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Lan Tu’s smile froze, noticeably more rigid than before. He fought to maintain it, and before he could respond, Ye Zichen beat him to the punch.

“Are you a member of my Upheaval Alliance?”

“I’m not!”

“Then what right do you have to bring outsiders here to see me? That you were allowed in at all is out of respect for Luolin. You yourself have no position here at all. Do you have any idea what the few of them have done? Do you have any idea why they came looking for me? Do you have any idea who I am, or what my status is? If these essence spirits wanted to hurt me or if something went wrong, could you take responsibility?”

A cold wind blew by. It blew right through the doors, and the temperature in the meeting room dropped noticeably.

Beams of light shone in through the windows, hitting Ye Zichen right in the eye. As he narrowed his eyes, the lofty air of one long accustomed to rule flowed forth.

This series of verbal firecrackers left the Gu Family bodyguard unable to even speak.

He just stood there, dazed, as if stunned that Ye Zichen would behave like this before the GU Family. Or perhaps, he was considering whether he really had overstepped the limits of his authority or not.

Perhaps he really should have considered this move more thoroughly.

But in the past, wherever he went, even to Holy Lands, everyone was intimidated by the Gu Family’s prestige. Every clan and faction treated them with respect.

But this was different.

Although the Upheaval Alliance was a faction, it ruled over an entire Divine Mountain. It was more like a Sacred Beast Clan of the yao realm than an ordinary faction.

After hundreds of millions of years of stability, a new Divine Mountain had appeared in the God Realm.

Its leader, Ye Zichen, was even the Third Era’s Master of the Stars!

Although the Upheaval Alliance hadn’t been around for long, you couldn’t consider them just another faction.

Before Lan Tu could respond, the fire essence spirit lit up with red firelight and landed just three meters away from Ye Zichen. His entire body flickered with iridescent white embers, but none of the heat escaped the blaze.

And yet, anyone would believe that these flames contained enough energy to burn the heavens.

He was furious!

He and his siblings were the five elemental essence spirits. Anyone who met them would have to treat them with respect. Anyone would beg them to stay by their side.

Yet Ye Zichen, despite knowing full well who and what they are, had left the Five Elements Hidden Palace without them.

The five of them had discussed the matter amongst themselves, and they agreed to take the initiative and smooth things over, but they’d been stuck wandering Upheaval City’s perimeter for days without being allowed in.

Now that they’d finally made it in, before they could even get a word in, they were greeted with a cold glare.

“What do you mean by that? Are you saying we’ll hurt you?” The fire essence spirit glared at Ye Zichen, and the embers around him blazed noticeably higher.

“Don’t kick up a fuss here. This isn’t that elemental space of yours; this is my Upheaval City.” Ye Zichen looked at the five essence spirits coldly as he spoke, but to Lan Tu, it seemed like the words were directed at him.

“Alliance Head Ye, I had no intention of offending you, and I hope you can forgive my indiscretion,” said Lan Tu.

Lan Tu was at least an imperial lord!

Despite his lofty cultivation, he was willing to humble himself. Ye Zichen actually had a rather good impression of him. Although, when he first entered the room, he’d been a little wanton and arrogant due to his status in the Gu Family, he’d reconsidered his behavior and adapted in a timely manner. Ye Zichen liked people like this, who knew when to push and when to give.

“No harm done.” Ye Zichen waved Lan Tu’s concerns away, a signal that he’d let it go.

As for the five elemental essence spirits, he didn’t even look at them. Even now, they thought themselves far too important, and they couldn’t see the bigger picture, nor did they know when to back down…

It seemed the five elemental essence spirits had been spoiled rotten! If a shrub grew crookedly, you had to prune it. It seemed the five of them needed correction too.

Ye Zichen pointedly ignored the essence spirits, then turned to Lan Tu. “Might I ask why you’ve graced my humble domain with your esteemed presence?”

“The young miss snuck out, and in her absence, our entire clan was in uproar. Even though the family head later learned that she was with you, she’s been gone for far too long, and her parents miss her dearly. They sent me here to take her back to the clan,” said Lan Tu.

He was here to take Gu Luolin back?

Xiao Yumei and Ye Zichen’s eyes lit up despite themselves.

This was good news! Wonderful news!

Gu Luolin had caused trouble throughout Upheaval City. It was indescribably aggravating to Xiao Yumei, and when Ye Zichen heard her reports, he naturally felt much the same way. He wanted to send Gu Luolin packing as soon as possible, but she’d just had to take a shine to Upheaval City. No matter what anyone said, she refused to leave.

Then there was her relationship with Ye Rong, and the fact that the Gu Family was a major clan.

Ye Zichen couldn’t suppress her with military force, either. All he could do was hope that the rest of the Gu Family hurried up and took the little spoiled princess back home.

He’d been waiting for this day and night, and the person he’d been waiting for was finally here.

But Ye Zichen couldn’t make his feelings too obvious, otherwise, Gu Luolin might lose her temper and, in a fit of rage, refuse to leave. Ye Zichen figured her dad’s bodyguard wouldn’t dare do anything to her if so.

“It's natural they’d miss their daughter. I, Gu Luolin, shall follow you back.” She giggled. “I was prepared to go back anyway!” 

That she agreed so readily was beyond Ye Zichen’s expectations.

She’d always seemed to hate the family estate. This wasn’t because her family was good or bad.

It was simply because she was the youngest person there!

She didn’t want everyone to treat her like a kid forever. She wanted to be someone else’s senior! That was why she’d never wanted to go back.

And here Ye Zichen thought it would take time and effort to persuade her. Her immediate agreement actually gave him a sense of foreboding. 

“Alliance Head Ye,” said Lan Tu. “There’s something else I must say!”  

“Go… ahead….”

“Out of consideration for how well you took care of his daughter in her absence, the family head would like to express his gratitude, and furthermore, he’s invited you to visit our estate.”

As expected!

 No wonder Gu Luolin agreed so readily. The Gu Family Head wanted Ye Zichen to go back with her!  

So long as Ye Zichen went with her, Gu Luolin wouldn’t be the most junior member of the clan. She was happy as long as she wasn’t the youngest.

But the Gu Family? Ye Zichen didn’t want to visit them!

Perhaps because of Gu Zichen’s tragic fate, Ye Zichen felt an inexplicable aversion to the Gu Family.

Or perhaps it was because they were too mysterious. Ye Zichen didn’t want to get involved with such an inscrutable faction.

In any event, he didn’t want to go!

“Hey! I’m talking to you!” the fire essence spirit suddenly roared. “Don’t take this too far!”  

“Heh, you sure are interesting,” said Ye Zichen. He was naturally pleased at the chance to change the subject, so he didn’t linger with Lan Tu. Instead, he looked at the fire essence spirit and said, “I made myself perfectly clear, didn’t I? I don’t need you. All you have to do is stay put. What did you run all the way here for?”

“I…..”

“Boss!” The lightning essence spirit let out a low shout, then walked over. “I ask the Master of the Stars’ forgiveness. It’s true that our attitude was wrong earlier, but we are the five elemental essence spirits, and it’s only natural that we be by your side. You might have ill feelings about us, but this is the irrevocable truth. Furthermore, we decided that even if you don’t agree, we’ll stick to you like glue!”

“That’s right! We’re not leaving!” The water essence spirit, who’d been as lazy as could be to begin with, directly sprawled out on the ground.

A temper tantrum?

If the essence spirits really started throwing a fit, Ye Zichen really wouldn’t be able to handle it.

Having them stick to him like glue, day after day, would only create unnecessary trouble. Ye Zichen then flashed the thunder essence spirit an eerie grin, turned to Lan Tu, and said unflinchingly, “Alright, since your clan head has extended a warm welcome, I’ll come take a look around the Gu Family!”