Throughout the entire Immortal Realm, everyone recognized this emblem. It was a symbol of absolute authority and unassailable status.
Xia He and Qiu Lan quickly moved to the carriage, each pulling back a silk curtain on either side.
Ye Qian stepped forward and ascended effortlessly into the carriage, his movements refined and unhurried—befitting his station.
Only after he settled inside did the maids follow.
"Depart," Xia He commanded softly.
Upon receiving the order, the Four Qilin began to move. The carriage lifted slowly, ascending straight into the sky.
Around the palace grounds, all the Immortal Beasts scattered and retreated, making way for the Four Qilin. Even powerful Immortal Beasts, creatures that could annihilate lesser sects, quickly yielded upon seeing the carriage.
They knew who rode within: the Young Master of the Ye Family, their master.
The servants stationed around the palace, witnessing the qilin carriage gradually ascend, all knelt in unison, bidding farewell to its departure.
Inside the vehicle, Ye Qian extended his Divine Sense, perceiving the surrounding scene with perfect clarity.
Such an incredibly noble status.
The feeling swelling in his chest could be summed up in one word: awesome.
Super incredibly awesome!
Ye Qian's personal palace was still a considerable distance from his father Ye Changkong's residence. Under normal circumstances, traveling between the two would take substantial time.
At that moment, the Wind Qilin, whose entire body shimmered with cyan-green luminescence, emitted faint glows. A power of riding the wind emanated from it, influencing the other three qilin beside it.
The Four Qilin's steps accelerated rapidly, and the entire carriage surged forward at breakneck speed.
A cyan-green streak of light tore across the sky, racing toward the horizon.
Inside the carriage, Ye Qian felt no tremor whatsoever. The ride was impossibly smooth.
The two maids, Xia He and Qiu Lan, attended to him with meticulous care.
Qiu Lan sat to Ye Qian's left inside the carriage, her delicate fingers gently massaging his shoulders with exquisite care—as if the slightest pressure might cause him discomfort.
Xia He sat at his right, deftly peeling an immortal fruit. She offered the glistening, fragrant pieces directly to his lips, her movements reverent and precise.
Ye Qian would then take her finger into his mouth, consuming the fresh fruit in one bite.
Xia He's cheeks flushed faintly as her finger lingered between his lips, but she showed no sign of refusal. She and Qiu Lan were destined from the very beginning to accompany Ye Qian for their entire lives. Naturally, they would become his concubines in the future. Such intimacy was inevitable.
Ye Qian savored the unprecedented luxury of this life. He didn't merely want to enjoy it for a fleeting moment—he wanted it forever.
If that's the case, then I must eliminate all those Children of Destiny preparing to crush me.
Only then can I continue living this way.
A wicked smile crept across Ye Qian's face. He was already looking forward to encountering his first Child of Destiny...
…
At the very center of the Ye Family's territory stood an immensely vast palace. This palace was even larger than Ye Qian's, and it belonged to Ye Changkong.
It served not only as his court but also housed his private chambers and a sprawling back garden. The level of opulence far exceeded Ye Qian's residence.
Surrounding the palace were towering immortal mountains, lush and verdant, wreathed in dense Immortal Qi. Rare and exotic beasts roamed freely. Some were Immortal Beasts nearly extinct throughout the Immortal Realm, yet here they thrived.
Inside the main hall, Ye Changkong had just finished handling several family matters when a black shadow suddenly materialized within the chamber.
Without even lifting his gaze, Ye Changkong asked indifferently, "What news? Has the Young Master awakened yet?"
Though his tone was calm, his heart churned with anxiety. His only son had suffered a catastrophic Qi Deviation. As a father, worry gnawed at him ceaselessly. Yet he could not afford to show weakness before his subordinates.
The black shadow solidified into a human figure, kneeling respectfully on the ground. He did not dare lift his gaze toward the Family Head.
A hoarse voice answered, "Family Head, the Young Master has awakened and is currently en route here."
"Oh?" Ye Changkong's brow furrowed slightly in puzzlement.
What's going on?
His son had clearly suffered severe Qi Deviation. Why would he rush here immediately after waking instead of resting properly?
Ye Changkong couldn't comprehend it. He asked tentatively, "The Young Master... has his condition stabilized?"
The black shadow nodded repeatedly. "Indeed, my lord. Moreover, according to my observations, the Young Master shows no signs of any aftereffects from the Qi Deviation. He appears to have made a complete recovery."
Even after hearing this, Ye Changkong remained deeply worried, but since Ye Qian was already on his way, answers would arrive soon enough.
He waved his hand dismissively. "Enough. If there's nothing else, withdraw. The Young Master's safety is your sole responsibility—I will hold you personally accountable for any lapse."
"My lord." The black shadow responded, transforming back into a wisp of smoke and vanishing from the hall.
Ye Changkong gazed straight ahead and spoke into the empty air. "Yao, Qian'er has awakened. Come to the main hall."
…
At the same time, in the back garden, a woman sat alone.
She wore a white palace dress embroidered with immortal birds along the hem, so lifelike they seemed poised to take flight. A layer of white gauze draped over her shoulders. A gentle breeze carried swirling Immortal Qi, and her silk-like black hair cascaded to her waist, perfectly accentuating her flawless figure.
This was Yun Yao, Ye Changkong's wife—and thus, Ye Qian's mother.
At this moment, she sat motionless, her gaze unfocused. She had no interest in admiring the flowers around her.
The Ye Family's back garden was vast beyond measure. It contained countless rare and exotic plants, precious flowers that could be refined into supreme medicinal materials. Some were priceless treasures. Yet here, they were merely ornamental.
But even such beautiful and precious blooms failed to capture Yun Yao's attention.
"Qian'er, when will you wake up? Mother is so worried about you..." she murmured, her voice trembling.
Sitting alone, her mind was filled with memories of her son—of their past together. Her brows were furrowed, her expression one of deep, unrelenting sorrow.
"Yao, Qian'er has awakened. Come to the main hall."
A familiar voice suddenly echoed in her ear.
The moment she heard these words, Yun Yao shot to her feet.
Her gaze snapped toward the location of the main hall, and she rushed forward without hesitation, unable to contain her urgency.