Aboard the majestic Qilin carriage, Ye Yun finally arrived at the vast palace complex belonging to Ye Changkong.
Gazing across the sea of misty immortal peaks, the dense throngs of rare beasts—a spectacle eclipsing even his own private domain—and inhaling an atmosphere saturated with rich, potent immortal qi, Ye Yun could not suppress a quiet exhale of pure awe.
Such was the breathtaking splendor worthy of the Ye Clan Patriarch.
Countless clan guards stood vigil around the perimeter, among whom were Saint Realm powerhouses and even formidable entities beyond.
Regardless of lineage or standing, anyone seeking entry into this domain faced an ironclad mandate to declare their identity, lest the defensive arrays execute them on the spot.
That unyielding decree had held absolute sway for uncounted generations.
But Ye Yun had no need to report his arrival.
The unique Qilin carriage beneath him provided an unmistakable testament to his identity.
Across the limitless expanse of the Immortal World, Ye Yun stood as the sole individual who traversed the skies in a vessel pulled by four Qilins of four distinct elemental attributes.
A singular distinction in the world, with no equal anywhere under the sun.
Recognizing the legendary carriage, not a single guard dared to obstruct Ye Yun's advance.
Accustomed to the path from innumerable journeys, the four Qilins guided the carriage smoothly toward their designated landing terrace.
The elevated stone plaza stretched across the mountain, vast enough to accommodate a hundred Qilin carriages without the slightest hint of crowding.
Whoosh!
The Qilin carriage touched down flawlessly upon the polished stone terrace, its motion so perfectly cushioned that Ye Yun felt not a single vibration within the cabin.
"Young Master, we have arrived," Xia He murmured softly.
Flanked by Xia He and Qiu Lan, Ye Yun stepped down onto the stone terrace.
A monumental flight of stairs stretched before his eyes, boasting several hundred steps carved directly into the bedrock, ascending toward the grand palace crowning the peak.
Taking in the magnificent, imposing vista for the first time in his memory, a quiet, resonant pulse of wonder settled in Ye Yun's chest.
"Let us ascend," he commanded.
The trio began their deliberate march up the wide stone staircase.
To seasoned cultivators, the steep ascent posed no physical burden whatsoever, though to an ordinary mortal, scaling such height would prove a brutal, exhausting trial.
Before long, Ye Yun and his maidservants cleared the final step, arriving directly before the grand palace gates.
Rows of elite soldiers stood rigid outside the main hall, clad in heavy armor and gripping long spears, their presence radiating a sharp, suffocating killing intent.
These were the elite guards meticulously nurtured by the Ye Clan, every single individual a dedicated cultivator.
The vast majority possessed cultivation at the Dao Comprehension Realm, while a select few had attained the Great Power Realm.
The squad captains leading the formations commanded even higher tiers of power.
To the Ye Clan, such cultivation levels were considered ordinary, yet across the wider Immortal World—where ordinary mortals vastly outnumbered cultivators—a Dao Comprehension Realm warrior was a revered powerhouse that common folk could only look up to.
Within the Ye Clan, however, such individuals served merely as standard palace guards.
Turning back toward Xia He and Qiu Lan, Ye Yun issued a quiet instruction.
"Wait here for me until I return."
Xia He and Qiu Lan exchanged a brief glance, bowing their heads in instant, harmonious agreement.
"Understood, Young Master."
Possessing maxed-out loyalty, neither girl would ever disobey his command.
Even if Ye Yun ordered them to walk directly into death, they would comply without a moment's hesitation.
Having issued his instructions, Ye Yun stepped forward alone, only for several formidable guard captains—powerhouses capable of shaking entire regions—to immediately fall in formation around him, maintaining a precise, respectful distance as their eyes remained reverentially lowered.
Under strict, absolute orders from the Patriarch to preserve the Young Master's safety at all costs, the captains flanked his path like silent phantoms.
Every elite guard along the promenade dropped to one knee, spears striking the stone floor with a thunderous clash as they roared in chorus: "Greetings to the Young Master!"
A thrill of satisfaction coursed through Ye Yun as he absorbed the royal treatment, savoring the intoxicating sensation of commanding total submission from an army of experts.
Passing unhindered into the main hall flanked by his silent honor guard, Ye Yun took in the breathtaking architecture, where polished immortal stones were embedded seamlessly into the walls, gleaming with resplendent light.
At the far end of the immense chamber stood the focal point of the entire complex—a high throne symbolizing the absolute, supreme authority of the Ye Clan Patriarch.
Seated upon that throne was none other than the current Patriarch of the Ye Clan, Ye Changkong.
Ye Yun finally set eyes on his father, a figure previously existing only within inherited memories.
He possessed a square, resolute face lined with solemnity, his sharp, piercing gaze naturally radiating an imposing authority without needing to display anger.
Draped in a black embroidered robe trimmed with noble silk, he exuded an aura of immense power and nobility, while an ancient sword rested quietly beside his seat—a weapon Ye Changkong had wielded in his younger years, though he rarely drew it now that he had reached his current realm.
The instant his eyes fell upon Ye Yun, the ruthless tyrant facade that terrified the entire Immortal World shattered instantly, vanishing without a trace.
Rising from his grand throne, Ye Changkong cast aside all majestic decorum and rushed down the steps toward his son, transformed completely into a deeply worried father who simply wanted to embrace his cherished child.
"Yun'er, you have come!"
His beloved son had been trapped in a deep coma following a sudden qi deviation, and seeing him standing awake brought a sudden surge of profound relief and raw affection to his heart.
Although the boy had acted overbearing and tyrannical in the past, he was still his cherished only son, gifted with exceptional talent and doted on beyond measure.
With only one son to his name, Ye Changkong naturally cherished him above all else, willing to grant him the absolute best of everything in the Immortal World.
He had never imagined that his brilliant, gifted son would fall victim to qi deviation.
Protected by the Supreme Immortal Body, Ye Yun progressed at a blistering pace that should have naturally repelled heart demons so long as he avoided reckless ambition.
That a heart demon had managed to manifest inside his cherished son had infuriated Ye Changkong completely, prompting him to launch a ruthless investigation behind the scenes to destroy whoever had harmed him.
Cupping his hands in a formal greeting as his father reached him, Ye Yun spoke clearly.
"Father, I am completely fine now; my body has fully recovered."
Upon hearing his son's reassuring words, Ye Changkong erupted into boisterous, thunderous laughter, radiating the heroic vigor of a true Sovereign Master.
"Good, good! Wonderful! Hahahaha!"
Overjoyed, Ye Changkong threw a massive arm around Ye Yun's shoulders and slapped him on the back with hearty, overwhelming strength—a blow so heavy and earth-shattering that Ye Yun felt his soul nearly leave his flesh, feeling as though he were on the verge of dying right then and there.
Yet despite the sheer physical agony of his father's terrifying display of affection, Ye Yun maintained an unyielding smile, knowing full well the gesture stemmed purely from his father's unbridled happiness.
While Ye Yun had remained unconscious, Ye Changkong had been tortured by worry, but seeing his son standing energetic and completely restored lifted the crushing weight from his chest.
"Yun'er! Yun'er! Has my Yun'er arrived?!"
Right then, an anxious, panicked voice echoed from outside the main hall.
A familiar figure darted frantically into the chamber a moment later.
Hearing the voice, Ye Yun recognized her instantly.
"Mother, I am right here, completely recovered."
Ye Yun bowed respectfully toward Yun Yao.
In the next instant, Ye Yun found himself pulled into a fierce, trembling embrace, as if she would tear down the heavens before letting anyone hurt him again.
'Is this the price to pay for not being a neglected bastard protagonist?' Ye Yun screamed internally as his mother's suffocating embrace crushed his ribs, barely recovering from his father's spine-shattering pat.
'At this rate, my own doting parents are going to kill me before any enemy gets the chance!'
"Yun'er... my Yun'er is finally alright."
Yun Yao's voice trembled with overwhelming joy and deep fear.
Ever since Ye Yun had fallen into qi deviation, Yun Yao had been utterly heartbroken, privately blaming Ye Changkong for failing to protect their precious son.
Faced with his wife's tearful accusations, Ye Changkong had offered no defense, quietly ordering his shadows to hunt down the root cause with absolute malice.
That investigation had yielded shocking results, revealing that the entire tragedy traced back to a specific individual.
Managing to catch his breath, Ye Yun gasped out hurriedly.
"Mother, go easy... I can barely breathe!"
Snapping back to awareness, Yun Yao realized she had squeezed him far too tightly in her protective panic, nearly smothering him.
Releasing her grip immediately, she gently turned Ye Yun around, inspecting every inch of his body to ensure he harbored no hidden injuries.