “Didn’t my appearance amaze you at all?”
Wei Yuan glanced at him, “Not really…”
Ye Xuan’s expression sank.
At this, Wei Lan suddenly said, “I’ve investigated Young Master Ye.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Then you must know what happens to my enemies along the way.”
Wei Lan said gravely, “They either surrender or join you.”
Ye Xuan nodded and looked at Wei Yuan, “Elder Wei, Great Wei is a super force in the mortal realm, but in the grand scheme of the universe, it’s nothing. I won’t say more. If I walk out of this hall without an answer, I can responsibly tell you that Great Wei will become a target of the Master of the Dao Pen’s sanctions.”
With that, he turned to leave.
Wei Lan hesitated, then looked at Wei Yuan.
Ye Xuan suddenly laughed, “Miss Lan, let’s go. Your father doesn’t want to join Guanhua Academy—that’s his choice. Trust me, one day he’ll beg you to inherit Great Wei, and by then, you’ll see Great Wei for what it is.”
With that, he walked out.
Wei Lan hesitated for a moment, then followed him.
She was nervous, naturally.
She was gambling.
A massive gamble.
Betting her entire future.
By following Ye Xuan, if Wei Yuan didn’t change his mind, it meant she was completely severing ties with Great Wei.
Though she had cunning and intelligence, without a powerful backer or platform, she was nothing.
This was the biggest gamble of her life.
As Ye Xuan reached the hall’s entrance, Wei Yuan still hadn’t spoken.
Wei Lan’s eyes slowly closed.
Just then, Wei Yuan suddenly said, “Young Master Ye!”
Ye Xuan stopped.
Wei Yuan looked at him, “I don’t believe the Master of the Dao Pen wants a new order, nor do I believe you’re their chosen one. You’re not the Child of Destiny. Only the Child of Destiny is chosen by the Master of the Dao Pen.”
He opened his palm, and a scroll floated to Ye Xuan, “Young Master Ye, this is your profile. It includes an evaluation from your former enemies: flashy, loves to bluff, and only one in ten sentences might be true.”
He smiled faintly, “You think a few words will make me stake all of Great Wei on you? I’m not Lan. I’ve seen more storms than you’ve eaten meals.”
Ye Xuan glanced at Wei Yuan and smiled, “You overlooked one thing: the enemies who evaluated me are all dead. Those who chose to trust me are still alive and well.”
With that, he walked out.
Wei Lan started to follow, but Wei Yuan suddenly said, “If you step out of this hall, you’ll no longer be part of Great Wei. Everything you once had will be gone from this moment.”
Wei Lan paused, then strode out.
In the hall, Wei Yuan’s face grew grim.
He hadn’t expected the cautious and pragmatic Wei Lan to take such a gamble.
He knew her character—she was not only cautious but also realistic and far from foolish.
This meant her trust in Ye Xuan must have some basis.
At this thought, Wei Yuan’s eyes slowly closed.
He had no way out.
He couldn’t easily follow Ye Xuan’s words. Great Wei, built over countless generations, submitting just like that?
Not even if the Master of the Dao Pen were here in person would he submit so easily.
Unless he was utterly outmatched.
Moments later, Wei Yuan stood and headed to the Milky Way Alliance.
The Milky Way Alliance.
Another key reason he didn’t trust Ye Xuan was that the Master of the Dao Pen was in the Milky Way Galaxy, and the Milky Way Alliance’s people came from there.
They were more likely to represent the Milky Way Sect.
…
After leaving Great Wei’s palace, Ye Xuan stopped and turned to Wei Lan.
Wei Lan approached him, smiling, “I’m all alone now.”
Ye Xuan laughed, “How could you be? You have the academy and me.”
Wei Lan looked at him, silent.
Ye Xuan smiled, “Do you trust me?”
Wei Lan nodded.
Ye Xuan asked, “Why?”
Wei Lan looked at him, “Because you dared to come to Great Wei’s palace and, in front of my father, tell me not to marry Lin Tian.”
Ye Xuan froze.
