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Ye Zichen refused decisively, without the slightest hesitation. The moment the words left his mouth, the atmosphere underwent a dramatic transformation, like heaven and earth had swapped places.

Who knows where it came from, but a cold wind suddenly blew past.

The bone-piercing chill made them instinctively pull their clothes tight.

As the wind howled by, it dispersed the clouds, and the entire platform came into view.

Half a meter away, Ye Rong's eyes flashed with surprise. She didn't understand why Ye Zichen would make this choice.

The way she saw it, joining the Gu Family was the best possible choice. So long as they built a relationship with the Gu Family, the Gu Family wouldn't leave them in the lurch, not even when the Outsider Gods attacked their borders.

It wasn't just that Ye Rong admired the Gu Family's prestige, or that she just wanted the assurance of shared protection and benefits.

She just wanted Ye Zichen's future to be a little more relaxed; she knew the weight on his shoulders was far too heavy. He'd yet to resolve lingering concern over the demons, and the yao of the Southern and Western Kingdoms resented him. Moreover, the Outsider Gods were coming for them, and all of this weight rested squarely on Ye Zichen's shoulders.

As his mother, she didn't want her son's life to be so painful, but her cultivation was limited. The only solution she could think of was relying on the Gu Family.

Gu Xuande wanted to extend an olive branch, and so long as Ye Zichen agreed, he could join the Gu Family swiftly and without obstacle.

All they'd ask was that he used their surname going forward, which wasn't too much to ask for, especially since Ye Rong had been surnamed Gu to begin with. This was just reclaiming their original family name, the name that ought to have been theirs.

Or in other words…

Never mind Ye Zichen; if any clan of the Upper Three Realms heard that the Gu Family planned to extend them an olive branch and welcome them into their ranks, there'd be no way they could resist the temptation. There was no way they'd refuse, not even if joining the Gu Family meant casting away the family name they'd used for millions of years.

So why had Ye Zichen refused?

When he rejected their offer, he didn't hesitate. He was just so decisive.

A cold wind dispersed the mists, and the not-particularly-blazing sun's white light shone down on them.

Ye Zichen stood several meters away from Gu Xuande, and the sun stretched out his shadow. His eyes narrowed into slits, and the playful mockery on his lips revealed hints of cold, staunch determination.

There was absolutely no way he'd join the Gu Family!

Ye Zichen was well aware that entering the Gu Family would be like ascending the heavens in a single step. That wasn't just true for him; it was true for even the likes of Xue Yang.

He knew just how powerfully tempting an invitation to join the Gu Family was, but even so…

He wouldn't do it.

Although many years had passed since he last saw Gu Zichen, his wretched fate still lingered in Ye Zichen's consciousness like a lingering nightmare.

If he followed in his predecessor's footsteps, there was no way he could change the future.

If he wanted to change the course of history and avoid what befell Gu Zichen and his dimension, and if he wanted to protect his loved ones, Ye Zichen couldn't repeat his mistakes, no matter what anyone said.

Even though this might make his future even worse, he'd decided to take the risk.

A long, drawn-out silence followed, the weight of it practically suffocating.

After Ye Zichen voiced his refusal, Gu Xuande said no more, not even half a word. He just stood there, his gaze intense as he looked straight into Ye Zichen's dark eyes.

"Little Rong, you can go back!" Suddenly, Gu Xuande expressionlessly waved Ye Rong away. From his calm, unaffected tone, she couldn't sense whether he was pleased or angry.

However, Ye Rong was frantic with concern. She pursed her lips and was just about to say something when Ye Zichen laughed and took her hand. "Don't worry. Family Head Gu might just want to give me a little counseling. You can just relax and head back to the Star Altar. After all, with Family Head Gu's lofty status, there's no way he'd quibble with a little junior like me, right?"

When she heard that, Ye Rong nodded slightly, bowed to Gu Xuande and Qing Li, and left.

After she left, Ye Zichen's sea of consciousness received a transmission from her. In response, he just glanced at Ye Rong, who was leaving without a second look, and nodded, nothing but smiles.

In the end, Ye Rong left the tower.

To tell the truth, Ye Zichen still couldn't quite figure out what Gu Xuande had invited his mother over for in the first place.

Was it to have her confirm his entrance into the Gu Family?

If so, all he could say was that Gu Xuande was a little overconfident.

Without Ye Rong, the atmosphere plummeted even further, all the way past zero.

Cold winds whirled around the platform, like mournful howls, filling their ears. From beginning to end, Ye Zichen maintained his smile. When he saw that neither Gu Xuande nor Qing Li showed any signs of breaking the silence, he decided to just go ahead and restart the conversation.

"Family Head Gu, I apologize for disappointing you."

"Hah? To think I'd hear an apology from you." Gu Xuande snorted, then sat down on the platform beside a very modern-looking tea table. A still-steaming, fragrant pot of tea rested on its manufactured glass surface.

Ye Zichen had exclaimed and wondered over Gu City's modern architecture and furniture ever since passing through the gate.

He really wanted to know just why they had such buildings, and he'd been continuously on the lookout for an opportunity to resolve his doubts. This seemed like a relatively good opportunity.

"Family Head Gu, although I cannot join your Gu Family, and although I've betrayed your good intentions, there's something I'm quite confused about, and I hope you can resolve my doubts."

If this were any other venerable elder, there was a ninety percent chance they'd be willing to enlighten him.

But this was Gu Xuande, and although his power and prestige were enormous, although he practically stood at the very pinnacle of this world, he still wasn't the "venerable elder" type.

"You're surprised that we have such modern-style architecture?" Gu Xuande's eyebrows shot up.

"That's right. From the moment I stepped foot through your gates, I saw buildings no different from when I lived in the Modern Realm. After entering this tower, I took an elevator up to see you, and the tea table you're using looks like a product of the Modern Realm too."

"You want to know why such objects would appear here?" asked Gu Xuande.

"Right!"

"Why should I tell you?" Gu Xuande sipped his tea, his expression mocking, much like Ye Zichen's had been earlier. "Everything about Gu City pertains to our Gu Family's deepest held secrets. Since you aren't a member of the Gu Family, why should I answer your questions?"

"…." Ye Zichen's expression froze.

But then, he wasn't actually all that surprised. His attitude to Gu Xuande hadn't been exactly friendly; it was natural that he'd react like this.

He was afraid his questions abut Gu City wouldn't get any answers. In that case…

"Might I be excused?" Ye Zichen wouldn't join the Gu Family, and he wasn't going to get an answer about the modern buildings, so there was no point staying here at all.

With that, Ye Zichen turned and headed toward the elevator.

Gu Xuande suddenly slammed his fist into the tea table, and surging waves of energy burst forth. "You dare!?"