Chapter 2876: Chapter 2876
Then the flow of time returned to normal.
Ye Liuyun had already confirmed through soul-searching that this was indeed Li Daoyuan’s true body and that he had no other hidden tricks left. Only then did Ye Liuyun plant a slave seal on his soul before releasing him.
Lin Huo, meanwhile, looked at Li Daoyuan with smug satisfaction, holding the Soul Suppression Bell in his hand. He asked Ye Liuyun if any further modifications were needed.
"No need. Li Daoyuan, you can keep using it as it is," Ye Liuyun said, instructing Lin Huo to return the bell directly to Li Daoyuan.
Li Daoyuan took the Soul Suppression Bell, his expression dazed. He still didn’t understand why Lin Huo had betrayed him.
What baffled him even more was that Lin Huo’s soul was stronger than his own, and now this disciple was deferring to Ye Liuyun for decisions. It made no sense to him.
Ye Liuyun then summoned Li Xiran and let her explain everything to Li Daoyuan herself. With the slave seal in place, there was no fear of Li Daoyuan harming her.
When Li Daoyuan saw Li Xiran, his confusion only deepened. He had no idea how she had ended up here.
But the thought of attacking her never crossed his mind. After calmly listening to her recount the entire story, he turned his gaze toward Ye Liuyun—his former adversary.
By now, Ye Liuyun had already withdrawn his doppelgänger and reverted to his true appearance, watching him with composed indifference. He added, "Fang Sihai was killed by me long ago."
Li Xiran urged Li Daoyuan to turn over a new leaf, to abandon his pursuit of absolute power, and instead assist Ye Liuyun in exterminating the alien races—as a way to atone for his past indiscriminate killings.
Defeated, Li Daoyuan slumped into a chair and, through the slave seal, asked Ye Liuyun, "Do I have a choice?"
Ye Liuyun merely smiled.
"No."
Li Daoyuan then asked, "Can I make one request?"
"No!" Ye Liuyun continued firmly.
Yet in the next moment, he dissolved the slave seal binding Li Xinran.
"You truly kept your word and freed me!" Feeling the shackles vanish, Li Xinran’s trust in Ye Liuyun deepened.
Ye Liuyun simply smiled and nodded at her without further explanation.
"Thank you, Master! I have no more conditions—I’ll join you in hunting the alien invaders!" Li Daoyuan declared immediately. Not only did he acknowledge Ye Liuyun as his master, but he also pledged to fight the otherworldly foes.
Truthfully, he had little choice. Through the slave seal, Ye Liuyun had already sensed his sole condition: securing Li Xinran’s freedom. The fact that Li Daoyuan still prioritized his daughter in such dire circumstances proved he hadn’t entirely lost his humanity. For that reason, Ye Liuyun had no intention of exploiting him or deliberately sending him to his death.
"Could we form an equal contract instead?" Li Xinran asked. "I want to stay connected, so I can learn about my father’s fate. I understand the battles will be dangerous—I’m not asking for special treatment, just that you don’t intentionally sacrifice him."
"Agreed." Ye Liuyun consented without hesitation, promptly sealing the equal contract with her.
"Li Daoyuan, you should count yourself lucky—both for having such a daughter and for serving an enlightened master," Lin Huo chimed in, unable to resist stirring the pot.
"Enough flattery," Ye Liuyun cut him off. "Go gather your family. I’ll take them—and you—with me."
He’d long discerned Lin Huo’s wish to relocate his kin into Ye Liuyun’s spatial realm. Given Lin Huo’s recent contributions, granting the request was only fair.
Moreover, he instructed Lin Huo to extend the offer to any other alchemists or weapon-refining master who wished to bring their families along this time.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Lin Huo dashed off to make arrangements.
Turning back to Li Xinran, Ye Liuyun said, "I’ll be recuperating here for a while longer. Would you like to return to the secret realm for additional training?"
But she shook her head. "No. These last moments... I want to spend them with my father."
Ye Liuyun didn’t press further but reminded her, "Your father has made many enemies. With him gone, staying here alone would be dangerous. If your strength doesn’t improve, I fear you won’t be able to handle all those adversaries. Would you like me to leave two Divine Harmony realm experts with you?"
Li Xinran thought for a moment before replying, "Thank you for the offer! But since you’re not in a hurry to leave, I’ll take a couple more days to think it over before deciding."
"That works," Ye Liuyun agreed, seeing no need to rush.
After Lin Huo gathered his family, Ye Liuyun brought them into his spatial world, letting them settle in on their own. Li Xinran, along with Li Daoyuan, also took a tour of Ye Liuyun’s spatial world.
The sheer scale of it left Li Daoyuan stunned. Seeing the order and stability within, he immediately urged Li Xinran to stay.
"I’ve offended too many people. Even with the White Ape, you won’t be able to fend off all those enemies. His spatial world is peaceful everywhere—I’d feel at ease knowing you’re safe here."
"But I don’t want to be a useless burden, relying on others. I want to earn my own way," Li Xinran protested, feeling like staying would mean being freeloaded by Ye Liuyun.
Li Daoyuan pondered before suddenly suggesting, "Aren’t those Sovereign Ninth Rank guards forming a new legion? Why not join them as a small commander? That way, we could still see each other often."
"Hmm, that’s actually a good idea. I’ll ask him about it later!" Li Xinran nodded, finding her father’s proposal appealing.
By then, Ye Liuyun had already returned to the Li residence, releasing both Li Daoyuan and Li Xinran so they could catch up. He also returned Li Daoyuan’s avatar to him.
To avoid awkwardness, Ye Liuyun handed Lin Qing’ao and the others over to Ye Tiandao, replacing them with different Divine Harmony realm experts to guard the place in case of retaliation against Li Daoyuan.
Afterward, he traveled with the alchemists and blacksmiths, helping them relocate their families into his spatial world.
Once everything was settled, Ye Liuyun prepared to leave but revisited the issue of Li Xinran’s safety.
"Have you made up your mind?" he asked. "Staying here alone would be far too dangerous..."
"Can I join the Vanguard Corps?" Li Xinran suddenly interjected.
"You want to join the Vanguard Corps?" Ye Liuyun was taken aback but assumed she simply wanted to stay close to Li Daoyuan. "You don’t have to join them—just live in my spatial world. I can provide you with enough resources for your needs. There’s no need to fight."
"I don’t want to be freeloading off you!" Though grateful, Li Xinran insisted, "I’ve heard all your women have trained and fought in the Vanguard Corps. I want to stand on my own two feet—I refuse to be useless!"
Only then did Ye Liuyun relent.
But he warned, "Just so you know, the Vanguard Corps’ training and battles are the harshest. If you get eliminated, don’t come crying to me!"
