[Four years ago, ever since Jiao Feikuang’s “bird” disappeared...]
He was in utter agony and immediately returned to Jade Void Hall to seek help from his father, the sect master.
Upon hearing this news, Jiao Mandao, the sect master of Jade Void Hall, thought his son was joking.
After all, how could a “bird” simply vanish for no reason?
He himself had lived for thousands of years without any issues—why should his son be any different?
But when Jiao Mandao found Jiao Feikuang and prepared to make him face the consequences of lying...
He suddenly realized...
The bird was indeed gone.
And what’s more, Jiao Feikuang’s body was visibly transforming in certain areas.
Seeing this, Jiao Mandao was left utterly dumbfounded.
Thousands of years of cultivation, and he had never encountered anything like this.
His son turning into a daughter?
This was an unimaginable shock for an old father!
Jiao Mandao didn’t hesitate; he immediately called for a council meeting with everyone at Jade Void Hall.
However, as the sect master, he had to save face, so he phrased it differently—claiming it was a “friend” who had suddenly lost their “bird” and turned from a man into a woman.
“Has anyone encountered something like this before?”
All the elders shook their heads furiously.
Jiao Mandao was even more perplexed.
“No one has seen this?”
Indeed, this whole situation defied common sense!
One elder spoke up, “Sect Master, this may be an extremely rare technique or divine ability. Has your friend perhaps offended someone they shouldn’t have?”
This comment instantly sparked Jiao Mandao’s suspicion.
He dismissed everyone and began questioning Jiao Feikuang, asking if he had offended anyone recently.
After some thought, Jiao Feikuang recalled Ye Yu’s amused smile!
All day, he had been diligently cultivating, only going out with Xia Mengcai that night due to a sudden impulse.
The only stranger he’d encountered was Ye Yu.@@@@
And Ye Yu had acted suspiciously.
When Jiao Feikuang explained everything, Jiao Mandao’s expression darkened, and he slapped him.
“Let me be clear: you’re partly at fault here! If you’d stayed in the sect and focused on cultivation, this wouldn’t have happened!”
Jiao Feikuang, lying weakly on the ground, muttered pitifully, “Father, you must find him... Maybe he can turn me back!”
The last word ended in a pained yelp.
The transformation of his body was both physically and mentally excruciating for Jiao Feikuang.
Watching himself slowly change into a woman...
It was torture on both mind and body.
Every time he said “this girl,” it made Jiao Mandao’s skin crawl.
Jiao Feikuang, realizing his mistake, stayed silent but continued to glare intently at Ye Yu.
Jiao Mandao stepped forward...
Preparing to immobilize Ye Yu and take him away!
Raising his left hand, he cast a spell.
But Ye Yu prepared to fight back!
Just as he was about to make his move...
A towering phantom of a hundred-zhang-tall pagoda suddenly appeared, trapping Jiao Mandao and Jiao Feikuang within.
Golden light burst forth, with countless rune patterns spreading across.
In an instant, Jiao Mandao and Jiao Feikuang were reduced to a mist of blood.
Their souls dissolved as well.
Seeing this, Ye Yu raised an eyebrow, curious as to who would intervene to help him now.
Soon, a handsome man appeared.
He spoke softly, “I am Bai Yuben, head of the Bai family.”
“There’s no need to thank me for saving your life. Judging by your cultivation level, why not join my family as a revered elder?”
Ye Yu smiled slightly and asked, “What’s your real objective?”
“I doubt I’m important enough for someone to kill a powerful cultivator just to recruit me.”
Ye Yu wasn’t nai?ve.
He wouldn’t believe someone would drop such a “gift” from the heavens!
Though he didn’t know much about Jiao Mandao, he was clearly at the late Integration stage.
With such power, he must be a prominent figure in the Northern Desolate Continent.
Yet, Ye Yu’s demonstrated strength was only in the early Divine Transformation stage.
Killing an Integration stage cultivator just to recruit a Divine Transformation cultivator?
No one would be that foolish!
Thus, Ye Yu subtly twitched his fingers, ready to release his Vast Mind Sword at any moment.
Bai Yuben chuckled, amused.
“You’re quite cautious, aren’t you?”
“To be honest, my Bai family has a blood feud with Jade Void Hall.”
“For many years, I’ve wanted to kill Jiao Mandao.”
“Once he’s dead, Jade Void Hall will pose no threat.”
“Unfortunately, he and I are of equal strength, and he has his own tricks. If we fought, the outcome would be uncertain.”
“If not for you drawing all his attention...”
“I wouldn’t have been able to kill him so easily.”
“So, I see you as a lucky charm, which is why I’d like to recruit you!”