Jin Family

Heavenly Desolation Continent.

A massive flying ship.

Ye Xinran rested her chin in both hands, listlessly watching the scenery below.

"Holy Master, how much longer until we arrive?"

Seemingly bored from waiting, Ye Xinran spoke up to ask.

"Xinran, the Central Domain is very far from the Eastern Domain, so it will still take another ten days or so."

"Still that long?"

Ye Xinran was stunned when she heard that.

She had thought the trip to the Southern Domain had already been far enough. She had not expected the Central Domain to be even farther.

"If you're bored, why not cultivate like they are?"

Seeing how bored Ye Xinran truly was, Xuanyuan Chen suggested.

"Cultivating? Forget it. That's even more boring."

"..."

"Holy Master, why has our Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land always ranked so low in the past?"

To ease her boredom, Ye Xinran found herself a topic.

"Ah..."

Xuanyuan Chen's eye twitched wildly at her words.

Did she have to ask that question?

There were so many good things she could ask about, yet she had to ask about something too embarrassing to bring up?

Though he did not particularly want to answer, Xuanyuan Chen still had to face Ye Xinran's question.

After all, Ye Xinran was a treasure to Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land.

"It is only natural that we cannot compare to the Divine Firmament Sacred Land of the Central Domain. Their resources and conditions in every regard are better than ours.

The Central Domain is rich in spiritual energy, with powerful experts everywhere. Naturally, their descendants are innately stronger than those from other places.

It could be said that descendants of great clans were everywhere in the Central Domain.

Although our Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land once produced quite a few Emperor Realm experts, throughout the entire Eastern Domain, only we and the Lin Clan could be considered major powers.

Thus, compared to the Central Domain, the Eastern Domain has pitifully few experts who became Emperors. Naturally, the number of powerful descendants is also inferior to that of the Central Domain.

Whenever we recruit new disciples, those who come to Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land are basically all from the Eastern Domain.

It is only normal that we cannot surpass the Central Domain."

Xuanyuan Chen explained.

Ye Xinran nodded upon hearing this.

"What else?"

"What else is there?"

"Don't we often rank third? Who is second, then?"

"..."

"The Southern Domain? Or the Northern Domain?"

Seeing Xuanyuan Chen remain silent, Ye Xinran pressed on.

"The Southern Domain..."

Xuanyuan Chen said unwillingly.

"Are they very strong?"

Ye Xinran was greatly concerned about whether there were strong people among her generation.

"The gap between us and the Extreme Sea Sacred Land of the Southern Domain is much smaller. We have even defeated them several times and taken second place."

Xuanyuan Chen answered honestly.

"How many times have we taken second place?"

Xuanyuan Chen: ???

Did she really have to ask that?

This time, Xuanyuan Chen truly did not want to answer.

But Ye Xinran could tell from his expression.

"Could it be that you only took it once..."

Ye Xinran muttered softly.

Yet Xuanyuan Chen still heard it, making the corner of his eye twitch again.

"Well, Xinran, with all of you here this time, I believe that not only second place—even first place would be perfectly reasonable."

Xuanyuan Chen changed the subject.

"Of course. Holy Master, I alone can suppress an entire era. The myriad heavenly geniuses are merely chasing after my shadow."

Ye Xinran looked supremely confident.

"Uh... it's good that you have such confidence. Very good..."

Xuanyuan Chen froze, feeling somewhat speechless.

This child was good in every way. Mm... especially when she did not ask questions or speak.

"Of course. Without confidence, how could one sweep across eternity?"

"Um, Xinran, what realm are you in now?"

Because Ye Xinran wore a treasure that concealed her realm, even Xuanyuan Chen could not see through her cultivation.

As for why he believed that Ye Xinran and the others could lead Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land to first place, it was naturally because of the previous Newcomer Grand Competition.

At the time, Ye Xinran and the others' performance had even left Xuanyuan Chen stunned.

Ye Xinran in particular seemed unfathomably deep.

"Me? Seventh level of the Imperial Extremes Realm."

"How much!?"

Xuanyuan Chen was stunned on the spot, wondering whether he had misheard.

"Seventh level of the Imperial Extremes Realm. What's wrong?"

Seeing Xuanyuan Chen's reaction, Ye Xinran was utterly confused.

Wasn't it just a realm? Why was he reacting like this?

"You... you're twelve years old?"

As though remembering something, Xuanyuan Chen widened his eyes and asked.

"Mhm."

Ye Xinran nodded.

"You're already in the Imperial Extremes Realm at your age!? No, what is there even left to compete over? Who among the younger generation could possibly fight you!?"

A twelve-year-old in the Imperial Extremes Realm had somewhat overturned Xuanyuan Chen's worldview.

The highest among the younger generation should only be in the Spiritual Power Realm, right?

Yet she was two major realms above them, and she could even fight above her level.

Who could possibly fight her?

At that moment, Xuanyuan Chen suddenly felt some sympathy for the geniuses of this era.

Being born in the same era as Ye Xinran, they were destined to be crushed until they could not lift their heads.

The supreme glory was destined to have nothing to do with them.

After recovering from his shock, Xuanyuan Chen regarded Ye Xinran as even more precious.

"Holy Master, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Xinran, having you is truly a blessing for our Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land."

Central Domain.

A resplendent, magnificent hall.

A middle-aged man with a steady aura and a face full of majesty was discussing something with a handsome young man of extraordinary bearing.

"Buhui, your younger sister will soon return to the Central Domain."

"Xiaoya is coming back? She should be returning for the Sacred Land Grand Competition, right? Still, it is always good that she can come back."

Jin Buhui looked excited at the news.

"She may not return home."

The middle-aged man sighed faintly.

Hearing this, Jin Buhui also felt somewhat dejected.

"Father, do you truly intend to marry Xiaoya into the Divine Firmament Sacred Land?

If you truly wanted to, Xiaoya could never have run off to the Eastern Domain so smoothly, could she?"

As he spoke, a bitter smile appeared on Jin Buhui's face.

He could sense his father's difficulty.

"Buhui, although our Myriad Treasures Building could be called the wealthiest power in the Central Domain, if we wish to protect these resources and riches, we need strength to match them.

Your father's talent is not among the best, and you have yet to grow up. A marriage alliance..."

"Father, you need not say any more. I understand, and Xiaoya will certainly understand too."

Jin Buhui clenched his fists as guilt and unwillingness filled his heart.

If he were already powerful enough, perhaps his father would not have to suffer such difficulty, and his sister would not have fallen into such a helpless situation.

On the main seat, Jin Chengxiao, whose face was hard and resolute, also clenched his fists until his fingers turned somewhat white.

He likewise blamed himself for his incompetence, for being unable to shelter his children or protect this enormous power.

That was why they had fallen into such a predicament.

They needed to seek security by relying on his daughter's happiness.

"Father, will you go watch the Sacred Land Grand Competition?"

Seeing Jin Chengxiao like this, Jin Buhui immediately changed the subject.

"We'll see..."

Jin Chengxiao was deeply conflicted within.

He also wanted to see his daughter display her strength in the competition, high-spirited and full of vigor.

Yet he did not know how to face Jin Xiaoya, fearing that he would see the sorrow and disappointment in her eyes.

"Father, perhaps Xiaoya has never blamed you."

Seeing Jin Chengxiao's conflict, Jin Buhui knew that his father simply did not know how to face his daughter.

Jin Chengxiao's expression shifted at those words, but guilt and self-reproach still filled his heart.

The only thing he could do was turn a blind eye to his daughter's escape, even helping her in secret.

Even her protector had been personally sent by him.