When Gu Han and the other two landed on the square in front of the Ye family's towering, gate-tower-like entrance.
Inside the Ye residence, the alarm had long since been raised.
The heavy gates remained shut, yet atop the gate-tower and along the high walls surrounding the compound, dozens of figures appeared in an instant.
They wore the standard Ye family guard uniform; the weakest among them was at the Golden Core Stage, while the captains in the lead had reached the Nascent Soul Realm.
At this moment, every man stood to arms as if facing a mortal foe—swords drawn, Magic Treasures in hand—nervously locking onto the three figures who had suddenly appeared in the square.
The leading captain, a Late Nascent Soul expert, stepped forward, his voice like a great bell:
"Who goes there? This is the Ye family estate; entry without prior notice is forbidden! State your names at once!"
His voice carried spiritual power, echoing around them as a warning.
Meanwhile, hidden from view, nodes of the Ye family's protective grand Formation had already been activated.
A faint Formation shimmer drifted above the residence, exuding a subtle yet mighty fluctuation.
Ye Linger gazed at the familiar Ye family gate that once had filled her with oppression and alienation.
Looking at those cold-faced, vigilant guards, her heart no longer stirred.
She stepped half a pace forward, standing beside Gu Han, and her cool voice rang out just as clearly:
"Disciple of the Yaochi Immortal Palace, Ye Linger of the Luoxing City Ye branch, here to meet whoever is in charge of the Ye family."
Her voice was soft, yet it carried a strange penetrative power that reached every guard's ear.
It even passed through the gate into the depths of the compound.
"Ye Linger?!"
"It really is her?!"
"But she has the Nine Yin Absolute Meridian—how… how can she have cultivation?!"
"A Disciple of the Yaochi Immortal Palace? What sort of power is that?"
Exclamations and whispers burst from the guards atop the gate-tower, many faces filled with disbelief.
The captain in command also narrowed his pupils; naturally he had heard of Ye Linger.
A branch child once judged incurably ill and unable to Cultivate—now at Peak Qi Refining Stage!
How could this be possible?!
Clearly his rank and status had not yet informed him of Ye Linger's transformation or of events in Luoxing City!
But he was, after all, a guard captain; he quickly suppressed his shock and said grimly:
"So it is Young Miss Ling'er."
"However, even as a branch Young Miss, if you wish to see the Patriarch you must follow protocol and await announcement—"
Before he could finish, Gu Han's gaze swept over lightly.
The look was calm, yet the Late Nascent Soul captain felt as if ice water had been poured over him.
The rest of his words stuck fast; a chill from the depths of his Soul made it almost impossible to breathe!
He felt like an ant being stared at by some primordial beast—life and death decided in a single thought!
"This seat is not here as a guest, so no announcement is needed,"
Gu Han's voice sounded, still flat but carrying unquestionable authority:
"Tell Ye Lingyun to come out and see me."
She had spoken the Patriarch's name outright!
And in such a calm, almost commanding tone!
The guards atop the gate-tower paled, then flushed with anger.
Even heads of other first-rate powers in the Eastern Domain would politely address their Patriarch as "Patriarch Ye" or "Fellow Daoist Lingyun."
This silver-haired woman dared be so arrogant?!
"Insolence!"
"Audacious! To speak our Patriarch's name so casually!"
Several hot-tempered guards could not help shouting.
Yet the moment their rebukes rang out—
"Noisy."
Gu Han did not even glance their way; her lips merely parted to let the word fall.
An invisible force brushed past.
Those shouting guards, along with their weapons and armor.
Were erased like chalk marks—vanished without a trace!
No screams, no struggle, no ripple of spiritual power; it was as though they had never stood there.
Instantly, deathly silence atop the gate-tower!
Every guard's face turned paper-white, anger replaced by boundless terror.
The captain in charge broke into cold sweat, knees buckling, nearly kneeling.
What manner of method was this?!
Words become law? Or some Divine Ability beyond their understanding?
What cultivation level did this silver-haired woman possess?!
"Now, may I invite Ye Lingyun to come out?"
Gu Han's gaze returned to the captain, her tone still mild, as though she had merely brushed aside a few mosquitoes.
"S-Senior, calm your wrath! This J-Junior will announce you at once!"
The captain could hold out no longer; bowing hurriedly, he tremblingly produced a special transmission jade token and was about to crush it.
Just then—
"Who dares cause trouble at my Ye family gate?!"
An authoritative shout, like rolling thunder, surged from deep within the Ye compound!
Immediately several mighty auras shot skyward and raced toward the gate!
Leading them was none other than Ye family Patriarch Ye Lingyun!
He wore a purple-gold robe, his dignified face showing no attempt to conceal his Early Mahayana cultivation.
A mountain-heavy pressure blanketed the square as he sought to suppress Gu Han's trio.
Behind him followed five figures whose auras were equally vast:
Grand Elder Ye Mingyuan and four other core Elders at the Body Integration Stage!
The six hovered in the air, looking down with icy scrutiny at Gu Han, A Yao, and Ye Linger below.
When Ye Lingyun's eyes fell on Ye Linger and sensed her Peak Qi Refining Stage aura and the bright moon-wheel imprint between her brows.
He could not hide a flicker of shock!
She could actually Cultivate!
And this aura… definitely not that of an ordinary Qi Refining Cultivator!
Suppressing the tempest in his heart, he finally locked his gaze on Gu Han.
When his Divine Sense swept over her—just like Ye Zhenyue before—and found only emptiness.
Ye Lingyun's heart sank completely.
Unfathomable!
The Palace Mistress of the Jade Pool Immortal Palace was absolutely far above him!
Most likely at Late Mahayana… or even higher!
"Your Excellency is Gu Han, Palace Mistress of the Yaochi Immortal Palace?"
Ye Lingyun asked in a heavy voice, his tone solemn:
"Your Excellency has graced my Ye family with your presence, yet has slain my guards—what is your purpose?"
As head of a great clan, he still had to observe the proprieties and first seize the moral high ground.
Gu Han lifted her gaze and met Ye Lingyun calmly:
"Patriarch Ye, why feign ignorance?"
"Your Third Elder Ye Zhenyue attempted to abduct this seat's Disciple and spoke rudely to this seat."
"This seat administered a small punishment and erased him. Today I have come to ask you."
She paused, her voice cooling:
"Does your Ye family intend to become enemies with this seat?"
Her words were clear, stating her intent outright and dismissing Ye Zhenyue's death as lightly as flicking dust.
The Elders behind Ye Lingyun immediately showed fury.
Grand Elder Ye Mingyuan stepped forward and said grimly:
"Even if Zhenyue acted improperly, he was still a Ye family Elder!"
"For Your Excellency to kill him on a whim—is this not overbearing, and treating my Ye family with utter contempt?"
"Overbearing?"
Gu Han laughed softly; the smile was stunning yet carried a detachment that looked down on all mortal beings.
"This seat has always acted thus."
"This seat's own Disciple, this seat will teach; it is not for others to point fingers, nor for anyone to coerce."
"Since your Ye family dared stretch out a hand, you should have been ready to bear the consequences."
Her gaze swept across Ye Lingyun and the others, her voice suddenly turning cold:
"Today, this seat gives you two choices."
"One: let the matter rest. Concerning Ye Linger, your Ye family will not interfere again, nor will you make things difficult for the Luoxing City Ye branch."
"Two: if you feel Ye Zhenyue died unjustly, that this seat is overbearing, and you wish to seek 'justice' for him…"
Gu Han's smile turned to frost:
"Then this seat will not mind installing a new Patriarch for your Ye family—or even… a new Main Family Branch."
A new Patriarch? A new Main Family Branch?!
The threat and killing intent in her words swept the square like a winter wind!
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