Chapter 3

0003 The Return of the King

Yun Qingyan, who was once the heir to the clan leader, lost his inheritance rights three years ago when he disappeared.

This is a rule of the Yun family: if the heir dies, suffers an incurable injury, or has been missing for more than a year, they will lose their status as heir.

Yun Qingyan lost his status as heir because he had been missing for more than a year.

His cousin, Yun Xuan, lost his status as heir due to an incurable injury.

Yun Qingyan did not immediately respond but looked at the old steward, Yun Yuanlin, with a deep gaze. "Grandpa Lin, is this your own idea, or is it Uncle's?"

As an Immortal Emperor, Yun Qingyan naturally could tell that the old steward was trying to persuade him to reclaim his status as heir.

The old steward, Yun Yuanlin, was taken aback. When he met Yun Qingyan's gaze, he felt as if he were being stripped layer by layer, exposing all his secrets.

At that moment, the old steward said, "This is the old servant's own idea. However, the clan leader also has this thought, but he is not sure if the current Young Master Yan has the qualifications to compete for the heir's position."

"Then Grandpa Lin is certain I have the qualifications to compete?" Yun Qingyan asked, puzzled.

"Originally, I only had a fifty percent chance, but now, the old servant is completely certain: as long as Young Master Yan is willing, reclaiming the heir's position is just a matter of time." The old steward bent over, his posture humble, and his tone sincere.

"Grandpa Lin, you are very smart, even smarter than I remember. But don't do it again!" Yun Qingyan looked at the old steward, his eyes not cold, but the old steward felt as if he had thorns on his back.

Yun Qingyan did not doubt the old steward's loyalty to him and his uncle, Yun Han, but no superior likes a subordinate who acts on their own.

Especially not someone like Yun Qingyan, who is accustomed to controlling everything.

"Yes, Young Master Yan, the old servant guarantees that it will not happen again!" The old steward took a deep breath, feeling an inexplicable fear, and a row of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Let's go, take me to the clan's meeting hall." Yun Qingyan said, already walking out of the courtyard. "The only thing that could keep Uncle busy is the clan meeting. The four elders are all stubborn characters. My father could control them with absolute strength, but Uncle might not be able to. If there's no accident, even the medicinal hall is now controlled by one of the elders."

The Yun family's residence was vast. Yun Qingyan and the old steward walked out of the courtyard and followed a long corridor, with lakes on both sides, covered with lotus leaves and lotus flowers.

Then, they passed through one pavilion after another before reaching the grand hall.

At this moment, the Yun family's meeting hall was in complete chaos.

The four elders were working together, pressing the clan leader, Yun Han, who was isolated and unsupported, and was completely at a disadvantage in the argument.

"Clan leader, since Yun Xuan was stripped of his status as heir six months ago, the clan's heir position has been vacant for half a year! Now, the entire Tianyu City is criticizing our Yun family for having no successor. For the sake of the clan's reputation and legacy, please appoint a new heir today!"

"Coincidentally, my son, Yun Yangqing, has already reached the Sixth Rank of the Star Realm. In terms of cultivation and talent, he is the best among the clan's young generation. Therefore, I propose that my son, Yun Yangqing, be appointed as the new heir!" The First Elder pressed on.

"Enough! Do you still recognize me as the clan leader!" Yun Han slammed the table, his face red with anger, his fists tightly clenched. The behavior of the four elders was no different from a coup!

But, with his cultivation and authority, he could not control the situation. Each of the four elders had cultivation no less than his, especially the First Elder, whose realm was even higher than his!

"Of course, we recognize the clan leader! But if the clan leader continues to act on his own, we will have to appoint a new clan leader!"

"The First Elder is right. As the leader of the clan, the most important thing is to consider the clan's interests! But the clan leader's delay in appointing an heir has damaged the clan's reputation and even led to a lack of successors. If the clan leader does not appoint an heir today, the four of us will use our power to remove you!"

"Clan leader, why do you insist on this? Yun Qingyan has been missing, and Yun Xuan has suffered an incurable injury. Now, the only person in the Yun family who can serve as the heir is the First Elder's son, Yun Yangqing. Why can't the clan leader set aside his prejudices?" An elder sighed, his tone seemingly weak but actually aggressive.

Under normal circumstances, the heir can only be a direct descendant. For example, Yun Qingyan or Yun Xuan, but they are missing and incapacitated. If no one else is appointed as the heir, the Yun family will truly have no successor.

This is also why the other three elders were convinced by the First Elder to join in the coup.

Of course, whether there are any hidden, unsavory dealings behind the scenes is unknown.

Yun Han was silent for a long time before slowly raising his head, his face showing humiliation but also a rock-like determination. "Fine, I can agree to appoint an heir today, but it will not be Yun Yangqing, it will be Yun Qingyan!"

The moment Yun Qingyan returned, Yun Han had the idea of making him the heir. At the time, he had asked about Yun Qingyan's cultivation, but Yun Qingyan's cultivation had fallen to the Third Rank of the Star Realm.

But even so, Yun Han did not waver. He planned to wait a year or two for Yun Qingyan's cultivation to improve before appointing him as the heir.

Of course, Yun Han had his reasons for wanting Yun Qingyan to be the heir.

Yun Qingyan is his nephew, with the most direct bloodline of the Yun family. Only by him succeeding as the clan leader can the purity of the Yun family's bloodline be best guaranteed.

Secondly, only Yun Qingyan can avenge Yun Xuan!

Given the relationship between Yun Qingyan and Yun Xuan, Yun Qingyan would certainly seek justice for Yun Xuan, even if it meant using the clan's power to confront the enemy head-on!

But if Yun Yangqing were to succeed as the clan leader, not only would the purity of the Yun family's bloodline not be protected, but Yun Yangqing would not fight for Yun Xuan!

"Clan leader, are you joking, or are you trying to destroy the Yun family! How can you appoint someone who has been missing for three years and whose life and death are unknown as the heir!" The First Elder immediately sneered.

"Who said I am unknown!" At that moment, a young man's voice suddenly rang out, and a young man wearing a red robe, carrying an empty scabbard, and with a regal aura walked into the hall.

The young man's expression was indifferent, his gaze slowly sweeping over the entire hall. His seemingly calm gaze was as sharp as a blade, making no one dare to meet his eyes. He exuded a subtle mental pressure, making people involuntarily want to bow to him.

"Yun Qingyan!"

Except for the clan leader, Yun Han, everyone in the hall was stunned, looking at Yun Qingyan as if they had seen a ghost.

No one expected that a person who had been missing for three years and was almost certainly dead would reappear before them.

For a moment, everyone in the hall was lost in memories of Yun Qingyan.

Once, Yun Qingyan was the most satisfactory heir and the pride of the entire Yun family. Whether it was Yun Xuan or the First Elder's son, Yun Yangqing, they paled in comparison to Yun Qingyan.

Unfortunately, he disappeared, vanishing without a trace.

If he hadn't disappeared, he might have already been able to support the Yun family.

"I'm back!" Yun Qingyan looked at everyone, not with a high and mighty attitude, but with a sense of a king's return.

"Pay respects to Young Master!"

"Pay respects to Young Master Yun Qingyan!"

Except for Yun Han and the four elders, all the managers in the hall knelt down.

They looked at Yun Qingyan with respect, not just because of his father's influence, but more because of Yun Qingyan's own aura!

At the age of fifteen, Yun Qingyan had already reached the Fifth Rank of the Star Realm, earning him the title of the first genius of Tianyu City, and the first genius in nearly a hundred years.

This record, except for the even more extraordinary Cai'er, was beyond the reach of others.

Among the four elders, the First Elder's face was dark, while the other three elders looked at Yun Qingyan with complex expressions. They thought that after three years, Yun Qingyan's cultivation would have made a qualitative leap.

"Four elders, do you have any objections to my appointing Yan as the heir?" At this moment, Uncle Yun Han's voice rang out.

"No objections!"

"No objections!"

"No objections!"

Without hesitation, the Second, Third, and Fourth Elders agreed, and they even spoke in unison.

"I..." The First Elder's face was uncertain, wanting to say something but unable to utter a word.

"Yun Qingyan, can I know what your current cultivation is?" The First Elder's question was already a sign of submission.

The hall fell silent, as if even the sound of breathing had disappeared. Everyone held their breath, waiting for Yun Qingyan's response.

This question was not only the First Elder's curiosity but also the curiosity of everyone present.

Three years ago, he had already reached the Fifth Rank of the Star Realm. What realm would he have reached now?

"Third Rank of the Star Realm!" Yun Qingyan said without hiding it, or rather, he was too lazy to hide it. In his eyes, the Third Rank of the Star Realm, the Third Rank of the Moon Realm, and even the Third Rank of the Sun Realm were all the same.

They were all mortal realms.

"Yan..." Uncle Yun Han's eyes flashed with anxiety. He did not expect Yun Qingyan to reveal his cultivation without reservation.

"What did you say?" The First Elder could not believe his ears. He had even thought that Yun Qingyan's cultivation might not be below his. But he never expected Yun Qingyan to say the Third Rank of the Star Realm!

If three years ago, a 15-year-old Yun Qingyan at the Fifth Rank of the Star Realm was a super genius, then an 18-year-old Yun Qingyan at the Third Rank of the Star Realm was already a complete mediocrity!

The family managers who had great hopes for Yun Qingyan also showed disappointment after hearing this.