"thump!"

Xue Gui's knees buckled, and he knelt heavily on the cold marble floor, burying his head deep in the ground, not daring to make a sound.

His body trembled slightly, not from fear, but from anger and resentment!

He hated it! He hated Qin Yang's appearance, hated his own momentary carelessness, and hated his family's ruthlessness even more!

Originally, he was the most dazzling star in the Xue family, the future head of the family, and the envy of countless people.

But now, because of Qin Yang, he has lost everything!

His position as the young master has been stripped!

All his glory vanished in an instant!

He was powerless to resist any of this.

Faced with his father's anger and the pressure from his family, he had no choice but to submit.

Deep inside, humiliation and resentment gnawed at his heart like venomous snakes, causing him unbearable pain.

Xue Jun looked coldly at his son kneeling on the ground, without the slightest pity in his eyes.

"You're the one who has to clean up the mess you've made!"

Xue Jun's voice was cold and ruthless; every word was like a knife, stabbing deeply into Xue Gui's heart.

"Once you've dealt with Qin Yang and washed away the Xue family's shame, I'll consider restoring you to your position as the young master."

Xue Gui suddenly raised his head, his face filled with astonishment and panic.

"Father, that Qin Yang... that Qin Yang's strength is probably already incredibly close to the Saint Realm. How... how can I possibly deal with him?"

His voice trembled as he spoke, tinged with despair.

Xue Jun's face remained indifferent, as if everything was under his control.

"Take this."

Xue Jun took out an antique-looking token from his pocket and casually tossed it in front of Xue Gui.

The token felt cold to the touch, with intricate patterns carved on it, emanating a faint aura of power.

"Take this token and go to the foot of Songshan Mountain."

Xue Jun's voice was deep and authoritative, leaving no room for doubt.

"Once you get there, show this token to the people there, and they will take you to the Qiankun Sect."

Xue Jun paused, as if recalling something.

"Within the Qiankun Sect, there is a man named Wang Zhi."

“He once owed me a favor, and his strength has reached the peak of the half-step Saint Realm. He can even contend with a true Saint Realm expert.”

"Go find him and ask him to help you deal with Qin Yang."

"Remember, this matter must be handled cleanly and efficiently, leaving no trace!"

As Xue Gui listened to his father's words, the panic in his heart gradually subsided, replaced by a glimmer of hope.

"Yes, Father!"

He gripped the token tightly in his hand, as if it were his last lifeline.

Xue Jun looked at Xue Gui, a shrewd glint in his eyes.

His reason for making this arrangement was not only to wash away Xue Gui's shame, but also to give Xue Gui a chance to rise to power again.

"Once you've dealt with Qin Yang, I'll give you another task."

Xue Jun's voice rang out again, carrying a hint of deeper meaning.

"I will send you to negotiate a big deal with the Li Group."

"As long as you can close this deal and bring huge profits to the Xue Group, I will naturally restore you to your position as the young master."

Xue Jun's plan was very shrewd.

He wanted Xue Gui to understand that only by bringing benefits to the family could he gain a foothold within it.

He wanted Xue Gui to experience a setback, a baptism, so that he could truly grow up and become a qualified family heir.

First, he washed away the humiliation, then he secured a major contract. In this way, Xue Gui's restoration of status was a natural outcome.

"Yes, Father! Your son will certainly live up to your expectations!"

Xue Gui's voice was filled with excitement and gratitude.

He knew this was an opportunity his father was giving him, a chance to prove himself again.

He must seize this opportunity to completely defeat Qin Yang, secure the contract with the Li Group, and reclaim everything that belongs to him!

The rugged mountain road winds its way up, flanked by lush trees that block out the sun and cast dappled shadows.

Xue Guishen walked with uneven steps, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. He had been walking for a long time, but still hadn't seen a single sign of human habitation.

He felt a little anxious, but mostly he was looking forward to it.

After all, this was his only hope of turning things around.

Finally, after rounding a mountain pass, a simple thatched hut appeared before him.

In front of the thatched hut, an old man dressed in coarse linen clothes was resting with his eyes closed, a string of Buddhist prayer beads in his hand. He looked to be in his seventies or eighties, but he gave off an inexplicable sense of awe.

Xue Gui felt a chill run down his spine; he knew he had found the right place.

He composed himself, walked slowly to the thatched hut, and respectfully bowed.

"Junior Xue Gui has come to pay a visit."

The old man slowly opened his eyes. His eyes were deep and bright, as if they could see through people's hearts. They were not the eyes of an old man in his twilight years.

The sharp glint in his eyes sent a shiver down Xue Gui's spine.

He knew that the old man before him was no ordinary person.

How could someone be an ordinary person to be entrusted with such an important task by his father and to guard this place?

"Um."

The old man responded indifferently, his gaze falling on Xue Gui as if he were sizing him up.

Xue Gui felt an invisible pressure coming at him, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

He suppressed his nervousness, took out the ancient token from his pocket, and presented it with both hands.

"I have come to find Senior Wang Zhi on my father's orders. Please inform him of my arrival."

The old man took the token, examined it carefully for a moment, and a look of understanding flashed in his eyes.

"Are you looking for Wang Zhi?"

The old man's voice was deep and hoarse, carrying a hint of the vicissitudes of time.

"yes."

Xue Gui dared not conceal anything and answered respectfully.

"knew."

The old man nodded and casually placed the token aside.

He muttered something under his breath and made a strange gesture.

"Coo coo—"

Suddenly, the cooing of pigeons came from inside the thatched hut.

A gray-white carrier pigeon flew out of the house, flapping its wings and flying into the distance.

Xue Gui looked at the carrier pigeon, his eyes filled with doubt.

What era is this? People still use carrier pigeons to send messages?

However, he didn't dare to ask any more questions and could only wait quietly.

As time ticked by, Xue Gui grew increasingly anxious.

He didn't know when Wang Zhi would arrive, nor whether Wang Zhi would agree to help him.

After all, his father only said that Wang Zhi owed him a favor, but he didn't say how big that favor was.

What if Wang Zhi is unwilling to help? Wouldn't he have made a wasted trip?

Just as Xue Gui was lost in thought, a series of heavy footsteps came from afar.

He looked up and saw a burly figure walking towards him.

The man was burly, with a full beard, and walked with a steady gait. Each step seemed to carry immense weight, giving people a strong sense of oppression.

The visitor was none other than Wang Zhi.