7: The Hehuan Sect, wiped out in one fell swoop, and their ancestor was forcibly married?

"Old Ancestor, Father, I think... the Saintess of the Hehuan Sect might also be a good choice." Chu Ye tried his best to sound serious.

"The System scanned her remotely. The rating... is quite impressive."

Of course, the System hadn't scanned anything, but he had seen her beauty. It was truly extraordinary, especially those 'big mines'—a perfect example of 'approaching people with virtue' and 'great capacity'.

"The Hehuan Sect?" Chu Tianxing raised an eyebrow. This target... feels a bit off, doesn't it?

But thinking of the System's rewards, he swallowed the words "disgraceful" and asked, "High rating? How high?"

Just as Chu Ye was about to elaborate, the Old Ancestor Chu Shanhe, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. A glint of light flashed in his eyes, as if recalling some amusing past event.

"The Hehuan Sect... Hmph, that bunch of old degenerates."

A meaningful smile tugged at the corner of the Old Ancestor's mouth. "Those three Supreme Elder Ancestors of theirs, hiding in their coffin boards... ahem, hiding in a Secret Realm, clinging to life... they've been stuck at the quasi-Emperor Realm Peak for a long time, haven't they? They can be considered old acquaintances from our time."

He looked at Chu Ye, his gaze sharp and bright. "Ye'er, your thinking can be broader in scope. What's the point of only staring at one Saintess?"

"If we handle this well, we might be able to wipe out the entire Hehuan Sect in one go!"

Chu Ye: "???" Old Ancestor, aren't we here to get married, not to suppress bandits?

He looked at Chu Ye, his eyes blazing. "Since we're marrying, why focus on just one Saintess?"

"If handled properly, we can 'invite' those three Supreme Elder Ancestors stuck at their Bottleneck to Dual Cultivate with you, helping them break through to the Emperor Realm..."

"At that time, wouldn't the entire Hehuan Sect, from the Old Ancestors to the Sect Master to the Saintess, all fall into the hands of our Great Chu? Their secret techniques of Yin and Yang harmony and nurturing Spiritual Roots would be greatly beneficial for the continuation of our Chu clan's Bloodline!"

Chu Ye was dumbfounded. "W... wiped out in one go? Old Ancestor, isn't that... a bit too intense?"

He could already picture the entire Hehuan Sect collectively blowing their tops.

Chu Tianxing, however, was already excitedly slapping the table in admiration. "Brilliant! Old Ancestor! To catch the bandits, first capture their leader. Once we capture the Old Ancestors, won't those Saintesses below be easy pickings?"

"Resources, Cultivation Techniques, talents—all replenished in one go! This deal is too profitable!"

"There's no time to lose!" Old Ancestor Chu Shanhe stood up, his Emperor's majesty fully displayed. He waved his sleeve. "Ye'er, follow this Old Ancestor. Today, I'll show you what it means to have powerful backing to get things done."

Outside the Blissful Valley of the Hehuan Sect.

Today, the mountain gate, usually filled with song and dance and shrouded in pink mist, was torn apart by a vast, majestic, and world-suppressing Emperor's aura!

Amidst ten thousand golden rays of light, Chu Shanhe stood with his hands behind his back. Chu Ye followed shakily behind, feeling like he was being escorted to the market to pick vegetables.

"Chu Shanhe! You've truly attained the Dao and become an Emperor?!"

A voice filled with panic and anger rang out from within the Hehuan Sect. The protective sect formation flickered uncertainly under the Emperor's aura, like a candle flame in a gale.

"Sect Master Hua, I come today not for conquest, but to deliver a heaven-sent Opportunity."

Chu Shanhe's voice was calm, yet it spread to every corner of the valley. "To let my unworthy grandson, Chu Ye, form a favorable bond with your esteemed sect."

"A favorable bond?! Forcing your way into our mountain gate is a favorable bond?!"

Sect Master Hua Yuerong's willow-leaf eyebrows shot up. Gritting her teeth, she crushed a jade talisman in her hand. "This is too much! We request the presence of the Supreme Elder Ancestors!"

"Chu Shanhe! It's actually you!"

"You actually broke through!"

"This is too much!"

Accompanied by voices filled with shock and anger, three figures materialized.

From the depths of the valley, three long-dormant yet equally vast and terrifying Quasi-Emperor auras suddenly awakened, surging skyward with the fury of being disturbed!

Three incredibly graceful and peerlessly beautiful figures appeared. They were precisely the three Supreme Elder Ancestors of the Hehuan Sect: Su Wu, Huanxin, and Meiyue.

They had initially thought a great enemy was attacking and prepared for a desperate fight. To their surprise, they saw their old acquaintance Chu Shanhe, who had also achieved the Emperor Realm they had dreamed of!

"The three of you, long time no see."

Chu Shanhe's tone was casual, as if making small talk. Yet, he used his intangible Emperor's power to seal the surroundings, leaving only himself, Chu Ye, and the Three Old Ancestors to communicate. "I come today, firstly for the younger generation's marriage alliance, and secondly... also out of old friendship, to point out a clear path for you."

Old Ancestor Meiyue's face was dark. "Chu Shanhe, even if you've become an Emperor, our Hehuan Sect is not to be trampled upon! A marriage alliance can be discussed, but such coercion—do you think our sect has no one?"

"Heh, I'm afraid it's not a marriage alliance!" Old Ancestor Huanxin sneered.

Chu Shanhe wasn't angered. He merely faintly released a trace of his true Emperor's pressure. Just a trace caused the three Quasi-Emperor Old Ancestors to tremble violently, their eyes revealing uncontrollable despair and fear!

"Since I, this old man, have become an Emperor, I naturally possess methods beyond others' imagination."

Chu Shanhe spoke unhurriedly. "This method is closely related to the Physique of my descendant, Chu Ye. He possesses a unique, heaven-bestowed talent for Alchemy, a genius unseen for ages, capable of refining breakthrough pills."

"Taking this pill allows one to Breakthrough any Realm, even a Quasi-Emperor... can shatter the shackles of the Emperor Realm."

"What?!"

The three Supreme Elder Ancestors exclaimed simultaneously. Their gazes instantly locked onto Chu Ye as if starving wolves had spotted a piece of fat meat.

The temptation of Chu Shanhe's Breakthrough to the Emperor Realm was an irresistible poison for these old monsters with dwindling Lifespans, stuck at the quasi-Emperor Realm!

"Of course."

Chu Shanhe's tone shifted, becoming playful. "My descendant cannot suffer losses for nothing. Having lived to our age, you should understand there's no free lunch in this world."

"The Saintesses and female cultivators of your Hehuan Sect, all those with superior Aptitude, can enter my Great Chu's harem to serve Ye'er. In this way, my Great Chu and the Hehuan Sect become in-laws through marriage, and you old folks will also share in the glory."

His gaze swept over the kneeling Hehuan Sect members below as he said indifferently, "Not just you. The sect's Disciples, Saintesses, and Core Disciples with superior Aptitude and Yin-Yang Physiques must all form bonds with Ye'er."

"In this way, from today onwards, the Hehuan Sect will become a vassal of my Chu Imperial Clan, forever bound to this matter."

"Chu Shanhe! You're shameless!" one Old Ancestor exclaimed, both furious and enraged.

"You want our sect's Saintesses, Old Ancestors, and all our elite members to serve a mere youngster? You want our Hehuan Sect... to be cut off from descendants!"

"Don't put it so harshly." Chu Shanhe chuckled lightly, causing the temperature in the entire Blissful Valley to drop. "If you comply, I will ensure the Hehuan Sect's future prosperity and even help you Breakthrough to the Emperor Realm, leaving your names in history."

"If you refuse, my word is law. There will be no Hehuan Sect in the Eastern Domain today. That is the law."

The pressure increased again. The ancestral trees swayed, and the runes of the mountain gate formation shattered inch by inch, as if on the verge of complete collapse the next second.

The expressions of the three Supreme Elder Ancestors changed repeatedly. They exchanged glances, seeing despair in each other's eyes.

The foundation of their ancestors, and the Opportunity to Breakthrough to the Emperor Realm... how to choose?

Chu Ye, standing behind the Old Ancestor, felt the suffocating pressure and the impending storm. He only felt a slight pain in his kidneys.

Old Ancestor, this isn't a marriage proposal... This is a forced sale, and you're selling me off in the process, with the entire sect thrown in as a bonus... Isn't that a bit of a loss?