Yun Shan's eyes swept the crowd, then fixed on Yun Yun. "Yun Yun, haven't I said that nothing should disturb my seclusion unless it's urgent?"
"Teacher, I have an important matter that requires your advice, so I had no choice but to summon you," Yun Yun replied calmly. Ye Chen's breakthrough sect pill gave her confidence.
"Unexpected… the Sect Leader truly came. But for the future of Yun Lan Sect, I doubt he will approve the Master's request," Yun Ling muttered.
Yun Shan descended slowly, standing before Yun Yun. "Speak. What is it?"
He suddenly noticed Ye Chen standing beside her.
Dou Wang?"
At this moment, Yun Shan's aged eyes narrowed slightly, his heart filled with shock.
Though Ye Chen had used the Conceal Spirit Stone to suppress his aura to the level of a first-rank Dou Wang, considering his age, even displaying just a first-rank Dou Wang's power appeared extraordinarily impressive.
Yun Yun opened her mouth to respond to Yun Shan, but seeing his attention fixed on Ye Chen, she stopped.
"Yun Yun, who is this young man?"
Yun Shan completely forgot his previous question and turned to ask about Ye Chen's identity.
"Teacher, he is Ye Chen from Mitel...now Emperor of the Jia Ma Empire!" Yun Yun answered truthfully.
"Ye Chen, Emperor of the Jia Ma Empire?"
"The Jia Ma royal family isn't the Jia clan? Did the Mitel family stage a coup to seize the throne?"
"Does the Mitel family even have that kind of strength?"
Hearing Yun Yun's explanation, Yun Shan was even more astonished.
He looked at Ye Chen, his mind racing with speculation.
"Teacher, this time the imperial transition occurred without turmoil.
The royal Jia patriarch voluntarily abdicated!" Yun Yun quickly explained, seeing Yun Shan's reaction.
"Oh?"
"Jia Xingtian actually made such a decision?"
A trace of emotion passed through Yun Shan's eyes.
He had known Jia Xingtian for many years and knew him well.
Such a decision was clearly not entirely voluntary.
This made Yun Shan even more suspicious of Ye Chen.
"Ye Chen pays respects to Grandmaster!"
Under Yun Shan's scrutinizing gaze, Ye Chen remained calm, respectfully clasping his fists.
"Young man, why do you call me Grandmaster?"
Hearing Ye Chen's words, Yun Shan's face showed puzzlement again.
After years of seclusion, these few sentences carried a tremendous amount of information.
Teacher, Ye Chen is my disciple. He began training under me at ten…" Yun Yun hurriedly explained before Ye Chen could speak.
"He's your disciple?"
Yun Shan froze again, quickly piecing together the situation.
He hadn't expected Yun Yun's disciple to have such talent, and at such a young age, to compel Jia Xingtian to yield the Jia Ma throne.
"Hehe!"
After a moment, Yun Shan chuckled dryly. "Young man, you are remarkable!"
He then turned to Yun Yun. "Yun Yun, your choice in disciples is truly sharp-eyed. This one will surely become extraordinary!"
"This is all thanks to teacher's guidance!" Ye Chen smiled at Yun Yun, softly replying.
Yun Yun's cheeks flushed as she met his gaze.
"Yun Yun, is your reason for summoning me here to report this matter?" Yun Shan asked suddenly.
"Teacher, this matter indeed concerns Ye Chen," Yun Yun replied, slightly bowing her head.
Ye Chen knew well this was not something Yun Yun should explain herself. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, expression serious.
"Grandmaster, I'll be straightforward. I wish to marry Teacher and seek your approval!"
"You wish to marry your teacher?"
Hearing Ye Chen, Yun Shan's expression changed slightly, but being ever composed, he didn't react as strongly as Yun Ling and others and remained silent.
"Grandmaster, this Breakthrough Sect Pill is my wedding gift. I humbly present it for your acceptance!"
While Yun Shan hesitated, Ye Chen revealed his ace.
"This is truly a Breakthrough Sect Pill?"
Yun Shan's eyes flashed with brilliance as he quickly accepted the jade vial, inspecting it carefully.
On the square, many Yun Lan Sect disciples and elders watched the three at the hall entrance curiously, unaware of Ye Chen handing over the pill.
"For the sect's future, the Old Sect Leader likely won't approve of the Sect Leader marrying the Emperor!"
"Exactly. If the Sect Leader marries the Emperor, Yun Lan Sect will completely become a royal vassal!"
"If Yun Yun insists, the Old Sect Leader may remove her as Sect Leader!"
Several elders, including Yun Ling, who had known the situation yesterday, were silently hoping Yun Shan would reject this "absurd" marriage.
Yet none wished to escalate the situation too far. Yun Yun's talent and leadership had long been respected.
Should she leave, and with Yun Shan's life approaching its end, Yun Lan Sect would face a leadership void, weakening its position in the Jia Ma Empire.
"Ha ha ha!"
Suddenly, from the hall entrance, Yun Shan's joyous laughter rang out.
To everyone's surprise, he patted Ye Chen on the shoulder like an old friend, and together they walked into the main hall.
"What is happening? Did the Old Sect Leader agree?"
"Impossible!"
Seeing Yun Shan and Ye Chen walking shoulder to shoulder, Yun Ling was stunned, and the other elders were equally confused.
"Yun Ling, bring the other elders inside!"
Soon, Yun Shan's aged voice echoed from within the hall.
Curious, Yun Ling and the other elders quickly followed.
Meanwhile, outside the square, a yellow-robed middle-aged man entered the crowd.
"Elder Guhe, you've come as well!"
Elder Yun Lei paused briefly, greeting him.
"Hmm."
"That aura just now… was it the Old Sect Leader?"
Guhe nodded, smiling as he a