The City Lord of Cloud Leaf City, Wang Xingluo, looked at the weakly breathing Tian Family Ancestor in shock.

"Elder Tian, what's happened to you?!"

Although the Tian Family Ancestor was at the Innate Second Layer, he had the power to fight even against an Innate Third Layer due to his Profound Tier Upper Grade Celestial Spirit Sword Technique.

Earlier, there seemed to be a disturbance outside the city, likely a battle involving martial artists of the Innate Realm.

Wang Xingluo hurried over immediately.

Unexpectedly, he couldn't find the combatants but saw the heavily injured Tian Family Ancestor returning.

This scene made Wang Xingluo feel troubled, as he was only a realm stronger than the Tian Family Ancestor, on the same level as the Jiang Family Ancestor before.

If it came to a deadly battle, he might defeat the Tian Family Ancestor, but he wouldn't emerge unscathed either.

The opponent who could severely injure the Tian Family Ancestor could likely do the same to Wang Xingluo!

Could it be the doing of the Mysterious Innate who made a breakthrough outside the city earlier?

This unstable element placed immense pressure on Wang Xingluo as the City Lord.

"It's nothing." Waving his hand, the Tian Family Ancestor thought to himself that such injuries were nothing, and he was fortunate to have saved his life tonight because he submitted quickly.

Had he delayed even a little, by the time the sun rose tomorrow, there would have been no more Tian Qing in this world!

If the Tian Family Ancestor perished, the fall of the Tian Family would just be a matter of time.

Seeing that the Tian Family Ancestor urgently needed to heal, Wang Xingluo thought for a moment, pulled out a bottle of Recovery Elixir, and said, "Elder Tian, you should head back and heal first. We can discuss everything else later."

The Tian Family Ancestor nodded, took the elixir, and flew into Cloud Leaf City.

Wang Xingluo turned and looked at the bleak night outside the city, sighed, and returned to the city.

Although he felt that Cloud Leaf City would no longer be peaceful, Wang Xingluo also understood that as an Innate Third Layer, he couldn't control anything.

He could only go with the flow.

...

On the other side, Lu Ye had quietly returned to the Jiang Mansion.

The previous disturbance had caused Jiang Lianshan to increase the patrols in number and density.

But for Lu Ye, it made no difference.

He easily slipped into Jiang Qingge's small courtyard and returned to his room to find Jiang Qingge still asleep.

Settling back onto his chair, Lu Ye sat cross-legged and began circulating the Ancient Star Scripture to continue his cultivation.

Early in the morning, Jiang Qingge slowly woke up.

Upon opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was Lu Ye sitting cross-legged, which left her stunned.

"Could it be... he's been sitting like that all night?"

It must have been uncomfortable to sit on the chair like that the whole time.

Seeing this, Jiang Qingge felt a sense of unease in her heart.

After all, she was the one who called him over, only to have him sit on the chair all night.

As Jiang Qingge awoke, Lu Ye opened his eyes and said calmly, "I'll head out first. You should get up and get dressed."

With that, he left the room without the slightest hesitation.

Seeing this, Jiang Qingge felt even more conflicted.

If they were truly a couple in name and reality, there wouldn't be a need to avoid small things like dressing.

...

When Jiang Qingge stepped out, she found the entire Jiang Family seemed to be on high alert, with almost twice as many guards as usual.

Jiang Qingge's heart skipped a beat, suspecting that something might have happened.

Entering the main hall, Jiang Qingge scanned her surroundings and spotted Jiang Lianshan and Jiang Lingyue, along with several Jiang Family Elders.

Sitting beside Jiang Lingyue, Jiang Qingge whispered, "What happened?"

Jiang Lingyue, with a worried expression, said, "Last night, someone seems to have infiltrated our Jiang Family and even fought with someone."

Jiang Qingge was taken aback by this: "Who would dare have the guts to do that?"

Jiang Lianshan said solemnly, "The infiltrator may have been at the Innate Realm."

Jiang Qingge: "..."

Being at the Innate Realm, it's understandable for them to be bolder.

"Fortunately, someone from our Jiang Family stepped in and drove away the Innate intruder, or else the Jiang Family might have been thoroughly compromised," Jiang Lianshan sighed.

The Great Elder, sitting nearby, asked with curiosity, "But when did our Jiang Family have a martial arts expert who could rival the Innate Realm?"

While Jiang Lianshan was close to the Innate Realm, facing an opponent at that level would likely end in his defeat in an instant.

Jiang Lingyue pursed her lips, a wild thought suddenly crossing her mind.

"Could it be... brother-in-law?!"

That day, Lu Ye's display of the Fine Rain Sword Technique in front of her came to mind again.

It overlapped with the black-clad figure who astounded everyone with one sword that night, injuring an Innate Fourth Layer.

But how could Lu Ye be in the Innate Realm? It didn't make sense.

Feeling her mind buzz, Jiang Lingyue decided to stop thinking about it.

...

Meanwhile, at the Tian Family.

After returning to the family, the Tian Family Ancestor partially recovered from his injuries and immediately summoned the Tian Family Patriarch.

Patriarch Tian Wen entered the ancestor's secluded courtyard, utterly shocked at the sight.

"Ancestor, what happened to you?!"

To any Innate Clan, the ancestor is a precious figure, where nothing must go wrong.

"These injuries are nothing; it's already a great fortune to have saved my life," the Tian Family Ancestor said softly.

Even now, as he recalled the terrifying sword momentum from the previous night, a shiver ran down his spine.

Was that truly a Peak Swordsmanship that could exist in the mortal realm?!

To have survived under such fearful swordsmanship wasn't because of relying on the Celestial Spirit Sword Technique for defense or a protective trump card—it was solely because he had pleaded for mercy quickly!

Hearing this, Tian Wen felt darkness closing in, as though the heavens were collapsing.

What had happened that even the ancestor nearly met his end!

"I called you here to instruct you on something. From now on, do not provoke the Jiang Family. In some aspects, make concessions where necessary," the Tian Family Ancestor said slowly.

That mysterious Innate being was residing at the Jiang Family, undoubtedly connected to them. The Jiang Family's fortunes were rising.

Tian Wen was puzzled: "Ancestor, the Jiang Family has been restraining themselves recently, so it's an opportune time to continue suppressing their industry."

The Tian Family Ancestor glanced at this uncomprehending patriarch and said coldly, "Do you want these industries, or do you want them to accompany the Tian Family to the grave? Think carefully."

He had narrowly escaped with his life; he was even willing to submit for the Tian Family's continuation.

Yet, this unqualified patriarch was still only coveting some trivial industries—which, for what, would accompany his burial?

He, at the Innate Second Layer, couldn't withstand a single sword from the opponent.

If the foe hid within the Jiang Family and decided to act, the Tian Family's end would be quick!

Tian Wen felt as though he was being struck with heavy blows; what was merely an industry dispute had escalated to a matter of the Tian Family's survival!

"Tian Wen, the world isn't as peaceful as it appears," the Tian Family Ancestor sighed sorrowfully. "Last night, I have already surrendered on behalf of the Tian Family."

The successive bombshells left Tian Wen unable to recover for a long time.

The famous Innate Tian Family of Cloud Leaf City... had surrendered to others?!

This outcome was completely unacceptable to Tian Wen.

A family that submits to others—where is the dignity in that?

Tian Wen said gloomily, "Ancestor, I disagree with what you've done!"

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