"Back then, the reason Lord Duan Jidao flew into such a rage and lost his reason was because the Duan family not only drove his beloved to death — but after she died, her body completely disappeared."
"Lord Duan Jidao suspected that the Duan family had destroyed her corpse, and in his fury, he slaughtered his entire clan."
"However, Song Yuheng's grandfather later found the body of Duan Jidao's beloved. Though many years had passed and it had long since turned to bone, that particular long dress was still exactly as it had been back then."
"Exactly because of this, Song Yuheng came to be held in such high regard by Lord Duan Jidao. In the end, it was gratitude," Yin Gongfu said.
"No wonder Song Yuheng's father dares to speak to you that way — he has backing after all. But did Song Yuheng's grandfather also know about Lord Duan Jidao's past?" Chu Feng asked.
"He did not. It was quite a coincidence, actually. His grandfather was a Spirit World Master who enjoyed tomb raiding. Lord Duan Jidao originally despised him — had it not been for Song Yuheng's decent talent, he would have thrown him out long ago."
"But then one day, Song Yuheng's grandfather brought back a corpse. He said he believed the clothes on the body were a treasure and wanted Lord Duan Jidao to take a look."
"Lord Duan Jidao was furious at first, thinking that it was one thing for Song Yuheng's grandfather to rob tombs himself, but to actually ask him to appraise the goods? He was about to punish him severely. But the moment he saw the body, he realized it was his beloved's remains. Overcome with grief and joy, he reportedly broke down in tears on the spot."
"So afterward, Lord Duan Jidao not only did not punish Song Yuheng's grandfather, but actually rewarded him — forcefully elevating him from the Ninth-rank Half-Emperor all the way to the First-rank Martial Emperor. Now, with Lord Duan Jidao's help, his grandfather has reached the Second-rank Martial Emperor and is deeply trusted," Yin Gongfu explained.
"What an incredible coincidence," Chu Feng marveled.
"That's exactly what it is," Yin Gongfu said with some resignation. It was a coincidence he very much wished had never happened, yet here it was — real as anything.
"Lord Duan Jidao may want to find a successor for the Emperor, but in truth, he's being swayed by his emotions. If he truly passes the Emperor's power to Song Yuheng, it would not be a wise choice," Chu Feng said.
"That's not the case. If Lord Duan Jidao had truly made up his mind about Song Yuheng, the inheritance would have been passed on long ago. The reason he's been delaying is precisely because he still hopes to find a suitable successor."
"It's just a pity that none have been found. Among the true geniuses of the Four Great Emperor Clans, there are quite a few promising young ones — but the geniuses nurtured by the Four Great Emperor Clans are people Lord Duan Jidao would absolutely never use," Yin Gongfu explained.
"Indeed. If someone had been abandoned by the Four Great Emperor Clans, that would be one thing. But someone who is a genius fully cultivated by them? If Lord Duan Jidao passed the Emperor's power to them, it would be equivalent to doing all the hard work for the Four Great Emperor Clans." Chu Feng naturally didn't want anyone from the Four Great Emperor Clans to obtain the Emperor's power either.
"But now, I've found a suitable candidate." Yin Gongfu looked at Chu Feng.
"Senior, please don't joke around. I'm not even a bloodline holder — how could I accept an inheritance?" Chu Feng understood what Yin Gongfu meant and shook his head repeatedly. What he had in mind was for Jiang Wushang to receive the Emperor's power — it had never once occurred to him that he himself might.
The reason it never occurred to him was that Chu Feng could tell the Emperor's power was tied to bloodlines. Although it was stronger than ordinary Emperor-grade bloodlines, it likely still fell within the Emperor-grade category.
His own Inheritance Bloodline, however, far surpassed Emperor-grade bloodlines. If he accepted the Emperor's inheritance, his cultivation might skyrocket in the short term, but the introduction of the Emperor's bloodline could very well contaminate his own bloodline, making it impure.
That would affect his future cultivation, and the cost would far outweigh the gain.
"Young friend Chu Feng, do you know why I told you all of this?"
"Because before I came to find you, I had already made up my mind — to recommend you to Lord Duan Jidao as the Emperor's successor." Yin Gongfu pressed earnestly.
"Senior, absolutely not. I absolutely cannot accept the Emperor's power." Chu Feng shook his head again and again.
"Chu Feng, think about it carefully. If Song Yuheng really does receive the inheritance, your brother Jiang Wushang will most certainly die. For his sake alone, you should accept this power." As Yin Gongfu spoke, he suddenly raised his hand and pressed it down on top of Chu Feng's head.