Talking to a smart person is always more straightforward and comfortable.

The Zhang family's ancestor was indeed very satisfied and made it clear: "Yiyi is dedicated to her path, and naturally, I won't allow anyone to hold you back. Your marriage is your own decision; no one in the Zhang family is to interfere. This is the case now and will be in the future as well."

"Thank you, Ancestor, for your kindness!"

Zhang Yi Yi sincerely thanked the ancestor for the decisive support, which meant that from now on, she had one less worry within the Zhang family. No matter how unwilling Zhang Qingming was, there was no room for a reversal.

He watched helplessly as Zhang Yi Yi, after daringly provoking and defying him, got her way with the ancestor's protection and faced no consequences. The feeling of having his face slapped was truly infuriating.

And this was only the beginning.

Soon after, the ancestor publicly presented Zhang Yi Yi with a storage bag, which, judging by the expression on his face, clearly contained many valuable items. From now on, the resources provided to Zhang Yi Yi annually would be on par with those given to Zhang Tongtong, indicating that the ancestor had officially elevated Zhang Yi Yi's status in the family to a top priority!

Zhang Yi Yi accepted the ancestor's arrangements without any pressure. The resources and support given to her today would certainly be repaid a hundredfold in the future.

This was all about mutual benefit and was a common practice for the flourishing of the family. "The sect's grand competition is approaching. I won't keep you any longer. If you have no other matters, you may return to Yunxian Sect to continue your training."

In the end, the Zhang family's ancestor did not keep Zhang Yi Yi any longer and directly told her she could return to her sect immediately.

He was fully aware that although this child would not harbor resentment against the entire family for today's events, the actions of her closest relatives were still bound to leave a mark.

Rather than leaving her to face any unpleasantness with her grandfather or father, it was better for her to leave early, out of sight and out of mind.

Zhang Yi Yi naturally understood the ancestor's good intentions, and after expressing her thanks once more, she followed his instructions and left.

Uncle Zhang Qingfeng was quicker than Zhang Chengkang, smiling as he offered to see off his grandniece, leaving Zhang Chengkang and his son to face the ancestor, who clearly had something more to say.

"Qingming, I do not want to see any more of such muddled matters. If this continues, even if Thirteenth is unwilling to take over as the head of the family, I will force him to replace you!"

With Zhang Yi Yi gone, there was no trace of the earlier kindness on the ancestor's face. His cold gaze fixed on Zhang Qingming, delivering a stern warning: "The past events were not her fault. It's ridiculous that after all these years, you are still so narrow-minded as to vent your anger on her daughter! Is her daughter not your legitimate granddaughter?"

"If her daughter were truly useless, it would be one thing, but Yi Yi is clearly not inferior, even compared to someone like Tongtong with a single spiritual root!"

Before Zhang Qingming could respond, the ancestor's scolding grew harsher: "Even a hundred of you might not match the future benefits and impact that Zhang Yi Yi will bring to the family. If you cannot understand such an obvious truth, then do not waste any more effort on cultivation, let alone the position of family head!"

Zhang Qingming was severely reprimanded, his face pale, and he could only respond repeatedly without saying much else.

Zhang Chengkang fared no better.

When the ancestor mentioned the past events, his gaze also fell upon him, clearly expressing dissatisfaction with him as well. In the ancestor's view, Zhang Chengkang's indifference and lack of concern for his legitimate daughter over the years were not much better than his own father's actions.

......

Zhang Yi Yi was unaware of all this.

At this moment, she was conversing with her personally escorting Uncle Zhang Qingfeng, and their interaction seemed like that of a father and daughter with mutual affection. "Uncle, how much do you know about my mother?"

After expressing her thanks and sharing recent updates, Zhang Yi Yi asked about her mother. She always felt that her father and grandfather's displeasure with her was likely related to her biological mother.

In the Zhang family, the only person who might clarify things for her was Uncle Zhang Shisong. Hearing this, Zhang Qingfeng's smile gradually faded, and his expression became serious.

Regarding Yi Yi's biological mother, it had practically become a scandalous secret within the Zhang family, one that could not be mentioned to outsiders.

Of course, the disgrace was not on the woman but on the Zhang family.

"Yi Yi, you are still young. Knowing certain things in advance would not benefit you. When you become truly powerful in the future, you will naturally learn everything you wish to know."

After a while, Zhang Qingfeng sighed deeply: "All I can tell you is that your mother was a good woman and a good mother. Do not blame her or hold resentment. One day, you and your mother will surely reunite."

Zhang Yi Yi listened quietly, her mind racing with countless speculations and dramas. It seemed her initial guesses were correct. Her mother's departure was indeed complicated, and judging by her uncle's tone, the fault clearly did not lie with her mother.

Thus, her father and grandfather's dislike, even aversion, towards her must be a result of their anger towards her mother.

She no longer pressed for more answers, calmly nodding to indicate her understanding. Zhang Qingfeng, uncertain about the little girl's attitude, asked hesitantly: "You don't seem surprised at all?"

"Well, not really surprised. Since you said she was a good person, then it clearly wasn't her fault."

Zhang Yi Yi smiled nonchalantly and continued, "My eldest half-brother is only three months younger than me. Given that, it's only natural that my mother left my father."

Zhang Qingfeng was left speechless by the girl's final comment.

He hadn't expected Zhang Yi Yi to be so perceptive, making a joke out of the major cause of the past events, though the later incidents were far from just that.

What surprised him even more was that Yi Yi, without hesitation, sided with her biological mother who had abandoned her, her attitude towards emotions clearly mirroring her mother's—unyielding and decisive.

......

After returning to the Yunxian Sect from the Zhang family, Zhang Yi Yi did not wander around anymore.

The storage bag given by the ancestor contained fifty mid-grade spirit stones, a thousand low-grade spirit stones, and a full assortment of pills, talismans, formations, and treasures, all of which were quite substantial and useful for her current needs.

With these resources, she only needed to focus on her cultivation and enhancing her strength before the grand competition.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye, and the day of the grand competition arrived as scheduled.