Her appearance remained breathtakingly beautiful, her figure still spectacularly voluptuous, but in those blue eyes, once brimming with endless allure, a sliver of sorrow now flickered. What was this sadness? For whom did it grieve? For herself?

Seeing Ye Jingyu staring at her, Yao Rao naturally concealed the trace of melancholy in her eyes, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly into a smile... This smile could topple cities, depose nations, conquer the world... Still a devastating beauty... Faced with such perfection, any man would wish to be ruined by her charm, and Ye Jingyu was no exception. Yet, he knew that his attraction to Yao Rao was, for the most part, purely carnal, unlike his feelings for Ling'er or Jiu Feng...

“A’Yu, I pursued her for thousands of years, and she never agreed. It seems she truly likes you. Why let the prize go to an outsider? Now that you're back, take them all in!” Just then, Liang Xiaoke’s voice cut through.

Ye Jingyu started. A thousand years of waiting? She had waited for him for millennia? Had he truly become so irresistibly handsome? Not only was he a scourge to nations, but even peerless enchantresses were destined to be consumed by his allure?

He wanted to laugh inwardly, but the smile wouldn't come. His romantic debts were truly immense. He had once thought her merely a woman who played games for convenience, never expecting such profound sincerity from her.

Not just Yao Rao; he glanced at Gongsun Xiangyi and Hu Yanmeng beside her. Gongsun Xiangyi was clad in a light green floral dress that modestly encased her equally alluring form. A smile graced her beautiful face, yet her eyes betrayed tears—tears of overwhelming joy. Her body trembled slightly, as if yearning to rush forward like Hei Ming Shixuan and collapse into Ye Jingyu’s embrace...

But she restrained herself. Young Master's women were already present. What right did she, a mere maidservant, have to be held by him? Just watching him would suffice, watching from afar. Yes, seeing him happy would make her happy too, wouldn't it?

Beside her, Hu Yanmeng, though less openly expressive than Gongsun Xiangyi, also revealed a flash of joy in her usually cold eyes, mixed with a faint tremor of excitement.

What exactly were her feelings for Ye Jingyu? Love? Certainly not! Such an emotion seemed nonexistent in her worldview. Initially, she hadn't favored Ye Jingyu much, only agreeing to become his slave out of gratitude for saving her. But as they spent time together, she gradually discovered he wasn't as detestable as she first thought; he possessed many endearing qualities. And Hu Yanmeng had always been by his side, managing every aspect of his life, like an older sister or a mother...

Perhaps, she had long ago come to regard him as the closest family?

As Hu Yanmeng mused, her gaze drifted to Hou Yi standing behind Ye Jingyu. Is he doing well now?

Seeing the complicated expressions on the three women's faces, Ye Jingyu felt a headache coming on. He couldn't exactly be considered overly promiscuous, could he? Why was his luck with romance so overwhelmingly strong? He had assumed that after so many years, they would have long forgotten him, perhaps even married by now. Yet, here they all were, waiting for him.

It seemed his character was exceptionally good after all. One Jiu Feng was one thing, but now them too...

Forget it, forget it. Having reached this level, why should he still maintain the airs of a boy? Since they all cherished him, he should accept them all. Surely he couldn't disappoint their millennia of devoted waiting?

Ye Jingyu found a convenient justification for himself in his heart, then cautiously glanced at the three women beside him. Seeing they showed no unusual reaction, he offered a gentle smile to Yao Rao and the others.

The threads of affection were hard to sever; if they couldn't be cut, then he would claim them all...

When Ye Jingyu smiled toward them, especially noticing a glimmer of realization in his eyes, Yao Rao and the others paused, utterly uncertain of the decision he had reached. A strange apprehension tightened in their hearts.

Next, Ye Jingyu’s gaze swept across Lin Xiaoyi, Chi Yixiu, and the others. Seeing the excitement blazing in their eyes, his heart felt genuinely warm. In this world, many emotions refused to fade with the passage of time—be it love, friendship, or kinship. We call it true feeling...

Finally, Ye Jingyu’s eyes settled upon the man dressed in Taoist robes standing behind the crowd. He was a man of wickedly handsome features, wearing a smile even more roguish than Ye Jingyu's own—not malicious, but profoundly intriguing.

As Ye Jingyu scrutinized him, the man’s sword-like eyes were also assessing him. Was this the Sect Leader Tongtian?

The one who shook the Three Realms? The one who dared fight the Four Great Sect Leaders to the death for his disciples, the one who defied the Heavenly Dao?

“Whoever bullies my disciples, I will annihilate their entire lineage!” Those were his famous boasts back then, and he had lived up to them...

They say Saints are emotionless, but Ye Jingyu knew that Sect Leader Tongtian valued loyalty far more than countless mortals...

As he gradually understood the Heavenly Script, he had begun to glimpse the events of the past, and he held a profound admiration for Tongtian’s actions back then...

No wonder even Big Brother, with his untamable nature, was completely convinced by him...

Perhaps he wasn't a good Saint, nor a good steward of the Heavenly Dao, but he was undoubtedly a superb teacher, an excellent elder...

“Junior Ye Jingyu pays respects to Senior Tongtian...” He stepped forward seriously, bowing respectfully to Sect Leader Tongtian. There were fewer than three people in this world whom Ye Jingyu would offer such a genuine, junior-to-senior salute.

“Hahahaha! I never imagined I would be the first to meet the heir of the Pangu Sacred Emperor! Pangu Sacred Emperor was contemporary with my master. Since you are his disciple, we shall converse as equals!” Sect Leader Tongtian boomed with laughter, completely devoid of the usual imposing air of authority...

Ye Jingyu now understood the origin of his Ba Yuan Jue. Without the ring passed down by the Pangu Sacred Emperor, the Ba Yuan Jue would never have appeared. Tongtian's proposal was reasonable, and Ye Jingyu didn't stand on ceremony, nodding lightly.

But Liang Xiaoke, standing nearby, was perplexed. If his sworn brother was now peers with his own Master, what should he call his brother in the future? Martial Uncle? Or Brother Martial Uncle?

“Tongtian Old Man, how about a match?” While Liang Xiaoke was still stewing over the awkwardness, the Monkey had already stepped forward, his face alight with battle spirit as he faced Tongtian...

(I know these few chapters feel a bit subdued, but we are nearing the end. Certain things must be addressed, mustn't they? Many friends have recently asked where Chi Yixiu went, where Shixuan went. Their stories must also be neatly concluded, otherwise, we'll have too many loose ends when we reach the final volumes? Please bear with me; the exciting grand finale is fast approaching!)E