"Do you know that young man?"
Di Juetian asked.
"Our Shangguan Lineage used to have ties with the Xiao Clan. The two families were about equal in strength."
"When my master took me up there, she left our Lineage a great many opportunities."
"It seems our strength grew too quickly, and the Lineage has started to look down on everyone else."
Di Juetian said nothing. She saw a trace of complicated emotion in Shangguan Wan'er's eyes.
It looked like there was some melodrama involved.
"In that case, I'll go with you and take a look."
"There's nothing else to do anyway, is there?"
"Young master, you're going too?"
Shangguan Wan'er wanted to refuse, but she couldn't disobey Di Juetian's order.
"Let's go."
"Young master, let this old servant come too. Though my strength isn't great, I can still run errands in the Xuanqing Realm."
Di Juetian nodded.
Seeing that Di Juetian had agreed,
Xuanyang Ancestor, a man several hundred years old, was as happy as a small child.
Meanwhile, in the Shangguan Lineage,
Shangguan Zhen looked at a young woman standing not far before him, his eyes gentle.
There was also a trace of worry in them.
"Qing'er, are you really confident?"
He had known when his daughter went to break off the engagement, but he hadn't stopped her.
People climbed toward higher ground, just as water flowed downhill.
Besides, this was a world of cultivation. Xiao Yu had been a good-for-nothing back then, but unexpectedly, he had risen after the engagement was broken off.
Now that three years had passed, he didn't know what level Xiao Yu's strength had reached.
"Father, don't worry. I didn't regret what I did back then, and I certainly don't regret it now.
"He's strong, but your daughter is no pushover either."
"Besides, when my sister left, her master left behind a lot of resources, resources rarely seen even in the Lower Realm."
"For the past three years, I've worked myself to the bone every day, just so I could catch up to my sister."
Hearing Shangguan Qing'er's words, Shangguan Zhen sighed.
How could he not know what his daughter was thinking?
She could be called rebellious and unwilling to admit defeat.
His two daughters had constantly competed with each other since childhood, though that competition had been a good thing.
Then someone from the Upper Realm appeared and took Shangguan Wan'er away.
Shangguan Qing'er changed.
On top of that, there had been all the gossip.
She wasn't as good as her sister.
When her sister found a man in the future, he would be a heaven's chosen from the Upper Realm.
Why could she only stay in the Lower Realm, engaged to a good-for-nothing?
Shangguan Qing'er was filled with resentment.
Before, when others called Xiao Yu a good-for-nothing, Shangguan Qing'er would argue back.
But more and more people called Xiao Yu a good-for-nothing.
Shangguan Qing'er saw no hope and grew numb.
She went straight to his home and broke off the engagement.
She had even given him compensation at the time.
Then came the three-year agreement.
For those three years, Shangguan Qing'er had devoted herself to cultivation. Even he, her own father, only saw her a few times a year.
If the three-year deadline hadn't arrived, Shangguan Qing'er wouldn't have come out this time either.
Just as father and daughter were talking quietly,
Shangguan Zhen's expression suddenly changed.
Shangguan Qing'er looked at her father.
"Father, did something happen?"
Shangguan Zhen said nothing, but a piece of jade appeared in his hand.
When he saw the jade, Shangguan Zhen sprang to his feet in excitement.
Shangguan Qing'er noticed something too.
"Father, has Sister come back?"
"That's right, Wan'er is back."
"I didn't expect Wan'er to come back too."
Shangguan Zhen was excited.
Shangguan Qing'er was excited too, but then she thought of something, and her eyes grew complicated.
Rumble.
Just then, the sky above the Shangguan Lineage suddenly darkened.
Seeing this, Shangguan Zhen flew outside, with Shangguan Qing'er close behind.
The void opened.
Rays of golden light appeared.
A golden road appeared.
A Jiao Dragon appeared.
It radiated a destructive presence.
The people of the Shangguan Lineage were startled by the sudden turn of events.
"Don't be afraid. Wan'er has returned."
Shangguan Zhen saw the fear in the eyes of the Shangguan Lineage's people.
He offered them a word of reassurance.
Hearing this, the people of the Shangguan Lineage realized what was happening.
Then they grew excited.
Shangguan Wan'er was the Shangguan Lineage's heavenly proud daughter.
They hadn't expected her to return after three years.
"Father."
Just then, a figure appeared atop the Jiao Dragon.
She wore a white dress and a veil that concealed her face.
Even so, Shangguan Zhen recognized her at a glance.
After all, she was his own daughter.
They were bound by blood.
After three years apart, his daughter had changed.
Her bearing had grown more noble.
Her strength had also increased; he couldn't even see through her anymore.
Shangguan Qing'er was delighted, but she also felt jealous.
She didn't know why she felt that way.
Perhaps it had something to do with what she had experienced before.
Looking at Shangguan Wan'er riding the Jiao Dragon, so high above everyone else,
Shangguan Qing'er wished she could take her place.
But she could only dream of it.
She had worked hard for three years, so why was it still not enough?
Was she really inferior to her sister?
Shangguan Wan'er threw herself into her father's embrace.
Then she looked at Shangguan Qing'er.
"Qing'er, it's been a long time."
"Sister, congratulations on coming back. When are you leaving again?"
"Qing'er, be quiet! What are you saying?"
"She's your sister, and this is her home too. She can come back whenever she wants and leave whenever she wants."
Shangguan Qing'er froze at her father's words.
Why was her father yelling at her?
She had only wanted to ask.
"Father, it's all right."
"Young master, this is the Shangguan Lineage."
Only then did Shangguan Wan'er suddenly remember that Di Juetian was still there.
The people of the Shangguan Lineage were basking in pride, but their expressions changed when they suddenly heard those words.
Hadn't their young lady gone to the Upper Realm?
Yet now she was addressing someone as young master.
Could the upheaval from a few days ago have been caused by the young master their young lady was talking about?
Di Juetian stepped out.
He looked at the Shangguan Lineage without the slightest change in expression.
As soon as Di Juetian came down, Shangguan Qing'er's eyes widened.
She looked at Di Juetian in disbelief.
Was this her sister's man?
Why should she have him?
At that moment, Shangguan Qing'er felt a fire burning in her heart.
She looked at Di Juetian, an unfathomable expression in her eyes.
"Is this my worthy son-in-law?"
Seeing such an outstanding young master appear alongside his daughter,
And knowing nothing of what had happened in the Upper Realm, the father
Spoke those words.
"Insolence!"
Just then, a furious voice rang out.
The Jiao Dragon transformed into a young man.
He looked at Shangguan Zhen with killing intent.
The people of the Shangguan Lineage were dumbfounded too.
Shangguan Zhen froze. Had he said something wrong?