The Yan family patriarch sighed. "Very well. If you want to hold a vote regarding Shao Yuan, go ahead and vote. By the time you reach a decision, I expect Shao Yuan will have already left the Yan family. According to my information, back when Lord Zi Che Min of the Eternal Sacred Land brought Shao Yuan to his private residence, he already extended an invitation. Shao Yuan merely declined out of courtesy at the time."
"He refused? He actually refused the Eternal Sacred Land?" Yan Wanzhong was startled.
"Absolutely true. However, it's said that Lord Zi Che Min promised him that whenever he changed his mind, the doors of the Eternal Sacred Land would always be open to him."
The crowd collectively drew in a sharp breath.
Here they had all been debating whether the Yan family should retain Shao Yuan, when the man already had far better prospects waiting for him. The only reason he hadn't left was out of consideration for their existing ties and personal feelings.
If the Yan family truly tried to force Shao Yuan out, he wouldn't have the slightest worry about finding a new home. Why would he need to go to the Xiahou family? The Eternal Sacred Land itself had flung open its doors.
"Yan Wanyou, this might be the outcome you were hoping for, eh?" Yan Wanzhong cast a meaningful glance at Yan Wanyou and smiled faintly.
Yan Wanyou was momentarily taken aback, but pressed on. "Those are just rumors, Patriarch. If this young man's heart truly isn't with our Yan family, it'll be hard to keep him regardless. Perhaps from the very beginning, he was using our family as nothing more than a stepping stone—waiting for the chance to leap to greater heights."
"Oh?" the patriarch said coolly. "It seems to me that within the Eternal Divine Kingdom, there are quite a few factions better suited to serve as a stepping stone than the Yan family."
Yan Wanyou doubled down stubbornly. "Perhaps he simply felt the Yan family was the ideal stepping stone? That our weakness was exactly what made us easy to exploit?"
Even his own supporters found this argument far-fetched. It carried no persuasive force whatsoever.
"Patriarch, if that's the case, then we must do everything we can to keep Shao Yuan."
"Exactly. If it's true what Elder Wanjun said—that his talent in both alchemy and martial arts is exceptional, and his mastery of ancient jade is extraordinary—then a genius of this caliber will surely become a leading figure in the years to come. We in the Yan family have absolutely no reason to let him go."
"Heaven has already given us this opportunity. If we let it slip through our fingers, we'll have no one to blame but ourselves."
One after another, the Yan family elders voiced their agreement.
Clearly, they had come to realize that this young man called Shao Yuan was not someone the Yan family could afford to discard on a whim. The moment they said "show him the door," he would find a new home in no time at all.
The urgent task was no longer figuring out how to send Shao Yuan away, but how to keep this genius. Not just keep his person, but win his heart as well.
"Patriarch, it's a shame Shao Yuan already has a dao companion. Otherwise, I have a young niece who is quite accomplished in both appearance and talent—there'd be no harm in offering her hand."
"Heh heh, one of my concubines bore a daughter as well. Quite the delicate beauty, turning thirteen today. I wonder if young friend Shao Yuan might find her to his liking?"
The patriarch was speechless. "Enough. There's no need to discuss these fanciful notions. Shao Yuan is clearly not a man driven by lust. If he were, he would have gone to the Yaochi Sect. The Yaochi Sect has beauties in abundance."
Yan Qingsang suddenly rose from his seat. With a sigh that seemed both casual and deliberate, he remarked, "I happen to know that Shao Yuan seems rather taken with my cousin Yan Qinghuang. To be precise, he admires her qin-playing."
Having said this, Yan Qingsang shook his head with a wistful expression and walked out.
Yan Qinghuang?
Everyone froze. Then someone erupted in anger: "Yan Qingsang, stop stirring up trouble! Anyone else could be matched with Shao Yuan, but Yan Qinghuang? Absolutely not!"
"Exactly! You're trying to bring disaster upon the Yan family!"
"Of course—he and Yan Qinghuang are both grandchildren of Elder Wanjun. She's his own cousin. He obviously has a selfish agenda!"
The patriarch waved his hand in irritation. "All of you, quiet. Yan Qingsang was merely speaking his mind—he never said anything about betrothing Qinghuang to Shao Yuan. Qinghuang… sigh!"
In truth, the patriarch knew full well that among the Yan family's younger generation, Yan Qinghuang's talent and brilliance were in no way inferior to Yan Zhenhuai's.
Were it not for the matter involving Xiahou Zong, Yan Qinghuang would undoubtedly have been a banner for the family. With her peerless grace and extraordinary bearing, she could have captivated all who beheld her, drawing the adoration of every young cultivator across the Eternal Divine Kingdom.
But fate was cruel. This girl had been cursed from the very moment of her birth. After so many years of hardship, it seemed she would never break free.
The patriarch actually felt a measure of guilt toward Yan Qinghuang. That was precisely why, when she returned from the Human Domain, he had imposed no punishment whatsoever.
While they were still talking, a servant rushed in from outside.
"Patriarch!"
"Reporting, Patriarch—Lord Zi Che Min of the Eternal Sacred Land has arrived at our gates with his retinue and several companions. He requests an audience."
Lord Zi Che Min?
Every Yan family elder's face drained of color.