The Dark Shadows, Chen Ye's Father

The Nangong Family's birthday banquet was being meticulously prepared.

More and more forces began to gather, many of them being leaders of various powers.

The helmsmen of these forces naturally wouldn't come simply to attend the banquet; they had a deeper purpose.

That purpose was: a Great Era was about to begin.

When the Great Era arrived, Saintly Positions would also emerge.

However, the people from these forces did not believe that the Opportunity to become a Saint would fall upon them.

Compared to those elusive Saintly Positions, the concrete survival of their forces was clearly a more pressing concern.

"Sect Leader Shao, our two families are close neighbors. The world is about to enter the Age of Dharma Decline, so we must unite to resist the uncertainties of the future."

"Of course, I've had this intention for a long time. I was just looking for an Opportunity to discuss it with Fellow Daoist Han."

...

Besides close neighbors, many forces with shared interests also began to form alliances.

This birthday banquet provided them with a platform for discussion, to deliberate on grand plans.

Xiao Fan looked at the crowd before him, feeling a sense of the universe's ebb and flow.

These past few days, he had accompanied NanGong XiMeng to meet her Family's many elders.

It was his first time going back to his wife's Family, and the feeling was somewhat different.

"Are you tired? Do you need to rest?" NanGong XiMeng asked, holding his hand.

Dealing with these social interactions was indeed a bit tiresome.

"I am a bit tired. When you get back, you'll have to give me a good massage."

"Like rubbing my shoulders and massaging my back," Xiao Fan said, pinching her cheek.

NanGong XiMeng knew he was pretending; he was already complaining about being tired after just a few days.

When I stayed in the book for thousands of years, acting as freely as I pleased, you never said you were tired?

Although she thought this, NanGong XiMeng still cooperatively said, "Alright, when we go back, I must give my husband a good massage."

"Your concubine awaits her husband's command, is that good enough?"

Xiao Fan said seriously, "You said that. I didn't force you."

"Yes, it's all my concubine's willing choice," NanGong XiMeng nodded, speaking very earnestly.

Xiao Fan smiled. A perfect lover.

Perhaps, this was the most perfect state for a companion.

NanGong XiMeng was intelligent and considerate, able to go along with his various feigned helplessness and tolerate his little whims.

A well-bred young lady was truly good, gentle, considerate, and knew how to maintain boundaries.

She could play along with his foolishness, and also seriously handle important matters with him.

Everything was mutual. It was precisely for this reason that Xiao Fan would accompany her home to participate in this birthday banquet.

The two chatted and laughed.

Suddenly, Xiao Fan's brow twitched, and he looked up towards the sky.

His Po Wang Zhi Yan (Eyes of Truth) detected an anomaly and immediately began to operate on its own, his eyes like stars.

He saw a mass of scorching demonic Qi silently flowing above the firmament. Although the demonic shadow was extremely restrained and difficult to detect, it still could not escape Xiao Fan's eyes.

The Aura of the demonic Qi's owner was steady, his gaze deep, and a pair of infinitely powerful demonic eyes could perfectly blend into the Void Realm, becoming one with it.

Xiao Fan thought to himself, "This guy's face bears some resemblance to that Child of Destiny. Could they be related?"

NanGong XiMeng saw him looking up at the sky and followed his gaze.

She could only see a faint demonic shadow, and any clearer, she couldn't see it at all.

"What is that? Did I see wrong?"

NanGong XiMeng had just entered the Primordial Great Luo Realm; her Cultivation had increased, but her Primordial Great Luo techniques were still a bit rusty.

"You didn't see wrong. There is indeed a demonic shadow there, a great Devil Head watching our Nangong Family from the sky."

Hearing this, NanGong XiMeng also became serious and said, "Where did that dog come from, daring to cause trouble at my doorstep?"

This was her father's birthday banquet, and she didn't want anyone to cause trouble.

"Don't worry about it. Your Old Ancestor wouldn't let him in. Just watch," Xiao Fan said.

NanGong XiMeng also smiled and said, "Alright, with you here, I won't worry."

To be honest, NanGong XiMeng never knew Xiao Fan's true strength and Realm.

She only knew that no matter what enemy they encountered, Xiao Fan would defeat them with a single move.

For example, White Tiger Star Lord, a genuine Primordial Great Luo, was not his match even in a single exchange.

He was as powerful as a Saint, far surpassing True Immortal Cultivators.

But she quickly dismissed this possibility.

Saints were ancient beings, existing for countless eons.

Yet Xiao Fan's bone age was even younger than hers. How could he be a Saint?

So, all along, she had regarded Xiao Fan as the greatest Genius in the world.

The kind that was incomparable!

Xiao Fan paid no mind.

The life of a mere small fry was not as important as his date with Xi Meng.

...

Chen Ying was extremely sensitive to perception.

So, Xiao Fan's earlier probing made him feel as if he had been seen through.

"Strange, someone was clearly peeking at me just now. Was it my imagination?"

His gaze shifted downwards, landing on the spot where Xiao Fan and NanGong XiMeng were currently standing.

But he saw no one, it was empty.

"There's no one there. Was it my hallucination?"

He gently shook his head, no longer dwelling on it.

Perhaps I miss Qingling too much, he thought.

In reality, Xiao Fan and NanGong XiMeng were standing right there.

The reason Chen Ying couldn't see Xiao Fan was because Xiao Fan didn't want to be seen by him.

How could the methods of a Saint be understood by these Primordial Great Luo small fries?

Chen Ying arrived at this familiar place, and memories flooded back.

It was here that he met Qingling and spent an unforgettable time.

But good times didn't last.

Not only did the Nangong Family object, but the Primal Devil Clan, upon hearing about it, also issued a death order.

Either you return to the Clan, or you and your wife and child die together.

He had no choice but to leave in a hurry, not even saying a word of farewell. The enmity between their Families forced them apart.

He felt immense guilt in his heart.

If only he had been stronger back then, if he had become the Clan Chief of the Primal Devil Clan sooner, he could have brought Qingling back to the Clan and held a grand wedding.

And no one would have dared to say anything.

The Nangong Family wouldn't have been able to control them, and there wouldn't have been so much distress.

And... alas, there are no ifs.

Besides his guilt towards Qingling, there was also guilt towards his child.

He also often followed Chen Ye's growth.

Upon learning that Chen Ye's maternal uncle, Nangong Hengwu, was protecting him, Chen Ying no longer distracted himself and focused all his energy on Cultivating.

He thought that after he became powerful, he would make amends to the mother and son.

Chen Ying was already the number one Genius of the Primal Devil Clan, with extraordinary talent. When he met Qingling, he was already in the Taiyi True Immortal Realm.

After the painful separation from his wife and child, he reflected deeply and began to Cultivate diligently.

He traveled throughout the ten directions of the universe, devouring vast amounts of exotic beasts and rare treasures from all corners, and now he had achieved the Primordial Great Luo Realm, his strength not to be underestimated.

As he was pondering, a dark figure, accompanied by a vast army, arrived and stood respectfully behind him.

A Demon Race commander, dressed in pure black armor and with a fierce and sharp expression, respectfully said, "Clan Chief."

"We're not here to fight. Why are you putting on such a grand display?"

Chen Ying's face was indifferent, his voice commanding without anger. He merely spoke a few words, and the fierce Demon Race commander was so frightened that he quickly explained:

"Clan Chief, I'm doing this to display the Aura of our Demon Race. I have no intention of causing trouble."

"Moreover, you personally ordered that when we welcome the Mistress and Young Lord back, we must have a grand Aura and make it splendid."

"Your subordinate is acting according to your wishes."

Chen Ying was expressionless and waved his hand for him to retreat.

"When it's your turn to come forward, I will give you the order. For now, step back."

"As you command."

The Demon Race commander didn't dare to breathe heavily, bowing his head and retreating. He retreated a full ten thousand li before his expression dared to relax slightly.

This was the most ruthless Clan Chief the Primal Devil Clan had seen in tens of millions of years. All those who had made things difficult for him in the past had been devoured and refined into blood water within his belly.

To become this Clan Chief, even if the people blocking his path were his elders or close relatives, they met a gruesome end.

He was truly a cold-blooded killer.

But he never expected that this ruthless Clan Chief of the Primal Devil Clan would also show tenderness.

It was just tough on us, the errand runners, thankless work, and we get scolded for making mistakes.