Xiao Fei looked at the invitation in his hand with a strange expression.
People in this world, to win people over, would offer their daughters, sisters, or other female relatives.
He had never seen anyone try to marry off their own mother and actively acknowledge someone as their father.
Yet, this absurd situation, which defied all logic, had happened to him.
At this moment, Xiao Fei felt a flicker of interest towards this cultivator named Cai Jian, wanting to see what kind of extraordinary talent and unique disposition this person possessed.
So, Xiao Fei first received this cultivator named Cai Jian.
The man was burly and tall, eight feet in height, and his waist was also eight feet around.
From a distance, he looked like a rolling ball of flesh rapidly approaching him.
"Dad..."
"Stop! Stop! When did I become your dad?"
This fellow directly addressed him as "Dad" upon meeting him, which Xiao Fei could not tolerate.
He certainly didn't have such a foolish son; this fellow clearly seemed to have a less-than-sharp mind.
"Hehehe! You'll definitely like my mother."
"My mother is only 2800 years old this year, and she's a renowned beauty throughout the entire Western Sea."
Cai Jian was full of confidence, wholeheartedly recommending his mother to Xiao Fei.
However, looking at Cai Jian's burly physique, Xiao Fei really doubted that his mother, even at 2800 years old, would still be that beautiful.
"I truly didn't expect you to be so filial to your mother."
Xiao Fei couldn't help but praise him; it wasn't common to find someone so dedicated to finding a father for themselves.
"Where is your father? I mean your biological father."
Cai Jian scratched his head again, pondered for a moment, and it seemed like a difficult question. He could only shake his head in confusion.
"I don't know who my biological father is. Whoever marries my mother will be my father."
Xiao Fei found Cai Jian's thought process somewhat difficult to comprehend and tentatively asked.
"Then how many fathers have you had?"
Cai Jian scratched his head again.
"I don't know the exact number; I'd have to ask my mother. It's probably a few hundred, give or take."
Continuing to converse with Cai Jian filled Xiao Fei with trepidation about the prospect of becoming his father.
It turned out that Cai Jian hailed from the Cai clan, a cultivation family.
This clan wasn't particularly large, and its strength was only average, but its history of inheritance was very long.
Coincidentally, Xiao Fei was looking for a place to inquire about the Cage Grand Formation, and he should be able to obtain useful information from such a long-standing family.
The Cai clan was akin to a matriarchal society; the position of clan head was passed down from females, not males.
Women in the clan could freely marry men from outside the clan, and if they felt a man was unsuitable, they could change him at any time.
They could even take in dozens of men simultaneously to be their Dao companions.
As long as the children were born to Cai clan women, they were considered Cai clan blood relatives and could inherit the Cai clan's identity.
However, Cai clan men had much lower status. If they married women from outside the clan, their children were not considered Cai clan descendants and could at most be listed as peripheral members.
Due to their peculiar clan rules, the Cai clan was somewhat out of sync with the entire cultivation world.
Generally, promising young men were unwilling to marry daughters of the Cai clan.
The men who married into the Cai clan were mostly cultivators of average strength with little potential for development.
Therefore, despite its long history, the clan's strength had never been particularly formidable.
After learning about the Cai clan, Xiao Fei's interest was piqued.
"Our Cai clan resides on an island not far from here. I invite you, Father, to visit with me.
My mother has already prepared a banquet to welcome your arrival."
Cai Jian was overjoyed to hear that Xiao Fei was willing to visit their clan.
He had come on this trip with a mission.
Twenty years ago, his mother had heard legends of Xiao Fei and had been impressed by this outstanding descendant of a great family.
Xiao Fei was surprised that his looks could now earn him a living. He immediately packed his belongings and left with Cai Jian.
The island where the Cai clan resided was also vast, comparable in scale to Sanshan Island.
"This is the periphery of our Cai clan, where many peripheral disciples who do not bear the Cai surname reside."
From Cai Jian's explanation, Xiao Fei learned that these peripheral disciples were those who had the misfortune of being born as descendants of male members of the Cai clan.
The two flew directly through the periphery and then entered the core area of the Cai clan.
This area was vastly different from the outer regions, with lush greenery everywhere and intricately carved beams and painted buildings.
Many beautiful women walked amongst them, making Xiao Fei feel as if he had arrived in a land of women.
This was one of the good things about the cultivation world: regardless of age, as long as one was willing to invest, even people thousands of years old could appear to be eighteen.
Soon, two teams of beautiful women, carrying flower baskets, flew through the air, scattering petals towards Xiao Fei.
Behind these two teams of women, a lotus platform slowly flew in, carrying a dignified and elegant woman.
As Xiao Fei's gaze fell upon her, the woman also looked towards him. Their eyes met, and the woman, with grace and poise, gave Xiao Fei a gentle smile.
"This humble one, Cai Jingjing, welcomes esteemed Young Master's arrival."
"Welcome esteemed Young Master's arrival!"
The two rows of women responsible for scattering flowers also bowed to Xiao Fei simultaneously.
"Junior Xiao Fei pays his respects to Senior!"
Cai Jingjing opposite him was at the Void Refinement stage, so Xiao Fei could only offer a junior's greeting.
"Young Master Xiao, you are too kind. We are family now, no need for such formalities!"
This Cai Jingjing was very forward. She proactively approached, took Xiao Fei's hand, and flew inside with him.
Xiao Fei felt a little uneasy. After all, he wasn't someone who lived by his looks, and he felt rather unsettled.
Cai Jingjing led Xiao Fei into a grand hall, where various fine teas, wines, and spiritual fruits were served in succession.
Cai Jingjing sat at the head of the table, Xiao Fei was a guest, and over a dozen beautiful women accompanied them.
"May I ask which great aristocratic family Young Master Xiao hails from?"
Cai Jingjing asked this because there was no major family in the Central Continent with the surname Xiao.
"This junior is currently on a journey of experience. My elders have instructed me not to reveal any information about my clan to outsiders. I hope Senior will forgive me!"
Xiao Fei knew that if he continued speaking like this, he would be exposed, and his pretense would fall apart. He quickly changed the subject.
"Reporting to Senior, this junior is already betrothed by my clan elders.
I have come this time to seek a marriage for a cousin within my clan!"
From their first meeting, Xiao Fei had guessed that this Cai clan leader did not have much interest in him.
Based on his thousand years of life experience, when a person truly fancies another, whether it's lust at first sight or genuine admiration, their eyes will hold a certain light.
He often saw this kind of light in Huang Feifei's eyes.
However, the gaze of this clan leader, Cai Jingjing, was very calm.
The reason the Cai clan wanted to take Xiao Fei into their harem was likely due to his identity, hoping to form an alliance with his nonexistent family behind him.
This was also the most common tactic among major powers.
As Xiao Fei spoke, he took out a puppet identical to Zhu Yu and placed it in the center of the hall.
At this moment, in the entire hall, whether it was Cai Jingjing or the dozen or so accompanying Cai clan members, the familiar light Xiao Fei recognized appeared in their eyes.
Alas, he truly wasn't meant for this kind of endeavor.
"This is certainly possible. Our Cai clan greatly hopes to form an alliance with your esteemed family."