CHAPTER 457: CHAPTER 457: THE ABNORMALITY OF THE FAMILY

He Yitian, after all, was a prized genius of the He Family, carrying their great expectations. Despite committing a grave mistake, he was still forgiven by the higher-ups.

But he was not content and swore to uncover the truth.

After secretly investigating for more than half a month, he finally learned that it was his cousin, He Qingyan, who had orchestrated everything. After He Yitian had left, He Qingyan had killed the family’s experts to frame him.

Upon learning the truth, the higher-ups were enraged and directly exiled He Qingyan to the borderlands.

After resolving this matter, He Yitian no longer mentioned Chen Pingping. He spoke not a word about the incident with the airship, burying the events that transpired on the Heaven Martial Continent deep within his heart.

Because he knew very well that his clanspeople wouldn’t believe him.

The airship had been tampered with by Chen Pingping; besides Chen Pingping himself, no one else could activate the Attack Array.

He Yitian began to calm down, pondering how to proceed and how to arrange his next plans. No matter what, he had to secure Chen Pingping.

The refining genius must join the He Family.

This was the He Family’s only shortcut in their bid to become a superpower.

While pondering his plans, he also diligently pursued his cultivation. Only by reaching a higher realm and becoming stronger could he earn the recognition of his family and truly take control. Only then, might his words carry some weight, right?

He Yitian began his retreat. Within a few short months, he ascended to the Lord realm. When the news spread, the entire family was thrilled, especially the younger generation, who were astonished.

「At this time.」

A letter from the distant borderlands arrived at the family. It was from He Yidan, containing just one word: "Granted!"

The news of his emergence from seclusion had reached the borderlands. When the current Family Head asked him what he desired, he uttered only one sentence: "I want freedom."

Now, his sister’s reply granted him that freedom. He Yitian smiled; he knew his opportunity had arrived.

However, what surprised him was that when he proposed to recruit Chen Pingping, the family higher-ups first fell silent and then asked, "Are you certain?"

"???"

He was a bit stunned.

He had prepared for everything: suppression from the higher-ups, verbal abuse from the younger generation, and even for his sister to suppress him again.

During his time in seclusion, he had also formulated his plans.

Ascend to the Lord realm, gain freedom, and then request cultivation resources from the family higher-ups to win over Chen Pingping.

He firmly believed that a young Disciple from that prison world, from a worthless Sect, would surely be unable to resist the sugar-coated enticements of the He Family.

After all, they were a major power.

On the Southern Diaspora, how many young people could resist the lure of a major power? None.

He Yitian was utterly confident. "Chen Pingping and I have been through thick and thin together. I’ve even bled and been injured for him."

"Really?" The higher-ups immediately grew excited.

He was taken aback. "Of course."

"How will you do it?" asked one of the higher-ups.

"First, give me a few Divine Weapons. I guess he probably won’t be able to resist," He Yitian said with a slight smile. "Sacred Soldiers would be best."

WHOOSH!

The Family Head, seated above, produced a powerful Sacred Soldier without a word.

He Yitian was dumbfounded once again.

Everything was going too smoothly; the reaction of the family higher-ups left him bewildered. He always felt something was amiss.

Another higher-up immediately pulled out a Sacred Soldier. "Will this be enough?"

"???"

Then a third, a fourth...

This...?

He Yitian’s eyes widened as he suddenly leaped up and said with a mix of apprehension and suspicion, "Has something happened?"

"Do you need anything else?" asked an elder.

"Spirit Pills."

"How many do you want?"

"How many can you give?"

"A few hundred... three hundred... Eighth or ninth-order would do." The elder hesitated for a moment, then, as if recalling something, clenched his teeth and finally spat out the words, "Ninth-order!"

He Yitian was stunned.

Just then, another elder asked, "Do you need Cultivation Techniques?"

"???"

"Saint-level, three volumes. I only have three left."

"I’ll give you a few million Spirit Stones."

"Oh, right, that airship—if he likes it, you can give it to him."

More than ten family higher-ups crowded around him, one after another, looking at him eagerly, as if awaiting something, their eyes filled with hope.

At that moment, the Family Head above suddenly spoke, "Take the family’s Quasi-Emperor Weapon too!"

What the hell?!

He Yitian could no longer hold himself back; his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

...

And so, he piloted the airship, speeding towards the City of Extinction with a group of family elders in tow.

All the way, he remained in shock.

It felt so unreal. Why had the family’s higher-ups suddenly changed? Was there a problem somewhere? Or was he still not fully awake? No, that couldn’t be it. It must be because he had become a Lord that they saw infinite potential in him and thus indulged him. That’s not right either. Could it be? Had Chen Pingping’s talent for artifact refining been exposed? No way, right? No way!

The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became.

If Chen Pingping’s talent for artifact refining truly had been exposed, it meant that many forces on the Southern Diaspora would start fighting over him, including the three major superpowers. In that case, his He Family would have no advantage anymore!

Anxious, he entered the region of the City of Extinction.

He Yitian took a careful look and was immediately stunned.

Ahead, there was another airship that hadn’t yet taken off. It was Chen Pingping and his group, preparing to head to the He Family.

Their eyes met, and they couldn’t help but smile.

Chen Pingping smiled and said, "Brother He."

"Big brother Chen."

Chen Pingping asked, "Brother He, what’s with this grand display? Where are you heading?"

"I came looking for you," He Yitian said, feeling immensely relieved to see him still here. He guessed that Chen Pingping’s talent for artifact refining had not yet been exposed. In that case, he still had a chance.

After all, he had brought four Sacred Soldiers, one Quasi-Emperor Weapon, and many cultivation resources.

Conditions like these were not something many young people could refuse. He was very confident.

Before Chen Pingping could speak, He Yitian continued, "Big brother Chen, come with me! Join the He Family. Our He Family is a major power, after all, with a long heritage, profound foundation, and experts as numerous as clouds. If you’re willing to come, I guarantee you can have whatever you want."

Everyone: "..."

They hadn’t misheard.

The He Family, a major power, and here was one of their young men attempting to recruit Chen Pingping.

The people from Fairy Valley were expressionless, thinking, "You should count yourselves lucky this bastard doesn’t annihilate your He Family."

Nearby, the Earth Chicken remarked quietly, "This is just what you wanted."

Chen Pingping thought He Yitian wasn’t bad, and given that he came from an artifact refining family, he intended to recruit him into the Wuji Sect to serve as the head of the refining lineage.

If there were young people with a talent for artifact refining within the Wuji Sect, they could seek guidance from him; this would be like adding another avenue for their artifact refining cultivation. If things went according to plan, he would also find someone skilled in alchemy.

"I know this is quite abrupt and unfair to the Wuji Sect, so..." He Yitian smiled and took out several million Spirit Stones.

"..."

"These Spirit Stones are for the Wuji Sect," He Yitian said. "These Spirit Pills as well."

"..."

Seeing their silence, He Yitian thought his generous offer had stunned them, making him even more confident.

Then he took out cultivation techniques. "Advanced Cultivation Techniques, and even Saint-level ones."

He blinked, his confidence growing. "And four Sacred Soldiers." He didn’t bring out the Quasi-Emperor Weapon; he wanted to hold that back as a gamble.

The scene was very quiet.

No one spoke.

The family elders behind him also held their breath, waiting.

He Yitian, having been in seclusion for several months, might not have been aware, but they had not been. They had been hearing all about the Wuji Sect’s exploits, especially Chen Pingping’s.

He was simply heaven-defying! Twice he had entered Fairy Valley, poaching people and cultivation techniques. Afterward, he had decimated Fairy Valley and absorbed it into the Wuji Sect. Then, he had intimidated the experts from the Star Sea and brazenly seized their airship. Oh, yes, the very airship that was right before their eyes. This person’s potential was limitless!

The group of He Family higher-ups couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. When He Yitian first suggested recruiting Chen Pingping into the He Family, they had scoffed at the idea, dismissing it and even actively obstructing him.

They thought Chen Pingping had bewitched He Yitian, trying to curry favor and climb the social ladder by joining the He Family, a major power. Looking back now, they deeply regretted it. When Chen Pingping first arrived in the Southern Diaspora, he must have been at his most lost and helpless. If the He Family had extended even a small helping hand then, they likely would have secured him. A grave miscalculation! A terrible misjudgment!

Chen Pingping didn’t answer, instead asking, "What about your cousin?"