A Loving Father, Xiao Zhan

The next morning, Yun Shenwei briefly explained the situation to Deacon Ge Ye, telling him to wander around Wutan City for the time being while he himself prepared to have a talk with Xiao Yan.

"Well, Shenwei Little Brother, you're up early."

Xiao Zhan, the Xiao Family Patriarch, happened to be passing by when he ran into Yun Shenwei and greeted him with a cheerful smile.

"Good morning, Xiao Clan Leader."

Yun Shenwei returned the greeting with neither servility nor arrogance. No matter where one was, basic courtesy was still necessary. After all, he was representing the Misty Cloud Sect on this trip.

When ordinary people caused trouble outside, others would only speak ill of that person. But he was different. If he made a mistake outside, people would not only criticize him, but also constantly condemn the Misty Cloud Sect behind him.

Although the Misty Cloud Sect was currently powerful and influential throughout the Jia Ma Empire, it could not afford to casually damage its reputation.

The reason the Misty Cloud Sect had remained standing for hundreds of years was not merely because its Founding Ancestor had possessed extraordinary cultivation, nor because the sect masters of every generation had been immensely powerful. It was because the Misty Cloud Sect had always won people over through virtue, never doing anything shameful and never casually bullying ordinary people.

Over the years, the Misty Cloud Sect had cultivated countless disciples and earned a renowned reputation. Ordinary people would give them some measure of respect whenever they heard the sect's name.

Where did that respect come from?

Naturally, it came from their reputation.

As the saying went, gold cups and silver cups were no match for other people's praise.

Yun Shenwei's manners were impeccable, which made Xiao Zhan feel at ease.

Though there was quite a large age gap between them, they got along well enough. Yun Shenwei had read the original Battle Through the Heavens, so of course he understood that this Xiao Clan Leader was not only upright, but also deeply cared for his "good-for-nothing" son, Xiao Yan.

After Xiao Yan had fallen from genius to good-for-nothing, many members of the Xiao Family had begun to look down on him. Some mocked him, while others ridiculed him. As both the clan leader and Xiao Yan's father, Xiao Zhan had done all he could. He had neither favored him excessively nor treated him with undue cruelty.

The only pity was that he was later captured by the Hall of Souls and disappeared for a long time...

All in all, he had performed quite well in the early stages and was indeed worthy of respect.

"Shenwei Little Brother, to be honest, my son was once considered a young genius. Within our family, he was a talent seen only once in a hundred years. Our family had once hoped that he would bring honor to our ancestors, but man proposes and Heaven disposes. In the end, it all came to nothing."

Just as Yun Shenwei had expected, before the doting Xiao Zhan had chatted for long, he inevitably brought up his "good-for-nothing" son, Xiao Yan.

"Over these past few years, his cultivation has continued to decline. No matter what method I tried, nothing had any effect. I once went out to seek help from certain masters of the martial world, but the results were negligible. It even nearly cost him his life. Whenever I think of it, I feel I have failed his mother, who passed away many years ago..."

By this point, Xiao Zhan was grief-stricken, his expression terribly grim.

"Xiao Clan Leader, there is really no need for you to be so distressed. Your son was once a genius, which proves there is no issue with his talent. Though some unusual changes have occurred over these past few years, in my view, perhaps this is merely Heaven testing him. If he can endure it, he may yet become a hero in his own right and lead your family toward greatness. That is inevitable."

Yun Shenwei spoke calmly. He dared to say this because he had read the original Battle Through the Heavens and understood Xiao Yan's character quite well.

Xiao Yan was indeed rather lustful and had plenty of character flaws. He was a typical scumbag. The one thing that could be said for him was that he was willing to work hard.

In terms of cultivation, he had also worked very hard after meeting Yao Lao. His opportunities and luck had both been excellent, but even if ordinary people encountered luck as good as his, they might not necessarily have been able to persevere.

The evolution of the Flame Mantra was one of the most terrifying things. Who in this world would dare devour Heavenly Flames? And he had broken through by devouring Heavenly Flames time and again! That courage truly did not bring shame upon the people of Blue Planet.

Thus, Yun Shenwei was certain that even if he changed Xiao Yan's fate, Xiao Yan would still continue striving onward. The future might deviate from the original plot, but it would not necessarily turn out worse. Perhaps it might develop into something even more interesting.

"Shenwei Little Brother, could you do me a favor? I have heard that your sect has a close relationship with Pill King Gu He. Could you ask him to think of a solution? If it succeeds, I, Xiao Zhan, will be endlessly grateful. Whether it works or not, the Xiao Family will be willing to submit to the Misty Cloud Sect with no second thoughts!"

Xiao Zhan was merely trying his luck. In his current situation, he was grasping at straws. Over the years, he had sought countless masters of the martial world, yet none had achieved any results. Before long, it would be the coming-of-age ceremony of his third son, Xiao Yan.

If Xiao Yan still failed to meet the family's minimum requirement by the coming-of-age ceremony, then even Xiao Zhan, as clan leader, would have no way to keep his son in the main family. He could only send Xiao Yan to manage businesses in one of the family's branch lines and live out the rest of his days that way.

That was why he had wanted to speak with Yun Shenwei. One had to have hope—what if it came true?

The young man before him was the Chief Disciple among the younger generation of the Misty Cloud Sect. That status was truly extraordinary.

"Xiao Clan Leader, since you have sincerely come to ask for my help, then I will give you a definite answer. I am eighty percent confident that I can make this happen. However, Senior Gu He's temperament is difficult to predict, so I cannot guarantee it completely. And I have one condition. If you can agree to it, then I will agree to this matter as well. If you cannot, then I apologize—even if you kill me, it will be useless."

After pondering for a moment, Yun Shenwei felt that this was the perfect opportunity to make good use of the situation. He possessed many abilities, as well as a system. Most terrifying of all, he had an All Heavens Mall, where he could exchange for all kinds of rare treasures.

The core reason Xiao Yan's cultivation had been declining these past few years was not because there was anything wrong with Xiao Yan's body, but because of the strange ring in his possession.

Ordinary people, as well as Xiao Zhan and the other members of the Xiao Family, all believed that Xiao Yan himself was the problem. That was why no method they tried could possibly solve the actual issue.

"Shenwei Little Brother, are you telling the truth? If you truly have an eighty percent chance of persuading Pill King Gu He, then even if it were only thirty percent—no, no! Even ten percent would be enough! I agree, I agree! So long as it is within my power, I will agree to anything!"

Xiao Zhan was like a person on the verge of death in the desert who had suddenly caught sight of water. His aura abruptly surged, and his eyes shone brightly.

"Very well. Then let me make the unpleasant part clear first. I have heard that your son has a marriage contract with Nalan Yanran, the beloved daughter of the Nalan Family. Is that true?"

Yun Shenwei asked with a solemn expression.

"That is indeed true. This marriage was arranged by my father's generation and Nalan Yanran's grandfather."

Xiao Zhan did not evade the question and answered truthfully.

"Then if I ask Senior Gu He to solve Xiao Yan's physical problem, would you be willing to annul the marriage contract between Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan?"

Yun Shenwei stared directly at Xiao Zhan, his tone abruptly changing. He was not some selfless saint. The reason he was willing to listen to Xiao Zhan pour out his heart was naturally because he had something to gain.

Parents' orders and the matchmaker's words—if Xiao Zhan agreed, then the negative impact on Nalan Yanran over the matter of breaking off the engagement could naturally be minimized!

It was just that he did not know whether Xiao Zhan would be willing to sacrifice his own dignity, and even that of the entire Xiao Family, for Xiao Yan's sake.

"This...?"

Just as Yun Shenwei had expected, Xiao Zhan hesitated at this moment.

The scene fell into an eerie silence.