The swordsman’s face twisted in alarm upon sensing that colossal blade light. Such piercing sharpness, such concentrated power—even after reaching the Great Grandmaster realm, he knew he could never muster anything comparable. That left only one possibility: the one wielding the blade must be a Martial Saint.

Martial Saint. A being who had transcended the mortal coil. Gongsun Sheng had never mentioned that such a figure would be accompanying the man!

Regret flooded the swordsman’s heart, but remorse was useless now. He instantly tossed aside his heavy Guandao and lunged sideways.

Yet, the sword light was too dazzling, its speed too absolute. In less time than it takes to blink, it had consumed the swordsman’s own blade aura and his body, crashing down onto the massive city gate with a deafening roar. The gate, several zhang high, collapsed entirely, sending plumes of dust billowing upward.

Such a strike utterly stunned the seven or eight Great Grandmasters who followed. They were all experts hired by Gongsun Sheng, told only that they needed to help capture a man who had taken Gongsun Xiangyi. None of them expected the man to have a Martial Saint at his side.

A Martial Saint! A true transcendent being. Perhaps for powerful families like the Gongsun clan, a Martial Saint was not such a monumental figure, but for ordinary martial artists, reaching the Martial Saint realm was the highest peak they could ever hope to attain in a lifetime.

A Great Grandmaster could found a lineage; what hope did they have against a Martial Saint?

This was a being they could only look up to. Now, such a figure stood before them—how could they not be astonished?

They were all beneficiaries of the Gongsun family’s favors. Chasing Ye Jingyu was a means of repaying that debt. Every man present understood gratitude and would not hesitate to go through fire and water for the sake of repaying kindness.

Even knowing the target might be stronger than them, posing a genuine threat to their lives, they had agreed to the Gongsun family’s request without hesitation. But now, facing a Martial Saint—to continue the pursuit would not make them brave men; it would make them fools.

No one took their life lightly, and no one intended to play the fool.

They exchanged glances, then sighed in unison. There was no way they would continue the chase. The appearance of a Martial Saint was far beyond their operational scope.

However, just because these men dared not proceed did not mean others wouldn't. In the darkness, at least three or four figures shot forward, pursuing Ye Jingyu. These were core loyalists of the Gongsun family, men willing to disregard their own lives for their patrons.

Anyone brave enough to follow under these circumstances was, at minimum, at the peak of the Great Grandmaster level.

Beyond these few silhouettes, a man in white brocade robes stood atop a great tree, his sharp eyes locked onto Ye Jingyu as he fled the city. In a flash, his form dissolved into a streak of residual shadow and followed in pursuit.

The Gongsun Estate.

Gongsun Sheng remained seated in his wheelchair, a stone table before him holding a cup of pale tea. His gaze, cold as ice, was fixed upon an old man kneeling before him, his face a mask of fury.

This elder was none other than Gongsun Sheng’s eldest son, now in his late fifties or early sixties. As for his own descendants, they had all been thrown into the Gongsun family's imperial prison; they held no qualification to kneel here.

“Father, this son’s failure to discipline them is my fault. I am willing to personally beg the Prince’s forgiveness, but I only ask that you spare Lin’er and the others. They are, after all, your own grandsons!” Feeling the brunt of Gongsun Sheng’s rage, Gongsun Yuan kept his head bowed low, speaking with extreme caution.

He understood that the death of Xuanyuan Xue within the Gongsun household, regardless of the family’s direct involvement, meant he bore a degree of responsibility—especially since the incident was instigated by his own granddaughter.

The thought of that spoiled girl brought a wave of self-reproach to Gongsun Yuan. It was his fault; if he hadn't indulged her so thoroughly, how could such disaster have unfolded?

But regret served no purpose now. Xuanyuan Xue was dead, and the girl, Gongsun Lu, was missing. Someone had to bear the punishment.

“Your grandsons? Am I not also your father?” Gongsun Sheng retorted sharply. At this juncture, preserving the Gongsun clan was the paramount concern.

Of course, given the relationship between the Gongsun and Xuanyuan families, Xuanyuan Xiaozhan was unlikely to enact a massacre over this matter. But precisely because of this delicate balance, Gongsun Sheng needed to provide the Xuanyuan family with a satisfactory resolution.

“You don’t need to say more. How this incident is settled rests entirely with the Prince. I cannot save you. But you had better pray that His Highness Jing succeeds in killing that man, otherwise, the Prince’s wrath is not something either of us can withstand!” Gongsun Sheng finished with a cold snort.

Gongsun Yuan’s head sank lower. It seemed pointless to speak further.

Just then, the sound of light footsteps approached. A stooped elder entered, glancing at the kneeling Gongsun Yuan with an expression of deep pity.

“Master, they are indeed still within the city. However, our people discovered them, and they have just fled past the city gates. His Highness Jing has already given chase. Should this old servant follow as well?” Xu, arriving before Gongsun Sheng, spoke with utmost deference.

“Father, let me go! I swear I will redeem myself through meritorious service!” Upon hearing the news that Ye Jingyu and the others had been located, Gongsun Yuan instantly lifted his head, filled with desperate hope.

He knew that only by throwing himself wholeheartedly into the pursuit of Ye Jingyu could he possibly mitigate the Prince’s fury, and only then might his branch of the family survive. Otherwise, the enraged Xuanyuan Xiaozhan might see fit to wipe them out entirely.

“Redeem yourself? With your current skill, barely reaching the Grandmaster realm? Someone else could flick you to death!” Gongsun Sheng offered a disdainful smile. He knew exactly what his own son was capable of.

“Father, though my personal strength is lacking, have you forgotten the Senior I saved five years ago at the foot of the Tiangang Mountain Range? He now resides in Medicine City. If I personally call upon him, given his temperament, he will surely agree to intervene!” Gongsun Yuan refused to let this opportunity slip, pleading earnestly.

“Hm? Are you certain he will act?” Gongsun Sheng paused only for a moment before recalling that individual, his eyebrow sharply arching.

“Absolutely certain. I have maintained contact with that Senior over the years. Now that I face calamity, he will not stand idly by!” Gongsun Yuan was nearly in tears; when his own life was at stake, his performance became exceptionally compelling.