Inside the grand hall.
At the top seat sat Hun Tiandi in white robes, his face beaming with a smile. Whether that smile was genuine or merely for show, one couldn't quite tell.
To his lower left sat a man in a dark robe, also smiling. Beside this man, further down, sat a little girl around four years old. She wore a light green dress, her hair tied into two cute buns, looking very much like an adorable little loli.
The kind of cute that starts at three years and gets you a life sentence.
Her big round eyes occasionally glanced toward the hall's entrance, her little face full of anticipation as though she were waiting for something.
Just then, a white-robed youth slowly stepped into the hall, walking at a calm pace. His presence exuded a poise and bearing that was rare for someone of his age.
Just by standing there, he made you feel: This is a genius. A monster in the making. No one even needed to say it aloud.
Seeing this youth appear, Hun Tiandi revealed a deeply satisfied expression. Over the past two years, he had personally watched Hun Xiu grow.
The older Hun Xiu got, the more he resembled his father—especially his freakish talent, which he had clearly inherited.
In just two years, without using any of the clan's cultivation pills or resources, he had advanced to the level of a Dou Huang simply by absorbing the natural Dou Qi of the world.
Such talent could only be described as monstrous.
That noble, powerful aura he exuded from head to toe—it was all inherited. He was a son who had perfectly inherited every one of his father's strengths.
Given time, this son of his would undoubtedly reach the peak of the continent, just like him.
To have a son like Xiu'er…
Of course, the credit had to go to the one who fathered him.
Even without Hun Tiandi saying a word, the dark-robed man beside him already knew who the white-robed youth was.
Wasn't this the ideal son-in-law he had his eyes on?
This man was none other than Gu Yuan, patriarch of the Gu Clan. And that adorable little girl? Anyone observing the scene could guess her identity.
That powerful aura, that noble bearing—who else could possess such qualities but Hun Xiu?
Gu Yuan's eyes lit up, clearly pleased. In just two years, the boy had grown even more outstanding.
Just like his name suggested—Hun Xiu: "Xiu" for excellence.
He glanced at the little girl beside him, only to see her wide, sparkling eyes fixed entirely on Hun Xiu, a starstruck expression on her tiny face.
Gu Yuan couldn't help but sigh in his heart: Both are descendants of ancient clans. Why is there such a huge difference?
He looked at Hun Tiandi and mused, We're not that different in ability, yet our children couldn't be more opposite.
Sigh…
Why are the good children always someone else's? And mine… what is this creature?
Meanwhile, from the moment Hun Xiu stepped into the hall, the little girl had fixed her sparkly eyes on him, full of awe and admiration.
It really is him! she thought. He's even more handsome now. I wonder if he'd still be willing to be my horse?
"Father," Hun Xiu said respectfully, stopping in the center of the hall and bowing slightly toward Hun Tiandi, who sat above.
"Xiu'er, you've finally arrived," Hun Tiandi said warmly. "This is Gu Yuan, Patriarch of the Gu Clan, and also your future father-in-law. You should greet him properly."
"Father-in-law," Hun Xiu replied without hesitation, bowing respectfully to Gu Yuan.
Who was Gu Yuan?
He stood shoulder to shoulder with Hun Tiandi as a peak Nine-Star Dou Sheng powerhouse. Hun Xiu dared not show a hint of disrespect.
Especially now that Gu Yuan bore the title of "future father-in-law," Hun Xiu was all the more deferential.
"Good."
Seeing Hun Xiu's respectful demeanor, Gu Yuan was deeply pleased and all the more convinced he had made the right choice.
This boy is a true dragon among men.
Given his standards, there were very few people Gu Yuan would rate as a solid "Good." But Hun Xiu? "Good" didn't begin to cover it.
If he had to give a score?
Out of ten, Gu Yuan would give him a nine—deliberately.
Why not a perfect ten, you ask? Not because Hun Xiu wasn't worthy, but because Gu Yuan feared perfection might breed arrogance.
In truth, Gu Yuan's heart already rated him a perfect ten.
Among the ancient clans, many gifted youths had fallen due to arrogance.
He did not wish the same fate upon Hun Xiu. His expectations for the boy were exceedingly high—otherwise, he would never have agreed to marry off his only daughter to him.
"Xiu'er, now that you've met your future father-in-law, do you know who this little one is?" Hun Tiandi said, gesturing toward the little girl.
This adorable girl was his future daughter-in-law.
Though still small now, her cuteness alone promised a beauty like her mother when grown.
After all, one who's cute from childhood couldn't possibly grow up badly.
"Hm?" Hun Xiu looked toward the girl in green for the first time after hearing his father's words.
He stared at her, utterly confused.
She stared back at him, full of excitement and longing.
Hun Tiandi and Gu Yuan exchanged no further words, simply watching as the two little ones stared at each other.
"Gege… horse… so awesome," the girl suddenly chirped, mimicking a line from two years ago in a crisp little voice.
"You…" Hun Xiu's eyes widened slightly, clearly shocked by her words.
His memory leapt back two years—to when Gu Yuan had visited, bringing along an adorably chubby little "boy."
That pudgy face had been irresistible—pinchable, squishable, and deeply lovable.
Eventually, he had made the child cry by playing too rough. To cheer him up, Hun Xiu had offered to play the horse, letting the little guy ride on his back.
The child had then laughed and exclaimed, "Gege… horse… so awesome."
Now, recalling that moment felt as vivid as yesterday.
He looked at the little girl again, her green dress and twin buns, and gradually her image overlapped with the memory of that tiny child.
Finally, in a trembling voice, he asked, "You're… Xun'er?"
He had remembered Xun'er as a boy—because who could imagine someone that cute being a girl?
But now, clearly… this "he" was a she.