"Miss, we should return home immediately."
Seeing such a catastrophic incident unfolding within the Ye family mansion, the elders of the Lian family hurriedly advised their young lady to retreat.
Ye Jin was clearly consumed with explosive fury, and who would dare approach him at this volatile moment to risk provoking further trouble?
Lian Feng nodded dejectedly, her eyes dim and unfocused as she murmured quietly to herself, "So his situation in this household has always been so utterly humble and degrading..."
Now she suddenly understood with perfect clarity. As the eldest son of such a prominent family—the Crown Prince of the Northern Territories—why did he completely lack the natural confidence and composed bearing expected of other children from aristocratic backgrounds?
He had always displayed an unmistakable sense of deep inferiority and servile behavior that seemed completely out of place.
It turned out that he hadn't been lacking confidence at all—he had simply lacked any foundation upon which confidence could be built.
He wasn't loved by his father, his mother, or his brothers, and even some of the household servants had given him strange, dismissive looks.
How could anyone possibly maintain assertiveness and pride in such a systematically oppressive and hostile environment?
"Uncle Xu, please tell me honestly... was I perhaps a little too harsh and cruel in my treatment of him before?"
Lian Feng couldn't help but question her own past behavior as she recalled her previous inappropriate and dismissive actions toward Ye Qiu.
This sudden feeling of guilt wasn't arising from any romantic love for Ye Qiu, but rather from genuine human sympathy and compassion.
It was also possible that after learning the full truth about Ye Qiu's terrible situation, she had suddenly realized that she was actually no different from his family members—she too had looked down upon him with contempt and disdain.
She couldn't help but blame herself for her complicity in his suffering.
Her emotions at this moment were incredibly complicated and conflicted. Thinking back to Ye Qiu's cold, dismissive eyes just moments before, she felt a strange sense of emptiness and loss within her heart. Lian Feng didn't understand what was happening to her own feelings.
Looking at his obviously distraught young lady, Elder Xu Zhengyang released a weary sigh, completely unsure how to respond to such a complex situation.
Meanwhile, Ye Qiu, who had permanently left the Ye family estate, wandered aimlessly through the busy streets of Liyang City.
Looking at this capital city where he had lived for twenty long years, he felt an strange and profound sense of unfamiliarity, as though he were seeing it for the very first time.
Just like the alienation he had experienced within the Ye family mansion, he didn't seem to truly belong to this capital city either—he didn't have that deep sense of belonging or connection in his heart.
"Hah..."
He took a deep, cleansing breath and consciously let go of all the painful memories from his past.
He paused in his wandering, a subtle but genuine smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he spoke quietly to himself: "One cannot live forever trapped in the shadows of the past. It's time to say goodbye to all of that with proper dignity, isn't it? I've already done everything I could for you. Now you can finally rest in peace."
"I will live a full and meaningful life for both of us! After twenty years of bending and submitting to others, it's finally time to straighten up and stand tall."
"Don't be reluctant to let go! I'm doing this for your own good—trust me. Listen to my advice, it's really for the best..."
"It doesn't matter if your parents don't want you. I've been through similar abandonment before, and I won't cause you any harm."
"Rest in peace now... it's all in the past, little one. You're exhausted and need to rest. You shouldn't have to dwell on so many troublesome and painful things anymore..."
"Leave everything else to me! I'll bear all the pain and burden for you. Don't struggle against this transition..."
He continued muttering these strange words to himself, though no passerby could understand to whom he was speaking or what he meant.
With those few heartfelt words, a certain deep obsession and attachment within him finally dissipated completely.
Ye Qiu felt an overwhelming surge of relief and liberation—an unprecedented sense of comfort and freedom.
"Ah..."
With a final sigh of release, Ye Qiu took a confident step forward, feeling completely relaxed and unburdened for the first time in years.
A unique and powerful confidence flashed in his eyes, no longer showing any trace of the same decadent, defeated demeanor as before.
From this pivotal moment forward, this world needed to prepare itself to welcome its new king.
"Haha..."
Time travel was something Ye Qiu had only fantasized about during his childhood dreams. He had read about it in countless novels and stories, but he had never seriously imagined it could actually happen to him personally.
Wasn't the entire concept far too fantastical and unrealistic?
At the same time, however, he felt incredibly excited about the endless possibilities ahead.
This was clearly an incredibly dangerous and desolate world, home to countless different races locked in seemingly endless warfare and conflict.
From ancient times to the present day, violent conflicts and devastating catastrophes between the various races had constantly ravaged the land, leaving it in ruins and perpetual need of reconstruction and recovery.
Right now, the world was experiencing a temporary truce and period of recuperation following the last major upheaval, and all the sacred immortal lands and aristocratic families were secretly mobilizing their forces for whatever would come next.
This was quite literally the perfect time for personal growth and advancement. He had finally made this incredible journey through time and space, and he definitely didn't want to die prematurely or waste this opportunity.
He absolutely had to enjoy himself and make the most of this second chance at life, didn't he?
After all, in his previous existence, there had been countless laws and social constraints that had prevented him from doing many things he had wanted to do but couldn't.
But in this new world, there appeared to be far fewer restrictive laws and regulations. As long as he could acquire sufficient strength and power, he could potentially do whatever pleased him.
What exactly did Ye Qiu want to accomplish? Of course, he wanted to pursue all the things he had desperately wanted to do but had never dared to attempt in his previous life.
Otherwise, wouldn't his miraculous journey through time and space be completely wasted?
After calming down and centering himself, Ye Qiu began to carefully analyze his current situation and available options.
Now that he had permanently severed ties with the Ye family, the only places he could realistically go were either back to that dilapidated old farmhouse where he had grown up, or to the Bu Tian Holy Land where he had been training.
However, the Bu Tian Holy Land wasn't a suitable place for a long-term stay, especially considering that he had deliberately chosen the path of the Ultimate Demon God—a choice that was fundamentally incompatible with the righteous cultivation methods practiced there.
As the very name suggested, it simply wasn't the right environment for his chosen path!
Remaining there would inevitably weaken and constrain Ye Qiu's growing power, forcing him to be overly cautious and restrained in everything he attempted to accomplish.
But leaving that restrictive environment would tell a completely different story. He would be like a fish finally released into the vast ocean—free from any significant constraints and able to act with complete impunity.
Furthermore, if he trapped himself within the confines of Bu Tian Holy Land, serious trouble and conflict would inevitably arise as his demonic cultivation became apparent.
Therefore, the optimal solution was clear—he needed to leave immediately and completely break free from this cage of predetermined fate.
"System! Open my life choice gift package."
Ye Qiu spoke with quiet determination after completing his brief strategic analysis.
Whether he could successfully change his current predicament and circumstances depended entirely on what valuable resources were contained within this mysterious gift package.
According to the system's previous explanations, each major life choice would come with a corresponding reward package.
The system's characteristically cold voice echoed clearly in his mind:
[Ding...]
[Opening your life choice gift package now.]
[Ding...]
[Congratulations! You have obtained the Supreme Demonic Scripture: Heaven-Swallowing Demonic Art.]
[Congratulations! You have obtained a Weeping Blood Pill.]
[Congratulations! You have obtained the Immortal-grade Sword: Heavenly Evil.]
[Congratulations! You have obtained the Supreme Sword Technique: One Sword to Slay the Immortals.]
[Congratulations! You have obtained the Supreme Divine Art: Free and Unfettered Wind Control Technique.]
"Hiss..."
The rapid series of system announcements left Ye Qiu completely stunned, his eyes instantly focusing with laser intensity on the first reward listed.
"Heaven-Swallowing Demonic Art?"
[Do you wish to learn this technique immediately?]
"Yes... learn it now."
[Ding...]
[Congratulations! You have successfully learned the Heaven-Swallowing Demonic Art! You have successfully cultivated this technique to the initial entry level.]
A brilliant flash of blood-red light erupted around him, and a moment later, an incredibly profound and mysterious scripture merged seamlessly into Ye Qiu's consciousness and memory.
Instantly, he felt as though a fundamental transformation was occurring deep within his very essence—his blood began boiling with newfound power.
As he felt the blood-red energy surging and raging throughout his entire body, Ye Qiu experienced something like being baptized in divine blood, with his aura radiating outward with unprecedented intensity.
A moment later, the crimson power had integrated with his internal organs and meridians, and suddenly a powerful surge of righteous heavenly energy began to flow through his being...