The female disciple nodded. "The scouts did indeed report that."
"I understand."
Leaving those words behind, Ayin Qingzhu flashed toward the palace where the Palace Master resided.
Arriving at the palace, Qin Xiuqing saw her beloved disciple approaching and immediately noticed at a glance that she had broken through to the Nirvana Stage.
Her face instantly broke into a wide smile.
This also set her mind considerably at ease.
Back when Chen Xuan and Ayin Qingzhu had confronted each other, she had actually secretly probed her body and discovered some unknown secrets.
This was one of the reasons why she chose to protect her.
Ayin Qingzhu bowed respectfully. "Master, something terrible has happened!"
Qin Xiuqing looked surprised. "What is it?"
Ayin Qingzhu hesitated. "I heard that Junior Brother Chen has gone to the Great Yan Empire."
"It's fine, just let him go. It'll be good for him to clear his head."
Clearly, Qin Xiuqing was in the know and had not interfered.
"But..."
Ayin Qingzhu trailed off, looking as if she had more to say.
Qin Xiuqing asked, "Are you worried about him being out there alone?"
"Yes." Ayin Qingzhu nodded.
Qin Xiuqing was taken aback, finding this rather strange. "Didn't the two of you already divorce?"
Once divorced, couldn't he go find someone else?
That made no sense!
Though she also hoped that Chen Xuan could complete his revenge in the Great Yan Empire and then return to maintain his relationship with Ayin Qingzhu—rather than letting a fit of pique cause immeasurable losses to the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace—her intuition told her this was impossible.
Yet Ayin Qingzhu argued defensively, "Master, I haven't agreed to the divorce yet!"
"This..."
Left with no other choice, Qin Xiuqing could only tell Ayin Qingzhu to pick one of the many Nirvana Stage deacons to accompany her to the Great Yan Empire.
However, she laid down one condition: they could only seek to befriend, never to make an enemy!
Ayin Qingzhu readily agreed and turned away to find someone.
When Ma Fengbin heard about this, he immediately sought out Ayin Qingzhu and volunteered.
"Qingzhu, I happen to be planning to return to the Great Yan Empire to visit family in a few days. Leave this matter to me."
He was not from the Great Yan Empire at all.
Visit family?
What family was there to visit?
Go visit until he became family?
Pure nonsense.
In truth, he had also received highly confidential information saying that there were rumors of the Devouring Ancestral Symbol somewhere in the Great Yan Empire.
And his true intention was precisely that.
Ma Fengbin was terribly afraid that Ayin Qingzhu would refuse, but to his surprise, she agreed.
"Then I'll have to trouble Deacon Ma."
"Not at all, not at all, it's just a small matter."
Ma Fengbin beamed with joy.
Now he could openly show his face in the Great Yan Empire!
The Devouring Ancestral Symbol!
Old man Ma Fengbin is coming for you!
At the same time, Ayin Qingzhu clenched her delicate hands into fists.
*Junior Brother Chen, you and I are husband and wife. As long as I don't agree to the divorce, don't even dream of it!*
***
Great Yan Empire.
Tiandu County.
Qingyang Town, the Lin Family Hall.
Lin Zhentian was holding a family meeting.
By now, the Lin Family was the undisputed overlord of Qingyang Town. Even the Yan City Lord's Mansion treated them with extreme courtesy.
This filled Lin Zhentian with confidence about returning to the Lin Clan.
Just as the family meeting reached the halfway point, Lin Zhentian's expression abruptly changed, and he sprang straight up from his chair.
Lin Xiao asked in confusion, "Dad, what's wrong?"
Cold sweat poured from Lin Zhentian like rain. "I faintly sense a terrifyingly monstrous aura heading straight toward Qingyang Town."
What kind of strength could make the Family Head feel such terror?
The gathered Lin family members all looked at each other in puzzlement, guessing who it could be.
At that moment—
Suddenly, a figure materialized out of thin air within the Lin Family Hall.
He appeared without the slightest warning.
Looking closely, it was a handsome and dashing young man.
This person was none other than Chen Xuan!
His terrifying aura caused the Lin family members present to feel suffocated.
Hardening his resolve, Lin Zhentian stepped forward. "I am Lin Zhentian..."
Before he could finish, however, Chen Xuan bluntly interrupted, "Is Lin Dong here?"
"Dong'er?"
Everyone wore surprised expressions.
Could he be a friend of Lin Dong's?
His strength must already be at the Half-Form Creation Stage!
No wonder even the Family Head was so afraid!
Breathing a sigh of relief, Lin Zhentian figured that as long as he wasn't an enemy, it was fine. With a smile, he said, "Dong'er left Qingyang Town for the clan competition."
Chen Xuan frowned. "When did he leave?"
"Just a few days ago. Before leaving, he even traded blows with the Lord of Yan City, who is at the Lesser Form Creation Stage."
Lin Zhentian said this undoubtedly as a veiled threat.
How could Chen Xuan fail to pick up on it?
Yet, a mere Lesser Form Creation Stage cultivator was someone he could crush with two fingers.
Scanning the hall without seeing Lin Qingtan, Chen Xuan said, "I've come to inform you of one thing."
Lin Zhentian replied, "Please speak, young man."
"From today onward, Lin Qingtan belongs to me. We will officially be wed at the Lin Clan's clan competition two years from now."
"Young man, you..."
Lin Zhentian tried to say something, but Chen Xuan cut him off directly.
"If any of you dare help her escape, not even a dog or chicken will be left alive in the entire Lin Family!"
As his voice fell, Chen Xuan casually pointed a finger.
"Boom!"
The table in the Lin Family Hall shattered into powder on the spot!
Lin Zhentian's eyes nearly popped out of his head!
Even Shi Haotian, the Lord of Yan City, lacked such terrifying strength!
Just who was he?
He had never heard of anyone among the younger generation in the Great Yan Empire possessing such formidable prowess.
Even Lin Langtian, who had injured Lin Xiao all those years ago, was probably far inferior!
Long after Chen Xuan's figure vanished from the hall, everyone had yet to recover their wits.
Several people turned to look at Lin Xiao.
Lin Mang suggested, "Father, for the sake of our Lin Family, I'm afraid we can only wrong Qingtan a little. Besides, his strength is formidable, and Qingtan..."
Before he could finish, Lin Xiao—having snapped out of his trance—shook his head firmly and interrupted, "No! Qingtan cannot marry him!"
He could sense that Chen Xuan seemed to carry a monstrous, lingering hostility.
It didn't feel like he had come to truly marry Qingtan.
Instead, it felt more like a retaliatory forced marriage.
Sacrificing Qingtan to let the Lin Family rest easy was not his, Lin Xiao's, style.
Lin Mang glared at him and demanded, "Lin Xiao! Do you intend to watch the Lin Family be wiped out?"
Lin Xiao shouted back, "I don't care! Qingtan is my daughter, and I must protect her!"
"And what about the Lin Family? You're just going to abandon them?"
"If I can't even protect my own daughter, what right do I have to talk about protecting the Lin Family?"
"You... why are you being so stubborn?"
"I disagree no matter what! If you want a daughter so badly, you can offer yours in Qingtan's place!" Lin Xiao's stance was resolute.
Lin Mang wanted to retort, but Lin Zhentian cut in, "Enough! This matter is of grave importance. I must make a trip to Lin City in advance!"
Having remained silent for a long time, Linken suddenly spoke up, "Should we tell Dong'er about this?"
"No, Dong'er is the hope for our Lin Family's rise. We cannot burden his mind with worries!" Lin Zhentian shook his head in refusal.