"No... this is impossible."

Yin Fengxue, his face a mask of astonishment, shook his head, unable to believe his own guess.

Lin Fa was taken aback. "Hey, what’s wrong with you? Is my boss famous around here or something?"

The guard also looked over but didn’t recognize Wu Tian. It seemed he had no reputation in the Underground World. If that was the case, why would their Palace Master be so shocked? It was strange, truly mysterious.

Knowing his guard and son were perplexed, Yin Fengxue, his eyes still wide with disbelief, struggled to find the words. He finally gritted his teeth and said, "I just never imagined that your boss and my boss are the same person. You see, the extraordinary man I was talking about... is also him!"

"What?" This declaration left all the guards dumbfounded.

Lin Fa, on the other hand, was utterly gobsmacked, his eyes so wide they looked as if they might pop out of his head.

Qin Yuhan had noticed Lin Fa’s group approaching some time ago. Unsure why he was here, she had remained quiet, but upon hearing their conversation, she smiled playfully. Husband, you’re so wicked! I never would have thought you’d actually make Lin Fa and his biological father into sworn brothers!

At this moment, Wu Tian decided the show was about to begin. He turned his head, his gaze sweeping over Yin Fengxue and Lin Fa, and said in a slow, deliberate voice, "It seems the two of you are bound by fate!"

"Yin Fengxue, let me introduce you. This is Lin Fa. He became my subordinate long before you did, so you should address him as... ’Big Brother’!"

’Big Brother’? I have to call my own son ’Big Brother’? This single thought completely stupefied Yin Fengxue.

Heavens, how can something like this even happen in this world?

He had brought Lin Fa here for one reason: to put him in his place and make him obediently call him ’Dad’. True, I didn’t raise you, but I am your biological father! By all rights and common decency, you have to call me ’Dad’! But now? Now *I* have to call *him* ’Big Brother’?

This was something Yin Fengxue found absolutely impossible to do.

Wu Tian looked at Lin Fa and smiled. "What do you think? Just have him call you ’Big Brother’."

Wu Tian was firmly on Lin Fa’s side. He had little sympathy for fathers who were responsible for conception but not for raising their children.

Hearing this, Lin Fa’s eyes lit up. He was deeply grateful for what his boss was doing for him. Although Yin Fengxue had treated him well recently, he had been persistently trying to get him to call him ’Dad’.

My son... surely you’ll refuse, right? Yin Fengxue hastily looked at Lin Fa, the previous authority in his eyes—the ’I’m your father, you must obey me’ look—replaced entirely by a pleading gaze.

"Well... actually, I think the boss’s suggestion is a pretty good one," Lin Fa said with a mischievous grin.

"What?" The statement left Yin Fengxue so stunned he nearly walked into a wall.

"Son, son, I was wrong! I shouldn’t have been so impatient. I shouldn’t have tried to force you into calling me Dad so soon," he conceded hastily. "And I shouldn’t have been plotting ways to put you in your place. I was wrong. From now on, call me ’Dad’ if you want to. If you don’t, that’s fine too. Okay?"

Yin Fengxue had finally caved.

Lin Fa shot Wu Tian a grateful look. Seeing this, Wu Tian nodded in satisfaction. "No need to thank me. I was just helping out where I could."

Lin Fa nodded.

"Yes, yes, yes," Yin Fengxue chimed in hurriedly. He never could have imagined things would take such a turn. He had nearly been forced to call his own son "Big Brother."

After chatting for a few more moments, Wu Tian’s group and Yin Fengxue’s group went their separate ways. Yin Fengxue and his people were honored guests, while Wu Tian and his companions were not, so their paths and methods for entering the Eastern Taizhong Palace were different.

「The Eastern Taizhong Palace」

The Eastern Taizhong Palace was one of the Six Sects, a major power bloc in the Underground World alongside the One Teaching, Two Leagues, Three Demons, Four Families, and Five Swords. As such, it was quite famous.

When Wu Tian’s group arrived at the palace gates, they announced they were the chosen ones from Peach Blossom Spring who had awakened their Spirit Roots. The gate guard immediately went inside to report. TAP, TAP, TAP! A moment later, he returned, accompanied by a handsome youth.

The young man was indeed good-looking, but he had the roguish air of a playboy and reeked of alcohol, clearly inebriated. His face had a somewhat fox-like quality.

"I am Dong Bai, Direct Disciple of the Eastern Taizhong Palace. Greetings, junior brothers."

The gate guard added a reminder that Heavenly King Zhufu, the master of the palace, had only ever taken a single Direct Disciple in his life: Dong Bai.

While Wu Tian, Qin Yuhan, and the little one were unfazed, the others from Peach Blossom Spring were shocked. Didn’t this mean Dong Bai was the next successor to the Eastern Taizhong Palace?

"We never expected Senior Brother to personally come and greet us!"

"Senior Brother, you’re too kind. We’re not worthy of such an honor."

The chosen ones from Peach Blossom Spring were all overwhelmed by the honor.

Dong Bai just laughed dismissively. "No need to keep calling me ’Senior Brother’; it’s too formal. If you’d like, you can just call me Drunken Fox."

With that, his gaze shifted, landing on Wu Tian, who had the most commanding presence, and then on the youngest child, the little one. His tone suddenly grew serious. "So, you must be Wu Tian, the one who awakened the superior-grade Fire Spiritual Root? And this little one here is the one with the Five Elements Spirit Root?"

The group from Peach Blossom Spring confirmed this was the case.

Dong Bai smiled at them, his demeanor as refreshing as a spring breeze. His free-spirited nature was naturally likable.

Of course, Wu Tian wasn’t one to warm up to someone so easily.

From his features, Wu Tian could tell that this Dong Bai was a good person at heart. Unfortunately, his fate was a grim one; he was destined to be killed by his own master.

"Today is our Master’s millennial birthday. Everyone, please follow me inside," Dong Bai said, leading Wu Tian and the others through the palace gates.

Not far away, Yin Fengxue saw Wu Tian’s group enter and nodded. His party couldn’t go in yet; they were waiting for the people from the Heavenly Demon Palace, who were carrying their birthday gift.

Finally, the delegation from the Heavenly Demon Palace, led by the Left Elder, arrived to offer congratulations to Heavenly King Zhufu. They spotted Yin Fengxue and hurried over, calling out respectfully, "Palace Master!"

Yin Fengxue nodded, but then his brow furrowed as he noticed the Left Elder and the others were all wearing white headbands. "Why are you dressed like this? Did something happen to our Heavenly Demon Palace?"

The Left Elder immediately knelt. "Palace Master, your brother-in-law is dead! Please, Palace Master, you must avenge him!"

Lin Fa’s eyes turned cold. He knew how his uncle, Beiming Wang, had died, but Yin Fengxue did not.

"What? Someone killed my brother-in-law?" In an instant, Yin Fengxue’s fury erupted like thunder. "This matter must be thoroughly investigated! How did he die?"

"It has already been investigated," the Left Elder replied. "The Queen specifically sought the help of a Diviner. They said the killer is here today—a man in a white shirt and black pants, accompanied by his beautiful wife and their adorable daughter. You don’t see many people like that around here."

The Left Elder scanned the crowd, and his eyes suddenly lit up as he caught sight of Wu Tian’s back disappearing through the palace doors.

"It’s him! It’s almost certainly him! Better to kill a thousand innocents than let a single guilty one escape!"