165: I, Xiao Fan, will never acknowledge a thief as my father in this lifetime!

This person was resting with his eyes closed. Although his aura was restrained, it gave off a sense of oppression as if one were facing an ancient divine mountain.

The Third Ancestor of the Qin Family, Qin Hengyu! Peak Body Integration Stage!

Inside the hall stood dozens of high-ranking Elders of the Qin Family, as well as outstanding Disciples of the younger generation.

"Daughter pays her respects to Father and the Third Ancestor!"

Qin Mengyao led Lu Yuan's group of three into the main hall and bowed respectfully.

Everyone's gaze instantly converged on Lu Yuan.

Rumors about this Ancestor Qingyun had been causing quite a stir in the Central Region recently.

He had slain the Seventh Ancestor of the Wang Family! He had slain the Withered Wood Sword Saint of the Taihao Sword Sect!

He was hailed by the Tianji Pavilion as the number one person below the Mahayana Realm!

He held two of the top ten Transcendent Spiritual Treasures in his hands!

With all these halos surrounding him, Lu Yuan was filled with mystery and deterrence in everyone's eyes.

"This must be Fellow Daoist Lu, right?"

Qin Xuanqiong stood up, his face covered in a warm smile. He showed none of the arrogance of a head of an immortal family; instead, he looked like he was meeting an old friend he hadn't seen in years.

"I have heard of your great name for a long time! Seeing you today, Fellow Daoist Lu is indeed a dragon among men with an extraordinary bearing!"

He had heard that this lord was not only ridiculously strong but also extremely protective of his own and decisive in killing.

Now that the Qin Family's power was waning and their Mahayana Old Ancestor was in secluded cultivation, they needed such a powerful ally to hold the fort.

"Sect Master Qin is too polite."

Lu Yuan nodded slightly, neither humble nor arrogant. "I have also long heard of the Qin Family's prestige and have come specifically to pay my respects today."

After a few moments of small talk.

Qin Mengyao stepped forward at the right time, took Lu Yuan's hand, and with a hint of a happy blush on her face, announced publicly:

"Father, Third Ancestor, Elders."

"Lu Yuan is not only my savior but also the one I have long recognized as my... Dao Companion."

*Whoosh—*

Although they had heard rumors, hearing Qin Mengyao admit it with her own ears still caused a stir among the crowd.

"Good, good, good!"

Qin Xuanqiong laughed heartily. "I am very gratified that Mengyao could find such a perfect husband! From now on, Fellow Daoist Lu is one of our own in the Qin Family!"

He couldn't wait to tie Lu Yuan completely to the Qin Family's war chariot.

Just then.

In the crowd, a gaze filled with resentment and unwillingness stared fixedly at Lu Yuan.

It was none other than Xiao Fan.

Standing behind Qin Hao and the other younger generation, seeing his mother so intimate with that damnable enemy—and even being expected to recognize a thief as his father in front of everyone—his heart was bleeding and his lungs were about to burst with rage.

"Lu Yuan... you beast!"

"Was stealing the position of Azure Cloud Sect Master not enough? Now you even want to steal my mother?!"

"I will not rest until one of us is dead!!"

Xiao Fan roared frantically in his heart, his fingernails digging deep into his palms.

"Fan'er, why don't you come over here?"

Qin Mengyao turned her head to look at Xiao Fan. Although her tone was gentle, her eyes held an unquestionable sternness.

"Quickly, come pay your respects to your... Uncle Lu."

"From now on, he will be your father."

"What?!"

Xiao Fan's body jolted, and he snapped his head up, his eyes full of disbelief.

Make him call Lu Yuan father?

This was more painful than killing him!

"I won't!"

Xiao Fan stiffened his neck and roared loudly, "I only have one father, and his name is Xiao Feng! I, Xiao Fan, will never recognize a thief as my father in this life!"

"Presumptuous!"

Qin Xuanqiong's face darkened as he shouted sternly, "Is there a place for you to speak here? Since you've returned to the Qin Family, you must follow the Qin Family's rules!"

"Kneel down and apologize to your Uncle Lu right now!"

A wave of pressure from the Body Integration Stage descended, making Xiao Fan's knees buckle. He almost fell to the ground.

But he gritted his teeth tightly, his legs trembling as he forced himself not to kneel, staring stubbornly at Lu Yuan.

"Hehe, you have some backbone."

Lu Yuan looked at this cheap son, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

He slowly stepped forward and placed his hand on Xiao Fan's shoulder.

"Sect Master Qin, there's no need to be angry."

"The child is still young and doesn't know better. We can teach him slowly."

Lu Yuan acted like a magnanimous Elder, but the palm resting on Xiao Fan's shoulder applied a bit of force.

*Crack!*

Xiao Fan felt as if his shoulder was being crushed by a great mountain. His bones were about to shatter, and cold sweat poured down from the pain, yet he still stared fixedly at Lu Yuan, refusing to bow his head.

"Since this is our first meeting, as an Elder, I naturally have to give a meeting gift."

Lu Yuan's gaze shifted, landing on Xiao Fan's chest.

There, an ancient and desolate aura faintly emanated.

The Black Tortoise Battle Armor!

"I see that this protective armor of yours has too much Evil Qi. Not only can it not protect you, but it will instead erode your mind."

Lu Yuan shook his head with an 'I'm doing this for your own good' expression. "This item is ominous. It's better to let me keep it for you."

As he spoke, he reached out his hand.

*Hum!*

An irresistible suction force erupted.

Xiao Fan felt a chill on his chest. That Black Tortoise Battle Armor, which he cherished as a treasure and planned to use to turn the tables in the Foundation Establishment competition, was actually forcibly snatched away by Lu Yuan!

"No! That's mine!"

Xiao Fan's eyes nearly split from rage. He wanted to snatch it back, but he was pinned in place by a casual thread of Lu Yuan's dharmic power.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully intercepting the Son of Destiny Xiao Fan's blue Opportunity, the Black Tortoise Battle Armor. Triggering a hundredfold critical hit return: Top-Grade Spiritual Treasure — yin-yang life and death diagram.]

[yin-yang life and death diagram: A defensive Top-Grade Spiritual Treasure. It contains the two Qis of Yin and Yang, circulating life and death. It can deflect ninety percent of attacks from those of the same stage and even has the effect of reflecting damage.]

"Not bad."

Lu Yuan was satisfied. With a flip of his hand, he pulled a pitch-black, shimmering heart-protecting mirror from his storage ring.

"Come, this heart-protecting mirror is... well, a High Grade Spirit Treasure."

"Although it looks ordinary, its defensive power is astonishing. It's most suitable for your current Realm."

"Take it. Don't say I'm being stingy as an Elder."

Lu Yuan stuffed the heart-protecting mirror into Xiao Fan's arms.

This heart-protecting mirror was indeed a High Grade Spirit Treasure, but it was a defective product that Lu Yuan had scavenged from the treasury of the Six Demonic Sects.

Its defensive power was indeed decent, but it had a fatal flaw—every time it was activated, it needed to devour a massive amount of the user's blood essence and dharmic power!

If used in a life-or-death moment, the enemy might not have killed you yet, but you'd be sucked dry by this mirror first.

This was no protective talisman; it was clearly a life-demanding talisman!

"You..."

Xiao Fan clutched that cold, broken mirror. Looking at Lu Yuan's hypocritical smiling face, he trembled with rage, nearly spitting out a mouthful of blood.

You stole my ancient treasure and gave me trash?

And you say it's for my own good?

This is too shameless!

"Fan'er! Quickly thank Uncle Lu!"

Seeing this, Qin Mengyao breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly urged, "Uncle Lu not only doesn't blame you but even gave you a treasure. How can you be so ungrateful?"

In her eyes, Lu Yuan had not only saved her but was also so tolerant of her son. He was simply the best man in the world.

"Thank... you..."

Xiao Fan squeezed those two words through his teeth, each word carrying blood and tears.

"Alright, serious business is more important."

Qin Mengyao no longer paid attention to Xiao Fan and instead looked toward Qin Xuanqiong.