Forced to Marry a Female Billionaire CEO-Chapter 586: Not Tired

Xu Ke wiped away the blood that had inevitably trickled out during his breakthrough to the Innate realm and stood up, his expression a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.

He was genuinely taken aback by everyone's reaction.

"Um, how long did my breakthrough take?"

Seeing that no one was speaking, Xu Ke couldn't help but ask again.

"You… you should see for yourself."

The expressions on the faces of those around him were incredibly complicated. In the end, only Bai Qian'er spoke up.

They didn't know how to answer him. Doesn't he have any clue how much time he spent?

Xu Ke looked down, pulled out his phone, and glanced at the time. He immediately let out a cry of astonishment. "Damn! Was I really that fast?"

"Unexpected, truly unexpected."

Xu Ke grinned. He had to admit, seeing that his breakthrough to the Innate realm was so much faster than before made him very happy.

But hearing his words only made everyone else's expressions more complicated, a swirl of indescribable feelings in their hearts…

Xu Ke smiled and pocketed the Bronze Wine Chalice, which now had a large crack in it, before stepping forward. "As long as they didn't get back before I was done, then I'm glad I didn't cause you any trouble."

"Yes, yes… we didn't even have time to do anything…" the Ghost Elder said, his face twisted into a smile that looked more like a grimace.

Forget causing trouble, Xu Ke didn't even give us time to react!

"That's good," Xu Ke nodded, adding, "I was actually worried it might take an hour, but I never expected to finish in just ten minutes. That really was beyond my expectations. This is for the best. It saved me the trouble of worrying and got things done efficiently."

Everyone: "..."

Is this guy bragging or what?

At this moment, even the ever-loyal Tang Yingchang felt the urge to clobber Xu Ke…

What nonsense is this about an hour? Worried? And he says this right in front of us—the ones who took six hours, two and a half days, and three days to break through… How shameless!

Duan Zhuo'e felt like he was suffocating. In his entire life, he had never met someone so arrogant.

At that moment, everyone was staring at Xu Ke, making his skin crawl. But he was genuinely perplexed. His words had been his honest, subconscious thoughts. He really had been worried it would take an hour, just like last time…

"Don't be like this, say something…" Xu Ke cleared his throat twice. He was slowly coming to his senses and realized his words had been a bit too grating, so he decided to change the subject. "Let's figure out how to get back to Tianhai."

Just as the others were about to speak.

RUMBLE…

Suddenly, the roar of a car engine erupted from behind them, its loud and irritating sound grating on their nerves. Everyone turned to look.

They saw their van pull up, along with another car that was so covered in grime it clearly hadn't been washed in a long time.

"We're back."

The moment the car stopped, Han Wang stepped out, now wearing a hoodie and ripped jeans, a triumphant look on his face. After he and Shi Hongda had finalized their secret plan, they had run into a young man on the roadside and simply bought his car and clothes before rushing back.

Seeing Han Wang and Ye Lang's trendy outfits, Xu Ke chuckled. "You two are quite the fashionistas."

"As long as they're wearable, they're fine," Han Wang replied with a raised eyebrow, feeling no shame whatsoever.

"Alright, Xu Ke, get ready to head back to Tianhai," Shi Hongda said as he also got out of the car, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

He looked at Xu Ke as if he were a lamb for the slaughter. Xu Ke, oh Xu Ke, you have no idea that letting Han Wang and me go was the biggest mistake of your life! You personally delivered an immense advantage right into the Huang Family's hands!

The Yin and Yang elders and Ye Lang, who followed them out of the car, also wore proud expressions. After a short trip out, they all felt as if they had finally turned the tables…

"Alright, let's all get going," Xu Ke nodded.

The people behind him remained silent, quietly preparing to leave without a word.

Seeing this, Shi Hongda and Han Wang exchanged a glance. Something seems off…

"Do you guys… notice anything strange?" Ye Lang suddenly asked, his voice laced with hesitation. Disbelief and uncertainty filled his old eyes as he scanned Xu Ke from top to bottom, his expression slowly changing…

"What's strange?"

"Is he… is he at the Innate realm?" Ye Lang's old face gradually turned ashen.

"Innate? What kind of joke is that?" Shi Hongda, who had already felt something was off due to the silence from Tang Yingchang and the others, burst out laughing at the question. "Ye Lang, have you lost your mind?"

"Exactly," Zhuge Changyin's voice was shrill with mockery. "We were gone for less than fifteen minutes. Where are you going to find a Martial Artist who can break through in fifteen minutes?"

Zhuge Changyang added, "Hahaha… Han Wang, get a hold of your friend. This is just too funny."

The three of them roared with laughter again. But their laughter died in their throats less than two seconds later…

They noticed Han Wang staring at Xu Ke in utter terror, his lips twitching. "You… you…"

This time, they finally took a proper look at Xu Ke.

Instantly, their faces became carbon copies of Han Wang's, shifting from shock to pale terror, and then to a deep, profound horror…

A moment later, Shi Hongda's piercing scream tore through the silent sky. "I FUCKING KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH HIM!!!"

…

After parting ways with Han Wang's group, Xu Ke and the others got on the highway.

In the back seat, three elderly men sat in silence, as quiet as if they were stranded at the cold end of the universe, their faces etched with utter despondence. They hadn't said a single word since getting in the car. They were like living dead… the blow had been too great.

Xu Ke turned his head to look at them. "Are you really going to stay silent for the whole trip? You're all in your seventies and eighties, and you're still holding a grudge against me?

"There's no need, is there? I just broke through to the Innate realm. You've all reached Great Perfection. Can't you be a little less petty? This is really no fun, seriously."

The Ghost Elder showed a hint of pity. "Mister Xu, please stop provoking them."

"We're almost at Tianhai. We have to make the most of our time, don't we?" Xu Ke said earnestly.

Everyone: "..."

Tang Yingchang opened his mouth to speak but ultimately said nothing. Though they were all rivals, they had only ever planned to destroy each other physically. None of them had expected Xu Ke to crush them mentally… He could understand how they felt. If it were him, he would have assumed that after failing to stop the breakthrough, no other mistakes could possibly happen. And yet, you go to buy some clothes and a car, and you come back to find the guy has already reached the Innate realm… The shock of it was no less than when they had found Lin Zhongtian's trunk completely empty… No wonder Han Wang left without even a single threatening word, looking as if he'd aged decades, constantly murmuring, 'I lost, I lost…'

Just then, Shi Hongda suddenly roared, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets as he pointed at Xu Ke with a mixture of grief and fury. "I hate it, I hate it! I fucking should have known you wouldn't do something for no reason! You bastard, you'd be so kind as to give Han Wang a chance to buy clothes? You jerk!!"

They thought they had taken every advantage, that their plan was flawless. In the end, they were right back where they started, played once again by one of Xu Ke's secret maneuvers… Played again!

…

「Global Square.」

"Drive safely. We'll be in touch later."

When Xu Ke and Tang Yingchang got out, only Bai Qian'er, Duan Zhuo'e, and the Ghost and Poison Elders remained in the car. As for Shi Hongda and the Yin and Yang Elders, they had been unable to bear the humiliation and had gotten out at a toll station to find their own way.

"Okay!" Duan Zhuo'e and Bai Qian'er nodded. They had their own villa to return to.

VROOOM—

The car sped away.

"Phew…"

Xu Ke watched the car disappear into the distance and let out a long breath, a look of unprecedented weariness finally showing on his face. This journey had been far too perilous.

"Mister Xu, let's head back," Tang Yingchang said. Looking at Xu Ke's cultivation, he still felt a sense of unreality.

"Okay," Xu Ke nodded and pulled out his phone. "I'll make a call first. You hail a car."

"Yes!"

Xu Ke stepped to the side and dialed a number. The call was answered almost immediately.

"Are you back?"

Hearing the voice on the other end, Xu Ke couldn't help but smile despite his exhaustion. "I'm back!"

"Are you tired?"

"Not at all!"