Things will work out in the end.

Gu Changyuan saw through the truth of the so-called Dragon King at a glance, and he also knew that the target of his trip was the very snake before him.

With a casual wave of his hand, he imprisoned the arrogant green Jiao. At the same time, he lightly tapped the center of Xiang Xuanyin's brows, sending a vast amount of magical power surging in.

Using the supreme methods of the system, he forcibly awakened and guided the slumbering bloodline of the ancient fierce god, Xiangliu, within his body.

In an instant, the colors of the world changed.

Xiang Xuanyin's body violently expanded and transformed as black qi soared into the sky. Ultimately, he turned into a ferocious and majestic nine-headed black snake measuring hundreds of feet long.

A fierce and baleful aura permeated the surroundings. The terrifying pressure originating from the primordial era frightened the Golden Core stage green Jiao out of its wits. Unable to even struggle, it was completely shredded and devoured by the power of Xiang Xuanyin's newly awakened bloodline.

At the beginning of the bloodline awakening, the fierce aura was difficult to control and began to affect the village.

However, relying on his newly awakened and incredibly resilient will, Xiang Xuanyin forcefully used his own divine soul as a cage to restrain the tyrannical ferocity.

He roared at the sky, his nine snake heads drawing upon the water spiritual energy of heaven and earth. It was no longer a baleful black qi, but transformed into a torrential downpour of sweet rain, carrying an aura of purification and nourishment.

The pouring rain not only washed away the fierce aura but also triggered the suppressed spiritual energy deep within the earth veins, feeding it back to the land.

The spiritual energy concentration of the entire village surged at that moment.

Xiang Xuanyin had actually used his own will to reverse the power of the Xiangliu beast bloodline, which should have represented disaster, into a power that brought blessings.

It was also at this time that he gained the initial ability to transform into a human.

Seeing his pure heart and resilient will, Gu Changyuan took him in as a disciple and brought him back to the Sky Demon Pavilion.

Later, when cultivators appeared in the village, Gu Changyuan fulfilled his disciple's wish and gave the villagers a set of basic cultivation methods suitable for humans, giving them the opportunity to embark on the path of immortality.

Afterward, due to the revival of spiritual energy and the possession of human cultivation methods, this small mountain village gradually attracted refugees and produced cultivators.

Its scale continued to expand, and after hundreds of years of development, it reached its current size.

The original wooden statue of the black snake was also continuously repaired and expanded by generations of residents. Remade with the sturdiest spiritual materials, it had become the towering symbol of faith in the city today.

To think it has developed to such a scale?

Gu Changyuan looked at the bustling city below, his tone carrying a hint of emotion.

It is all thanks to the cultivation method Master bestowed back then that we have today's prosperous scene.

Xiang Xuanyin replied respectfully, his eyes revealing a deep affection for this land.

Master, since we are here, would you like to enter the city and take a look?

Gu Changyuan nodded.

A smile appeared on Xiang Xuanyin's face. He led his master down into the city, walking towards a spacious, elegant, and quiet manor located near the black snake statue.

The manor was not extravagant, but traces of exquisite formations and vibrant spiritual plants could be seen everywhere, making it clear that the owner had put a lot of thought into it.

Just as they reached the courtyard in front of the main house, the door of the side chamber was pushed open with a creak.

A beautiful and gentle woman dressed in a pale yellow dress walked out briskly, holding a rosy and adorable toddler of about two years old in her arms.

Upon seeing Xiang Xuanyin, a bright and joyful smile instantly bloomed on the woman's face:

Husband, you're back?

Xiang Xuanyin stepped forward quickly. He first looked tenderly at the child in the woman's arms, then turned sideways and introduced him to Gu Changyuan:

Master, this is Liu Yun'er, your disciple's Dao companion.

Then he spoke softly to the woman:

Yun'er, this is the Master I often mention to you. You should have some impression of him.

Gu Changyuan's gaze fell on Liu Yun'er's face. After a brief observation, he suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

He had an excellent memory, and after a moment of recollection, he found a match from a distant scene in the past:

Isn't this the little girl from the village back then? She already has a Soul Formation cultivation base?

He raised his hand and patted Xiang Xuanyin's shoulder with a bit of teasing.

Good boy, she was only three years old at that time, right? You really had the heart to make a move.

Xiang Xuanyin's handsome face blushed slightly at his master's words, and before he had time to explain.

Liu Yun'er had already stepped forward with the child in her arms, her tone urgent and defensive:

Grandmaster, please don't blame my husband! It was me... After I grew up, I could never let go of him in my heart. I was the one who took the initiative, it has nothing to do with him.

Xiang Xuanyin felt a warmth in his heart. He gently put his arm around her shoulder and said softly:

Alright Yun'er, Master is just joking with us, don't worry.

He signaled Liu Yun'er to take the child back to the room to rest first, while he led Gu Changyuan to the peak of a secluded mountain behind the manor.

From here, they could overlook the entire Xuanyang City.

Xiang Xuanyin looked into the distance and recounted in a gentle voice:

Back then, after I left with Master, I missed this place at first and would occasionally sneak back to visit.

Yun'er... she always remembered me.

Every time I came back, she was always the first to notice, and then she would follow me around just like when she was a child.

Later, as she grew older and blossomed into a beautiful young woman, she rejected all marriage proposals, her feelings remaining unchanged.

He paused, tenderness welling up in his eyes.

Actually... as early as when she was a child, when she couldn't even feed herself properly, she would always save a bite of cornbread or half a sweet potato and carefully place it in the corners I frequented.

That pure kindness had already left a mark in my heart.

It was just that my spiritual intelligence had only recently awakened at the time, and being in a demon body, I didn't think much of it.

Later... everything fell into place naturally, and we became Dao companions.

Gu Changyuan listened with a peaceful expression, showing not the slightest hint of opposition.

Although love between humans and demons was not mainstream in the cultivation world, it was by no means a taboo. Mutual affection was the best outcome.

He flipped his right hand, and a spatial ring appeared, flying in front of Xiang Xuanyin.

Judging from his aura, my grand-disciple seems to take after his mother and primarily practices human cultivation methods.

Inside are some pills and cultivation techniques suitable for human cultivators, as well as a few protective spiritual treasures, all of which will be very suitable for his future cultivation.

Xiang Xuanyin hurriedly received it with both hands and bowed deeply:

Thank you, Master, for the generous gift!

He carefully put the ring away.

After a moment of silence, Xiang Xuanyin looked at his master's calm profile. Suddenly moved, he asked:

Master, if... if you ever encounter a situation similar to your disciple's in the future, how would you handle it?

Hearing this, Gu Changyuan cast his gaze toward the drifting clouds in the distant horizon, seemingly pondering it seriously for a moment.

Then, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing a casual and almost free-spirited smile as he answered:

What is there to do? The boat will naturally straighten out when it reaches the bridge. When feelings run deep... destiny will take its course.

When the time comes, we'll just see.

A smile appeared on Xiang Xuanyin's face as well. That truly was just like his master's style.