Meanwhile, Ye Qian, riding in his qilin carriage, finally arrived at Ye Changkong's palace.
Gazing around at the misty Immortal Mountains and the exotic beasts—far more numerous than at his own residence—and sensing the density of the Immortal Qi, which vastly surpassed his own domain, Ye Qian couldn't help but exclaim inwardly, As expected of the Ye Clan Head.
Numerous heavily armed guards patrolled the perimeter. Some were Saints; others were even higher-level existences. No matter who arrived in this region, the first thing they had to do was state their identity. Otherwise, they would be killed without mercy.
This rule had always been absolute.
Of course, Ye Qian didn't need to report anything. His qilin carriage alone declared his identity. Throughout the entire Immortal Realm, Ye Qian was the only one who possessed a carriage pulled by four qilin, each embodying a different elemental attribute. There was only one such existence in the realm—no branches, no imitations.
Therefore, no one dared block Ye Qian's path.
The Four Qilin were familiar with this place. They immediately navigated to the designated landing terrace—a massive platform large enough to park a hundred qilin carriages without issue.
Whoosh!
The carriage settled smoothly onto the terrace. Inside, Ye Qian felt not even the faintest vibration.
"Young Master, we have arrived at the main residence," Xia He said softly.
Escorted by Xia He and Qiu Lan, Ye Qian stepped out of the carriage.
Before him stretched a long staircase—at least several hundred steps by appearance—leading directly to the palace above. It was the first time Ye Qian had witnessed such a magnificent scene in person, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of awe.
"Let's go."
The three ascended the stone steps. For cultivators, the climb was trivial. For an ordinary person, it would have been an exhausting ordeal.
Before long, Ye Qian and the two maids passed through the lengthy staircase and arrived at the entrance to the palace.
Outside stood numerous soldiers, each clad in gleaming armor, gripping long spears, and radiating formidable killing intent. These were the elite troops trained by the Ye Family, and all of them were cultivators.
Most had reached the Enlightenment Realm, with a few already at the Holy Induction Realm. Their captains and higher-ranking officers were likely even more advanced existences.
Their cultivation was generally not high—but only relative to the Ye Family. In the broader Immortal Realm, even an Enlightenment Realm cultivator was an existence ordinary people could only look up to. Here, they were merely foot soldiers.
Ye Qian turned to Xia He and Qiu Lan, his voice calm but firm. "Wait here. Remain until I return."
The two maids exchanged glances and nodded without hesitation.
"Yes, Young Master," they replied in unison.
Their loyalty was absolute. They would never disobey any of Ye Qian's commands—even if he ordered them to their deaths, they would not falter for a single instant.
After giving his instructions, Ye Qian walked alone along the path toward the great hall.
The soldiers lining both sides raised their spears in salute as he passed. They knew Ye Qian was their Young Master—the future Family Head. Naturally, they showed the heir every ounce of respect.
He entered the great hall with effortless grace. The chamber shimmered with resplendent magnificence—immortal stones, carved and polished to perfection, were inlaid into the walls, radiating an ethereal glow that bathed the space in otherworldly light.
Upon entering, the most eye-catching feature was naturally the high seat at the very end—a position symbolizing the authority of the Ye Family Head.
The person seated there was unmistakably Ye Changkong.
Ye Qian finally saw his father in person—a man who until now had existed only in inherited memories.
His face was like stone, a man whose name alone could chill his enemies to the bone. He carried the weight of countless battles, his reputation forged in fire and blood. The sword at his side was a relic from a past where he had cut through armies—now, his power made such weapons almost unnecessary.
But the moment he saw Ye Qian, the ice cracked. His stern gaze softened, lines of worry melting from his features. The aura of a merciless overlord faded, leaving only a father's anxious heart, trembling with relief at the sight of his son.
"Qian'er, you've come! How are you? Do you feel any pain? Shall I summon the physicians at once?"
His son had lain unconscious for days, ravaged by Qi Deviation. Now that he was finally awake, relief and joy surged through Ye Changkong's heart.
No matter how willful or arrogant his son had been, none of it changed the depth of his love. Ye Qian was his son, and that alone was enough—even if he had never shown a trace of talent, even if he had remained ordinary among thousands, Ye Changkong would have loved him the same.
But his son was no ordinary cultivator.
His extraordinary gifts had made him the pride of the entire Ye Family. This only strengthened Ye Changkong's resolve to ensure Ye Qian had everything he needed—every resource, every advantage, every protection the family could provide.
He had never imagined that his son, blessed with such talent, would suffer from Qi Deviation.
After all, Ye Qian possessed the Supreme Immortal Body, which ensured rapid, stable cultivation. Under normal circumstances, without recklessness or haste, Heart Demons should never have taken root.
Yet his son had inexplicably developed one, which baffled Ye Changkong. It was only after a thorough investigation that the reason became clear.
Ye Qian stood with his hands clasped respectfully before him and said firmly, "Father, set your mind at ease. There is no pain, no need for physicians—I am fully recovered, and feel stronger than before."
After confirming that Ye Qian was indeed unharmed, Ye Changkong's taut expression finally split into a wide, triumphant grin.
"Good! Good! Excellent! As expected of my son—how could a mere Heart Demon possibly defeat him? Hahahaha!"
Qi Deviation was an extremely dangerous condition, potentially crippling one's future cultivation for life. But Ye Qian had remained unconscious, leaving Ye Changkong uncertain of what to do. Now that his son had awakened and recovered, the weight on his chest finally lifted.
"Qian'er! Qian'er! Has my Qian'er arrived?"
The cry echoed from outside the palace, urgent and trembling.
A familiar figure rushed into the great hall. Ye Qian turned, a knowing smile gracing his lips.
"Mother, I am here, and completely fine."
He bowed respectfully to Yun Yao. In the next instant, she swept him into a fierce embrace, her arms locking around him as if afraid he might vanish.
"Qian'er… my Qian'er is finally awake!" Her voice trembled with overwhelming joy.
Ever since Ye Qian had suffered Qi Deviation, Yun Yao had been despondent, her grief turning to sharp accusations against Ye Changkong. She had blamed him for failing to protect their son, and the Family Head had borne her fury in silence, sending investigators to uncover the truth—a truth that had shocked them both.
Ye Changkong watched them from the side, a rare smile tugging at his lips. Observing the reunion, his eyes betrayed the deep contentment of a man whose family was whole once more.
"Mother," Ye Qian gasped, "gently… I cannot breathe."
Yun Yao startled, reality rushing back. She released her grip, only to seize his shoulders, her hands quickly checking his arms, chest, and face, desperate to assure herself he was truly unharmed.