Does it matter to you if she acted voluntarily?

As soon as Gu Fei stepped in, everyone's eyes were immediately focused on him. The grand hall was filled with a sense of solemnity, and the atmosphere felt heavy.

Gu Yuan sat at the head of the hall, his authoritative gaze sweeping over everyone present before finally landing on Gu Fei. For a moment, there seemed to be a hint of satisfaction in his eyes, though it was quickly masked by his usual stern demeanor.

"You're finally here," Gu Yuan said in a low, commanding voice. He was always the most imposing figure in the clan, but today he appeared even more serious than usual.

"May I ask what important matter you wish to discuss, Clan Leader?" Gu Fei bowed slightly, respectfully inquiring.

Without responding immediately, Gu Yuan raised his hand, and a golden flame emerged from his palm. As the flame appeared, the temperature in the hall surged, though the Saint-tier cultivators present were unaffected by the heat.

"You've already refined the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame and have the ability to merge different heavenly flames. If you can refine the Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame, your power will undoubtedly increase even further," he stated calmly.

With a flip of his hand, he presented the Heavenly Flame to Gu Fei. The combination of ranked three and ranked fourth Heavenly Flame would be an incredibly destructive force in this world.

Gu Fei's eyes narrowed slightly. He could sense the immense power contained within this flame- enough to incinerate the heavens and boil the seas.

"Haha, giving the Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame to Young Clan Leader is the most fitting choice!" one of the elders said with a smile. The other elders nodded in agreement, clearly supportive of the clan leader's decision. No one voiced any objections, for his talent was well recognized, and giving him such a powerful flame would only benefit the clan.

Gu Fei understood that the elders must have discussed this thoroughly before his arrival. They were undoubtedly thinking about the clan's future. However, he hesitated- should he really accept this flame?

From his seat, Gu Lie watched proudly. His grandson's talent was unparalleled, a once-in-a-millennium prodigy for the Gu Clan. If not for the fact that the path to becoming a Dou God had been severed, he firmly believed that Gu Fei could have reached that legendary realm.

However, Gu Yuan noticed the slight hesitation in Gu Fei's demeanor. Despite everyone's gaze upon him, he remained still, not yet reaching for the flame.

"This flame- was it Xun'er's decision, or yours?" he asked, directing his gaze toward Gu Yuan, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Gu Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly at the question. "Does it matter to you whether Xun'er voluntarily gave up the flame?" he asked in return, avoiding a direct answer.

With this question, the hall fell silent. Everyone knew the history between them, and all eyes were once again fixed on him.

Gu Fei was momentarily taken aback. Does it matter? He remained quiet for a moment, but as he observed Gu Yuan's demeanor, he realized the truth. The flame had indeed been voluntarily relinquished by Xun'er, and this was very much in line with her character.

"Why does she want to go through such pain?" he sighed softly, his expression revealing a complex mix of emotions. Everyone knew that removing a heavenly flame was an excruciating process, and for Xun'er to give her flame to him, she must have endured unbearable suffering. Yet, despite this, he had already made up his mind- he would not accept Xun'er into his life again, nor did he want to owe her any favors.

"Gu Fei, don't feel pressured," Gu Yuan said again, clearly trying to reassure him. "This heavenly flame is an inheritance of our clan, and as the clan's greatest prodigy, it is only right that it is given to you."

It was evident that Gu Yuan was pleased with his earlier response. After all, he didn't want to see someone he had nurtured and cultivated turn out to be heartless. Xun'er's sacrifice had meaning.

Gu Yuan's words were righteous and without selfishness, and the elders present all nodded in agreement. With such a selfless clan leader, how could their clan not prosper?

The elders hoped that Gu Fei would accept the flame, knowing it wasn't just for his sake but for the glory of the entire clan.

"Alright," he finally nodded lightly. Since things had been laid out so clearly, and he did indeed have a responsibility to the clan, he no longer had a reason to refuse.

He reached out toward the Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame. The pink flame in his hand caused even the powerful flame to tremble.

In no time, he effortlessly suppressed the flame and merged it into his body. Seeing this, everyone in the hall breathed a sigh of relief, their faces lighting up with satisfaction.

Without staying long, Gu Fei excused himself from Gu Yuan and left the hall.

...

Surrounded by lush bamboo and a babbling stream, Xun'er's residence was as picturesque as ever. Yet, at this moment, Xun'er was in no mood to enjoy the beautiful scenery. She sat quietly on a large rock, gazing into the distance, her expression somewhat dazed.

"Brother must have returned by now and taken the Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame," she murmured to herself. Her voice was weak, and it was clear that the process of removing the heavenly flame had caused her great harm, from which she had not yet recovered. This type of injury might not heal for a very long time.

"That flame contains my mark, and now that you've refined it, it's as if I've left a part of myself with you…"

A faint smile appeared on her pale face.

"Why go through all this suffering?" A familiar voice suddenly echoed in her ears. Startled, she looked up in surprise and saw the figure she had longed to see standing in the sky above her.

"This was all my decision. I didn't want to change anything- I just wanted to help you become stronger!" Xun'er hurriedly explained, fearing that Gu Fei might misunderstand her intentions.

He looked at the stubborn girl in front of him, his emotions in turmoil. After a long sigh, his figure disappeared, leaving behind a green pill floating in the air as a parting gift.