The man in white hailed from the ancient desolate clan — the Jiang Family. His name was Jiang Yifei, and he lived up to his name: elegant as jade, his white robes purer than snow, otherworldly in bearing.

He did not say much about Great Ancestor Jiang Zhe’s past, but one could still glean a fair amount of useful information. Old Uncle Jiang’s father, Jiang Zhe, had left the Jiang Family in years past and never returned, carrying with him an untold story that seemed to involve the main family line.

“Great Ancestor Jiang Zhe’s cultivation touched the wonders of creation itself — how could he have passed away fifty years ago?” This was something Jiang Yifei found difficult to understand.

“He coughed up a great deal of blood when he died.” Old Uncle Jiang brought up those old memories without excessive grief; some things fade with the passage of time.

“I see.” Jiang Yifei said nothing more and simply nodded, as though he understood the hidden circumstances within.

The beautiful young woman beside him was named Jiang Caixuan. Graceful in figure, with a slender neck and delicate, fair features, she was the young lady of the Jiang Family, and the air she naturally exuded gave one a sense of untouchable refinement.

She was, however, quite fond of Tingting, setting aside all pride as she took the girl’s hand and asked her this and that in a gentle tone.

The imperious young man was named Jiang Yichen. Even knowing Old Uncle Jiang’s and Tingting’s identities now, he showed no particular warmth — still wearing the same cold, aloof expression as before.

Jiang Caixuan stepped forward, her voice clear and melodious, saying: “Elder, please come back to the Jiang Family with us. My grandfather said that the family owes your branch a great debt, and no matter what, they want to find you and bring you home.”

“Never mind all that — what you speak of is beyond my understanding, and your way of life is too far removed from mine. We are people of two different worlds. I’ve grown accustomed to everything here…” Old Uncle Jiang was a simple old man. Having lived to such an age and experienced so much, he felt he could not fit into such a clan, and he gently declined.

“Even if you won’t think of yourself, you should think of Tingting. She is a princess born among the clouds — she should not be subjected to the cruelty of others. She deserves a different life.” Jiang Caixuan brought up Tingting’s future to persuade the old man. “Please come back with us. The elders of the family are all greatly hoping for Great Ancestor Jiang Zhe’s line to return to the fold.”

“Take Tingting with you. I’ve grown used to the life here and don’t wish to go anywhere else…”

Tingting immediately threw her arms around the old man’s arm: “I’m staying with Grandpa. Wherever Grandpa is, that’s where Tingting will be.”

At this point, Jiang Yifei revealed a warm smile. He seemed to be quite fond of little Tingting, and gave her head an affectionate pat as he said: “The sky here is too small…”

Jiang Yifei was a perceptive man. He knew that trying to persuade Old Uncle Jiang with words alone would yield little effect — only by letting him witness the Jiang Family’s supremacy might the old man be convinced to change his mind. He rose to his feet and said: “First — to the Li Family.” His words were calm, yet they seemed to carry a strange, irresistible power. Outside, every savage beast let out a roar, a bloody killing air billowed forth, and every rider erupted with a powerful battle intent.

Jiang Yifei’s demeanor was composed and unhurried. The golden divine Houwu followed closely at his side. He slowed his steps and walked alongside Old Uncle Jiang, side by side. Seeing this, the others all fell back.

No one rode their beasts — they proceeded on foot toward the Li Family estate. Tingting nervously held the old man’s and Ye Fan’s hands, surrounded and shielded by everyone as though at the center of stars, which made her somewhat ill at ease. Jiang Yifei and Jiang Caixuan walked abreast of them, but positioned to their left and right rather than at the center.

The people lining the streets were all astonished. Seeing Old Uncle Jiang and little Tingting being guarded in such a manner, their faces filled with disbelief. Many trembled in fear of the savage beasts and pressed back toward the sides of the street.

“What is going on? Does the old man Jiang know these people?”

“Look at those beasts — not one of them is touching the ground. They must be able to fly through the sky and burrow through the earth. How does the old man Jiang have any connection with people like this?”

“Old man Jiang has finally had a change of fortune. Good people always get their reward in the end.”

“The Li Family is in for trouble now — they seem to be heading straight for them.”

“Wonderful — we’ve been hoping for years. Someone’s finally going to deal with the Li Family!”

…

On both sides of the street, the crowd grew larger and larger. Although everyone was too afraid to get close, they could not suppress the excitement and eagerness on their faces as they followed from a distance, moving in the direction of the Li Family estate.

When Old Uncle Jiang arrived at the Li Family’s main gate, he hesitated. Seeing this, Jiang Yifei simply took his arm and led him up the steps, saying: “Let alone a small Li Family — even the imperial palace of the mightiest nation in the Eastern Desolation, and still no one would dare block our way.”

Boom!

Ahead of them, a pair of vermilion gates suddenly flew apart, as though struck by a tremendous hammer of ten thousand jun.

Inside, an immediate commotion erupted, and voices of angry shouting rose from the gatehouse.

“Who did that?”

“How dare anyone cause trouble at the Li Family — do they have a death wish!”

…

In short order, a dozen or so men stormed out, each one fierce and menacing. But the moment they laid eyes on the dozen or more savage beasts, they were all rooted to the spot — every curse died in their throats. Jaws agape and eyes wide with stupefaction, their fierce expressions vanished entirely, replaced by frantic terror as they turned and bolted back inside.

“Look at you lot, cowering like that — what are you afraid of? We at the Li Family have cultivators.” A household steward, having received their report, came striding out with a stream of curses. “What the hell — who has the gall to come make trouble at the Li Family? Don’t they know there are several Immortal Masters staying here?”

“That bad man!” The moment the steward stepped out, Tingting shrank back several steps — it was clear she was quite frightened of this person.

“You people…” The steward, having stepped outside, was alarmed as well. The golden divine Houwu, the five-colored beast, the divine deer with the vertical eye — he had neither heard of nor seen the likes of these before, and he was immediately struck dumb with awe.

“Is this person a bad man?”

“Yes — he brought people and seized our inn, and beat Grandpa until he coughed blood.” Spoken in Tingting’s childlike voice, these deeds felt doubly outrageous.

Jiang Yifei gave a wave of his hand, and a rider immediately stepped forward to bear down on the steward.

“You… what do you think you’re doing? This is the Li Family — several Immortal Masters are inside; you dare cause trouble here?!” His bravado belied his fear as he shouted loudly and backed away continuously.

“Don’t act here — we don’t want to frighten the child.” Jiang Yifei was thoughtful; he didn’t want a bloody scene to traumatize Tingting.

“Yes!”

The fully armored rider seized the steward by the collar and hurled him out. A flash of cyan light, and another rider mounted on a beast leaped skyward, taking the steward along as they shot out of the small town in an instant.

“They can fly!”

“They can really fly through the sky!”

“That beast is actually galloping through the air — this is unbelievable!”

In the distance, the watching townsfolk were all wide-eyed with shock, their mouths hanging open in stunned amazement.

Tingting’s mouth, too, formed a perfect “O” shape as she stood on her tiptoes and gazed up into the distant sky.

Jiang Caixuan smiled and crouched down, saying: “Would you like to have a beast like that, so you could fly through the sky every day?”

Tingting instinctively moved to nod, but then quickly thought of something and tightened her grip on the old man’s arm, shaking her head: “I want to be with Grandpa.”

Jiang Caixuan had not expected Tingting to see through her intention so quickly, and so she stopped trying to entice and persuade her.

Before long, a green shadow appeared in the sky. The rider who had left guided the beast back and descended — a lock of hair was wrapped around his hand, dotted with traces of blood.

Beside them, Ye Fan was deeply startled. The Jiang Family’s riders all seemed to be remarkably powerful, their strength immeasurable — he felt a surging, surging battle power emanating from them.

The group continued forward. The watching townsfolk followed behind, hoping to see the Li Family’s villains get what they deserved.

“Who has broken into my Li Family and caused this uproar?” At that moment, several middle-aged men dressed in fine silks and satins, along with a few elders, came walking out — fury written on their faces.

“Old man Jiang, is that you?!” It was clear they had not yet grasped the situation. Spotting Old Uncle Jiang in the courtyard, they immediately barked: “Who let you in? Get out!”

“Master Second, please keep your voice down — take a look at what’s behind them.” A servant whispered a warning.

Only then did the man notice the savage beasts beyond the gate. His expression instantly turned to panic, and he stumbled backward, shouting: “Quick — go and summon the Immortal Masters!”

The beautiful Jiang Caixuan’s lovely face turned cold. “A petty little clan with only a handful of people who can barely call themselves cultivators — and they dare bully the weak and oppress the commonfolk? How utterly reckless.”

She gave a light wave of her hand, and every man was sent flying like fallen leaves, slamming into the walls and collapsing to the ground, unable to rise again. These were the leading figures of the Li Family, and their cries of agony rang out one after another.

In a flash of light, two figures rushed out and arrived in the front courtyard — the two cultivators of the Li Family. Upon seeing the situation before them, both their expressions changed color.

“Friends, who are you people? What have we done to offend you, that you would barge into our Li Family and injure people?” Both were around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old — shocked and furious, yet not daring to act recklessly.

“You’re not worthy of knowing.” Jiang Caixuan gave a cold laugh.

Jiang Yifei asked calmly: “Did you kill Tingting’s parents?”

“You… what are you saying — stop making false accusations!” The two men’s faces changed drastically. Seeing Old Uncle Jiang surrounded at the center, they felt a chill settle in their hearts.

“Who are you calling a false accuser?” One of the riders stepped forward, his gaze as sharp as a blade. Moving like a flash of light, he was in front of them in an instant. Crack! Crack! — two crisp sounds, and both men were sent flying through the air with a slap. Scarlet handprints appeared on the faces of the two Li Family cultivators as their cheeks swelled instantly.

Shocked and furious, the two clutched their faces and retreated, crying: “Friend — you’ve gone too far! We are disciples of Yanxia Grotto-Heaven, and several Immortal Masters are standing right here in our estate!”

“Immortal Masters? What grand talk! We were just about to pay Yanxia Grotto-Heaven a visit — why not let these so-called Immortal Masters of yours lead the way.”