Chapter 3: If One Doesn't Work, Try Another

Wang Qinfang covered her red, swollen cheek, her expression twisted with resentment. She could not understand why the old man kept clinging to an old matter from over a decade ago. If he wanted to repay a life-saving debt, he could give money or assets—why did it have to be her daughter’s marriage?

"Dad... I..." Wang Qinfang tried to argue, but Lu Zhenhua quickly pulled her back and attempted to smooth things over. "Dad, don’t be angry. Qinfang has a sharp tongue but a soft heart; she means no harm."

Ye Xifu snorted coldly and turned to look at Gu Liuyun with a face full of smiles. He affectionately grabbed Gu Liuyun’s hand and said warmly, "Liuyun, what brings you here today? Is your allowance running low?"

Hearing this, Gu Liuyun narrowed his eyes slightly. He looked at Ye Qingqing, only to see her avert her gaze. After a moment of thought, he understood her intentions. She wanted to break off the engagement but didn’t want to anger Ye Xifu, so she hadn't brought it up beforehand, hoping he would be the one to suggest it.

*Heh, what a manipulative bitch,* he thought. *She wants both the face and the benefits?*

"Grandpa Ye..." Gu Liuyun swallowed, his voice choking with emotion. "Actually, I came here today because I want to call off the engagement."

"Call off the engagement?" Ye Xifu’s expression shifted, his tone urgent. "Why would you do that out of the blue?"

Gu Liuyun sighed, his gaze landing on Ye Qingqing. "Grandpa, there’s no particular reason. I just want to break it off..."

Hearing this, Ye Qingqing felt a wave of relief. Now, even if her grandfather was unhappy, he couldn't blame her. But just then, the corners of Gu Liuyun’s mouth curled up as he continued, "Anyway, it’s certainly not because Qingqing threatened me, nor is it because my uncle and aunt look down on me. It’s just that I’ve developed some self-awareness lately."

At these words, Ye Qingqing’s triumphant expression froze. *Wait... who talks like that? Isn't he just spilling all the real reasons?*

"You scoundrel!" Ye Xifu was incensed. "If not for Liuyun’s parents saving my life back then, our Ye family would have been destroyed by our enemies long ago. The reason you are all able to cultivate in peace and enjoy such luxury today is entirely thanks to that debt of gratitude."

Spittle flying, Ye Xifu berated them harshly: "Now that his parents have gone missing, you look down on him? You are more heartless than beasts!"

Ye Zhenhua stood with a stiff expression, head bowed, being scolded like a child.

"And you!" Ye Xifu turned his gaze to Ye Qingqing, pointing at her nose. "I was the one who arranged this marriage. Why did you threaten him? If you’re so brave, why didn’t you come and threaten me?"

Ye Qingqing clenched her teeth, glaring at Gu Liuyun, who was secretly smirking. *He did it on purpose! He absolutely did it on purpose! He looks so honest and plain, but his heart is pitch black! What a manipulative man!*

"Grandpa, I just don't want to marry him!" Ye Qingqing stopped pretending. "He has no family background and no cultivation ability. I don't want to marry beneath my station. Even if you don't care about social standing, you should at least value free love, right? I am a living person; you cannot just treat me like a gift to be handed over to him!"

"Good, very good." Ye Xifu laughed in anger, nodding repeatedly. "Since you look down on him, why didn't you say so when his parents were still here? Why didn't you say anything when they gave you the Small Spirit-Gathering Array? You’ve taken everything and now you want to go back on your word?"

"How did I end up with such a shameless granddaughter!"

Ye Qingqing’s face went pale, her hands gripped tightly. The situation had reached the point she had hoped to avoid, but since it had happened, she had to grit her teeth and see it through. "Grandpa, I can compensate him, but I will not marry him!"

Ye Xifu sneered, hands clasped behind his back. "Originally, for the sake of this marriage, I intended to leave the opportunity of exploring the secret realm to you, but now I’ll have to choose someone else."

"Secret realm? What secret realm?" Ye Zhenhua suddenly looked up, his eyes burning with interest. Everyone knew that ancient secret realms often contained treasures conducive to cultivation. Finding one could save years of arduous training and extend one's lifespan.

Ye Xifu rolled his eyes at him and said slowly, "Yesterday afternoon, a powerful spiritual fluctuation occurred over Magic City. A stone radiating seven-colored divine light shattered into countless pieces, scattering across the country and forming small, independent secret realms."

He sat on the sofa. "Just now, the location of the secret realm in Magic City was discovered. Several cultivation families have agreed that each family will choose two young people to compete for the opportunities within."

At these words, the expressions of those in the living room shifted dramatically. Ye Qingqing was frustrated and anxious; Ye Zhenhua was filled with regret, wishing he had told his daughter to wait a little longer. Gu Liuyun, however, furrowed his brows in deep thought.

*Yesterday afternoon, the seven-colored divine stone... Could that thing that exploded be the Ascension Stone? And now it’s turned into a secret realm?*

"Grandpa..." Ye Qingqing struggled internally, hesitating whether to compromise for the sake of this opportunity.

But Ye Xifu didn't give her the chance. He looked up toward the second floor. "Manman, since she is unwilling, you shall take her place in this marriage."

Gu Liuyun was stunned. *Is it really that casual? Just swap one out if the other doesn't work?*

"Okay, Grandpa!" A voice as crisp as an oriole’s song drifted down from upstairs. A girl in a dress appeared, holding up the hem of her skirt as she descended gracefully. She had a doll-like face with twin tails and lively, charming features. Her chest was particularly well-developed, bouncing with every step she took.

Gu Liuyun gasped, truly impressed.

The girl leaned affectionately against Gu Liuyun, hugging his arm tightly, her bright eyes looking at him with joy. "Brother Liuyun, from now on, I am yours."

Gu Liuyun looked down, his face full of doubt. "Don't you feel wronged to marry me?"

Ye Manman smiled sweetly, her voice soft. "One should never forget the source of their blessings. Grandpa’s benefactor is my benefactor; I don't feel wronged at all."

Ye Xifu looked pleased. "Very well. Then this opportunity to explore the secret realm will go to the second branch. Whatever you bring back from the realm, you may distribute as you see fit."

Hearing this, Ye Zhenhua became anxious. "Dad, aren't there two spots for exploring the secret realm? The second branch only has Manman in the younger generation; shouldn't one spot go to our first branch?"

Ye Xifu frowned, his face tight. He was currently very dissatisfied with the first branch, but these spots were hard-won, and it would be a waste if they went unused.

"Grandpa Ye, how about I take the remaining spot?" Gu Liuyun suddenly spoke up. Several gazes in the room converged on him.

Ye Qingqing sneered, "Gu Liuyun, only cultivators can enter the secret realm. Even if you want to ruin my first branch's opportunity, you don't have to say something so stupid, right?"

"Only cultivators can enter?" A playful smile tugged at the corners of Gu Liuyun’s mouth as he stopped suppressing his aura. "Well, that’s quite a coincidence."

Under their shocked gazes, Gu Liuyun’s aura surged rapidly.

*Qi Refining! Foundation Establishment!*

He was actually a Foundation Establishment powerhouse with strength comparable to Ye Xifu’s!