Hearing his daughter's words, Zhang Chengkang quickly regained his composure.

As his only legitimate daughter, Zhang Chengkang had complicated feelings towards her. Additionally, Zhang Yiyi had never been close to him since she was a child. So, when they met again after four years, their father-daughter relationship felt as distant as that of strangers.

"It has nothing to do with your mother; she won't be coming back. You don't need to hold on to memories of her anymore."

Zhang Chengkang's sparse tenderness disappeared, and his tone grew colder. Ten years ago, when his legitimate daughter asked him about his wife's whereabouts, he had lost his temper and forbade her from mentioning it again. Since then, their already strained relationship has deteriorated further, and they barely saw each other throughout the year.

Now that his daughter had grown up and her appearance and disposition increasingly resembled that of her mother, Zhang Chengkang's feelings had become even more complex.

Zhang Yiyi was taken aback by this response and realized that things were likely not good. She didn't mind Zhang Chengkang's coldness; whether as the original body's impression of her father or as herself, Zhang Chengkang was almost like a stranger to her, aside from the title of 'father.'

If it weren't for her three spiritual roots having some value for cultivation in a small family, her status as a so-called legitimate daughter in the family might have been less than that of a collateral relative or even a servant.

"Since it has nothing to do with my mother, then why did Father use her name to summon me back?"

Zhang Yiyi maintained her indifferent expression and cold attitude. "Isn't it clear that this isn't good news for me? Otherwise, you wouldn't have used the most unwelcome person as an excuse, fearing that I might not come back."

"Impudent!"

Zhang Chengkang's face darkened when his legitimate daughter's unrelenting remarks exposed the truth. He was both angry and embarrassed. "How dare you speak like this? As a member of the Zhang family, does your father not have the right to call you back?"

"There's no need for Father to be angry."

Zhang Yiyi, naturally, was not intimidated by the so-called paternal authority. She remained unflinching. "If there's nothing urgent, then it's best. I have already signed up for the sect's grand competition in three months and need to prepare well, so I won't be staying at home for long."

"Stop right there!"

Seeing his legitimate daughter turn to leave, Zhang Chengkang couldn't ignore it any longer and said loudly, "The family has arranged a marriage for you. You'll return to the Yunxian Sect after the wedding."

"Marriage?"

Zhang Yiyi stopped in her tracks and looked at Zhang Chengkang with a mocking gaze. "I'm only sixteen."

Zhang Chengkang thought his daughter would immediately confront him with anger upon hearing this news, but instead, she seemed to take it with a calm demeanor, as if it wasn't unexpected. Under the weight of his daughter's scornful gaze, he felt a sense of shame and was almost inclined to leave immediately.

He forcibly ignored the look Zhang Yiyi gave him and said stiffly, "Getting married at sixteen is quite normal. This was approved by the ancestor personally. The groom's characters are good, so you won't be wronged."

"Heh, I'm afraid the ancestor doesn't know my current situation."

Zhang Yiyi, indifferent to her father's attitude, continued with a detached tone, "I am sixteen this year, at the eighth level of Qi Refining, and it's no problem to establish a foundation before I'm twenty. Though I'm still in the outer sect of the Yunxian Sect, there is already a Great Master in the Nascent Soul stage who wants to take me as a disciple after the competition. Father, even if you haven't paid attention to me these years, you should understand what my current situation implies."

With Zhang Chengkang's astonished gaze upon her, she paused briefly before continuing.

"It means that my cultivation speed and potential with three spiritual roots are not inferior to those so-called geniuses with single spiritual roots! If the ancestor truly understood my current situation, he would never allow a promising legitimate daughter who could become a pillar for the family's prosperity to be married off so early."

"You..."

Zhang Chengkang was left speechless by his daughter's rebuttal and his gaze became exceedingly complex. He had never imagined that his neglected legitimate daughter had grown to such a formidable extent. This strength was not just in cultivation but was an inherent power from within her soul as if even the heavens themselves could not unsettle her.

"You... are really being considered as a disciple by a Great Master in the Nascent Soul stage?"

He looked away awkwardly but couldn't help but ask again to confirm his daughter's claim. As for her cultivation, he had just remembered that when she went to Yunxian Sect for selection four years ago, she had barely reached the first level of Qi Refining.

From the first level to the eighth level of Qi Refining in four years, such speed was comparable even to Zhang Tongtong, the single spiritual root niece who was considered the family's hope.

"The grand competition is in three months," Zhang Yiyi stated plainly.

The results would be known in three months, so she had no need to lie about such matters.

Understanding that Zhang Chengkang's views on her marriage arrangement had shifted, Zhang Yiyi felt no joy. Instead, she felt a sense of inexplicable sadness for the original owner.

Growing up without a mother and with a father who was so indifferent and only concerned with interests, even the life decisions of his only legitimate daughter could be arranged so casually.

"Yi... Yiyi..."

After a moment, Zhang Chengkang awkwardly called out to his daughter, his tone much softer. "You're right; you're still young and should focus on your cultivation. This marriage arrangement is indeed inappropriate. I will go explain this to your grandfather. You should go back to your room and rest well. Wait for the good news from me."

Watching Zhang Chengkang quickly leave, Zhang Yiyi's sarcasm became more evident.

Back in the boudoir she had occupied four years ago, Zhang Yiyi summoned the most alert-looking maid she could find.

"Find out clearly what's going on with the marriage they're arranging for me."

Zhang Yiyi handed a bottle of Qi-Refining Pills to the maid. "If you do well, there's more where that came from!"

"Fifth Miss, please rest assured. I will not disappoint you."

The maid, thrilled, took the Qi-Refining Pills and immediately went to investigate.

Zhang Yiyi felt relieved that she had taken the disciple benefits for the month when leaving the sect, otherwise, as someone without resources, she wouldn't be able to offer bribes.

In her view, the sudden appearance of the marriage arrangement was certainly not simple. After all, the Zhang family was a cultivation family, and its children with spiritual roots would never have marriage arrangements made so early.

Even if for the sake of a beneficial marriage alliance, the family had many suitable women of age. There was no need to bring back a promising legitimate daughter who was already in a major sect and thriving, only to marry her off early.

She suddenly recalled the incident from four years ago when she had nearly been attacked by the sect's guardian beast. Later, Qiao Chu mentioned that it was likely someone had put a specific powder targeting the tiger-jiao beast on her.

Now, thinking back, the person who could have known her whereabouts and managed to slip the powder on her was most likely someone from the Zhang family!