"Let's go see father!"
At that moment, Chen Qingqing had already rushed out of the spacecraft with her maids.
"Haha, Qingqing, you've returned safely, that's wonderful!"
A white-robed middle-aged man with a square face and an imposing, dignified air came forward to greet her. Seeing Chen Qingqing, his face lit up with joy.
"Father, I was chased and nearly killed by those scoundrels from Patching Heaven Pavilion on the journey!"
Chen Qingqing immediately threw herself into the middle-aged man's arms, full of grievances, and started sobbing uncontrollably.
"The Patching Heaven Pavilion has gone too far. Don't worry, Qingqing, your father will certainly get justice for you," said the white-robed man, holding Chen Qingqing, his expression both pained and indulgent.
This middle-aged man was none other than the Chen Clan Head.
"Father, let me introduce you to a young hero. It was thanks to his chivalrous escort that I managed to return safely this time. Without him, I would have... I would have already fallen into the hands of those Patching Heaven Pavilion scoundrels!"
After crying for a while, Chen Qingqing composed herself a little and raised her head to speak.
"Oh?"
Upon hearing his daughter's words, the Chen Clan Head immediately sent out his Soul Power, which swept into the spacecraft and landed on Ye Yunfei, carrying a somewhat scrutinizing air.
"Hmm. Young man, you have done well in safely escorting Qingqing back. Rest assured, our Chen Clan will not treat you poorly. You will be given sufficient remuneration. The Chen Clan never owes favors to anyone." The Chen Clan Head spoke, his tone carrying a hint of detachment, sounding rather formal.
In the Changle Star Sea, young men eager to curry favor with the Chen Clan or pursue Chen Qingqing were countless. But in the Chen Clan Head's mind, only those outstanding young elites from major forces with strong backgrounds had the right to get close to his daughter.
"No need for courtesies. Your daughter promised me that, upon escorting her back, you would give me a batch of Nightmare Stone and a fragment of the Heaven Burial Tomb map." Ye Yunfei replied blandly.
"Nightmare Stone and a fragment of the Heaven Burial Tomb map?" Hearing this, the Chen Clan Head's expression subtly shifted, and a flash of gloom passed through his eyes like lightning.
"Yes, father. I personally promised that young hero. The situation was critical at the time. Were it not for the young hero stepping in during that perilous moment, your daughter would have surely fallen into the hands of those Patching Heaven Pavilion scoundrels. The consequences would have been unthinkable. Father, this young hero is extraordinarily gifted and possesses remarkable strength. He might be from some major force in the starry sea." Chen Qingqing nodded as she spoke.
"I see..." The Chen Clan Head glanced briefly at Ye Yunfei's spacecraft.
"Young man, for someone so young, to have such strength is quite impressive. May I ask, from which force among the starry seas do you hail?" The Chen Clan Head inquired.
"I am from the Tianluo Star Sea, a newly established force," Ye Yunfei answered directly.
"Tianluo Star Sea? Hmm. I have heard of it. Seems like a star sea even more remote than our Changle Star Sea. A newly established force... Young man, I understand. Rest assured, our Chen Clan will not treat you poorly." The Chen Clan Head spoke, his words now carrying an obvious disdain.
Hearing Ye Yunfei's reply, Chen Qingqing's face changed slightly, revealing a flicker of disappointment. She had initially assumed Ye Yunfei was from some major power among the starry seas, never expecting he would be from a newly established force in a remote star sea.
"Qingqing, I have momentous news to tell you! Young Master Jiang Hua of the Jiang Clan from the Tianfu Star Sea has personally come to our Chen family to propose marriage! Young Master Jiang Hua has taken a fancy to you!" The Chen Clan Head no longer paid any heed to Ye Yunfei, turning instead to speak excitedly to Chen Qingqing.
"Really! Has Young Master Jiang Hua truly taken a liking to me?!" Hearing this, Chen Qingqing also immediately became excited.
"Yes. Qingqing, the Tianfu Star Sea is one of the three Central Star Seas in our universe. The Jiang Clan is a first-rate power within it, ranking among the top twenty major forces in the cosmos of our universe. Young Master Jiang Hua is the beloved grandson of a Jiang Clan Elder, making him a true core disciple of the Jiang Clan, occupying a high and weighty position. Qingqing, if you marry into the Jiang Clan of the Tianfu Star Sea, you will truly soar to the heights! As you travel across the universe from then on, anyone will have to show you some respect! Our Chen Clan, because of you Qingqing, will also rise along with you, gaining a significantly elevated status!" The more he spoke, the more excited the Chen Clan Head became.
"Clan Head Chen, so Qingqing has returned. Why didn't you inform me promptly?"
Right at that moment, a spacecraft approached from the distant starry void. A voice transmitted out from within it.
"Haha... Qingqing, look, Young Master Jiang Hua has personally come to fetch you! Quick, go greet Young Master Jiang Hua!" Startled and overjoyed, the Chen Clan Head immediately took Chen Qingqing's hand and strode towards that spacecraft.
At this point, the Chen Clan Head and Chen Qingqing had completely disregarded Ye Yunfei, not even glancing his way anymore.
"It seems the Nightmare Stone and the Heaven Burial Tomb fragment map are a bit uncertain," the Giant Arm couldn't help but transmit a message to Ye Yunfei.
"Since they promised, the Chen Clan has to give them to me. No one can cheat me. Otherwise, they will regret it." Ye Yunfei's gaze turned icy and severe.
Ye Yunfei had spent two days escorting Chen Qingqing back and had thus incurred enmity with the Patching Heaven Pavilion. If the Chen Clan refused to hand over the Nightmare Stone and the Heaven Burial Tomb fragment map, Ye Yunfei certainly would not let the matter rest.
At that moment, not far away in the starry void, the Chen Clan Head and Chen Qingqing were accompanying a young man dressed in yellow robes, chatting with him. He was extremely handsome, exuding an air of nobility. This young man should be the Young Master Jiang Hua mentioned by the Chen Clan Head.
A stately old man with a presence as profound as the sea, imposing immense pressure, stood behind this young man.
"Haha, Young Master Jiang Hua, let's return to Chen Manor first. You and Qingqing can have a good exchange then," the Chen Clan Head said with a loud laugh.
"Acceptable," Jiang Hua nodded.
"Let's go." The Chen Clan Head waved a hand, leading Chen Qingqing and the other Chen Clan members into the spacecraft, preparing to return.
Jiang Hua and the black-robed elder also entered their own craft.
However.
At that very moment.
Whoosh!
A figure abruptly appeared before the Chen Clan's spacecraft. It was Ye Yunfei.
"Clan Head Chen, when will the remuneration your daughter promised me be delivered?" Ye Yunfei said plainly.
"Boy! How dare you block the Chen Clan's path!"
Immediately, several Chen Clan experts rushed out of the spacecraft, staring at Ye Yunfei with sharp, hostile gazes.
"That's not necessary. This young man performed a meritorious service by escorting the Young Mistress. He should be richly rewarded. Attendant! Send him the compensation!" It was at this point that the Chen Clan Head spoke.
Next, an elderly man, lean and sinewy, stepped out of the spacecraft. With a wave of his hand, a Spatial Ring landed before Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei sent his Soul Power to inspect it, finding within the ring a massive quantity of spirit crystals, a large pile of herbs, pills, and several magical artifacts — all of decent quality.
"What I want is the Nightmare Stone and the fragment of the Heaven Burial Tomb map," Ye Yunfei said coldly, making no move to take the ring.
"Boy, don't press your luck. The compensation within this Spatial Ring represents a considerable fortune in your remote star sea. Enough, take your remuneration and leave," the lean old man snapped, his expression darkening.
"Heh, Chen Qingqing, you assured me repeatedly on the journey that I would receive Nightmare Stone and a fragment of the Heaven Burial Tomb map. Now, are you trying to go back on your word?" Ye Yunfei cast a cold glance towards the Chen Clan spacecraft and said with a sneer.
"Young man, one should understand the principle of knowing when to stop. Don't be insatiably greedy, fantasizing about things beyond your station. Qingqing is still young and ignorant. An impulsive promise she made need not be taken seriously. Nightmare Stone and the Heaven Burial Tomb fragment map are priceless treasures. Young man, don't dwell on them further," the Chen Clan Head's voice transmitted from within the spacecraft.
Chen Qingqing, meanwhile, remained silent.
"So Clan Head Chen means to say that the Nightmare Stone and Heaven Burial Tomb fragment are more valuable than your daughter's life, is that it?" Ye Yunfei said icily.
"You...!" The Chen Clan Head was furious.
"Clan Head Chen, what seems to be the matter?" At this moment, Jiang Hua's voice transmitted from another spacecraft.
"Clan Head, Young Master Jiang Hua is present here. Making any more of a scene would not be good. How about this: let this young man follow behind us back to the headquarters first, then we can handle this matter slowly..." Within the Chen Clan spacecraft, a Chen Clan Elder whispered to the Clan Head.
"Very well. Young man, you can follow behind us and return with us first. Rest assured, our Chen Clan will give you a proper conclusion to this matter." The Chen Clan Head said dismissively.
"Hmph!" The lean old man, along with the other Chen Clan experts, returned to the Chen Clan spacecraft.
The Chen Clan spacecraft then began to move, flying towards the Chen Clan headquarters.
Jiang Hua's spacecraft flew side by side with the Chen Clan's.
"Very well. Let's see what 'proper conclusion' your Chen Clan offers me." Ye Yunfei made no further attempt to obstruct them. Returning to his own spacecraft, he followed behind.
After all, the Nightmare Stone and the fragment of the Heaven Burial Tomb map were most likely kept in the Chen Clan headquarters; he wouldn't get them here.
The Tianmu Star Domain comprised six planets in total, four of which were life-bearing worlds.
The other two planets were desolate and uninhabited, with sparse vegetation.
The primary star of the Tianmu Star Domain was called the Tianmu Star.
Most star domains were named directly after their primary star.
The Chen Clan headquarters were located on Tianmu Star.
The Chen Clan's and Jiang Hua's spacecraft headed towards Tianmu Star.
Ye Yunfei's spacecraft followed unhurriedly behind.
"The Heaven Burial Tomb is on that uninhabited planet. My other arm is there as well." The Giant Arm suddenly pointed towards a remote, desolate, and dim planet in the starry void as it spoke to Ye Yunfei.
"Hmm. It does feel somewhat strange." Ye Yunfei gazed into the distance, sensing a faintly discernible, bizarre and dangerous aura emanating from the uninhabited planet.
Right as they were about to reach Tianmu Star, suddenly, six spacecraft appeared in the starry void, deliberately — or perhaps not — beginning to close in and surround Ye Yunfei's craft.
Moments later, these six spacecraft flew abreast with Ye Yunfei's vessel, having now encircled and effectively trapped it.
"It seems the Chen Clan intends to move against you. They have no intention whatsoever of giving you the Nightmare Stone and the Heaven Burial Tomb fragment map." Inside Ye Yunfei's spacecraft, the Giant Arm spoke up.
"They will regret it," Ye Yunfei replied with a cold sneer.