Son-in-law Heaven Emperor Xiao Yi

"Grandfather, I have had someone find out for us—the house up ahead belongs to Xiao Yi!"

On the wide street, a plainly dressed grandparent and grandchild walked side by side.

The girl, in a white dress, carefully supported the white-haired and bearded old man beside her and pointed to a mansion ahead. Excitement sparkled in her eyes.

The old man chuckled and nodded. His murky eyes studied the mansion and the long line of people waiting outside, and he laughed, "It seems that this Xiao Yi is not a simple character, attracting so many visitors bearing gifts!"

The girl smiled broadly, "Grandpa, shall we go and find him now?"

The old man shook his head, "No rush, Grandpa still has some matters to attend to. After they're resolved, I'll accompany you to properly thank them, all right?"

The girl's expression dimmed slightly, yet she obediently nodded, "Mhmm, I'll listen to you, Grandpa!"

"Haha, you're such a sweet girl, not like your sister…"

The old man affectionately ruffled the girl's head and looked again at the mansion, as if he could see through the walls. A glint shimmered in his dim eyes, "A Golden Core? Quite the interesting youngster..."

Inside the mansion.

Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu were cultivating, facing each other in a position that pointed toward the sky with all five hearts.

Between their palms, a Golden Core the size of a walnut bobbed faintly.

Strands of golden energy escaped from the Golden Core.

And seeped into both their bodies.

Xiao Yi's body glowed with gold. His vitality surged, as powerful as a dragon or tiger.

Fang Qingzhu's face glowed with health, and a purple light flickered around her, like a fairy bathed in the glow of purple clouds.

Whoosh!

Both retracted their power at the same time, and the Golden Core fell into Xiao Yi's hand. The storage ring on his fingertip flashed as he stored the Golden Core away. Both opened their eyes, and as they faced each other, Fang Qingzhu said with a smile, "Xiao Yi, brother, thank you!"

"No need for thanks between you and me," Xiao Yi said with a mild smile.

Fang Qingzhu gently nodded her head.

It had been half a month since Xiao Yi performed the technique to shift flowers and:

replace the core in Fang Qingzhu's dantian with the beast core of a Purple-Patterned Blood Python.

Over this half-month...

Xiao Yi had been cultivating with her using the Golden Core. Fang Qingzhu had already been at the peak of the Qi Gathering Realm before her cultivation was crippled. Now that her dantian was restored, all she needed was to absorb enough energy to regain her cultivation. In just half a month, she had completely returned to her peak condition.

Once again at the Peak of the Qi Gathering Realm.

Ready to break through to the Shentong Realm at any moment!

As for Xiao Yi, his progress hadn't been slow either, having reached the Tenth Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm and activated two hundred God Sealing Seeds.

He was just a step away from entering the Shentong Realm!

Of course.

By cultivating together with the Golden Core, they had used up a full fifth of the core's energy.

"Xiao Yi, brother, I feel like I am about to step into the Shentong Realm!" remarked Fang Qingzhu.

Xiao Yi laughed, "I should be breaking through in the next couple of days as well. Let's strive to enter the Shentong Realm together."

"Yes!"

Fang Qingzhu nodded vehemently, her eyes filled with resolve and determination, "As soon as I enter the Shentong Realm, I will have nothing to fear, even if Fang Jin returns. The position of family heir belongs to me!"

Xiao Yi rubbed her head and said, "Don't put so much pressure on yourself. What does it matter if you're no match for Fang Jin? I'm here for you!"

Fang Qingzhu squinted, her face breaking into a sweet smile.

"Young Master Xiao, Yan Mingli requests an audience!" called a voice from outside—Yan Mingli's.

Fang Qingzhu softly said, "Xiao Yi, brother, Elder Yan must have urgent business. You should go see him first!"

"Alright!"

Xiao Yi walked outside and frowned at Elder Yan, whose forehead showed traces of sweat, "What's the matter?"

Elder Yan glanced inside the door and said in a low voice, "Xiao, I've just received a message that Fang Jin has returned to the Fang Family!"

"Hmm?"

Xiao Yi was somewhat surprised. Logically speaking, even if Fang Jin had returned, it wouldn't have caused Elder Yan to lose composure like this. Xiao Yi frowned and asked, "But did he bring anyone back with him?"

Elder Yan's gaze held admiration as he looked at Xiao Yi and said, "The message from Lord Sikong is that Fang Jin has returned with a young man. That person is wearing the uniform of a Mysterious Rank student from the Royal Martial Arts Academy..."

Xiao Yi arched an eyebrow.

He was, of course, familiar with the levels of the Royal Martial Arts Academy.

The Mysterious Rank Academy, that was at least the cultivation of the Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm or higher.

But a Third Layer Divine Passage Realm from the Royal Martial Arts Academy was far from being comparable to Zhang Yong. In Nanhuang City, a third-rank martial technique could become a clan's treasure. Yet in the Royal Martial Arts Academy, it's not to mention the third-rank martial techniques, even fourth-rank martial techniques were at the students' disposal to study and understand at will.

What's more important was...

There were Divine Skills above martial techniques!

The power of Divine Skills of the same level far exceeded that of martial techniques of the same tier.

It could be said without exaggeration that a student of the same Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm from the Royal Martial Arts Academy would absolutely be stronger in combat than those who hadn't mastered Divine Skills, even if they were of the Fourth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm.

No wonder Elder Yan had lost his composure.

However.

Xiao Yi was now halfway into the Shentong Realm, and he also bore the seed of Sword Intent, his combat strength absolutely able to easily defeat a master of the Fifth Layer of the Spiritual Power Realm, unless the opponent had the cultivation of the Sixth Layer of the Divine Skill Realm or above and had mastered Divine Skills.

Otherwise, Xiao Yi did not even consider them a threat!

Xiao Yi smiled and said, "Let the generals handle the soldiers and the earth handle the flood; we shall watch quietly and see how things unfold!"

Meanwhile.

Within the Fang Family...

Fang Tianhao was overjoyed, his face glowing as he looked at Fang Jin: "Fang Jin, you're finally back!"

"I pay my respects to the family head!"

Fang Jin merely gave a perfunctory bow to Fang Tianhao. Ever since he became a student of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, he had been looking down on Fang Tianhao more and more. Then, with respect, he looked at Jia Sichun, "This is Brother Jia, he is a Mysterious Rank student at the Martial Arts Institute."

"So it's Jia, your visit truly brings light to our humble home!" Fang Tianhao said with sparkling eyes, Mysterious Rank students - these were high-level experts of at least the Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm. He spoke with a fawning tone.

As for Fang Jin's perfunctory attitude, he did not dare to show the slightest dissatisfaction.

Jia Sichun nodded slightly, looking at the Fang Family's courtyard with a slight frown and a disdainful tone, "Your Fang Family is too rundown, aren't they? If not for Fang Jin's sake, you couldn't have gotten me to set foot in this godforsaken place even if you carried me on a palanquin."

"Uh..."

Fang Tianhao wore an embarrassed expression.

Jia Sichun spoke indifferently, "Fang Jin, aren't you here for revenge? Have someone send a letter, tell that Xiao Yi to come over and meet his death right away. I can't bear to stay in this dump for a moment longer!"

Fang Jin immediately said, "Brother Jia, rest assured, I have already planned everything. I guarantee that all matters will be settled within three days!"

"What does it matter to me how many days you take to settle things?"

After a pause, Jia Sichun turned toward Fang Tianhao and directly ordered, "You, go call Fang Qingzhu here. Oh, right, she has a live-in son-in-law, doesn't she? Have him personally bring Fang Qingzhu to me!"

Fang Tianhao's face stiffened, and he said with great trepidation, "Jia, Master Jia, that Xiao Yi is fierce, I dare not go!"

Smack!

Jia Sichun slapped Fang Tianhao across the face with the back of his hand, his voice cold as ice, "Useless trash, you can't even handle such a simple task? Who among you will bring Fang Qingzhu back? I'll reward them with a Shen Yuan Elixir!"

The Shen Yuan Elixir, a high-grade elixir of the third rank, could allow a Divine Passage Realm strongman using it for the first time to break through a minor realm directly.

It was an incredibly valuable elixir.

Fang Jin had received a Shen Yuan Elixir from Jia Sichun's hands, and now he already had the cultivation of the Second Layer Spiritual Power Realm.

*Gulp!*

Fang Tianhao was tempted by the Shen Yuan Elixir but just thinking about Xiao Yi's terrifying strength in killing Zhang Yong, he could only lower his head. This only made Jia Sichun even angrier, but just then, a voice came from outside the door: "Master Jia, I am willing to serve you!"