For Your Own Good

In the main hall, Su Bai sat high in the seat of honor, his calm gaze fixed on the group below.

The middle-aged man at the forefront was burly and powerfully built, his aura robust.

He was none other than Xiao Lingxi's father, the current head of the Xiao Household, Xiao Tianlong!

As the head of one of the Empire's ten great Aristocratic Clans, he undoubtedly possessed immense strength, enough to rank among the Empire's finest!

Yet even such a powerhouse, when facing Su Bai, had no choice but to take a deep breath and offer a slight bow, no matter how unwilling he was.

After all, the Heavenly Dao Sect's reputation had already spread throughout the Empire. Powerful figures like them had all heard something of it.

He had instantly slain three Golden Core True Persons!

Even the Lingxiao Sect had been beaten into silence!

"Greetings, Sect Master Su."

"Mm."

Su Bai answered faintly, saying no more.

Instead, Xiao Tianlong could no longer hold himself back. He repeatedly clasped his hands and said, "Sect Master Su, I heard that my daughter is cultivating in your esteemed sect. Is that true?"

As he spoke, his gaze swept across the entire palace, trying to find his daughter.

"That's right. I am now a disciple of the Heavenly Dao Sect." Xiao Lingxi stepped forward, her lovely face full of determination.

When Xiao Tianlong saw Xiao Lingxi, delight first appeared on his face. Then his expression hardened as he shouted, "You insolent girl, come back with me at once!"

"I'm not going back!"

Xiao Lingxi stubbornly raised her head, unwilling to yield in the slightest.

"Insolent girl, are you trying to rebel against Heaven?!"

Xiao Tianlong roared and immediately reached out. A huge hand of spiritual power shot forth, actually trying to seize Xiao Lingxi.

"Impudence!"

A cold shout rang out. The huge hand of spiritual power shattered instantly, and even Xiao Tianlong himself staggered back several steps. His blood and qi churned, and he nearly coughed up blood.

His expression turned horrified. A mere cold shout possessed such terrifying might!

The rumors were true. The Heavenly Dao Sect's master truly possessed Nascent Soul strength!

"This is the Heavenly Dao Sect, not your Xiao Household!"

Su Bai looked at Xiao Tianlong and spoke coldly.

"I..."

Xiao Tianlong was filled with resentment, yet he did not dare say another word.

The gap in strength lay right before him. He had no choice but to lower his head.

At that thought, he knew force would not work. His tone immediately softened somewhat as he said, "Daughter, come home with Father..."

"No!"

Before he could finish, Xiao Lingxi rejected him.

"I want to stay here!" Xiao Lingxi declared with absolute resolve.

Xiao Tianlong's expression suddenly changed, rage soaring to the heavens. But when the corner of his eye caught sight of Su Bai, it was as though a basin of cold water had been poured over his head.

He took a deep breath and changed tactics again. "You used to be so obedient. Why won't you listen to Father this time?"

"Obedient?" Xiao Lingxi gave a self-mocking smile. "Ever since I was young, you were exceptionally harsh and strict with me. I had to master the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, and dance, every single one of them."

"If there was even the slightest flaw, you would beat and scold me. While other children played happily, I had to play the zither all day. While other children acted spoiled in their parents' arms, I could only kneel there and be beaten."

"From childhood until now, I never had freedom of my own, never had the right to make my own choices. Even after growing up, I could not choose my own life. You arranged for me to go to the Lingxiao Sect and become someone else's concubine!"

"In your eyes, am I truly your daughter, or merely an item for you to trade?"

Xiao Lingxi's eyes reddened, tears sliding down her cheeks. Her heart was filled with sorrow and grievance.

However, after shouting it all out, the repression in her heart seemed to have found an outlet, and her whole body felt much lighter.

"You..."

Xiao Tianlong's face darkened, leaving him speechless. He had never expected the always obedient and well-behaved Xiao Lingxi to speak of him this way.

If Su Bai had not been here, he would likely have slapped her across the face immediately!

"You are my daughter, the precious jewel in the palm of the Xiao Household's hand. Of course I must make you even more outstanding!"

"I arranged for you to go to the Lingxiao Sect so that you could cultivate the Lingxiao Sect's powerful Immortal Arts and gain True Person Tianxiao as a great patron. It was for your own good!"

"True Person Tianxiao is the number one genius of the Great Zhao Empire in a thousand years. Breaking into the Nascent Soul realm is already as certain as a nail hammered into a board!"

"Do not look down on True Person Tianxiao's disciple Zhao Baoxiao just because he is a dandy. His talent is high, and True Person Tianxiao is willing to pour resources into him. His future achievements are immeasurable."

"If you become Zhao Baoxiao's concubine, it will be a good thing for you and for the Xiao Household alike!"

Xiao Tianlong spoke with great conviction, but to Xiao Lingxi, every word was especially grating!

So in Xiao Tianlong's eyes, her very existence was merely a tool for clinging to power and influence!

"I am not a bargaining chip for your exchange of benefits!" Xiao Lingxi gritted her teeth, defiance gleaming in her eyes.

"Nonsense!"

At those words, anger surfaced between Xiao Tianlong's brows. He rebuked her, "I am doing this for your own good!"

"At the Lingxiao Sect, with True Person Tianxiao there, you can obtain superior resources and cultivate superior Immortal Arts. What can you obtain here?"

Heh heh!

Hearing Xiao Tianlong's words, Su Bai laughed.

How was this any different from the countless parents before he had transmigrated?

One sentence: I'm doing this for your own good!

How many children had been denied a complete childhood because of it?

Su Bai himself had been one of them!

Su Bai gave a cold snort, interrupting Xiao Tianlong.

"Are you saying that my Heavenly Dao Sect cannot compare to the Lingxiao Sect?"

Xiao Tianlong froze at those words. He had never expected Su Bai to question him like this.

The Heavenly Dao Sect compared to the Lingxiao Sect?

He could not help sneering inwardly.

There was simply no comparison at all, was there?

The Lingxiao Sect had stood for thousands of years, its foundations profound, and it was one of the Immortal Alliance Top Five Hundred.

Other than Su Bai, a Nascent Soul cultivator, what else did the Heavenly Dao Sect have?

Its Immortal Arts might not even be as strong as those of his Xiao Household!

Of course, even though he thought so in his heart, he definitely did not dare say it aloud.

"Sect Master Su, I misspoke in the heat of the moment. Please do not take it to heart!"

He coughed twice and forced out an ugly smile.

Though he held Su Bai in utter contempt, Xiao Tianlong still did not dare turn hostile.

After all, this was the Heavenly Dao Sect. If he angered Su Bai, he would likely find it difficult to leave safely.

Thinking of this, he clenched his fists, then helplessly loosened them again.

However, the Lingxiao Sect had issued a death order. If he did not bring Xiao Lingxi to the Lingxiao Sect, the Xiao Household's days ahead would be difficult!

After pondering for a moment, he suddenly turned toward Xiao Lingxi. His expression flickered between light and shadow, until he abruptly shouted after a moment:

"Xiao Lingxi, your surname is Xiao. Do not forget that the blood flowing through your veins is the blood of my Xiao Household!"

"If you do not return with me today, then from this day onward, you and I will sever our father-daughter bond. You will no longer be a member of my Xiao Household!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lingxi felt as though she had been struck by lightning. Her delicate body trembled.

He was using the severing of their relationship to force her...

At that moment, her heart went completely cold.

She had originally clung to a sliver of hope, believing that since he was her father, perhaps he would show her a trace of affection and give her a chance to experience a father's love.

But all of it dissolved into empty illusion, leaving only cold reality.

No matter how hard she tried, she ultimately could not escape Fate.

If there was anyone to blame, then blame the fact that she had been born a daughter!

If there was anyone to resent, then resent being born into a great clan!

If there was anyone to hate, then hate that in her father's eyes, there was nothing but the interests of the Household!