"Senior..."
Zhang Tianbao stared at Xu Yi in astonishment, his eyes then flashing with tears of gratitude.
Xu Yi knew at a glance that he must have misunderstood. She offered no explanation, merely tilting her chin upwards and looking down at Yu Datong with an impassive expression, devoid of any discernible emotion.
Yu Datong hesitated.
He didn't believe Xu Yi, yet he couldn't bear to give up if there was even a one-in-a-thousand chance.
But he also worried that Xu Yi was fabricating a lie to make him apologize to the Zhang family's ancestor. His eyes flickered as he struggled to make a decision.
"Patriarch, why don't you… just yield a little?"
A middle-aged man with a beard approached Yu Datong and whispered in persuasion.
He had seen clearly that the Yu family members were already displeased with Yu Datong. If Yu Datong insisted on not apologizing, the original seven or eight tenths of his culpability would become full ten tenths.
Moreover, he didn't know Xu Yi, but he could tell that Xu Yi came from an extraordinary background. In front of so many cultivators, it was unlikely the other party would speak boastfully.
Perhaps the other party genuinely possessed some astonishing cultivation technique that could bring the Old Ancestor back to life, a mere word away. Why not try?
Yu Datong was already wavering, and upon hearing the bearded cultivator's words, he nodded heavily.
He forcefully wiped his face, as if to cast away all his ridiculous pride.
He took another step forward, clasped his hands in a salute, bowed, and said loudly, "Daoist friend Zhang, previously I, Yu, was..."
Yu Datong's voice paused for a moment before continuing, "...insolent and offended you and your family's ancestor. I beg your pardon."
It had to be said that Yu Datong, as the Patriarch of the Yu family, had some skills, able to pick up and put down his pride.
His voice and tone were exceedingly humble, and even the disgruntled Zhang Tianbao could find no fault.
However, Zhang Tianbao did not readily accept the apology. He still offered a few sarcastic remarks.
Yu Datong thought that he had already gone this far and could not stop halfway. Therefore, he did not react intensely to Zhang Tianbao's sarcasm. Instead, he nodded in agreement, leaving Zhang Tianbao with no recourse but to look at Xu Yi, his gaze filled with concern.
Even now, Zhang Tianbao still believed that Xu Yi had fabricated everything to stand up for him, as how could resurrection truly happen?
Yu Datong had already apologized, and now it was the Senior's turn to fulfill her promise.
How would the Senior steer the conversation away from this?
Just as Zhang Tianbao was consumed by worry, Xu Yi smiled slightly and walked towards the Yu family's Old Ancestor under everyone's eager gazes.
The Yu family's Old Ancestor was being held by an elder Yu family member. Upon seeing Xu Yi approach, his face was filled with tension and fear.
If not for the Patriarch's threatening glare, he would have probably retreated backward.
"Is there truly a way in this world to bring the dead back to life? Truly unheard of."
"Defying the heavens to change fate is a legend. To contend with the Heavenly Dao, it's not that easy."
"Hush! Everyone, don't talk, just keep watching!"
"..."
At this moment, everyone's attention was drawn to Xu Yi, and they had long forgotten the puppet Zhang Tianbao had presented earlier.
Compared to the difficult-to-master puppet techniques, they were more curious if there was truly a way to bring the dead back to life.
Xu Yi was unfazed by the surrounding discussions. She walked directly to the Yu family's Old Ancestor and knelt down to examine his physical condition.
As she reached out to untie the Yu family's Old Ancestor's daoist robe, all the Yu family members were greatly surprised.
Yu Datong even couldn't help but step forward a few paces and shout sternly, "You dare to desecrate the Old Ancestor's remains!"
Xu Yi almost rolled her eyes. "What remains? Your Old Ancestor isn't dead yet!"
Xu Yi was not a great immortal who could reverse life and death with a wave of her hand.
She had made such a bold claim solely because she knew the Yu family's Old Ancestor was not dead at all, but had merely entered a state of suspended animation. With a little effort, he could be brought out of it.
Of course, even if the Yu family's Old Ancestor woke up, his body would still have irreversible hidden injuries.
Not only would there be no further possibility of advancement, but his cultivation would also drop by a major realm.
In other words, the Yu family's Old Ancestor, who was originally at the early stage of the Pseudo-Spirit Severing realm, would regress to the early stage of the Integration realm upon waking.
Xu Yi did not inform the Yu family of these situations, so they remained immersed in the ecstasy that their Old Ancestor was not dead.
To them, temporary embarrassment was nothing. As long as the Old Ancestor was alive, their Yu family could still act with impunity, provided they could send away this female cultivator of unknown origin.
"The Old Ancestor is really not dead?" Yu Datong was stunned for a moment, his eyes bursting with brilliance, even his ashen complexion gradually receding as his eyebrows once again turned upwards.
This was the best news he had heard all day.
"Senior! Senior! As long as you can make the Old Ancestor awaken, I, Yu Datong, am willing to repay your great kindness with all my might!"
Yu Datong's voice this time was even louder than any previous occasion.
He looked at Xu Yi eagerly, as if he were about to offer her tea and water, and give her a shoulder massage.
Xu Yi glanced at him with disdain and reprimanded, "Stand down."
"Yes, yes, I won't disturb you."
Yu Datong replied with a fawning smile, bowing and stepping aside with a servile attitude.
Xu Yi ignored Yu Datong, pulled open the Yu family's Old Ancestor's robe, revealing his emaciated chest.
However, to Xu Yi's surprise, there were several indistinct red marks on the Yu family's Old Ancestor's dark, lean skin.
Even though Xu Yi had no such experience, the storybooks she had read in the past flooded her mind at this moment.
These red marks...
Xu Yi turned her head and gave Yu Datong a meaningful look.
"Everyone, look quickly! What is on the Yu family Old Ancestor's chest!"
"Let me see, let me see!"
"Hoo! I didn't expect the Yu family Old Ancestor to still be vigorous!"
"Pah! Shameless old man, you shame us all!"
The surrounding cultivators erupted with their strongest curiosity at this moment!
The Yu family Patriarch had only recently spoken of the Yu family Old Ancestor's unwavering devotion, but the clear evidence on the Yu family Old Ancestor's chest spoke of his romantic escapades.
This was a blatant slap in the face!
Many Yu family members lowered their heads in shame, no longer holding the same reverence for their Old Ancestor.
Yu Datong's face turned ashen upon seeing this, his soul scattering.
He was the most closely connected to the Yu family Old Ancestor. During this period, no unfamiliar woman had gone to the courtyard where the Yu family Old Ancestor rested, except for...
Yu Datong felt stars flashing before his eyes, with green lights flashing above his head. He wished he could rush back to the mansion and drag that person out to question them thoroughly.
But his remaining rationality told him that no one had yet connected the dots to that point. He absolutely could not reveal any flaws, otherwise, he truly would have no face to live in this world.
Yu Datong pinched his thigh until it turned blue and purple, then fiercely bit his tongue, using the sharp pain and the coppery scent of blood to suppress the anger that was spreading like wildfire in his heart.
Yu Datong's abnormality was observed by Xu Yi. However, Xu Yi, having lived in a reputable sect like the Xuanji Gate, had never heard of such disgraceful matters. Therefore, she had no idea of the truth, merely thinking that Yu Datong was angry about the Yu family Old Ancestor's debauchery.
She shook her head, withdrew her gaze, gathered her spiritual power at her fingertips, and pressed it firmly onto the Yu family Old Ancestor's chest.