Chapter 2683 Youran’s Anger

The Ziwei Starfield was one of the Four Great Starfields of the Seventh Heaven Domain. Within its lay three of the twelve grotto heavens: the Xuanji Grotto Heaven, the Yaoguang Grotto Heaven, and the Kaiyang Grotto Heaven. The Immortal Imperial Dugu Clan was rooted within the Xuanji Grotto Heaven.

On the tranquil bank of a vast lake there stood a magnificent pavilion. The waters stretched endlessly, shimmering under a gentle breeze.

Inside, Dugu Youran sat before a table, resting her chin upon snow-white arms. Her long black hair cascaded like a waterfall to her slender waist, and her fair oval face seemed to glow with a sacred radiance beneath the soft sunlight.

She wore a plain, light-blue dress, and her slender waist and graceful curves were outlined as she sat cross-legged. Her rosy lips were lightly pursed, and her bright, star-like eyes shone with crystal-like clarity. Even sitting casually, she was like a scene from a painting. Everything else in the world served as her backdrop and ornament.

Yun Muzhe, seated not far away with a scripture in hand, happened to glance up and was entranced for a moment. Ripples stirred in his heart, impossible to suppress.

Among the Donghuang’s Four Clans, only the Yun Clan resided in the Ziwei Starfield as they held the Yaoguang Grotto Heaven. The other three were based in the Qingguang Starfield. Therefore, the Yun and Dugu Clans had been allied for generations and often intermarried.

By seniority, Yun Muzhe was Dugu Youran’s distant older cousin. Because of this close familial tie, the two had known each other since childhood and could be considered childhood companions.

Even now, although Yun Muzhe had long since become one of the ten supreme Emperor Ancestors of the Seventh Heaven Domain, he still often visited the Dugu Clan to remain at Dugu Youran’s side.

The Dugu clansmen were no fools, how could they fail to see Yun Muzhe’s deep affection for her? Thus, they were pleased to see the two together.

Unfortunately, Dugu Youran was clearly indifferent to Yun Muzhe’s affection, which left her father, Dugu Xiao, the current patriarch of the Dugu Clan, deeply troubled. Over the years, he had attempted to arrange a marriage for her, but each time she firmly opposed it.

She even went as far as to slip out of the clan alone to avoid arranged meetings. A few years ago, she traveled to the Great Thousand Battle Domain to clear her mind.

In the end, although Yun Muzhe brought her back, Dugu Xiao never again dared to bring up marriage again, fearing that his most beloved and pampered daughter might slip away from home once more. At present his only wish was to send Dugu Youran to the Origin Sect Ancestral Court to further her cultivation.

Seeing Dugu Youran lost in thought for so long, Yun Muzhe could not help but ask gently, “Youran, what are you thinking?”

Dugu Youran said casually, “Cousin, how many successors do you think the Origin Sect Ancestral Court will recruit this time?”

Yun Muzhe smiled. “You’re worried about that? There’s no need. With the connections our two clans have, you’ll have no trouble entering the Origin Sect.”

After a pause, he added, “When the time comes, we’ll most likely join the Second Peak for cultivation.”

Dugu Youran simply hummed in response, unsurprised. The peak master of the Second Peak was Yun Tianming, an elder ancestor of the Yun Clan and by seniority, the great-grandfather of Yun Muzhe’s branch.

Yun Muzhe’s eyes lit up as though remembering something. “Besides, with our talent and background, it won’t take more than a few years after entering the Origin Sect Ancestral Court for us to become core disciples of the Second Peak. By then, with your granduncle’s help, joining the Origin Emptiness Pavilion will be as easy as lifting a hand!”

The Origin Emptiness Pavilion oversaw the passing on of the sect’s inheritances and supreme arts and the teaching of disciples! Dugu Youran’s granduncle was one of its three deputy pavilion masters, which was a position of intimidating authority.

By comparison, Yun Muzhe’s great-grandfather Yun Tianming, despite being the master of the Second Peak, held a far lesser status. However, it was obvious that Dugu Youran wasn’t the least bit interested. Her mind was already elsewhere.

For her, the purpose of cultivation was simple and could be summed up in two lines:

To live freely and to enjoy a lifetime of serene happiness;

As for fame and fortune...they matter not to me.

Clearly, Yun Muzhe was different. He was the brightest star of his generation in the Yun Clan, one of the ten supreme Emperor Ancestors in the Seventh Heaven Domain, and the appointed young patriarch. Once he stepped into the realm of immortality, the clan’s patriarch would gradually pass the reins of power into his hands.

Dugu Youran knew he harbored an even greater ambition: to free the Yun Clan from their reliance on the Donghuang Clan of the Eighth Heaven Domain and escape their control altogether!

With such a vision, he had the admiration and backing of many influential figures in the Yun Clan. Even Dugu Youran’s father, Dugu Xiao, greatly admired his courage and spirit, believing him to be a young man full of promise and potential.

However, to the indifferent and contented Dugu Youran, who wished only for peace and happiness, there was nothing to admire.

Yun Muzhe knew her temperament well. Softly, he said, “Youran, I know you dislike this talk. But don’t worry, whatever you dislike, I will take care of for you, and I will do everything in my power to ensure you never have to be bothered by such things in your life.”

Dugu Youran said nothing. She stared toward the distant lake, dazed and absent minded. A faint disappointment rose within her.

Earlier, she had simply asked Yun Muzhe how many disciples the Origin Sect would recruit this time. However, his reply had nothing to do with her question. His response was filled with his longing to enter the Second Peak and his desire to join the Origin Emptiness Pavilion.

Their thoughts were worlds apart.

“Miss, there’s news!” Suddenly, a crisp, delighted voice rang out. Moments later, Duoduo, a lively and charming maid hurried in, waving a jade slip in her hand. When she spotted Yun Muzhe, she paused for a moment, stuck out her tongue in awkwardness, and said, “Young Master Yun is here too.”

Yun Muzhe smiled. “Duoduo, what good news made you so happy?”

Duoduo was Dugu Youran’s personal maid. Although she bore the title of a servant, she was more like a younger sister and the two were extremely close.

If anyone else had barged in unannounced, Yun Muzhe’s expression would have turned cold in an instant. It wasn’t that he was petty, but instead he was simply a man of principle. Rules were rules, and he had no tolerance for people trampling them!

Duoduo hesitated, glancing toward Dugu Youran. Dugu Youran shot her a look. “What are you standing there for? Give it here.”

Duoduo sighed and handed the jade slip over. Dugu Youran unfurled it and read it quickly. Her eyes that were as clear as still lake water glimmered with an odd light, and the corners of her lips lifted slightly. “That guy...just as I thought. He’s still alive and well.”

Duoduo beamed. “Yes, over the years, there’ve been endless rumors of his death. But now, he has come to the Seventh Heaven Domain and will be taking part in the Origin Sect Ancestral Court’s selection.”

Dugu Youran stretched her graceful figure, a smile in her eyes. “I knew he wasn’t the type to settle down. All the better. If he can join the Origin Sect Ancestral Court, we’ll have the chance to see each other again.”

Watching all this, Yun Muzhe felt a faint pang of discomfort, as if he had been quietly pushed to the sidelines. In addition, when Dugu Youran and Duoduo began chatting about another man, that faint discomfort only deepened. However, he masked his feelings well and asked with a smile, “And who might this person be?”

“Lin Xun.” Dugu Youran turned leisurely toward him, her starry eyes meeting his. Her lips parted in a sweet smile, revealing her pearly teeth “You’ve met him too when we were at the Ninth Immortal Heavenly Pass in the Great Thousand Battle Domain.”

“Him?” Yun Muzhe’s brow rose in surprise. He remembered clearly. He had traveled to the Great Thousand Battle Domain alone to bring Dugu Youran home and had encountered Lin Xun at a banquet. Back then, Lin Xun was just an insignificant supreme Emperor in his eyes.

He could never have imagined that such an insignificant figure would not only survive the Ninth Immortal Heavenly Pass and endure the slaughter in the Ruins of the Gods, but also, over the years, make his name known from the First Heaven Domain all the way to the Sixth, spreading a fearsome reputation throughout the heaven domains.

All this was completely beyond his expectations. After all, when he left the Ninth Immortal Heavenly Pass, he had personally instructed City Lord Bai Jianchen that he did not want to see Lin Xun appear in the Eternal True Realm. Unfortunately, it was clear that Bai Jianchen had failed!

As a result, every time Yun Muzhe heard new rumors about Lin Xun over the years, an inexplicable anger would rise within him. It was as if an ant he could have crushed with a single hand had not only survived, but also had grown into a mighty dragon soaring across the heavens.

Even in terms of renown, Yun Muzhe, one of the ten supreme Emperor Ancestors in the Seventh Heaven Domain, was now far inferior to Lin Xun. This left him feeling unsettled. It wasn’t jealousy. It was a regret. He regretted not having killed Lin Xun himself!

However, he never imagined that the person Dugu Youran was talking about with Duoduo would be Lin Xun. His brows knit slightly.

Dugu Youran didn’t notice this. She also had no idea that back at the Ninth Immortal Heavenly Pass, Yun Muzhe had tried to have Lin Xun killed through Bai Jianchen. She handed him the jade slip with a smile. “Look, Lin Xun has actually come to the Seventh Heaven Domain.”

Suppressing his displeasure, Yun Muzhe smiled faintly, gave a nod, and unfurled the jade slip. At a glance, his brows arched as he remarked, “If this is true, then when Lin Xun goes to the Origin Sect Ancestral Court, he will surely face a calamity...and may even lose his life!”

Straight to the point!

However, this was clearly not the response Dugu Youran wanted. She snapped, “Why is it that whenever Lin Xun is mentioned, you sound just like those outsiders, as if you can’t wait for something bad to happen to him? Also, for all these years, everyone believed he was dead, but now we all know he’s alive and living quite well.”

With that, she took the jade slip back, turned away and said, “I’d like some time alone. The both of you should leave.”

Duoduo was startled, then nodded obediently and departed. Having served Dugu Youran for many years, she could tell at a glance that she was upset.

Yun Muzhe’s expression darkened. He was genuinely taken aback. He only just said a few words, simply analyzing Lin Xun’s situation, yet it angered his cousin?

She cares about Lin Xun that much?