Money makes the world go round — a universal truth that applied everywhere without exception. As the boss of the Gale, He Yunxiang naturally never lacked for wealth.
The guard took the Space Ring, swept it with his Divine Sense, and immediately raised an eyebrow. "Ah, since Madam is so insistent, I suppose I'll go up and pass along the message. As for whether you'll be received or not…"
He Yunxiang smiled. "Just passing along the message will be enough." There was no reason to make things difficult for a servant.
The man turned and left, shooting upward at tremendous speed.
"Please have a seat, Madam." Perhaps knowing that some of the treasures inside that Space Ring were now his to share, the remaining guards' attitude toward He Yunxiang improved considerably. One of them even produced a chair and set it before her.
He Yunxiang thanked him with a smile but politely shook her head and refused.
How could she dare to sit so brazenly in front of Yang Kai?
After a short wait, the guard who had gone up the mountain hurried back down. He approached He Yunxiang and said, "I'm afraid this may disappoint you, Madam, but our Patriarch is currently in seclusion." His tone shifted, and he added with a cheerful smile, "However, the Second Elder who is currently on duty would be willing to meet with you."
"Second Elder? Elder Yan Qing?" He Yunxiang was clearly well-informed about the Yan Family's various Elders.
"That's right."
Although He Yunxiang's visit was somewhat abrupt, she was a Void King realm cultivator — and definitely at the second stage of the Void King realm or above — on top of being a stunningly beautiful woman. When Yan Qing received the report, he couldn't very well refuse. Curious, he wanted to see her for himself.
The Yan Family's dominance over several Cultivation stars relied not merely on the strength of their own clan, but also on the many foreign powerhouses they had recruited. If they could bring this beautiful woman under their banner, it would add yet another formidable fighter to the Yan Family's ranks.
"Please follow me." The guard gestured ahead.
He Yunxiang nodded her thanks. Things had come to this point, and there was no way to force matters. She would go meet this Yan Qing and figure out her next move from there.
"This person…" The guard noticed Yang Kai stepping forward to follow as well, and couldn't help furrowing his brow. The Yan Family's Twin Peaks were not a place just anyone could ascend. This young man had come along with the beautiful woman, but he looked for all the world like an ordinary person with no cultivation whatsoever — he was absolutely unworthy of setting foot on Twin Peaks.
"He came with me. I would appreciate it if you could make an exception," He Yunxiang said with a gentle smile.
The guard frowned slightly but didn't push the matter further. He nodded and took the lead. Rules were, after all, only as rigid as the people enforcing them — and people were flexible. Having accepted the bribe, he was in no position to be fussy over something so trivial.
The three of them made their way up the mountain in a leisurely procession.
Martial artists moved about the mountainside in abundance, each one possessing notable cultivation. Many of the men couldn't help but steal lingering glances at He Yunxiang, openly appraising her without any pretense of subtlety.
He Yunxiang seemed deeply unaccustomed to such stares. As they walked, her delicate brows drew together, and a nameless fire of irritation burned in her chest with nowhere to go. In the past, when she had disguised herself as a man, she had killed and burned and settled scores with wild abandon — when had she ever been gawked at like this?
Fortunately, the higher they climbed, the fewer people they encountered.
After about the time it took to finish a cup of tea, they arrived before a grand hall.
The guard said, "Please go in, Madam. The Second Elder is waiting inside."
As he spoke, he shot Yang Kai a look of undisguised shock. He himself was at the third stage of the Returning Void realm, and the Madam was a Void King realm cultivator — neither of them had moved slowly. Yet this young man had kept pace without breaking a sweat.
Not once had he shown any trace of drawing on his power.
It was uncanny!
He Yunxiang offered another word of thanks before stepping through the entrance.
The hall was magnificent, with ornate carvings adorning its beams and pillars. A half-aged man sat in one corner of the great hall, cradling a cup of fragrant tea in his hands. When he noticed someone enter, he looked up, and his eyes brightened. What a woman of exquisite bearing, he thought.
Then he sensed the aura emanating from He Yunxiang, and a jolt of surprise ran through him.
Third stage of the Void King realm?
When the clan guard had come to report earlier, he had only mentioned that a beautiful woman was requesting an audience with the Patriarch, possessing notable cultivation — at least the second stage of the Void King realm. But the guard's discernment was evidently lacking, because he had failed to realize this was a third-stage powerhouse.
Yan Qing rose slowly to his feet, greeting her with a warm smile.
The second stage of the Void King realm didn't warrant such courtesy from him, but the third stage certainly did. He himself was only at the third stage!
He Yunxiang stepped forward and offered a formal curtsy. "This humble one greets Elder Yan Qing!"
Yan Qing returned the courtesy with an amiable smile. "No need for such formality, Madam. May I ask how I should address you?"
He Yunxiang gave her name.
Yan Qing's expression remained unchanged, but a flicker of doubt passed through his eyes. Among the notable powerhouses he knew of, there was no one named He Yunxiang — and certainly not a woman. How many women in the entire star domain had reached the third stage of the Void King realm? Where had this He Yunxiang come from?
Though puzzled, he saw no reason to rudely pry into her background. She had come to them seeking something — that much was obvious. There would be plenty of time to learn her origins.
Still, it seemed this woman had only recently advanced to the third stage of the Void King realm. Her aura was still somewhat difficult to suppress.