"Fourth Uncle, you must have heard that three years ago, the Jiang tribe started a life-and-death battle with the Shentu tribe. Over these three years, the Jiang tribe’s warriors have either died or fled, and we are now on the verge of being wiped out…" Wei Baiyun forced herself to speak directly.

"Hmm," Wei Hongkuo responded with a cold nasal tone. "So what? You’ve already been disowned by the family, and that little Jiang tribe is no longer related to our Wei family. Do you want our family to secretly destroy the Shentu tribe for you?"

"No, no," Wei Baiyun quickly corrected, "I know the life-and-death battle is being supervised by the Inspector. Even the Wei family can’t take such a risk!"

"Then you want us to help you escape?" Wei Hongkuo raised his eyelid and sneered, "When you severed ties with the family back then, you made it clear that from that moment on, your life or death had nothing to do with the family! I heard the Jiang tribe is about to lose. Now, as the woman of the Jiang tribe, you’ll become a slave of the Shentu tribe! I’ll give you some advice: when it really comes to that, you better take your own life and leave with some dignity, so the family won’t be embarrassed! After all, the blood running through you is still from the Wei family!"

"As for asking the family to help you escape, or even lift your wanted status, I can tell you now: don’t even dream about it!"

After finishing his words, Wei Hongkuo felt much better.

He had never liked this niece, especially when she overshadowed his own children.

And now…

It was a strange coincidence, really. Wei Baiyun had called off her engagement years ago, and the man she had been engaged to was from the prestigious Dong family of Jinhe. Because of this, the relationship between the Wei family and the Dong family had cooled for many years. It was only recently that it had improved. This morning, Wei Hongkuo had just finished negotiating with the Dong family, and in the afternoon, Wei Baiyun suddenly returned.

During the negotiation with the Dong family that morning, Wei Hongkuo, now one of the powerful figures in the Wei family, had taken a lot of pressure. He had made many concessions, forcing himself to smile and flatter a young Dong family member.

Now, Wei Baiyun was practically delivering herself to be scolded and to let him vent his frustrations!

"Fourth Uncle, we’re not asking to escape, my son is very talented!"

"Your son? The one you had with that wild man?"

Wei Hongkuo sneered as he glanced at Jiang Yao, who stood behind Wei Baiyun.

Wei Baiyun’s eyelids twitched violently. The word "wild child" deeply pierced her heart! But she had no choice but to endure it for now. Even though she had fallen out with her family, she had never truly thought she was in the wrong, including the issue of her premarital pregnancy. When she met Jiang Hanfeng during her travels, they had developed mutual affection, and he had saved her life multiple times. She had given herself to him, and it should have been a beautiful story.

But because of their difference in status, the matter had caused so much turmoil.

"Fourth Uncle! His name is Jiang Xuan! A few days ago, during the life-and-death battle with the Shentu tribe…"

Wei Baiyun began explaining, not even giving Wei Hongkuo a chance to interrupt. She had to make the family understand what a genius her son was! She never planned to persuade them with emotions alone!

This matter still had to be won with benefits!

After explaining Jiang Xuan's battle with Shentu Yong, Wei Baiyun also recounted Jiang Xuan’s story about meeting a mysterious old man who taught him martial arts at the age of seven.

"…Fourth Uncle, my son crossed into the half-step congenital realm when he was twelve! It’s been three years now! Now, if he’s given enough cultivation resources, he could completely become congenital in a month! For the Wei family, giving him resources to cultivate is nothing! I believe that with my son’s talent, surpassing the congenital realm is not impossible! He might even reach the level of deities or demons! As long as the family provides some cultivation resources to help him, he will definitely repay the Wei family! He will be a protector of the Wei family, and will defend it with his life!" Wei Baiyun said these words with great passion!

Her son was a genius!

Geniuses are valuable!

Many powerful families in Feixue City were doing this, whether they were orphans or children from small families—if they showed enough talent, they would be noticed by the big families. They would provide money and resources to nurture them. If a small family produced a super genius, big families would even be willing to marry off their direct descendants to bind the families together.

Jiang Xuan was not just a genius; he also carried the blood of the Wei family.

Wei Baiyun believed she could persuade Fourth Uncle.

The hall fell into silence.

It lasted for a good ten breaths.

Then, with a burst of laughter, Wei Hongkuo couldn’t hold back and laughed loudly. He slapped his thighs twice, his face turning red from laughter.

"Hahahahaha!"

"You! What did you just say?"

"Twelve-year-old half-step congenital?"

"Surpass the congenital realm? Even reach deities or demons?"

"Expect him to protect the Wei family in the future?"

"Hahahahahahahahaha! You really dare to say such things! Really dare!"

"How dare a wild child like him think about entering the Wei family’s door?"

"To get some cultivation resources for your son, you’re making up all sorts of lies? Do you even believe your own words? Do you know what a twelve-year-old half-step congenital means? That’s someone who’s almost at the congenital level, and with enough resources, they can become congenital in half a year! That talent is so great, it could attract deities and demons themselves to take him as a disciple!"

"Does your son have that kind of talent? Do you believe this nonsense? He’s a wild child, what right does he have?"

"And what’s this about meeting a mysterious old man at seven and learning martial arts? Hiding his cultivation level? Such an obvious lie, and you believe it? You really are foolish!"

"Hahahahahahahahaha!"

The sixty-year-old Wei Hongkuo couldn’t contain his laughter.

It wasn’t just him; the maids in the corner, who had been keeping their heads down and silent, and the young servant in the green robe standing outside, were all struggling to hold back laughter. Those who were close exchanged glances.

It was just so funny!

Such an exaggerated story had become ridiculous.

"Fourth Master!" A middle-aged man hurriedly entered the hall.

"Yuan Zhong, you’re just in time. Do you remember Wei Baiyun? My Third Brother’s daughter! Let me tell you, she just…" At this moment, Wei Hongkuo had a strong desire to share, and he deliberately made it known. He couldn’t wait for the entire family to hear the crazy things Wei Baiyun had said!

He had to laugh at her!

Back then, she had been so brilliant, even causing the entire Third House to gain more family resources. Now she had fallen so low, even gone mad. He had to make sure everyone knew about it!

"Fourth Master, the Dong family has come back, and they asked if Miss Wei Baiyun and her daughter had returned. You might need to go over…" The manager, Wei Yuanzhong, didn’t respond to Wei Hongkuo but walked up to him and whispered, raising his eyes to look at Wei Baiyun and Jiang Yao with a strange expression.

"Back again?" Wei Hongkuo’s smile vanished instantly, and his brow furrowed.

He glanced at Wei Baiyun but said nothing and stood up, leaving with the manager.

The hall quieted for a moment.

Wei Baiyun seemed to have realized something. She suddenly stood up, about to leave with her daughter. But unexpectedly, Wei Hongkuo left quickly and returned just as quickly.

"Hahaha, my dear niece, great news, a huge happy occasion!" Wei Hongkuo had completely changed his demeanor. He entered the room, warmly calling out to his niece, his face filled with smiles.

This made Wei Baiyun freeze in place.

Could there be some hope after all?

Before she could speak, she saw Wei Hongkuo head straight for Jiang Yao, asking kindly, "What’s your name? How old are you now?" When they first arrived, Wei Baiyun hadn’t allowed her daughter to greet Wei Hongkuo, as that would have been humiliating. But now that Wei Hongkuo took the initiative to ask, Jiang Yao had no choice but to respond.

"Jiang Yao, I’m fourteen today," Jiang Yao glanced at her mother and said obediently.

"Fourteen! Very good, very good! In two more years, you’ll be able to marry!" Wei Hongkuo stroked his beard and nodded, smiling, "From today on, your name will be Wei Yao, and you’ll be added to the Wei family’s family tree. Understand?"

Jiang Yao, of course, didn’t understand.

"Fourth Uncle! What are you doing?!" Wei Baiyun’s face changed drastically!

"What am I doing? Hahahahaha! Let me congratulate you!" Wei Hongkuo laughed in an exaggerated, sarcastic manner, "You couldn’t marry Dong Junchu back then, but now your daughter can marry him as a concubine. You’ll be his mother-in-law! Your status is rising, hahaha!"

Wei Baiyun’s eyes widened in shock, and her mind buzzed.

She could understand why Dong Junchu would like her daughter—her daughter did look remarkably like her when she was young—but what she couldn’t understand was how Dong Junchu knew about it. She had only returned to Feixue City today, yet the Dong family had already received the news?

"Let’s go!"

Without thinking further, Wei Baiyun grabbed her daughter’s shoulder, turning into a blur as she fled outside.

Wei Hongkuo calmly turned around. By the time he reached the door, Wei Baiyun and Jiang Yao had already been stopped by the arranged personnel outside. They were quickly surrounded after a few simple exchanges.

"Fourth Uncle, you can’t do this!" Wei Baiyun turned sharply, glaring at Wei Hongkuo.

"Why can’t I?" Wei Hongkuo smiled broadly, "I can now represent the family and announce the reversal of your disownment! From now on, both you and your daughter are part of the Wei family! You’ll have to follow the family’s arrangements! But this only applies to the two of you. Your wild son and the wild man’s Jiang tribe still have nothing to do with the Wei family!"

At the back mountain of the Jiang Tribe’s earthen city.

"Now, I’ve completely internalized this feeling. As long as I’m focused enough, I can definitely perform the Ring Blade Style! This is both the process of consolidation and progressing towards mastery!" After practicing for over an hour, Jiang Xuan had fully consolidated the fourth style and finally stopped.

"Senior Qishi?"

"Senior, are you back?"

Jiang Xuan spoke toward the soundstone, just casually trying.

"I’m back." The ethereal voice suddenly responded to Jiang Xuan.

"Senior, I did it!" Jiang Xuan couldn’t wait to share the good news with Senior Qishi.

"You did it?" The ethereal voice was calm. "The breathing technique? There’s nothing to be excited about; cultivating the breathing technique isn’t difficult."

"No! I mastered the Chasing Wind Blade fourth style!" Jiang Xuan said with excitement. "I’ve never practiced it before! After mastering the breathing technique last night, I couldn’t wait to start practicing the sword! The breathing technique you taught me is truly transformative! From the first time I practiced to executing the Ring Blade Style perfectly, I only needed ten hours!"